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A brief silence fell between them, broken only by their still-breathing breaths and the faint sounds of the forest.

Zhou Ai's thumb remained on Chu Yi's slightly swollen lips, the touch soft and warm, still moist from the intimate contact.

It stirred up turbulent waves once again in the sea of ​​his heart that had just experienced a storm.

Seeing Chu Yi's evasive eyes and her still-blushing cheeks, the unease and longing in his heart rose again.

Zhou Ai half-squatted in front of Chu Yi in the same position, looking directly into his eyes, and stubbornly pressed, "You still haven't agreed to me? Hmm?"

The "hmm" sound was drawn out and slightly raised, revealing a sense of grievance that was almost like a child's whine, completely different from his current disheveled and tough image.

Chu Yi looked at Zhou Ai, who was now obediently half-squatting in front of her, and it was as if...

A large dog that, despite its enormous size, aggressively and unreasonably pounces on its owner, then licks its owner's face without hesitation, while pitifully drooping its ears for petting, as if afraid of being abandoned.

Chu Yi's heart felt a gentle tickle from that tone, a mix of tingling and tenderness.

He found himself almost powerless against Zhou Ai's charm.

Those cold, hard rejections and rational analyses seem pale and powerless in the face of the other party's undisguised vulnerability and straightforward pleas.

Chu Yi turned his head slightly, avoiding Zhou Ai's burning gaze and the fingers lingering on his lips. His voice was a little tight as he tried to calm the situation: "Let's discuss this further."

"How do you plan to discuss this?" Zhou Ai didn't give him a chance to escape, pressing his shoulders firmly with both hands, forcing him to face her again.

Her peach blossom eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, surging with unprecedented sincerity and an almost desperate urgency, as if she absolutely needed Chu Yi to give her a definite answer at this very moment. "Tell me? Chu Yi, I want a straight answer."

Chu Yi felt almost completely exposed by the heat in his eyes. She opened her mouth, only to find her throat terribly dry.

It wasn't that he didn't understand what Zhou Ai wanted, nor was it that he was completely unmoved by the kiss just now.

On the contrary, it was precisely because of the immense impact it had on him that he was even more afraid.

He feared that all of this was just the adrenaline rush of desperate circumstances, an illusion caused by the suspension bridge effect.

He feared that once Zhou Ai left these deep mountains and returned to the real world, she would regret her impulsive actions, and he himself...

He was even more afraid that he would fall into that cycle of expectation followed by disappointment again, and that this brief encounter would ultimately be just a "temporary relationship".

Deep down, he lacks a sense of security in relationships as much as a desert, unable to withstand any uncertainty or disturbance.

Therefore, Chu Yi was unable to give Zhou Ai the kind of resolute promise she wanted at this moment.

Chu Yi took a deep breath, finally raising her eyes to meet Zhou Ai's expectant and anxious gaze, her expression almost pleading:

"Zhou Ai," he called his name, his voice soft yet exceptionally clear, "give me some time."

Chu Yi paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "If... I have the chance to give you an answer, I will definitely tell you as soon as possible."

When Zhou Ai looked down, he could clearly see the sincerity in Chu Yi's eyes, a sincerity he had never seen before in all the time he had known Chu Yi.

Therefore, all the answers were unimportant at this moment. Zhou Ai smiled broadly, feeling great. This was the second he wanted.

What I wanted was that one second when Chu Yi wavered for him.

What he wanted was for Chu Yi to lay bare some of her true hesitations and concerns in front of him.

Zhou Ai did not answer, his gaze still fixed on Chu Yi's slightly reddened eyes, and then he heard Chu Yi say the next sentence.

"So... I'm asking you... to wait for me a little while, okay?"

This is neither rejection nor acceptance.

This is an unresolved postponement, a temporary withdrawal of the pressure of choice, and also a difficult attempt to pry open a crack in one's strong mental defenses, revealing a little bit of consideration and possibility.

He was pleading with Zhou Ai for some time and space to process everything that had suddenly happened, to discern whether it was an illusion born of despair, or a genuine emotion worthy of his courage to confront.

The anxiety and domineering attitude of needing an immediate answer slowly faded from Zhou Ai's body.

His tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and the pressure on Chu Yi's shoulder lessened, eventually disengaging completely.

He was silent for a few seconds, then let out a very soft sigh, as if giving in, or perhaps trying to encourage himself, "Okay."

Zhou Ai's voice regained some of its composure, though it still carried a lingering hoarseness. "I'll wait."

He reached out, and with a final, extremely quick flick of his fingertips, brushed Chu Yi's lips. Then he stood up, picked up the heavy backpack again, and extended his hand to Chu Yi.

"Let's go, the sun will be up soon, the road should be easier to walk on."

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.

Zhou Ai carried Chu Yi on her back and continued walking up the mountain. The rain had completely stopped, and the thick fog that shrouded the mountain forest gradually dissipated as the sunlight tried to penetrate it, greatly improving visibility.

The surrounding environment became clearer, and the devastation caused by the mudslide was still shocking, but at least it was much easier to determine the direction.

