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墨書 Inktalez
The team found a new guide and began the final leg of their journey.
Before leaving, Lin Jinyan pulled Zhou Yao aside to persuade her to join everyone, but Zhou Yao had made up her mind and refused to budge.
Lin Jinyan sighed deeply, ultimately giving up and only reminding her to be safe alone at the inn.
After the companions left, Zhou Yao started cleaning her room. After washing a large pile of clothes, she washed her hair and took a shower. Once she was done with all the chores, she found herself with nothing to do, so she sat alone in the empty room, lost in thought for a long time.
Suddenly, she heard laughter coming from the Courtyard Below, where men were joking around. Zhou Yao perked up her ears and caught a low chuckle from Luo Yi among them. She immediately climbed onto the bed and leaned out of the window to look down.
The staff at the inn were gathered in the courtyard, chatting and laughing, both men and women present.
Luo Yi stood off to the side with one hand in his pocket, smoking as he watched them have fun.
The young girls and boys surrounded Zaxi, trying to make her laugh. Zaxi was dressed in traditional Tibetan clothing today, looking quite grand, while everyone else was also dressed nicely as if they were about to head out for something important together.
Zhou Yao quietly leaned on the windowsill, watching them smile.
Luo Yi inadvertently glanced up and caught sight of her window. He saw her fluffy head tilted at an angle, looking somewhat lonely.
He watched her and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
When her team set off, he saw that all the companions had left, leaving only Zhou Yao.
Seeing him looking at her, Zhou Yao asked, "Boss Luo, are you going out?"
Luo Yi replied, "Zaxi's brother is getting married."
"A Tibetan wedding?" She perked up, her eyes brightening.
"Do you want to go?" Luo Yi asked.
Zhou Yao nodded.
Luo Yi said, "Come down."
Zhou Yao quickly slid down from the bed and rummaged through her box. In the end, she changed into a white sweater paired with navy blue wide-leg pants and combed her hair several times in front of the mirror.
She was sure she looked beautiful and grinned at herself before running downstairs into the yard.
Luo Yi was biting on a cigarette when he heard the noise and glanced over at her. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, noticing her lovely appearance before moving away.
A group of people cheerfully walked toward the village.
Luo Yi walked at the back and asked Zhou Yao, "Why aren't you wearing that dress?"
"It's not appropriate to wear red to someone else's wedding," Zhou Yao replied.
Luo Yi smiled lightly and said, "Let's not talk about that here."
Zhou Yao thought for a moment, ran in front of him, and opened her arms to show him, "Doesn't this outfit look good on me?"
He remained silent, walked around her, and continued forward.
Zaxi's home was located in Yading Village, a large Tibetan Watchtower resembling a castle. Next to the house were fields and flower gardens, vibrant with shades of pink and green, quite beautiful.
Due to the wedding, colorful Prayer Flags were hung everywhere on rooftops and trees to collect blessings from above. The flags fluttered in the wind, creating a picturesque scene against the bright blue sky, which looked like it had been cut into pieces resembling sapphires.
As the groom's brother, Zaxi naturally had to go pick up the bride. Luo Yi asked Zhou Yao if she wanted to join in the fun, and Zhou Yao was already eager. What could be more exciting at a wedding than seeing the bride?
The bride was from the same village and lived not far away. The groom, filled with joy, rode a horse to fetch her. Friends and family from the Groom's Side sang and danced happily behind him. When they reached the bride's doorstep, the joyful atmosphere peaked; the groom dismounted and was surrounded by everyone as they rushed into the house.
Zhou Yao also ran along cheerfully but was pulled back by Luo Yi grabbing her collar.
In the next moment, children standing on the rooftop began splashing water down with buckets, soaking everyone below.
Water splashed all over Zhou Yao's face; she paused for half a second before bursting into laughter.
The guests who came to welcome the bride were drenched but rushed into the house with even more enthusiasm; friends and family from the Bride's Side blocked their way, insisting they sing and dance in the courtyard first.
This was not a problem at all. Everyone was agreeable; the men raised their voices and began to sing while the women gracefully started performing traditional dances.
Zhou Yao watched happily from the side when a dancing girl pulled her into the group. Zhou Yao showed no hesitation and joyfully began to dance along with them.
Luo Yi quietly watched from the side. Among the crowd, her small, fair face stood out prominently. Her skin was already pale, and the light reflecting off her white sweater made her complexion even more radiant. The wide-leg pants she wore were long and loose, resembling a sea-blue skirt that swayed like waves on the ocean while she danced.
Surrounded by people, Luo Yi's gaze was fixed on her, admiring the big smile on her face, like flowers blooming in the mountains.
Soon, the dance ended amidst cheers and applause.
