October in Chuanpen City was a time between late summer and early autumn. The blazing sun hung high overhead, yet it didn’t feel particularly hot. Gusts of mountain wind brushed past, bringing with them the coolness of autumn.
Deep within the lush, forested mountains, two young men dressed in hiking gear and equipped with full protective equipment were holding trekking poles. They were struggling along a steep mountain path, making their way toward the summit.
Just then, the person walking in front suddenly turned around and waved vigorously at the companion who had fallen some distance behind, shouting loudly, “Hurry up, Jiang Chi, don’t fall behind!”
“The summit is right ahead, not far now.”
At that moment, Jiang Chi, who was already panting with exhaustion in the back: …
He really didn’t know how Ji Yuenian could have such thick nerves. Only this morning, the two of them had finished praying to the gods, and because of certain matters, the atmosphere between them had nearly reached a freezing point. Yet in the afternoon, she had enthusiastically dragged him out to climb a mountain, as if everything that had happened before never existed.
Right then, Ji Yuenian’s voice drifted down from the summit, sounding extremely excited.
“Hurry up, the scenery here is beautiful enough to die for! Come up quickly and take a few pictures of me!!”
Jiang Chi’s mouth twitched slightly.
But when Jiang Chi finally reached the summit, he understood exactly what kind of magnificent sight Ji Yuenian meant by “beautiful enough to die for.”
Standing on the peak and looking down, the continuous mountain ranges appeared and disappeared amidst the clouds and mist, with emerald peaks rising and falling. Golden sunlight spilled across the mountains, as if draping the earth in a brilliant cloak.
Vaguely, one could see a densely populated peak in the distance with cable cars suspended high and crowds of people moving about; that was the Taoist temple belonging to Hu Li’s family. In his eyes, all of this was no larger than a grain of rice. It felt as if he were suspended in the sky, looking down upon thousands of miles of vastness, truly embodying the sentiment: “Once you reach the peak, all other mountains appear small!”
Ji Yuenian stood on a giant boulder, her ear-length short hair fluttering in the wind. Her smile was as bright as a blooming flower, and her arms were spread wide as if she wanted to embrace the entire world.
A complex wave of emotion welled up in Jiang Chi’s heart. He instinctively took out his camera and recorded this beautiful moment.
“Haha, refreshing!”
Ji Yuenian laughed heartily.
Hearing the sound of the shutter behind her, she turned around and heroically thumped her chest toward the lens. “Take a few more. Make sure to get my face. I need them to deal with my parents when I go back.”
Looking at Ji Yuenian’s appearance, a sudden impulse surged within Jiang Chi, but he didn’t say much. He simply nodded and uttered a single word.
“Okay.”
Click! Click!
Click! Click! Several shutter sounds rose and fell as Ji Yuenian struck a few handsome poses. After finishing all this, she jumped down from the rock but failed to notice the stones beneath her feet. She stumbled and nearly fell.
Jiang Chi was quick-eyed and fast-handed, catching her in a firm grip.
“Be careful.” There was a hint of concern in Jiang Chi’s voice.
“I’m fine. I’m thick-skinned and tough. Even if I really fell, it wouldn’t be a big deal.” Ji Yuenian waved her hand dismissively.
The two of them enjoyed the scenery on the summit for a while before beginning their descent. This time, Jiang Chi walked in front. However, they hadn’t gone far when a sudden scream came from Ji Yuenian behind him. Jiang Chi hurriedly turned around to see Ji Yuenian sitting on the ground, clutching her ankle with a pained expression on her face.
“What happened?” Jiang Chi asked with concern.
“I took a tumble, it’s not a big deal.” Ji Yuenian waved her hand, trying to stand up again. But as soon as she steadied herself, the pain from her ankle caused her to fall back to the ground, hissing through the pain.
Jiang Chi knelt down, rolled up her pant leg, and checked Ji Yuenian’s ankle. It was already swollen, and the center was starting to turn a faint shade of blue.
“I’ll carry you.”
“Don’t!”
“I think I can manage…”
Ji Yuenian hurriedly refused. Being carried down a mountain by a man was just too embarrassing. However, Jiang Chi was stating a fact, not negotiating.
Before Ji Yuenian could finish, Jiang Chi lifted her onto his back. Lying on Jiang Chi’s back, Ji Yuenian’s face instantly turned red. She wanted to struggle down, but feared injuring her ankle again, so she could only lie there obediently.
Ji Yuenian herself wasn’t that heavy, weighing around a hundred pounds. With the hiking pack, it was only about 120 pounds. To carry Ji Yuenian, Jiang Chi handed his own hiking pack to her, bringing the total to about 140 pounds.
