Chapter Eighty-Nine: Your Hand in Mine, Let’s Walk Together!

Chapter 89: Big Hand Holds Little Hand, We Walk Together!

Tang Zhong was awakened by Hua Ming’s snoring. He pushed open the window and saw that the wind and rain had ceased outside, a cold moon hanging alone in the sky.

He quietly closed the door behind him and climbed to the rooftop of the small building, surveying the scattered, low houses around and the endless slopes stretching into the distance. There was a single peak rising elegantly, like a fairy draped in a long, fluttering ribbon. Tang Zhong thought, perhaps that was the “Maiden Peak” they would be climbing come dawn.

After the rain, the autumn night was cool, the bright moon hung high, and the midnight world was silent save for the calls of birds and insects.

“After rain in the empty mountains, the weather turns autumnal by evening.” Tang Zhong suddenly recalled such beautiful verses.

Thud, thud—

Footsteps approached.

Tang Zhong was surprised. It was around four in the morning—who else would come to the rooftop at this hour?

He kept silent, standing quietly in place.

Qiu Yihan hadn’t expected anyone else to be there either. When she saw a dark figure on the rooftop, her first thought was of the mountain spirits and tree demons from her grandmother’s stories. She opened her mouth to scream—

Tang Zhong rushed forward and pulled Qiu Yihan into his arms—or rather, pressed his hand over her mouth.

“It’s me,” Tang Zhong whispered.

Qiu Yihan’s large eyes were even clearer under the moonlight, black as ink, white as snow, her long lashes fluttering like delicately trimmed and mounted little fans. There was confusion in her gaze, but even more delight.

“I know—” she mumbled.

Tang Zhong was worried her scream would wake the others, so he’d hurried over to cover her mouth. The moment his hand touched her cheek, he was struck by its astonishing softness and elasticity.

The first time they met, he’d thought this girl looked like a beautiful porcelain doll. Now, having touched her, he wondered—what material could a doll possibly be made of to feel like this?

When she tried to speak, her lips inevitably brushed against his palm—just like Hua Ming’s little rabbit, Greedy, licking at the shreds of greens in his hand: soft, ticklish, sending a mild electric jolt up Tang Zhong’s arm.

Though he was reluctant, he let go of her mouth.

“I thought you were a demon,” Qiu Yihan said, catching her breath. “Grandma says there are lots of wandering spirits and monsters in the mountains.”

“There’s no such thing,” Tang Zhong laughed. “If you’re so scared of monsters, how did you dare come up here alone?”

“I didn’t want to,” Qiu Yihan pouted adorably, looking pitiful as she pulled up her sleeve for him to see. “Count how many bites I’ve got here.”

By the moonlight, Tang Zhong could see that the back of her snowy, tender hand was dotted with several red patches. For most people, a mosquito bite was just a little red dot. But her skin was so delicate, and perhaps mildly allergic, that the dots merged into larger splotches.

“There was no mosquito net in your room either?” Tang Zhong asked.

“No,” Qiu Yihan replied. “Granny Wang even wanted to give us her own, but we refused. We already felt bad disturbing her—how could we take her net too? Mosquitoes don’t just suck the blood of the young, after all.”

Hearing her speak with such innocent charm, Tang Zhong couldn’t help but squint and smile. “But the three of them all slept soundly, didn’t they?”

“What do you mean, slept soundly?” Qiu Yihan retorted. “They wrapped themselves up like rice dumplings with clothes and newspapers. I didn’t have enough clothes and didn’t want to use theirs, so I had to come out here.” She sounded as if Tang Zhong’s words were accusing her of being too delicate for hardship.

“There’s a strong breeze up here, so there really aren’t any mosquitoes,” Tang Zhong smiled. “Aren’t you going back to sleep?”

“Are you?” Qiu Yihan asked. “If you sleep, I’ll sleep too. If you stay up, I’ll keep you company.”

“Sleep together?” Tang Zhong’s eyes widened. “Aren’t we moving a bit fast?”

Only then did Qiu Yihan realize her blunder. Her cheeks flushed crimson and she waved her hands anxiously. “No, I didn’t mean that. I meant—if you go back to sleep, I won’t dare sit here alone. But if you don’t, I’ll stay and talk with you. I—I didn’t mean to sleep with you.”

“Oh, I must have misunderstood,” Tang Zhong said, laughing.

“Mm. Then I…” Qiu Yihan’s face was red as a persimmon and she didn’t know what to say next.

“Wait here a moment,” Tang Zhong said. He went downstairs and brought up a long bench. “Let’s sit here for a while. The sun should be up soon—we can watch the sunrise together.”

“Yes, yes!” Qiu Yihan exclaimed excitedly. “I’ve always wanted to see the sunrise, but never managed to—I always oversleep.”

