Floating life reflects two lotuses

"It seems I'm the only lucky one in the team today." Li Chenyao's voice came from behind Chu Wanlian, with his usual deep and magnetic tone, but with a hint of playful ease.

Chu Wanlian turned around and saw him walking towards her, his casual sportswear giving him a relaxed air. She raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly: "Lucky?"

Li Chenyao held up the activity task card in his hand, a carefree smile playing on his lips: "Of course, being assigned to the same group as you is a stroke of good luck that not everyone gets."

Chu Wanlian was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing: "Director Li is indeed always looking for opportunities to show off."

“This time it’s not about showing off, but about taking care of the team members,” Li Chenyao said with a hint of seriousness. “Since we’re in the same group, it’s my responsibility to make sure your experience is flawless.”

"Then I'll thank Director Li for the 'protection' in advance." Chu Wanlian's tone remained calm, but carried a hint of barely perceptible amusement.

Li Chenyao looked at her, his smile deepening: "Don't always call me 'Director Li,' 'Director Li.' Today isn't a workday, so we can be a little more intimate. You can call me Chenyao too."

Chu Wanlian raised an eyebrow: "Chen Yao? He doesn't sound so serious anymore."

“That’s more like it.” Li Chenyao leaned forward slightly, his tone teasing. “Today is a day to relax, so don’t maintain that perfect distance like you do at the company.”

Chu Wanlian looked at him, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Then I hope Li... Chenyao won't disappoint me today."

Li Chenyao chuckled softly and straightened up: "Don't worry, I will never let you down." His tone was more serious, but his eyes inadvertently revealed a hint of inquiry.

The two walked slowly with the team along the forest path, the laughter of the other group members gradually being drowned out by the birdsong of the morning. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, but Chu Wanlian subconsciously raised her hand to press the bracelet on her wrist, pondering in her heart that today's event might not be as simple as it seemed on the surface.

The activity began quickly, and each group received a map and a task card, marking several clue points scattered throughout the forest. Each point contained a puzzle, and only by solving all the puzzles could they successfully reach the finish line. Chu Wanlian and Li Chenyao were assigned to a secluded path, and the two embarked on their puzzle-solving journey with their task items.

Looking at the map in his hand, Li Chenyao casually asked, "Do you usually like activities like this? This kind of group puzzle-solving and adventure."

Chu Wanlian's gaze lingered on the map. She lightly tapped the first marked point with her finger and said calmly, "It's alright. This kind of activity can exercise the mind and is a kind of relaxation."

"Your answer is as calm and efficient as ever." Li Chenyao looked down at her, a smile playing on his lips. "But sometimes you don't have to be so tense, and you can enjoy the process a little."

Chu Wanlian chuckled lightly and replied casually, "The process serves the result. Don't you think finding the answer is the most interesting part?"

“The answer is important, but the process is also wonderful.” Li Chenyao shrugged. “However, it seems you are more interested in finding the answer, so I’ll have to work harder so as not to hold you back.”

The two walked along the path for a while and soon found the first clue next to a huge old tree. A wooden sign with symbols was hanging on the trunk, and a small wooden box containing clue cards was placed below the sign.

Chu Wanlian took down the wooden plaque and examined it closely. The symbols engraved on it were ancient and mysterious, and their arrangement was extremely meticulous. She frowned slightly: "These symbols... seem somewhat familiar."

Li Chenyao approached and stood beside her, looking down intently at the engravings on the wooden sign: "That's right, these symbols are very similar to the research content in the laboratory. Could this be the ingenuity of the event designer, or is there some ulterior motive?"

Chu Wanlian's fingertips gently traced the wooden plaque, feeling the depth and texture of the engravings. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she said calmly, "Perhaps it's just a coincidence."

Li Chenyao smiled noncommittally: "Is it a coincidence, or is it someone's ulterior motive? I won't jump to conclusions." His gaze swept over the wooden sign and then fell on Chu Wanlian, his voice low and meaningful.

Chu Wanlian turned her head away, avoiding his gaze, opened the wooden box, took out the prompt card, and said with a more resolute tone, "Continue, time is limited."

The card contained the riddle: "Find three wooden plaques with the same symbol nearby. Piecing them together will give you the next clue."

