Under the bright, clear sky, the ancient tree’s leafy branches rustled in the breeze. The red strings and charms hung like a sea of wishes, intertwining and gently swaying—a testament to countless couples’ wishes.
Bo Jin stood there, tall and striking. His fair, slender fingers contrasted beautifully with the red string, making him look all the more captivating.
Xie Ruan cursed inwardly. This guy was getting way too good at flirting.
Seeing no one else around, he felt a sudden urge. Taking a step closer, he grabbed Bo Jin’s wrist.
Bo Jin didn’t resist, watching him with a faint smile, letting him do as he pleased.
Picking out a red string, Xie Ruan met Bo Jin’s gaze as he wrapped it around his finger, tying a knot at the end. A playful smile tugged at his lips. “Better keep it tight. Break it, and you’re getting a punch.”
Bo Jin raised his hand, shaking the messy knot, and drew out his words: “So…”
“Hm?”
Bo Jin leaned slightly to meet his gaze. “So, are you tying yourself to me for life?”
Xie Ruan: “…”
He hadn’t meant it that way! He’d just wanted to throw him off, with no deeper meaning at all.
How does this guy keep his thick skin year after year?
In a rush, Xie Ruan grabbed Bo Jin’s hand, about to undo the knot.
“Oh,” Sun Haoxiang whistled as he came over, his tone mischievous. “In broad daylight, you two are here tugging on each other—performing some kind of love declaration at the Fate Tree?”
Bo Jin, naturally, was not one to be teased.
He raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Well, thanks to your generous sponsorship. Here you are, a single guy working hard on our relationship business. You even put up the funds. You’re a great friend; thank you.”
Sun Haoxiang: “…”
Sun Haoxiang yelled indignantly, “You haven’t even won him over yet!”
“I don’t like that tone,” Bo Jin turned to Xie Ruan, nodding his chin. “Little Xie, are you really going to let him say that about us? C’mon, give him an answer and prove him wrong.”
Xie Ruan: “…”
Mortified, Xie Ruan snatched his fate plaque from Bo Jin’s hand, hurriedly hung it on the tree, and turned to leave.
He didn’t have Bo Jin’s nerve; he needed a moment to cool off.
Well, this was about what Bo Jin had expected. Little Xie was just like that—thin-skinned and easily embarrassed. With a shrug, Bo Jin hung his own plaque next to Xie Ruan’s, tying the red strings tightly together in a dead knot.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sun Haoxiang rolled his eyes at this.
“Hey, Brother Bo, if you have the space, help me hang mine too,” He Mingjie said, trotting over with his little wooden plaque.
He’d found a spot for it himself, but seeing Bo Jin’s higher position, he suddenly wanted it.
Bo Jin declined, “Find another place.”
Why?
Before He Mingjie could ask, Bo Jin said, “The two of us have a perfect spot; why would a third party need to squeeze in?”
He Mingjie: “…”
Bo Jin, d*mn you!
Remembering the spiritual significance of the place, he swallowed back his curse.
Pan Yu promptly held back the simmering He Mingjie, patting him reassuringly.
A muffled complaint came from He Mingjie behind them, “Seriously, what’s his deal? We’re all buddies—what’s wrong with giving me a spot?”
“There’s plenty of other places. Why do you have to squeeze in with them?”
“His spot is higher…”
Bo Jin didn’t listen any further; he strode after Xie Ruan, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Where are you going?”
“Over there,” Xie Ruan said, pointing ahead.
Bo Jin followed his gaze, then slowed his steps.
Not far from them was the edge of a cliff. To prevent accidents, a sturdy railing circled the area, and there was a high observation deck beside it.
Most people would be interested in the observation deck, but Xie Ruan wasn’t; he was afraid of heights.
The fact that Xie Ruan had even agreed to hike today had been surprising enough for Bo Jin. Last time they’d gone out, he hadn’t even dared cross a pedestrian bridge.
After a moment, Bo Jin asked, “You want to go up on the observation deck?”
The deck wasn’t actually that high, but the hundred-meter drop before it was certainly intimidating for someone like Xie Ruan.
They reached the railing, and Xie Ruan rested a hand on it, then turned to Bo Jin with a “do I look insane” expression. “No.”
Bo Jin laughed, amused and curious about what exactly was going on in his head. Was he trying to cure himself?
“Then why are you over here?”
Xie Ruan didn’t answer. He took a deep breath, steadying himself before slowly glancing downward.
Strangely, he hadn’t been scared during the hike, but here, facing the cliff, he felt dizzy and weak in the knees, his breath hitching. Maybe it was because it reminded him of that scene in the novel where he’d jumped off a building.
Unable to continue looking, he turned to Bo Jin, steadying his breath. “Look down.”
“Hmm?” Bo Jin looked puzzled, not sure what he was getting at.
“Do you think it looks deep?”
“It’s pretty deep.”
After all, this was the city’s tallest mountain—it had a bit of a reputation to uphold.
“And are you scared?”
Bo Jin was about to say, “What’s there to be scared of,” when something seemed to cross his mind. Instead, he grinned, “I’m terrified.” He opened his arms, feigning anxiety. “So, shouldn’t you comfort me?”
“Get lost!” Xie Ruan was both amused and exasperated at his constant flirtation, quickly getting back on topic. “I’m trying to teach you to respect heights, understand?”
Less than a year remained until his supposed fall. He had to keep a close eye on him, just in case things went the way of the original story.
“Aren’t you scared? If you fell from here, even ten of you wouldn’t be enough to cushion the fall.” Xie Ruan looked at him seriously. “Constantly walking by the river, sooner or later, you’ll get wet. Just in case, don’t hang around high places, like rooftops.”
So that’s what this was all about.
