Chapter 34 How dare the camellia belittle my love?
Although Liang Yizhi seems carefree, she is actually very easily embarrassed. Just a little teasing and she'll blush like a fool.
When He Man saw Liang Yizhi walk up to her, she could hardly hide the smile on her face and whispered mockingly, "Yizhi? Your face is so red, are you having an allergic reaction? This won't do!"
Not only her face, but even the small section of her neck that was exposed had an unnatural bloodshot look.
He Man leaned close to her ear: "Boss He used a little trick, and you, Tang Sanzang, were completely bewitched, weren't you?"
She stretched out her wet hands and lifted her chin.
A very inappropriate metaphor.
Liang Yizhi thought to herself.
She put down the fruit plate, cleared her throat, and said seriously, "Is everything ready? Then I'll start cooking."
Both she and He Xintu chose their own specialty dishes, opting for the simplest and quickest options.
They rarely saw Liang Yizhi cook, and they all praised her for her skillful handling of the wok. Regardless of the appearance or taste, she had a firm grasp of the technique.
One of the dishes Liang Yizhi made was stir-fried shrimp with asparagus. The shrimp were marinated, stir-fried until golden brown, and then the asparagus was added and stir-fried together. She often makes this dish at home, so it's not difficult for her.
It's unclear whether it was because of the different cookware or improper heat, but when the asparagus was poured in, hot oil in the pan accidentally splattered out and burned Liang Yizhi's hand.
Startled by the intense heat in the pot, she couldn't help but let out a soft cry.
"hiss--"
People nearby heard the commotion and gathered around. He Xintu, who was closest, asked first with concern, "What happened?"
"...I accidentally got burned."
"let me see."
Just as Liang Yizhi was about to raise her hand, a figure came over and grabbed her burned hand.
Gu Yinyan held Liang Yizhi's hand, looking down at it closely. A drop of oil had splattered on a spot just below the base of her thumb, leaving a circular, slightly reddish mark.
"Rinse it first." Gu Yinyan reached out and immediately turned off the stove, then pulled Liang Yizhi to the sink.
He took her hand and placed it under the tap, letting the cold water rinse and cool it down.
He Man: "What's wrong, Yizhi? Are you alright? Where did you get burned?"
"It's alright," Liang Yizhi reassured her. "It's just one piece I have."
Even so, Liang Yizhi still pursed her lips, staring intently at the burn marks on her hand, her eyes glazed over.
Gu Yinyan immediately saw what she was thinking and asked, "Afraid of scarring?"
Liang Yizhi immediately looked up at him timidly, sniffing, "It shouldn't be, right?"
"It will probably leave a mark that is neither too deep nor too shallow."
Gu Yinyan released her, gently shaking his wet fingers in the pool: "I brought burn ointment, go to my room to get it."
Liang Yizhi was surprised: "You even brought this?"
"I brought all the common medicines."
Although Liang Yizhi knew that Gu Yinyan was always meticulous and thoughtful, she did not expect that he would notice such a small detail, and she immediately felt very safe.
Liang Yizhi: "Then I'll put some on after I finish cooking!"
"Go now." Gu Yinyan said, already standing in front of the stove in her place, picking up the spatula. "I'll take care of the rest."
Liang Yizhi's cooking skills weren't maxed out yet, so she certainly didn't want to leave so hastily. But Gu Yinyan immediately glanced at her, and only the two of them understood the meaning behind his glance.
Liang Yizhi lowered her head again, glanced at the red mark on the back of her hand, and said, "Never mind, I'm afraid of scarring. I'll go upstairs and get it treated. You can take care of the rest. Where did you put the burn ointment?"
Gu Yinyan: "Check the side pocket of the bag."
Liang Yizhi gave an OK sign, turned around and went upstairs.
He Xintu wanted to say something, but his words couldn't keep up with Liang Yizhi's retreating figure.
He Man said to He Xintu, who was standing to the side, "She's always been so impulsive, don't worry too much."
He Xintu swallowed the words that were hanging in his throat and gave a slight smile to show his understanding.
-
After lunch, the afternoon clouds dispersed. Sunlight filtered through the water vapor, but moisture still lingered in the mountain air.
