Crossing the Clouds and Sky to Fall in Love with You - Chapter 31

Brother Lin only rested for about half an hour before driving us to the location where we would spend our first night.

The Husband-and-Wife Trees scenic area included a parking lot. When we arrived, there were two cars belonging to different families. We moved all the essential items for the trip out of the car, which included a small tent.

“This bag is for you,” she said, patting one of the red hiking backpacks, which was stuffed full and stood up straight.

“But I already have one.”

“This one contains a sleeping bag, water, instant noodles, a small gas stove, a headlamp, gloves, and other things we need for hiking… and this.” She handed me a long walking stick. “A trekking pole—an indispensable item for the mountain climb on this trip.”

Brother Lin had originally intended to help us set up the tent, but she urged him to get going. “If you don’t leave now, it will be very late by the time you get back to Taipei. Xiaoning and I can handle the rest.”

He seemed to want to say something more, but in the end, he just looked at me without another word, only smiling as he instructed, “Have a safe journey.”

I watched the RV drive away until I was certain it had disappeared into the distance on the highway. Only then did the realization hit me: I was really left here.

“Let’s get the tent pitched first. It’s a good thing we ate earlier.”

That’s true; otherwise, we would have been too hungry to move.

Our tent was blue and white, which made it look even cooler on such a cold mountain. One of the two families at the Husband and Wife Trees had a child—a boy who looked to be in the third or fourth grade of primary school. Watching us—especially me—fumbling around to secure the tent, he turned and laughed to his mother that I was clumsy and that the “big brother” was much stronger! Since we were downwind, we heard it clearly!

However, hearing her being mistaken for a “big brother” made me want to laugh a little. Caught between wanting to laugh and feeling annoyed at being looked down upon, my emotions were in a strange contradiction.

By the time that family left and the parking lot was finally empty, our tent was almost set up. Seeing something constructed from nothing truly gave me a sense of accomplishment!

“What are you laughing at?” She brushed the dust off her hands. I hadn’t noticed, but she had already put on a windbreaker jacket.

“That little boy earlier… said I was clumsy and the ‘big brother’ was stronger!”

“‘Big brother’?”

“He was talking about you! ‘Big brother’!” I remembered the first time I saw her; her hair reached her shoulders. Then, when she moved into the dorm, it was suddenly cut as short as a boy’s. After one semester, just as it was starting to grow out to its previous length, she cut it short again!

She smiled gently. “Maybe it was cut too short… Well, that’s good! Does this mean my disguise is successful?”

“Why did you cut your hair? It was very pretty before.” I refrained from telling her that her features and face were too delicate and elegant; no matter how she tried, she didn’t look like a guy.

She bit her lip. “It’s easier to manage, especially after hiking all day. Your hair, though, has grown past your shoulders.” She stepped closer to me, gently running her fingers through my hair. “Did I ever tell you I prefer girls with long hair?”

I chuckled. “You talk as if you’re not a girl?”

“Oh! Then I’ll correct myself: a girlfriend.”

I pouted, slightly pulling away from her touch. “Right now, you only have a best friend and a travel companion here, but you’re missing a girlfriend!”

She wasn’t discouraged in the slightest, placing her hands on her hips and saying, “Oh.” “We’ll find out tonight. If you were my girlfriend, you’d obediently snuggle into my arms for warmth!”

Ugh! She’s right; it will definitely be very cold tonight. I might have to wear all my clothes at once.

“Tao Siqi, you know that’s quite an underhanded move?” And besides… I had already snuggled into her embrace countless times.

“How am I being underhanded? Don’t you know the air up here is fresher?” She reached out and pressed her hand on top of my head, clearly mocking my height! “Besides, isn’t sleeping in a cold climate and cuddling one of the things you were looking forward to on this trip?”

“I never said that!” I loudly retorted, which brought a burst of cheerful laughter from her. Just then, a car drove past. They must have thought she was crazy!

She put both hiking backpacks into the tent to add some weight. I took the opportunity to read the introduction to the Husband-and-Wife Trees. These two scorched-looking sacred trees hold a very beautiful and poignant legend. I couldn’t help but look up at the highest point of the trees. Even though they have lost their vitality, the sacred trees still stand proudly, and the beautiful legend remains deeply ingrained in people’s hearts.

Suddenly, I heard a continuous series of shutter clicks.

She was taking several pictures of the sacred trees, capturing the surrounding scenery as well.

Completely lost in concentration. Even when she wasn’t looking through the viewfinder, just holding the camera, her focused expression was breathtaking.

It was a pity she was wearing a windbreaker; otherwise, a bohemian dress with her current expression would have looked even more ethereal and beautiful.

The shutter clicked. She heard it and turned back, looking surprised. I seized the perfect opportunity to click again! “Ah! Camera shake, too bad! One more time!”

Her posture hadn’t changed, but the surprise on her face had melted away. What a shame! Still, the photo came out very pretty… Correction: she looked beautiful.

“Why are you suddenly taking pictures of me?”

“You only said you wouldn’t photograph people; you didn’t say others couldn’t photograph you!” I smiled and put my phone away.

“Let me see how it looks?” She raised an eyebrow and approached.

“Are you kidding? You look good no matter how you’re photographed! You really should be a model.”

“Unfortunately, I’d rather be the one holding the camera.” She naturally took my hand. “Are your hands this cold before it’s even dark?” She glanced at her watch. “It’s still early. Shall we walk around a bit?”

Is she really comfortable leaving all our things in the tent? I suspiciously glanced back, but she truly was leading me down the highway, leaving the parking lot far behind.

“I know what you’re worried about.”

