Crossing the Clouds and Sky to Fall in Love with You - Chapter 27

I wouldn’t be that foolish. I wouldn’t let past injuries become a burden in the future; I’m just still contemplating how to proceed to hold onto that happiness. Feeling tired from studying, I subconsciously picked up Tao Jie’s book to read. I accidentally turned to the page with the cover photo, gazed at the different angles of Mount Kailash, and read the words Tao Jie had written once more. I closed the book with a sigh.

Tao Yian… is that it?

“I heard someone sighing?”

With a “pop” sound, she opened a beer, lightly closed the refrigerator door with her heel, and walked towards me with a smile. “What’s wrong? Is tomorrow’s exam geography?” She pointed to the sample book on the table.

I pursed my lips and covered the book. “No way… I was just thinking about something, and I unknowingly flipped to this page again.”

“Then should I not ask what you were just thinking about?” She smiled, tilted her head back, and took a sip of beer.

I stared at the green glass bottle and couldn’t help but frown. “Why do you like drinking so much?”

“Were you sighing because you were trying to figure out how to make me quit drinking, but couldn’t think of anything?” She went around in a circle, returning to the subject of my sigh in a strange way!

Tao Yian was right; she was too smart, so smart that her mind was constantly working.

“Of course not; I just happened to see you take out a drink, so I asked. Drinking isn’t good for your health. What I was thinking about was related to homework.” I lied.

“Oh, it’s just a hobby then. One bottle a day, no exceptions.” She shook the beer bottle and glanced at me. “Not studying anymore?” I had also put away my notes.

“Mm, I’ve finished the most difficult subject today. Only two days left until the exams are over, and then it’s time for a…” I shifted my sitting position, and the thought of the holiday suddenly made me remember something important we hadn’t discussed! “You still haven’t told me when you’re taking me on a trip!”

“Mm.” She smiled, took a light sip, and let out a faint scent of malt.

What “Mm”? What kind of answer is that!

“Don’t tell me you’ve backed out again.”

“I wouldn’t do that! Although I’m always planning future trips, there are still a few scenic spots in the country that I really want to visit.” She gave me a reassuring shallow smile. “Do you have anywhere you’d like to go?”

“I can’t think of anything right now… I’ve probably been to most of the famous spots in the south.” Including Kenting, which is a mandatory stop on every graduation trip.

“Right, I haven’t asked you whether you prefer playing in the water or hiking?”

“Who plays in the water in winter! It’s freezing!” Travel must also consider the season! “And let me say first, I will definitely cover my own travel expenses this time; I can’t trouble you again. Also, considering my financial ability, I can’t afford to go abroad or anything like that.”

“The itinerary I plan for us won’t involve going abroad, so don’t worry. And it won’t actually cost much money.”

“Really?” No way? Just considering accommodation, food, transportation tickets, and how many days we’ll be traveling, I feel like even with maximum saving, spending ten to twenty thousand feels normal.

“Mm! Don’t forget what I ate and drank during my entire trip to Tibet.”

I’ve heard her talk about it; it was very tough! “I’m afraid I couldn’t handle the way you did it.”

She, however, restrained her smile. My heart sank, and I suddenly worried that she might think I was a softie who couldn’t endure hardship. “But, if I prepare myself mentally, I, I can try anything!”

“No, you’re right; your body might not be able to handle a too-difficult itinerary.”

“That’s not true! I’m all better now!” As if to prove I was fine, I stood up and patted my waist and hands, even jumping a couple of times in front of her.

She covered her mouth and chuckled, and for a moment, I felt like a clown; however, she quickly waved her hand in reassurance and told me to sit down. “I know your body has recovered! Don’t forget who was by your side taking care of you.”

Look at how proud she looked, with her chin even slightly raised! I scoffed, “Then why did you say I couldn’t handle a too-difficult itinerary?”

“You don’t have any mountaineering experience, do you?”

