Chapter 62: White Heads

They hadn’t reached a decision on whether to go see the sea of clouds when Ming You’s phone rang in her pocket. She took it out and saw that it was Yang Guishu calling.

She answered: “Hello, Mom?”

“Are you in the house? Come down to the garage and get some clothes.” Yang Guishu figured her daughter often stayed over at Yan Ningxi’s place, and Yan Ningxi seemed perfectly happy to “take over.” To get an in, she decided to use delivering clothes as an excuse to drop by.

“…” The clothes would have been a timely help—Ming You really needed them—but she couldn’t get them today. “Sister Yan and I aren’t home.”

For the mountain trip, she had asked Aunt Mei to keep it secret and hadn’t reported it to Yang Guishu.

A wasted trip?

Yang Guishu refused to give up on her visit: “It’s past eight already, and it’s so cold outside. Don’t freeze yourselves. If there’s nothing going on, come back. I’m waiting for you two.”

“Mom, we can’t come back for a while…”

“Yang Guishu, stop waiting—your daughter’s mine tonight.” Aunt Mei had sneaked over at some point and shouted smugly into the phone. “Actually, no—your daughter’s with her friend tonight, haha! Do you know your daughter has a friend now? A super pretty… girlfriend.”

Yan Ningxi: !!!

Ming You: ??? Had she only heard half of it? But the “girlfriend” part made Ming You very happy.

“Aunt Mei, Mom’s already met Sister Yan—they know each other.” Ming You simply handed the phone over. “Why don’t you chat more with my mom?”

“No chatting!” With a bowl still in her hands, she huffed and headed downstairs.

Yang Wei wasn’t around either, leaving just the two of them on the rooftop.

Ming You put the phone back to her ear: “Mom, I decided on the spur of the moment this afternoon and had Sister Yan come with me. We ate dinner as soon as we got here.”

“Alright then, have fun up on the mountain. I’m heading back.” Her daughter getting close to someone else left her feeling a little down as a mom. “Did you bring enough clothes? If it’s cold, borrow some from Aunt Mei or Yang Wei. And make sure to stay safe—no matter what.”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, she immediately sent a message: 【Cold night clothes delivery received in the clouds! Thanks Mom [heart] 】

Her own daughter knew how to use emojis now!!!

She hadn’t gotten to see her, but that bright red heart was enough to satisfy Yang Guishu.

Squinting her eyes, she rummaged through her favorites for ages before finding that sticker pack she’d always wanted to use but never had the chance for. She replied: 【Mom’s good big son.jpg 】

The “son” in the sticker was crossed out with a slash, replaced by a “daughter” tacked on afterward.

The recipient twitched at the corners of her mouth amid the snow. She wondered if her mom actually understood what that sticker meant. Was she beating around the bush and calling her a dog?

Seeing her odd expression, Yan Ningxi asked, “Did Auntie get mad?”

“I don’t know if she got mad, but she called me a dog.”

“…” Should she tell her that Qi Xuexin had called her a dog too?

“Yan Ningxi?”

“Yeah?”

“What are you thinking about? Your expression looks weird.”

“Nothing…”

“Really?” Ming You didn’t buy it. She leaned in close to her face and pretended to kiss her. “Are you gonna say it? Gonna say it? If not, I’m kissing you!”

Yan Ningxi pushed her away with a hand, lowering her head in a coquettish tone: “Don’t fool around.”

Playing hard to get, reluctant to speak. Ming You was utterly smitten with Yan Ningxi in this dainty, ladylike mode.

She threw open her arms and bear-hugged her: “Yan Ningxi, Teacher Yan, you’re too cute!” Ignoring Yan Ningxi’s attempts to push her away, she leaned in by her ear. “I like you so much.”

Yang Wei happened to catch this exact scene from the doorway.

They had known each other for three years, and adding up all the time they’d spent together during winter and summer breaks came to over a month. She’d never seen Ming You this intimate with anyone, laughing so freely and happily.

She retreated down the stairs and shouted from the corner where the rooftop was out of sight: “Ming You, Teacher Yan, come on down.”