Because they were in a hurry, they quickly ate lunch and drove back from the villa to their afternoon destination.
Baicaoyuan is a well-known tourist attraction in Tongzhen. It is divided into several areas, including a zoo, a botanical garden, and an amusement park.
After entering the park, they first took a walk around the zoo and fed the small animals.
Exhausted, He Man bought a cup of water and a grilled sausage from a nearby shop. She had just taken a bite when a gibbon in the scenic area snatched it away. He Man was so angry that she wanted to fight the monkey on the spot.
After visiting the zoo, the group went to the amusement park and enjoyed several rides, determined not to miss out on anything since they were already there.
For some reason, Gu Yinyan's phone kept ringing today. It was probably some important project, and since he wasn't in the office, they could only communicate via phone. So he basically didn't participate in this process.
After leaving the park, you need to cross the suspension bridge over the lake to reach the botanical garden on the other side, and then follow the path downhill.
A suspension bridge spans the shimmering lake, connecting two mountains.
Although the suspension bridge looks wide, the actual bridge surface that people can cross is very narrow, only about two or three planks wide, and can only accommodate one person at a time.
Only ten people are allowed to pass at a time. If there are too many people, the bridge will sway too much and could easily cause panic.
The bridge deck is made of interwoven wooden planks and steel cables on both sides. The gaps look wide, and below is a bottomless lake, which visually achieves the purpose of being exciting.
People lined up in front of the suspension bridge, following the crowd.
Liang Yizhi gazed at the scenery in the distance, feeling a little intimidated by the height.
She swallowed hard. "Do we have to cross this bridge? Is there no other way?"
He Xintu: "This is the shortest route. If we turn back, it might take twice as long."
"All right."
No wonder there were so many people queuing up in front of this bridge.
"Are you very scared?" He Xintu asked.
He could tell she seemed a little too nervous; she was talking less and her eyes were constantly scanning everyone crossing the bridge.
He reassured her, "Don't worry, this kind of suspension bridge is just scary to look at. Hold on tight to the handrail, and you'll be across in no time."
Liang Yizhi desperately wanted to believe He Xintu. But the constant shouts coming from the suspension bridge made her heart pound with anxiety.
"Liang Yizhi." Gu Yinyan walked up from behind with his hands in his pockets. "If you don't want to go up, then don't."
Gu Yinyan's attitude was different from others.
This suspension bridge wasn't anything special to walk on to begin with; it was deliberately developed by tourist attractions and given an exaggerated and unrealistic title to attract people to come and take photos.
They say life should be like crossing a suspension bridge, keeping your eyes on the distant goal and striving forward blindly. This is completely imbued with some unfounded meaning.
He Xintu glanced at Gu Yinyan, assuming he was just making sarcastic remarks, and continued to encourage Liang Yizhi: "It's okay, it's safe. Don't think of it as something too scary."
Gu Yinyan asked, "How can you guarantee its safety?"
He Xintu smiled and said, "Then what makes you think it must be dangerous? There are so many people on this bridge."
He Xintu was very disgusted by his interference in the conversation between him and Liang Yizhi. He didn't necessarily want Liang Yizhi to get through this, but he suddenly found himself at odds with Gu Yinyan.
He Xintu placed his hands on Liang Yizhi's shoulders and patted them gently: "Don't worry, I'll lead the way. With me here, there won't be any problems."
Liang Yizhi heard his words of comfort and responded with a weak and forced smile.
Gu Yinyan knew she was still hesitating, so he persuaded her, "There's no rush. I'll go down another route with you."
"It's okay." Liang Yizhi thought to herself, swallowing again, but unfortunately she was so nervous that she couldn't produce any saliva.
“I’ll give it a try… Everyone ahead of me has made a safe passage.” Liang Yizhi made her decision, clenched her fist, and turned to He Xintu.
She asked, "Is the mortality rate high here?"
He Xintu was stunned for a moment, then a smile melted across his face:
"As far as I know, it should be 0."
Liang Yizhi nodded solemnly: "That's fine then."
Although she felt uncontrollably fearful, both physically and mentally, she wanted to challenge herself.
