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Li Fu and two young men from the village committee waited anxiously for a long time behind a relatively safe rock.

The torrential rain outside finally subsided, turning from a downpour into a moderate drizzle, but the sky was completely dark, and the mountains and forests were pitch black, with only the faint beams of light from their headlamps flickering in the rain.

"The rain has lessened a bit, we have to try to go down and look!" Li Fu was extremely anxious and couldn't wait a moment longer.

The two young men agreed. The three of them carefully followed the gentle slope they had come down, trying to find a path that led down to where Zhou Ai and Chu Yi had fallen.

However, the sight they saw, illuminated only by their headlamps, was utterly devastating. The earlier small landslide had been amplified by the relentless torrential rains, with large amounts of mud, rocks, and fallen logs piling up at the foot of the slope, completely burying and destroying any possible paths. The slope was extremely steep and slippery, offering absolutely no foothold.

"No! Dr. Li! We can't go down! It's too dangerous!" A young man used a stick to probe the edge of the soil, and the soft clods of mud immediately crumbled down, unable to support a person's weight at all.

"Try your phone! Is there a signal?!" Li Fu suddenly remembered and hurriedly took out his phone. The other two also immediately took out their phones.

On the screen, the signal bars were empty, making it impossible to even make an emergency call. The torrential rain and landslides likely damaged the already weak communication base stations in the mountains.

"No signal! I can't make any calls!"

A sense of despair spread again. They were trapped here, with extreme difficulty in both going up and down, and rescue seemed out of the question.

Silence hung between the three, broken only by the patter of raindrops, adding to the heavy atmosphere.

Looking at the dark and treacherous mountain path, then at the exhausted and pale-faced Li Fu, and his other companion who also looked fearful, A Liang spoke again with difficulty: "Dr. Li, this road is too dangerous, and it's completely dark. It's extremely difficult for the three of us to even return to the village the way we came, let alone go down to find someone. Going down would be suicide!"

He caught his breath and continued, "Besides, we're almost out of food, and our strength is waning. What I mean is... the three of us can't split up anymore! We have to stay together! Our only hope now is that the three of us can look after each other and do everything we can to sneak back to the village! Only when we get back can we quickly organize an equipped and experienced rescue team to come up here! Staying here, we can't do anything; we'll just exhaust ourselves!"

Li Fu leaned against the damp, cold rock, rain streaming down his graying hair. He knew perfectly well that what A-Liang said was the most realistic and rational choice.

In such harsh weather and conditions, the success rate of a search and rescue operation by just the three of them is almost zero; more likely, it will result in additional casualties.

Li Fu closed his eyes in anguish, his eyes bloodshot, filled with helplessness and immense guilt. His voice was terribly hoarse: "...Let's go...we'll go back together. We must...we must bring them back as soon as possible..."

He dared not think about the situation Zhou Ai and Chu Yi might be facing at this moment, and could only force himself to grasp the only hope of "going back to report the news".

The other young man also breathed a sigh of relief; he simply didn't have the courage to stay alone on this dark and terrifying mountainside.

Once they reached a consensus, the three of them dared not delay any longer and hurriedly headed back.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Meanwhile, Chu Yi was sleeping soundly in Zhou Ai's arms, feeling as if she were wrapped in soft "cotton".

Holding Chu Yi in her arms, Zhou Ai was wide awake, checking on Chu Yi from time to time to see if she was cold, while also carefully adding firewood.

Midway through her sleep, Chu Yi vaguely opened her eyes in Zhou Ai's arms. After her gaze met Zhou Ai's, she muttered softly, "Why did I dream about you again?" Then she rubbed her face against Zhou Ai's chest and fell into a deep sleep.

When Zhou Ai saw Chu Yi open her eyes, she felt a moment of panic, but seeing that Chu Yi seemed to be just talking in her sleep, she breathed a sigh of relief.

As for that casual remark he made in his sleep, he didn't hear it clearly: "Did you dream about me again?"

Zhou Ai didn't dare to confidently place the "again" and "you" on herself. She could only feel a sour feeling in her heart, foolishly holding Chu Yi and staring blankly at the fire in the bonfire.

Zhou Ai has absolutely no memory of when she fell asleep.

The sky outside the cave was already beginning to lighten, and the rain had completely stopped sometime earlier. The fire inside the cave had long since gone out because no one had added fuel, leaving only a pile of grayish-white embers.

Zhou Ai woke up with a start, his first reaction being to look down at his arms. Chu Yi was still sleeping peacefully in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest, her breathing even.

Zhou Ai breathed a sigh of relief, but then realized that the fire had gone out and the temperature inside the cave had dropped considerably.

He instinctively tried to move to add some firewood or check the situation, but the movement was a bit too big and immediately pulled on the person in his arms.

