“Thanks.”
The man reached out again to pull her coat closer around her.
“There’s a hot spring here. Want to soak a bit?”
Jiang Fuyue shook her head. “Not today. Let’s do it tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
They wandered around for half an hour before heading back.
Jiang Fuyue began yawning again.
“Sleepy?”
She nodded. “This place is way too perfect for sleeping.”
Xie Dingyuan chuckled under his breath.
Jiang Fuyue suddenly realized, “So that’s it, you did this on purpose. You meant to bring me here.”
His warm palm brushed through her hair. “Just wanted you to rest properly for a couple of days.”
…
After her shower, Jiang Fuyue blow-dried her hair until it was half dry, put on a coat over her pajamas, and, still running her fingers through her hair, stepped onto the balcony.
She found that Xie Dingyuan was already there. He’d also showered, changed into sleepwear, and was leaning casually against the railing, enjoying the night breeze.
Jiang Fuyue walked over to stand beside him, then stretched her long legs and leaned back against the railing too.
She was wearing shorts that ended mid-thigh. The posture made her already long, slender legs look even more striking.
Her ankles were delicate, her toes pale and dainty.
The man looked as if he’d been burned; his gaze darted away, but his Adam’s apple bobbed restlessly.
“Weren’t you sleepy? Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“Got re-energized after my shower. Came out to get some air.”
As soon as she said it, a cool night breeze swept by, lifting the ends of her long hair.
The soft strands brushed against his arm, faintly damp, carrying her scent.
Xie Dingyuan’s fingers twitched by his side, his fingertips rubbing together.
“Then I’ll head to bed first…” he muttered, about to walk off.
“Wait.”
He turned back, questioning her with his eyes.
Jiang Fuyue’s lips curved. The moonlight fell across her fair face, cool and clear—like fine porcelain, like transparent crystal.
Even her voice carried a trace of that clean chill. “What are you avoiding?”
He instinctively denied it. “I’m not—”
But she didn’t let him finish. “Am I a wild beast? I’m not gonna eat you. What’re you running from?”
He gave a helpless smile.
“You’re not,” he said, “I am.”
“…Hm?”
“Ahem! Your hair isn’t dry yet. I’ll go get the blow dryer.”
And with that, he fled.
Jiang Fuyue blinked, baffled.
Soon, he returned with the dryer, plugged it in, and handed it to her.
She shook her head and turned her back to him instead.
He understood instantly, resignedly taking on the task of blow-drying her hair himself.
His movements were still not exactly skilled, but careful and meticulous. Under the light, his focused side profile was dangerously handsome.
Through the full-length mirror across the room, Jiang Fuyue watched everything clearly.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly.
“…Done,” he said, switching off the dryer. To make sure it was really dry, he ran his hand lightly through her hair, even checking the roots.
The rough pads of his fingers brushed against her sensitive scalp, making Jiang Fuyue stiffen.
“What’s wrong? Did I pull too hard?”
“…No.” She stepped back. “I’m going to sleep. You should rest too.”
“Uh—okay.”
“Good night.”
“Good night, Yueyue.”
His deep voice was inexplicably tender, and that last “Yueyue” carried a subtle hook that made her heart skip.
This time, she was the one who fled.
…
The next morning, Jiang Fuyue woke naturally. When she opened the door, Xie Dingyuan was already up, fully dressed.
A hearty breakfast was laid out on the table.
They greeted each other good morning.
“Heading out today?” she asked.
“Mountain climbing,” he replied.
After breakfast, they set out.
The mountain stood just behind the hotel, close, not too steep. Since guests often hiked there, the hotel had even leased and developed it for tourism.
Xie Dingyuan walked fast; Jiang Fuyue wasn’t far behind. Soon, they reached the summit,
flat and open.
“Let’s check out the viewing platform,” Jiang Fuyue suggested.
He followed her there.
They stepped onto the platform, glass beneath their feet, making them feel as though they were standing in midair.
In the distance, mountains rolled endlessly, lush and green in midsummer.
Nestled among the greenery were glimpses of curved roofs and carved eaves—the hotel complex.
From a certain angle, Jiang Fuyue found it oddly familiar.
Strange…
She was certain she had never been to this place before—not in this life, nor the last.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Dingyuan asked softly, noticing her distraction.
She shook her head, pushing the feeling aside. “Nothing.”
“From this direction, the view’s best,” he said, placing his hands gently on her shoulders to adjust her position.
Jiang Fuyue let him guide her. When she finally looked up—
“It’s beautiful.”
From that vantage point, the mountains stretched in layers, the greens shifting in shade and depth.
Halfway down, two small houses sat nestled in the trees, with wisps of cooking smoke rising from their chimneys.
Jiang Fuyue admired the scenery; Xie Dingyuan admired her.
