Chapter 154: You'll also think he's handsome

（1）

This place is located in the northernmost part of China, with an average annual temperature around -6c; even though it's summer in June, July, and August, the temperature rarely exceeds 10c.

Looking as far as the eye can see, the distant view is nothing but endless, continuous snow mountains.

— a natural wild snow ski field.

At that time, it was approaching one o'clock in the afternoon, the period when the sun reaches its highest point of the day.

Blinding sunlight burst from the horizon, dyeing the originally white snow particles on the ground a pale golden hue.

On a slope of the snow track riddled with grooves, a lithe figure flipped down from midair.

Black-and-red ski suit, matching-color integrated helmet and goggles, with a backpack on their back.

A female.

The double skis.

All I saw was her landing lightly, then gliding down the long slope, occasionally making S-turns with her poles while shifting her weight to adjust direction.

This was clearly a skilled skier.

She seemed to be wrapped in a rushing wind, speeding along the whole way.

Snow spray puffed up from the underside of her board, and beneath her helmet her cropped long hair and the streamer from her outfit left a beautiful trail in the air behind her.

…

"The worst decision I ever made was coming with you to this godforsaken place where even birds don't poop to go skiing!"

Under a certain withered tree, a bored couple was resting.

They were minor internet celebrities on a certain video app; seeing a post saying the north had a specially challenging super-large natural ski field, the guy, to shoot a vlog and gain followers, persuaded his girlfriend to come here especially.

In the end, halfway through, the two got lost directly.

The girl slumped onto the ground, grabbed a handful of snow and flung it at her boyfriend, complaining nonstop.

"I told you to hire a guide who could guarantee basic safety, but you insisted on saving money and claimed we didn't need one; now look, there isn't even a lift here—how are we supposed to go up or down?"

"What do you say—what should we do now?"

The guy, being in the wrong, couldn't rebut his girlfriend's scolding, so he patiently coaxed: "Honey, don't be mad; I checked the route before I came—if we keep going down this path we'll be fine, can you hold on a bit longer?"

"Hold on? You said that two hours ago, and look—we're still in this woods, no matter which way we go we can't get back; how much longer do you want me to hold on?"

"No phone signal, can't make a call—are we just going to die out here like this?"

As they said this...

The girl was so scared she couldn't bear it, clutching the helmet in her arms as she was about to burst into tears.

Just then a gust of wind blew, and a figure stopped right in front of them.

The girl saw a pair of slender black skis.

She followed the board upward with her gaze; a gloved hand reached out, its palm holding some object.

From beneath the helmet came a muffled yet hard-to-conceal light and agile female voice.

"This is a signal flare; aim it at the sky and fire it— a helicopter should come find us in about half an hour."

While the girl, dazed, took the object with both hands.

She lifted her head again.

All she saw was the black-and-red figure speeding off toward the distance, her movements hurried, as if she were racing against time.

She brought a gust of wind when she came, and took a gust away when she left.

So cool…

The girl half-believing, half-doubting, let go of the signal flare in her hand; however, fifteen minutes later, the sound of propellers came from the sky.

It was actually real.

Following the ladder thrown down by the aircraft's crew, they climbed up and seated themselves; having survived the ordeal, they felt as if they were in a dream.

The guy chuckled, saying they must have run into some rich person.

This is the kind of plot that only happens in TV dramas; we definitely need to post several edited videos—sure to attract a huge wave of fans.

The girl snatched the filming phone, deleted all the videos, and coldly said they would break up after getting back.

After this experience, she also realized her boyfriend was someone untrustworthy.

If it weren't for running into that young lady, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She hadn't even had a chance to thank that person.

…

The sun sank little by little; when its final glimmer barely overlapped the horizon, the last bend finally made a sound.

"Sizzle—"

The black double skis made a perfect brake.

The person standing on the skis lifted a hand to lift the helmet; beneath it was revealed a lively, fair-skinned girl's face.

"Shu!"

The squeak-squeak of stepping on snow.

A girl likewise dressed in ski attire bounded over to Shu Shu.

She was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed maiden.

She held a timer in her hands, eager to show it to Shu Shu.

"Dear Shu, you're amazing! You said you'd break the record and you actually did—I practically have to look at you with new eyes!"

A line of numbers reflected in Shu Shu's beautiful peach-blossom eyes.

She raised an eyebrow, unbothered, and drawled a correction:

"Dear Siwei, it's 'guā mù xiāng kàn,' come, let me say it with you—'mó wù mù.'"

