Chapter 102: Embracing a Dream Like a River of Stars! Su Qinghe’s Heart is No Longer Lonely

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Embracing a Dream Like a River of Stars! Su Qinghe’s Heart is No Longer Lonely

Before long,

their fried noodles were ready. The middle-aged owner even put them in a large bag and threw in two bottles of mineral water on the house.

Gu Yifan tried to pay, but the owner absolutely refused.

In the end, he had no choice but to drop it.

"Well, thanks a lot, man. I’ll bring the flashlight back later when I come down the mountain!"

Gu Yifan said with a grateful smile.

"Don’t worry about it. You don’t even have to bring it back!"

The middle-aged man grinned.

"Haha!"

"You’re too generous!"

"Alright, we won’t keep you then. We’re off!"

Gu Yifan laughed heartily.

With that, the pair turned and walked off into the distance as the owner saw them off with a smile...

...

「Around one in the morning.」

At the foot of Niutou Mountain, it was the same familiar path up.

Since Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe had climbed the mountain before, they made it up in much less time on this occasion.

By about one-thirty, they had reached the summit once again.

The huge rock was still in the same spot. Gu Yifan set the takeout containers of fried noodles on top of it. Then, flashlight in hand, he and Su Qinghe took a stroll around the summit.

They did a lap and found no signs of danger, so Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe climbed onto the large rock and sat down.

"Are you hungry?"

"Should we eat something first?"

Considering they had just spent half an hour climbing, Gu Yifan turned to ask Su Qinghe, who was sitting beside him.

"A little."

Su Qinghe tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then replied earnestly.

"Uh..."

Seeing her serious expression, Gu Yifan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’This Hanhan... she can be so earnest about everything!’

’But that’s a good thing. At least she’s sincere, right?’

’I much prefer this straightforward way of interacting. If everyone were like Han Ning... ugh, Han Ning.’ Gu Yifan was suddenly reminded of his past life, of the days he’d been a simp for her. ’Back then, I had to guess when she was in a good mood, and I had to guess when she was in a bad mood. It was fine if I guessed right, but she’d throw a tantrum if I got it wrong!’

’Tsk, tsk...’

’Thinking back on it now, how did I ever put up with that?’

’But I think I was actually pretty happy back then, wasn’t I?’

’Damn it!’

’Seriously, being a simp is toxic!’

Gu Yifan cursed inwardly.

’My Su Hanhan is so much better!’

’So gentle, considerate, and understanding!’

Gu Yifan turned to look at Su Qinghe, who was breaking apart a pair of disposable chopsticks for him. After snapping them in two, she held them under the flashlight’s beam and began carefully picking off the tiny splinters.

Bathed in the warm yellow glow of the flashlight, Su Qinghe’s delicate face was just inches from his. A rare look of tenderness filled Gu Yifan’s eyes as he watched her in silence.

After she finished with the chopsticks, Su Qinghe looked up and found Gu Yifan watching her silently.

"Wh-what is it?"

Su Qinghe asked softly, a little confused.

"It’s nothing."

Gu Yifan shook his head, snapping out of his daze.

Su Qinghe pouted. Although she found it a bit strange, she didn’t press the matter.

She picked up another pair of disposable chopsticks and once again began carefully cleaning off the splinters.

Gu Yifan smiled faintly, then picked up the fried noodles on the rock and started eating.

...

Twenty minutes later, Gu Yifan took the bottle of water from Su Qinghe and took a satisfying gulp.

Then he hopped down from the large rock, casually pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He tapped one out and placed it between his lips.

He was about to light it when he realized he’d fucking forgotten his lighter.

’You’ve got to be kidding me!’

’What’s the difference between this and taking a dump without any toilet paper?!’

’Well, shit.’

Just as he was about to stuff the cigarette back into the pack—CLICK—a flame flickered to life in front of him.

"Uh..."

Gu Yifan froze. He turned his head and saw Su Qinghe—that Hanhan—holding a lit lighter.

"Su Hanhan, where did you get a lighter?"

He asked, a little puzzled.

"I... back at home, I saw you forgot it, so I grabbed it..."

Su Qinghe explained softly.

"Oh, I see."

Hearing this, Gu Yifan gave her a deep look, then nodded and said, "Thanks."

With that, he took the lighter from her hand and lit his cigarette.

CLICK.

INHALE...

EXHALE...

A trail of bluish-white smoke slowly rose into the air, illuminated by the warm yellow light.

Gu Yifan intentionally took a few steps forward to put some distance between them, so the smoke wouldn’t bother her.

As if sensing his thoughts, Su Qinghe quietly turned and started cleaning up the containers on the rock, placing all the trash back into the bag.

After tidying everything up, she turned back around, sat on the rock, and watched Gu Yifan in the distance with her chin in her hands.

A cool mountain breeze caressed her face, lifting her spirits considerably. Su Qinghe sat quietly on the rock, silently watching Gu Yifan blowing clouds of smoke nearby, lost in her own thoughts.

After another moment, Su Qinghe withdrew her gaze.

She looked up at the sky.

The weather was perfect tonight. With no clouds in the way, the sky was a blanket of countless stars.

On a summer night, looking up at the starry sky from the mountaintop was, as always, a dazzling sight.

For some reason, a sudden, inexplicable joy filled Su Qinghe’s heart.

She felt that the view was different this time.

Perhaps it was because the last time she was here, her heart had been lonely. This time, however, she was not alone.

"Hanhan~"

Just as she was lost in a daze, Gu Yifan’s voice sounded beside her ear.

"Hm?"

Snapping back to her senses, Su Qinghe realized Gu Yifan had finished his cigarette and walked over to her at some point.

"Wh-what is it?"

She asked softly.

"Hmm... would you like to go back to your old home in Minnan for a visit?"

Gu Yifan said after a moment’s thought.

"Huh?"

Su Qinghe froze at his words.

When she processed what he said, she seemed to recall something and immediately fell silent.

Seeing her reaction, Gu Yifan could roughly guess what she was thinking, so he didn’t press her. He just silently climbed onto the large rock and sat down next to her.

...

「After a long while.」

Su Qinghe suddenly spoke.

"I do."

She turned her head to look at Gu Yifan, who was sitting right next to her, and spoke softly.

"Okay."

"We’ll get ready, and in a few days, I’ll take you back for a visit."

Gu Yifan didn’t overthink it, simply nodding in agreement.

"Mhm."

Hearing Gu Yifan’s words, Su Qinghe nodded earnestly.

After a moment’s thought, she asked softly, "C-can I rest my head on your shoulder?"

"Hm?"

Gu Yifan glanced at her. Without a word, he simply pulled her into his embrace...