Chapter 8: Mountain Entrance

907th Floor (OP):

We’re up, this morning we plan to go around the area, which is just a stretch of mountains.

The innkeeper said that the mountains here are very safe, there are always people around, and there aren’t any fierce wild animals, the most dangerous might be snakes. But the snakes here are mostly non-venomous, and they’re in hibernation now.

He suggested that we could go have some fun, breathe the fresh air that the city doesn’t have. We just finished breakfast, and he even gave us a bamboo basket, saying that if we find any mountain delicacies, we can bring them back and he’ll check if they’re edible.

The innkeeper is also into 5G surfing, and he advised us not to eat until we’re sure, or else we might see dancing little people in the next second.

c is currently getting some things, I’m waiting for him, we’ll be setting off soon.

908th Floor:

Hahaha, laughing so hard, dancing little people.

909th Floor:

Red umbrella, white stick, done eating, lying flat flat~

910th Floor:

Lying flat flat, sleeping soundly, then burying together in the mountains~

911th Floor:

But speaking of which, isn’t this a solo date? In a little grove, ah no — this is a big grove, a must-visit place for couples… but you guys aren’t a couple, so you’re not allowed to go…

912th Floor:

Hahaha, the person above is getting more and more resentful, comparing and getting angry.

913th Floor:

Chasing friends, huh? Don’t reply, just find a way to chase them.

914th Floor:

Exactly, not doing the right thing, always browsing the forum, how are you going to chase someone? Pointing and giving advice.jpg

915th Floor:

Ah ah ah, you guys are so annoying! Can’t you see I’m trying to figure out what to do!

916th Floor (OP):

We’ve climbed up to the mountainside. We see several chestnut trees here, they should be quite old, tall and big, grown into a cluster. There are many chestnuts on the ground.

The innkeeper had foresight and gave us wooden tongs, otherwise these spiky chestnuts would be hard to peel. There’s only one pair of wooden tongs, and c volunteered to give it a try, but he lost interest after peeling a few.

Coincidentally, not far from the chestnut trees, there are a few orange trees. He couldn’t help but sneak a glance at them, probably thinking I didn’t notice. Seeing him like this, I wanted to ask if he wanted to go pick oranges. Before I could ask, he looked up at me and cautiously suggested whether I could pick oranges while he picked chestnuts.

I found this really funny and exasperating at the same time. He’s still afraid I won’t agree with such a thing? I couldn’t help but rub his hair a bit and told him to go ahead if he wanted to.

He handed me the wooden tongs and somewhat sheepishly explained that he was the one who made them, but in the end, I was the one using them. I couldn’t help but make a sound of disapproval, telling him not to worry about such things with me, to just do whatever he wants.

And now he’s happily picking oranges, while I’m here collecting chestnuts.

My wife has high standards for himself, probably due to his upbringing. He feels sorry if he doesn’t fulfill things he’s committed to, even if they’re small matters.

I’ve mentioned it to him a few times before. Now he’s become more casual in front of me, but he hasn’t completely let go. It seems I need to make him get used to it more, to let him know he can be carefree around me. And in reality, these kinds of little things aren’t being capricious at all; I actually find them quite cute.

917th Floor:

Don’t move, I’ll go pick some oranges for you. Dog head.jpg

918th Floor:

Chestnuts, ah, I’m craving sugar-fried chestnuts. That aroma — spreads ten miles, that texture — fragrant, sweet, and chewy!

919th Floor:

Can’t afford to eat them, let’s move on from this topic quickly.

920th Floor:

I imagined c’s little actions, quite adorable. But really, these common little things, there’s no need to feel embarrassed, haha.

921st Floor:

Indeed, these sudden role switches are so common, we’re used to them, my boss does things like this all the time, let alone someone like c.

Just changed to a different activity, and still feeling embarrassed. Making c learn from me, he’s got a super thick skin, not embarrassed about anything!

922nd Floor:

Hey, easy on the pride! OP, you need to put in more effort, c still seems to have some distance from you.

923rd Floor (OP):

Yeah, that’s true. I can sense that c’s attitude towards me is already very close, you could say among the people he knows, he’s closest to me.

But I hope he wouldn’t restrain himself around me, not needing to be that sensible. He can be more playful with me, act more, and be a bit spoiled. I want to pamper him more, not just the share of pampering I should give.

Maybe I haven’t pampered him enough, so he’s not being open with me. So, every day I need to pamper him a bit more than the day before.

924th Floor:

Damn, how come my boyfriend doesn’t have this realization!

925th Floor:

Even someone like OP can’t win over their wife, I feel better now.

926th Floor:

Upstairs, although OP hasn’t won over their wife, how much of a difference is there in the treatment they’re enjoying compared to having a wife?

927th Floor:

Damn, I’m going to show this thread to my boyfriend.

928th Floor:

Do it now! I’m getting jealous of others!

929th Floor (OP):

We’re done here. Although chestnuts and oranges are quite common, we’re not eating them right now. After all, we’re not familiar with this area, and who knows if there might be some mutated poisonous stuff. There’s a saying, how does it go? The more poisonous something is, the better it disguises itself as ordinary fruits and nuts.

