Chapter 11

Layered peaks and stacked ridges, waterfalls plunging a thousand feet. Nature’s masterful craftsmanship intentionally carved out a paradise detached from the mundane world.

The tourists eagerly disembarked, scattering in different directions.

Chu Ruoyou came out of the restroom and saw Yun Huizhi waiting in the shade.

She wore a backpack containing their food and water, her hands demurely resting on the shoulder straps.

Dressed completely in rock gray, but wearing a pink sun hat, she stood out conspicuously, making her look like a little kid.

Back at the station, when they first met, Yun Huizhi stood not far away, smiling and waving at her.

She raised her hand high, as if wanting to jump up, her smile brilliant and dazzling in the crowd.

Chu Ruoyou thought, a textbook extrovert.

At the time, she had doubts about her age.

Now, no more doubts. A scoundrel like Yun Huizhi only appeared pure and harmless on the surface.

Seeing Chu Ruoyou emerge, Yun Huizhi beamed and strode over. “All done? Let’s go. There are lots of scenic spots. It’ll probably take us two days to see everything.”

“Are you hot? Thirsty? Need water? There’s a place selling ice cream over there. The price is a rip-off, but it tastes good. Look at the long line. You want some? I’ll go buy it for you. If not, let’s head out quickly.”

Her string of words mixed with the sunlight, like simmering soup, growing thicker and thicker.

Chu Ruoyou found it glaring. Squinting slightly, she replied flatly, “I don’t want any. If you want some, go buy it.”

“I don’t want it now either, I’ll get some once we’re down the mountain.”

“How many times have you been here?” Stepping up the stone stairs, Chu Ruoyou asked her.

Without thinking, Yun Huizhi wanted to answer straight away. But before speaking, she slowed down, taking a turn to first ask, “Why do you ask?”

Chu Ruoyou answered her question with another question. “Are you a local?”

“I count as half of one.”

Yun Huizhi pondered if Chu Ruoyou kept asking, whether she should tell the truth.

“Half.”

Chu Ruoyou tactfully didn’t press further. “Then you count as half a small-town girl.”

“I’ve been here quite a few times. When I was little, I’d come hiking with my aunt. Just speaking of this past month, including this time, it’s the third visit.”

Yun Huizhi said cheerfully, “I love mountains, forests, and rivers. Cities make people dull and twisted, but nature bestows a good mood upon us.”

Chu Ruoyou acknowledged her point but still asked, “How did you reach that conclusion? Personal experience?”

“I saw someone else say it.

If for some period, you find yourself in a low, depressed, out-of-control state, since you can’t do anything about it, then leave places with ceilings and floor tiles. Go to a purely natural place, walk around, sit for a while, smell the scent of soil, watch the leaves drift down. Your troubles won’t disappear directly, but you’ll definitely release something.”

After saying this, Yun Huizhi thought for a moment. Though she didn’t want to, she admitted to her, “Also tested it myself, and it works.”

So despite acting carefree, she had worries that needed relief.

Thinking of the reason she’d given, Chu Ruoyou offered encouragement, “Your worries are only temporary. They’ll pass sooner or later. You definitely have a better future ahead.”

Blinking, Yun Huizhi understood what she meant. Looking grateful, she said, “Thank you. I think so too.”

Chu Ruoyou was so gullible. The story she made up was cliché and poorly crafted, but she seemed to believe it.

This made Yun Huizhi feel a little bad, like she really had become a swindler.

The two chatted as they climbed. The path skirted the mountainside, green forests and bamboo flanking the stone steps, the deafening roar of the plunging waterfall echoing in their ears.

Chu Ruoyou was finally seeing, with her own eyes, the scenery that existed within Yun Huizhi’s lens.

And it was just as she’d imagined: no matter how beautiful or profound the language of the lens, it was never as breathtaking as seeing it in person.

Yun Huizhi suddenly stopped in front of a bamboo stalk. Carved onto it were a couple’s names, enclosed in a large heart.

She hated this kind of act. “Leaving a lasting stench for eternity, afraid others won’t know how low-class they are.”

