Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Before running out of the room, Ying Jing didn’t forget to put a coat on Chu Ning.
His shout was earth-shattering. Ren Qingming hadn’t rested and was preparing to go to the computer room to check things. Hearing the commotion, he came up from downstairs quickly.
Ying Jing supported Chu Ning’s head, already having a good guess in his mind. Ren Qingming, with his experience, immediately confirmed upon seeing her condition: “It’s altitude sickness! Take her to the medical station, quick!”
Chu Ning had only felt dizzy just now and was much better now. Her consciousness returned, and she wanted to tell Ying Jing, “I’m fine.”
But being jostled around in his arms, she felt chest tightness and shortness of breath and couldn’t utter a word.
They arrived at the medical station quickly. Lying on the hospital bed, she was first given an IV drip to replenish fluids. The doctor did a simple check and said, “This girl’s altitude sickness is quite severe. Has she been exhausted?”
Ying Jing replied, “Yes, she traveled for a long time today.”
“The roads here are difficult to travel, it’s suffering. Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal. Rest for the next two days, I’ll prescribe some medicine. She’ll stay here tonight to breathe oxygen and be observed.”
He then asked, “Who will sign the consent form?”
Ying Jing: “I will!”
His loud and energetic shout amused the doctor. “Who are you to her?”
Ying Jing said plainly and without looking away, “Boyfriend.”
Chu Ning turned her head faintly, smelling the disinfectant on the pillowcase, her heart drumming.
Fifteen minutes later, Ying Jing returned to the ward.
The nurse was changing the IV bag. Chu Ning was staring blankly, but when she saw Ying Jing come in, her gaze focused on him.
“Feeling better?” After the nurse left, Ying Jing sat by the bed, gently stroking her arm up and down.
Chu Ning was still thinking about the IV drip. “What medicine did you give me?”
Ying Jing got up to check for her and said, “This bag is glucose.”
Chu Ning acknowledged and breathed a sigh of relief.
Ying Jing smiled. “Afraid someone would poison you?”
“Once when I was little, I had a high fever, and my mom took me to a community clinic for a drip. That day, there was probably a new nurse, and there were many patients. She just gave me a random injection and went to do other things. I remember it was still a glass bottle back then, held in a green net. I kept crying that it hurt, but my mom scolded me, saying it was just an injection, why was I being so delicate.”
Chu Ning stared at the liquid dripping in the tube, still feeling scared when talking about the past.
“But it hurt, my internal organs felt like they were on fire. I couldn’t hold it in and threw up. My mom was chatting with someone nearby, and it was another patient who noticed me, exclaiming, ‘Oh my, this little girl’s face is so pale.’ Later, they looked at the medicine bottle, and the wrong medicine had been used. They gave me someone else’s blood sugar-lowering medicine.”
Chu Ning sighed. “I’m really afraid of injections. It’s not because of the pain, it’s just a psychological shadow.”
Ying Jing held her hand tightly, leaned down, and gazed at her with bright eyes. “...Ning’er, you’ve suffered.”
Chu Ning gently stroked his cheek with her right hand that wasn’t being injected, blowing air. “Guan Yu always advised me before, never find a younger boyfriend, it’s tiring and exhausting. Thinking about it now, I think she has a point.”
Ying Jing scoffed, extremely unhappy. “Nonsense.”
Chu Ning didn’t agree with him but asked, “Isn’t it?”
Ying Jing pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and said softly, “Am I very bad?”
Chu Ning gestured for him to continue.
“I’m immature, I don’t understand your work, I can’t share your burdens, and I often make you unhappy.” Ying Jing’s voice gradually faded.
Chu Ning smiled. “Not bad, a good summary.”
Ying Jing lowered his head again, his guilt even stronger.
