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墨書 Inktalez
The call ended abruptly. I let out a long sigh, feeling utterly exhausted.
“Wan'er, what’s wrong?” Zhao Ya looked at me with a worried expression, her eyes filled with concern.
“It’s nothing, just had a fight with that jerk Sun Yu,” I tried to keep my tone light, as if discussing something trivial. “I feel like a shrew, not elegant at all.”
“Please, why bother being elegant with that kind of loser?” Zhao Ya scoffed, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. “You should just tear his face apart and let him know what happens when he messes with you!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “You really know how to talk nonsense.”
Zhao Ya threw her arm around my shoulders. “Come on,” she clapped her hands, full of enthusiasm. “Let’s go hiking! Breathe in some fresh air and forget all those worries!”
“Okay!” I nodded, feeling my mood lift considerably.
“Phew…” Hiking is really tiring. This Huangshan is so steep! My legs felt like lead, heavy and unresponsive.
Zhao Ya was bouncing ahead of me as if she had springs in her shoes; I couldn’t understand how she wasn’t tired. She rarely exercised, so why was she so energetic today? Maybe the mountain air was invigorating her?
“Wan'er, hurry up!” she called back to me.
“I’m coming!” I gritted my teeth and quickened my pace.
There were people all around—couples, families—it was quite lively. But these steps were relentless; it felt like they had no end. Just as I was lost in thought, the sky suddenly darkened.
“Oh no, it’s going to rain!” someone shouted in alarm, panic creeping into their voice.
Everyone quickened their pace, and the crowd became a bit restless. Suddenly, my foot slipped beneath me, and I lost my balance, falling backward.
“Ah!” I gasped, feeling like I was about to hit the ground. In that moment, time seemed to freeze.
Just when I thought I was about to meet the earth up close, a strong hand grabbed my arm.
“Careful!” A deep voice resonated in my ear, laced with a hint of magnetism. I steadied myself and looked up to see a man.
He looked somewhat familiar…
He was wearing a windbreaker and a hat that obscured most of his face. However, his eyes were bright, like stars in the night sky.
"Thank you," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed as my cheeks flushed slightly.
"You're welcome," he smiled at me, his grin warm and sunny.
In that moment, it suddenly clicked!
"Gu Cheng?" He was a classmate from university, though we weren't close—just acquaintances. Back in school, he was the kind of guy everyone liked: smart, handsome, and always the center of attention wherever he went.
But I didn't have any feelings for him. At that time, my heart was solely occupied by Sun Yu, the man who had left me bruised and battered.
Just as I was about to speak, a sharp pain shot through my ankle, as if I had been pricked by a needle.
"Lin Wan'er, are you okay?" Gu Cheng asked quickly, concern filling his gaze.
"I think I twisted my ankle..." I frowned, wincing at the pain.
"How about I help you down?" Gu Cheng offered gently.
I glanced at Zhao Ya. She was watching us with an amused smile that hinted at something deeper.
"Alright, I guess it can't be helped," I replied with a hint of resignation, silently lamenting my situation.
Gu Cheng supported me as we slowly made our way down the mountain. The rain intensified, quickly turning into a downpour.
The three of us entered a hotel at the foot of the mountain. The staff promptly brought us towels, their service warm and attentive.
"Here, dry off," one of the attendants said with a smile.
We thanked them and began to dry our hair.
"Oh, by the way," Zhao Ya suddenly turned to Gu Cheng, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Aren't you Gu Cheng?"
Gu Cheng paused for a moment before nodding. "That's me."
"Oh wow, it really is you!" Zhao Ya exclaimed excitedly. "Aren't you that famous travel blogger now?"
"Yeah, sort of," Gu Cheng replied bashfully, scratching his head with a hint of shyness.
"Wow! You're amazing!" Zhao Ya exclaimed, her voice rising an octave. "I love watching your videos!"
"Thank you."
Gu Cheng smiled, revealing a row of neat white teeth.
"I didn't expect you to be our university classmate."
"Yeah," Gu Cheng replied, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"The world is really small," I couldn't help but exclaim; life is full of unexpected encounters.
"By the way, why are you here climbing Huangshan today?" Zhao Ya asked curiously.
"I'm here for some inspiration," Gu Cheng answered. "I've been wanting to shoot some videos about Huangshan."
"I see."
Zhao Ya nodded. "You're impressive; you can turn your hobby into work."
"Not really," Gu Cheng said modestly. "Mainly, my family doesn't need me to work for money, so I just do what I enjoy."
I knew he came from a good background, able to embark on spontaneous trips without a second thought. Unlike me, who had worried about money since childhood and struggled to make a living.
In the hotel room, under the warm yellow light, Zhao Ya and I sat on the bed, still carrying a bit of moisture from the rain.
"Wan'er," Zhao Ya suddenly became serious, her expression grave.
"Do you think it's a bit unsafe for us two girls to travel alone?"
"Yeah, I feel the same way," I nodded in agreement. The heavy rain today made me anxious; without Gu Cheng's help, I might have fallen down the mountain.
