If we could be like those fate tags, that would be great!
Sun Le Yan’s beautiful eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope.
She watched as the fate tags, swaying effortlessly in the wind, clattered softly against each other.
But reality is...
Love is more than just hanging a fate tag and calling it enough.
Even if I agree, maybe the other person won’t.
Don't you think so, Su Bai?
She could only repeat these words in her heart again and again. Saying them out loud? She wasn't incapable of doing that.
She was just afraid, afraid of hearing the answer she most didn't want to hear.
“Let's go, let's eat.”
Su Bai picked up his camera, aiming it at the fluttering fate tags and taking a photo.
Then, he turned around with a smile, signaling to Sun Le Yan that they could leave.
Yeah.
No words needed.
Hang it up and walk away, that's how love shows are. Right?
Finish filming and say goodbye.
“Alright.”
Sun Le Yan felt a bitter taste in her mouth, but she didn't say anything. She just nodded.
But just as she was about to take a step...
A pebble suddenly caught her foot.
“Ah!”
Her mind wasn’t on walking and she instantly cried out in pain, her body unable to stop itself from falling to the ground.
“Are you alright?”
Hearing her cry, Su Bai turned around and saw what had happened.
His face was filled with unprecedented panic as he rushed over, not caring whether Sun Le Yan wanted it or not. He immediately took off his shoes.
He gently rubbed the injured and sprained area.
“Does it hurt? What were you thinking about just now? How could you be so careless? I didn't bring any medicine, can you stand up?”
“I... probably can’t.”
Sun Le Yan frowned in pain.
But she looked at Su Bai, who was anxiously rubbing her swollen ankle, and she was even more confused.
You don't like me, so why are you… so concerned about me?
Is this all an act too?
She didn't know if it was because it hurt too much, or for some other reason.
Her eyes were slightly misty, and she could only blink frantically to prevent herself from looking like a complete mess.
“Let’s go back.”
She didn't want to end their date that was only halfway through.
She was looking forward to seeing what else Su Bai had planned for the afternoon.
But now, she had no energy for it. Her ankle was sprained, she couldn't walk, and she was afraid that if the date went on.
She would hear those words she didn't want to hear.
Maybe, maybe if they went back and spent more time together, Su Bai might change his mind.
She had said she would be honest.
Whether she held on or let go, she would make it clear.
But now.
Why was she backing down?
“No.”
However, Su Bai suddenly rejected her with a tone that was hard to describe.
There was even a hint of refusal in his voice.
“Why?”
Sun Le Yan asked. You don’t like me, and yet you want to continue the date?
And you want me to go somewhere with an injury?
Su Bai didn’t answer. He simply took the camera off his shoulder, hung it around Sun Le Yan’s neck, and then quietly turned around and crouched down.
Then he slowly spoke.
“I want to take you up the mountain.”
“Up the mountain? What’s on the mountain? I probably won’t be able to go.”
“What if I carry you? Will you go?”
Sun Le Yan didn't know why Su Bai was so insistent on going up the mountain right now.
Especially in this situation.
She looked towards the winding mountaintop.
If they really went, it would take a lot of time just to walk up, let alone carrying her.
“Can we even get there? It seems impossible to reach.”
She hesitated for a moment. She didn’t want to say no directly.
So she changed the question into an inquiry.
“We can get there, so you...”
“If you think we can, then I’m up for it.”
Sun Le Yan nodded. She didn't know what was on the mountain, but she really didn’t want this date to end like this.
Going back would mean more time together, but would it be the same?
What if Su Bai had already made up his mind to distance himself from her? Then this remaining half day of being alone together would be their only chance.
After that, there would be nothing.
Nothing.
Go, she had to go, even if it was just to have a final date, even if it was the end. She had to go up the mountain with Su Bai.
Whatever happened after they went back.
At least, they would have a perfect ending!
“Let’s go.”
Sun Le Yan nodded again, confirming her decision.
“Alright.”
Su Bai patted his shoulder. “Get on. We’ll leave after we eat.”
Looking at his back.
Sun Le Yan moved a bit, struggling to stand up and then fell into his back.
She wasn't exactly light.
But Su Bai didn't hesitate, effortlessly carrying her as if she weighed nothing.
He walked towards the private kitchen, step by step.