He murmured in agreement, “It really is beautiful…”
Just then, Jiang Fuyue suddenly turned her head toward him. Their gazes met; his dazed expression was caught entirely by her eyes.
“Pfft—”
“I said look at the scenery. Why are you looking at me?”
“…You’re prettier than the scenery,” he said awkwardly.
A tingling warmth spread through her chest and ears.
“Excuse me, you two, look over here!”
A sudden voice called from behind.
Both turned around just as a click sounded—
The shutter froze the image: the two of them standing together on the viewing platform, smiling faintly as they turned toward the camera.
The photographer was the owner and sole employee of the Mountain View Photo Studio, located just a few steps away.
He’d been eating breakfast inside when he looked out the window and saw a strikingly good-looking, perfectly matched couple on the platform. On impulse, he grabbed his camera and went out.
That’s how this candid shot came to be.
Jiang Fuyue noticed the camera in his hands, an old-fashioned film camera.
The kind popular fifty years ago, long since replaced by digital models and smartphones.
You can hardly find one for sale anymore.
“…Yes, a film camera. For someone so young, you actually know quite a bit.”
Normally, someone in their teens or early twenties would probably never have seen one, yet she recognized it instantly.
“Ahem! I read about it in a book.”
The owner didn’t suspect a thing and simply said, “If you two aren’t heading down the mountain right away, you can wait while I develop the photos and take them together with the negatives.”
Out of respect for clients’ privacy, he usually didn’t keep the negatives.
“Alright.”
…
Down the mountain, a Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the hotel.
Staff immediately rushed forward to open the doors and bow respectfully.
A polished leather shoe appeared first, then the line of a perfectly tailored suit. The man stepped out, tall and upright, his long legs catching everyone’s attention.
The hotel manager approached, speaking respectfully, “President Lou.”
Lou Mingshen didn’t glance around, walking straight inside, with the manager following closely behind.
“Where is he?”
“Arranged in the top-floor small conference room.”
Lou Mingshen nodded. “Good.”
“So now…”
“The East Third Wing, give me the room key.”
The manager froze. “Aren’t you going to see President Wei first?”
Lou Mingshen’s expression remained blank. “If he likes waiting, let him wait. I’ll take a nap first.”
The manager: “…”
In the end, he had no choice but to hand over the room key and watch the man head to the usually reserved East Third Wing.
Soon after, the assistant called, sounding frantic: “President Hou, the conference room can’t wait any longer. When will President Lou arrive?”
“He won’t be coming.”
“What?! Then what do we do now? President Wei is already losing his temper.”
At that moment, the sound of things being thrown could be heard over the line.
“President Hou, please come quickly! I… can’t handle it!”
“Don’t worry, I’m on my way.”
Each one of them is a real headache!
…
At the mountain peak stood the Floating Cloud Restaurant, suspended high above. Jiang Fuyue had assumed it was mostly for show, not expecting the food to taste particularly good.
But when the dishes arrived and she tasted them, she was pleasantly surprised.
Perhaps the climb had worked up her appetite; Jiang Fuyue ate more than usual.
Influenced by her, Xie Dingyuan’s appetite also increased.
After lunch, they rested briefly, then continued toward another peak.
The mountain had a West Peak and a North Peak. The trail up and down was only open from West Peak; North Peak was farther from the hotel, less developed, and not open to the public.
But since they were here, they decided to check out North Peak.
“Don’t forget to pick up your photos!” called the photo studio owner.
Jiang Fuyue waved without looking back, acknowledging him.
North Peak was much more desolate, with rougher terrain. Within half an hour, Jiang Fuyue began to feel the strain.
Xie Dingyuan, however, showed no signs of fatigue—calm and effortless.
“Sit and rest for a bit,” he said, finding a smooth rock, spreading his jacket on it, and letting Jiang Fuyue sit.
He took a water cup from his bag and handed it to her. “Drink some.”
She took it. “Thanks.”
The air on North Peak was drier and cooler than on West Peak, which faced the wind and was warmer and more humid.
After ten minutes, they set off again.
They avoided thick vegetation and areas with warning signs, turning back when necessary. After all, the lessons of Tianluo Mountain were still fresh in their minds.
By 4 p.m., they began heading back.
Before long, the bright sky suddenly darkened.
A wave of black clouds rolled in.
“It’s going to rain,” Xie Dingyuan said.
“Let’s move faster,” Jiang Fuyue urged.
They hurried, but before reaching the summit, the rain began to fall.
Jiang Fuyue spotted a rock and called, “Here—”
They huddled under it, watching the rain cascade like a curtain of beads.
“Wasn’t this the leeward slope?” she murmured.
A faint smile curved his lips. “Who says leeward slopes never get rain? There are always exceptions.”
