Chapter Twenty-Four
Cheng Xiangbei woke up early the next morning.
Lu Nan was still fast asleep. He smiled indulgently, carefully moved Lu Nan's arm aside, and tucked the blanket around her.
"So early?" Meng Tianze mumbled sleepily upon hearing the noise.
"Hmm." He got dressed and got out of bed without disturbing anyone else.
After Cheng Xiangbei left, Meng Tianze slowly opened his eyes. Lying on his side, he could see Lu Nan's adorable sleeping face. Her eyes were tightly closed, her mouth slightly open, and she was clutching the blanket like a cute little animal. Meng Tianze gazed at her intently, reluctant to close his eyes. Actually, he was still very sleepy. Last night, the thought of Lu Nan being right next to him had filled him with excitement. After the lights were turned off, hearing Cheng and Lu's laughter made him feel even more uneasy. He tossed and turned for half the night before finally falling asleep. And now, with Cheng Xiangbei finally awake, being able to quietly watch Lu Nan across the blanket was a luxury for him.
After washing up, Cheng Xiangbei went to the courtyard to practice his boxing. Lu Nan likes to hug something while sleeping, and once he starts, he won't let go. He had just tucked the blanket into Lu Nan's arms, confident that he would sleep with it until dawn. Thinking of this, he smiled slightly and performed a set of boxing moves with great power and grace.
"Young man, your kung fu is quite good!" said the old man who had just returned from his morning walk with a smile.
"Cough, where..." Cheng Xiangbei smiled shyly.
"Want to spar with this old man?"
"No, thank you." Cheng Xiangbei shook his head.
"Let's have a friendly spar, let's have a friendly spar! It's been a long time since I've met someone I click with so well!" The old man stopped him.
"Fists and kicks have no eyes; it's too dangerous."
"It's alright, how about just a few massages?"
Seeing the old man's enthusiastic expression, Cheng Xiangbei didn't know what to say and could only reluctantly agree.
An old man and a young boy were practicing their martial arts in the courtyard, seemingly enjoying themselves immensely. The old man's skill was quite impressive, and Cheng Xiangbei couldn't help but take it seriously. Unaware that Chu Lian was silently gazing at him from the second-floor railing, lost in thought.
How could I bear to let go of someone so handsome and outstanding?
Breakfast was simple: farmhouse flatbread and millet porridge.
However, the side dishes at the shop were very authentic, and Lu Nan kept pestering the proprietress to buy a jar to take home. The proprietress was both amused and exasperated, and filled an empty can with the food and gave it to him.
"The landlady is so kind!" Lu Nan said happily as they walked up the mountain.
"Yeah, you almost refused to leave because of the food. People were scared of you," Cheng Xiangbei joked.
"How could you say that?" Lu Nan wrinkled her nose. "Then this whole jar of pickled vegetables is mine, and you can forget about eating a single piece!"
"No, no, I was just joking!" The side dishes were refreshing and delicious, and he couldn't bear not to eat them.
"Hmph! I'll go home and do some research, and try to make a side dish that tastes even better than this!"
"Yes, yes, I have absolute faith in Chef Lu's skills!"
Lu Nan proudly raised his chin and strode off with a triumphant air.
"What, Lu Nan can cook?" Meng Tianze, with his sharp ears, asked, "I wonder if I'll have the chance to try her cooking?"
"Cough, don't listen to his nonsense." Cheng Xiangbei chuckled, pinching Lu Nan's ear. "All he cares about is food!"
"Huh? So who's going to cook?" Yu Mufeng caught up with them.
"Uh..." Cheng Xiangbei paused. He really didn't want to invite these people to his home for dinner. This place was just his and Lu Nan's little world; other people... were not welcome!
"Who cooks these days!" Seeing Cheng Xiangbei remain silent, Lu Nan tried to smooth things over, saying, "If you don't want to eat in the cafeteria, just order takeout! Do you think you can cook?"
Yu Mufeng shook his head. Meng Tianze also shook his head.
"I don't think many people our age know how to cook," Long Jiu Mo said, trying to smooth things over. "Does Chu Lian know how to cook?"
Chu Lian shook her head, her worried gaze fixed on Cheng Xiangbei. "You only cared about school before, it's not too late to start now, is it?"
