Shall we let bygones be bygones and wipe the slate clean?

Hao Xiaoming had a professional DSLR camera hanging around his neck.
Click, click, click.
The beauty of the snow-capped mountains was distilled into a series of digital photographs.
At moments like this, Hao Xiaoming couldn’t help but marvel at human beings. Ten years after ten years, when he recorded and stored time in decades, then recalled it, it was easy to realize that humanity’s progress could only be described as astonishing.
For instance, the DSLR camera in his hands at that very moment.
A few hundred years ago, who could have imagined such a miraculous device capable of capturing the scenery?
“I wonder what delightful things humanity will invent in another ten years.”
He murmured to himself, then focused the lens on Yang Xue, who was smiling sweetly in the distance, her whole being radiating youthful energy.
He knew of Yang Xue’s existence.
He defined Yang Xue as a confidante, not a childhood friend.
It was a rather peculiar relationship.
“If Jiangbei were just an ordinary nineteen-year-old boy, the two of them would surely be enviable childhood sweethearts.”
As he pressed the shutter, Hao Xiaoming’s mind wandered through such idle thoughts.
He didn’t notice that, as Jiangbei glanced about, he’d already spotted him—and lingered on him for a moment.
…
After wandering alone in the ancient city for several days, Mao Xiaohui sent a text to Mao Xiaobai telling her she was heading back. Mao Xiaobai immediately replied, “Safe travels! Let’s go out for some good food when you’re free, my treat.”
After Mao Xiaohui’s reminder that night, Mao Xiaobai now felt lighthearted and happy.
Admittedly, when she first accepted the mission, she was full of ambition, thinking that with her beauty, completing the task would be no problem at all.
But as time passed day by day, she grew increasingly doubtful of her ability to accomplish it.
Now, Mao Xiaohui had told her that the mission itself wasn’t important; what mattered was becoming good friends with Jiangbei and building a deep friendship.
“Hehe, I’m so adorable—making friends is a piece of cake for me!”
By the shores of Erhai Lake, Mao Xiaobai, utterly unladylike, gnawed on a chicken drumstick, brimming with confidence as she thought this.
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind her—a voice she absolutely loathed.
Hao Xiaoming’s voice.
“Xiaobai.”
Lost in her daydreams, Mao Xiaobai hadn’t noticed Hao Xiaoming approaching. From this perspective, she really was letting down her feline pride.
After all, as a cat, staying alert ought to be second nature.
Startled, Mao Xiaobai dropped her half-eaten chicken drumstick with a swoosh.
“Ah! My chicken drumstick!”
She grew flustered, glaring at Hao Xiaoming. “You owe me!”
Hao Xiaoming laughed. He’d known Mao Xiaobai for a long time—since she was just a little white cat obsessed with food, only capable of meowing.
“No problem, I’ll make it up to you.”
Mao Xiaobai: “...”
She quickly glanced at Jiangbei strolling in the distance. Seeing he was far away, she relaxed and turned back to Hao Xiaoming.
She considered herself deeply acquainted with this foolish dog, Hao Xiaoming, and was certain that his immediate promise to replace her drumstick was some sort of scheme!
‘Hmph! I’m smart, you can’t trick me!’
“What’s your plot?” Mao Xiaobai asked seriously, her tone resolute.
Hao Xiaoming kept his signature smile. “I know where to find delicious food. I’ll treat you.”
“I’m asking what your plot is!”
“There are ten famous dishes here—pan-fried milk cakes, steamed chicken, Xuanwei stir-fried pork...”
Gurgle!
Mao Xiaobai swallowed unconsciously, though she stubbornly kept to her questioning. “I’m asking about your plot, why are you listing food?”
Hao Xiaoming replied, “I’m expressing my sincerity. I’ve thought it over these past days. I used to bully you, and that was wrong. I’m apologizing, and when there’s time, I’ll take you to try all kinds of delicious food as compensation.”
“What do you say? Shall we let bygones be bygones?”
Mao Xiaobai scoffed, “Let bygones be bygones? Don’t think you can fool me so easily! You must be plotting something against me!”
Hao Xiaoming insisted, “I know a really famous private kitchen right here…”
Mao Xiaobai: “o((⊙﹏⊙))o!!!!!!”
-----------------------------
This outing was a rare opportunity Hao Xiaoming had fought hard for.
Now that he was out, expecting him to go back to work right away?
Ha! Impossible!
Unless the Dog King himself intervened, he absolutely wouldn’t return.
Moreover, every expense during this trip would be reimbursed by the Dog Clan Group. Heh, wouldn’t it be a waste not to party until day and night blurred together?
Originally, given his looks and age, the Dog King intended for him to join Fang Yuan’s side.
But would he fall for that? Please, go to Fang Yuan’s side?
Doesn’t everyone know women hold grudges? If he accidentally said something tactless and Fang Yuan remembered, there’d be no peace in the future!
So, he resolutely refused to go to Fang Yuan’s, and equally refused to return—he would continue to enjoy life and play at leisure.
Given that, he still needed to maintain some basic appearances. At the very least, he couldn’t just wander around causing mischief on his own; he needed to infiltrate Jiangbei’s circle, become familiar, and make friends.
Hao Xiaoming had been plotting for days.
He believed this was entirely feasible.
“As long as I become friends with Jiangbei, and get him to join in fun with me, who would dare order me back to work?”
“Not even the Dog King! I mean it!”
With his plan set, he had to act quickly.
Step one: Mao Xiaobai had already become friends with Jiangbei, and would be classmates for the next four years. Thus, if he wanted to befriend Jiangbei, he first had to get along with Mao Xiaobai.
At least until the plan succeeded, he’d have to be amicable with Mao Xiaobai.
As for after the plan succeeded… heh, Mao Xiaobai was such a fun little white cat, how could he not keep teasing her?
“I really am a genius!”
…
Mao Xiaobai’s weakness was obvious—tempt her with delicious food, and she’d fall for it every time. Hao Xiaoming was certain of this.
And indeed, it proved true.
Soon, Mao Xiaobai, struggling not to drool, nodded and agreed, signaling the official launch of the plan.
The plan was anything but complicated.
Hao Xiaoming’s idea was: “In a while, I’ll find a spot to push you into the water, then immediately jump in and rescue you. You thank me, and since Jiangbei and I have already met at the bar, he should recognize me. I’ll improvise the rest.”
Thus, the legendary hero-saving-the-beauty scene was set to unfold again.