The sun was high in the sky, but it was already slanting down.
The boy carrying the girl on the mountain path, their shadow stretched longer.
If only this was all real!
If only they were together right now.
Sun Le Yan could feel the warmth of his back, the closest they had ever been, the most contact they had ever had.
But somehow, it felt more distant than holding hands or hugging for photos.
They entered the private kitchen.
While ordering, Su Bai also asked the waiter for medicine for a sprain.
He simply applied some to Sun Le Yan’s ankle, easing the swelling but not enough for her to walk normally.
But Su Bai didn't say anything.
He just finished eating and carried her again, facing the setting sun, heading towards the mountaintop.
One step after another.
The boy said nothing.
The girl said nothing.
The sun slowly set, and the higher they climbed.
Until night fell.
The sun was just a tiny orange glow, emitting its last rays of heat on the western horizon.
And the top of the mountain was finally in sight.
“You...”
Sun Le Yan could feel Su Bai’s breathing become labored.
Large beads of sweat were constantly falling down.
She didn’t understand why he insisted on going to the top.
She wanted to say something, but she didn’t.
She just quietly reached out her hand, wiping away Su Bai’s sweat, bit by bit.
Finally.
Darkness completely enveloped them, no trace of the surrounding landscape could be seen, only the faint moonlight cast a hazy glow on the ground.
They reached the top.
It was a small flat area. Standing here, they could look down at everything in all directions.
They could see everything they couldn’t see from the foot of the mountain.
Only, it was night, so they couldn’t see anything.
“Why did you have to come to the top?”
“The sunset is gone, the scenery is gone, nothing is left to see.”
After Su Bai put Sun Le Yan down, she finally asked the question that had been in her mind.
The night enveloped Su Bai in darkness.
She didn't know what he was thinking, he didn't speak for a long time.
Until he repeated the same sentence he had said at the foot of the mountain, the sentence he hadn't let Sun Le Yan answer.
“Do you like me?”
Sun Le Yan was startled.
But before she could speak.
Su Bai continued.
“Actually, I know the answer.”
“I saw your disappointment.”
“I noticed your desire to kiss me.”
“Your melancholy all afternoon, I saw it too.”
“I know why you’re unhappy, and I know what’s on your mind.”
Just a few simple words, transmitted calmly on top of the mountain.
The words fell into Sun Le Yan’s ears, making her accumulated sadness finally unbearable.
Her eyes turned red in the invisible darkness.
“You know everything, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because, I want you to hear me say it.”
Su Bai walked forward, as if he could see Sun Le Yan in the darkness.
He gently rubbed her head.
“You said that you can’t see anything at the top of the mountain.”
“But I think, as long as you’re by my side, it’s worth seeing anything anywhere.”
“Besides, it’s not like you can’t see anything.”
He took out his phone and sent a message: “Let’s begin.”
Just a few short moments.
Beams of light began to rise from the valley around them.
Snap!
Just one sound.
The hazy darkness was completely illuminated.
Fireworks bloomed gracefully, shining brightly in the sky.
Colorful stars spread, spreading, deepening.
It was as if an invisible hand was freely painting and sketching in the air.
Like flower petals blooming in the heavenly palace.
Or lively dancing sprites covering the whole sky.
Then, they fell, one after another, disappearing.
But they were greeted by wave after wave.
As if they were going to paint this night forever with beauty.
A magnificent fireworks show beyond imagination.
Appearing all over the world!
Tears welled up in Sun Le Yan's beautiful eyes as she stared blankly at the sky.
She was mesmerized, she was captivated.
She had never seen such dazzling fireworks in this state before.
It was as if they were blooming just for her.
Did… did Su Bai plan this?
He planned this just for me?
He carried me up the mountain, despite the exhaustion, for this moment?
Just then, Su Bai walked in front of her.
“I wanted you to hear me say it.”
“I would rather kiss you than you kissing me.”
“I would rather be the first to say, ‘I like you,’ than have you confess first.”
“If you have to ask why, perhaps I just want you to be carefree, not burdened by these trivial matters.”
“But maybe I was wrong, I was afraid that going back would only make things worse for you.”
“I would rather go through the long, winding road, and say these words here.”
“You are the surprise I will only encounter once in my lifetime.”
“So, Sun Le Yan, I like you.”
“Do you like me?”