Chapter 68: Didn't You Say You’re Not Superstitious?
This translation is originally posted on
https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
The mountain villa was slightly cool in autumn, and Shen Qingzhi woke up to the sound of birds outside the window.
As she opened her eyes, she caught sight of Gu Jinrong sitting on the sofa with her back towards her, in front of a suitcase, seemingly arranging something, lit by the scattered sunlight in the room.
The hotel room in the early morning lacked light, but the bright sunlight without the curtain's cover was particularly vivid, reflecting a dreamy aura around Gu Jinrong, wrapped in her black silk pajamas.
Shen Qingzhi lay on the bed quietly observing for quite some time, feeling unexpectedly calm inside.
After about three or maybe five minutes, she belatedly realized: That's... that seems to be my suitcase. What's that black heart doing?
Before she could voice her confusion, Gu Jinrong, as if in sync with her thoughts, turned around and said, "Good morning, Qingqing."
"Good morning." Shen Qingzhi subconsciously responded, only to realize that despite their long separation, this was the first time they greeted each other in the morning.
She sat up in bed, blinked, ignoring the slight ripple in her heart, and directed her attention to the suitcase lying on the sofa, "Why are you messing with my suitcase so early in the morning?"
"I hung up the heart knot I promised to give you last night." Gu Jinrong pushed the suitcase towards the bed, allowing the person on the bed to take a closer look.
On the multi-layered pink suitcase were five key rings, each with a heart knot woven with thin cords—red, purple, orange—looking mismatched. For the first time, Shen Qingzhi began to doubt Gu Jinrong's sense of aesthetics.
It's like Gu Jinrong either wants to turn her into a Christmas tree or turn her suitcase into one.
"It's so ugly, take it off," Shen Qingzhi frowned, expressing genuine disdain.
"Oh..." Gu Jinrong seemed somewhat disappointed at the comment. She looked at the suitcase with a gaze of reluctance, "But I thought the decoration on this suitcase was the most beautiful design I made this morning. How about taking a look at these?"
She then picked up a nearby bag and clothes for Shen Qingzhi to inspect.
Every item with a loop or a button was adorned with a heart knot, colorful and of various shapes, forming a sharp contrast with the original style of the items. There were neither too few nor too many heart knots, precisely twenty-seven, including those on the suitcase.
If these "dressed-up" items were to be depicted in a painting, they would belong to the abstract art movement.
Shen Qingzhi now believed that when Gu Jinrong said "The most beautiful design this morning," she genuinely meant it.
"Do you like it, Qingqing?"
Shen Qingzhi looked at her battered bags and clothes with mixed feelings and thought: Only a fool will like that ugliness.
She was about to retort when her gaze met Gu Jinrong's eyes. Gu Jinrong was now sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes shimmering, seemingly brighter than ever.
So instead of saying what she intended, Shen Qingzhi found herself saying, "I like it."
"I knew you would like it, Qingqing." Gu Jinrong's eyes lit up completely, leaving Shen Qingzhi momentarily stunned.
Actually, during their time together, Gu Jinrong had smiled at her many times—seductively, tenderly, indulgently—but it was the first time Shen Qingzhi had seen such a pure, genuine smile.
Shen Qingzhi sometimes finds it hard to understand Gu Jinrong as a person. After all, the differences in their experiences and information were tangible obstacles between them.
Now, when this person is being completely open and honest with her, letting her see everything, she's even more at a loss.
She lowered her head, touching the golden heart knot on the bag's button. "I really like it."
This time, it was genuine.
***
This morning, the two didn't linger in the room for long. They had breakfast with Shen Hanzhi and Yu Kexin downstairs in the restaurant.
The group activity planned for yesterday was canceled due to someone oversleeping. So this morning, they agreed to visit the mountain on the west side of the villa to enjoy the scenery.
This mountain was called Xianyuan Mountain, hidden between two valleys in earlier years, and rarely visited.
It was only in recent years, with the gradual development of the tourism industry in the surrounding area, that this mountain gained attention, and a temporary path was created.
Initially, people just wanted to provide tourists with another place to explore. It wasn't until the first batch of people reached the summit, with the sunlight cutting through the clouds, dividing them into two, resembling a pair of loving birds, that it attracted numerous lovers to stop and admire.
This spectacle was not an accident; it could often be seen when the sun was high in the sky.
Some speculated that it had to do with the shape and position of the mountain. But regardless of the reason, Xianyuan Mountain gained quite a reputation because of it.
This mountain aimed to attract couples for consumption, and with the gimmick, there needed to be a story.
So, not long after, a legend emerged: a couple, in pursuit of love and freedom, overcame difficulties and reached the mountaintop. At an impasse, they encountered celestial cranes. The two were blessed and transformed into loving birds, accompanying each other for life, never to part.
The clouds shaped like loving birds in the sky were said to be their trace. If two lovers ascended together, they were fated to witness this scene, gaining blessings for enduring love and lasting friendships.
The story seems a bit forced, but many young couples in love believe everything. Over time, Xianyuan Mountain also became one of the busiest attractions nearby.
At this moment, the Shen sisters, Gu Jinrong, and Yu Kexin, a group of four, just arrived at the foot of the mountain and were overwhelmed by the dense crowd around them.
Shen Qingzhi was pushed back by passersby, pulling Yu Kexin's sleeve with an expression of speechlessness. "Didn't you say this villa hasn't opened to the public yet?"
This translation is originally posted on
https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
"We've walked two kilometers; this area no longer belongs to the villa."