As the crowd dispersed, her eyes sparkled as she searched for him among the people. Upon finding his position, she immediately ran over to stand in front of him. She patted her chest, catching her breath, with a smile still bright on her flushed cheeks.
He looked at her for a while before slowly speaking, "Take it easy; don't get altitude sickness."
Zhou Yao lightly huffed and playfully complained, "I've been here for so long; how could I still get altitude sickness?"
Just as he was about to respond, they heard the crowd cheering, "Trip the firewood! Trip the firewood!"
Zhou Yao immediately stretched her neck to look and shook Luo Yi's arm, asking, "Luo Boss, what does 'trip the firewood' mean?"
Luo Yi glanced at her small fingers on the sleeve and said casually, "You'll find out soon."
In the center of the yard, a pile of firewood was set up as friends and family laughed while lifting the groom. Just as Zhou Yao was puzzled, she saw everyone suddenly toss the groom into the air, and he landed right on top of that pile of firewood!
Zhou Yao gasped in surprise and quickly turned her head away.
After a moment, laughter erupted again from the crowd as Luo Yi gently patted Zhou Yao's shoulder.
Zhou Yao's excitement had faded, and she said softly, "This is too dangerous." Then she muttered, "If I get married, I won't let them throw the groom like this. What if he gets hurt?"
Luo Yi replied, "When you get married, there will naturally be your own way of celebrating."
Zhou Yao disagreed and raised her chin, saying, "Anyway, I won't allow them to make a fuss. Whoever causes trouble will be kicked out."
Luo Yi teased her, "What if the groom wants to join in the fun? Will you kick him out too?"
"..." Zhou Yao rolled her eyes at him.
Upon entering the room, they saw the beautiful bride surrounded by everyone. The bride wore an orange-red Tibetan dress, her hair braided into small plaits adorned with coral wax and green turquoise, shining brightly.
The bride's parents and friends were placing Hada around her neck while offering their blessings. Soon, the bride's neck was filled with white Hada.
The elders were talking to the bride and giving her advice. Zhou Yao couldn't understand, so she left first, secretly grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds and peanuts to snack on along the way.
Luo Yi walked back with her, and along the way, colorful Prayer Flags fluttered in the wind.
There were piles of stones by the roadside, each stone painted with colorful symbols; these were Mani Piles used for blessings.
As they passed one Mani Pile, a stone fell to the side. Luo Yi bent down to pick it up and placed it back on the pile.
Zhou Yao was surprised to see him do this. "Are you making a wish? Or do you have something you want?"
"No. Just picking it up," Luo Yi said as he dusted off his hands and asked, "What about you? People from out of town usually walk around the sacred mountain and make wishes."
"Isn't it more meaningful to fulfill your own wishes?" Zhou Yao raised her head and said brightly, "What’s the point of praying to Buddha? I came here for experimental data. Is praying every day useful without going out for field research?"
"That's true," Luo Yi chuckled and asked, "Are you okay not going out with your companions?"
Zhou Yao's smile faded slightly as she replied, "The project I'm researching is different from theirs, and—my real companion isn't here."
Luo Yi bent down to pick up a stone and placed it on the Mani Pile, seemingly asking casually, "Oh? Where is he?"
Zhou Yao pointed to the clear blue sky above.
Luo Yi furrowed her brow slightly.
The autumn breeze brushed against them, and the sunlight was sparse.
Zhou Yao forced a smile and said, "Have you heard of Asperger's Syndrome? It's a type of autism. But he is a genius, even more brilliant than my dad. The project I'm currently researching was developed entirely by him; it's named after him."
"What happened next?"
"Halfway through the research, he—had an accident. Later, we took over the project. That's my biggest wish right now: to succeed as soon as possible, but I don't need to pray to Buddha for that."
Luo Yi responded with a simple "Hmm," not asking further questions, seemingly uninterested.
Zhou Yao didn't elaborate any further.
After walking for a while, she looked up at the fluttering Prayer Flags in the sky and suddenly said, "My friend has a very beautiful name."
"Sisia, renowned throughout the world. — Luo Yu."
"Indeed, it's a good name," Luo Yi said.
...
The bride was received at the groom's home, and the wedding officially began.
The lamas chanted prayers for blessings while the couple earnestly prayed. The newlyweds sprinkled barley wine towards the sky and the earth, honoring heaven and earth, and expressing gratitude to their parents.
Zhou Yao sat on a small stool, resting his chin on his hand for a long time before turning to Luo Yi: "Boss Luo, when do you think a person suddenly decides to get married?"
Luo Yi glanced at the couple, who were tightly holding hands, exchanging loving glances that made others envious. He withdrew his gaze: "When you feel that you can spend a lifetime with someone."
