The Popular/Charismatic Beta Always Thinks They Are Universally Disliked - Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Want Want Snow Cookies and Energy Bars

Wei Yuzhi, who arrived later than everyone else, had already started the summit climb earlier than anyone.

He caught up on the second day of Wen Zhiyi’s arrival in Yunnan. The moment he landed, he immediately began traveling toward the base camp at 4,000 meters above sea level. After over three hours on the rugged mountain path, he finally yielded slightly to the advice of the local club guide and did not set off again in the evening.

“There are two routes to the summit. One is the traditional East Slope route that most people choose. The other is the West Slope route. If you are pressed for time, you can choose the West Slope. You just need to hand over your luggage for the mule team to transport.”

Wei Yuzhi did not bring any assistants. In fact, none of his assistants could keep up with him physically.

The handsome Omega, with his indifferent expression, casually pointed at the summit area circled by the guide, asking in a low voice: “Can people climbing from different routes meet in this area?”

The Tibetan guide vigorously scratched his head, thinking to himself that the boss looked profound and aloof but also believed in destiny in love.

“I can only say there’s a high probability, but it depends on the time and weather. For example, if the other party doesn’t make it to the summit, you definitely won’t see them. And waiting for people at the summit is quite dangerous; it’s easy to get hypothermia.”

Wei Yuzhi sat with his legs crossed on the only high stool in the club’s base camp. Hearing the guide say “easy to get hypothermia,” he curled his lips into a cold smile: “Then you should dress warmer.”

He knew Wen Zhiyi would persist until he reached the highest point of this snow mountain, so he wasn’t worried about the other giving up early.

In terms of perseverance and patience, Wen Zhiyi had always been excellent, and this was one of the lights that initially attracted Wei Yuzhi to him.

From Mount Kailash to the high-altitude snow mountain, Wen Zhiyi had never changed. These things were never easy for him; he didn’t possess the outstanding physical strength comparable to an Alpha, but perhaps it was precisely because it was not easy that it demonstrated his rarity and persistence.

He persisted not only in difficult journeys but also in a self that was never changed by others.

In the past, Wei Yuzhi often used change and control as proof of a certain kind of love. He would basely wonder if this Beta, who never changed for anyone, would lower his head and yield for himself, yet he also seemed not to want Wen Zhiyi to change.

The reason he was chasing him here now was very simple: he didn’t want to miss this moment that was very important to Wen Zhiyi. It didn’t matter if Wen Zhiyi saw him, but he wanted to see Wen Zhiyi in that moment.

At any moment, he couldn’t be indifferent to a message from Wen Zhiyi.

Just to witness, not to disturb. He could control himself to only look at Wen Zhiyi once.

He should be able to control himself.

Wei Yuzhi added silently in his heart.

…

“The large stone slabs in this area are a bit slippery. Everyone watch your footing, control your pace, and absolutely do not rush or take big steps.”

At 3:05 a.m., Wen Zhiyi, who woke up promptly, swiftly put on his thermal face mask and headlamp. Holding a trekking pole, he stood energetically at the door, ready to depart. Wei Xingjiang curiously examined his attire, then leaned in to look at the eyes revealed through the mask.

“Is this mountaineering or a robbery?” Wei Xingjiang naughtily extended his arm to touch the clip of the mask at the back of Wen Zhiyi’s head, only to be blocked by Wen Zhiyi’s trekking pole.

Little Wen, wearing a dark mask that made his demeanor a little cold and mysterious, raised an eyebrow in a threatening manner: “Do you know what a gentleman’s cane was originally used for?”

To be precise, in the 17th century, gentlemen were popular for carrying canes, which were good weapons for chasing away stray dogs and fending off assailants.

Wei Xingjiang, who was implicitly insulted, was not angry. He chuckled, then affectionately wrapped his arm around Wen Zhiyi’s shoulder and walked toward the mountain path. Some people had already started their summit push ahead of them. The team, carrying flashlights and headlamps, stretched into a winding, long line of light, silently coiling around the snow mountain in the dark night.

The next leg of the journey was about controlling breathing and pace, cautiously walking forward. Every step had to be steady and solid. Little Wen, being obedient, took every word from the guide to heart, focusing his energy and ignoring Wei Xingjiang, who sporadically tried to strike up a conversation next to him.

Wei Xingjiang, who hadn’t rested for an entire day since last night, was still in a vibrant, high-energy state. He still managed to maliciously smile and flirt with Wen Zhiyi as if nothing were wrong.

He held up his phone and took a selfie of himself and Wen Zhiyi, then moved his fingers to post it on his Moments. They had just started, and the phone could still receive a faint signal.

Wen Zhiyi was originally walking with his head down, but Wei Xingjiang could still capture his face and the dark hat on his head in the selfie. Wei Xingjiang repeatedly pleaded softly in Wen Zhiyi’s ear, his handsome face filled with a comfortable, smooth smile, looking like a young, lively Alpha high school student at a glance.

Wen Zhiyi was so annoyed he couldn’t stand it. He huffed, lifted his head, and flashed a V-sign.

Thus, they took a joint selfie.

As soon as the selfie was uploaded to Moments, it attracted a swarm of Wei Xingjiang’s friends, who rushed in like piranhas in the Amazon rainforest smelling blood, excitedly asking Little Wei where he was having fun.

