42: Misunderstanding
1477 Words
The heated breath of Adrian brushed against Serena's ear as he spoke. Unable to suppress the instinct to shy away, Serena chuckled and said, “Adrian, don’t scare me like that. What if I’m too scared to climb tomorrow? What about the group’s plans?”
Adrian replied, “Then don’t go. If you’re too clever for your own good, finding a reason to back out of the trip shouldn’t be hard for you.”
Oh...
So, his ultimate goal was this.
To make her back out of the trip?
Why?
Serena stubbornly refused to comply with his wishes. “Thanks for the compliment, Adrian, but I’m the kind of person who loves a good challenge.”
His gaze became colder, his eyes narrowing slightly. “So, you’re still going to climb with him?”
Serena’s smile remained, but there was a playful glint in her eyes. “Looks like you really don’t enjoy traveling with me. How about this—since I’m not backing out of the trip, you go ahead and back out yourself.”
Her suggestion was bold and full of provocation.
If he wanted her to quit, she’d turn it around and make him quit!
Adrian seized her chin with one hand, his eyes dark as a stormy sea. “Serena, you’re being audacious.”
Not just audacious—this woman was audacious to the extreme!
His words were clearly a warning, a clear message to stop angering him.
Serena was well-aware of the usual dynamics. If this were any other time, she would’ve backed down, especially considering the potential consequences of offending the heir of LH. But today, her temper had flared as well. Her next words were just as sharp: “Looks like our negotiation failed. Adrian, please leave.”
The man, already pressing her body, suddenly added more pressure, the danger of his intentions clear.
Serena still smiled, but the coldness in her eyes was unmistakable. “Adrian, do you think I won’t call for help?”
This wasn’t some secluded alleyway—this was a supermarket, bustling with people. If she screamed, someone would come bursting through the door in less than two seconds. At that point, he, the head of LH, would certainly find himself labeled as a predator in a women’s changing room.
What started as provocation now felt more like a threat.
This woman, always the epitome of allure, had a hard, unyielding side after all.
Adrian studied her for a long time, and after what seemed like an eternity, he released her ankle, stepping back and leaving the changing room.
Serena stared at the now-closed door for a moment, then, without warning, kicked the floor in frustration.
---
The next morning, at 5:30 AM, the hiking group gathered to head out.
There had been light rain the night before, leaving the air moist and fragrant with flowers from the distance. The weather felt especially pleasant, but the trail was a little slippery, so the group took extra care not to rush.
The team leader, Yevgen, was experienced, and he instructed the seasoned hikers to take the lead and guard the rear while he stayed among the group, keeping an eye on everyone.
Serena, with her ample experience, took the lead. Ivan, noticing her head start, quickly sped up to catch up with her.
Adrian, climbing a steep slope, reached out to pull Xiara up. He turned and saw the two of them walking side by side.
As the sun rose and the sky turned bright, the temperature rose too, causing the water vapor on the ground to rise, creating mist that lingered around the mountain. The path became even harder to navigate.
As they approached another steep slope, Ivan led the way, extending his hand to Serena.
Serena raised an eyebrow. “What? This slope isn’t even a challenge. You don’t need to worry about me. Watch out for Miss Ryan instead.”
Nevaeh had been trying to keep up but soon fell behind.
Ivan bit his lip. “Let me pull you up.”
The rest of the group gradually caught up, and Serena, not wanting to waste any time, accepted his hand and used it to climb the steep slope.
Yevgen, overhearing their conversation, smiled and added, “I can vouch for Serena. She’s the best climber I’ve ever seen. We climbed Mount Emei together, and she was the first to reach the summit.”
Everyone else looked surprised, and Serena, with a proud smile, said, “Well, a hero doesn’t brag about past victories, but I’ll be the first to reach the top this time too.”
Yevgen laughed, “We’ll see how you do.”
Xiara, however, kept glancing between the two of them. “You’ve hiked together before?”
“Yeah, Serena frequently signs up for my trips. We’ve hiked a lot of mountains together,” Yevgen answered, with no hidden meaning. But Xiara, with a knowing smile, said, “No wonder you’re so close. I really envy Miss Vaughn. Everywhere she goes, she seems to have friends.”
Serena, fully aware of her insinuation, smiled and replied, “Oh, not at all. How could I compare to Miss Remington, with your stellar social skills? By the way, that gentleman who accompanied you to the jewelry store the other day, why didn’t he join you this time?”
At the mention of that, Adrian, who was present, heard it and saw Xiara’s face change instantly. “That’s my brother! You know him, so why are you twisting the nature of our relationship?”
“Miss Remington, so you know the word ‘misunderstanding’?” Serena smiled faintly.
Xiara was left speechless.
Serena’s lighthearted comment not only refuted her but mocked her as well. The best part was that there were no harsh words, and her teasing tone made it hard for Xiara to respond. The more Xiara tried to hold it in, the more frustrated she became.
The rest of the group, hearing Serena’s words, laughed. This only made Xiara even more embarrassed.
Yevgen cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere to avoid the situation becoming more awkward. “Alright, let’s get some rest. We’ll continue up once we’re ready,” he said, pointing to a spot on the map. “Let’s reach here before nightfall. It’s a flat area, perfect for setting up camp.”
The section of the trail on the map seemed short, but it would take them about two hours to complete. By the time they reached their destination, the sun had already set beyond the horizon.
Yevgen encouraged everyone to set up tents before it got completely dark.
Serena, with her extensive hiking and camping experience, quickly set up her tent.
Ivan, who had done outdoor adventures during college, didn’t find setting up a tent difficult either. Nevaeh tried to help him, but he refused. “I’ve got it. You go rest. I’ll help you after I finish.”
On the other hand, Adrian, who was setting up a tent for the first time, initially seemed clueless. Serena had been waiting for him to struggle, but to her surprise, he read the instructions once and then started assembling the tent at a steady pace. His movements were calm and precise, and soon enough, both his and Xiara’s tents were set up.
Impressive.
Serena couldn’t help but think to herself.
As night fell, Yevgen lit a bonfire in the clearing, casting shadows around their campsite.
Everyone had brought ready-to-eat food, and after setting up their tents, they all started to eat. Serena sat outside her tent, rummaging through her travel bag and spilling its contents on the ground.
Yevgen walked over, taking a quick look and laughing, “You really came prepared, huh? A compass, ropes, a flashlight, a first aid kit—not to mention a folding shovel, a machete, and even a small pair of scissors!”
“Better safe than sorry,” Serena smiled, picking up a packet of jerky and tearing it open. “Want some?”
Yevgen, of course, didn’t refuse. Their food was convenient but bland, so having some jerky was a welcome change.
Others, seeing the jerky, were tempted as well. “I’ll have some too.”
Serena handed the whole bag to Yevgen. “You all can share. I’ve got plenty more.”
“Thanks!” Yevgen took the jerky and handed out pieces to everyone.
Serena pulled out a can of eight-treasure porridge from her bag and passed it to Ivan. “Here.”
Yevgen handed a piece of jerky to Adrian, grinning. “Want one? It’s pretty good.”
Adrian didn’t immediately respond. His eyes shifted to the woman across from him, who had handed Ivan a bottle of juice.
“Thanks, but I don’t really like this,” he said coolly, declining the offer.
- Writer
