Chapter 49: Mountain Climbing

It happened like this.

One week after the Gaokao results were released, the Study Group chat suddenly came back to life.

Wang Hao: “Guys!!! The results are all out, right!!! Shouldn’t we come out and have some fun!!!”

Li Wei: “You again? I still haven’t settled the score with you for flaking last time.”

Wang Hao: “I definitely won’t this time!! I swear!!!”

Li Wei: “You swore last time, too.”

Wang Hao: “…… Didn’t you also skip out?”

Wang Hao: “This time for real!! The place I picked is absolutely reliable!!”

Lin Mo looked at his phone, thinking to himself, ‘What are these two up to now?’

Wang Hao: “Let’s go mountain climbing!!! West Mountain!!! The scenery is great!!! We can even get some exercise!!!”

Li Wei: “??? Mountain climbing? Is there something wrong with your brain?”

Wang Hao: “We’ll leave early in the morning, so it won’t be hot.”

Li Wei: “……”

Li Wei: “Fine, whatever. I’m bored anyway.”

Wang Hao: “@Lin Mo @Shen Qingyue, what about you two? Coming?”

Lin Mo glanced at the screen.

Shen Qingyue hadn’t spoken yet.

He thought for a moment and typed:

Lin Mo: “I’m okay with it.”

A few seconds later.

Shen Qingyue: “I’m okay, too.”

Wang Hao: “Great!!! Then it’s settled!!! 7:00 AM tomorrow!!! We meet at the foot of West Mountain!!!”

Li Wei: “7:00 AM???”

Wang Hao: “It’s cooler if we go early.”

Li Wei: “….. Okay.”

Lin Mo put down his phone.

Mountain climbing, huh.

That was fine. Staying at home only led to overthinking things.

Going out for a walk would be a good way to clear his head.

(；一_一)…

Hopefully, those two wouldn’t flake again this time.

—

The next morning at 7:00 AM, at the foot of West Mountain.

When Lin Mo arrived, Wang Hao and Li Wei were already there.

“Lin Mo! Over here!” Wang Hao waved.

Lin Mo walked over and looked around.

“Where’s the Study Representative?”

“She hasn’t arrived yet.”

“She just sent a message saying she’s almost here.”

As they were speaking, a taxi pulled up to the side of the road.

The door opened, and Shen Qingyue stepped out.

This was… a bit…

Shen Qingyue was carrying a massive backpack.

It was truly huge.

Wang Hao: “Holy crap, Study Rep, are you moving house?”

Li Wei: “How much stuff did you bring…”

Shen Qingyue’s face turned slightly red.

“I just… brought some drinks and snacks.”

As Shen Qingyue walked over, the backpack straps dug into her shoulders. It looked quite heavy.

Lin Mo instinctively reached out.

“Let me carry it for you.”

Shen Qingyue was stunned for a moment.

“No need, no need…”

“It’s fine.” Lin Mo had already taken the backpack. “Let’s go then.”

The moment the backpack hit his shoulder, Lin Mo felt a pang of regret.

This thing was incredibly heavy.

(；一_一)…

Just how much stuff did this girl pack?

Shen Qingyue followed beside him and whispered, “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. This is nothing for me. Even if there were twice as much, my physical stamina could handle it.”

The four of them began to climb the mountain.

It was fine at first.

The steps weren’t steep, and there was shade in the woods.

Wang Hao took the lead, shouting as he climbed, “Keep going, guys!! Victory is just ahead!!”

Li Wei: “Can you be quiet for once…”

Lin Mo followed behind, carrying the large bag.

Shen Qingyue walked beside him.

After climbing for about 20 minutes.

Lin Mo started to sweat.

This bag was simply too heavy.

(；¬＿¬)…

“Um…” Shen Qingyue’s voice drifted over from his side. “How about I take it back?”

Lin Mo looked at her.

Her face was a bit red, and there was sweat on her forehead.

But her eyes were fixed on the bag on his shoulder, looking quite apologetic.

“It’s fine. Uh, Study Rep, who do you think you’re looking down on?” Lin Mo said stubbornly. “I can carry it.”