Zhou Yao tilted his head and thought for a moment before asking, "But don't you think a lifetime is a long time? How can you be sure?"
Luo Yi fiddled with a peanut in his hand and replied, "No one can be certain about spending an entire lifetime together. When you're young and say you're sure, it's mostly impulsive. That's why it's better to marry early; otherwise, by the time you figure it out, you might not want to get married anymore."
Zhou Yao asked, "So have you figured it out now, or not?"
His gaze flickered for a moment as he countered, "What do you think?"
A hint of dejection appeared in Zhou Yao's eyes as he said softly, "I've figured it out."
Luo Yi put the peanut in his mouth and chewed, the corners of his mouth curling slightly, noncommittal.
Zhou Yao listlessly picked up some corn kernels with chopsticks and asked, "Luo Boss, have you ever had someone you wanted to marry?"
He glanced at a familiar face approaching to toast and casually replied, "I have."
Zhou Yao felt a pang in her heart and smiled faintly, "That must have felt magical. — I never have."
Someone came over to toast, and Luo Yi took a drink, set down his cup, and started shelling peanuts, saying lightly, "You’re still young."
Zhou Yao pressed on, "Since you wanted to get married, why didn’t you in the end?"
This question was drowned out by the surrounding voices. Tibetans love their liquor, and during celebrations, they drink even more. Under the same roof, regardless of whether they knew each other or not, everyone raised their bowls and drank.
Luo Yi was toasted several times by those around him and could no longer pay attention to Zhou Yao.
Zhou Yao slumped her shoulders, pouted, stared at the liquor in her bowl for a while, then decided to raise it and down it in one go.
The adults laughed while the children ran around; the wedding was lively until nightfall.
The staff scattered and were nowhere to be found; some had already drunk themselves into a stupor.
Zhou Yao also drank enough to turn her face red, feeling lightheaded.
Luo Yi pulled her outside and scolded, "What are you doing drinking just to join the fun?"
Zhou Yao rolled her eyes and perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, raised her voice, "Is it only okay for you to drink? I’ve only had a little; it’s not even a tenth of what you've had!"
"Still trying to argue?" Luo Yi's brow twitched as he grasped her arm and led her toward the inn. After a few steps, he asked again, "Can you walk?"
Zhou Yao shook off his hand, exasperated. "You underestimate me too much." After a moment, she turned her eyes mischievously toward him and smiled, "If I can't walk, will you carry me back?"
Luo Yi glanced at her. "I'll call Zaxi."
Zhou Yao glared at him through gritted teeth.
...
In the mountain forest at night, the air was crisp; looking up, the night sky was brilliant with countless stars.
The mountain breeze gently blew, and Zhou Yao felt more awake. She walked while gazing at the sky, a smile on her face.
Luo Yi reminded her, "Look ahead, don't trip."
Zhou Yao continued to gaze at the stars and said, "You help me keep an eye out."
Luo Yi fell silent, focusing on the path ahead.
The moonlight was bright tonight, and the two walked parallel to each other with a distance of one person between them.
Zhou Yao said, "I spent a year in India and attended a local wedding. But what I remember most isn't the wedding itself. It's after the wedding, just like now, with stars filling the sky. The innkeeper's little daughter came barefoot to greet me. She took my hand and we walked through the stone alley in the deep night."
Luo Yi listened to her description, vividly picturing the scene in his mind.
"Ah! I want to go barefoot," Zhou Yao said, laughing as she suddenly took off her shoes and walked freely ahead with her bare feet.
Her sea-blue dress flowed like rolling clouds, and her snow-white feet left shallow prints on the ground, with even the five tiny toes clearly visible.
Perhaps it was the night playing tricks, but Luo Yi felt as if his heart had been lightly stirred by a feather, as if those little feet had stepped into his heart.
He walked behind her, quietly observing the trail of footprints ahead, saying nothing.
As they walked halfway, the starlight dimmed, and soon a fierce wind blew in, followed by sudden rain.
"Run!" Zhou Yao turned back to grab his hand, pulling him to run through the rain. She laughed heartily as she ran, though she didn't seem to know what was making her so happy.
Back at the inn, it was late at night. Everyone was asleep.
Zhou Yao was soaked from the rain, yet her smile remained uncontainable.
Outside, the rain poured down suddenly.
Luo Yi calmly released Zhou Yao's hand, deliberately creating distance between them as he instructed, "Go upstairs and get some sleep."
Zhou Yao stubbornly refused to leave. "Boss Luo, I want to drink milk."
...
The common area was dimly lit, with only two pendant lights glowing in the bar.