Chu Wanlian looked around, her gaze settling on a few trees nearby: "This question isn't difficult. As long as you're careful, you can find it quickly."

Li Chenyao glanced around and pointed to a patch of low bushes on the left: "I'll go take a look over there. You keep looking here."

The two split up, each searching for their target among the tree trunks and bushes. Soon after, Chu Wanlian found a second wooden plaque in a crevice in the rocks, engraved with the exact same symbols as the first. She reached for it, but felt the plaque was slightly warm, as if it had been affected by some kind of energy.

"Have you found anything?" Li Chenyao's voice came from not far away.

Chu Wanlian quickly put the wooden plaque into the cloth bag in her hand, stood up and said, "I found the second one. What about you?"

Li Chenyao held up the wooden sign in his hand and walked closer with a smile: "We've found one too. Looks like we're working well together."

Chu Wanlian pieced the three wooden plaques together and discovered that their symbols formed a complete pattern, resembling a complex array. In the center of the pattern was an arrow pointing to a new marker on the map.

“This is guiding us to the next location.” Li Chenyao observed for a moment and smiled, “The designer of this event really put a lot of thought into it.”

Chu Wanlian, however, did not echo this sentiment. Her gaze remained fixed on the patterns, her mind a jumble of complex emotions. These symbols were far from simple game design; they seemed more like deliberately planted, hidden clues. She secretly pondered that this event might indeed be a test.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Li Chenyao gently interrupted her thoughts. "Let's go, next stop, don't let someone else get there first."

Chu Wanlian put away the pattern, a faint smile appearing on her lips: "Of course, let's go." But a deeper look appeared in her eyes, as if she was already making longer-term plans for the next step.

The forest path meandered and twisted. Chu Wanlian stepped on a slightly slippery stone and suddenly lost her balance. Li Chenyao reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and pulling her back steadily.

"Looks like you need help sometimes too," he said in a low voice, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"Thank you." Chu Wanlian withdrew her hand, her voice slightly awkward. "I just wasn't paying attention."

"Really?" Li Chenyao raised his eyebrows, his smile deepening. "Then I'll have to be more careful next time, so you don't have any more 'accidents'."

Chu Wanlian pursed her lips, offering no reply, but quickened her pace. Li Chenyao followed leisurely behind, a smile never fading from his lips.

As they neared the finish line, the two passed through a dense thicket and discovered a hidden cave. At the entrance lay a moss-covered stone slab engraved with intricate runes.

“These runes…” Chu Wanlian stopped in her tracks, her gaze becoming deep.

Li Chenyao also squatted down and gently brushed away the moss with his hand, gradually revealing the full appearance of the runes. "This stone slab seems to have been abandoned for a long time, but its material and texture are exactly the same as those items in the laboratory."

"Who would bring something like this here?" Chu Wanlian asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with wariness.

“Perhaps a colleague brought it by accident, or perhaps the event designer did it intentionally.” Li Chenyao stood up, his gaze slightly cold. “In any case, this matter deserves to be investigated.”

Chu Wanlian nodded, but said nothing more. Her gaze fell on the stone slab, and the image of the bracelet glowing flashed through her mind, causing her to feel a vague unease.

On the way back, the atmosphere was more relaxed than on the way there. Li Chenyao suddenly spoke up: "Today's activities were quite interesting, what did you think?"

"Not bad," Chu Wanlian replied calmly, her gaze somewhat unfocused.

“I’ve noticed something interesting,” Li Chenyao said with a hint of amusement. “Your reaction is always quite unique whenever you come into contact with these symbols.”

Chu Wanlian paused, then feigned composure: "Perhaps it's just a coincidence."

“A coincidence?” Li Chenyao looked at her, his gaze deep. “Chu Wanlian, my intuition tells me that this is more than just a coincidence.”

“Your intuition is quite sharp.” Chu Wanlian looked up at him, a slight smile playing on her lips. “However, I’m not a symbol expert, so I may have to disappoint you.”

Li Chenyao chuckled softly, but the smile in his eyes deepened: "Perhaps, but disappointment and you are never the same word."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanlian's heart stirred slightly, but she simply turned her gaze away and said calmly, "Go back, the mission is complete."

The two walked side by side along the forest path, sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows on the ground. Their figures gradually disappeared into the depths of the forest, seemingly intertwined yet maintaining a subtle distance.