"How about we find someone to accompany us?" Zhao Ya suggested, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Who should we find?" I asked, struggling to think of someone suitable.
"How about Gu Cheng?" Zhao Ya pointed outside and asked, "What do you think of him?"
"He's a nice guy," I said, recalling how he had helped me down the mountain, warmth flooding my heart.
"But we don't know him well..."
"After spending these days together, he seems quite reliable," Zhao Ya said. "Plus, he's a travel blogger; he must have plenty of experience."
"That's true."
I agreed; Gu Cheng would indeed make a good travel companion.
"Then... should we talk to him?" Zhao Ya asked eagerly.
"Sure," I replied, though a thought crossed my mind: what if Gu Cheng wasn't a good person?
"But we need to be fully prepared."
"Absolutely!" Zhao Ya chuckled, her eyes sparkling with pride. As she spoke, she pulled an Electric Baton from her bag and waved it in the air a couple of times.
"What do you think? Impressive, right?" she said proudly.
I quietly took out a bottle of pepper spray, a small alarm, and a ring from my bag and handed it to Zhao Ya.
"This ring can shoot out a steel needle," I said calmly, my tone carrying an undeniable firmness.
Zhao Ya looked at the items in my hand, her expression changing instantly.
"Wan'er, you... you prepared all this?" she said, a hint of shock in her voice, her eyes filled with disbelief.
I shrugged, appearing unfazed.
"When you're out and about, it's always wise to be careful."
We both fell silent for a long time.
Suddenly, we burst into laughter.
"Hahaha..." We laughed so hard that we nearly doubled over, tears almost streaming down our faces.
The next day was bright and sunny.
Zhao Ya and I found Gu Cheng.
"Gu Cheng," I said straightforwardly, "we want to discuss something with you."
"What is it?" Gu Cheng asked with a smile, the sunlight illuminating his face and making him look even more handsome.
"We hope to travel with you. Is that okay?" I said, my voice tinged with anticipation.
"Really?" Gu Cheng seemed surprised, his eyes lighting up.
"Of course it's true," Zhao Ya chimed in. "We think you're a great person, and you're a travel blogger too; you'll definitely make our trip enjoyable."
"I'm honored," Gu Cheng replied with a smile. "I also feel that we have a good connection; traveling together would be wonderful."
"That's great!" Zhao Ya exclaimed excitedly. "Then it's settled!"
"Yes!" I nodded, my heart filled with excitement as well.
Gu Cheng said, "I'll be live-streaming throughout the trip."
"You guys don't mind, do you?"
"Live-streaming?!" Zhao Ya and I exclaimed simultaneously, surprised by this unexpected twist.
"Yes," Gu Cheng nodded. "This way we can capture our travel moments and let more people see the beautiful scenery."
"That sounds fine," Zhao Ya said, "after all, we have nothing to hide."
"Right," I agreed.
"I agree, although it's a bit unfamiliar, it's not a big deal."
"Then let's set off!" Gu Cheng said.
"Okay!" Zhao Ya and I replied in unison, our voices filled with excitement and anticipation.
The three of us began our journey into the unknown.
In a place filled with a sea of flowers, the air was fragrant with a subtle floral scent.
Gu Cheng came to my side.
"Wan'er," he said, looking into my eyes with a serious expression, his gaze full of affection.
"Actually, I liked you back in college."
I was taken aback, my mind going blank.
"What?"
I could hardly believe my ears, doubting whether I had misheard him.
"I have always been quietly watching over you," Gu Cheng said, his voice deep and gentle.
"I knew you were with Sun Yu, so I never wanted to disturb you."
"This encounter was unexpected."
He continued, "I heard from a friend that you’ve gotten a divorce. I didn’t know if it was true, so I came straight over from home."
"Wan'er," Gu Cheng said, his tone a bit agitated, "give me a chance to pursue you, okay?"
I looked into his eyes. His gaze was sincere and serious, without a hint of insincerity. I felt my heart skip a beat.
"Gu Cheng," I took a deep breath to calm myself, "I just came out of a failed marriage. Right now, I don’t want to date."
"I understand." Gu Cheng nodded, a flicker of disappointment passing through his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"I'm not asking for an answer right away," he said. "I just want you to know how I feel."
"I'm afraid if I don’t say it now, someone else might get to you first."
"So,"
he looked at me, his gaze unwavering.
"If one day you completely move on from your previous marriage, please consider me first, okay?"
"I promise you."
I said softly, my voice barely audible.
"That's enough!"
A joyful smile spread across Gu Cheng's face.
In the sea of flowers, a gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of blossoms.
I gazed at Gu Cheng before me, my heart stirring with emotions.
I turned around and walked alongside Zhao Ya, my back to Gu Cheng.
"Wan'er,"
Zhao Ya said gently.
"Gu Cheng is a really good guy. The way he looks at you is almost mesmerizing."
I smiled faintly, but inside I felt a bit lost.
I didn't know what the future would hold.
But I knew that my life was changing.
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