Oh no, the aloof school beauty has been reborn too!

Zhao Lin remained in the position of leaning closer, and paused for a brief moment.

I didn't expect her to shout so loudly all of a sudden.

The next moment, the lazy expression on his face disappeared.

Which one did you twist?

"Right, right foot."

Tang Xiaoman pointed to her ankle.

Zhao Lin took the camera bag off his shoulder, placed it on the stone steps beside him, and then squatted down in front of her.

"When did you twist it?"

"Just now... after getting off the cable car."

"How long has it been?"

"About ten minutes?"

That's quite honest.

Zhao Lin nodded and gently touched the surface of her shoe.

Tang Xiaoman instinctively shrank back a little.

Zhao Lin gently pressed around her ankle a few times through her socks.

"Does it hurt here?"

"A little."

He changed his position.

"here?"

Tang Xiaoman frowned and took a deep breath.

"pain."

Zhao Lin observed her ankle for a while longer.

"It's a common sprain; there shouldn't be any bone damage."

He spoke calmly.

"But it's already very swollen, so I can't walk anymore today."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaoman's face immediately fell.

"I was walking over there after I got off the cable car, looking for a place to sit, when I stepped on a wet rock and..."

"normal."

Zhao Lin withdrew his hand.

"Anyone can twist their ankle while walking, let alone when it rained recently, making the mountains very damp."

Tang Xiaoman was taken aback.

He didn't laugh at her, nor did he call her stupid.

Twisting your ankle is like forgetting to bring water—it's become a very ordinary little thing in life.

"Is this normal?"

She asked cautiously.

"Hmm? That's normal."

Zhao Lin put his camera bag back on.

"..."

Tang Xiaoman looked up at him.

Zhao Lin had already turned around and squatted down with his back to her.

"Come on up."

Tang Xiaoman was stunned.

"what?"

"I'll carry you down."

"No, no need, I can manage on my own."

She quickly stood up, holding onto the railing beside her. As soon as her right foot touched the ground, a sharp pain shot through her ankle.

Tang Xiaoman's face turned pale, and she swayed.

Zhao Lin turned around and saw this scene.

"Hmm... I believe you can do it."

"..."

Tang Xiaoman held onto the railing, speechless for a long time.

Zhao Lin looked at her for a while, then pressed his body down a little more.

"Come on up."

"But……"

"There's no one else here, sigh, just pretend I want to play a horse riding game."

Thinking of this, Zhao Lin couldn't help but chuckle softly.

However, now he is the one being ridden, the "horse".

"No, that's not the problem!"

Tang Xiaoman blushed.

She looked at the boy's back, which was wider than her own, and then glanced at the tourists coming and going around her. Her voice grew softer and softer.

"Wouldn't this be...too much trouble for you?"

"well enough."

"I...I might be a little heavy."

Zhao Lin turned his head to the side.

"I don't believe you. Come up here and let me see."

"What do you think of this?"

"You'll know once you memorize it."

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Tang Xiaoman didn't know how to refuse.

Finally, she could only move two steps while holding onto the railing, and then carefully climbed onto Zhao Lin's back.

Tang Xiaoman froze when two hands wrapped around his shoulders.

Zhao Lin reached out and supported her knees, then stood up instantly.

"OK, I had a delicious meal..."

The movements were easier than she had imagined.

Tang Xiaoman instinctively tightened her arms, her forehead almost hitting the back of his head.

"Huh? What's ready to eat?"

"It's nothing, just a joke, just take it as a hint."

"oh."

Zhao Lin carried her on his back and walked towards the cable car station.

After taking only a few steps, Tang Xiaoman heard his slightly heavy breathing.

She immediately felt even more guilty.

"Zhao Lin..."

"Um?"

"Is it very heavy?"

Zhao Lin didn't think much of it and casually replied:

"Lighter than my camera bag."

Tang Xiaoman quieted down and couldn't help but purse her lips.

"What exactly is in your camera bag?"

She deliberately started a conversation.

"Phew... camera, lens, battery."

"And a memory card, oh, and a few stones."

"Stone, stone?"

"uh-huh."

Why did you bring the stone?

"I found it at the foot of the mountain, and I thought it was quite pretty."

"..."

Tang Xiaoman couldn't help but smile.

"You're so strange."

The room fell silent, save for Zhao Lin's increasingly heavy breathing.

Perhaps it's due to the environment, or perhaps it's due to the atmosphere...

Tang Xiaoman gradually lowered her head and gently rested her chin near his shoulder.

Zhao Lin paused for a moment, but then immediately continued walking down.

……

The mountain road was not smooth.

Zhao Lin walked slowly, taking each step very steadily.

He was carrying a camera and a person on his back, and soon his body was covered in sweat.

His breathing was also much heavier than before.

Tang Xiaoman quickly realized it.

"How about... we take a break?"

"Need not."

"You're already out of breath..."

"Isn't that how people behave when they exercise?"

Zhao Lin didn't care at all.

"The cable car station is just ahead."

How much further?

"Let's... walk a little further."

"How about you let me carry the camera?"

Zhao Lin smiled and cruelly rejected her.

"No, this camera is more important than my life."

"Oh, okay."