Luo Yi slowly washed his hands clean under the faucet, opened a box of milk, and poured it into the Milk Pot. He stirred the milk in the pot with a wooden spoon, recalling her milk-colored ears and ankles under the moonlight.
A dangerous aura was slowly approaching.
He knew she was staring at him. He kept his gaze steady, warmed the milk, poured it into a Glass Cup, and placed it on the Bar.
She was propping her chin up, and when she relaxed her hand, she leaned forward, taking a deep breath. The hot air blew against his fingertips.
Luo Yi retracted his hand with restraint and said sternly, "Drink up."
This time he didn't stay at the Bar; he went out to the Common Area to arrange the scattered chairs and cushions, deliberately taking a long time.
After tidying up and walking back, he found that Zhou Yao still had more than half of her milk left. Her lips were still smeared with milk as she nibbled on the cup without drinking. Her teeth were uncooperative, and her bottom wouldn't stay still as she spun on the Bar Stool.
Luo Yi watched her spinning around and felt inexplicably restless. He walked over and pressed down on the Bar Stool with one hand, stopping Zhou Yao from turning. She turned her head to look at him blankly and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Stop spinning," he frowned. "If the chair tips over and someone falls, who will take responsibility?"
Zhou Yao pouted, "Don't worry, I won't ask you to pay." After saying that, she tried to spin the stool again. Luo Yi's large hand pressed down firmly; Zhou Yao was too weak to turn it and shouted, "Let go!"
Luo Yi lowered his voice slightly, his tone becoming somewhat dangerous: "I told you not to spin. Can't you hear me?"
His breath descended upon her, causing Zhou Yao's scalp to tingle. She stopped spinning and silently bit down on the Glass Cup.
Luo Yi warned her insistently: "Finish it in one gulp and then leave."
Zhou Yao fell silent for a moment before finally lifting her head in defiance, "I can't drink it all at once!"
Luo Yi looked down at her with deep black eyes. After a long while, he suddenly smiled strangely, which made Zhou Yao feel a bit guilty.
He leaned closer, lifted Zhou Yao's chin, and gently traced his thumb along her lips, wiping away the milk stains until they were completely clean.
Zhou Yao's eyes slowly widened as she held her breath and stared at him.
"Zhou Yao," Luo Yi asked her softly, "Are you satisfied now?"
It felt as if Zhou Yao's heart had stopped. With him holding her chin and tilting her head back, she couldn't utter a single word.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Luo Yi smirked, asking, "Still not satisfied? What would make you satisfied? — Like this?"
He lowered his head and kissed her lips, his tongue forcefully invading, sucking hard with a domineering intensity that left no room for gentleness. Zhou Yao was taken aback, feeling as if all the air in her body had been sucked away. She struggled to breathe, feeling dizzy and instantly drained of strength.
The person in his arms turned soft like a puddle of water. Luo Yi suddenly realized he had ignited a fire within himself but found himself unable to pull away. At first, she was dazed but gradually began to respond to him awkwardly.
He tasted the faint sweetness of milk on her tongue and suddenly felt as if he had awakened, quickly releasing her.
Zhou Yao's face was flushed, and she looked at him with moist eyes.
Luo Yi took a breath to calm himself. He had originally intended to discipline her but now felt that the fire was becoming increasingly uncontrollable.
Still somewhat clear-headed, he took a step back to assess her and chuckled, "Are you stunned?"
Zhou Yao slowly shook her head, took a deep breath, and then exhaled heavily. With her tongue out, she said, "Luo Boss, I can't catch my breath. I think I have altitude sickness. Really."
Luo Yi: "..."
He unconsciously tapped his fingers on the bar wall and said, "Extend your hand."
Zhou Yao obediently reached out her hand. He lightly pressed on the acupoints between her fingers and gently pulled on each of her fingers one by one. Zhou Yao felt extremely comfortable from his massage and leaned closer to ask, "Can this cure altitude sickness?"
Luo Yi raised his eyes to glance at her energetic appearance and thought, altitude sickness my foot!
He abruptly let go of her hand.
Zhou Yao panicked and said with her tongue still out, "I really thought I had altitude sickness just now."
He frowned. "Speak normally!"
Zhou Yao argued, "You just bit my tongue!"
Luo Yi: "..."
He turned his gaze away and raised his chin. "Are you still going to drink that milk?"
"Yes." Zhou Yao quickly hugged it and tilted her neck back to gulp it down completely.
In the Common Area, it was pitch black.
...
Zhou Yao returned to her room, curled up on the bed, and began to slowly recall the passionate kiss from earlier, which made her ears burn even now. She giggled, happily rolling around and repeatedly stomping on the bed.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Luo Yi walked into his room and closed the door. He stood in the hallway for a moment, looking up deep in thought, then frowned.
"Tsk."
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