“And we happen to catch one…”
Lucky or unlucky, they couldn’t tell.
The cold wind blew; Jiang Fuyue shrank closer.
The next second, she was enveloped in a warm embrace.
Xie Dingyuan wrapped her in his jacket from behind, her slender back pressed to his broad chest.
Heat passed between them, tension building.
His hands gripped her waist tightly, feverishly.
“Yueyue…”
Her name breathed in his ear, burning and seductive.
“Hmm?”
“Don’t we look like a pair of wild mandarin ducks? Only they’re in water, and we’re in the rain.”
Jiang Fuyue laughed helplessly. “Can you think of a better metaphor?”
“Just admiring them, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“The meaning is fine, but… mandarin ducks still feel like ducks. Do you want to be a duck?”
Cough!
Xie Dingyuan nearly choked. “…Can’t call a man a duck.”
“You said it first.”
“…”
The rain continued. Jiang Fuyue nestled in his warm embrace, still enjoying the view.
“Look over there… and over there…” she pointed.
He barely glanced at the scenery, his senses focused entirely on her body in his arms.
Her thin back curved perfectly; all the right curves were where they should be.
Xie Dingyuan lowered his eyes slightly, glimpsing her pale neck, delicate collarbones… then quickly tore his gaze away.
Sight could be blocked, but scent could not.
A fresh citrus fragrance mixed with the damp rain slowly spread, inevitably reaching his nose.
It felt like a tiny insect crawling over him, impossible to ignore.
He had to take several deep breaths to calm himself.
Although they shared a suite, the courtyard-style room had separate bedrooms and bathrooms, so they technically stayed apart.
Late at night, with the moonlight dim, the heat of his body made it hard to sleep, not from desire, exactly.
He worried she might be startled if he acted on it, so he repeatedly took cold showers.
Yet she, oblivious and bold, barged in several times while he was changing, completely unashamed.
Every time, he wished he could just pull her onto the bed and teach her a lesson, her defiance meant she’d likely dare him again, which only tempted him more.
“You’re so hot, Xie Dingyuan.”
Jiang Fuyue noticed his sweat.
“You okay?”
He averted his eyes, voice slightly hoarse: “…I’m fine.”
Soon, the rain stopped, and sunlight returned, clearing the clouds.
“Look, a rainbow,” Jiang Fuyue said, reaching out gently.
The seven-colored arc highlighted her beautiful profile. Unable to resist, Xie Dingyuan lowered his head and kissed her at her ear, then cheek, nose, and finally her lips…
Jiang Fuyue was first released from the jacket, then pulled in by his strong hands. One hand slid up her neck, deepening the kiss.
Time passed. By the time the rainbow disappeared, Xie Dingyuan finally let go and took her hand.
“Ahem… let’s go. The sun will set soon.”
He was the one flustered now.
Jiang Fuyue twitched her lips. This man really had two faces…
Forty minutes later, they returned to the summit. The photo studio owner was closing up:
“You’re finally back. I thought you’d already gone down and I’d have to take the photos to the hotel front desk.”
“Sorry.”
“Here are the photos and negatives, developed, no copies, five hundred yuan exactly.”
Xie Dingyuan paid generously, handing the envelope to Jiang Fuyue. They walked down the mountain hand in hand.
The owner watched them leave, mumbling: “…Still looks familiar. Where have I seen them before? Can’t recall.”
He pondered all afternoon with no luck, then gave up. Closing up the studio, he left happily, having earned five hundred today. Business with couples might be lucrative.
…
Before sunset, Xie Dingyuan and Jiang Fuyue returned to the hotel.
After a hot shower and clean clothes, the hungry pair went out for food.
The hotel had three restaurants, and street food was available outside.
Too tired to venture far, they stayed at the hotel’s Western restaurant.
Soft piano music filled the bright room. The restaurant was not buffet-style and not included in hotel vouchers, so it was quiet and pleasant.
After ordering, they opened the envelope and took out the photos.
Under blue skies and green mountains, a man and woman stood on the viewing platform, backs to the camera. The man tall and upright; the woman slender and elegant. Both turned their heads, the man showing half his side profile with sharp features, the woman fully visible, her long hair lifted by the mountain breeze.
A perfect candid shot, with the film camera giving it a nostalgic, almost filtered quality.
Bottom right corner read: 2051.9.3, Yuqingwu Mountain.
…
East Third Wing.
Lou Mingshen woke from a nap to a call from the hotel manager—
“President Lou, you’re awake? President Wei has been calmed down for now and a room has been arranged for him temporarily. He’ll probably still want to see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is tomorrow. I’m hungry; have food sent here.”
“Yes.”
“Wait… never mind, I’ll go eat in the restaurant instead.”