"This is your second year learning Chinese, right? Actually I think you should consider changing to another Chinese teacher."

The girl called Siwei shook her head: "No, I don't want to."

Shu Shu wondered: "Why?"

Then I heard Siwei say solemnly: "Well, because I still haven't found anyone more handsome than him."

"……"

Shu Shu choked for a second, then retorted: "I seriously doubt whether you're learning Chinese or something else."

"But he really, really is handsome."

Siwei slipped her arm around Shu Shu's, speaking mysteriously: "This time I've invited him along for the skiing trip, dear Shu; when you see him later, you'll understand what I mean—you'll definitely think he's handsome too."

Shu Shu neither agreed nor disagreed.

"Really?"

(2)

Shu Shu and Siwei met through wild snow skiing.

They are about the same age, and both have strong competitive spirits and love challenges.

They immediately hit it off, exchanged contact information, and arrange to go skiing together once or twice a year.

This place is remote.

The original residents have mostly moved away; within a radius of seventy to eighty kilometers, there are only three or four places to stay.

It's akin to a service station.

It serves those who come here to ski.

…

Night fell.

The two-story log cabin is surrounded and dotted with warm yellow light strips, the sole source of light in this quiet snowy night,

In front of the house.

The flames from stacked dry firewood blaze high and warm, and the air carries a faint aroma of roasted lamb.

Shu Shu saw the truly, really handsome Chinese teacher that Siwei had spoken of.

"Is he? Is he? Is he just as I said? Shu, answer me quickly."

After introducing him, Siwei hurried over to Shu Shu's ear, eager for confirmation.

Shu Shu: "……"

One cannot make impolite remarks about a person.

So she chose to remain silent.

"No way, my Shu, he's that handsome—how can you be so unmoved?"

"It's 'no waves, no surprise' actually."

Finding Shu Shu's bland reaction puzzling, Siwei sensed something unusual in certain aspects, narrowed her eyes at Shu Shu, and asked: "Could it be that you've seen someone even more handsome than him?"

Shu Shu froze for a half moment.

Almost instantly, a cold, aloof face sprang to mind.

It's been almost two months since leaving the villa.

Piaoliang Mutou surely already knows by now—she isn't on vacation; she's left for good.

Shu Shu couldn't help but imagine how Piaoliang Mutou would react upon hearing this.

Surprise, astonishment.

Perhaps she'd also feel a bit sad?

But they've only known each other for a little over two months.

Even if she were sad,

she probably wouldn't stay sad for long… I guess.

Siwei kept chattering away, asking:

"How handsome is the one you've seen?"

"If ten points is perfect, what score would you give him?"

"How tall is he? Over 1.8 meters?"

"Is he fair? I think guys look best when they're pale and clean—how old is he? Have you two ever dated? How did it start? And… what's his kissing technique like—"

"!!!"

"Enough," she said, "enough."

How did this get even more outrageous!

Shu Shu quickly covered Siwei's mouth.

Afraid she'd utter another shocking, endless remark.

Shu Shu, upright and fearless of suspicion, solemnly clarified: "We're not the kind of relationship you think."

Siwei: "Mmm-mmm!"

After a moment's thought, Shu Shu said: "At most, at most we're just friends."

Siwei: "Mmm-mmm!"

Shu Shu: "Really, I have no need to lie to you."

Siwei: "Mmm-mmm!"

Shu Shu clicked her tongue and asked Siwei why she kept saying "mmm-mmm"—was she doubting her words?

Until Siwei, face blank with speechlessness, pointed to her own sealed mouth.

Ah!

Shu Shu hurriedly let go of her hand and apologized: "Sorry, dear Siwei, you forgot your dear book."

Siwei suddenly drew several deep breaths, and at the same time gazed at Shu Shu with resentment.

Shu Shu quickly sliced a piece of lamb leg and personally fed it to her.

This was finally over.

Siwei chewed the lamb, grinning as she said to Shu Shu: "So, book, there really is such a person, right?"

Shu Shu: "..."

She was being fed lines.

This time, Siwei came to ski not only bringing her Chinese teacher, but also many good friends, both male and female.

Everyone gathered around the fire.

Some played guitar, some sang.

The atmosphere was very lively.

But Shu Shu, who had come specifically to break a record, wasn't interested in the liveliness; she politely sat aside, just listening, not participating.

During this time.

The eight-year-old son of the wooden cabin owner also came over to warm himself by the fire.

He happened to sit beside Shu Shu, head down, fiddling with something in his hands.

