Chapter 42 Ren Xiyao emerges from the dawn in Litang…
Ren Xiyao awoke to the dawn in Litang. Though physically exhausted from the past few days of travel, her mind was strangely no longer tense. Those nightmares of being swallowed by the ice and the pain of her injuries hadn't appeared in her dreams for a long time. The panic that had accompanied her injuries seemed to have been diluted considerably by this vast and solemn land. She quietly got up, put on her thick windbreaker, trying not to disturb the still-sleeping Quan Zhilong.
Kwon Ji-yong is actually a very talkative person. When Ren Xiyao is with him, she usually listens, but during these days, Kwon Ji-yong is like someone who is always there for her. She doesn't say anything, he just quietly stays by her side. She knows he is accommodating her, but she no longer excludes him from her world. When she is with him, all her emotions are no longer a burden.
In the guesthouse lobby, a faint scent of Tibetan incense filled the air. The landlady, a kind-hearted Tibetan woman, was wiping the tables, preparing for the new day. Seeing Ren Xiyao, she greeted her warmly in broken Mandarin, "Girl, up so early? It's very cold outside!"
"Yes, Mom, Happy New Year." Ren Xiyao smiled and replied softly, finding a seat by the window. Today is Lunar New Year's Eve. Her family back in Hainan must be busy right now.
She took out her phone. In western Sichuan in 2015, the signal was unreliable, so she took advantage of the good signal at this moment. She dialed home, and after a few rings, her mother answered. It was her familiar voice, tinged with sleepiness and surprise: "Yaoyao? Why are you calling so early?"
"Mom, Happy New Year! Where's Dad?" Ren Xiyao deliberately kept her voice calm and relaxed.
“Your dad’s right here, he just woke up. How are you? Are you tired from training? Have you been eating well? Your injury…” Ren Xiyao interrupted her mother’s questions about her injury, her voice filled with concern.
"It's all good, Mom. Training is going smoothly, and the coach says I'm recovering well." She lied; she didn't want to bring this up in front of her parents. "Morning training hasn't started yet. I'm calling you now. Happy New Year, Mom and Dad. Take care of yourselves. I wish you all your dreams come true in the new year. May Mom have a successful career and Dad have great wealth."
"Okay, I hope our Yaoyao will have a peaceful and healthy new year!" Her father's voice came through the receiver, deep and warm: "Take good care of yourself while you're spending the New Year away from home."
"Okay, Dad." Ren Xiyao's nose tingled with tears, but she forced back the tears. "Where are Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandpa and Grandma on my mother's side?"
"It's all good, I just went for a walk this morning. If you had called later, they would have been able to answer." The father sighed deeply and said, "Your injury scared them quite a bit. If it weren't for your uncles and the others stopping him, your grandfather would have gone and made a scene."
Ren Xiyao gave a short laugh: "Grandpa wouldn't do that. He was just saying." Then she added with some guilt, "It's just that I made them worry. He's so old. And I made them run around all that time."
"Hey, let's not talk about this during the New Year. Just take good care of yourself. You need to take good care of yourself!"
Ren Xiyao's hand unconsciously tapped the edge of the table: "Yes, I will. The signal at the base has been bad these past two days, they're working on repairs. There might not be a signal at night. Please send my New Year's greetings to my aunt, grandpa, grandma, and maternal grandparents! I'll go back to see them during the off-season. Don't let them worry about me."
The brief call ended, and she let out a long sigh. She hadn't told anyone she was here, not wanting to mention the diagnoses. She didn't want them to worry at all. But the past few days, with the person beside her and the silent healing power of this land, made her feel no longer trapped in that cold nightmare.
When Kwon Ji-yong woke up, the spot beside him was empty, still slightly chilly. He instinctively reached out and touched it, a sudden emptiness washing over him, a primal unease rising within him. For the past few days, he had been by her side almost constantly, watching her gradually melt away her initial almost frozen composure, becoming vibrant again. This brought him both peace of mind and a deeper appreciation.
He quickly got up, put on his clothes, and left the room. In the warm light of the lobby, he saw that familiar figure. She sat quietly by the window, seemingly lost in thought, or perhaps simply spacing out, exuding a detached tranquility. He turned and went back into his room, not immediately going to disturb her.
His gaze swept across the corner and landed on his backpack. After a moment's hesitation, he took out his phone, which he had almost forgotten about for days.
The moment the phone was turned on, the screen lit up, followed by a barrage of vibrations and notification sounds. Missed calls, text messages, KakaoTalk messages… it nearly crashed the phone. Most were from the company, the agent, and a few were from President Yang. He could imagine the anxiety, even rage, on the other end of the line. The PR department had probably been on tenterhooks for days, fearing that this "missing person" would cause some unmanageable scandal.
He frowned, somewhat annoyed by the interruption, but patiently opened a few important messages. He quickly skimmed through them; most inquired about his situation and location, as well as various work arrangements and requests for updates. His fingers flew across the screen, replying to his agent with only a brief message: "It's alright, handle things over there. Contact me again if anything urgent comes up." After a moment's thought, he added, "Happy New Year, please give my regards to everyone."