Shen Qingyue’s face reddened, and she didn’t say more.

But after walking for a while, she suddenly said, “Inside that bag… there’s actually water, snacks, and… and tissues, sunscreen, and…”

Lin Mo: “……”

‘Are you out for a picnic or moving into a new apartment?’

(；一_一)………

They climbed for another 10 minutes.

Lin Mo realized that Wang Hao and Li Wei were nowhere to be seen.

“Where are those two?” Lin Mo asked.

Shen Qingyue also looked back.

“Maybe… they’re ahead?”

Lin Mo: “……”

Fine then.

He continued climbing upward.

Shen Qingyue followed behind.

After a while longer, Lin Mo noticed that Shen Qingyue was getting slower and slower.

He turned back to look at her.

Her face was even redder now, and her breathing was a bit labored.

“Are you tired?” Lin Mo asked.

“I’m okay…” Shen Qingyue said. “It’s just… a bit…”

Before she could finish her sentence, her foot slipped.

Lin Mo reacted quickly and grabbed her arm.

“Careful.”

Shen Qingyue steadied herself, her face turning even redder.

“Th—Thank you.”

Lin Mo let go of her.

Shen Qingyue thought, ‘Why did this idiot let go! He’s such an idiot.’

The two of them continued to climb.

But this time, Lin Mo slowed his pace and walked right beside her.

Shen Qingyue’s breathing was still a bit rapid.

After climbing for a few more minutes.

She suddenly whispered, “Um… can I hold onto your arm?”

Lin Mo was stunned for a moment.

“My legs are a bit… weak…” Her voice grew softer and softer.

Lin Mo looked at her face.

It was as red as an apple.

“Sure,” he said.

Shen Qingyue reached out and gently held his arm.

‘I won’t argue with an idiot. I’ll just be the proactive one.’

The two continued their ascent.

Lin Mo felt a bit strange.

Well, not exactly strange.

He just… didn’t know how to describe it.

Shen Qingyue’s hand rested on his arm, light and gentle.

But even through his clothes, he could feel the warmth of her palm.

There was also the rhythm of her walking; because she was holding onto him, she was in sync with him.

One step, two steps, one step, two steps. Like the steps of a demon…

‘What kind of thoughts are these? This is totally breaking the mood!!!’

(；一_一)…

A thought suddenly popped into his head—she smelled really nice.

Wait, no, no.

Lin Mo shook his head.

‘What am I thinking?’

He kept climbing.

But Shen Qingyue seemed to be leaning closer and closer.

At first, she was just holding on.

Then… it felt like half of her body was pressed against him?

Lin Mo stole a glance at her.

She was looking down, her ears bright red, and who knew what she was thinking.

But her body was definitely leaning toward him.

Soft.

Warm.

(°△°|||)

Lin Mo quickly looked away.

‘Can’t look, can’t look.’

‘I am a man of integrity.’

‘Ah, right, right! A man of integrity who watches adult anime all day.’

He kept climbing.

But that warmth remained right against his arm.

And that fragrance.

And the sound of her soft breathing.

(；¬＿¬)…

Lin Mo suddenly felt that this mountain was a bit too high.

How had they not reached the top yet?

After climbing for another 10 minutes, Lin Mo realized that Shen Qingyue was truly reaching her limit.

She was panting heavily, her forehead was covered in sweat, and her face went from red to pale and back to red again.

“Let’s take a break,” Lin Mo said.

Shen Qingyue nodded.

The two of them found a nearby rock and sat down.

Lin Mo set the backpack down and rummaged through it, pulling out a bottle of water to hand to Shen Qingyue.

“Thank you…”

Shen Qingyue took it and took small, careful sips.

Lin Mo also grabbed a bottle and drank a few mouthfuls.

The sunlight hit them, feeling warm and pleasant.

After finishing her water, Shen Qingyue put the bottle back in the bag.

Then she pulled out a wet wipe and handed one to Lin Mo.

“Wipe off your sweat.”

Lin Mo took it.

The two of them sat there, neither of them speaking.

But the atmosphere…

Lin Mo couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

It was just a bit…

(；一_一)…

“Um…” Shen Qingyue suddenly spoke.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for helping me with the bag.” She kept her head down. “And… for supporting me.”