Did that imply she had already decided to take me hiking? “I’ve climbed smaller ones, like Guanyin Mountain, things like that.” I once climbed a small mountain similar to that with the Human-Faced Fish.

She chuckled and shook her head. “Of course not! Those don’t count as mountaineering; at most they’re just walking; you, see? So, I need to choose a mountain that is suitable for a beginner, not too difficult for you, but still challenging.”

“Like Snow Mountain?”

“Mm, but Snow Mountain is a bit difficult, for you.” Beer moistened her lips, and she looked at the empty bookshelf, where only a few photography-related books were placed. “I’ll think about it some more, but in any case… block out the first week of your winter break. I will arrange the trip during that period.”

“The first week… the weekend after that is Chinese New Year’s Eve!” The mention of the New Year instantly reminded me of the promise she’d made to the doctor. “You promised your aunt you’d go home for the New Year?” I blinked, tentatively sounding her out.

The moment “going home” was mentioned, her beautiful face instantly stiffened, and a faint blush appeared on her fair skin, whether from nervousness or the beer. “That… yes, I’m still thinking about it, but that’s not urgent; we can focus on preparing for our trip first.”

Seeing that she was about to cleverly dodge the question, I couldn’t help but press, “Tao Jie, are you going home? I mean, this New Year.”

She scratched her head. “I’m actually a little afraid to go home.” She gave a wry smile. I hadn’t expected her to be so candid, so I asked, “Why?”

“The last time I saw my parents was when I was taking wedding photos! After I started traveling, I made up my mind to cut off contact with them, stopping my phone until recently; suddenly running back like this will definitely result in a beating, and I might even be able to go back but not come out.” She put down the beer bottle, clasping her hands, symbolizing the intertwined love and hate with her family. “I still have dreams to fulfill, and my journey isn’t over… so I don’t want it to be interrupted because of them—I should say, I don’t want it to be interrupted by any external change!”

Hearing this, especially the part about the “journey not being over,” I felt a sudden pang in my heart for no reason.

If she treats her family this way, being so determined and unrestrained… would a woman who comes and goes so freely stop for mere love?

I asked gloomily, feeling a bit heavy-hearted. “When will it end?”

“Hmm?” She countered, surprised.

“When will your dream be fulfilled? Before it’s fulfilled, will you regard anyone or anything as a stumbling block? Have you made up your mind not to let anything truly affect you?” The words came out instinctively, and only then did I realize that I still cared about where I stood in her heart.

Yes, we weren’t a couple yet, but the relationship between us could no longer be described as “more than friends, less than lovers”; I relied on her deeply, both emotionally and in my daily life. Even if she only left Taiwan for a few weeks or months, I would feel a sense of loss because I couldn’t see her often, right?

Even though my affection for her was growing daily… could I truly fall in love with someone like this?

I really didn’t know.

“Until I can no longer walk, I suppose?” She smiled faintly, even setting such a vague endpoint.

“Or,” she suddenly looked directly at me with her focused, gentle, and eager eyes. “I finally find a reason to stop.”

My heart pounded rapidly.

I held my breath, determined to ask for the answer I wanted most. “Will that reason be because of a certain person?”

She leaned slightly closer, close enough that I could smell the faint fragrance radiating from her neck, close enough that she completely occupied my vision, capturing my breath…

“That depends on whether that person is willing to keep me, don’t you think?”

As if deliberately teasing, she suddenly backed away. “Let’s stop here; I’m going to take a shower!” With an ambiguous and seductive smile, she decisively got up and walked towards the bathroom door.

I didn’t even have time to protest and could only watch her slip away… Perhaps this wasn’t a bad thing, because I finally recovered my breathing, and the cold air had already become scorching. I looked away, staring at the snow scene on the cover to cool down.

Who exactly is teasing whom? I’m almost… confused.

That Friday, Yi Ting, Tao Yian, and I arranged to have dinner together to celebrate finally escaping the clutches of final exams!