Then, he found his family's chat, sent them a message of blessing, and also greeted his sister. After doing all this, he quickly switched his phone to airplane mode and stuffed it back deep into his backpack.
As if shedding a heavy shell, he let out a long sigh. This brief connection with the outside world made him realize even more clearly how much he was enjoying this period of complete "disconnection." There were no flashing lights, no suffocating schedules, no omnipresent scrutiny and expectations. Only pure scenery, crisp air, and someone who allowed him to let down his guard and simply want to be close to them.
During this journey, he himself seemed forced to engage in introspection. Away from the stage and the hustle and bustle, the labels associated with him as "GD" seemed to fade temporarily, and his feelings as the individual "Kwon Ji-yong" became more acute. Kwon Ji-yong sensed how Ren Xiyao's calmness tempered his passion, and how her purity reflected certain corners of his heart. His passionate, sometimes even cloying, expressions of love seemed to find a quieter place in her presence.
When Ren Xiyao returned to the room with a cup of warm barley ginger tea, Quan Zhilong was standing by the window, gazing outside in a daze.
"Awake?" Ren Xiyao handed him the ginger tea: "It's cold outside, drink some to warm yourself up. Today is New Year's Eve."
Kwon Ji-yong took the cup, feeling the warmth on his fingertips, and also sensing the slight coolness of hers. He gently squeezed her hand: "Yeah, I was a little worried earlier, seeing you weren't here." His voice was hoarse from just waking up, and his eyes were filled with undisguised concern.
Ren Xiyao felt a warmth in her heart, withdrew her hand, and held her cup: "I went to call home to wish my family a Happy New Year."
“Oh, right, Happy New Year, Xiyao,” he said earnestly.
“Okay,” Ren Xiyao nodded, took a sip of ginger tea, and said, “You should also remember to call home.”
“We’ve done it,” Kwon Jiyong chuckled. “We just went through an ‘information bombardment,’ and now the world is peaceful.” He made an exaggerated explosion gesture, which made Ren Xiyao’s lips curve into a smile.
"It seems your 'boss' misses you."
“He probably wanted to strangle me,” Kwon Ji-yong shrugged, his tone relaxed, but a hint of weariness flashed in his eyes.
The smoke from cooking fires outside the window conveyed the simplest happiness in the world. Ren Xiyao suddenly reached out and ruffled his hair: "Ready? Let's go." Then she turned and left without looking back.
"Ugh!" Kwon Ji-yong tidied his hair in annoyance, then quickly picked up his backpack and followed Ren Xiyao, who had already walked away, a gentle smile on his lips that he himself did not realize.
The car drove out of Litang County and headed north along the winding road. In the winter, the plateau was ablaze with the purest colors.
The car was well-heated. Kwon Ji-yong tilted his head to the side, watching the scenery rushing past the window. He would occasionally take out his camera to take a few photos, but most of the time, he would quietly watch Ren Xiyao, who was driving attentively.
"How do you usually spend the Lunar New Year while you're on duty?" Kwon Ji-yong suddenly asked, breaking the silence in the carriage.
Ren Xiyao looked straight ahead and said in a steady voice, "Most of the time I'm competing abroad. If it's New Year's Eve, the team will organize everyone to make dumplings and watch the Spring Festival Gala together. If the coach is in a good mood, he might even give out red envelopes. Although the amount is not large, it's for good luck." She paused and said, "Actually, it's been many years since I've spent the New Year at home. Last year was actually the first time I spent the New Year at home in four or five years."
Kwon Ji-yong paused for a moment; he understood that feeling of being unable to control one's own destiny. As an entertainer, holidays are often the busiest time, and reuniting with family becomes a luxury: "So... how are you feeling this year? Spending New Year's Eve here."
Ren Xiyao turned to look at him, her gaze meeting his searching one. She thought for a moment and said, "It's very different... freedom."
Freedom. This word also stirred something within Kwon Ji-yong. For him, this was also a journey in pursuit of freedom.
As the car continued its journey, Ren Xiyao slowed down and pointed to a misty mountain in the distance, saying, "Do you see that mountain? Legend has it that it is the dwelling place of the mountain god of this area."
"Mountain God?" Kwon Ji-yong asked curiously as he leaned closer.
“Yes, many snow-capped mountains in Tibet are considered sacred mountains, and almost every mountain has its own legend.” Ren Xiyao’s voice carried a calm, storytelling quality: “Some mountain gods are brave warriors who protect the land; some are compassionate goddesses who bless passing travelers. There are also legends about love, about a pair of lovers who could not be together, who after their deaths transformed into two snow-capped mountains that gaze at each other from afar, guarding each other year after year.”
“Transformed into snow-capped mountains…” Kwon Ji-yong murmured, “It’s poignant, but also… eternal.” He looked at Ren Xiyao: “Do you believe in these legends?”
Ren Xiyao paused for a moment and said, "Whether I believe it or not is not important. Some people have believed it for thousands of years. People need faith and something to rely on. These legends are a way for the people of this land to communicate with nature and interpret the world. They carry awe, hope, and emotion. From this perspective, they are real."
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Author's Note: Thank you everyone, enjoy reading! [heart emoji]
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