climb mountains
Life is like a seemingly calm river, continuing to flow forward.
The calendar turned to March, and the air in the northern city began to carry the damp scent of thawing soil and the faint sounds of budding grass and trees; spring was quietly approaching.
But for Qi Shuo, the winter in his heart seemed far from over. Since that fierce conflict at the entrance of his residential compound, he outwardly resumed his usual routine—a simple life between the restaurant and home. He remained diligent at work and still didn't talk much.
But Sister Jin, Xiao Jue, and even the oblivious Qin Zhou all keenly sensed that something about him had changed.
The smile on his face almost vanished, and his already somber demeanor was shrouded in an even deeper, more oppressive gloom. He was like an isolated island, completely shutting himself off.
Outsiders can see him working, eating, and resting normally, but he seems to be trapped in a transparent, hard glass dome, where the sounds and colors of the outside world become blurry and distant.
He can see the outside world, but he can't feel its warmth; people outside can see him, but they can't truly touch his heart.
That familiar, suffocating sense of oppression followed me once again.
The symptoms of PTSD are recurring, with more frequent awakenings at night and a dazed, blank state during the day.
Occasionally, in moments of extreme exhaustion or mental lethargy, a dangerous thought would uncontrollably surface—perhaps giving up would be much easier. He felt like a string stretched to its limit, ready to snap at any moment.
This state of affairs has caused great concern among those who care about him.
It was a Friday evening, the eve of the monthly break. Qi Shuo was sitting at his desk, explaining the difficulties of the English subjunctive mood to Qin Zhou, who was frowning. From the living room came the sound of Sister Jin talking on the phone, her tone unusually lively.
"...Yes! It's settled then! We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning!...Hey, relax a bit, exams are coming up soon, it's good to balance work and rest!...Get everything ready!...Okay, see you tomorrow!"
After hanging up the phone, Sister Jin rushed into the room with a deliberately feigned excitement on her face: "Hey! Last-minute notice, we're not going to tutoring tomorrow, and we're not staying home anymore. We're organizing a group activity—hiking and camping!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhou's eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately forgot all about English grammar: "Really?! Where are we climbing? What kind of camping are we going to do?"
Qi Shuo raised his eyes and looked at Sister Jin with some confusion.
Sister Jin waved her hand and began calling out names: "Me, Xiao Shuo, Xiao Zhou, and Xiao Jue. Oh right, I also called Lin Ye, Yun Gui, and Xiao Zhou, your two good friends, Cheng Rui and Lin Zhiyu. There's strength in numbers, it'll be lively!"
Qin Zhou jumped up excitedly: "That's awesome! Long live Sister Jin!"
Qi Shuo frowned slightly. Such a big fuss? He instinctively wanted to refuse: "Sister Jin, I'll do it tomorrow..."
"You're off tomorrow!" Sister Jin interrupted him without room for argument. She walked to his side, placed her hands on his shoulders, and looked deeply into his tired and distant eyes. Her voice softened, but carried an unyielding force. "Shuozi, Manager Chen just messaged me. I've already arranged your leave. You're not allowed to say no. Look at you, and look at Xiaozhou, you're both practically old men now. You need to get some fresh air, that's an order!"
Qi Shuo looked at the unmistakable worry and determination in Sister Jin's eyes, then at Qin Zhou beside him who was looking expectantly at him, afraid that he would refuse. The refusal that was on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back. He lowered his eyelashes and replied softly, "...Okay."
He understands. Everyone understands.
This was no ordinary trip; it was clearly a meticulously planned "rescue."
They saw him falling, and without hesitation, they reached out to grab him. The abyss couldn't be pulled out by others, but all they could do was light lamps again and again as he was about to be swallowed by darkness, telling him: Look, we are all here, you are not alone.
Please, struggle a little longer, for our sake and for your own.
The next morning, as dawn broke, two cars were already waiting downstairs. Xiao Jue drove up in his SUV, and Sister Jin had filled her car to the brim.
Everyone was present: Sister Jin, Qi Shuo, Qin Zhou, Xiao Jue, Lin Ye, Song Yungui, and Qin Zhou's two lively friends—the tall and strong athlete Cheng Rui and the bespectacled, shrewd-looking Lin Zhiyu. The atmosphere was instantly ignited by the group of teenagers and a few adults.
"Wow! A tent! I've never slept in a tent in the wild before!" Cheng Rui exclaimed excitedly.
"I brought tons of snacks!" Lin Zhiyu boasted, patting his bulging backpack.
Qin Zhou and Song Yungui huddled together, whispering something, their faces beaming with undisguised joy.
Lin Ye remained quiet, but there was a hint of expectation in his eyes as he silently checked Xiao Jue's equipment.
Xiao Jue and Sister Jin were busy with the final inventory of supplies: tents, sleeping bags, moisture-proof mats, cooking utensils, food, drinking water, medicine... trivial yet thorough.
Qi Shuo stood aside, watching the group of people busy and excited about this impromptu trip. His calm heart seemed to have been stirred by a small pebble, creating barely perceptible ripples.
He walked over and silently picked up several of the heavier equipment bags, putting them into the trunk.
"Let's go!" With a command from Sister Jin, the convoy headed towards the Enshi Grand Canyon on the outskirts of the city.
The carriage was filled with laughter throughout the journey. Qin Zhou, Cheng Rui, and Lin Zhiyu, the three lively characters, joked and teased each other, while Song Yungui occasionally chuckled, and Lin Ye wore headphones and looked out the window. Sister Jin and Xiao Jue chatted in the front row.