Unlike Shen Qingzhi's disdainful expression due to being squeezed, Yu Kexin quite enjoyed the bustling atmosphere. She urged while looking at the densely packed crowd ahead.
"Let's hurry up and climb the mountain; if we're late, we might miss seeing the clouds shaped like loving birds."
Four people, two couples, though not openly revealed, understood each other without saying it.
Just before reaching here, they had learned about the legend of Xianyuan Mountain. Shen Qingzhi understood Yu Kexin's thoughts at this moment. She sneered, "You're so superstitious."
Yu Kexin didn't mind being rebuffed, her cheeks just slightly reddened. She hurriedly added, "I just feel it's a rare famous spot. It's a pity not to go to the mountaintop to experience it. I don't mean anything else." Before she finished speaking, she was pulled by Shen Hanzhi to her side.
Shen Hanzhi glanced at her own younger sister but seemed not entirely focused. "You're not superstitious; how about you and Jinrong just casually wander around at the foot of the mountain?"
Innocently implicated, Gu Jinrong seemed quite willing. She glanced at the heart knot around Shen Qingzhi's waist, then fixed her gaze on her face, forming a beautiful smile.
"Wherever you want to go, I'm fine with it."
With a harmonious group outing, the atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous again.
Shen Qingzhi looked at the three people ahead with different expressions, kicked the mud on the ground, and ran a few steps to the front.
"Let's go, let's go, it's just climbing a mountain."
Fifteen minutes later...
Shen Qingzhi briskly strode along the mountain path, Gu Jinrong followed leisurely, and Shen Hanzhi supported the panting Yu Kexin nearby, somewhat grumbling.
Shen Qingzhi walked swiftly on the mountain road, and Gu Jinrong followed closely behind him. Shen Hanzhi supported the panting Yu Kexin beside him, who was out of breath.
"Shen Qingzhi, can you walk a little slower? We are climbing a mountain, not rushing to reincarnate.”
Shen Qingzhi hesitated for a moment upon hearing this but swiftly resumed climbing, as if afraid of falling behind, "Let's hurry up, remember if we're late, we might not see the clouds shaped like loving birds."
"But didn't you just say you're not superstitious?" Yu Kexin supported her waist with one hand. Even though she usually had a good temper, she was a bit annoyed now.
These Shen sisters, each one always causing a stir.
And she distinctly remembered that Shen Qingzhi used to be just like her, with a track record of last place in long-distance running.
Formerly inseparable sisters, and now not a word was spoken as they quietly surpassed her.
Sensing the anger in the other's tone, Shen Qingzhi finally stopped momentarily and grumbled, "Of course, I'm not superstitious. I just feel it's a rare famous spot. It's a pity not to go to the mountaintop to experience it. I don't mean anything else."
Seemingly feeling that this explanation wasn't convincing enough, she added, "Moreover, this legend of Xianyuan Mountain is just to fool couples. What does it have to do with me?"
Gu Jinrong, Shen Hanzhi, Yu Kexin:...
The scene fell into an eerie silence for a moment. Shen Qingzhi nervously touched her nose. For a moment, neither continuing nor stopping seemed right.
Finally, Gu Jinrong broke the silence, "I see a cable car over there. How about we take the cable car up the mountain?"
The sightseeing cable cars on this mountain were spread from the foot to the summit, with a boarding point every few kilometers. Riding the cable car offered both sightseeing and saved energy.
But many tourists still chose to hike up the mountain, not because the tickets were expensive, but...
"But the previous legend seemed to say that walking to the mountaintop showed enough piety..." Shen Qingzhi muttered softly on the side.
Yu Kexin, whose legs were already weak, was completely unwilling to walk any further. "Shen Qingzhi, the rest of us are not superstitious. What about you?"
With just a few words, Shen Qingzhi ended up buying tickets at the ticket office.
There were cable cars with a capacity for two people and others for four. Shen Qingzhi initially intended to buy a ticket for the four-person cabin but was interrupted by Gu Jinrong who followed closely behind.
"Four people, two two-person cabins, thank you."
Gu Jinrong took the ticket from the ticketing lady and, noticing Shen Qingzhi's puzzled gaze, smiled and patted her raised golden-haired head, "Do you want to get beaten by Hanzhi again?"
Recalling the earlier situation, Shen Qingzhi sighed. Was Shen Hanzhi going through an early midlife crisis?
She's in a relationship and still acting this way. Who can tolerate her?
Thinking of her best friend and her own sister, who had been so close all along, treating her differently, it just felt unfair. It seemed like they were close when it came to the same gender but lacked humanity towards her. This made her even more discontented.
"Let's stick together; let's not hang out with them." Shen Qingzhi grabbed a ticket from Gu Jinrong's hand and walked swiftly towards the resting area.
She walked too fast to see the glint in Gu Jinrong's eyes.
"Both of us."
***
The tickets for the two cable cars were connected, but several meters separated the cars, and the compartments were semi-enclosed. Even if they were adjacent, only two heads could be vaguely seen.
If they lowered themselves a bit, nothing could be seen at all.
Shen Qingzhi and Gu Jinrong sat facing each other at the ends of the cable car. As the car picked up speed, there were continuous sounds of wind, birds, and mountain springs around them.
Despite this lack of tranquility, it felt like being in a secluded space for just the two of them.
This space was very small and intimate.
So small that raising one's head revealed a captivating face at close range.
So intimate that each breath carried the overwhelming scent of gardenia flowers.
Author's Note:
Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day~