Shu Shu glanced at it and was instantly stunned.

He was playing with a Rubik's Cube.

She inevitably thought of "handsome wood" again, wondering if he had completely kicked the habit of solving Rubik's Cubes in his sleep to fall asleep.

"Sister, I got stuck here; can you help me a bit?"

Shu Shu wasn't visiting this place for the first time.

This kid's Rubik's Cube was still the one Shu Shu had given him back then, so he knew Shu Shu could solve it.

"... Sister?"

The little boy raised his hand and waved; Shu Shu snapped out of her daze.

"Oh, sure, let me have a look."

The Rubik's Cube came into Shu Shu's hands; looking at the face he couldn't figure out, she solved it in a few seconds, and the little boy's face filled with admiration.

"Wow, thank you, sister!"

"You're welcome."

After sitting for a while.

Shu Shu yawned from boredom, greeted Siwei, then got up and returned to her room.

Skiing continuously for that long was also tiring.

After a quick wash-up, she flung herself into bed.

Sleepiness washed over her.

She quickly fell asleep, even beginning to dream, dreaming of someone who was somewhat an accident yet not entirely.

Pei Du—

The scene in the dream was on a bustling street.

A boy walked a dog with white fur, gray paws, and a pink nose on the opposite side of the road.

"Handsome wood!"

Shu Shu felt surprised that she could actually run into Pei Du here; the white dog beside him must be Da Fu, right?

The puppy indeed grew quickly, actually becoming this big.

But it was still as cute as when it was little.

Shu Shu immediately crossed the street, ran up to Pei Du, and greeted him.

"Hey, Pei Du, long time no see!"

However.

The young man with a cold gaze seemed not to have seen her at all, nor heard her voice, walking past her without glancing sideways, as if she were a stranger.

"..."

What's going on?

Shu Shu, unwilling to let it go, caught up again: "Pei Du, it's me."

The path blocked, Pei Du was forced to stop, his distinct-knuckled hand gripping the leash, his brows furrowed, his expression slightly impatient as he looked at Shu Shu, then he spoke, his voice cold:

"Miss, may I ask, do we know each other?"

"..."

Shu Shu was full of question marks.

She widened her eyes, a bit daring not to believe: "You're not... we've only not seen each other for two months, right? And you already forgot me?"

"Forgot me, the one who twisted Rubik's Cubes for you by Daming Lake? Forgot me, the one who made chestnut cakes for you? Forgot me, the one who ran with you? Forgot me, the one who walked the dog with you?"

"You're also, really not observing the brotherhood of the martial world, are you?"

Pei Du listened to Shu Shu's words the whole time with a furrowed brow.

Shu Shu felt that his gaze toward her carried the intention of sending her to a mental hospital.

Hmph!

Truly an ungrateful blockhead.

If forgotten, then forgotten—she doesn't care.

Shu Shu hummed twice in her heart, then full of hope looked at the white dog beside Pei Du.

Adorable Da Fu surely remembers her.

After all, she picked it up and raised it with shit and piss.

She softly called to the dog: 'Da Fu.'

The next second.

The pink-nosed dog bared its teeth and growled low at her.

Ha!

Shu Shu burst out laughing angrily.

Good, good, good—what an ungrateful person and dog!

Okay, okay, okay.

They forgot her, so from now on, from this very second, they are no longer Pei Du and Da Fu in her eyes.

But became merely that person and that dog.

What's so great about that!

Shu Shu in the dream turned and left, without a shred of reluctance, as if she had never met that person and dog.

Suddenly.

She heard a knocking sound.

'Who is it?'

She walked the opposite way, not looking back, and casually asked in an annoyed tone.

But after she asked, no one answered.

Only the knocking sound continued—no, after a few knocks it even turned into pounding.

The pounding grew heavier.

'Who on earth is it?'

Shu Shu, annoyed by the noise, was about to stop and check, but suddenly realized.

'No, this is the street—where would a knocking sound come from?'

Then, the dream ended.

…

Shu Shu opened her eyes; beside her ear was the real-world knocking on the door.

'Dear Shu!'

'Dear Shu!'

—Siwei's voice.

Shu Shu sat up from under the covers, threw on her coat, got out of bed, and resignedly went to open the door.

'Dear Siwei, you know that if I'm woken up in the middle of sleep, it's hard to fall asleep again, so you'd better have something important.'

Only saw Siwei with a solemn expression say: 'Dear Shu, it's indeed important.'

'Your husband has come to find you.'