Chapter 103

The sun had already dipped halfway below the horizon, but the temperature dropped sharply, as if the entire plain had suddenly sunk beneath the horizon. The scorching air slowly dissipated, turning into a fresh, damp atmosphere with the scent of earth, bringing a slight coolness. The reserve wasn't large, and the accommodations were even more basic. There were only seven or eight large tents, their colors leaning toward a grass-like yellow-green. Van pulled a cigarette from his pack, lit it, and inhaled deeply. With a flick of his wrist, he held the cigarette at the corner of his mouth. "I told you, the conditions here are rudimentary. You might not adapt well." Harry took them on a tour, pointing out each tent, "This is the shower and bathroom area. The kitchen is over there. This tent is where I stay with another volunteer, and the two next to it are for other female volunteers." The last tent was reserved for them. "It's getting late, and dinner is being prepared. You can rest for now, and we'll eat shortly. Just a reminder, don't leave the tents once it's dark," Harry advised with concern. "Why?" Winnie asked, a little confused. "Because... you might encounter wild animals, like... lions," Harry said with a shrug, seeming helpless. Winnie froze for a moment. Harry raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I mean, I'm saying 'just in case,' but it's really best not to leave the tent at night." She didn't think too much about it and quickly turned to enter the tent. Inside, the tent was spacious enough to stand upright. In the corner, there was an air mattress with a red-patterned blanket, and a down comforter was laid across the bed. There were two different-sized tables with storage functions on the coffee table. One had an electric kettle and disposable paper cups on top, and the surface of one table was spread with a notebook, filled with dense handwriting and simple sketches, as if it had once been a work desk. The only relaxing feature in the tent was two white linen moon chairs, which added a bit of a vacation vibe. A clothes rack made from tree branches held two thick down jackets. Van took one down and draped it over Winnie's shoulders. "It's cold. Wear this." After saying that, he quickly took off his cigarette, turned his head, and coughed a few times. The evening breeze swept through the empty campsite, bringing with it a wild scent, and the wind was filled with the calls of small animals. Winnie's tense voice relaxed slightly, and she sighed, "The bird calls are much more reassuring..." Van flicked the cigarette out, took a sip of water, and glanced at her with a smile. "That's a hyena." Dinner was simple but hearty: crab meat fried rice, with fresh fruit like mangoes, mangosteens, and pineapples emitting a rich fragrance. There was also a glass of refreshing wine, mildly sweet with a hint of freshness, perfectly balancing the richness of the meal. Harry's witty conversation kept the atmosphere lively. This small animal conservation camp in the vast African grasslands was entirely run by volunteers. They patrolled the Serengeti National Park, rescuing injured, lonely, or sick wildlife while battling poachers. "The first time I met Van was at a fundraising lecture in Cambridge," Harry said, tidying up the tableware as he spoke to Winnie. "I was giving a speech in a small lecture hall with only a few people listening, but then he walked in, wearing a neat suit with an exceptional presence." Van chuckled softly, lifting his head with a hint of teasing in his voice as he calmly reminded, "Don't exaggerate." "It's not an exaggeration, it's the absolute truth," Harry, now in his sixties, said with a squinting smile. "When you walked in, I suddenly felt like everything had changed. Even though you seemed calm, as if you didn't care about what I was saying, you made me feel like my work, all my efforts, were profoundly meaningful." Winnie listened quietly, her gaze inadvertently drifting toward Van under the deep blue night sky. The sweet scent of fruit lingered in the air, warm and comforting, providing an unspoken sense of solace. Harry's words touched her deeply—Van, with just a single glance, seemed capable of evoking a fateful connection. It was like realizing, in the most ordinary moment, that your life had become inextricably intertwined with someone else's. The camp's generator roared briefly, breaking the serenity of the wilderness. Its sound would only last until 8 p.m., after which the camp would descend into silence, with only the soft glow of individual tent lamps illuminating the darkness. Winnie quickly took a simple shower and returned to the tent, sneezing a few times. In the rush of their travels, her luggage had been completely lost, and today's packed schedule left no time to worry about such details. Van had arranged for someone to prepare a few basic changes of clothes for her, but naturally, there were no proper pajamas among them. He handed her one of his shirts. "You can wear this for now, just make sure you don't catch a cold." The shirt was soft, with a light yet crisp fabric. When Winnie put it on, its oversized fit practically enveloped her. Noticing that the sleeves were too long, she began carefully rolling them up. The dim, soft light in the tent cast a gentle glow, outlining the damp tips of her hair. Van paused in his movements, his gaze settling on her with an indescribable emotion, as though he were unexpectedly captivated. She noticed his gaze, and a flicker of unease rose in her chest. Lowering her head, she carefully adjusted her shirt. Van hid the curve of a smile at the corner of his lips, but his tone remained teasing. "Will you make such a sudden change of plans again next time?" Winnie raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth curving upward as a glint of defiance sparkled in her eyes. "Why not? I'll do it again." His smile deepened, his expression almost daring as if he intended to provoke her further. "Come here." Winnie had just risen, her knees still slightly bent as she straightened up, when she felt his arm circle her waist. The oversized white shirt she wore hung loosely on her frame, its collar slightly disheveled. He leaned down, his voice deep as he asked, "Did you brush your teeth?" The unexpected question left Winnie momentarily stunned. Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt the air grow heavier around them. "Yes, I did," she replied, trying to keep her tone natural, though an undercurrent of nervousness betrayed her. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Did you brush them thoroughly?" The insinuation in his words rendered Winnie almost speechless, her mind racing. "I did," she answered softly, her heart pounding faster as her body stiffened slightly. As her neck tilted back slightly in tension, his warm lips landed gently on her earlobe. In that instant, it felt as though an electric current surged through her body, making her muscles tense in response. She closed her eyes lightly, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck as her body leaned into his. His soft lips and tongue lingered near her ear, moving delicately, sending waves of tingling warmth coursing through her. "Mr. Marlowe..." she murmured his name almost unconsciously, her voice trembling as she felt her balance waver in his arms. "What?" he asked with a quiet chuckle, clearly aware of her flustered state.