Chu Ruoyou stopped too and sneered coldly. “Maybe their feelings are too pale and weak, desperately needing to declare them in a beautiful, flawless place, to be forever cursed by others, achieving some morbid satisfaction. In short, two love-brained fools with questionable IQ.”

Hearing this, Yun Huizhi excitedly said, “Then let’s carve ours too! Ours are just a fleeting fling, soon to be over. Leaving it here to be spat on by others means it could last forever, right?”

“Every tourist passing by will read the great names Chu Ruoyou and Yun Huizhi!”

Chu Ruoyou was silent for a moment, then, unusually calm, nodded and said, “You have a point. Go ahead and carve.”

They exchanged a smile and made no move, continuing deeper into the mountains after this self-mockery.

The dense forest filtered the sunlight. A cool breeze drifted by, making it quite comfortable.

The viewing platform closest to the waterfall offered the best scenery. Chu Ruoyou stood watching for a long time. Water sprayed onto her, dampening parts of her clothes.

But it dried quickly afterward.

Chu Ruoyou might have lacked stamina in other areas, but her hiking ability was quite good. She barely rested the entire way.

In the end, it was Yun Huizhi who slacked off, finding a pavilion to sit in and refusing to move.

Chu Ruoyou urged her to drink water, mercilessly saying, “I thought a half-local like you would be a great hiker.”

Yun Huizhi checked the time and played the pity card. “Tummy’s hungry.”

“Don’t we have milk and snacks in the bag? Have something to tide you over.”

They spent twenty minutes eating lunch. After resting a bit once finished, Chu Ruoyou wanted to keep going.

Yun Huizhi had the energy but wanted to play truant. “I’m tired, can’t walk.”

Chu Ruoyou didn’t indulge her. With surprising arm strength, she pulled her up from the stone bench and dragged her tightly towards the next spot. “You walk even if you can’t. Are you a qualified guide or not?”

Yun Huizhi felt like her mouth was sealed shut. Her hand was firmly gripped by Chu Ruoyou. She felt a moment of bewilderment.

She’d thought this was a very intimate gesture. Given her and Chu Ruoyou’s bed-partner relationship, they should avoid doing things like this.

That was why she’d time and again suppressed her urges to hold or kiss Chu Ruoyou.

But now Chu Ruoyou naturally took her hand, in plain sight, as if there was nothing wrong with it.

She suddenly felt like a prude.

So she held Chu Ruoyou’s hand back, no longer being passively dragged. She quickened her pace. “There’s a uniquely shaped banyan tree ahead, a famous spot. Let’s go take a picture with it.”

Chu Ruoyou had said earlier on the bus that they could take photos together, but no secret pictures.

Chu Ruoyou ultimately hadn’t checked her photo album. Facing Yun Huizhi’s indignation, she had just smiled.

They leaned together and took a picture, the most standard kind of travel photo.

“I know, I’ve seen the one you posted.”

Yun Huizhi asked, “How long have you been following me?”

“Came across your page a few times. Only officially followed after that private message.”

Yun Huizhi had asked her why she didn’t ask for a photo. She said she wanted to open a mystery box, which was just a joke.

Firstly, she’d already decided to come and play, and having a guide to accompany her wasn’t bad. As for that aspect, if Yun Huizhi’s looks didn’t suit her, she would have directly refused and still paid.

Secondly, her intuition told her, from the photography style, that this person was pure and attentive. From the quirky captions, that she was very cute.

Chu Ruoyou’s private message that night had been a complete impulse. If Yun Huizhi had refused or ignored her, there absolutely wouldn’t have been anything after.

But Yun Huizhi had asked for her makeup-free photo. Yun Huizhi had also said, “From now on, the meaning of my existence is waiting for you, Older Sister.”

She disdained it. How could someone be so shallow and undisguised? She’d never met this type of person, so she was also curious.

Their clasped hands grew sweaty from being pressed tightly together. Yun Huizhi pulled away, using a wet wipe to dry her hand, then very naturally reached out to hold it again.

Chu Ruoyou glanced at her, saw her bright eyes and shyly pursed lips.

Chu Ruoyou thought, She’s good at pretending.