Over the next two hours, Chu Zhi told him three more stories. She was perfect for storytelling – her pace wasn’t too fast or slow, her voice was soft and pleasant, and she had her own unique way of speaking. At the end of each story, she would always conclude with some peculiar life lessons. After several hours, Lu Jiaheng gained a new understanding of her unique perspective on things.
At first, he would try to argue, like saying: “No, that’s not what The Little Prince is about.”
Or: “Chu Zhi, Cinderella isn’t stupid, and neither is her stepmother.”
And: “Juliet’s parents didn’t forbid her from dating Romeo just because she was thirteen. It wasn’t about preventing puppy love.”
Chu Zhi replied seriously: “But Juliet was only thirteen. By today’s standards, Romeo would be considered a pedophile who likes young girls. At worst, he’d be sent to prison.”
“…”
Like an arrow striking out of nowhere, Young Master Lu unconsciously touched his knee.
He rested his chin on his hand, pondering for a moment before slowly saying: “Maybe he just wanted to keep things platonic at first, waiting for Juliet to grow up.”
Chu Zhi frowned: “Then he’s still a scumbag. He liked Rosaline first, and only wanted to pursue Juliet after seeing how pretty she was.”
“…”
Lu Jiaheng was speechless: “…You’re right.”
It was a novel feeling, like thinking you had a white rabbit, but suddenly one day discovering this rabbit could transform into Superman.
By the end, Chu Zhi’s voice had gone hoarse from talking. She pulled out two cartons of milk from her backpack, one for each of them.
After hanging in the air for over three hours, power was finally restored. Fire rescue and police were stationed at both ends of the cable car line, confirming that all passengers had been safely evacuated.
When the cable car stopped and the doors opened, Chu Zhi jumped out first, then helped support Lu Jiaheng as he got out.
Cheng Yi watched from the side, thinking this shock was totally worth it – seeing the young master and his cute girl’s relationship progressing so rapidly.
He grinned and couldn’t help teasing: “Wow, our junior is so thoughtful.”
Chu Zhi turned her head, expression serious: “Senior is afraid of heights.”
Cheng Yi was stunned: “Huh?”
Lu Jiaheng held Chu Zhi’s outstretched hand and stepped out of the cable car with complete composure, like a bride stepping down from a wedding sedan. He nodded and said seriously: “I’m afraid of heights.”
Cheng Yi: “…”
What the hell are you afraid of heights for.
After those three hours, no one had the energy to play anymore. In northern October, daylight was short and the sky was already dim. They still had to walk down from the mountaintop after getting off the cable car.
Chu Zhi and Lu Jiaheng were fine since they had eaten some of the snacks from her backpack in the cable car, but Lin Tong and Cheng Yi were dizzy with hunger, each wolfing down two custard pies.
After all that trouble, Cheng Yi and Lin Tong had gotten quite familiar with each other. Cheng Yi held a custard pie in one hand and a carton of milk in the other, speaking unclearly: “This is definitely the most meaningful trip I’ve had in my twenty-plus years, really making me understand life’s hardships.”
Canyan Mountain scenic area wasn’t large. On their way down, they saw the Hanging Temple. As night was falling, the temple stood on an arched bridge, with misty clouds above and steep cliffs below.
The two-story ancient building had upturned eaves. By now, warm yellow lights had been lit inside, filtered through the latticed windows, creating a different kind of scenery compared to daytime.
By the time they returned to the hotel, all four were exhausted physically and mentally. Chu Zhi ate dinner while yawning, only managing a few bites before getting a room key from Lin Tong. She went upstairs without even bothering to shower, falling straight onto the bed.
She had only planned to sleep for an hour, but when she woke up, it was already nearly nine at night.
When she woke, the room only had a small light on. Her hand reached out randomly to the side and touched something warm.
Chu Zhi opened her eyes with a yawn, squinting to look over.
Lu Jiaheng was sitting against the headboard on the other side, looking at her with an ambiguous smile.
His side had a light on, not very bright, half-blocked by his body, conveniently shading the area around Chu Zhi’s pillow.
“…”
Chu Zhi turned her head in confusion.
Lin Tong was holding cards at the foot of the bed, with a pile of poker cards spread out. Seeing that she was awake, Lin Tong threw down two cards: “You’re up? King pair.”
Cheng Yi had pulled up a chair beside the bed: “Damn boss, look at your partner here, I’m just a peasant! We’re on the same team! You should help me out! Ace pair.”
Chu Zhi sat up yawning and supporting herself on the bed, stretching to see Young Master Lu’s cards beside her.
Lu Jiaheng shifted his gaze away, tilting the cards in his hand slightly to make it easier for her to see.
Chu Zhi sat against the headboard, wiping her eyes, and let out a “Wow.”
Lin Tong and Cheng Yi immediately tensed up, going into alert mode.
Young Master Lu’s long fingers slowly moved across the cards, throwing down four queens, saying lightly: “Bomb.”
“…”
“Pair of twos.”
“…”
At this point, Lu Jiaheng still had five cards left. Cheng Yi gave a cold laugh: “Keep showing off.”