140 pounds was not exactly light.
Fortunately, Jiang Chi had been exercising systematically for several months. While carrying 140 pounds currently required some effort, it was barely manageable.
Along the way, seeing that the die was cast, Ji Yuenian lay on Jiang Chi’s back and gave up her struggle, activating her dual attributes of chatterbox and goofball.
“I can’t believe the great Ji Yuenian’s reputation is ruined by tripping on flat ground.”
“Ahhh! My black history!!”
“Being carried down a mountain by a man… this can practically be carved onto my pillar of shame.”
“++ it. To think I fantasized back in middle and high school about carrying a fragrant, soft girl on my back, but now I’m the one being carried.”
“Oh God! Why did I get gender-flipped? If I had a chance to do it over, I would definitely never eat that marshmallow!”
“…”
The path down the mountain was not easy to walk, yet Jiang Chi walked very steadily. His back was broad and warm, providing a strange sense of security.
She secretly looked at Jiang Chi’s profile. His features were three-dimensional and sharp, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, and a faint scent of tulips lingered on him.
How come I didn’t notice this kid was actually a bit handsome before?
Only one level below me.
Ji Yuenian muttered to herself.
Feeling every step Jiang Chi took, the trace of stubbornness in Ji Yuenian’s heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a hint of guilt.
“Um, Jiang Chi, how about you put me down and rest for a bit?”
“I’m not tired.”
“Then are you thirsty? I have a few bottles of water in my pack.”
“Not thirsty.”
“…”
Silence enveloped them. Ji Yuenian, who was supposed to be an expert at conversation, didn’t know how to start a topic at this moment.
After a while, Ji Yuenian spoke again with a bit of awkwardness, coughing lightly as she said, “Um, Jiang Chi, about that thing this morning… you know, even if you really have feelings for me, we can only stay as ordinary friends. I think you understand what I mean.”
Jiang Chi still didn’t respond, but Ji Yuenian could feel his body stiffen slightly.
“Ahem, of course, I’m not saying you’re not good. After all, a cold campus idol like you with upright character, excellent conduct, and great grades—if I were a girl, bah, if I had been a girl since I was little, I’d definitely fall for you. I might even be the one chasing you.”
“It’s just… now, you understand. Never mind whether we get along or not, there are several huge mountains standing in my way. After all, in the eyes of the world, ‘Ji Yuenian’ is a 6-foot-tall, bona fide male school delinquent.”
After finishing, Ji Yuenian glanced at Jiang Chi. The latter maintained his posture of silently carrying her forward, not even his eyelashes fluttering. She silently let out a sigh of relief.
Good, it seems his emotions aren’t flared up. He won’t have an episode in these deep woods.
Jiang Chi remained silent for a long time. Just as they were nearing the foot of the mountain, he suddenly stopped. He was still carrying Ji Yuenian, but his voice sounded different.
“Can we give it a try? Regardless of the result, just a simple try.”
“Ji Yuenian, I want to date you.”
In the mountain forest, a gentle breeze brushed past, and the leaves rustled. Silence quietly spread between the two, with only the rustling of the wind echoing.
A flash of panic suddenly appeared in the beauty’s eyes. She instinctively bit her lip, wanting to speak, but then closed her mouth.
She had never expected Jiang Chi to express his feelings so directly. This left her both surprised and at a loss for what to do.
What should I do? What should I do?
Jiang Chi’s figure kept appearing in her mind—that cold face, those determined eyes, and his shoulders that were trembling slightly while carrying her. For some reason, a warmth she had never felt before welled up in her heart, sending ripples through her soul.
Ji Yuenian slowly released her bitten lip and took a soft breath, trying to calm herself down.
Jiang Chi waited quietly for her response, but the person on his back had fallen into a deathly silence.
After a long time, the beauty on his back let out a yawn and said in a lazy tone, “Mmm… Jiang Chi, what did you just say? I just fell asleep and didn’t hear clearly.”
Silence. Jiang Chi fell into silence.
After a long while, he shook his head and replied with “It’s nothing,” before continuing to carry Ji Yuenian toward the foot of the mountain.
Effort is human, but the path ahead is winding.
Sigh.
However, Jiang Chi didn’t notice the expression on the beauty’s face or the complex gaze she was using to stare at him.
Ji Yuenian pulled her hand back and gently pressed it against her chest, her expression unreadable.
!
That feeling just now!
I couldn’t have actually felt a heartbeat, could I!!
It can’t be! I can’t be turning gay!!