Her Immortal Love - Chapter 5

The next morning, Qin Changsheng was awakened by the alarm she had set.

Having slept soundly through the night, she felt refreshed and invigorated upon waking. She took out her backpack, changed into a white T-shirt, layered it with a black windbreaker, and swapped into a pair of high-quality black athletic pants. Her entire outfit made her look exceptionally spirited.

Jiang Zhongxue had already been awake for some time. Sitting by the bed, she leisurely put on her clothes, the same outfit as the day before: a white T-shirt, shorts, revealing a section of smooth, curved calves, white socks, and the most ordinary canvas shoes. Her attire gave no indication that she intended to venture deep into Jishan Mountain with Qin Changsheng.

After bundling herself up tightly and repeatedly confirming that no skin was exposed, Qin Changsheng couldn’t help but stare at Jiang Zhongxue’s outfit. Glancing down at the clothes in her own backpack, she spoke up kindly, “Jishan Mountain is a scenic area, but the place we’re heading to isn’t one of its tourist spots. At this time of year, the mountain is teeming with mosquitoes, insects, and centipedes. The terrain is treacherous, overgrown with shrubs, and it’s easy to get scratched up. Are you sure you want to wear shorts?”

Earlier that morning, when Qin Changsheng had first woken up, she had asked Jiang Zhongxue a few harmless questions, adhering to the principle of helping others and sticking together through thick and thin. Jiang Zhongxue had glanced at her, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Her icy, transparent eyes held only one message: mind your own business.

Qin Changsheng, irritated by her gaze, had shut her mouth.

Now, Jiang Zhongxue was picking up her black umbrella. Still smarting from her cold remarks earlier, Qin Changsheng couldn’t help but ask when she saw how lightly dressed Jiang Zhongxue was, immediately regretting it. But the words were already out. Hearing this, Jiang Zhongxue turned to look at her. Instead of the expected coldness, she replied calmly, “I only have one set of clothes.”

Qin Changsheng had braced herself for a sharp retort to mind her own business, so Jiang Zhongxue’s response caught her off guard. Seeing that Jiang Zhongxue didn’t seem to be brushing her off, Qin Changsheng asked in surprise, “You only have one set of clothes? Then how do you change and wash them?”

Jiang Zhongxue’s expression remained placid, as if there were nothing unusual or improper about this. She glanced down at her clothes, seemingly mustering the last shred of her patience, and replied evenly, “When they get dirty, I throw them away and buy a new set.”

It was rare for Jiang Zhongxue to engage in a normal conversation with her, unlike the inexplicable coldness of the previous day. Qin Changsheng’s surprise only grew. Though she felt it might be inappropriate, she couldn’t help asking, “Then why not buy two sets so you can alternate between them?”

Alternate between them?

Jiang Zhongxue glanced down at her clothes and said nothing. She didn’t answer Qin Changsheng, as if the question held no importance to her. Having patiently responded to Qin Changsheng’s two previous questions, she seemed to have exhausted her supply of words. Standing up, she simply picked up her black umbrella and walked out of the room.

Qin Changsheng sighed in frustration. She had wanted to ask if Jiang Zhongxue would like to borrow a set of her clothes to change into, but Jiang Zhongxue had already made it clear she had no interest in continuing the conversation and left.

So high-maintenance, like a spoiled lord.

Qin Changsheng grumbled to herself for a moment before standing up and following Jiang Zhongxue out.

Mount Jishan, with its clear waters and lush mountains, may not be as famous as Mount Qingcheng or Mount Emei within the province, but its remote location has spared it from much pollution over the years. It remains pristine and natural, and to this day, some claim to have spotted live leopards deep in its forests. Xu Jing also mentioned that there’s a rustic eatery up the mountain that still secretly hunts wild boar. The pork served there is entirely natural, expensive and served in small portions, but the wealthy can’t get enough of its pollution-free appeal, it’s famously sought after.

Xu Jing had been waiting at the bus station since early morning. With many people heading up the mountain at this hour, a long queue stretched in front of the ticket window. As she stood in line, she sent a message to Qin Changsheng, worried that since it was her first time here, she might struggle to find the bus station and end up delayed.

But Qin Changsheng was a punctual person. Having lived locally for two or three years, Xu Jing was quite familiar with the area. By the time she estimated she’d arrive, she had already finished lining up and bought two tickets.

Qin Changsheng arrived with Jiang Zhongxue.

Jiang Zhongxue followed behind her, her expression calm and detached, seemingly oblivious to the gazes of others. Yet Qin Changsheng felt somewhat uncomfortable under the spotlight-like attention she drew.

After all, Jiang Zhongxue’s face was one that made you forget the mundane, unforgettable at a glance. Though there are many beauties in the world, her aura stood out. Her features were strikingly cold, devoid of any deliberate expression, giving off an immediate sense of aloofness.