Finally, it was their turn in the line. He Man and Jiang Huai argued and provoked each other as they went up.
As soon as He Xintu stepped onto the bridge, he turned back again and told Liang Yizhi, "Don't be afraid, follow me."
The wind howled beneath the bridge, swallowing his gentle voice.
He Xintu stepped forward, but Liang Yizhi still dared not take a step.
She took a half step back in front of the suspension bridge, then considered giving up.
She's always been somewhat afraid of high-altitude activities or extreme sports, ever since she was a child. She doesn't dare ride roller coasters or go to haunted houses. She always avoids these kinds of activities that test her physical and mental endurance.
Before coming, Liang Yizhi did not know that she would pass through this suspension bridge. Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, and faced with He Xintu's comforting words, she could not refuse him, so she could only bite the bullet and go.
The wind from the lake made her cheeks feel cool. Seeing that the people in the back row were starting to urge her on, Liang Yizhi mustered her courage, took a big step, and stepped onto the suspension bridge.
Gu Yinyan was watching from behind her.
Those few steps inexplicably reminded him of the time after Liang Yizhi and Xie Yun broke up, when the four of them met at a bar, and Liang Yizhi, wearing a pair of high-heeled boots, aggressively followed He Man into the dance floor.
The suspension bridge swayed even more than Liang Yizhi had imagined, and the lake view beneath it was even more breathtaking than she had anticipated.
Liang Yizhi's legs went weak, and her hand slipped off the steel cable handrail, only to land on a strong and powerful arm.
Someone held her hand.
The warmth beneath his hand was intense, a sensation that went straight to his heart. Gu Yinyan's forearm seemed more trustworthy than the slender steel cable in front of him.
"Let's go up."
His voice was like a gentle dose of tranquilizer. Knowing that someone was covering for her, Liang Yizhi felt a little more at ease and, using that strength, walked onto the shaky suspension bridge.
The moment her feet touched the wooden planks of the bridge, she seemed to be wound up like a spring, quickening her pace, trying to shorten the time, and desperately moving towards that finish line.
She only dared to look ahead, no longer having the energy to appreciate the scenery on the bridge.
Although Liang Yizhi's feet were on solid ground, it felt as if she were floating in mid-air.
She didn't dare look back, so every now and then she would shout, "Gu Yinyan—are you catching up?"
"Behind you," Gu Yinyan replied. "Keep going."
We walked another stretch.
Liang Yizhi: "—Gu Yinyan, how far behind me are you?"
"A little over a meter. Continue."
And so, Liang Yizhi hurriedly made her way to the other side, halfway through the journey.
She was on edge, and only after crossing the bridge did she realize, in a daze, that she hadn't paid any attention to the scenery on the bridge. Looking back, she was surprised to see how beautiful the ripples on the lake were, shimmering with golden light under the thin sunlight.
She felt from the bottom of her heart that putting such a beautiful view together with such a terrifying project was a really bad design.
He Xintu met Liang Yizhi at the other end of the bridge and saw that she seemed to be still in a daze, and immediately felt sorry: "Are you alright? Did I scare you?"
Liang Yizhi shook her head: "No, I'm just too timid. The scenery on the suspension bridge is beautiful."
He felt bad for scaring her, and He Xintu said, "Don't worry, there won't be any more projects this scary, I promise."
He Xintu wanted to say a few words of comfort to her, but Gu Yinyan came down the bridge at that moment. Liang Yizhi immediately went up to him and chattered on about her feelings on the way to cross the bridge.
They walked downhill along the main road until they reached the last botanical garden.
The most famous feature here is the camellia garden. Now that the camellias are in bloom, it has become the most crowded place in the entire scenic area.
It had just rained, and the ground was still damp. After being washed by the rain, large patches of red camellia flowers fell and covered the entire road.
The way camellias wither is usually different from other flowers; they don't wither petal by petal, but rather the entire flower head falls off at once.
Scattered flower heads and rain-soaked petals fell into the water basin below. Some surviving whole camellias floated on the surface, not looking like they had withered, but rather lying wet in the water breathing, their colors even more translucent and brighter than when they were on the tree.
