"I think I need to buy double insurance when we get back," Qing Muye said teasingly in her ear.
Although he was clearly making fun of her, Meng Jingwei inexplicably felt that Qing Muye was flirting with her. This scumbag, as expected, harbored no good intentions.
"Hey, can you keep some distance?"
Even though the distinguished and handsome Qing Muye was the ideal man for countless girls in Lancheng, Meng Jingwei was an exception. She was like a "steel woman," possessing a natural barrier that instinctively shielded her from all ambiguous "attacks" emanating from Qing Muye, never to fall for him.
To get a clearer view of the road ahead, Qing Muye slightly shifted his body. Meng Jingwei freed her left hand and forcefully struck backward, her elbow hitting his chest precisely.
Amidst the whistling wind, Meng Jingwei could still hear Qing Muye's soft gasp.
"Don't mess around, it's dangerous."
Riding the motorcycle, Qing Muye, despite the pain, did not release the handlebars. His voice was deep and magnetic, a pleasure to the bone. His words were somewhat serious, like a gentle reprimand, yet tinged with a hint of reluctance.
Meng Jingwei's heart skipped a beat, her heart pounding erratically, a sudden flutter she couldn't explain. Damn this captivating charm.
"Stop, stop, stop." She immediately shouted several times, wanting Qing Muye to stop the motorcycle.
"Sit still, I'll take you home."
"Who said I wanted to go home? I don't."
"What, planning to sleep on the streets tonight?" He slightly turned his cheek, glanced at the woman in his arms, and whispered in her ear, "It's already three in the morning."
"I don't want to sleep. I can't sleep." Meng Jingwei snorted proudly. She genuinely couldn't sleep.
"Then I'll take you somewhere." Qing Muye accelerated, the motorcycle speeding up, yet maintaining a very stable ride. At the intersection ahead, he turned right and continued eastward.
Meng Jingwei felt utterly helpless, leaning in his embrace. From initial discomfort to eventual acceptance, she seemed to no longer resist so strongly.
Another half an hour later, they arrived at the foot of a mountain. He rode the motorcycle up the mountain, finally stopping on a platform halfway up. Beyond this point, the paved road disappeared, replaced by steps.
They got off the motorcycle. Meng Jingwei asked, "Where is this?"
"Follow me." Qing Muye grabbed the keys, turned, and walked up the steps. Meng Jingwei followed, climbing a hundred steps until they reached a more open and spacious observation deck.
The two sat on the chairs of the observation deck, and Qing Muye finally said, "Look up."
Meng Jingwei leaned back in the chair, lifting her legs and resting them on the railing of the observation deck. Looking up, she could see the myriad of stars in the dark sky.
"So many stars, so beautiful." Her agitated heart gradually calmed. She quietly gazed at the starry sky. "Since coming to Lancheng, I haven't had such a quiet moment to watch the stars."
She suddenly pointed at the stars above. "Look, the seven brightest ones connected together are the Big Dipper."
"Very beautiful." Qing Muye rested his arm on the back of the chair. Meng Jingwei leaned her head back, her head resting on his arm. After speaking, he lowered his head, picked up his phone, edited a message, and then put his phone away.
"Do you think... the stars in the sky have worries?" She sighed wistfully, asking casually, but inadvertently revealing her deep anxieties.
Qing Muye turned his head. In the darkness, she didn't realize how tender his gaze was.
"Every experience and encounter is a form of tempering. Once you've endured enough, you'll become 'invincible to blades and impervious to poison'," he paused, then continued, "So, it's not necessarily all bad."
"That makes sense." Meng Jingwei nodded, then shook her head and clicked her tongue. "As expected of a businessman, you're so eloquent. It's a shame you're not a pyramid scheme leader."
Qing Muye's expression stiffened, and he finally gave a helpless smile and shook his head.
They sat on the observation deck, chatting aimlessly. Meng Jingwei's restlessness gradually dissipated. By four-thirty, she fell asleep, tired. Unbeknownst to her, her head rested on Qing Muye's shoulder.
At this moment, several beams of light flashed in the dark, accompanied by the sound of footsteps. Someone was approaching. Upon seeing Qing Muye, they understood his gesture and remained silent. They set up a good quality folding bed, spread a soft mattress and pillow, placed a thin quilt, and then quietly left.
Qing Muye shifted slightly, picked her up with extreme gentleness, and laid her down by the bed. He then lay down beside her. Perhaps it was his presence that gave Meng Jingwei a sense of security; she fell into a deep sleep.
Autumn night, slightly cool.
At six-thirty in the morning, the sun had just peeked over the horizon. Qing Muye, who hadn't slept all night, looked at the beautiful and exquisite woman beside him. He had intended to show her the stars and the sunrise, but seeing her sleeping so soundly now, he couldn't bear to disturb her. The man slowly got up, took out his phone, opened the camera, made some adjustments, and prepared to record the sunrise.
The result...
"Qing Muye, what are you doing? Are you a pervert? Recording me even while I'm sleeping?" As if sensing something, Meng Jingwei suddenly opened her eyes. Seeing Qing Muye holding his phone horizontally towards her, she became annoyed. She abruptly sat up from the bed, looked around, and then realized they were on the observation deck.
"Where did this bed come from..."
"Look over there." Qing Muye offered no explanation, simply pointing towards the horizon where the overlapping mountains met the sky. The young woman turned her head and saw a red sun emerging from beyond the mountains. The rising sun cast thousands of rays of red glow, enveloping the dark green mountains in an orange halo. The thin mist in the mountains drifted with the breeze, painting a stunning and beautiful picture.
"It's so beautiful." Meng Jingwei sat on the bed, covering herself with the thin quilt. The weather, having turned to autumn, made the morning air exceptionally cold. She belatedly realized that Qing Muye had brought her here to see the stars and the sunrise.
Qing Muye moved to sit beside her. "Are you sure you don't want to take a picture?"
"Oh, right, right, right." Meng Jingwei reached into her pocket for her phone and pressed it, but it didn't respond. "My phone is dead." She then glanced at Qing Muye's phone. "Why don't you lend me yours to take a few shots and then send them to me?"
She put down her phone and, with a bold move, snatched Qing Muye's phone. Opening the camera, she switched to "professional photography" mode and solemnly took a few pictures of the distance. When she was done, Meng Jingwei opened the album and browsed through the photos she had taken. As she scrolled, another photo appeared. The background of the photo was a mountain in Dongpu Village, with a rainbow hanging high in the sky. They stood by the mountain, posing for a photo with the rainbow. In the photo, Meng Jingwei looked at the camera and made a V-sign, while the man beside her tilted his head, looking at her with... tenderness in his eyes.
Meng Jingwei's smile gradually froze. She had been in love before, and from this photo, it was not difficult to discern Qing Muye's "feelings" for her.