“Spicy hot pot! Let’s have spicy hot pot!” Yi Ting shouted. The weather was very cold today, so I also nodded in agreement. “Tao Yian, what do you think?”

Unlike Yi Ting’s excitement, he looked somewhat troubled. “Ah, spicy hot pot… having hot pot when the weather is cold is quite fitting.”

“Right! It’s perfect, so why do you look so hesitant?” Yi Ting pouted, bending down to deliberately meet his gaze. “Wait a minute, could it be… you’re afraid of spicy food?”

“I used to not be able to tolerate it much, but I’ve been much better recently.” When he said the words “much better,” his clasped hands instantly tightened slightly.

“Oh oh! Is that so? That’s great! I once invited a boy from our class to have spicy hot pot. We only ordered medium spice, and his lips swelled up, forcing me to compromise on mild spice…” She crossed her arms, her chin held high. “I’m not bragging! Xiao Ning and I are genuine ‘spice girls’! If you want to challenge spicy hot pot, without real skill, there might be serious consequences!”

Yi Ting spoke so seriously that Tao Yian was genuinely startled, his face turning pale!

I chuckled quietly and quickly intervened. “Alright! ‘Genuine spice girls,’ indeed! I can’t believe you said that!” I nudged her with my elbow. “Don’t listen to her; she can eat a lot of spice, but I’m a bit more moderate. We’ll order a divided hot pot, so if you really can’t eat that much spice, you can have the non-spicy broth.”

Upon hearing me, his expression certainly became much calmer. We agreed to meet at the hot pot restaurant. It seemed the concept of cold weather being suitable for hot pot was true, as the place we usually go to was nearly full! Not to mention Tao Yian’s wheelchair, we had to find a good spot that could accommodate him as well.

His electric wheelchair was temporarily placed aside; he sat on one side, and Yi Ting and I squeezed onto the other.

“What do you want to drink? I’ll get it for you.”

“Do you have coffee?”

I smiled slightly. “Yes! Hot?”

“Mm, if it’s unsweetened, even better.”

“Just without adding sugar then. I’ll get you a latte.”

The broth and ingredients arrived quickly, and it would take some time to boil, but we weren’t idle. Probably because the exams were over, we were particularly relaxed, and even recalling the exam content made us feel more confident.

I asked him if the art department required a practical exam, and he said “yes.” “How do you take the exam? With so many of you?”

“Like the entrance exam, we surround the still life in a circle, facing it sideways, and draw while observing.” He pretended to have a drawing board in front of him, turning his head to look at the “still life” on his left.

Yi Ting interrupted with her chopsticks. “Enough! Stop pretending the pot is a drawing board; do you want some snowflake beef?”

“Mm, thank you.” As soon as he finished speaking, Yi Ting grabbed the serving chopsticks and stuffed several freshly cooked slices onto his plate.

“From the spicy pot, is that okay? We ordered medium spice this time!” Yi Ting deliberately glanced at me when she said “medium spice”; she was secretly laughing!

“Ah, ah! It’s fine.” Tao Yian dipped one slice in the sauce and ate it. After just one bite, he put down his chopsticks and gently wiped his forehead with a napkin.

“Don’t force him to eat so much spice; not everyone can handle it!”

“He said he could!” Yi Ting looked innocent.

He smiled, but I could tell he was trying to stay composed. “Xiao Ning, it’s okay; eating spicy food is something you can practice.”

I smiled wryly. “I advise you not to practice with this post-exam meal! You’ll suffer tomorrow.”

“Hey! Don’t scare him! I eat it and I’m fine, and you are too!”

That’s because we can handle it! Before I could say anything, Tao Yian managed to finish the slice of meat, and the latte was already empty.

“Ha! You’ll probably need to drink a lot of cups! I’ll go get you another one!” Yi Ting quickly picked up the empty cup. Before he could say “thank you,” she had already walked a few steps away. I frowned, staring at Yi Ting’s retreating back, only for her to suddenly turn around and wink at me… What was that about?