Yan Ningxi startled like a deer in headlights and broke free. Ming You called back: “Okay, coming right now.”

The gloves Yang Wei brought were new. The homestay they ran was just one in the area—counting the three most distinctive and priciest little wooden cabins on the cliffside, there were twelve guest rooms in total. They’d stocked up on gear suitable for summer play and winter outings to meet guests’ occasional needs.

The town had all sorts of shops focused on food, covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So they rarely provided meals for guests unless it was a slow season and long-term visitors booked ahead.

From two to five in the afternoon, they opened the first-floor clear bar, which Yang Wei mainly handled, mixing coffees and teas.

After stowing their IDs and gloves and chatting a bit more, they said goodnight. Ming You opened the big umbrella that had been tucked into her hat and strolled leisurely around the courtyard with Yan Ningxi. They took their time digesting dinner before heading toward the little wooden cabin.

…

The middle little wooden cabin lit up. The Christmas tree on its terrace lit up too, flashing with rings of colorful lights, and a person sat at the table.

“Sister Yan, let’s guess: how many people are staying in that middle cabin? Family, friends, or lovers?”

“And then what if we guess?”

“Then…” Ming You grinned mischievously. “If you guess right, I’ll hold you while we sleep tonight. If I guess right, you’ll hold me.”

Hugging either way. Yan Ningxi stayed silent and didn’t guess.

There were still a few dozen meters to go when Ming You closed the umbrella. The snow was still falling, and heavier than before.

She took Yan Ningxi’s hand and dropped the guessing game, simply walking along leisurely: “A snowy night stroll—might as well count it as our first white heads together.”

White heads together. A dream even more distant than sweet dreams.

The thought made Yan Ningxi’s heart ache. She gave a little tug on the hand holding hers and interlaced their fingers tightly.

As they drew nearer to the little wooden cabin, another woman emerged from the middle cabin’s terrace room, holding a white ceramic cup in each hand.

No sooner had the later woman set down her cup and sat than she spotted the approaching pair—from uncertain to sure. Overjoyed, she jumped up and ran to the roadside, waving.

“It really is you guys?” She pointed at herself. “Remember me? Hengyuan HSR Station?”

The only person they’d both crossed paths with at the station was the kind soul who’d sat next to Yan Ningxi.

Ming You recognized her: “I do. The kind person—Miss Su…”

“Right, Su Yi. Su from Suzhou, and Yi as in big capital RMB.” Su Yi wasn’t wearing a hat; her hair length hadn’t changed much, the loose ends reaching just to her collarbone.

“Hello.” Ming You wasn’t in the habit of making lots of friends, and she knew Yan Ningxi was even more “socially avoidant,” so she didn’t introduce them. Her gaze drifted to the cabin terrace. “Did you… come from Hengyuan together? How long have you been here?”

“I’m here on a business trip—I’ve got work scheduled nearby lately, so I come up the mountain for one or two nights almost every week. She…”

Su Yi glanced at Jin Yuan, who was watching her, then at the hands Ming You and Yan Ningxi still held. She said straightforwardly, “That’s my girlfriend. She got here yesterday. Wanted some peace and quiet, so I brought her to this mid-mountain homestay for a break. When I’m by myself, I’m not this fancy—I stay in whatever hotel the client books.” She pointed up the mountain with her left hand. “Up in the higher, colder Front Mountain.”

When Su Yi announced that she and the other woman were girlfriends, Ming You thought, as expected.

“How many days are you staying this time?” It was a serendipitous connection with a lesbian couple—if both sides had time, befriending them wouldn’t hurt.

“Checking out at noon tomorrow, heading down the mountain in the afternoon back to Hengyuan. Together.”

Same schedule as Ming You.

Yan Ningxi had work tomorrow afternoon, and Ming You had no intention of making her change her plans for this trip. If it caused her any work trouble, it would defeat the whole purpose of making this dream come true.

Seeing Ming You go quiet, Su Yi still extended a polite invitation: “Meeting by chance twice is pretty rare. Friends come from afar—want to come sit with us?”

“We can’t sit. If the weather’s good tomorrow morning, we’re planning to head to the mountaintop for the sea of clouds. You interested?”