Qi Shuo sat by the window, watching the scenery outside rushing past, gradually changing from the cityscape to undulating mountains. His tense nerves seemed to relax a little.
Upon arriving at the Grand Canyon scenic area and parking the car, the real challenge began. The route they chose was not an easy trail, but a mountain climbing route that required a certain level of physical strength and perseverance. Their goal was to camp at a designated viewing platform near the summit and wait for the spectacular sunrise over the cliffs and the sea of clouds the following day.
In early spring, the mountain forest is crisp and moist, carrying the fragrance of earth and vegetation. Stone steps wind upwards, flanked by steep cliffs and bottomless canyons.
At first, everyone was full of energy. Qin Zhou, Cheng Rui, and Lin Zhiyu took the lead, laughing and rushing ahead. Song Yungui followed quietly, and Lin Ye was not to be outdone.
Sister Jin and Xiao Jue walked and talked, occasionally reminding the children in front to be careful. Qi Shuo walked at the back of the group, his steps steady.
But the mountain path grew steeper and steeper, and the steps seemed endless. After more than half an hour, the cheers turned into panting.
"I can't take it anymore... I need to rest for a bit..." Cheng Rui was the first to slump down on a roadside stone, panting heavily.
"My legs... feel like they don't belong to me anymore..." Lin Zhiyu said, adjusting his glasses with a pained expression.
Qin Zhou stood with his hands on his hips, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, but he still refused to admit defeat: "You...you're already done for? You guys...you're too weak!"
Despite taking stricter protective measures, Song Yungui's cheeks were still flushed and her breathing was rapid as she silently opened her water bottle and drank.
Because of his health condition, he was wrapped up tightly by Sister Jin and Qin Zhou, who were afraid he would get sunburned. They even put sunglasses on him. Throughout the whole process, Qin Zhou never let go of his hand, afraid that he might faint or fall because he couldn't see the road clearly.
Even Xiao Jue and Sister Jin, who exercise regularly, had sweat on their foreheads.
Qi Shuo's breathing was also somewhat disordered, but the foundation he had built up from years of physical labor was still there, and coupled with his stoic personality, he simply adjusted his breathing in silence.
He looked up at the mountaintop that seemed to pierce the clouds, and then at the faces around him, exhausted but still persevering. A strange feeling welled up in his heart.
"Hang in there, we're almost at the rest platform halfway up the mountain," Xiao Jue encouraged everyone.
"Keep it up, kids! Think about the sea of clouds at the top of the mountain!" Sister Jin wiped her sweat and encouraged them.
After a short rest, we continued on our way.
This time, the group was much quieter, with only heavy footsteps and panting sounds remaining. Words of encouragement became simple yet powerful.
"Zhiyu, give me one." Qi Shuo reached out and took one of Lin Zhiyu's backpacks.
"Song Yungui, get on, I'll carry you." Qin Zhou squatted down in front of Song Yungui, picked him up, and slowly walked to the back of the group.
Xiao Jue then took some miscellaneous items from Sister Jin's hands.
No one complained, no one gave up. Even Cheng Rui, who was the most exhausted, gritted his teeth and moved upwards step by step. Sweat soaked his hair and clothes, and his calf muscles ached terribly, but everyone's eyes were filled with an indomitable spirit.
This feeling of striving together for a common goal and supporting each other miraculously dispelled fatigue and quietly melted the ice in Qi Shuo's heart.
He even unconsciously reached out and helped Lin Ye, whose steps were a little unsteady, on a particularly steep slope. Lin Ye was stunned for a moment, then whispered, "Thank you." Qi Shuo simply nodded.
After several hours of arduous trekking, as the sky began to glow with a magnificent sunset, they finally reached the mountaintop camping platform. Instantly, a breathtaking view unfolded before them. Rolling mountains stretched out below, deep valleys jutted out, and the sea of clouds, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, resembled a burning flame—a truly magnificent sight.
"Wow! It's so beautiful!" All their fatigue vanished in that instant, and the boys cheered as they rushed to the edge of the observation deck.
"It was worth it! All the hard work along the way was worth it!" Sister Jin excitedly took photos.
Xiao Jue also revealed a relieved smile.
Qi Shuo stood a little behind the crowd, gazing at the vast natural wonder before him.
A strong wind swept across the sky, ruffling his neat short hair and seemingly blowing into his troubled chest. Faced with such a vast expanse of heaven and earth, the pain and repression that entangled his heart seemed to shrink insignificant.
Everyone excitedly began setting up camp, pitching tents, and preparing dinner. Smoke curled from the chimneys, and laughter echoed through the valley.
As night falls completely and the stars fill the sky, a group of people sit around a simple fire, sharing hot food. Although simple, it tastes especially delicious.
Qi Shuo sat in the corner, holding a cup of hot water, watching the leaping campfire illuminate every young and vibrant face, listening to them talk about their ideals, complain about their studies, and share interesting stories... A long-lost, faint warmth, like a star in the dark night, quietly lit up in his cold heart.
The road ahead may still be difficult, and the pain may never fade. But at this moment, so many people are by his side, trying their best to pull him out of the darkness. Isn't this very act of kindness itself the courage and hope to keep going?
He raised his head, looked up at the dazzling starry sky, and took a deep breath of the crisp, cool mountain air.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com