He Man took out her phone and exclaimed, "So beautiful! It would be a shame not to take any pictures here! Yizhi, quickly take a few for me!"
He Man treats photography as her career, and once the camera lens is pointed at her, she instantly enters "business mode".
Seeing He Man's serious work ethic, Liang Yizhi didn't dare to slack off either, and kept trying out different compositions and angles with her phone.
Gu Yinyan saw Jiang Huai standing alone under the tree and walked towards him.
"What are you doing?"
Jiang Huai hurriedly put away his phone: "It's nothing... I haven't checked my phone in a long time, just checking the messages."
"Send the photos to Dr. Jiang for his appreciation?" Gu Yinyan casually revealed his true intentions.
Jiang Huai disagreed, slightly raising her chin: "Who cares who I send it to? Such a beautiful view is a loss if it's not shared with others."
That's true; as far as the eye can see, camellias cover the mountains and fields. Blooming, withered, and resting after the rain, their beauty is breathtaking.
The garden has different varieties of camellias, and the areas they are distributed in are probably arranged according to color.
Gu Yinyan bent down, picked up a white camellia from the ground, and held it in his hand.
The flower must have just fallen from the most lush tree next to him; it looks perfectly intact.
The petals have thick, rounded edges, are neatly arranged, and are pure white in color. Their delicate fragrance is mixed with the scent of rain and earth, making them elegant and otherworldly.
Liang Yizhi and He Man were having a great time taking photos, capturing both the scenery and their portraits in their frames. He Xintu also took several group photos of them.
Visitors flocked to the park, including small tour groups with elderly people.
A tour guide, carrying a small flag and with a tiny bee tucked behind his mouth, walked past them along the main road, explaining things to his tourists as he went:
"This is the most famous camellia garden in the entire Tongzhen. Camellias usually bloom in winter and early spring, while other flowers hide from the cold, they bloom with a proud and aloof attitude."
"The Song Dynasty scholar Su Shi also wrote about camellias in his poems. The line 'Blossoming red like fire in the snow' describes the scene of camellias blooming proudly in the snow in winter."
Hearing that there was free commentary to listen to, Liang Yizhi couldn't help but prick up her ears.
The tour guide continued, "This is an ancient poet's praise for the camellia's cold resistance and noble qualities. In Tongzhen, there is also a metaphor for the camellia itself."
"There is a legend in the ancient town from hundreds of years ago: as long as you can pick the most complete camellia flower on the mountaintop and pray to the mountain god, you can have a wish granted. It is said that a woman climbed to the top of the snow-covered mountain in the dead of winter to save her seriously ill husband. She found a perfect camellia flower and prayed to the gods for a miracle."
"But before she could bring the flower down the mountain, she froze to death in the snowstorm. Miraculously, the day after the villagers found the woman and brought her down the mountain, her husband miraculously awoke. To commemorate his deceased wife, he placed her hairpin and the camellia she had picked together and treasured them forever."
"It was from that time that a saying arose. If you find a whole fallen camellia in the dead of winter, you must cherish it and take it back with your loved one's belongings. If the mountain god sees this, he will bless you to be together forever and never be separated."
He Man couldn't help but chuckle at the end: "What mountain god? I think it's something made up by the tourism industry! Are they going to say that camellias are inconvenient to bring back and preserve, so we can buy some camellia-themed merchandise?"
When Liang Yizhi noticed the tour guide glancing sideways in the distance, she quickly pulled her aside and turned her back to her.
Although it sounds a bit far-fetched, Liang Yizhi is quite willing to believe it. Whether it's true or not, at least the story sounds romantic.
Look at the camellias scattered all over the ground, large ones being patted down, withering away vividly and passionately. Liang Yizhi felt a stirring in her heart.
She squatted down and picked up the most intact and freshest flower from the few flowers in front of her.
Upon seeing this, He Man said, "Yizhi, did you listen to me? You really want to pick it up and take it back?"
Liang Yizhi pinched the flower stem and said insincerely, "I just think these flowers are quite pretty, aren't they? It's a pity they've been knocked to the ground in the rain."
Her bag was big enough that day, so she wrapped the little flower in a tissue, made room in the bag, and gently put it inside.
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