Watching Xie Ruan’s earnest expression, Bo Jin felt a mix of amusement and warmth. He wasn’t sure why Xie Ruan was so convinced he’d fall, but he appreciated the concern.
He’d always joked about it before, but seeing how much Xie Ruan worried, Bo Jin decided it was time to set things straight.
Come on—was his face not handsome enough, or his waist not good enough? Did he really need to pull such stunts to attract a boyfriend?
Bo Jin ruffled his hair. “I’m not going to jump.”
His intentions laid bare, Xie Ruan froze, embarrassed. He thought he’d been subtle, but Bo Jin had clearly seen through it all.
However, his attention was quickly pulled away: “Really?”
“Or else?” Bo Jin nudged Xie Ruan’s foot with his toe, raising an eyebrow. “Do you think I’m that type of person?”
He really wasn’t.
Xie Ruan glared at him and moved his foot to the side. But the next second, Bo Jin chased after him. When Xie Ruan moved again, Bo Jin followed.
In the end, Xie Ruan could only relent, helplessly letting him continue.
So, in the original story, why did he jump off a building?
There must be a reason.
But…
Xie Ruan looked up, meeting Bo Jin’s rebellious gaze. With his personality, even facing major setbacks, he wouldn’t weakly give up on life. Could it have been an accident?
Xie Ruan pondered. If it was an accident, then how did it happen?
“What are you thinking about?” Bo Jin waved his hand in front of Xie Ruan’s face, then grabbed his wrist and led him back. “Relax, no matter who does something foolish, I wouldn’t.” He turned back and flashed Xie Ruan a grin. “At the very least, I’d have to live until our golden or diamond wedding anniversary.”
Xie Ruan: “…”
Xie Ruan sighed, exasperated. “Bo Jin, what is your face made of?”
“Not sure. Want to try touching it?”
“Get lost!”
When the two of them returned, Sun Haoxiang was just coming back from the store with a large plastic bag.
“Here, everyone gets a cup of instant noodles, plus sausage and a marinated egg,” he said, handing things out as he went. “Everything here is so darn expensive. Guess how much for just this sausage—eleven bucks. I was shocked.”
“So what?” He Mingjie ripped open a package and took a bite, mumbling, “It’s where they make their money.”
“True.” Sun Haoxiang sighed and nudged him. “Come on, let’s get some hot water.”
The store was a bit of a rip-off, but luckily, the owner wasn’t too greedy—hot water was free.
The steaming instant noodles warmed them against the winter chill.
The mountaintop view was broad and beautiful, sweeping away the fatigue of the climb.
Sun Haoxiang took a sip of the broth and sighed contentedly, “Not gonna lie, it’s pretty nice.”
Pan Yu adjusted his glasses and smiled, “Then let’s come again next time.”
“No, no, no, never again.” Sun Haoxiang straightened up instantly, nearly waving his hands in refusal.
Seeing his skittish reaction, the others burst out laughing.
At first, Sun Haoxiang felt a bit embarrassed, but after looking around at everyone, he couldn’t help joining in the laughter.
Brimming with energy, He Mingjie jumped up and raised his noodle cup to Xie Ruan. “Come on, little Xie, cheers!”
Xie Ruan raised his cup with a smile, “Cheers.”
Not wanting to miss out, Sun Haoxiang joined in. “Hey, cheers!”
Pan Yu took out his phone, opened the camera, and gestured to Sun Haoxiang, “Look up.”
Sun Haoxiang blinked, then quickly straightened his hair. Pan Yu adjusted the angle, noticing out of the corner of his eye Bo Jin wrapping an arm around Xie Ruan, making him twitch with exasperation.
This shameless guy, always seizing every opportunity.
“Okay, here we go.”
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
After lunch, they wandered around the mountaintop, checking every spot until they were sure there was nothing left to see. Only then did they start their descent.
Climbing up was easier than going down, especially for someone like Sun Haoxiang, who was out of shape.
Fortunately, they weren’t in a rush. They took their time, stopping here and there, reaching the foot of the mountain by evening.
“How are you getting home?” Bo Jin asked Xie Ruan.
Xie Ruan pointed to a nearby bus stop. “There’s a bus that goes straight near my place.” He looked up at Bo Jin and, after thinking for a moment, asked, “Aren’t you taking the subway?”
The buses leaving from tourist spots usually only stop at main stations, with long gaps between stops. Though they were going in roughly the same direction, they couldn’t take the same bus.
Bo Jin just nodded but stayed put.
Noticing Sun Haoxiang winking at them and almost smirking, Xie Ruan nudged him. “Get going; soon it’ll be rush hour, and there’ll be too many people.”
“What’s the hurry?” Bo Jin said, unmoved. “I’ll wait until you get on.”
But as luck would have it, the moment he finished speaking, Xie Ruan’s bus arrived.
Bo Jin: “…”
Bo Jin cursed softly, “Seriously? Is it targeting me?”
Sun Haoxiang and He Mingjie laughed out loud, “Serves you right for showing off.”
Pan Yu smiled, his lips curving up, “Fate.”
Rarely seeing him taken down a peg, Xie Ruan couldn’t resist a chuckle. He cleared his throat, “Well, I’m getting on now. Bye.”
Bo Jin, resigned, waved at him, “Message me on WeChat.”
The driver, a middle-aged man, wasn’t interested in watching young couples dawdling in romance. As soon as Xie Ruan boarded, the driver stepped on the gas, leaving only a cloud of exhaust behind.
The bus was mostly empty, and Xie Ruan found a good seat. Feeling bored, he took out his phone to check new posts on his account.
He casually scrolled through the volunteer account, not expecting much, but something immediately caught his eye.
The Sunshine Orphanage was recruiting volunteers!!