Because I kept looking back. “Aren’t all our things over there?” Except for the backpack I brought myself.

“Yes, it would be annoying if they went missing, but the most important things are on my person.” She pointed to her camera, her pants pocket, and finally grasped my hand, giving it a shake.

I couldn’t help but look down, my face flushing. The smile in her eyes remained as she shifted the topic to her time in the university photography club.

I had heard some of it from Tao Yian, but when she mentioned her first time hiking here, I immediately paid close attention.

“The second year of university was the first time I took this trip.”

We finally stopped. The Husband-and-Wife Trees were far on the other side of the highway, but from this bend, the view was much more expansive—a perfect spot for a photo. The sun was about to set, and the wind carried mist, giving the scenery a vague, ethereal quality. It was very cold, but also very beautiful.

She, however, had no interest in picking up her camera. She leaned against the roadside guardrail, holding both my hands, and continued to tell her story. “When I first joined the club, I had a crush on our president. At that time, I wasn’t sure about my orientation either, so maybe it was a kind of affection? His demeanor while taking photos was captivating, and he could capture very beautiful images. There was an indescribable spirituality to his lens work.”

It was similar to how I felt watching her take photos.

“So, rather than saying I liked photography, it’s more accurate to say I was fascinated by the person. He was also a great mentor. At that time, he collaborated with students from the hiking club and brought a group of us club members here to climb the mountain… The goal was to reach the summit, stand on the highest peak, see the boundless, sweeping view, and the beautiful sunrise.”

“And did you make it up?”

“Yes, but not everyone. A few people felt short of breath during the process and didn’t reach the summit, but I was in the group with better physical conditioning. Along the way, I took many pictures of the scree slope, photos of classmates, and the sunrise… Although, from my perspective now, those photos were all very amateur—the aperture wasn’t set correctly, the light angle was wrong, the focus was off, and the camera itself had limited capabilities.”

She spoke with a smile; even as the sky darkened, her face still seemed to glow. “However, one of the photos was praised by the president. It was a shot taken downward from the scree slope. It wasn’t my favorite, so I was very surprised and happy to receive his compliment.”

“Did he say why?”

“Yes, he said, ‘Everyone wants to capture the best scenery, but the real skill is being able to turn an ordinary scene into a beautiful one.’ Photography is very much about feeling, it’s very intuitive. All the technology and tools are only there to capture that fleeting moment of beauty. Although a beautiful scene is worth remembering, the process is even more important.” She extended her arm and swept it across the misty, cloud-shrouded valley. “It’s like this right now. That’s why, while I post a lot of scenic photos online, most of the private photos I share with you are things I casually snapped during my journey. Did you notice that?”

I paused, thinking back. “It seems… that’s really the case.” This is also why it’s not immediately obvious that she is Chu just by looking at her photo collection.

“Although that senior graduated quickly, and I didn’t keep in touch with him, I have held onto his words. Photographing wedding dresses is similar to photographing scenery.” She moved away from the guardrail, taking my hand and walking back. “Not every couple is a super high-value idol or celebrity. Many people are even shy in front of the camera. You know that to get the couple to naturally smile during the photoshoot, we photographers have to try every possible way to talk and make them laugh?”

I shook my head. “So, you have to practice jokes?”

“Something like that! In short, while wedding photos need beautiful moments, what’s more important is a natural feel. Being able to capture the best results from a couple who isn’t perfect, and having a happy process while doing it. That level of challenge is almost the same as my current job… However, I prefer what I’m doing now.”

“Because you get to travel everywhere?”

She shook her head. “I would say it’s because I can return to the original feeling that made me fall in love with photography… My travels helped me move on from the sorrow of a breakup, and the lens helped me find the meaning of life. Xiaoning, tell me, do you still think back to your past with your ex-boyfriend?”

“Hmm… Occasionally. But it doesn’t hurt as much as before.”

“That’s good, but have you found a reason to live for yourself?”

I could barely answer the first question, but when faced with this more deeply personal one, I couldn’t respond.

She has her camera, her tireless legs, and her gentle, expressive writing as a tool to articulate her soul… What do I have?

“If we, if we were together…” The words came out, surprising even myself!

I stared at our intertwined hands. From the moment I was abandoned, I had been relying on her; she was my life raft. And I… held onto her so tightly, believing I couldn’t survive without her.

I had forgotten, and never genuinely considered, how to “live for myself.”

“Xiaoning, I like you, and I appreciate your gentleness and thoughtfulness, but I cannot be your sun, air, and water. It’s not that I don’t want to, but that I cannot.” She curled her lips. In that instant when I avoided her gaze, I felt a strange sense of shame! “I’m glad to hear that you’re not constantly dwelling on past heartbreaks, but that only means the wound is halfway healed. Even when it’s completely healed, you might still get hurt again by similar situations.”

“I don’t want to see the easily wounded you, the one who wants to hide in a safe harbor like a snail whenever you face a setback. I hope that you will be the Yu Xiaoning who is always full of vitality, who doesn’t overly rely on others, and who is independent and self-reliant.”

Not easily wounded, not overly reliant on others… it sounds very difficult. However, from the look in her eyes, she was completely confident in me. Just as she was confident that I could complete this journey with her.

“The journey has just begun. You have plenty of time to think… to think about the meaning of life, and to think about what you are truly passionate about.”

“When these three days of travel are over, I hope to see a brand-new you.” She shook our linked hands and said in a very soft, gentle voice near my ear, “Promise me, okay?”

We continued walking, and the parking lot came back into view. Two more cars had arrived during our time away.

It wasn’t until we were close enough to hear other people’s whispers that I softly replied to her, “Yes… I promise you.”