Nighttime at the river dam, the unique tranquility of the countryside.

Jiang Ning parked his bicycle, and his Divine Sense swept across. Chuchu was quietly studying inside the house.

He felt that recently, Chuchu had been intentionally distancing herself from him, and he didn’t understand why.

Since things had come to this, it was better to eat first.

Boss Yang from the rural tourism brought fresh lamb. Jiang Ning activated his Fire Skill, lit the charcoal in the small grill, and prepared to barbecue in the little courtyard.

Actually, he could have grilled inside the small house, but since it was live barbecuing, he found it hard to remove all the smoke discreetly; otherwise, wouldn’t he be treating Tongtong as a fool?

"Chuchu didn’t come." Tongtong was setting the table.

Jiang Ning: "Should we call her?"

Tongtong: "She’s probably studying. Let’s start grilling the skewers first, and then we’ll call her, hehe."

With that, she wet her small hands and began skewering the lamb.

Jiang Ning joined her in skewering the meat. Once done, they placed them on the grill. Ever since they had the honey-glazed roast squab last time, Tongtong was eager to try honey barbecue, so they only prepared raw lamb.

While working, Tongtong whispered in his ear: "Let me tell you, Jiang Ning, brush on honey, sprinkle with a layer of chili, and wrap with sesame seeds; it’s absolutely delicious!"

Jiang Ning: "Yeah, yeah, you grill quickly, I’m ready to eat."

"Alright!"

When Chuchu was around, Tongtong liked to slack off, but in Chuchu’s absence, she would work diligently.

Jiang Ning watched her busy figure; over a year had passed, yet she was still so small, seemingly unchanged at all.

Meanwhile.

Rural tourism.

Lin Zida similarly couldn’t forget the squab he had at Jiang Ning’s house that day.

He claimed he would catch a few squabs to eat.

Gong Jin said indifferently: "It’s just squab."

On that day, he caught a bamboo rat in front of everyone and was deemed a hunting expert.

To showcase his skills, Gong Jin set up a simple trap to catch squabs, which was a bamboo basket propped up with a stick and tied with a string, modeled after the one at Jiang Ning’s place next door.

Gong Jin set it up in the open space at the door and scattered corn kernels under the basket, then crouched in a corner, patiently waiting for the squabs to fly in.

After waiting ten minutes, there wasn’t a bird in the night sky.

Gong Jin was puzzled: "What’s going on?"

Lin Zida explained: "Because the squabs go home to sleep at night."

Gong Jin was stunned and suddenly asked, "You knew, so why didn’t you remind me?"

Zhuang Jianhui: "We saw you were so serious and couldn’t bear to."

Lin Zida: "People who work hard shouldn’t be ridiculed."

Gong Jin was exasperated.

Those two guys were too mean.

Lin Zida: "Forget it, I’ll stop relying on you. I’m going to borrow some honey from Jiang Ning to make honey-barbecue chicken wings."

Gong Jin wasn’t too bothered: "When I went to Yazhou before, there was a popular honey barbecue place, but honestly, it tasted okay, not exceptionally good."

Lin Zida shook his head: "It’s different."

Gong Jin: "Well, you guys enjoy it, I still prefer proper barbecue."

Lin Zida thought to himself: ’Ignorant child.’

Saying that, he embarked on his journey westward, successfully reaching Jiang Ning’s doorstep while avoiding the vicious dog at Butcher Zhang’s house.

"Wow, it smells great!" Lin Zida admired.

Jiang Ning: "What’s up?"

Lin Zida grinned and shamelessly asked, "Was the squab at your place last time made with honey? Can I borrow some honey?"

Jiang Ning turned his palm, revealing a small bottle the size of a billiard ball, and casually tossed it: "This is all there is right now."

Lin Zida quickly caught it, nodding and bowing in gratitude as he left.

Xue Yuantong quipped: "Looks like he’s begging."

Jiang Ning joked: "A filthy beggar, just ignore him."

Seeing the barbecue was almost done, Jiang Ning said: "I’ll go make some lemon tea, you go call Chuchu."

"Okay!"

Tongtong lifted her little legs and dashed out the door.

Jiang Ning got up, opened the fridge in the main room, and found only two slices of lemon left in the glass jar, just enough to make one cup of lemon tea.

This is something Tongtong knew, with her memory, she surely wouldn’t forget.

Jiang Ning sneered: ’Chuchu, how dare you distance yourself from me.’

Tongtong ran to Chuchu’s house and shouted: "Chuchu, there’s honey barbecue today, it’s super delicious, come with me quickly."