Chu Yi, perched on Zhou Ai's back, carefully observed their surroundings. Suddenly, he patted Zhou Ai's shoulder forcefully, his voice filled with unbelievable joy: "Zhou Ai! Look over there! That rock! And that crooked pine tree!"

Zhou Ai looked in the direction he pointed and saw a strangely shaped boulder stuck in the soil not far away, next to which was an old pine tree that had been severely damaged by wind and rain and was leaning to one side, but still stubbornly surviving.

"This road... seems to be the place where we rested yesterday on our way up the mountain."

This discovery means that they did not get too far lost in the landslide, and even inadvertently circled back to a relatively familiar path.

Zhou Ai's nerves, which had been tense all night, could finally relax a little, and a huge sense of joy and power surged through her body.

He patted the person on his back, supporting Chu Yi more securely upwards. "Looks like... we won't die."

About half an hour after Zhou Ai carried Chu Yi on his back and struggled along the faintly discernible path, he could vaguely hear voices, noisy footsteps, and barking dogs ahead.

"Someone's here." Chu Yi was the first to hear the noise, her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately grabbed Zhou Ai's shoulder.

Zhou Ai also stopped abruptly and listened intently.

Yes, it was the sound of many people walking and shouting!

"Here! We're here!" Chu Yi shouted with all her might, her voice hoarse with excitement.

Zhou Ai immediately echoed loudly, "Over here! They're over here!"

Their shouts were quickly answered. The woods ahead rustled, and several figures in orange rescue suits and professional equipment burst through the bushes, appearing in their field of vision. Following them were more people, including team members with search and rescue dogs.

"Found them! They're here!!" The lead rescuer shouted excitedly into his walkie-talkie as he ran toward them.

Upon seeing the clear figures of the rescuers and their familiar uniforms, Zhou Ai's taut nerve finally snapped with a bang.

The willpower, physical strength, and mental energy that he had sustained for an entire night and half a day vanished from his body like a receding tide the moment he confirmed that he had arrived safely.

Almost on his last instinct, Zhou Ai slowly put Chu Yi down from his back and handed him to the rescuers who rushed to his side to help him. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.

However, before Chu Yi could fully regain her footing, or even before she could clearly see his expression—

Zhou Ai closed his eyes, and his tall body fell straight backward without warning, crashing heavily onto the muddy ground, splashing up a cloud of mud and water, before he completely lost consciousness.

"Zhou Ai!!"

Chu Yi suddenly broke free from the rescuers' support, ignoring the excruciating pain in her ankle, and almost fell to her knees beside Zhou Ai.

Zhou Ai's eyes were closed, her face was as pale as paper, her lips were an unnatural bluish-gray, her forehead was covered in cold sweat, and her breathing was weak and rapid. She had completely lost consciousness.

The medic accompanying the rescue team immediately rushed over with a first-aid kit and quickly checked Zhou Ai's vital signs.

"Severe exhaustion! Dehydration! Possibly hypoglycemia!" the doctor quickly assessed, while directing the team to prepare a stretcher and IV fluids.

Chu Yi was helped to the side by the other team members, but his eyes were still fixed on the lifeless person on the stretcher. His heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and the pain was so intense that he could hardly breathe.

He watched as Zhou Ai was put on an oxygen tube, watched as the needle pierced the vein in his arm to deliver the IV, watched as his pale face remained unresponsive…

Only at this moment did Chu Yi realize with absolute clarity the limits that Zhou Ai had pushed to the limit with every step he took on that road to death, carrying him and the heavy backpack.

With what kind of almost insane willpower did this man manage to hold up a sky of life for himself, only allowing himself to collapse at the very last second before the rescue arrived?

The surrounding rescue workers were busy, and the walkie-talkies were filled with good news of finding people and calls for follow-up support. Search dogs were wandering around nearby... All the sounds seemed to become distant and indistinct.

In Chu Yi's world, it seemed that only the person sleeping peacefully on the stretcher remained, along with the pounding heartbeat in her chest and the immense, belated fear and heartache.

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.

Zhou Ai's consciousness seemed to rise slowly and heavily from a bottomless abyss.

His eyelids felt incredibly heavy. With great effort, he managed to open them a crack, and his blurry vision gradually focused. What came into view was the familiar wooden beams of the Miao ethnic group's house, along with the faint scent of herbs and wood in the air.

It took him a good ten seconds to realize that he was back in the stilted house of Yuntou Village.

Safe.

This realization finally allowed his nerves, which had been taut for who knows how long, to completely relax. What followed was a feeling of soreness and weakness all over his body, especially his back and shoulders, which were burning with pain.

Then, a person struck his mind like lightning—

Storage of goodwill!

He suddenly tried to sit up, wanting to ask where Chu Yi was, how he was, and whether his foot injury had been treated.

However, as soon as he moved, his throat felt like it was on fire, dry and painful, and he couldn't make any sound, only a hoarse gasp.

The violent movement aggravated the injury on his back, causing him to gasp and fall back onto the pillow, feeling dizzy.