"It's not too late, it's not too late," everyone said in unison.
Cheng Xiangbei gave Lu Nan a knowing look, and the two smiled knowingly.
Because Lu Nan got up late, the sun was already up when they started climbing the mountain.
"It's such a pity we can't see the sunrise," Chu Lian complained.
Lu Nan shrugged. "If you want to see the sunrise, go up the mountain earlier. You want to join the group but then complain about not being able to see the sunrise." Although she did get up a little late, she still got up before the agreed time.
“It’s better to climb the mountain now. Look how heavy the fog is this morning! The steps are all wet.” Meng Tianze patted his cousin’s head.
“I also think it’s a pity we can’t see the sunrise,” Yu Mufeng interjected. Although he had seen the sunrise from this mountain several times, he was still unhappy with Cheng Xiangbei’s attitude towards Lu Nan. Everything was based on Lu Nan’s needs; if Lu Nan said she didn’t want to see the sunrise, Cheng Xiangbei would obediently wait in place. Even if Cheng Xiangbei had enjoyed some favors from Lu Nan, did he have to listen to her every whim?
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became, and he started to show it.
Cheng Xiangbei glanced at him and smiled, "If I had known you wanted to see the sunrise too, I would have had you accompany Chu up the mountain. A morning date on the mountaintop would have been quite romantic, wouldn't it?"
One sentence was enough to change the expressions of Yu Mufeng and Chu Lian. Not only did the person they admired not understand their feelings, but she was also pushing them towards someone else. The two exchanged a glance, then turned away, clearly disgusted.
Looking at the strange atmosphere among the crowd, Long Jiu Mo smiled and said, "Alright, it's getting late, let's hurry up and climb!"
“Yes, yes, the sun is already high in the sky,” Meng Tianze chimed in.
Cheng Xiangbei tightened his backpack and led Lu Nan upstairs. "Nan Nan, let's go!"
Lu Nan smiled, her eyes crinkling, and nodded vigorously. "Mm!"
As the group climbed higher, the view became more expansive, and when they reached the halfway point, a small waterfall appeared.
"Wow! How beautiful!" Autumn has arrived, and some unnamed leaves have quietly turned red. Red, green, and some pale yellow are interspersed together, creating an indescribably charming scene.
The waterfall plunges straight down from the mountain, and behind the thin stream, you can vaguely see the cave entrance. Looking down, you see a clear, small pool of water with fallen leaves covering the ground, and colorful leaves flowing on the surface of the water, which is quite beautiful.
The crowd marveled at the beautiful scenery before them and remained motionless for a long time.
"I really want to move back home!" Lu Nan lay on the big rock, cautiously looking down.
"Did you dream again?" Cheng Xiangbei patted his head and pulled him up. "Don't look at it, the stone is too cold."
Lu Nan straightened up and followed the group up the mountain, looking back every few steps.
"If you really like it, come back next week." After deliberately creating some distance between himself and the others, Cheng Xiangbei whispered in Lu Nan's ear.
"Really?" Lu Nan asked in surprise.
"Of course it's true." He and Lu Nan grew up in the plains and had a strange longing for mountains and rivers. Besides, coming with a few other people would be too stifling. The driving pleasure on the winding mountain roads would surely delight Lu Nan, and the starry sky would be perfect for the two of them to whisper sweet nothings. Not to mention the spacious dormitory at the farmhouse—for a couple deeply in love, what could be more tempting than a super king-size bed?!
Unfortunately, all these daydreams were ruined by a bunch of light bulbs.
"Long Jiu, are you very familiar with Cheng Xiangbei and Lu Nan?" Yu Mufeng asked casually.
The group has now gradually spread out, with Meng Tianze and Chu Lian in front, Yu Mufeng and Long Jiu Mo in the middle, and Cheng Xiangbei and Lu Nan deliberately dragging their feet at the back.
Long Jiu Mo glanced at Yu Mu Feng's expression and smiled, "Yes, my family and the Cheng family have some dealings. I often go to Cheng Xiang Bei's room." Seeing Yu Mu Feng's undisguised envy, Long Jiu Mo added, "Of course, I also get along well with Lu Nan. We went to the same high school and often talk."
"I see. So, are the conditions for getting married very difficult?" Yu Mufeng inquired.
