Hand in hand, laughing and talking, they finished the rest of the exhibition.
Luo Xiao went to the restroom briefly; Wen Ran waited inside the gallery, checking messages from a few unfamiliar numbers about Luo Xiao.
“What an idiot,” he muttered silently. He had been seeing these messages for a while, not blocked them, just to see what nonsense they would write. Seeing it was all negativity toward Luo Xiao, Wen Ran finally blocked them.
Just then, Shang Ge sent a series of frantic messages:
[Totally helpless.jpg]
[My funeral, my ceremony, is anyone in charge?]
[Looking up and crying.jpg]
[Where did you go, no updates for two days?]
[Did the mechanic get caught up yet?]
[How’s it progressing?]
[Hey? Hey?!]
Wen Ran replied casually:
[Superman appeared.jpg]
[Someone’s here]
Shang Ge: [In bed?]
Wen Ran: [Gallery]
Shang Ge: [What doing?]
Wen Ran: [On a date]
Shang Ge: [How’s the date going?]
[Dog pokes out head.jpg]
Wen Ran: [Pretty good]
[We held hands]
Shang Ge: [Dog head in the rain, speechless smile.jpg]
[Kissed too, and you only tell me about holding hands?]
[Just kidding, big brother]
Wen Ran typed two characters, then saw Luo Xiao returning and shoved the phone into his pocket.
Soon after, his phone rang again—this time Wen Pingping, his mom.
Walking beside Luo Xiao, he answered softly: “Mom.”
Her voice, faint and teasing: “Remember what day it is today?”
Wen Ran immediately said: “Your second marriage day?”
“Damn you,” she cursed.
Luo Xiao, walking beside him, caught the words “mom” and “second marriage” and glanced at Wen Ran.
Wen Ran signaled, stepping aside, lowering his voice: “What day? Enlighten me, Your Majesty.”
“You really forgot?” His mother’s tone carried exasperation. “Your second aunt’s good friend introduced her cousin’s son…”
Wen Ran remembered. He quickly said: “Mom! I didn’t agree to a blind date!”
“Blind date?!”
“The guy graduated from Ivy League, 30 years old, PhD advisor at C University, tons of research achievements, annual income over ten million. Do you think you’re worthy?”
“Blind date?”
“Just to meet, see if he likes your looks…”
Wen Ran nearly lost it, but hearing “your looks,” he forgave his self-proclaimed ‘Empress Mother.’
Interrupting: “Mom, no need to meet. I already like someone, and I’m chasing them now.”
“What!? Really?”
Her voice nearly carried over two miles: “Are you serious?”
“Don’t play abstract games with me—I warn you.”
“Is it a real person?”
“If you say Hatsune Miku, I’ll kill you.”
“Really.” Wen Ran’s tone was firm.
“Swear it.”
“Swear to your ‘abstract true deity’,” Wen Ran raised his free hand, swearing.
“Really.”
“If it’s fake, I’ll obediently go on a blind date.”
“Who is he?” Her tone softened, curiosity piqued. “Male or female?”
“When did you meet?”
“How long have you known each other?”
“Do I know them?”
She laughed: “Finally doing something right.”
“Mom, no chatting, on a date.”
Wen Ran glanced at Luo Xiao, who was looking at a photo on the wall. Smiling, he turned back to him.
“Alright, alright.” His mom’s tone softened, even concerned: “Do you have enough money? Don’t be stingy.”
“I’ll transfer you ten thousand later.”
Hanging up, Wen Ran returned to Luo Xiao, looking at the same photo he was viewing.
“Family stuff?” Luo Xiao asked.
“Yeah. They tried to set me up on a blind date.”
“University professor, 30-year-old PhD advisor, ten million a year.”
Luo Xiao raised an eyebrow, saying nothing.
Wen Ran: “Why no reaction?”
“You didn’t go, what reaction should I have?”
Calmly, Luo Xiao said: “The other party isn’t my type; you wouldn’t like him.”
Wen Ran laughed, lightly scoffing: “So confident?”
“Confident because of you.” Luo Xiao held Wen Ran’s hand and led him to the next photo, letting the topic drop.
By the time they left the exhibition, it was just past noon.
