Chapter 75 Skiing
Su Nian, wrapped like a bear, looked at her lover beside her helplessly. Only her eyes were exposed in the scarf, and her eyelashes were covered with fine snow foam.
"Why are you wrapping me up so tightly? Is it that cold?" His voice was muffled by the layers of windproof jacket, like a kitten crawling out of a pile of cotton.
Ling Shen lowered his eyes and looked at his lover's cheeks that were puffed up into little balls. His fingertips gently hooked the brim of Su Nian's woolen hat that had slipped off, and loosened his scarf for him.
The wool fabric rustled as it rubbed against each other, and the white mist from their breath gathered into a ball between the two of them.
"Don't be careless. You don't want to spend your vacation lying in bed, do you?"
The bony fingers accidentally brushed against Su Nian's red earlobe, and the touch of body temperature made Su Nian shiver unconsciously.
Although Su Nian was dissatisfied, he still used his gloved hands to button up his collar which had been secretly loosened.
As my fingertips stroked the cool metal buckles of my windproof jacket, the poster of the ski track in the hotel room appeared in front of my eyes - athletes wearing professional equipment drew silver arcs on the snow track, and snow mist poured behind them like the Milky Way.
If I really have a fever or a cold, I can only watch others galloping on the snowy field through the window, which would be such a disappointment.
At this moment, the morning light pierced the clouds, gilding the snow-capped mountains. The snow-capped peaks in the distance gradually woke up in the rosy glow, and the light reflected from the snowflakes was like broken diamonds scattered on blue velvet, making Su Nian's pupils shine.
The snow on the top of the mountain raised fine snow dust in the morning breeze, as if covering the sleeping mountains with a layer of flowing gauze.
Su Nian looked up, his gaze fixed on a horizon of rolling clouds. The perpetually snowy peaks refracted countless tiny rays of light in the sunlight, like stardust left behind by the gods.
The light fell on the eyelashes, slid down the bridge of the nose, and spread out as gentle spots of light in the folds of the scarf.
The cedars at the foot of the mountain are covered with rime, and the icicles hanging between the branches tinkle in the wind, interweaving with the laughter and joy from the ski resort in the distance, forming a prelude to winter.
The rustling sound of skis sliding across the snow, the excited screams of children, the instructions of coaches, mixed with the humming sound of the cable car chains turning in the distance, compose a vivid melody on this snowy field.
Su Nian stood blankly at the foot of the mountain, his boots sinking deeply into the fluffy new snow.
Although I had seen it in photos before, when I saw it with my own eyes, I felt an indescribable shock in my chest.
The air is filled with the crisp scent of cedar, and the frost on the eyelashes makes the vision hazy and dreamy.
"What a nice view......"
His voice trembled unconsciously, and even his eyelashes trembled slightly.
My throat felt like it was clogged with a ball of warm mist. All those adjectives that I had memorized by heart from the travel guide turned into drifting snowflakes and disappeared in the overwhelming silver-white.
Ling Shen took Su Nian's hand, the dazed woman's hand. The warmth of his palm could be felt through the thick ski gloves. The cashmere scarf brushed against Su Nian's wrist as he moved.
"Go change your clothes first, I'll take you to familiarize yourself with the ski slopes." His voice, wrapped in a smile, spread in the wind, and the ending tone was crushed by the whistling mountain wind.
Upon hearing this, Su Nian pulled Ling Shen and walked forward quickly, their ski boots making a crisp "crunching" sound as they stepped on the snow.
The tip of his nose flushed slightly with excitement, and the white mist he exhaled evaporated into small rainbows in the sunlight.
"Really? Go, go!" The pompom on the hoodie bounced up and down with his steps, just like a little squirrel that couldn't wait to jump into the snow.
Su Nian, full of confidence, changed into her snow suit, with the warmth of the changing room still lingering on her fingertips, and she couldn't wait to pull Ling Shen to the ski resort.
The morning light gilded the distant snow trails with a layer of gold. He looked at the endless snow-capped mountains, his chest filled with excitement to try.
But when the skis actually touched the snow, the ice under his feet became slippery as if it were greased. Su Nian was shocked to realize that skiing was not as cool as it looked.
The first fall came unexpectedly. He lost his balance and fell backwards, landing on the snow with a thud, a dull pain in his tailbone.
After the second and third falls, Su Nian rolled and crawled awkwardly on the snow track, and his butt came into close contact with the snow much more times than he expected.
Curious glances were cast at him from time to time. His face flushed as he took the pink and white turtle protective gear from Ling Shen and put it on his butt with a sullen look.
Ling Shen stood there leaning on his ski poles, his obsidian eyes filled with smiles.
Looking at Su Nian wearing protective gear and twisting and turning forward like a clumsy penguin, with the tips of her ears exposed from under the goggles as red as ripe strawberries, he finally couldn't help but chuckle.
The laughter was wrapped in white mist and spread in the cold air.
Su Nian had her back to him, but could clearly feel the burning gaze behind her.
He bit his lower lip in frustration, remembering his own vow before hitting the slopes: "I'm not using this thing. It's just a little ski, isn't it?"
As a result, reality slapped him in the face. The little turtle protective gear on his butt became the loudest proof of his "slap in the face".
Although it was funny, Ling Shen couldn't bear to let his lover suffer a loss.
He put away his smile and held Su Nian's hand. The warmth of his palm came through the ski gloves: "Come, learn the plow brake first."
The two moved slowly on the beginner's track. Ling Shen demonstrated the movements patiently, and Su Nian imitated them attentively. When they fell, they supported each other and got up.
The sunlight shone on the snow path, stretching their shadows very long, and their laughter echoed in the mountains with the falling snowflakes.
As his practice improved, Su Nian was able to glide steadily for a distance.
But he caught a glimpse of the skiers speeding down the advanced trail in the distance, their bodies as agile as an arrow, and then looked at Ling Shen who had been with him the whole time, and suddenly felt a little guilty.
He sat down on the little turtle protective gear and looked up at Ling Shen, his eyelashes casting tiny shadows in the sunlight: "Dear Mr. Ling, won't you show me your skills?"
Ling Shen followed his gaze and saw snowboard experts performing various difficult moves in the rising snow mist on the advanced trail. The sound of the wind carried cheers.
His throat moved slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the ski poles - that was the throbbing of a skier, the temptation of adrenaline rush.
"Go quickly, I can do it myself." Su Nian pushed his shoulders, her eyes full of anticipation, "When you come back, you must teach me more powerful skills!"
Ling Shen looked at Su Nian's face full of expectation, and finally couldn't bear to let him down. Before leaving, he kept reminding him, "Just stay here and wait for me to come down to find you. Slide slowly and be careful not to fall."
Su Nian waved his hand nonchalantly, "Go quickly, housekeeper."
Ling Shen helplessly watched Su Nian slowly get up, shook his head, and took the cable car to the advanced road.
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