Lin Mo scratched his head.

“It’s nothing. You’ve helped me so much, so this is the least I can do. Plus, there’s also that reward you promised, Study Representative.”

Lin Mo realized he might have said too much.

“I mean, the reward you planned to give me, even though that interruption stopped it.” Lin Mo quickly tried to cover his tracks.

Shen Qingyue didn’t say anything.

But the corners of her mouth curved up just a tiny bit.

“Since it was interrupted, there’s nothing I can do. It’s gone then.”

“How can you be like that? Fine then,” Lin Mo grumbled.

Shen Qingyue’s ears began to turn red again.

After resting for 5 minutes.

The two of them continued climbing.

This time, Shen Qingyue directly held onto Lin Mo’s arm without letting go.

In fact, she pressed even closer.

Lin Mo could feel her entire weight leaning onto him.

It was that same soft sensation.

(；¬＿¬)…

Lin Mo took a deep breath.

He told himself.

‘The Study Representative is just tired, nothing else.’

‘Right, she’s just tired. She’s a girl, so her stamina is bound to be poor, especially for a top student like her who spends all day studying.’

They were climbing up the steps, and occasionally, people would pass them going down the mountain.

When someone passed, they would glance at them.

Some just looked and moved on.

But others would whisper to themselves after seeing them.

Lin Mo heard an Auntie say, “Oh my, look at this little couple climbing the mountain. So sweet and wonderful.”

(°△°|||)

Lin Mo’s face instantly flushed.

Shen Qingyue heard it too.

She lowered her head even further, but she didn’t let go of Lin Mo’s arm.

They continued climbing.

Someone else passed by.

This time it was a middle-aged man.

“Young man, your girlfriend’s stamina isn’t quite up to it. You should take better care of her. If you have to, you should carry her while she carries the bag.”

Lin Mo: “……”

He wanted to explain.

But what could he explain?

Say she wasn’t his girlfriend?

Then what was she doing holding his arm?

(；一_一)…

Forget it.

He wouldn’t explain.

Explaining would only make it more confusing.

Shen Qingyue remained silent the whole time.

But Lin Mo noticed that her ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

Finally, they reached the halfway point of the mountain.

Lin Mo let out a long breath.

They had finally reached a place where they could rest.

He looked around for Wang Hao and Li Wei.

Then he froze.

Those two were sitting on a stone bench just ahead.

They were staring right at them.

Wang Hao had an “I get it” expression on his face.

Li Wei’s mouth was twitching as if she were holding back a laugh.

Lin Mo: “……”

Shen Qingyue was also stunned.

Her hand was still holding onto Lin Mo’s arm.

Wang Hao: “Oh, you’re here.”

Li Wei: “We’ve been waiting for you guys for a long time.”

Wang Hao: “You climbed pretty slowly.”

Li Wei: “Did something happen on the way to delay you?”

Lin Mo: “……”

Shen Qingyue: “……”

The two of them let go at the same time.

Shen Qingyue’s face was completely flushed.

Lin Mo let out a dry cough.

“Um… the Study Representative was a bit tired… I was just giving her a hand…”

Wang Hao nodded.

“Mm, giving her a hand.”

Li Wei nodded.

“Mm, giving her a hand.”

Their expressions were identical.

Lin Mo: “……”

Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard a cry.

“Ah—”

Shen Qingyue’s foot slipped.

Lin Mo instinctively reached out to pull her.

But he didn’t catch her in time.

Both of them tumbled to the ground together.

Shen Qingyue ended up sitting partially on top of Lin Mo.

(°△°|||)

Lin Mo’s mind went blank.

Shen Qingyue was also stunned.

They were face-to-face.

The distance between them…

Was less than 10 centimeters.

They could hear each other’s breathing.

They could see their own reflections in each other’s eyes.

Air seemed to freeze for 3 seconds.

A child’s voice came from nearby:

“Mom, look! What are those two doing?”

Then came Wang Hao’s and Li Wei’s voices:

“Holy crap.”

“Holy crap?”

“What the heck!”

(；一_一)…