Evan Lin didn't have to wait long before Tanya Zhan called him.
"Found her. The person you mentioned is at Harborview Water Park. She went in and hasn't come out since."
Tanya immediately informed Evan as soon as she got the news: "Want me to come with you?"
"That place used to be our family's property, but we sold it off later."
"No need."
Evan hung up the phone.
"You found her already?" Sophie Ge looked at Evan in shock. "That was way too fast!"
She really couldn't figure out how Evan managed to locate Annie Shu with just a phone call, especially since they weren't even sure when Annie had left campus.
Eric Wang stood quietly, having gone back to the dorm to grab the car keys. Ming Zhao kept a tight grip on Tyler Tan's collar, making sure this guy wouldn't bail at the last minute.
"We heading over together?"
Evan glanced at Sophie Ge, who shifted her gaze over to Eric Wang.
The situation was pretty clear now: Eric wasn't thrilled about dragging along an extra burden, but Evan thought Sophie was alright. Based on their previous interactions, she didn't seem to have any real malice toward Eric.
"Alright, let's go together. One more or one less doesn't really make a difference."
Eric went to get the car—a seven-seater van, obviously chosen for situations like this.
Once they were in the car, Evan drove, Eric and Sophie sat in the back, Tyler took the front passenger seat, and Ming Zhao stared out the window, lost in thought.
The van started up, and the group headed for Harborview Water Park.
"That Aaron Han guy is something else—still taking Annie Shu to the water park at a time like this?" Ming Zhao sat in the car, his face full of anger.
"That kid's a real piece of work, thick-skinned as hell. What can you do?" Eric leaned back in his seat while Sophie rested her chin in her hand, gazing at him with a soft smile that made Eric feel something he couldn't quite describe.
"Honestly, I don't really like Aaron Han either, but he's a top student who just came back from overseas."
Sophie spoke quietly, "And there are quite a few girls in our English Department who are interested in him. Still, he can't hold a candle to Evan from your dorm."
"Top student, huh? No matter how 'top' he is, didn't Evan stomp him in the competition?"
Tyler, realizing he had no way to escape, just slumped in his seat with a sigh. "Honestly, Aaron Han isn't even as good-looking as me. It's just his big mouth that annoys everyone."
"Still don't get why Annie Shu likes a guy like that."
By the end, Tyler's tone was tinged with a bitterness he couldn't hide.
Having the girl he liked get close to someone he couldn't stand—Tyler's mood lately was beyond complicated.
But Tyler kept acting nonchalant so Evan and the others wouldn't worry, repeatedly insisting he had zero feelings for Annie Shu.
That kind of self-deception just made everyone feel sorry for Tyler.
"Alright, tonight you can clear up any misunderstandings."
Evan patted Tyler's shoulder. "Whatever blame there is, just throw it all on me."
"It's fine."
Evan's words made Eric and the others look at him. Taking the blame for something trivial was never a big deal to Evan.
Evan was just trying to reassure Tyler—whatever it took to help Tyler and Annie Shu patch things up, Evan was willing to do.
It was barely any effort for him anyway.
"Come on, do I look like the type who dumps blame on others?"
Tyler shook his head. "From the Sanda Club incident to the martial arts competition, I think you never did anything wrong."
"If Annie Shu decides to never speak to me again because of all that, I don't think any explanation would help."
"That's my principle. Compared to giving up my values, giving up a girl is way easier."
Tyler spoke seriously, which surprised Evan and made him look at Tyler with new respect.
"Makes sense. If your values don't match, even being together would be exhausting."
Eric nodded. Right after he spoke, Sophie turned to him. "I think your values are pretty similar to mine, actually."
That was a tough one to respond to.
Eric fell silent and stared out the window.
Harborview Water Park.
Located on the outskirts of Harborview City, the park was the perfect summer spot to cool off.
They parked in the lot in front of the water park.
The group got out, Eric went to buy tickets, and Ming Zhao grabbed a few bottles of water.
"This place is huge. How are we supposed to find her?"
Sophie looked around—there were tons of people here, all out to have fun, and the crowds were packed.
Every now and then, you could hear excited screams from people playing on the water park rides.
"Let's just walk and look as we go."
Evan walked ahead, and the Three Maiden Spirits surged out from his body, racing through the water park.
"Should we try out some rides?"
Eric came back with the tickets, Ming Zhao handed out the water, and the group entered the park. Tyler glanced around, looking casual. "Maybe we should just treat this as a day out."
"Annie Shu and Aaron Han are just here to have fun, too."
"No need to go out of our way to look for them. If we run into them, great; if not, guess it just wasn't meant to be."
Tyler was still feeling nervous inside.
He was terrified Annie Shu would get mad seeing Evan bring him along.
Annie Shu wasn't even talking to Tyler these days—she found him disgusting. And as thick-skinned as Tyler was, he didn't dare ask her to fulfill the old bet.
If they bumped into her now, it'd be super awkward.
"We're already here, what's there to be afraid of?"
Ming Zhao slapped Tyler hard on the back, looking annoyed. "Show some thick skin! Aren't you always bragging you're a romance guru?"
"Besides, Aaron Han can't do anything to you. If he tries anything, we've got your back."
"Just talk to Annie Shu tonight. If it goes well, great; if not, that's life."
Tyler looked a bit torn all of a sudden.
Just then, the Three Maiden Spirits returned to Evan's side.
"Over there."
Evan looked up, gazing toward a spot not far away.