Chu Yi's handsome brows furrowed slightly, her thick eyelashes trembled a few times, as if disturbed from her sweet dream. She uttered a muffled, sleepy murmur and reluctantly opened her eyes.

The vision was initially blurry, then gradually became focused.

The first thing that catches the eye is Zhou Ai's clearly defined jawline, followed by her prominent Adam's apple, and then, above that, a pair of tense eyes staring intently at her.

Eyes facing each other.

Chu Yi's brain was still in a state of confusion as if she had just woken up, but soon, her physical senses awakened before her consciousness did.

He could clearly feel himself being tightly embraced by a pair of strong arms, his back and legs covered with warm clothing, and his cheek pressed intimately against a warm, broad chest, where he could even feel the powerful heartbeat through the thin fabric.

Zhou Ai...

She... was nestled entirely in Zhou Ai's arms?!

The air seemed to freeze.

So... that wasn't a dream?

That warm embrace, which he considered a dream, and in which he even muttered, "Why did I dream about you again?", was actually Zhou Ai?!

Chu Yi instinctively tried to break free from Zhou Ai's embrace and sit up, but because he moved too quickly, he accidentally bumped his injured ankle, and a sharp pain made him groan.

Seeing this, Zhou Ai disregarded her own embarrassment and the secret sour feeling in her heart. She quickly released her arms from his embrace and nervously supported him, saying, "Don't move! Watch your feet!"

Chu Yi steadied herself with Zhou Ai's help, but dared not look up at him. Her eyes darted frantically to the extinguished fire beside her, her heart pounding like a drum, her mind a complete mess.

So… he not only slept in someone's arms all night, but also… he talked in his sleep like that? Did Zhou Ai hear that?

Looking at Chu Yi's flushed cheeks and evasive eyes, Zhou Ai felt a mix of unease and anxiety.

He carefully released his grip, stood up as naturally as possible, and stretched his body, which was a little numb and stiff from maintaining one position for so long. He said in a hoarse voice, "The fire is out. I... I'll go see if I can rekindle it. You... you should rest a bit more."

The two of them managed to eat a few compressed biscuits with cold water, which was enough to replenish their energy.

After finishing the cookies, Zhou Ai began to efficiently pack his two backpacks. He stuffed most of the food, drinking water, and essential relief supplies, including the last of the medicinal oil, into his large backpack, which he weighed in his hand; it was quite heavy.

However, when Zhou Ai picked up Chu Yi's relatively smaller backpack, she only stuffed in the two of them's damp clothes and the thin down jacket lining, zipped it up, and the whole bag still looked flat and almost weightless.

"It's dawn, and the rain has stopped. We have to find a way out and find a way up," Zhou Ai said, handing the light backpack to Chu Yi and gesturing for him to put it on.

Chu Yi took the backpack, and its weight surprised him for a moment. He subconsciously weighed it in his hand; it was soft and fluffy inside, obviously not filled with anything heavy. He immediately understood Zhou Ai's intention—to take on all the burden himself.

Chu Yi glanced at her still swollen and painful ankle, then at the heavy, bulging bag on Zhou Ai's back, and then at the unknown and undoubtedly difficult mountain path outside.

A heavy sense of powerlessness and the thought of not wanting to be a burden to others instantly seized him.

Chu Yi gripped her backpack and stood silently for a few seconds before looking up at Zhou Ai, who was tying her shoelaces. Her voice was calm, but tinged with a barely perceptible strain: "Zhou Ai, leave me here."

Zhou Ai paused abruptly as she tied her shoelaces, her fingers tightening around them, but she didn't look up.

Chu Yi continued her calm analysis, trying to make her suggestion sound the most reasonable: "With my feet like this, I can't walk far at all. Following you would only be a burden, greatly slowing you down and draining your energy. If you go alone, traveling light, you'll have a better chance of finding your way back to find someone. I'll wait for you here. Use the food in your bag sparingly; it'll last for a few days. It's relatively safe here, and there's water..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Ai interrupted him with her actions.

Zhou Ai suddenly stood up, and with a "whoosh," he forcefully pulled the zipper all the way up, almost hitting his chin.

He deftly slung the heavy backpack over his shoulder, the straps digging into his broad shoulders. Then, without a word, he walked directly to Chu Yi, turned his back to him, and gracefully half-squatted down.

Zhou Ai's back was taut, exuding suppressed anger and unwavering determination.

Chu Yi stared blankly at the sturdy "wall" before him, ready to support him: "Zhou Ai, I..."

"Get on." Zhou Ai's voice was deep, directly interrupting Chu Yi before she could finish speaking. "You'd better not even think about it—let me leave you here alone."

He paused, turned his head, and glanced at Chu Yi's astonished face. His tone became even colder and harder, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible lingering fear and... grievance.

"Either I carry you away right now. Or," he lowered his voice, with a stubborn, reckless determination, "I'll throw away all the food and stay here with you, waiting together. Until someone finds us, or... until we starve to death together."

