CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 90 ARLO AND ARIEL’S FIRST DATE TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TURN...

Ariel Morris chirped away beside Arlo Seys all the way up, sometimes seeing Arlo frown slightly, but more often noticing the slight curve of a smile on his lips.

When Ariel Morris snapped back to reality, she realized that they had already reached the foot of a mountain. In front of her, a winding stone path stretched into the mountain.

Looking at the stone road ahead, Ariel Morris twitched her mouth, "Arlo Seys, why are we going into the mountain?"

Please, no hiking! She absolutely hated all forms of exercise!!!

No sooner than she’d finished her silent plea, Arlo Seys’s soft voice came through, "Hiking."

"..." Ariel Morris was on the verge of tears, "Wasn’t it supposed to be an autumn outing?"

Where’s the promised autumn outing?! How did it turn into hiking?! It’s killing her! She absolutely lacked any athletic ability!

While Ariel Morris was making a face, conflicted in expression, a voice came from behind.

"Arlo, Ariel."

Arlo Seys and Ariel Morris turned around to see Dawn Sutherland and Nico Haynes coming over with food and water.

The four of them went hiking together.

They were climbing City C’s most famous Red Fragrance Hill, crowned by a temple. On the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, it’s crowded with pilgrims.

After hiking for over an hour, they had only finished half the journey. Ahead was a very steep slope, seemingly straight up, looking physically exhausting just by sight. Staring at the temple far in the clouds at the mountain’s peak, Ariel Morris felt faint, her legs weak, and she leaned against a big tree to catch her breath.

"I can’t do it, I need a break."

Nico Haynes commented, "Ariel Morris, look at you, acting so feeble, it’s just a mountain climb, are you sure you lost half your life doing it?"

"Nico Haynes... With such a sharp tongue, be careful, you’ll never find love!" Ariel Morris glared at Nico Haynes, scornfully gasping a reply.

Dawn Sutherland suggested, "Hey, give Ariel the water you’re holding, let’s take a break."

Nico Haynes watched Ariel Morris glaring at him and walked over with the water. But as Ariel Morris reached out her hand, he mischievously pulled it back, teasing her.

"Nico Haynes! You jerk!" Ariel Morris was dying of thirst, and Nico Haynes was still teasing her, making her angrily shout at him.

"Come on, try and grab it!"

With a playful streak in his heart, Nico Haynes turned with the bottle and quickly walked away.

Ariel Morris ground her teeth and lifted her foot to chase after Nico Haynes, but as she stepped on a stone, her foot slipped, and she fell backward quickly.

"Ah!"

"Watch out!"

With a yell from Dawn Sutherland, Nico Haynes turned to see Ariel Morris quickly falling backward and was about to reach out to catch her, someone acted even faster.

Arlo Seys, who had been watching Ariel Morris and Nico Haynes bickering the entire time with an indifferent look, immediately sprang forward when he heard Ariel Morris cry out as she fell backward. Reaching out to grab her, but due to her large leaning posture and the steep slope, the two of them quickly plunged backward, rolling down the slope together.

"Arlo! Ariel!" Dawn Sutherland rushed forward quickly.

"Boss, Ariel Morris!" Nico Haynes also hurriedly rushed ahead, immediately following Dawn Sutherland down the slope where the two rolled.

Arlo Seys was pulled down the slope with Ariel Morris, the two rolled together, quickly tumbling downhill.

Frightened, Ariel Morris’ lips turned a bit pale as she tightly grasped Arlo Seys’s sleeve, unwilling to let go even if it killed her.

Arlo Seys continuously looked at Ariel Morris, noticing her fear and reflexively reached out to hug her. As he glimpsed a large rock ahead, his peripheral vision informed him, he immediately reached out to shield Ariel Morris’s head while the two rolled towards the rock...