However, she stood in front of him and revealed her long-held feelings. This overwhelming, continuous love had been winding its way from their youth. He was completely consumed by it, and his previous hesitations collapsed in an instant.

During their first winter break in college, Han Chao bought train tickets and insisted on taking Qianye with him to Lushan. She asked, “Aren’t your parents urging you to come home for the New Year?” He replied, “I told them I was going to stay with their daughter-in-law…” With that, they playfully tangled up in laughter. The trip from Beijing to Jiujiang took over ten hours. Han Chao had originally planned to buy plane tickets, but he just wanted to spend more time with her. The second day of the winter break, they packed light and set off. They had sleeper tickets, and as soon as they found their compartment, Han Chao climbed onto Qianye’s bed. She complained that the bed was small and cramped, but he insisted on squeezing in with her. This was his first time on a train.

Coming from a well-off family, he usually flew for longer trips. But now, he thoroughly enjoyed being with her, in the crowded, noisy train, feeling the closeness of their shared lives. These were the kinds of reckless moments that only youth could afford.

They snacked and looked out the window at the passing scenery. Han Chao leaned on Qianye’s shoulder like a child. When he wanted something to eat, he would nudge her hand, and she would feed him. They stayed close, and in that moment, in the vast world, nothing seemed more worth holding onto than this moment.

They stayed pressed against each other as night fell. Qianye leaned into his arms, and Han Chao wrapped his arms around her. She felt a long-lost sense of safety, as though his embrace could shield her from an uncertain future and fate.

As the dawn approached, Qianye woke up. It was just after four in the morning, the dark hour before daybreak, a moment full of hope. Han Chao was sound asleep beside her, breathing steadily. She didn’t want to wake him, only gazed greedily at his features. His eyebrows were thick and firm, the kind that the books said belonged to a person of noble birth. She had such a good man by her side, and she felt truly grateful for life.

The sky outside the train slowly began to lighten, and they passed numerous villages, people gradually becoming distant on their journey. Everything around them was silent, and she felt an unprecedented peace. He was right beside her, time flowing slowly like water. If this was her whole life, how wonderful it would be.

After a while, more people began waking up on the train, and sounds slowly filled the air. Han Chao woke up and instinctively hugged Qianye again. “We’re almost there.” “Mm.”

The train slowly pulled into the station in Jiujiang. As the doors opened, the sky immediately brightened. They saw the sky over a new city. After getting off the train, Han Chao and Qianye rented a room near the scenic area. They took a car to the Lushan scenic area, where the mountain mist had not yet completely cleared. The leaves on either side still held the dew from the previous night. They chose not to take the cable car and instead walked up the stone steps from the foot of the mountain. It was their first time tackling such a high mountain, and Qianye’s stamina was running low.

They walked slowly, stopping frequently. As the mountain mist began to clear, the sunlight gradually broke through, and the mountain scenery became clear and bright.

After several hours, with still one-fifth of the journey left, Qianye rested in a pavilion. Her feet ached so badly she could hardly move, each step felt like a sharp pain. Han Chao looked at her with concern and said he wouldn’t go any further, staying there to keep her company. The sunlight bathed their sweat-covered faces. Qianye said, “It’d be such a waste not to reach the top. Just imagine you’re helping me see the view from up there, and I’ll wait for you here.” Han Chao hesitated. “Then I’ll take some photos for you.” He took the camera, drank some water, and started walking ahead. He clearly moved much more easily on his own, jogging up the mountain, reaching the summit quickly.

From the top, he looked down at the homes and villages below, feeling a surge of excitement in his heart. He took a few photos, then returned to meet Qianye. She was sitting in the pavilion, gazing at the mountains in the afternoon light. Han Chao’s figure suddenly appeared in her line of sight. He was walking toward her from the brilliance of the sun, and she felt a deep, emotional stir in her heart. She wondered, would he still wait for her like this in the future, giving up endless glory to return to her side, to meet her again?