Lu Jiaheng fell silent suddenly, paused his movements, and tilted the cards he was holding towards Chu Zhi.
Chu Zhi blinked, looking at him with an unclear expression.
Lu Jiaheng gave a soft laugh, his voice gentle: “You play.”
Cheng Yi rolled his eyes.
Hearing this, Chu Zhi obediently reached out a hand and pinched the top of the cards he was holding.
She sat next to him, her arm pressed against his as she reached over. Having just woken up, her eyes still had traces of moisture, and her earlobes were pink from being pressed against the pillow.
Her movements were a bit slow and sluggish as she pulled out the cards one by one.
Lu Jiaheng wasn’t in a hurry either. He turned his body slightly and moved a bit closer, holding the cards right in front of her, patiently waiting for her to finish drawing.
She would pull out one card and throw it on the bed, and he would announce each one, unhurried, as if torturing them.
“Seven.”
“Eight.”
“Nine.”
“Ten.”
“Jack.”
Exactly five cards.
“…”
Cheng Yi desperately threw his cards on the bed, not wanting to look at the lovey-dovey couple anymore: “I’m done.”
Though Young Master Cheng said he was done, after lying limp in his chair for a while, he got fired up again. In the end, he played with increasing determination despite losing more and more, until he was completely defeated without a penny left. Only then did Lu Jiaheng drag him back to his room to sleep, though he was still reluctant to leave.
Early the next morning, after everyone had slept their fill, they packed up and set out again.
So much had happened the day before that they hadn’t had much energy for sightseeing. They spent the morning visiting all the places they hadn’t seen or played at yet. In the afternoon, they checked out of the hotel with their luggage, and the car was already waiting by the road.
Chu Zhi had originally prepared to take the bus, but just as the little girl had walked a few steps forward pulling her small suitcase, she was grabbed by the collar and pulled back like a chicken.
Lu Jiaheng raised an eyebrow: “Where are you going?”
Chu Zhi pointed at the almost full bus: “Taking the bus.”
Lu Jiaheng bent down slightly, took the small wheeled suitcase from her hand, and nodded toward the dark gray private car that had been quietly parked opposite them: “Get in this one.”
The car had tinted windows, making it impossible to see inside from the outside, and it looked gloomy and lifeless.
Chu Zhi looked around, turned back, and said with a serious expression: “No, senior, we can’t take illegal taxis.”
“…”
Lu Jiaheng raised the corner of his mouth and walked towards the car pulling the small suitcase: “It’s fine, I just beat up this illegal taxi driver, he’s very well-behaved now.”
Just as he finished speaking, the driver’s window slowly lowered halfway, and Lin Baiyang’s handsome face darkened as he cursed without restraint: “Lu Jiaheng, I fucking heard that!”
Chu Zhi: “…”
Cheng Yi walked over with a sleazy grin, pretending to be delighted: “Oh my! My roommate! How are you here, my roommate!” while opening the passenger door and sitting down.
Lu Jiaheng opened the trunk and put Chu Zhi’s suitcase and backpack inside.
In the back row, Lu Jiaheng and Lin Tong sat on either side, with Chu Zhi, being small, very consciously sitting in the middle.
Actually, Chu Zhi quite liked sitting in the middle, feeling that the middle seat had a better view and she could see the road ahead.
The male classmate who Chu Zhi had mistaken for an illegal taxi driver was also quite talkative, though his chattiness came with intermittent irritability. He would often become impatient while talking, or Cheng Yi would say something annoying that triggered his anger.
In short, the main theme of the journey was basically: “It’s one thing for you guys to go play by yourselves, but why the fuck do I have to pick you up and drive you back? Am I your family driver? How much are you paying me?”
Chu Zhi felt quite apologetic, after all, she had organized the activity and brought these two along, so she quickly explained, apologized, and expressed her gratitude.
Lin Baiyang had originally been cursing at Cheng Yi and hadn’t thought much about it, but hearing the girl speak, he actually felt a bit embarrassed.
The little girl sat properly in the middle, leaning slightly forward, her dark eyes looking at him through the rearview mirror, thanking him very sincerely.
Lin Baiyang had always been extremely awkward when dealing with girls. Being stared at so intently and warmly made him feel uncomfortable all over, his ears quickly beginning to turn red and flush, with the color threatening to spread upward.
But obviously, he had a good impression of Chu Zhi, replying to her in a rare gentle tone: “It’s nothing, these two idiots are always troublesome, I’m used to it.”
Just as Chu Zhi was about to speak, suddenly, her left shoulder felt heavy.
She stopped mid-sentence and turned to look.
Lu Jiaheng had rested his chin on her shoulder, looking up at her through his eyelashes, his eyes drooping and lips pursed.
His pupils were black, his lips pale, and his voice was weak and deliberately affected: “It’s fine, I’m just a bit carsick.”
Cheng Yi: “…”
Lin Baiyang: “…”
You weren’t carsick when you were doing spiritual drifting on the race track.
Cheng Yi had watched the whole process and now raised his hand innocently to speak: “Did any of you eat Laotan Sauerkraut Beef Noodles? Why do I smell something sour in this car?”
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