The door was gently pushed open, and Zhou Jiashu peeked in, his eyes meeting Zhou Ai's.

"Brother Zhou! You're awake!" Zhou Jiashu's eyes lit up, and he practically jumped in, his face showing undisguised surprise and lingering fear. "My God! You're finally awake! You've been asleep for a whole day and night! You scared us to death!"

At this moment, Zhou Ai, with her messy silver hair, was leaning against the headboard. Her face was a little better than when she was unconscious, but it was still bloodless. Her lips were chapped, and her eyes were somewhat unfocused because she had just woken up. She exuded a sense of weakness after surviving a disaster and... a strange pitiful look.

Zhou Ai was too weak to respond to his shouts. She simply raised her finger with difficulty and pointed to her throat, her brows furrowed in discomfort.

"Water! Oh right, right! Water!" Zhou Jiashu immediately realized what was happening, hurriedly rushed to the table to pour a glass of warm water, and then quickly brought it back, carefully holding it to Zhou Ai's lips. "Drink slowly, drink slowly. The doctor said you are severely dehydrated."

Zhou Ai took two large gulps of warm water from his hand. The cool liquid slid over his burning throat, bringing indescribable relief. He drank a whole cup before he felt the burning thirst subside, and his throat was finally able to make a sound.

His first words, hoarse and almost indistinct, were, "Where is Chu Yi?"

Although the voice was hoarse, it echoed clearly throughout the room.

Zhou Jiashu was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting that the first thing he would ask upon waking up was this.

"Teacher Chu is fine! He sprained his ankle and had a minor fracture, but it's been treated and immobilized. The doctor told him to rest. He also had some minor cuts and a slight chill, but everything else is great! Don't worry!"

Upon hearing the news that Chu Yi was alright, Zhou Ai finally felt a huge weight lift from her chest. She felt as if all her strength had been drained away, and she sank deeper into the pillow, closed her eyes, and let out a long, silent sigh.

It's good that you're alright.

It's good that he's alright.

That thrilling escape, that embrace in the mountain cave on a rainy night, that kiss that defied all odds...

And then there was Chu Yi's heart-wrenching scream before he lost consciousness...

Countless fragments of images flooded his mind, causing a dense and complex throbbing in his heart.

When Chu Yi learned that Zhou Ai had woken up, he was leaning against the bed in his cabin. His right ankle had been re-examined by the doctor who was supporting the team and had been put in a more secure cast, which was now being properly elevated.

He held his phone in his hand, the screen displaying his chat with Cheng Yingzhi. The signal in the mountains was still intermittent, making even a simple message to let people know he was safe extremely difficult. The cursor would spin round and round, often taking ten minutes or even longer to show that the message had been successfully sent.

Cheng Yingzhi's messages kept popping up, filled with anxiety about not being able to get to the scene in time and concern about his injuries, even suggesting that a private medical team be arranged immediately.

Chu Yi was carefully considering her words in reply, telling him not to make a fuss, as she only had a minor injury.

Just then, a loud shout suddenly erupted from upstairs, piercing through the already poorly soundproofed wooden floorboards and striking Chu Yi's ears with crystal clarity—

"Brother Zhou is awake!!"

It was Zhou Jiashu's highly distinctive voice, filled with undisguised ecstasy and excitement.

That shout instantly broke the previously somber atmosphere in the stilted house.

Chu Yi's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly while gripping the phone.

Immediately afterwards, he heard the executive director's voice in the hallway outside, clearly relieved and even a little choked up: "She's awake?! That's great! Thank God! Quick, go see her! Oh, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief..."

Clearly, Zhou Ai's awakening is great news for the production team, at least providing a preliminary explanation to the Zhou family.

Immediately, a chaotic and hurried sound of footsteps echoed on the floor, pounding and rushing towards Zhou Ai's room.

There sounded like at least six or seven people, with voices of concern asking questions, Zhou Jiashu's loud explanations, and the executive director directing someone to call a doctor.

But miraculously, Chu Yi suddenly found that his hearing seemed to be automatically filtered and focused. Amidst the noisy background sounds, he clearly caught that extremely hoarse and weak, yet strangely familiar voice mixed in with the noise.

It is Zhou Ai.

He seemed to be answering someone's question, his voice low and hoarse, almost broken, but it was clear that he was awake and speaking.

Chu Yi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense all day, finally settled down at this moment.

He lowered his head, looking at the new message Cheng Yingzhi had sent on his phone screen, inquiring about his injuries. His fingertip paused for a moment at the top of the screen.

Then he slowly turned off the screen and placed the phone on the bedside table next to him.

A complex and indescribable emotion spread through his heart, because at this moment everyone else could gather around Zhou Ai, while he could only be trapped on this bed.

Chu Yi remained in the same position, leaning back slightly into the soft pillow, closing his eyes, and listening to the faint but real voice of Zhou Ai coming from upstairs. He unconsciously curled his lips and silently repeated the message in his mind.

It's good that you're alright.