I Fell In Love With My Rival - Chapter 51.1 Extra 1.1

“Pfft—wait, you’re saying you and Fu Erqiu are back together?”

Xu Chang was so shocked he spat out a mouthful of wine, quickly wiping his mouth with a napkin, eyes full of surprise.

Su Chunyin’s eyes sparkled with pride. “That’s right.”

Yang Yuxia, sitting beside her, gave her a pat on the shoulder. “That fast?”

Su Chunyin had mentioned before that things were going well, but everyone had assumed it would still take time—at least until summer. Yet spring hadn’t even ended, and the two of them were already back together.

“I’ll bring her over soon. Let’s all have a meal together.” Su Chunyin beamed. Her happiness was obvious to anyone.

“Sometime later?” Xu Chang raised an eyebrow, catching the implication in her words.

Still smiling, Su Chunyin looked a little love-struck. “I’m planning to go on a little trip with her first.”

Last time in New Zealand, she had been on a work trip inspecting flowers for the shop, so the travel felt rushed and not entirely enjoyable. She and Fu Erqiu agreed to handle work matters back home first, then take proper time off for a real vacation together.

As she talked about it, a soft glow of happiness lit up Su Chunyin’s face. Xu Chang glanced at her, then shifted his eyes briefly to Song Rao, who had been silent the whole time, but he said nothing in the end.
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Su Chunyin, who owned her own flower shop, generously gave herself an extended vacation. Fu Erqiu, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky—after piecing together all her accumulated leave, she only managed to get fourteen days off.

Their first stop was a domestic destination. Though Su Chunyin had traveled extensively—seeing deserts and grasslands—she had never been to Tibet. Fu Erqiu, having spent the past few years abroad, hadn’t traveled much within the country either. So, they bought train tickets to Tibet.

The journey from City B to Tibet was long. Though flying was faster, it meant missing the scenic route and could result in serious altitude sickness due to the abrupt change. So, they opted for a soft sleeper cabin, taking their time and enjoying the slow pace.

They booked upper and lower berths. With time to kill, they snuggled together to watch dramas and snack, took in the views by day, and chatted with a friendly auntie across from them at night.

This rare, unhurried moment in their lives felt like a luxury. They stuck close together the whole time—anyone watching might’ve assumed they were just very close sisters.

Once they entered the Kekexili region, Su Chunyin started experiencing acute altitude sickness: dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath.

The stunning scenery outside the window was the last thing on her mind. Fu Erqiu quickly fetched a train attendant and bought an oxygen canister to help.

A few puffs of oxygen made her feel better, but the relief was short-lived—once the mask came off, the dizziness and nausea returned.

Slumped weakly against Fu Erqiu, Su Chunyin tugged at her shirt and murmured, “I heard people in better shape get worse altitude sickness. You know what that means?”

Fu Erqiu stroked her head gently. “And what does it mean?”

“It means I’m healthier than you. Got it?” Su Chunyin gripped her shirt tighter, her voice mock-fierce. “When we get back, you better start working out!”

Fu Erqiu chuckled softly and patted her back. “Alright. We’ll start as soon as we’re back.”

It was noon. Sunlight poured through the train window, falling across Su Chunyin’s face. Fu Erqiu rose to pull the curtain, but Su Chunyin caught her sleeve. “Don’t. We’ll miss the view.”

Fu Erqiu caressed her cheek. “You’re not feeling well. No view is worth more than your comfort.”

Su Chunyin thought for a moment, then pulled out her phone and tossed it to her. “Take pictures for me. I’ll look at them later.”

Fu Erqiu took the phone with a smile. “Okay. You rest.”

Across from them, the auntie was chatting with a fellow traveler. She glanced over and said cheerfully, “You two sisters get along so well!”

Su Chunyin beamed with pride. “Of course!” But just as she grinned, the dizziness returned. She quickly grabbed the oxygen canister for another puff.

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The train eventually rolled into Lhasa. By then, Su Chunyin’s body had adjusted, and she bounced off the train, even helping Fu Erqiu with their luggage.

Fu Erqiu laughed and patted her. “Feeling better?”

There was a short staircase at the station exit. Su Chunyin picked up her suitcase to prove her point. “I feel amazing!”

Sadly, her strength only lasted so long. Just outside the station, she started feeling unwell again.

They paused on the roadside to rest. In Tibet, night fell early. The streets were already quiet, lit only by a few lonely streetlamps.

Fu Erqiu draped her puffer jacket over Su Chunyin’s shoulders and helped her lean against her. While ordering a ride on her phone, she said softly, “Let’s get you to the hotel to rest.”

Su Chunyin nodded with a muffled “mm.” Fu Erqiu brushed her hair from her forehead. “Is it really bad?”

Compared to earlier on the train, it wasn’t nearly as serious, but Su Chunyin still clung to her, burying her face into her shoulder. “Feels like I can’t breathe.”

The mechanical voice of the ride-hailing app said the driver was three kilometers away. Fu Erqiu cupped her cheek, their faces inches apart. Her warm breath grazed Su Chunyin’s lashes, sending a flush across her face.

Just as Su Chunyin was about to reassure her it wasn’t that bad, Fu Erqiu’s face moved even closer. Her soft lips captured Su Chunyin’s, delivering a breath of air in a gentle kiss.

“How does that feel now?”

