Chapter 3

As we descended the mountain, my younger sister accidentally slipped, but fortunately, she managed to regain her balance in time without any mishap.

Jake caught her hand and gently teased her for being clumsy.

My younger sister glared at him indignantly. Seeing this, Jake softened his tone and patted her head to comfort her.

My eyes suddenly felt a bit sore.

I wanted to look away, but found myself unable to.

Jake seemed to notice and slightly turned his head to meet my gaze.

In that instant, I felt nothing but awkwardness.

I forced myself to look into the distance. The weather was great, the sky vast and boundless, a very pale blue.

I shouldn’t care.

I told myself.

As we neared the foot of the mountain, a sudden cry from my younger sister came from ahead.

Alex and I quickened our pace to catch up. My younger sister was bent over, clutching her leg with a pained expression. I rolled up her pant leg and found a bruise on her knee, along with a minor scrape.

“What happened…” I began to ask, but Jake, with a furrowed brow, didn’t wait for an explanation and carried her on his back, heading down the mountain.

I watched their retreating figures, stunned for a few seconds before slowly standing up.

Alex suddenly jumped behind me, staring at the ground with his hair standing on end.

Following his gaze, I saw a large, furry caterpillar.

I couldn’t help but find it amusing. Despite his cool and tough appearance, he was actually quite timid.

I picked up a stick and nudged the caterpillar aside, “Alright, let’s go.”

Alex tried to maintain his composure, “I was afraid of stepping on it… after all, it’s a little life.”

“Hey, on your arm…”

His expression tightened, and he frantically patted his arm with both hands.

“Okay, okay, it’s gone…” Seeing he was still on edge, I brushed his sleeve and stifled a laugh, “It’s really gone…”

His handsome face tensed, looking a bit aggrieved, “You scared me.”

I realized he was actually quite endearing.

Jake watched us from the front, his tone a bit cold, “It’s getting dark, hurry up.”

My younger sister’s leg injury wasn’t serious. After some simple treatment, we had dinner at a nearby farmhouse. As night fell, we decided to find a hotel to stay overnight and return the next day.

While registering at the front desk, Jake lowered his head, lost in thought, and eventually booked three rooms.

I suddenly realized something.

A sharp, piercing pain pricked my heart.

I lowered my head, thinking, maybe it’s just because not enough time has passed.

The hotel had hot springs, but due to her leg injury, my younger sister only sat by the side, drinking and chatting with Jake, feeding him fruit, looking sweet and affectionate.

I removed the towel draped over my shoulders and entered the water in my swimsuit.

Jake’s gaze lingered on my body for a moment before shifting away without any emotion.

Alex smiled and said, “I remember you were so skinny and small in high school, like a little yellow chick.”

He gestured with his hand to the side.

I protested, “I wasn’t that short.”

He curved his lips, “Girls change a lot as they grow.”

My younger sister teased, “What? Seeing an old classmate, feeling a spark?”

She was actually observing Jake’s reaction.

Jake’s expression was indifferent, with a hint of a smile.

I suddenly felt a bit breathless, wanting to say something to cover up my younger sister’s words.

“Well, maybe a little.” Alex unexpectedly replied.

I was taken aback and looked up at him.

“I knew you had a purpose for coming this time.” My younger sister visibly relaxed.

Alex handed me a fruit wine, his tone gentle, “Have a drink, it’ll help you sleep better tonight.”

I accepted it and thanked him.

The warm spring water was relaxing, making me feel cozy. I closed my eyes, my mind gradually calming down. Perhaps it was the slight effect of the alcohol, making me feel a bit drowsy.

I vaguely heard my younger sister say, “I’m going to the restroom.”

Alex also left the pool to take a phone call.

It took me a moment to realize that only Jake and I were left in the pool.

“Plop.” The sound of someone entering the water.

I opened my eyes to see Jake approaching from the other side, his hand resting on the edge of the pool, looking down at me with a voice carrying an inexplicable mockery, “Aren’t you usually conservative? You wear this kind of swimsuit too.”

I didn’t know where his malice towards me came from.

He was too close, his warm breath on my face making me uncomfortable. I reached out to push his shoulder, but couldn’t move him.

There was a dark look in his eyes, “Did you know Alex kept looking at you just now?”

I frowned, “What does that have to do with you?”

A second before my younger sister returned, he suddenly let go and leaned casually against the pool’s edge.

My younger sister remained oblivious, her smile unchanged.

I clenched my fist, got out of the water, wrapped myself in a towel, and returned to my room.