Luo Xiao asked if Wen Ran was hungry; he replied: “Are you hungry? If not, we can skip eating for now.”
“Have you been to Linglu Mountain?”
“No.”
“Let’s go climb Linglu Mountain.”
Wen Ran’s eyes sparkled with sudden inspiration: “It’ll take two hours to reach the top.”
“My stamina is average. You carry me a bit, we eat along the way. If I can’t climb, I’ll take the cable car; you continue. Meet at the top?”
“Even if I can’t climb, I’ll still try?”
Luo Xiao knew Wen Ran was trying to please him. He didn’t think it necessary, though—normal city dates were fine. Yet he agreed.
At Linglu Mountain, Wen Ran quickly realized the gap between their physical stamina:
Long stone steps exhausted Wen Ran, while Luo Xiao’s stride remained easy.
Wen Ran ate a sausage while walking, gasping for air; Luo Xiao finished a few bites, tossed the stick, and walked on effortlessly, even holding Wen Ran’s hand, calmly leading him upward.
Even after snacks from tea eggs to coconut milk to ice pops, Wen Ran slowed, barely moving, while Luo Xiao’s pace stayed steady, almost like he could sprint, yet kept holding Wen Ran’s hand, guiding him up the mountain with serene confidence.
Wen Ran, full and exhausted, panted, “I… I can’t climb anymore.”
Linglu Mountain, though not on the scale of China’s Five Great Mountains, was still no small hill—you couldn’t just reach the summit casually.
“I’ll take the cable car.”
Knowing his limits, Wen Ran decided to yield when possible. He suggested to Luo Xiao, “You keep climbing. I’ll take the cable car and meet you at the top.”
“Then we’ll wait for each other. You get there first, you wait for me; I get there first, I wait for you.”
Normally, the cable car would reach the summit faster, but Linglu Mountain, a well-known 5A scenic spot in C City, drew many visitors. The cable car line was long, so Wen Ran might not arrive first.
“You go ahead,” he said, “I’ll take the cable car.”
Wen Ran added, “Climb faster—let me see how quickly you can reach the top.”
Luo Xiao, of course, didn’t slow down, keeping a steady pace. Soon, the path up the mountain saw the strong, swift figure ascending step by step.
He hadn’t even used full strength; these paths were nothing to him. The cable car queue was long, so arriving early still meant waiting. He maintained a moderate pace, taking in the scenery and snapping photos along the way. Near the summit, he bought a candied hawthorn stick from a vendor, intending to give it to Wen Ran later.
Climbing the mountain at his own pace, breaking a slight sweat, Luo Xiao felt refreshed—physically and mentally. Wen Ran’s thoughtful effort touched him.
Before long, he reached the summit. A large platform awaited, bustling with people; shops were scattered around, and many were taking photos. Luo Xiao stepped up the final step, holding the candied stick, catching his breath, scanning the area for the cable car, ready to wait for Wen Ran.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared, smiling: “You’re here? That was fast!”
It had to be Wen Ran.
“You’re so quick?” Luo Xiao asked, surprised.
Wen Ran grinned, handing him a bottle of water: “No one said I had to wait in line for the cable car.”
He explained: after Luo Xiao kept climbing, he jumped to the front of the cable car line by paying the first person a thousand yuan, securing his spot and boarding immediately.
Luo Xiao laughed, took the water, and handed him the candied hawthorn.
Wen Ran accepted it: “Wow, thinking of me even while climbing. Thanks~”
On the crowded platform, Wen Ran leaned on Luo Xiao, grabbing his arms, eyes sparkling, saying something that would always touch Luo Xiao’s heart:
“Luo Xiao, before, whenever you hiked or climbed, you were always alone. From now on, take me with you.”
“I may not have much stamina, but I can accompany you for a while. If I can’t go further, I can take the cable car, or meet you at the top. Once you arrive, you’ll see me there.”
“Before, the summit was just your goal, the peak you wanted to conquer. Now, with me, the summit has someone who loves you.”
“You reach it, you not only complete the challenge, but also meet the one who’s waiting and embracing you.”
“Isn’t that better?”
His eyes shone brighter than the snow-capped peak. The wind whipped through flags around the platform, but Luo Xiao’s gaze on Wen Ran made his heart flutter like those banners in the breeze.