Tang Xiaoman lay on his back and could feel the movement of Zhao Lin's shoulders.

Even through his thick down jacket, she could still feel the warmth emanating from him.

A strange sense of security washed over her.

The wind rustled through the trees and leaves.

Zhao Lin carried Tang Xiaoman on his back, walking step by step along the mountain path in winter.

This scene...

It was as quiet as a photograph that hadn't yet been taken.

"Zhao Lin".

Tang Xiaoman suddenly called him again.

"uh-huh."

Are you tired?

"It's alright, going down the mountain is much easier than going up."

Tang Xiaoman thought about it carefully.

"But you're still carrying me on your back."

Zhao Lin remained silent for a few seconds.

"So please don't move."

Tang Xiaoman immediately became obedient.

"oh."

Zhao Lin's lips twitched slightly.

He didn't say anything more, and just kept walking forward.

By the time they finally arrived at the cable car station, Zhao Lin was completely out of breath.

He placed the girl on the bench, stood there for a while to catch his breath, and then wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Tang Xiaoman sat in the chair, looking at his reddened ears, and said softly:

"I have some tissues here, do you want some?"

Zhao Lin paused for a moment as he wiped his sweat.

"want."

While waiting for the cable car, Tang Xiaoman remembered something else.

"Oh, right, your soup."

Zhao Lin glanced at her.

"What's wrong?"

"I just drank a lot, did I finish your lunch?"

"Won't."

"real?"

"I never intended to drink much."

Zhao Lin put the camera bag on his lap, unzipped the backpack, and reached in to touch the thermos inside.

The next second, he stopped moving.

Tang Xiaoman noticed the change in his expression.

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Lin took out the thermos; it was already empty.

To be precise, it's not just empty anymore.

The soup in the pot spilled all over the bag.

Zhao Lin stared at the thermos for two seconds, then looked down at his backpack.

"Damn it, the kettle lid wasn't tightened properly."

Tang Xiaoman's expression changed.

"sorry!"

"I poured the soup myself, and it was my fault for not tightening the lid properly."

Zhao Lin put the lid on the thermos, his expression remaining calm.

Why are you apologizing?

Tang Xiaoman was taken aback by what he said.

"But...it's because I drank the soup."

"...But you didn't spill it, did you?"

Zhao Lin took out the items from the bag one by one to check them.

"Just take a shower when you get home."

As Tang Xiaoman watched him tidy up his things, the tension in her heart slowly eased.

Aren't you angry at all?

"Why are you angry?"

"The soup spilled."

"It spilled... just cook another pot next time."

Tang Xiaoman couldn't help but laugh.

Zhao Lin looked up at her.

"What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing."

She shook her head, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

As the two were talking, the cable car slowly pulled up.

The staff helped Tang Xiaoman inside, and Zhao Lin sat down behind her.

The moment the car door closed, most of the outside wind noise was cut off.

In the cramped space, only the mechanical sound of the cable car in operation could be heard.

Tang Xiaoman sat by the window, her right leg carefully stretched out.

Zhao Lin sat opposite her, with his camera on his lap.

As the cable car descended, the mountaintop gradually receded into the distance.

The treetops swept past, and the buildings of Jiangcheng gradually became clearer.

Tang Xiaoman looked down at his camera.

"Have you been filming for a long time?"

"What?"

"photography."

Zhao Lin followed her gaze and glanced at the camera.

"I've been taking pictures since I was little."

"From childhood?"

"Um."

"How many years have you been filming like that?"

Zhao Lin thought about it.

"I can't remember."

The cable car continued its descent, and the scenery at the mountaintop slowly receded outside the window.

The once distant river surface has become closer, and the tree branches have changed from lines to clear twigs.

Tang Xiaoman looked out the glass and said softly:

"The view from the top of the mountain is beautiful."

"But once you get down the mountain, you can't see anything."

The best view is from the top of the mountain.

The sunlight, the river, and the distant city were all spread out before my eyes.

But those at the foot of the mountain can only see a small patch of land in front of them.

You can't see far into the distance, and no one will pay special attention to you.

She wasn't the prettiest, nor the thinnest, nor the one with the best figure.

She doesn't stand out in a crowd, so she's always naturally placed on the side when taking photos.

Even if she tries her best to stand on tiptoe, it's difficult for her to get to the best spot.

Zhao Lin followed her gaze and looked outside.

"Just climb up again next time."

Tang Xiaoman paused for a second.

Then she laughed.

"You're so direct."

Zhao Lin looked down at her injured foot.

"Once my foot recovers, I'll be able to climb again."

Tang Xiaoman's smile slowly faded, and she subconsciously lowered her head, her fingers twirling in circles.

If you can't see it anymore, just climb back up.

Things don't seem to be that complicated.

If you want to go to the top of the mountain, just walk up.

If you twist your ankle, let it heal before going to the hospital.

If once isn't enough, then do it again.

Tang Xiaoman was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"Once my foot is healed..."

"Um?"

"Could you take a picture of me from down the mountain?"

She looked out the window, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Zhao Lin did not answer immediately.

He looked down at the camera, then glanced at Tang Xiaoman.

"Can."

Tang Xiaoman finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's settled then."

"Um."

"Don't forget."

"Won't."