Jiang Nan Fang still felt a bit of lingering unease at the thought of returning to that rough town.
Taking a helicopter was definitely better than the back-and-forth hassle.
She had already accepted the suggestion in her heart, but she felt too embarrassed to admit it, so she decided to feign a little more coyness.
"You know my shoes ran off yesterday, how could I possibly accompany you up the mountain barefoot?"
Zhan Bei Jue let her up.
"Go wash up first, I'll take you out to buy a pair later."
And so, she half-heartedly agreed.
After washing up, she changed into the clothes she had washed clean the day before.
Jiang Nan Fang, wearing slippers, followed Zhan Bei Jue out of the hotel.
They took a taxi directly to the nearest mall to buy a pair of sneakers, and then headed to the foot of the mountain.
Perhaps it was because she had been worried about everyone's safety all day yesterday, she had washed up and gone to bed upon returning, not paying much attention to her ankle.
After lying down all night, it had become somewhat swollen.
Walking a few steps in the sneakers, the rubbing felt quite painful.
Qingfeng Mountain was a well-known mountain in the city, with an altitude of over 1700 meters.
The steps stretched out, one after another, climbing steeply as if reaching the clouds.
After a few steps, Jiang Nan Fang really didn't want to go any further.
"Why don't you go up by yourself? I'll wait here. I don't have any faith anyway, so there's no point in praying. Come down quickly after you're done."
Many middle-aged uncles and aunts in casual wear passed by them.
Each of them walked with light steps, chatting and laughing.
Seeing how she struggled from the very beginning, Zhan Bei Jue couldn't help but tease her.
"Your stamina is too poor. Don't you ever stand up and exercise besides work?"
"Even without faith, you have to go up with me. If not, I'll carry you."
Such a steep mountain, even if she was thin, she still weighed dozens of pounds.
To carry her up would surely exhaust Zhan Bei Jue to death.
Jiang Nan Fang had a bit of conscience.
"No need, I won't go. There's no point in being carried up, you go by yourself."
"Why are you so unenthusiastic?"
Zhan Bei Jue's face fell, and he squatted in front of her in a horse stance.
"Get on. Don't force me to use force on you."
She had never seen anyone so eager to be a beast of burden.
Since he had more strength than he knew what to do with, she might as well indulge him.
Jiang Nan Fang had no choice but to jump onto his back.
Zhan Bei Jue was indeed strong.
Crucially, with his height and long legs, each of his steps was equivalent to two of others.
Soon, carrying her, he caught up with the uncles and aunts ahead.
Seeing him carrying Jiang Nan Fang past, two aunts joked with their elderly husbands.
"Look how romantic young people are these days, carrying each other up the mountain for a climb. You never treated me like this when we were young."
"Girls nowadays are just lucky to live in a good era, unlike our time. We didn't even dare to hold hands when we walked outside."
"Young man, how tall are you? Look at your stride, it makes your uncle look like he's been thrown into a garbage heap."
Zhan Bei Jue, with a rare calm expression, joined in the banter.
"Not tall, just about 1.9 meters."
"Oh, old man, he's 20 centimeters taller than you. It's true that this generation grew up drinking milk, their physique is just better."
"The young man is also handsome, and you two are so well-matched. Are you married or still dating?"
"Parents would surely be overjoyed to see such a well-matched couple."
After chatting for a while, Zhan Bei Jue, having received enough compliments, finally walked out of the crowd.
Jiang Nan Fang couldn't help but think on his back.
These people had terrible judgment. How was she well-matched with Zhan Bei Jue?
What was his status, and what was hers? And parents overjoyed? It would be a miracle if his mother didn't rise from the dead in anger.
After carrying her for more than 20 minutes, Zhan Bei Jue started to get tired.
He felt the hands supporting her legs slipping away every minute or two.
Sweat beaded on his neck and temples. Jiang Nan Fang finally felt a pang of guilt.
"Alright, alright. It's not so steep ahead, you can put me down."
Zhan Bei Jue: "You seemed to have twisted your ankle yesterday, does it hurt a lot? Shall I carry you then?"
"No need, I'm not made of paper and I won't break from a touch. It's fine to walk slowly."
Just then, there was a large round stone ahead.
Zhan Bei Jue leaned against it, letting Jiang Nan Fang stand on it, and slowly put her down.
He then naturally squatted down and examined her ankle.
"It's okay, the swelling isn't too severe. I'll buy you some medicine when we get down."
Jiang Nan Fang looked down at him.
Such a tall man, with devastatingly handsome features, and large, long hands.
He was probably the dream man for countless women, yet he was squatting down to look at her foot?
"Alright. I'm not that delicate, get up quickly."
"Do you want some water? They sell water over there, I'll go buy you a bottle."
Zhan Bei Jue was one step ahead and walked out.
"I'll buy it, what do you like to drink?"
Jiang Nan Fang said she wasn't thirsty, but moments later, he returned.
He bought a bottle of mineral water for himself and handed her a bottle of honey grapefruit.
Jiang Nan Fang frowned in distaste, "I told you I wasn't thirsty, why did you buy me such a sweet drink?"
"Drinking something sweet makes you feel better. Drink it, maybe after you drink it, your attitude towards me will improve."
To accommodate Jiang Nan Fang's foot, the two walked up the mountain at a leisurely pace.
By the time they reached the summit, it was already more than two hours later.
The temple was filled with devout middle-aged and elderly people kneeling in prayer, with four prayer mats placed side by side on the ground.
Looking at their neat rows of backs, Jiang Nan Fang suddenly thought of her mother and child.
Ever since they had been gone, she hadn't prayed for them.
Although praying sounded quite mystical, faith was also a kind of strength, and expressing it was better than not expressing it at all.
When Zhan Bei Jue went to donate incense, she followed him.
"I'll buy a few sticks of incense too."
"A few sticks?"
"Five sticks."
She had been reluctant to come, saying she didn't believe in this sort of thing, yet she ended up buying five sticks.
Zhan Bei Jue didn't know who she was buying them for, but he handed them to her anyway.
Jiang Nan Fang knelt down and prayed sincerely in her heart.
"If there are truly deities in heaven, please bless my mother with happiness and eternal well-being."
"I hope my child can grow up carefree, and in the next life, find reliable and loving parents."
"I hope Ke Teng recovers quickly, and that Ke Jingyu's health remains forever sound."
"And I also hope that Zhan Bei Jue's mother, Madam Zhou Wan Jun, rests in peace."
The two were tacitly understanding, neither asking the other what they had wished for.
After kowtowing, they began their descent. Perhaps because they had thought so much while making their wishes, their mood was not as light as when they had ascended.
Neither of them spoke further.
Zhan Bei Jue always stayed one step behind Jiang Nan Fang, watching her back, afraid she would fall.
The sun was bright, the breeze was gentle, and the weather was lovely.
It should have been a beautiful day, but halfway down, a woman's faint crying suddenly came from the small grove of trees beside the steps.
Jiang Nan Fang thought she was hallucinating and continued to walk forward.
After a few more steps, Zhan Bei Jue stopped.
"You heard it too, someone is crying, right?"
Zhan Bei Jue nodded.
"Is someone in trouble? Should we go and see?"
Indeed, someone was in trouble.