Chapter 100: I Could Carry You for a Lifetime

When dawn began to break, Xu An’an woke thirsty. She had been tormented all night long and now didn’t even want to move; instead, she used her foot to kick Jiang Li, who lay beside her.

After kicking him, she felt a bit fearful and quickly shut her eyes.

Jiang Li had been treating her so well recently that she was starting to forget herself.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Li opened his eyes, his voice hoarse. “Xu An’an, you’re getting bolder, aren’t you? Kicking me out of nowhere and then pretending to be asleep?”

He could tell from her breathing.

Xu An’an opened her eyes sheepishly. “Ahem, I’m a little thirsty…”

She thought Jiang Li would make her fetch water for herself—and perhaps pour a glass for him as well. But before she could finish, Jiang Li got up, took a towel, and wrapped it around his waist.

Yawning, he poured the water.

“Here.”

“Thank you.” Xu An’an took the glass and sipped it slowly.

She drank only half, leaving the rest for Jiang Li. He rubbed her hair. “Are you going back to sleep? If not, do you want to watch the sunrise by the sea? The sunrise on the Heart-of-the-Lake Island is lovely, and soon it’ll be one of its selling points.”

Xu An’an was instantly interested. “Yes!”

But as soon as she got up, her legs gave way and she knelt on the bed.

Ashamed and furious, she glared at Jiang Li. “Stop staring!”

Jiang Li burst out laughing, his laughter shaking the air. He reached out and scooped Xu An’an into his arms. “It’s my fault. Let me make it up to you now, is that enough?”

“Will you carry me later?” Xu An’an had figured it out: the best time to push her luck was when Jiang Li was apologizing.

Jiang Li nodded cheerfully. “Sure, I could carry you for a lifetime.”

Xu An’an’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her face away, murmuring, “Don’t say ‘for a lifetime’ so lightly—it’s a long time, who knows what tomorrow may bring?”

For a better view of the sunrise, Jiang Li had breakfast delivered to the beach.

Just a table and two chairs set up by the sea.

It was Xu An’an’s first time having breakfast like this by the ocean; it felt as if the whole coastline belonged to her, and the peace was a rare treasure.

She sipped hot coffee in comfort, quietly awaiting the sun’s slow ascent.

The fiery sun rose, bringing with it a sense of renewal.

The waves sparkled along the shore.

Yet Jiang Li’s gaze lingered only on Xu An’an’s face, a smile curving his lips unconsciously, until Xu An’an turned her head and he looked out to the distant horizon.

Whenever Xu An’an saw Jiang Li in profile, she couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

How could anyone’s side profile be so perfect!

She took out her phone, stealthily snapped a photo, and posted it to her “Enchantment” account.

Caption: [The dog-man watched the sunrise with me—he’s pretty handsome! Maybe I should start calling him ‘Handsome Dog-Man’ from now on. Still a dog either way!]

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you taking a picture,” Jiang Li suddenly turned, the fiery sunrise forming a backdrop behind him. For a moment, time seemed to slow, transforming into frames of light and shadow.

Fragments of sunlight fell into his laughing eyes, irresistibly drawing one in.

It was at this very moment that Xu An’an pressed the shutter.

“Nonsense, why would I take your picture?”

“Give me your phone, let me see.”

“Fine, who’s afraid?” Xu An’an had taken the photo in the “Enchantment” app, so it wouldn’t automatically save to her phone.

She handed over her phone openly, confident this would dispel Jiang Li’s suspicions.

But Jiang Li still took the phone and checked it.

At first, he found a series of Xu An’an’s selfies—each cute and beautiful, with so many styles that his movements slowed.

He started to appreciate Xu An’an’s selfies.

Xu An’an blushed. “Hurry up!”

“What’s this?” Jiang Li raised his eyebrows triumphantly. “Isn’t this me?”

Xu An’an froze. She was doomed!

Last time on the show, Jiang Li had treated her to sweets, and she’d saved a photo on her phone!

“If I recall correctly, this was taken during the recording, wasn’t it? I didn’t expect you to like me so much in secret.”

“No, it’s not… I just accidentally snapped it!”

“You sure have a professional accident—better than most photographers.”

“What’s so good about it!”

“True, your photography skills are a bit lacking, but the subject is key. Even with a disposable camera, he looks good. You’re perceptive; that’s commendable.”

“Ha, you’re quite adept at complimenting yourself in roundabout ways.”

“Thank you for the praise.”

“Can I have my phone back now?” Suddenly, Xu An’an remembered there were plenty of other photos; best not let Jiang Li see them.

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, seeing through her at a glance.

“Are you sure there’s nothing else?”

“There’s nothing. I swear on my honor.” Xu An’an raised her hand solemnly. “If I’m lying, let me be punished by eating instant noodles without seasoning packets.”

Jiang Li nodded, but as he handed the phone back, he spun it around again.

“Let me check once more.”

“No!” Xu An’an lunged to snatch the phone.

In the end, both tumbled onto the soft sand, letting the waves soak them—and the phone, naturally, went black from water damage.

Xu An’an secretly sighed in relief, then turned her anger on Jiang Li.

“See what you’ve done!”

“You really don’t trust me—how disappointing!”

Before Jiang Li could react, Xu An’an picked up the phone and ran toward the hotel, leaving Jiang Li puzzled.

What was going on?

He chased after her, but Xu An’an shut him out: “Xu An’an, you have one minute to open the door. If not, when I get in, you’ll be in trouble.”

The room remained silent.

Jiang Li thought Xu An’an was joking and kept knocking. “Xu An’an, looks like I’ve been too good to you lately, huh?”

“Letting you get so unruly!”

“I’ll count to three—three, two, one!”

Still, no one answered. At last, Jiang Li sensed something was wrong. He immediately had someone unlock the door, only to find Xu An’an wasn’t in the room.

The place was a mess, as if a typhoon had swept through!

Jiang Li’s expression darkened instantly.

He phoned his men, his voice icy. “Check the surveillance. See if any suspicious people have appeared nearby.”

“Seal all exits. No one leaves Heart-of-the-Lake Island.”

Jiang Li scanned the surroundings quickly, searching for clues. In just a few minutes, how could anyone spirit away a living person without a sound?

Just then, Jiang Li received an anonymous call.

The caller’s voice was processed by software—impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman.

“Famous Second Young Master Jiang, what an honor! Your new lover is truly beautiful. If I were to put a scar on that lovely face of hers, what would you do?”