Black mountains, a waning moon, the cool wind, a rooftop, a long bench, a young girl, and the intoxicating scent that lingered after she drew near—

They sat side by side, chatting. Once she grew comfortable, Qiu Yihan became especially talkative, doing most of the talking while Tang Zhong listened.

She told little stories Tang Zhong had heard before or memories from her childhood—how she cried for three days when she lost her Frog Prince toy only for it to turn up again; how she secretly went ice-skating with classmates and scraped her knee, earning a scolding from her grandmother. They were all small things, but Tang Zhong listened attentively.

Time slipped by. In the distant hollow between mountains, a pale yellow sun timidly showed half its bashful face.

Tang Zhong turned to remind Qiu Yihan to look, but found her already asleep, leaning against his shoulder.

He didn’t know when she’d dozed off.

Her long hair was loose, her body curled up, lips pursed slightly and a tiny puddle of drool at the corner of her mouth.

“What a child,” Tang Zhong grinned.

——

After eating the porridge and flatbread Granny Wang made for them, Tang Zhong gathered everyone and set off toward Maiden Peak.

On the stone bridge, they ran into Zhou Wei and his group again.

“Did you find a place to sleep last night?” Zhou Wei ran up to Liang Tao and asked.

“Of course!” Liang Tao replied gleefully. “Not only did we find a place to stay, we had local chicken hotpot for dinner—ah, the flavor!”

“No way,” Zhou Wei scoffed. “The locals keep those chickens for eggs. Unless you offer an outrageous price, they won’t sell.”

“What if I told you they didn’t even want our money?” Liang Tao asked.

“Do I look like an idiot to you?” Zhou Wei sneered.

“It’s true,” Luo Huan added. “Their little grandson was constipated for days. Tang Zhong massaged his belly and he finally did his business—so they killed a chicken and made us hotpot. It was delicious. I’m still drooling just thinking about it.”

Zhou Wei’s expression was odd. He glanced at Tang Zhong, thinking, Not only is this guy good at fighting and silver-tongued, he can heal people too—what is he, Ultraman?

Zhou Wei suggested they all hike together, and Tang Zhong didn’t object. After all, Zhou Wei’s group included Chen Xuebing, a local who might know some unique spots.

The group explored the narrow, shadowy Crevice of Heaven, the Cave of Buddha’s Ear—filled with stone formations that sang when tapped with metal, the Golden Magnolia Valley, bamboo rafting—

By the time they began climbing Maiden Peak, it was past lunchtime. They had to make do with biscuits, instant noodles, and bottled water, their energy flagging.

The boys fared a bit better, being physically stronger than the girls. Out of pride, they gritted their teeth and pressed on.

The girls, however, began to complain and groan, sitting on stones and refusing to budge.

Why do boys like traveling with girls? It’s for this very moment.

So those with a bit of stamina eagerly offered their help to the girls they’d long fancied but never had a chance to approach.

“Xiaoli, let me carry you. I’ve got plenty of strength.”

“Xiaohua, here, let me help you up—don’t sit down. If you do, you’ll never get up again. We have to reach the summit as soon as possible.”

“Xiaohong—I might not be able to carry you, but my heart is with you. If you go up, I’ll climb with you. If you don’t, I’ll sit here and wait with you—”

——

Of all the girls, Qiu Yihan was the weakest.

Her face was pale, sweat beading on her forehead. She staggered, barely able to walk in a straight line, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Yihan, let me help you,” Zhou Wei said, hurrying over with concern. “You’ll save energy that way. Otherwise, you won’t make it to the top—”

“No, thank you,” Qiu Yihan refused politely.

Liang Tao, not wanting his rival to outshine him, rushed over as well. “Qiu Yihan, why don’t we just wait here? There’s nothing on the summit but a Taoist temple—it’s not worth it. Let’s wait for them here.”

“I want to go up,” Qiu Yihan said, gritting her teeth as she looked at the figure leading the way.

Hearing their voices, Tang Zhong finally turned around.

Seeing Qiu Yihan’s exhausted state, he frowned. This girl was nearly out of strength—what was the point in pushing herself further?

“Sit here and wait,” Tang Zhong said. “We’ll be back soon.”

“No. I want to go,” Qiu Yihan said stubbornly.

After a moment’s thought, Tang Zhong held out his hand. “Come on. Hold onto my clothes.”

Qiu Yihan’s face bloomed with a smile brighter than the sun above. She hurried forward and grabbed his arm.

“Don’t strain yourself. I’ll pull you along,” Tang Zhong said.

“Mm.” Qiu Yihan nodded.

Her small hand slid quietly down his arm, lower and lower, until it nestled into his palm—

Big hand holds little hand, and together, we walk ahead!

(P.S. It’s the holidays and Old Liu can only bury his head in writing. Please throw some red tickets my way for comfort.)