The kiss didn’t last long. Their lips parted once the breath was exchanged. Su Chunyin looked up—Fu Erqiu’s expression was calm and serious, as if the kiss had truly been only for her well-being.

“…Much better.” Maybe it was psychological, but Su Chunyin genuinely did feel better. She thought for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Fu Erqiu’s neck, their noses touching. “Qiuqiu-jie, make me feel even better.”

Fu Erqiu… of course she couldn’t resist that version of Su Chunyin. So, right there on the quiet street, they indulged in one kiss after another. What began as earnest breath-sharing gradually became heated, messy kisses driven by instinct alone.

Their ride soon arrived. The two reluctantly separated and got into the car.

The driver dutifully took them to the hotel they had booked. After several days on the train, Su Chunyin was completely drained. She showered and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

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It was already late morning by the time she woke up the next day. She felt much better—no more lingering headache. Lazily, she patted the empty space beside her. “Qiuqiu-jie, I’m hungry.”

Fu Erqiu, seated nearby going over some files, took off her glasses. “The hotel has breakfast, or there’s a shopping street outside. Eat here or go out?”

“First meal in Tibet—of course we’re going out!” Su Chunyin declared without hesitation.

They freshened up and headed out.

When they’d arrived last night, it was too dark to see anything. Now, in the morning light, Su Chunyin finally got a good look at the Tibetan landscape—and was instantly enchanted.

The sky was a pure, dazzling blue, clouds fluffy and white like cotton. Mountains rose in the distance like brushstrokes on a painting. Not far from their hotel, the iconic red-and-white Potala Palace stood proudly.

“Beautiful…” Su Chunyin couldn’t help but breathe out.

The scenery looked impossibly pristine—like a dream, or a high-resolution digital render. It was the kind of beauty that felt unreal until you saw it with your own eyes.

Truly worthy of being called a heaven on earth.

They hadn’t even started eating yet, but the stunning scenery outside had already lifted their spirits. Neither of them was in a hurry for lunch anymore. After strolling around for a while and admiring the view, they eventually found a small local restaurant that specialized in hand-pulled lamb and decided to have brunch there.

The lamb was made from locally sourced mountain goats, and the quality was excellent. The meat was fragrant without the usual gaminess, rich but not greasy. Paired with sweet onions and fiery barley wine, it was an irresistible combination that made their mouths water.

Su Chunyin was completely immersed in her plate, barely lifting her head as she devoured the food. After days of travel on the train with little to eat, she was starving, and the delicious lamb made her want to gobble it all down in one bite.

Once she had filled her belly, Su Chunyin let out a long, satisfied sigh and leaned back in her chair. “Anywhere you want to go next?” she asked.

Fu Erqiu shook her head. Before coming to Tibet, they had read countless travel guides, but eventually decided to follow their hearts and choose destinations based on their mood each day.

Since their hotel was right across from the Potala Palace, their first stop after lunch was naturally the famed landmark itself.

The Potala Palace sits atop the highest peak in the center of Lhasa. Known as the “sanctuary closest to the heavens,” legend has it that the first rays of morning sunlight always fall upon its golden rooftop.

They followed the stone-paved path toward the palace. Though it looked close from a distance, the walk revealed it was still quite a trek. Step by step, the details of the palace gradually came into view.

Its ancient architectural artistry was still awe-inspiring: granite walls in weathered white, wooden eaves painted in gold and crimson, rooftops adorned with intricate copper carvings—each element a masterpiece, radiating a unique charm. From afar, the palace stood tall and majestic, a monumental feat of human craftsmanship, etched with history and the legacy of a people.

When they finally reached the base of the palace, an endless flight of stairs loomed above them. Su Chunyin playfully demanded that Fu Erqiu carry her up. Fu Erqiu obliged without complaint, but halfway up, Su

Chunyin felt guilty and hopped down. “Forget it, it’s not like my legs are broken. I’ll walk.”

They continued hand in hand, climbing slowly. Along the way, there were not just tourists, but many Buddhist pilgrims as well—some turning prayer wheels and chanting, others performing prostrations step by step. To a non-believer, these actions might seem incomprehensible, yet the serenity on the pilgrims’ faces conveyed a peace and detachment from the mundane world.

They eventually reached the topmost level of the Potala Palace. From there, they could look down over the entire city—Lhasa spread out below them, bathed in pristine blue skies and tranquil bustle.

Gazing at the view, Su Chunyin murmured, “I used to hear people say that Tibet has a divine presence. I think I finally understand what they meant.”

There was a clarity to the landscape that felt otherworldly, and an inexplicable stillness that seemed to cleanse the soul. It was as if every traveler who arrived here underwent a quiet kind of transformation.

After lingering for a while to take in the view, they followed the crowd back down. The red eaves and white walls of Tibetan architecture gave the streets a distinct aesthetic, and the atmosphere of mixed traditions and open-heartedness made even casual wandering feel pleasant and refreshing.

They strolled aimlessly through the streets. When the phone rang, Su Chunyin and Fu Erqiu were in a handmade goods shop, listening to the shopkeeper explain the process of making Tibetan carpets. Su Chunyin gave a quick apologetic gesture and stepped outside to take the call.

It turned out to be a long call. By the time Fu Erqiu came out of the shop, Su Chunyin had just ended the call and was staring blankly at her phone.
“Something wrong?” Fu Erqiu asked, seeing her expression.