Security Room.
The atmosphere was silent—so quiet, a pin drop could be heard.
The person in charge stood to the side, not daring to sit or move, anxiety written all over his face.
Yi Hansheng looked out the window. “It’s dark.”
Now they could only wait for an update from the search and rescue team.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
The person in charge jumped in fright, answering the call with trembling hands. “…Got it. Understood.”
Yi Hansheng and Ling Qingzhou both turned to look at him.
Zhong Ziang, Ling Xuan, and Yici—the three younger ones—also stared with burning intensity.
“Well?”
“The s-search and rescue team said… no luck. They’ll continue tomorrow.”
The hearts of the two adults and three kids sank to the bottom.
Zhong Ziang rushed forward, furious. “Why wait until tomorrow? In this kind of temperature, forget a whole night—even a few hours could freeze someone solid!”
The person in charge looked like his soul had left his body. “Please! The team has rules—they can’t operate at night in extreme environments. Their hands are tied!”
“Fine! Then I’ll go myself—” He stormed off like a stubborn ox.
Ling Xuan and Yici hurried to block his way.
“Zhong Ziang, calm down!”
“Calm down? Are you kidding me? One’s my uncle, the other’s the girl I like—how the h*ll am I supposed to calm down?!”
That line—“the girl I like”—slipped out, and everyone froze.
Yi Hansheng glanced at the Zhong family’s precious troublemaker, then at his own son’s anxious face. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the expression on Ling Qingzhou’s kid and thought, Well now, this is interesting.
Looks like they all have feelings for Jiang Fuyue…
Father and sons, two generations. Tsk—
His mood grew complicated.
“Fine. If you’re going, I’m going too!” Yici stopped trying to hold Zhong Ziang back and followed him outside.
Ling Xuan groaned in frustration. “Were you supposed to calm him down, or make things worse?!”
“You can stay if you want. But it’s freezing out there—if they’re left overnight, they’re done for. No one’s forcing you, but don’t try to stop us.”
Ling Xuan hesitated.
Finally, he stepped aside. “Fine. I’ll go too.”
The three teens were like unsheathed swords—sharp, determined, and unstoppable.
“Enough—” Ling Qingzhou snapped. “Is this over yet?”
“Dad…”
“No one’s allowed to go!”
Zhong Ziang: “Then what about my uncle and Jiang Fuyue?”
“The civilian search team is almost here. The police are arriving soon. Let the professionals do their job. As for you all… stay put! No one goes anywhere!”
Only then did the three boys quiet down.
Zhong Ziang pouted. “Just hurry, okay? It’s too cold… I’m afraid they won’t last much longer…”
…
The moonlight was bleak, the wind bitterly cold.
As night fell, the temperature in the cave kept dropping. Even the ski jackets weren’t enough anymore.
“Cold?” Xie Dingyuan asked.
“No,” Jiang Fuyue replied.
“Then why are you shivering?” he exposed her bluff.
“Ever heard of psychological suggestion?” the girl shot back.
“So, does it work?”
“Uh… doesn’t seem like it.”
Their back-and-forth, however silly, made the desolate snowy night a bit more bearable.
“Xie Dingyuan, let’s ask each other questions.”
“Alright.” The man tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer to share warmth.
Jiang Fuyue: “What’s the speed of light?”
Xie Dingyuan: “299,792,458 m/s. My turn. What’s the 36th digit after the decimal point of π?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Four. Why does the power go out during dinner, and after a couple of bites the light comes back on?”
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
Jiang Fuyue waited ten seconds. “If you can’t answer, you have to accept punishment.”
“…What punishment?”
“Sing a song. Deal?”
“I don’t sing well.”
Jiang Fuyue: “Doesn’t matter. I don’t mind.”
“Okay, then tell me first—why does the light come back on?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Because ba la la = energy (light).”
Xie Dingyuan: “?” Confused.
Jiang Fuyue: “You’ve never seen Balala the Fairies?”
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
“There’s a magic spell in it: Balala energy—Rosha-ro—Little Fairy—Transform!”
“…”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“…I don’t know what to say.”
Jiang Fuyue: “Then sing.”
The man was silent for a long time. Finally: “…Do I really have to?”
“Of course. I’m ready. Go ahead.”
When his deep voice finally started to sing—
Whether it’s being bewitched,
Or fate from a past life…
Jiang Fuyue froze, eyes widening slightly in surprise.
Xie Dingyuan had been too modest—he didn’t sing badly at all. Though his breath control was a little off, his voice held a quiet depth, a touch of huskiness, and a surprising allure.
When the song ended, Jiang Fuyue asked, “Why that song?”
“That day, after hotpot, we took a walk to the plaza. You remember? I paid 200 yuan to request a song.”
“I remember. But I asked why you chose that song.”
Under the moonlight shining through the cave’s mouth, Xie Dingyuan smiled slightly. “Because of the title.”
Jiang Fuyue looked up. The man’s angular profile was bathed in pale light, surprisingly gentle. Even his brows had relaxed, and a quiet joy tugged at the corners of his mouth.
The title?
Bewitched by Love… What about it?
Suddenly, the man lowered his head, leaned in close to her ear, and said slowly, clearly:
“Because when it comes to you, I’m completely bewitched.”
