In the afternoon, clouds piled up like cotton, blocking the glaring sun. The sky wasn't as blue as before; it seemed it might really rain later.
They sat on the steps to catch their breath. Anyone who said they weren't tired was lying—such a high mountain would exhaust even a normal person.
Xu Qingsong was panting heavily, his tongue hanging out longer than a dog's. He fanned himself with his hand as he spoke, "Hey, why haven't we seen any food stalls yet? I'm getting dehydrated."
Xiao Yu leaned his head against the railing and tilted his chin toward the distance. "There's a restroom over there."
"Hahahahaha..." Liu Xu was exhausted but still had to laugh, clutching his stomach. Xu Qingsong sighed, not knowing how to respond. "...You really have no morals. Good thing you don't teach kids ethics; society would be doomed."
Xiao Yu snorted. "As if you have any morals."
They'd been hanging out since childhood—no one knew Xu Qingsong's true nature better than him.
Xu Qingsong was too tired to argue. He spread his hands in surrender. "I was wrong, okay? I just want to know where there's a restaurant. I need to eat."
"I can give you a bread roll," Ye Qingli said. She opened her backpack and handed one to him.
Xu Qingsong glanced at it but didn't take it. "This stuff isn't even good."
"If you don't want it, fine. There's no restaurant on the mountain. You have to go down to the base to eat," Xu Yan said.
"What?" Xu Qingsong jumped in anger. "A big scenic area like this has no food? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"You didn't ask."
His last hope was crushed. Ye Qingli shoved the bread into his hands. "Eat it. You need strength to keep climbing. There's a cable car to go down."
Xu Qingsong reluctantly took it, tore open the wrapper, and broke off a piece. The bread was tasteless; all he could taste was bitterness in his mouth.
If he'd known, he would never have come even if it killed him.
"You two have some. It's too dry and tough to chew." Xu Qingsong didn't want any more and handed the bread to Xiao Yu beside him.
They'd always lived privileged lives. This was just ordinary bread—even Ye Qingli didn't like it much. She looked at Xiao Yu, thinking he wouldn't eat it either.
But Xiao Yu's lashes fluttered. He silently took the bread, tore it in half, and gave one half to Liu Xu.
"She was kind enough to give it to you, and you're being picky."
Xiao Yu said. The bread wasn't big; he stuffed the entire half into his mouth, puffing out one cheek like a pufferfish.
His profile was handsome. His cheeks bulged as he chewed. Ye Qingli watched quietly, her delicate lashes fluttering.
He didn't show disgust or say it was bad.
Xu Qingsong was stunned. He blurted out without tact, "You like it so much? Have Ye Qingli buy you two cases when we get back."
"..."
For some reason, though it was just a joke, Ye Qingli felt a bit awkward. She almost regretted giving them the bread.
She lowered her head, then suddenly heard Xiao Yu's lazy voice.
"Sure," he laughed. "I could eat ten cases if she bought them for me."
Ye Qingli froze.
"Whoa, really?" Liu Xu had never seen Xiao Yu react like this. He quickly urged Ye Qingli, "Go buy him ten cases. Let's see if he can eat them."
As they joked, the clouds gathered more and more, slowly turning from white to black. Ye Qingli looked up at the sky, knowing they were teasing. She stood up with the help of her bamboo stick.
"No money."
"..." No one expected that answer. Xu Qingsong burst out laughing, but before he could fully let loose, Liu Xu covered his mouth.
"Don't laugh. A Yu's face is already dark with anger."
They were more than halfway up. After resting, they needed to keep going. They had to reach the top before it rained; otherwise, the slippery paths could be dangerous.
Ye Qingli had been fine at first, but after climbing so long, a short rest wasn't enough to recover. Her legs were numb, and her throat hurt when she breathed.
Xiao Yu followed behind. Seeing her slow down, he knew she was struggling. He stepped up beside her, reached over, and took her backpack, slinging it over his own shoulder.
He laughed. "This backpack weighs nothing. The way you looked, I thought you were carrying rocks."
"..." Ye Qingli pursed her lips. "I didn't ask you to carry it."
He'd taken it upon himself and still mocked her.
Other girls would be thrilled if he offered to carry their bags. But here she was, complaining about his help. Xiao Yu turned his head, his brows knitting into a frown. "If you keep being smug, I'll throw you off."
Ye Qingli: "..."
Xu Qingsong heard this and snickered. "Chasing someone while acting like a big shot... I've never seen that before."
After who knows how long, they finally reached the summit.
It seemed the heavens took pity on them—the rain held off. The dark clouds drifted away, as if they'd never been there.
Good. Now they could take the cable car down.
The cable car was open-air, with legs dangling over the edge. Ye Qingli looked down from the platform and asked Xu Yan, "Can you handle it?"
Back when they first started college, Xu Yan had mentioned she was afraid of heights. Although she'd seen pictures of the cable car before coming and said she'd be fine, now that she stood there, looking at the dense forest below, it was truly intimidating.
Xu Yan's legs trembled a little, but she insisted she was fine.
She couldn't make everyone accommodate her.