“Ning’er.” He called her name, his heart filled with unspeakable bitterness and frustration. “I know this sounds a bit useless, a bit unmanly, but when I’m with you, I feel insecure. You’re beautiful, excellent, and your social circle is high-class. As for me, I’m just a poor student, my future is uncertain, and I’m ordinary now. I like you, I like you so much, when I didn’t have you, I was unwilling. It’s so hard to meet a lover, every time you love someone, you lose a chance, and you’re the only one I have.”
As he spoke, Ying Jing’s eyes reddened. He took her hand and kissed it delicately.
“Even though you’re my girlfriend now, sometimes I dream that you’re like a butterfly, fluttering your wings and flying to the sun. I chase after you crying, my throat hoarse from shouting, but you fly and fly, never looking back.”
He sniffed, his vulnerability was his most sincere confession.
“I was never like this before. After meeting you, I lost my confidence, I felt unworthy of you, I was afraid you’d leave me. The more I feared something, the more I struggled with it. You… can you understand?”
He was a bit incoherent, shaking his head.
But Chu Ning understood.
She held his hand back, not with much strength, but the warmth of her palm was comforting, quiet, and silent, but the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious and gentle.
Chu Ning called his name, her voice hoarse, “You’re very good. Young, smart, good at studying, with ideals, passion, enthusiasm, and kindness. You’re pure and simple. I don’t want anything from being with you, I’m very happy.”
Ying Jing’s eyelashes fluttered. “Really?”
“Really.”
Chu Ning’s values had her own set of principles. What she wanted, what she didn’t want, what things she could fight for, what things she couldn’t compromise on, she was clear-headed and knew what was important.
“There’s no such thing as a perfect person in the world. No matter how exquisite and flawless the appearance, they still need to eat and drink, they’re just ordinary mortals. You’re quite good, you have some minor flaws, but they don’t matter. You can be as naughty as you want, I’m willing to indulge you.”
All Chu Ning wanted was a simple person.
He didn’t need to wear a mask, didn’t need to pretend, didn’t need to scheme, he was what he was. Her growth was bumpy, her father died early, she lacked paternal love, and her mother was weak and dependent her whole life, teaching her her own shadow. Her way of dealing with people inevitably had a bit of artificiality. After growing up, struggling in society, starting a business, and maintaining it, the busyness of the day turned into confusion and emptiness at night.
Ying Jing lowered his head, burying his eyes in her palm.
After a while, Chu Ning felt a warm stream slowly falling.
She didn’t move, didn’t speak, she had to savor this silent emotion.
It wasn’t long before Ying Jing tilted his head and looked at her again, the corners of his eyes still wet. He said softly, “I met Tang Yao three times in total. He was like a piece of chewing gum, always having reasons that I couldn’t refute.”
Chu Ning understood that she and Ying Jing had now completely opened up to each other.
She smiled. “Of course, who is he? If he wants to get something done, he can think of a million reasons.”
Ying Jing said casually, “I don’t like this person. He’s too domineering, acting like he’s sure to get everything.”
“He has the capital. Compared to him, someone like me is nothing.”
“Nonsense. I think you’re the best.” Ying Jing didn’t have anything to hide anymore. He said, “The conditions that President Tang offered were indeed tempting, but he insisted on sole investment, so I never agreed. I didn’t tell you, not on purpose, I just didn’t want you to overthink. I wanted to handle it myself to avoid any trouble.”
Ying Jing’s gaze traveled over her face, looking at her again and again. “That’s how it is.”
He paused. “...Why are you rolling your eyes?”
Chu Ning couldn’t help but raise her hand and flick his forehead hard. “Aren’t you tired, huh?”
Ying Jing puffed out his cheeks. “I was afraid of arguing with you back then, I didn’t expect to shoot myself in the foot.”
After a long while, Chu Ning sighed.
“I’m not stupid, I also know my limitations. My business advantage isn’t in this area, my strength doesn’t match my ambition, but you, you deserve a broader platform.”
Ying Jing was stunned, his lips slightly moving, wanting to say something but stopping.