People around couldn’t help but glance at her a few times; some young men even chuckled among themselves, whispering and occasionally lifting their heads to watch Jiang Zhongxue’s receding figure.

Spotting Qin Changsheng, Xu Jing waved happily. But when she noticed Jiang Zhongxue behind her, her face instantly fell.

Clearly, she still remembered Jiang Zhongxue’s cold and arrogant demeanor from the boutique yesterday.

The station was sparsely populated, with waiting passengers either on their phones or checking their luggage. A mother spoke softly to her child, while an impatient couple argued. Qin Changsheng walked over to Xu Jing and nodded, saying, “You’re here early.”

It was only 7:40.

Xu Jing looked at Jiang Zhongxue behind her, her expression uncertain, and asked quietly, “Do you know her?”

Qin Changsheng nodded, tilting her chin toward Jiang Zhongxue. “She knows my brother, so we’re indirectly acquainted. She’s also here to visit Mount Jishan. Her name is Jiang Zhongxue.”

A flicker of suspicion crossed Xu Jing’s face. She stared at Jiang Zhongxue for a few seconds before shifting her gaze back to Qin Changsheng, lowering her voice to ask, “Is she your brother’s girlfriend?”

Qin Changsheng shook her head. “Just a friend of his. We happened to run into each other.”

Xu Jing’s expression relaxed. She adjusted her demeanor and said to Jiang Zhongxue, “Hello, I’m Xu Jing, Xu as in Xu Fu, Jing as in tranquility.”

Jiang Zhongxue held a black umbrella, with nothing but a phone in her left hand and the umbrella in her right. Confirming that Xu Jing was addressing her, her eyes focused slightly, and she gave a rare, slight nod.

Xu Jing watched her nod, and though inwardly she felt the other was being rather arrogant, she held back out of consideration for Qin Changsheng. Qin Changsheng, however, breathed a sigh of relief. She had initially thought Jiang Zhongxue wouldn’t react at all to Xu Jing’s words and had even prepared an excuse in her mind, that Jiang Zhongxue was deaf and mute, but now it seemed that wouldn’t be necessary.

The crowd in front jostled and surged forward. Xu Jing exclaimed, “Oh no! I thought it was just you, so I bought the tickets in advance, thinking we could leave as soon as you arrived. I only bought two tickets for 8:10! Now there’s an extra person, what should we do?”

Qin Changsheng glanced at the line ahead and asked, “Is there still time to queue up now?”

Xu Jing shot a sidelong glance at Jiang Zhongxue and said hesitantly, “Ticket sales for the scenic spot buses stop twenty minutes before departure. There are only a few minutes left, and the line is so long…”

Qin Changsheng looked at the queue again and suggested to Xu Jing, “Let me go up front and ask if they can make an exception for us. We’re in a hurry, maybe the ticket window can handle it as an emergency.”

Jiang Zhongxue remained silent the entire time. Xu Jing stood at a moderate distance from her, not speaking but stealing glances in her direction. Qin Changsheng approached the ticket window and, standing outside the railing, asked the first person in line, “Sir, could you let me cut in? I’m in a hurry, the bus is about to leave.”

The first person in line was a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows, fierce eyes, and a tall, imposing build. Hearing her request, he rolled his eyes and replied impatiently, “In a hurry? If you were in such a hurry, why didn’t you come earlier?”

Qin Changsheng felt a bit helpless. Scolded like that, she was about to retreat when the man, noticing she looked like a student, young, with delicate features and nothing like a troublemaker trying to cut in line, asked again, “Are you really in a hurry? Fine, go ahead! But next time, take care of things earlier! Don’t expect anyone to let you cut in like this again!”

The two people behind him seemed to be with him. One of them remarked, “Brother Tao has a soft spot for pretty girls, his head spins at the sight of a student.” The man named Tao turned around and jokingly scolded them before stepping back to make room for Qin Changsheng.

Grateful, Qin Changsheng thanked him and went to purchase an additional ticket to Jishan. Behind her, Brother Tao and the other two chatted and laughed. A man with a narrow face asked cheerfully, “How did that batch of goods get shipped?”

Another cut in, “Damn it! Courier services are too strict these days, it’s impossible to get through. We had to take the old route. And the old boss is so stingy, even when we arrived, he kept his mouth shut, not a word to say.”

Qin Changsheng’s interest was piqued. She glanced back at Brother Tao and the two men. Seeing her turn around, Brother Tao snapped impatiently, “Go on, go on! Hurry up and leave! You said you were in a rush, and now you’re dawdling here!”

Qin Changsheng thanked him again and, putting the matter out of her mind, collected her ticket before rejoining Xu Jing and the others to board the bus.