Long Jiu Mo shook his head. "No, the conditions are quite good."
"very good?"
"It's hard to say, they're neither the best nor the worst." The Cheng family is very low-key in the area, and Long Jiu Mo wasn't very clear about their financial situation.
"Oh, I see." Yu Mufeng nodded. "So Lu Nan's family is well-off." He didn't know why he cared about these things, but every time he saw Cheng Xiangbei so obedient to Lu Nan, he couldn't help but want to say to Cheng Xiangbei, "I'm richer than him, I can give you whatever you want, but why don't you even look at me?!"
“You’re wrong to say that,” Long Jiu Mo said with a smile. “Although Lu Nan’s family is well-off, they’re not exactly good. His parents are both teachers.”
"Huh?" Yu Mufeng was surprised. Lu Nan's clothes and daily necessities weren't anything special, but he did own a few limited-edition items. If his parents were just teachers, why would they be willing to spend so much money on luxury goods for their child? His preconceived notions clouded his judgment; if you find someone despicable, you'll find fault with every little thing about them. Yu Mufeng glanced back at Lu Nan, suspiciously asking, "Then where did his money come from?"
"Then you'll have to find out for yourself." Long Jiu Mo smiled wickedly and walked past him.
Yu Mufeng stood there, frowning in thought.
Cheng Xiangbei and Lu Nan caught up and asked, "Xiao Yu, why did you stop?"
"Huh? They're here already." Yu Mufeng replied absentmindedly, watching the two walk past each other, his expression gradually becoming complicated.
It was already noon when we reached the top of the mountain.
To protect the environment, there are very few places to sell things on the mountain.
Finding a flat patch of grass, Long Jiu Mo pulled a large blanket from his backpack. "Come on, let's have a picnic here at noon!"
Everyone brought very little, just ready-made food like bread and juice. Cheng Xiangbei opened his backpack, revealing two food containers. He handed the blue-lidded one to Lu Nan. "Nan Nan, this is yours."
Lu Nan wiped her hands with a wet wipe and happily took the lunchbox. "Ah, my sandwich!"
"What delicious food makes you so happy?" Long Jiu Mo sat next to him and leaned over to take a look.
"Pork chop sandwich! It's so delicious!" Lu Nan grabbed it and took a big bite.
Meng Tianze sat opposite him, watching him eat with such happiness, and a smile appeared on his face. Chu Lian pouted when she saw him looking at Lu Nan with tender eyes. "Brother, I'm hungry."
"What do you want to eat?" Meng Tianze brought some snacks, but they were made in his home kitchen and still looked good even though they were cold.
Chu Lian frowned when she saw the dazzling array of snacks. Then, an idea struck her, and she pointed to the lunchbox in Cheng Xiangbei's hand. "I want a sandwich."
"Huh?" Her voice wasn't quiet; almost everyone present heard her. Cheng Xiangbei paused, his hand holding the box still holding him. No matter how unwilling he was, he had to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor. He held up the box and smiled, "This?"
Chu Lian nodded, and Meng Tianze smiled awkwardly. How could a lady snatch food from someone else's hand? He believed his aunt wouldn't raise her children like that. But now that Chu Lian had spoken, he had no choice but to take the box Cheng Xiangbei handed him and open it for her. "Little Lian, here's your sandwich."
Chu Lian picked up Cheng Xiangbei's sandwich and ate it slowly. Lu Nan, with his own sandwich in his mouth, glared fiercely at Chu Lian. Hey! That was the loving lunch he made for the tiger, okay? This woman blatantly stole it—it's outrageous!
Seeing Lu Nan's displeasure, Cheng Xiangbei could only try to distract him with a joke. Understanding his intention, everyone immediately chimed in, and the atmosphere quickly heated up. Cheng Xiangbei glanced at the sandwich Chu Lian was holding and smiled to himself. It was just a sandwich; he knew very well who was truly important to him, the person he would protect with his life.
That person was currently chewing vigorously with puffed-out cheeks, their movements rough but incredibly cute.
Author's Note: Um, I have something to report to the adults: Lang has decided to sell himself to JJ Bird!!! (Applause, confetti~)
Then, this article is not VIP, so please read it with peace of mind! (So what's the point of signing or not...?)
Well, that's it. Report complete.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