"You choose."

These words, spoken without any room for negotiation and even bordering on childish, struck Chu Yixin like a heavy hammer. Looking at Zhou Ai's tense profile and her stubborn, "I mean what I say" attitude, all rational, weighing-the-pros and cons analysis instantly choked in her throat, leaving her speechless.

Chu Yi suddenly realized that for Zhou Ai, the option of leaving him alone had never existed.

No matter how difficult or dangerous, Zhou Ai would take him with her.

A bittersweet yet intense emotion surged into Chu Yi's heart, shattering all barriers of composure.

After a moment of silence, Chu Yi slowly and carefully leaned against Zhou Ai's broad and sturdy back, reached out her arms, and wrapped them around his neck.

"Let's go." Chu Yi's voice was soft, falling into Zhou Ai's ear.

Zhou Ai felt the strength of Chu Yi's arms encircling his neck, and the warmth of his chest pressed against his back, instantly warming his heart.

Putting aside her ulterior motives, Zhou Ai firmly supported Chu Yi's thighs with both hands, stood up, adjusted her backpack straps, took a deep breath, and walked out step by step.

The slope after the landslide was extremely steep, the soil was loose, and loose stones rolled down with each step, making a heart-stopping sound.

Chu Yi lay on Zhou Ai's back. Because of her high position, her view was more open than Zhou Ai's, and she could see the treacherous terrain more clearly below. On one side was a slippery and difficult steep slope, and on the other side were bottomless ravines or piles of rocks washed away by rain.

Looking at the road conditions on both sides, Chu Yi's heart was pounding uncontrollably, her breath was held involuntarily, her body stiffened, and all the muscles in her body were tense.

Zhou Ai took each step with extreme caution and steadiness. He carefully examined the firmness of each patch of soil beneath his feet, choosing places where grass or shrub roots could anchor him.

His hands behind his back firmly supported Chu Yi's upper thighs, his arm muscles bulging, both to provide stable support for the person on his back and to react immediately in case of slipping.

Despite being tense and drenched in sweat, Zhou Ai could still keenly sense the tension in the person on his back. Chu Yi's arms around his neck were so tight that he could barely breathe.

"Don't be nervous, it's okay." Zhou Ai's voice was slightly breathless, but she tried to keep her tone calm as she spoke, attempting to reassure the person behind her.

Chu Yi paused for a moment, then instinctively retorted, "How did you know I was nervous?"

"You're choking me to death, how come I didn't know?" Zhou Ai chuckled helplessly, with a hint of teasing.

Chu Yi suddenly realized how much force she had used in her arm and instinctively tried to loosen her grip.

"Don't let go!" Zhou Ai immediately stopped her, her voice becoming more serious. "Hold on tight! Be careful not to fall! Just like that, it'll be fine."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yi quickly and obediently wrapped her arms around Zhou Ai's neck and shoulders again, trying to lower her center of gravity and reduce the burden on Zhou Ai.

The moment they pressed even closer, Chu Yi could clearly smell the scent of sweat, dirt, and faint medicinal oil mixed on Zhou Ai's neck. An indescribable sense of security strangely enveloped his tense nerves.

Feeling the person on his back cling closer and seem more dependent on him, Zhou Ai kept his eyes on the road beneath his feet, but couldn't help but secretly curl the corners of his mouth into a smug smile.

After walking silently for a relatively smooth stretch of road, Zhou Ai looked at the still endless, ravaged mountain road ahead and suddenly spoke, her tone casual.

"Chu Yi, tell me—if we're really unlucky and end up dying here together, wouldn't that make us... a pair of star-crossed lovers?"

"Who the hell is dating you?!"

Upon hearing Zhou Ai's words, Chu Yi reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling with anger. Her ears turned bright red, and without thinking, she blurted out a retort, her voice rising eight octaves, "And—don't talk nonsense! What do you mean by 'death'? It's bad luck!"

If Zhou Ai dies here with him, he probably won't be free from this fate for the rest of his life.

Although Chu Yi was cursing fiercely, Zhou Ai could tell from his slightly trembling voice that he was actually afraid inside.

"Heh—" Zhou Ai chuckled softly, her chest vibrating slightly with the sound. This vibration traveled through her chest and back, clearly reaching Chu Yi and causing a tingling sensation and a strange flutter in her heart.

Chu Yi then realized that she had overreacted and became even more embarrassed. She buried her burning cheeks deeper into Zhou Ai's shoulder and refused to look up or say anything more.

Feeling the warmth coming from behind and the person hiding like an ostrich, Zhou Ai's smile deepened. Although the future was uncertain, she felt inexplicably more relaxed at this moment.

He weighed the person on his back, adjusted his posture, and said, "Then let's keep climbing, hold on tight."