“Objectively speaking, Mingyao Kechuang is indeed your best choice now, no, even in the future.” Chu Ning was also sincere, her starting point was entirely for Ying Jing’s benefit.
She was still weak, and after talking for so long, she was a bit breathless again, her voice softening. “You’re the biggest bet I’ve placed in my twenty-six years. No, not a bet.” She corrected, clearly and accurately, “It’s a certainty.”
In that instant, Ying Jing felt complete.
“If suitable companies extend an olive branch to you, I hope you’ll consider it carefully. This path is already very difficult, I hope more people will support you.” Chu Ning said.
That night, although in this unsuitable place, there were no lengthy speeches, no grand promises, but the two treated each other honestly and took a solid step forward.
Ying Jing couldn’t bear for her to talk for too long and, unusually assertive, ordered her to sleep.
Altitude sickness was very uncomfortable, and Chu Ning didn’t force herself. As soon as she closed her eyes, she fell into a dizzy sleep.
After she fell asleep, Ying Jing borrowed a simple reclining chair from the nurse, gently setting it up by the bed, and stayed by her side all night.
The next day, Chu Ning was much better.
The doctor said it was good to prescribe some medicine as a precaution. Ying Jing came back with the medicine and saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed, chatting on her phone with voice messages.
“The scenery here is really beautiful, I’ve never seen such a blue sky in my life. Of course, Beijing can’t compare.”
“I saw him, what are we doing? It’s a secret, haha.”
Her smiling face was relaxed and calm, genuinely happy.
Ying Jing sat down by the bed, stretching his neck to peek. “Who is this?”
Chu Ning deliberately moved the screen away, winking with a mischievous smile. “My ex-boyfriend.”
“Then I have to see if he’s as handsome as me!”
“Get lost.” Chu Ning was extremely disgusted. “How come I didn’t realize you were so narcissistic before?”
“I call it confidence. I got the most votes for the most handsome senior in the freshman selection.”
Chu Ning laughed, put down her phone, and pulled his face with both hands, looking left and right. “Really? You’re not that good-looking.”
Ying Jing bit the back of her hand, leaving a row of light teeth marks.
Chu Ning howled: “Ying Little Dog!!”
Ying Jing’s eyebrows flew upwards, and he kissed her lips again.
Chu Ning’s cheeks were slightly hot. “Dog.”
Another kiss.
“...Shameless.”
Ying Jing simply pressed down on the back of her head, this time for real, his tongue pushing in.
Chu Ning’s heart was beating fast, their breaths mingling, heating up.
It had to be said, this guy’s kissing skills had improved too quickly.
Just then, there were two knocks on the door.
Chu Ning pushed him away forcefully, purely out of shock.
Brother Ren came uninvited, sticking his head in from the door, smiling. “How is it, family member? Feeling better?”
Chu Ning nodded, smiling politely. “Thank you for your concern, much better.”
Brother Ren looked at Ying Jing and chuckled. “Xiao Jing, you don’t look too good. Stomach problems? I’ll ask the doctor to get you some laxatives later.”
Ying Jing: “...”
Chu Ning laughed.
He protested softly, “I’m not constipated.”
He muttered the second half in his heart: A good thing was interrupted, would you be happy?
________________________________________
After finishing this matter, Ying Jing asked the organization for a day off and then took Chu Ning to play around the area. Brother Ren was very thoughtful, thinking that it wouldn’t be convenient for the couple to take a bus, so he specially arranged a minivan for them. “Just drive this, it’ll be convenient to go wherever you want.”
It was a white, chubby van, with a five-starred red flag on top.
Ying Jing waved the car keys and said, “I’ll drive.”
Chu Ning was worried, after all, he hadn’t had his driver’s license for long. “The roads here are difficult to drive, I’ll do it.”
Ying Jing glanced at her, quite confident. “In the week I’ve been here, my driving skills have improved a lot. Brother Ren takes me up the mountain whenever he’s free, letting me drive recklessly.”
