Going back to that rough town still cast a shadow over Jiang Nanfang’s heart.
A helicopter ride was certainly better than the back-and-forth hassle.
Though she had accepted the suggestion in her heart, she was too embarrassed to admit it verbally and decided to play coy for a little longer.
"You know my shoes ran off yesterday, I can't exactly accompany you up the mountain barefoot, can I?"
Zhan Beijue let her up.
"Go wash up first, I'll take you out to buy a pair later."
She agreed, half-heartedly.
After washing up, she changed into the clothes she had washed clean the day before.
Jiang Nanfang, wearing slippers, followed Zhan Beijue out of the hotel.
They took a taxi directly to the nearest mall to buy a pair of athletic shoes, 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, without paying much attention to her ankle.
After lying down all night, it had actually become a bit swollen.
Walking a few steps in the athletic shoes felt strangely painful due to the friction.
Qingfeng Mountain was a renowned mountain in the city, with an altitude of over 1700 meters.
Step after step, the stairs spread out steeply, as if reaching for the clouds.
After a few steps, Jiang Nanfang 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 going up to worship. Hurry back down after you're done."
Many casually dressed middle-aged uncles and aunties walked past them.
Each one of them moved with light steps, chatting and laughing.
Seeing how she struggled after just starting, Zhan Beijue couldn't help but tease.
"Your stamina is too poor. Do you do anything other than work, or do you ever stand up and exercise?"
"Even without faith, you have to come up with me. If not, I'll carry you."
Carrying her up such a steep mountain, even if she was thin, would still mean carrying dozens of pounds. It would be no wonder if Zhan Beijue was exhausted.
Jiang Nanfang had a little conscience.
"No need, I won't go. There's no point in going up anyway, you go by yourself."
"Why are you so uninspired?"
Zhan Beijue’s face fell, he squatted down in front of her with a horse stance.
"Get on. Don't make me resort to force."
She had never seen anyone so eager to play the role of a beast of burden.
Since he had more strength than he knew what to do with, she might as well fulfill his wish.
Jiang Nanfang had no choice but to jump onto his back.
Zhan Beijue was indeed strong.
Crucially, with his height and long legs, one of his steps covered the distance of two for others.
Soon, he was carrying her and catching up to the uncles and aunties ahead.
Seeing him carrying Jiang Nanfang past, two aunties jokingly said to their husbands:
"Look how romantic young people are these days, carrying each other up the mountain. You never treated me like this when I was young."
"Girls nowadays are just lucky to be born in a good era, unlike us. We didn't even dare to hold hands when we were out."
"Young man, how tall are you? Look at the stride you're taking, it makes your uncle look like he's been dumped in the trash."
Zhan Beijue, with a rare calm expression, joined in the banter with everyone.
"Not tall, just 1.9 meters."
"Oh, old man, he's 20 centimeters taller than you. As expected of a generation that grew up drinking milk, their physique is excellent."
"The young man is also handsome, and you two look great together. Are you married or still dating?"
"Parents would be overjoyed to see such a well-matched couple with children."
After a long chat, Zhan Beijue had received enough compliments and finally moved out of the crowd.
Jiang Nanfang couldn't help but think on his back.
These people had such poor judgment. How was she a match for Zhan Beijue?
What was his status, and what was hers? And parents being overjoyed? It would be a miracle if she hadn't angered his mother to the point of her rising from the grave.
After carrying her for over 20 minutes, Zhan Beijue started to get tired.
He could feel the hands supporting her legs slipping every minute or two.
Sweat beaded on his neck and temples. Jiang Nanfang finally felt a pang of guilt.
"Alright, alright. It's not so steep ahead, you can put me down now."
Zhan Beijue: "You seemed to have twisted your ankle yesterday, does it hurt a lot? Let me carry you instead."
"No need, I'm not made of paper and will break if touched. It's fine to walk slowly."
Just then, there was a large, round stone ahead.
Zhan Beijue leaned against it, letting Jiang Nanfang stand on it, and slowly set her down.
He then 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 Nanfang looked down at him.
Such a tall man, with incredibly handsome features, and large, long hands.
He must be the dream god of many women, yet here he was, squatting to look at her foot?
"It's fine. I'm not that delicate, get up quickly."
"Do you want some water? They're selling it over there, I'll go buy you a bottle."
Zhan Beijue rushed ahead.
"I'll go buy it, what kind do you like to drink?"
Jiang Nanfang said she wasn't thirsty. A moment later, he returned.
He bought himself a bottle of mineral water and handed her a bottle of honey grapefruit.
Jiang Nanfang frowned in disdain, "I told you I'm not thirsty, why did you buy me such a sweet drink?"
"Drinking something sweet can improve your mood. Drink it, maybe you'll have a better attitude towards me after you finish it."
To accommodate Jiang Nanfang's foot, the two of them ambled up the mountain.
They finally reached the summit 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 backs, Jiang Nanfang suddenly thought of her mother and child.
Ever since they had been gone, she hadn't prayed for them.
Although praying might sound superstitious, faith was also a form of strength, and expressing it was better than not.
Zhan Beijue went to donate for incense, and she followed.
"I'll buy a few sticks of incense too."
"A few sticks?"
"Five."
She had been reluctant to come, saying she didn't believe in this, yet she ended up buying five sticks.
Zhan Beijue didn't know who she was buying them for, but he handed them to her nonetheless.
Jiang Nanfang knelt and prayed silently in her heart.
"If there are any deities in heaven, please bless my mother with happiness and eternal well-being."
"I hope my child will be free from worries, and in the next life, find truly reliable and warm parents."
"I hope Ke Teng recovers quickly, and Ke Jingyu remains in good health forever."
"And I also hope that Zhan Beijue's mother, Ms. Zhou Wanjun, rests in peace."
The two of them were tacitly understanding, neither asking the other what they had wished for.
After kowtowing, they began their descent. Perhaps because they had been lost in thought during their prayers, their moods were not as relaxed as when they had ascended.
Neither of them spoke again.
Zhan Beijue always stayed one step behind Jiang Nanfang, watching her back, afraid she might fall.
The sun was bright, and a gentle breeze was blowing; the weather was beautiful.
It should have been a wonderful day, but halfway down, a faint woman's cry was heard from the small grove beside the stairs.
Jiang Nanfang thought she was hallucinating and continued walking forward.
After a few more steps, Zhan Beijue stopped.
"You heard it too, right? Someone is crying."
Zhan Beijue nodded.
"Is someone in trouble? Should we go and see?"
Indeed, someone was in trouble.