The photo was taken from a slightly overhead perspective. The main subject was naturally Wei Xingjiang, who held the phone and showed a lively, spirited smile to the camera. Next to him was Wen Zhiyi, wearing a windproof mask and only showing a pair of curved eyes.

Like two small, bright moons suspended simultaneously in the snowy night, soft, slightly cold, and yet radiant.

For a moment, only the sound of the wind nearby filled the boundless snowfield.

Wei Xingjiang quietly reached out to hold Wen Zhiyi’s hand.

And the sound of his own heart beating.

The few strands of hair visible from beneath the mask had been blown stiff and sharp by the wind. Wen Zhiyi tilted his head to look at the young Alpha beside him. His eyes were still sweet and soft, the snow-white skin around his eyes slightly reddened by the wind, and these perfectly lined, beautifully shaped eyes, along with the scattered strands of hair, formed an inexplicable beauty.

Softness and hardness coexisted, just like Wen Zhiyi’s heart.

In this gaze, Wei Xingjiang was the one who surrendered first.

He felt his heart was about to explode.

Wen Zhiyi chuckled softly.

This barely perceptible smile quickly dissipated into the constant howling night wind, but Wei Xingjiang was sure he heard a laugh.

He couldn’t resist wanting to look at Wen Zhiyi again, to look at those maddeningly beautiful, blinking long lashes that always made his heart itch. Before he could mentally trace this scene for the umpteenth time, a gasp came from the team walking with Wen Zhiyi.

It turned out that an Omega, who hadn’t controlled her pace and walked too fast, was vomiting.

The Omega, who was throwing up violently by the roadside, was supported by the guide, who helped her catch her breath and patted her back. The companions offered her mineral water to rinse her mouth. The girl, who simply rinsed her mouth with the water bottle, quickly recovered. She wiped her mouth with a heroic gesture, waved her hand, and signaled her companions to continue the summit push.

Wen Zhiyi shot a look of admiration.

The headlamp on his head began to flicker. Wen Zhiyi, who had been walking for over an hour, felt his throat was dry. He heard Lin Chang’s steady, gentle voice: “How much longer is this stretch of road?”

The guide replied readily and honestly: “Soon, soon, maybe another ten minutes. See that rock ahead? We’ll be good once we pass that.”

Wen Zhiyi, feeling his vision darken, swore he had heard that reply countless times before.

“Tired?” Wei Xingjiang, who was secretly watching Wen Zhiyi’s condition while pretending to enjoy the night scenery, leaned in and whispered: “Should I carry you?”

Wen Zhiyi shook his head silently, feeling his quick-drying base layer was wet, then dry, then wet again.

The rugged black and white rocky ground was like an immense, boundless Want Want Snow Cookie (a popular snack with white icing). Little Wen, who hadn’t eaten dinner and had been walking for over an hour, suddenly stopped. Lin Chang and Wei Xingjiang, walking on either side of him, also stopped, looking at him with confusion.

He silently took off his backpack, rummaged inside, diligently, like Strong Strong, who was currently performing rituals in front of the automatic feeder thousands of kilometers away.

“What’s wrong? Sprained your ankle? Feeling unwell? Do you need high-altitude sickness medicine?” Lin Chang asked gently. He had already removed his gloves, ready to reach into his work pants pocket for the pills he carried.

Little Wen, wearing thick gloves, finally grabbed the energy bar. He didn’t care about cleanliness now. He wanted to bite the tips of his leather gloves to take them off, making it easier to tear open the packaging.

The entire process was as difficult as a snake shedding its skin.

Wei Xingjiang glared unhappily at Lin Chang, taking the initiative to grab Wen Zhiyi’s glove to help him pull it off successfully.

His fingers took over the glove tip near Wen Zhiyi’s lips. He also briefly touched the other’s face, which was like a handful of clean snow, a touch-and-go moment.

Wen Zhiyi, having successfully torn open the packaging, turned away from the wind and began chewing the energy bar.

Energy bars are a great invention.

Little Wen thought silently, staring at the “Want Want Snow Cookie” under his feet.

After finishing one energy bar, he regained his strength. Like the Omega who had been violently throwing up earlier, he wiped his mouth with a heroic gesture, waved his hand, and signaled to continue forward.

But he didn’t wipe it clean.

Wei Xingjiang laughed readily, helping him wipe away a little residual crumb, and then assisted Wen Zhiyi in putting on his gloves with both hands.

Wen Zhiyi, full of food and drink and back on the road, sighed deeply and continued to rush forward with his head down, swinging his trekking pole.

About another hour passed, bringing them to the moment of sunrise over the mountain.

A golden-red line broke through the boundless, misty black-blue, and Wen Zhiyi, whose chin was being supported by Wei Xingjiang to watch the sunrise, was briefly lost in thought.

Glorious, magnificent, unattainable.

The sunlight over the sea of clouds in the mountains was so beautiful and breathtaking. Wen Zhiyi, sweaty and panting, knew he had achieved the first reward of this trip.

He stared intently at the sun.

Wei Xingjiang also stared intently at him.

…

We are moments away from the climax of the summit push, and the love triangle is literally standing side-by-side.