That’s how skills are, you have to drive more, practice more, and be bolder, then you’re halfway there.
Chu Ning was nervous at first, but seeing him handle even sharp turns with composure, she gradually relaxed.
She asked, “Where are we going?”
“The most famous place here is the Beauty Valley, about two hours away. I’ll take you to look around.”
“Beauty Valley, is there a Handsome Guy Village?”
Ying Jing scoffed. “No way.”
Chu Ning smiled, her eyes curving, as if filled with sunshine.
The sky was blue, the scenery was beautiful, and it was early autumn, Sichuan-Tibet presented a colorful splendor.
Ying Jing suddenly pulled over.
Chu Ning was puzzled. “What are you doing?”
He turned his head and, without a word, pressed down on the back of her head, eagerly starting to kiss her.
“Mmm...” Why did this person always like to eat people’s tongues? This one move, simple and crude, left her defenseless.
Ying Jing also couldn’t hold back, impatiently reaching under her clothes. The smooth skin on her waist was too noticeable, he still remembered how the area three inches above it last night was so intoxicating.
Chu Ning couldn’t catch her breath, her brow furrowed.
Ying Jing still remembered her altitude sickness, knowing how serious it was, his impulsiveness instantly faded. He released her and patted her back. “Ning’er, are you okay?”
Chu Ning pursed her lips, giving him an annoyed look. “Don’t mess around again.”
Ying Jing raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I’ll be a good boy for a day, okay?”
The minivan continued forward.
Ying Jing occasionally stole glances at Chu Ning in the rearview mirror.
Tsk, his girlfriend was really damn beautiful!
Near noon, the two arrived at Beauty Valley. The terrain here was remote, but fortunately, it had received development support in recent years. Countless Tibetan villages were its iconic feature, with white snow-capped mountains, clear sunshine, and a clear pond like a sleeping green gem.
It wasn’t the people that were beautiful, but the scenery bestowed by heaven and earth.
Although the temperature here wasn’t high, the ultraviolet rays were strong. Ying Jing bought Chu Ning a shawl from an old Tibetan by the roadside, wrapping her up tightly, and put on a pair of sunglasses for her. “Don’t get sunburned.”
His gaze was focused, his movements delicate, tying a knot for her in front of her chest, tightening it again and again.
Chu Ning deliberately leaned forward, touching him, and Ying Jing shivered all over. His dark eyes stared at her, Chu Ning raised her eyebrows, and went to look at the scenery on the side as if nothing had happened.
...What a bad woman.
In Sichuan-Tibet, you didn’t need to go to any specific tourist attractions, as long as you went outside, everywhere was paradise.
Chu Ning originally wanted to bring a camera to take pictures, but luckily she didn’t. That thing was too bulky. Taking pictures with her phone, every shot was a masterpiece.
The two walked and looked around, arriving at a Tibetan village.
The residents here were relatively concentrated, with a strong sense of life. Qingke was being dried on the ground.
Chu Ning pointed at a spot and asked, “What is this?”
Ying Jing squatted down, picked up a small handful and looked at it, and replied, “Dried figs.”
“Can you eat it?”
“Of course. Although this is a plateau area, it also produces some alpine apples, wild cherries, etc. No pollution, sweet and juicy. Look at this fig, it has a very sweet aftertaste.”
Ying Jing left a small piece in his hand and tasted it. “Really good.”
Chu Ning had an idea, her tone becoming serious and nervous. “Don’t eat it!”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you see the stone tablet at the entrance of the village? It clearly says on it, you can’t eat things randomly. If you eat someone’s food, you have to become their son-in-law!”
Ying Jing was dumbfounded. “...Is there?”
“Yes!”
“But I didn’t see any stone tablet just now.”
