Chapter 11

The guesthouse was always awakened by birdsong in the mornings. Song Mingye had just finished washing up when he heard unfamiliar voices talking in the courtyard. He pushed open the door and saw Song Linchuan talking to a young couple, while Xiaobai wagged its tail happily beside them.

"Brother, you're awake." Song Linchuan smiled and waved. "These are my friends I met by the stream yesterday, Qi Zihao and Chu Xiaoche. They also came here to relax."

Qi Zihao, wearing a light blue shirt and holding a camera, smiled brightly: "You must be Song Linchuan's brother, right? I heard him mention you last night." Chu Xiaoche, standing beside him, wearing a casual plaid shirt and carrying a picnic basket, nodded gently: "Good morning, we're planning to go on a picnic in the mountains, want to join us?"

Just as Song Mingye was about to agree, two more footsteps sounded behind him. The guesthouse owner led a man and a woman over: "Mr. Song, these two are our guests checking in today, Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin. Since you have a lot of people, you can join us for some fun."

Jiang Ziyu wore black cargo pants, his hair neatly tied back, a drawing board slung over his shoulder, and his eyes held a rebellious yet casual air. Mu Nanjin, on the other hand, wore a white sweater, holding a book of poetry in his hands. He possessed a gentle demeanor, and his gaze towards Jiang Ziyu was exceptionally soft.

The group of eight set off up the mountain in a grand procession. Qi Zihao took pictures along the way, but his camera kept unconsciously pointing at Chu Xiaoche, who was busy helping him. Chu Xiaoche seemed oblivious, simply carrying his camera bag carefully and reminding him to watch his step from time to time.

"Look at that cloud, doesn't it look like a cotton candy?" Qi Zihao pointed to the sky, his tone excited. Chu Xiaoche followed his gaze, a smile curving his lips: "Yes, I'll buy you cotton candy for the picnic later." Qi Zihao's cheeks flushed slightly, and he lowered his head, pretending to tidy up his camera.

On the other side, Jiang Ziyu set up his easel under the shade of a tree, intently painting the distant mountains. Mu Nanjin sat beside him, softly reciting poetry, her voice as gentle as the evening breeze. "The wind blows through the valley, bringing the fragrance of wildflowers, and also the gaze of my beloved..." Jiang Ziyu's brush paused, his ears slightly burning, but he didn't interrupt him; instead, the colors under his brush grew even softer.

Song Mingye and Song Linchuan walked side by side at the back, watching the interaction between the two couples ahead of them, and smiled at each other. Song Mingye reached out and took his hand, the warmth of his palm making them both feel exceptionally at ease.

Upon reaching the lawn at the mountaintop, Chu Xiaoche skillfully spread out his picnic blanket and took out the prepared food. Qi Zihao went over to help, but accidentally knocked over some juice, splashing the orange liquid onto Chu Xiaoche's shirt. "I'm so sorry!" Qi Zihao hurriedly took out a tissue to wipe it off, and both of them paused when his fingers touched Chu Xiaoche's skin. Chu Xiaoche chuckled, "It's nothing, just a little juice."

Jiang Ziyu was tired from painting and leaned against a tree trunk to rest. Mu Nanjin handed him a bottle of warm water and gently touched the back of his hand with his fingertips: "Don't overwork yourself, drink some water." Jiang Ziyu took the water, tilted his head back and took a sip. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the smile in Mu Nanjin's eyes, and his heart inexplicably raced.

During the picnic, Qi Zihao excitedly shared the photos he had taken. When he came across a candid shot of Chu Xiaoche helping him pick wildflowers, his voice suddenly trailed off. Chu Xiaoche glanced at the photo and smiled, saying, "This one's pretty good. Send it to me." Qi Zihao nodded quickly, his fingers flying across the phone screen.

Jiang Ziyu was drawn to the poem Mu Nanjing recited and couldn't help but ask, "You really like this poem?" Mu Nanjing nodded, "Yes, because it expresses liking hidden in the details." He looked at Jiang Ziyu with a serious expression, "It's like someone adjusting the light in a painting to your preferred brightness." Jiang Ziyu's cheeks instantly turned red. He pretended to cough and turned his head to look at the distant scenery.

As the sun set, the group prepared to descend the mountain. Qi Zihao accidentally twisted his ankle, and Chu Xiaoche immediately crouched down, carefully checking his ankle: "Does it hurt? I'll carry you down." Before Qi Zihao could refuse, he had already carried him on his back, his steps steady. Lying on his back, Qi Zihao could clearly hear his heartbeat, feeling a sweet warmth in his heart.

Jiang Ziyu walked behind, his steps a little unsteady. Mu Nanjin quickly steadied him, saying, "Be careful." Jiang Ziyu pursed his lips and whispered, "Thank you." Mu Nanjin smiled and naturally took his hand, saying, "Holding my hand will prevent you from falling." Jiang Ziyu didn't pull away, letting him hold his hand; the warmth from his fingertips made him feel exceptionally safe.

Back at the guesthouse, Song Mingye looked at the two couples beside him, whose atmospheres were clearly different, and said to Song Linchuan with a smile, "I've had quite a haul today." Song Linchuan nodded, his eyes full of laughter, "Yes, it's like seeing our old selves."

The evening breeze blew past the window again, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers and the tenderness that quietly blossomed between the four couples. The tentative steps of Qi Zihao and Chu Xiaoche, the subtle attraction between Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin, and the steadfast commitment of Song Mingye and Song Linchuan intertwined to create the most touching chapter of their love story.