“Sea of clouds?”

Su Yi was 27, Jin Yuan 30—neither was a kid anymore. Su Yi’s career was on the rise, Jin Yuan’s at a small peak. At their age, most of their time went to work, leaving little for living life or taking in scenery.

“That was presumptuous of me.” Ming You apologized with a smile. “To get up early for it, we need to head back and rest soon. We won’t disturb your couple’s world.”

“Hey, that’s not what I meant. Wait a sec.”

Su Yi ran back to the terrace and returned with her phone. “Mind adding each other as friends? I’ll ask my girlfriend what she thinks—if we’re going, I’ll contact you. If not adding friends, we can just shout from the terrace tomorrow morning.”

Su Yi gave off a warm and refined vibe. Ming You let go of the hand, switched the umbrella to her right, and pulled out her phone to let Su Yi scan: “I’m Ming You. Ming as in tomorrow’s Ming, You as in pomelo.”

“Got it, saved.” Su Yi stepped aside to let them pass and smiled. “Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

“Goodbye.” This came from Yan Ningxi.

Ming You and Su Yi shared some unspoken understanding and exchanged smiles. Ming You waved as a farewell.

…

Once inside the room, Ming You had Yan Ningxi stand face-to-face with her. She looked at the snowflakes on her head for a moment before brushing them off: “Heating’s good here, plenty of hot water—go take a shower quick. I’ll make two cups of brown sugar ginger tea. Drink it when you’re out.”

Back at the apartment, she usually showered first. Tonight, she worried Yan Ningxi wasn’t used to the mountain cold and had gotten snowed on—afraid she’d catch a chill.

Yan Ningxi reached up to brush the snow off her too, but Ming You had already shrugged off her vest and given her whole body a shake.

It was just like… a dog. That dog who’d splashed a whole body of rainwater on Ming You.

Yan Ningxi held back a laugh, unzipped the luggage on the sofa, grabbed her cosmetics bag and pajamas, swapped to slippers, and headed into the bathroom.

Not two minutes later, Yan Ningxi cracked the door open and called: “Ming You, pass me the body lotion from your backpack.” She’d mentioned that morning that she’d apply it tonight.

Ming You handed over the lotion, then disinfected and wiped the water kettle and cups on the smart water dispenser one by one.

Safety and hygiene—one set per guest. Aunt Mei and the others must have checked everything thoroughly before they moved in, but Ming You wanted to do it again for Yan Ningxi.

Once the sound of water from the bathroom stopped, she tore open two packets of brown sugar ginger tea and brewed them. While stirring, she replied to Su Yi’s message.

【Su Yi: What time to get up for the sea of clouds? How to get up there? We didn’t drive.】

【Ming You: Head out at six-thirty, arrive mountaintop at seven, take the earliest cable car up to Cloud-Watching Platform. My car’s in the parking lot.】

【Su Yi: Got it. Check the weather tomorrow morning—if you’re going, give me a voice call. We’ll hitch a ride.】

【Ming You: Miss Su, do either of you drive? It’s just a regular sedan. I’m worried I won’t have slept enough in the morning and won’t be alert. She… doesn’t have her license yet.】

【Su Yi: I’ll drive. No problem.】

【Ming You: My brother stays here too. Was gonna have him take us up. Then we’ll trouble you tomorrow. Fingers crossed for good weather. [sun] 】

【Su Yi: Hoping for good weather tomorrow. Sweet dreams tonight too. [moon] 】

Yan Ningxi turned off the hairdryer and came out. The room temperature had risen; wearing just pajamas didn’t feel cold.

Ming You leaned in and sniffed at her neck: “Smells so good.” She handed her the brown sugar ginger tea. “Drink this and head upstairs.”

Yan Ningxi had listened to her the whole way. Whatever she said, Yan Ningxi did.

Watching that figure head upstairs, Ming You wondered: Was Yan Ningxi actually happy? How happy? Was it willing, or just going along with her?

If she was happy, if it was willing—heaven, earth, and man all aligned—could they have a uniquely special “good dream” tonight?