Xue Chuchu turned her face, intending to refuse: "I..."

"Ah, hurry up, hurry up, stop dawdling!" Tongtong grabbed her hand.

Xue Chuchu struggled internally, fearing that if this continued, they might never be able to separate in the future.

Tongtong was her best friend.

Tongtong liked Jiang Ning the most, and Aunt Gu was also happy about Tongtong and Jiang Ning.

Her mother’s job was introduced by Aunt Gu.

Yet Jiang Ning always acted inappropriately towards her...

Perhaps Tongtong didn’t understand much and could live carefree, but Chuchu could not.

She feared that in the end, she’d fall deeper and deeper, and because of her, ruin her entire family.

Tongtong tugged at Chuchu, "Let’s go, let’s go!"

Just like that, she forcibly dragged Chuchu to Jiang Ning’s doorway. Suddenly, Tongtong remembered, "Jiang Ning’s honey lemon is running out, I’ll go home and get a jar, you go ahead!"

Xue Chuchu was caught off guard, left alone. She stood under the moonlight, looking towards the brightly lit small courtyard.

’Will he hold my hand and let me sit down...’

’Will he deliberately touch me and then pretend not to care...’

Chuchu felt a bit troubled, a bit sad, and even started to resent her looks again.

She slowly stepped into the small courtyard.

Jiang Ning didn’t notice her; he was making honey water, and halfway through, he tore open a mysterious small package and poured a suspicious red powder into a cup.

Chuchu was instantly frozen, with countless chaotic thoughts flashing through her mind, names like sedatives, Obedience Water... and other drug names popped up.

Jiang Ning’s actions were quick, taking merely one tael of time to complete the drugging process.

Xue Chuchu stood for a few seconds, desperately wishing she could turn and run away.

Then, she heard Jiang Ning’s voice, "Chuchu, you’re here."

Jiang Ning smiled gently, as amiable and bright as usual.

But Xue Chuchu’s emotions were extremely complex.

She eventually moved to the small round table and sat down, Jiang Ning’s attitude didn’t seem overly enthusiastic.

Obviously, it wouldn’t be very enthusiastic since he had drugged the drink, tonight’s time would be heated enough...

Jiang Ning pushed the lemon tea, "Prepared this drink for you, go ahead and drink."

Xue Chuchu’s mind was a mess, not knowing how to respond.

She wanted to ask Jiang Ning what he’d put in the cup, but Tongtong already ran in from the door.

"I brought lemon slices, I’ll make it!" Tongtong volunteered.

Jiang Ning chuckled, "I just made a cup, this one’s for Chuchu."

Xue Yuantong: "Mm, mm, she’s been studying all day and must be tired, and she has to get up early to cook tomorrow."

"Drink up, Chuchu." Jiang Ning looked directly at her.

At that moment, Xue Chuchu saw a strange gleam flash in his eyes.

Xue Chuchu’s feet were ice-cold, her mind in deep conflict, if she drank and fell unconscious, God knows what beastly acts Jiang Ning might commit tonight!

By then, it would be irreversible...

If now, she exposed it on the spot, Jiang Ning’s character would collapse, and he wouldn’t be able to rent a house again. Once he leaves the river dam, who knows how heartbroken Tongtong would be.

Thus, a critical question lay before Chuchu, ’Drink or not drink?’

Jiang Ning was a really good person, the neighborly big brother she fantasized about, gentle yet sharp, brave but never reckless, solemn with a touch of tenderness, almost without flaws, except the occasional inappropriate behavior...

But ironically, it was precisely that flaw that made Xue Chuchu feel he was truly human.

Everything has its cracks; that’s where the light comes in.

It illuminated the dull past sixteen years of Xue Chuchu’s life.

Unknowingly, Xue Chuchu had picked up the cup.

She told herself: ’If I only take a small sip, it should be fine.’

’After taking that sip, I’ll accidentally knock over the cup.’

’It will be fine.’

Thus, Xue Chuchu’s lips touched the cup’s edge, lightly taking a small sip.

The next second, a spicy sensation spread across her tongue.

Xue Chuchu quickly put down the cup, frowning, "So spicy."

Xue Yuantong curiously: "What’s wrong, Chuchu?"

Jiang Ning deliberately stared at the cup, "Oh, when I was adding the seasoning earlier, I might have accidentally spilled chili powder in."

Upon hearing this, Xue Chuchu’s expression turned bewildered.

Which was followed by endless humiliation and annoyance: "!"

’Too much! Too much!’