“You’re an idiot.” Chu Ning said with conviction, “If I say there is, then there is. Look at the people in this family.” She raised her chin towards the window sill of the village house in a meaningful way. “See? The father-in-law is smiling at you there.”
Ying Jing’s gaze followed and rose. On the second floor of this house, there was indeed a Tibetan grandpa smiling at them.
Their eyes met, and he even spoke, but it was in Tibetan, a string of words, impossible to understand.
Chu Ning was calm, leaning close to Ying Jing’s ear. “Let me translate for you. He said, ‘Not bad, this young man is good-looking, with long arms and legs, he’s a good seedling for farm work, it’s you! We’ll have the wedding tonight!’”
Ying Jing couldn’t help but roll his eyes, chuckling. “Oh, you understand Tibetan?”
Chu Ning nodded busily. “I’m self-taught in this area, I’m no good at anything else.”
Well, she was talking nonsense seriously.
Ying Jing’s eyes were full of doting. He rubbed her hair, just about to speak. There was a loud commotion ahead. The two turned their heads together, and, wow! Five or six girls were walking towards them with smiles.
Ying Jing frowned, talking to himself, “Is this a custom? Are they five sisters? Which one has taken a fancy to me?”
Chu Ning, who had been energetic and lively just now, was completely silent at this moment.
She stared at the group of girls, her expression unreadable, but she was probably nervous, her fingers constantly scratching her palm.
Ying Jing, on the other hand, became interested. “Not bad, they’re really good-looking.”
Hearing this, Chu Ning grabbed his hand and turned around to run without saying a word.
She was too fast, and Ying Jing almost tripped and fell. “Hey! Hey! Slow down!”
As if there was a monster behind them, Chu Ning held her breath and dragged him away from the village, stopping in an open space. Chu Ning then released him, resting her hands on her knees, panting heavily.
Ying Jing was almost laughing to death. “What’s wrong? Why are you running?”
Chu Ning glared at him. “You still dare to say!”
Ying Jing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m wronged, wife! Wasn’t it you who said they took a fancy to me and wanted to drag me back to the village to be their son-in-law?”
“Pah, who took a fancy to you?”
Well, she was denying everything, and being unreasonable in every way.
Ying Jing touched her angry face. “You took a fancy to me.”
Chu Ning turned her head away, ignoring him, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but turn upwards.
Not far away, prayer flags symbolizing good fortune and auspiciousness fluttered in the wind, blue flags on top, yellow flags below. In the eyes of believers, each time the prayer flags fluttered, it was like completing a prayer.
Ying Jing took Chu Ning’s hand and led her to the side.
This place was near the mountains, the mountain wind blowing through, heaven and earth, gods and spirits, love and hate, seemed to merge into one. Only in the face of the magnificent mountains and rivers would people feel that worldly matters were not worth mentioning, just be free, be as you wish, be comfortable.
Ying Jing put his hands together, closed his eyes piously, and made a wish to the prayer flags.
Chu Ning didn’t believe in these things and didn’t disturb him. She walked to the other side, leaning against a large stone, and took out a cigarette to light.
The wind was strong, and the smoke was scattered.
She wore sunglasses, looking into the distance at the mountains and rivers, her face calm.
Soon, Ying Jing came over, took the cigarette from her hand, and said unhappily, “Smoke less.” Then he put it out, putting the cigarette butt into his pants pocket.
Chu Ning looked at him and casually asked, “What did you wish for just now?”
Ying Jing was uncharacteristically silent. After a while, he said, “Do you really want to know?”
It would have been better if she hadn’t asked, but his posture had piqued Chu Ning’s interest.
She took off her sunglasses, squinting her eyes to meet his.
Ying Jing’s gaze was unwavering, looking at her and saying, “I didn’t make a wish... I just asked God when I could...”
Make love with you.
Chu Ning’s eyebrows twitched, and after a few seconds, she turned her head slowly, stiffly putting her sunglasses back on.
...The pressure was great.
Google Sites
Report abuse