Ahead, there’s something like wild fruit, vaguely seeing red spots hanging on the trees. We’ll go there first.

930th Floor:

Yin Susu thinks it’s great, just like a woman.

931st Floor:

It’s good to be cautious. Last time, me and a few friends went to the mountains and picked fruits when we saw them. Little did we know, those seemingly ordinary fruits had quite the aftermath.

They got off easier, I got greedy and ate a few more. Ended up lying in the hospital for two days straight. Cracked open.jpg

932nd Floor:

Didn’t expect your bushy-eyebrowed fruits to deceive people too. Dog head.jpg

933rd Floor:

OP, what you’re doing is right. Don’t relax your vigilance just because they look the same as regular food. It’s just that nature is very mysterious, you never know what kind of “mysterious” things might be out there.

934th Floor (OP):

We’re here now, it’s hawthorn trees.

The bamboo basket still has room, let’s pick some of these too to take back. Winter essential — haw flakes! c really likes these little sweets. Sometimes I even think, maybe because he likes sweets so much, that’s why he’s so sweet all around.

935th Floor:

I’m starting to like sweets now. Can I be as sweet as c?

936th Floor:

Upstairs, there’s absolutely no possibility of that.

937th Floor:

Haw flakes, ah, I want to eat them too. Wait, isn’t this a thread about feelings? Why does it sound like a food thread? Damn it, am I just too hungry!

938th Floor:

We’re just saying, I can make all sorts of little sweets. Where can I find a sweetheart like c to enjoy them? Feeling wronged.jpg

939th Floor:

Find a partner for yourself! I haven’t won over someone yet, don’t provoke me in front of me, ahh!

940th Floor:

You’ve been chasing for so long, why don’t you learn from OP?

941st Floor:

I’d love to learn too, but the person I’m interested in, I only see them a few times a year. Not everyone is like OP here, chasing before even securing a relationship!

942nd Floor:

Feels like we’re going to see a double-thread in this group? OP’s pair and Chasing friends’ pair?

943rd Floor:

Agreed, it’s like one post with two stories.

944th Floor:

I don’t care, I’m definitely the one who’ll win first! OP, you’re not allowed to win before me! I’m ruthless! Not allowed!

745th Floor (OP):

No way, I’m definitely winning first!

We’re heading down the mountain now, my wife came to pick me up. Gotta go, we’ll talk later.

746th Floor:

… OP, you’re so annoying! Don’t show off in front of me, damn it!

…

753rd Floor (OP):

Walked around the mountain, the air was really good, and I felt like my whole body relaxed. We showed the stuff we brought back from the mountain to the boss, he confirmed that those are just regular fruits, not poisonous.

We’re heading back in the afternoon, going to have lunch first, then go to the boss’s place to pick some fresh vegetables. Of course, we need to bring back some of c’s favorite strawberries.

Was worried about not being able to finish eating them, but c suggested making them into strawberry sauce, which is also good. You can spread it on bread in the morning.

754th Floor:

Strawberry sauce, last time I cooked sugar, I put too little in, ended up being so sour…

755th Floor:

For fruit jam, I remember the ratio of fruit to sugar is like 3:1, right?

756th Floor:

I like it a bit sweeter, I usually use about half the amount of fruit.

757th Floor:

Next time I’ll try, I’m broke lately, can’t even afford to buy strawberries, let alone enough to make jam.

…

767th Floor (OP):

Already on the way back, c is playing games beside me, taking the chance while he’s not diverting his attention to me to say a few things.

C’s birthday is coming up, restaurants, cakes, where to go… I’ve already planned it all. At that time, I was trying to see where c wanted to go, almost got caught by him, luckily I managed to get through.

What’s bothering me the most now is what gift to give my wife. Didn’t I say before, my wife gave me a tie clip and I really like it. Mainly because sometimes I help my dad, I need to wear formal attire, and I use the tie clip quite a bit.

But I don’t know what to give my wife. I’ve got a few options now, but I want to see if you guys have any ideas.

768th Floor:

Suggesting a car, very practical. Dog head.jpg

769th Floor:

If you’re saying that, isn’t a house even more practical?

770th Floor:

If it were me, I’d want you to just give me money directly. Starry eyes.jpg

771st Floor:

See what hobbies c usually has? Give something related.

772nd Floor:

Try probing again?

773rd Floor:

If you probe again, c will definitely know your plan completely, don’t do it.

774th Floor:

Maybe c has something they want?

775th Floor:

Give some electronic devices? The latest models.

776th Floor:

How about a camera? They say DSLRs ruin three generations, photography destroys a lifetime. OP’s family has money, so it’s worth a shot. Even if you don’t usually do photography, you can learn a bit, take pictures when you go out.

777th Floor:

Give a big gift package of sweets!!! Sweets are eternal!

778th Floor:

Aside from the bought gift, how about trying to make something yourself to give to c? The meaning behind something you make yourself is much greater.

779th Floor (OP):

After looking at everyone’s opinions, I’ve got a rough idea in my mind. I won’t tell you for now, except for me, c will be the first to know about his gift.

Really glad I can spend my wife’s birthday with him. I hope that in the future I can be with him for every birthday.

The premise is still that I have to win him over first, so let’s give myself a boost!