Chapter 62

Yan Zhi and Pei Xu were both deadly serious.

Huo Cheng shook the dice for a long time, until Hu Ying couldn't take it anymore. "Are you gonna stop or what?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Huo Cheng slammed the cup down.

He lifted it: three sixes.

Pei Xu thought, of course.

Yan Zhi pressed his lips together.

Hu Ying was completely stunned.

Wen Nu and Lin Qingning were both shocked. "Huo-ge, you're amazing."

Zhai Xingchen said, "A real pro."

"Just lucky, just lucky," Huo Cheng said with a smile.

"So I'm the king now, right?" he asked.

"Yes, you assign," Lin Qingning said.

"Then I'll just decide. I'm assigning randomly, don't blame me," Huo Cheng said. "Pei Xu and Qingning, you two go to Elk Park."

The others around them smiled. It was a kind smile.

Lin Qingning was a little shy, and also happy. He didn't say anything.

Pei Xu didn't speak either.

He'd already guessed the outcome. If it were him, or Hu Ying, or Yan Zhi, they'd all do the same.

Going with Lin Qingning was fine. It'd be a good chance to clear things up.

"Hu Ying and Yan Zhi, you two go to Snow World."

Lin Qingning laughed out loud this time.

He thought Huo Cheng had assigned very well, quite fair. Anyone else would probably have done the same.

Hu Ying and Yan Zhi both looked less than pleased, but seeing Yan Zhi's face look so sour made Hu Ying feel a little better.

Now she just waited to see how Huo Cheng would have the nerve to assign himself with Zhai Xingchen.

Then she heard Huo Cheng say, "Xingchen and Wen Nu can be a pair. How about you two go ice fishing on the lake?"

The moment he said it, even Pei Xu was stunned, let alone the others.

Hu Ying froze completely.

She was wrong. Had she actually misjudged Huo Cheng?!

Duan Yihua was very surprised. "You want to be in a group with me?"

"We're all pairing red and blue," Huo Cheng said with a smile.

Assigned this way, it really was all red and blue pairs.

"If no one has any objections, then that's the assignment," Huo Cheng said. "I like hiking, so I won't be modest."

Even Zhai Xingchen felt this was the most perfect assignment possible. No one could find fault with it. And Huo Cheng had even kept the least desirable one for himself.

The mountains around here didn't seem like much to hike.

Everyone started eating. After the meal, they all went back to prepare. On the way back, Hu Ying was still sighing to Pei Xu. "Huo-ge was really magnanimous this time. Such an unexpected grouping."

If it were her, she definitely wouldn't be that magnanimous.

Pei Xu didn't speak.

Huo Cheng was certainly a good person, but he was absolutely not the type to yield in matters of love. It simply wasn't in his nature.

Among all of them, the only one who could truly uphold a gentleman's demeanor even in love was probably Wen Nu.

Not long after they returned, Huo Cheng found Zhai Xingchen and told him the Production Team had arrived. They suggested Duan Yihua shouldn't go hiking.

His cough had just gotten a little better. Hiking today would be very cold and very tiring.

"Wen Nu and I can go hiking. Or you can ask the other two pairs if anyone wants to switch with you."

"But I'd really like to go hiking," Huo Cheng said. "How about you switch with Duan-ge? I think it's best not to break up the other two pairs. What do you think?"

That was true.

"Actually, switching with Wen Nu is also possible. You and Duan-ge go to the lake, Wen Nu and I go hiking. But I don't think Wen Nu's stamina is that great either. All things considered, you're still the most suitable."

In the end, Duan Yihua and Zhai Xingchen swapped.

Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen would go to White Jade Mountain. Wen Nu and Duan Yihua would go to the lake.

The others realized it belatedly.

Hu Ying felt all that moved emotion from earlier had been fed to the dogs!

She knew it! How could Huo Cheng possibly pass up this opportunity!

"The reason sounds very thorough," Hu Ying said sarcastically.

Huo Cheng looked at Hu Ying and said, "I really do like hiking. If you don't believe me, you can check my social media."

"You're the king, you call the shots. A bet's a bet," Hu Ying said. "Hiking here isn't necessarily a pleasant experience."

As she spoke, she glanced at Huo Cheng again. Success puts a spring in your step—Huo Cheng looked radiant.

It was as if Zhai Xingchen was his source of vitality. He seemed to have risen up all at once, appearing taller and more upright than usual.

White Jade Lake was the closest. Duan Yihua and Wen Nu just needed to follow the local residents ice fishing. Right after lunch, many local villagers came to chisel the ice and fish. Since it was near Room 2, Zhai Xingchen and the others went over to watch.

Only Yan Zhi and Hu Ying didn't go.

Snow World was the farthest. The two of them took a car to Snow World City early.

Their relationship was already delicate, and with Zhai Xingchen snatched away by Huo Cheng, neither spoke the whole way.

The cameraman following them couldn't believe their relationship had gotten this bad.

Hu Ying was one thing—she was always passionate and clear-cut in her likes and dislikes. But Yan Zhi had always been the picture of gentlemanly grace. They could only assume Yan Zhi's mood today was probably not great.

Love really makes people crazy.

"We're filming this to promote local tourism, right? It's a good thing for the country and the people. Should we cooperate a bit later?" Hu Ying suddenly spoke up.

Yan Zhi made an 'mm' sound and said, "Okay."

It sounded like a contractual couple, all business.

But the moment they got out of the car, Hu Ying was stunned by the beautiful sight before her.

Spread out before him was an Ice Sculpting castle. There wasn’t much sun today, so to make the shots more beautiful, the scenic spot’s lights had been turned on early. A vast, endless Snow World, magnificent and dazzling.

"Wow," Hu Ying gasped.

Even the usually unflappable Yan Zhi was stunned by the beautiful sight.

Almost simultaneously, the same thought popped into both their heads.

Namely:

They had to bring Zhai Xingchen here to see it someday!

They didn't need to force any cooperation anymore. As they walked, they were both captivated by the Snow World.

Glazed palaces, snow mazes, whole fields of Snowman, ice-sculpted jade trees several meters high, ice slides, elk-drawn carriages, little trains — it was a complete fairy-tale kingdom of ice and snow.

The tour guide told them, "This is the largest Snow City in the country. It's even more beautiful at night, all colorful and dreamy. There are lots of tourists."

Hu Ying nodded eagerly. "I can imagine."

She turned to look at Yan Zhi. "Let's wait until the lights come on at night before we leave. Take some videos and pictures to show them."

It was just too beautiful.

She was so sorry Zhai Xingchen couldn't come.

That's what it's like to like someone. When you see a particularly beautiful view, or eat particularly delicious food, he's the first one you think of.

Thinking he hadn't seen all this, even the beauty felt a bit regrettable.

The two of them took their own photos, wandering off separately several times.

The cameraman following them said, "We'd better stick together. I'm the only one here this time. If you get too far apart, I don't know who to shoot."

Elk Park was right next to White Jade Mountain. Pei Xu, Lin Qingning, Zhai Xingchen, and Huo Cheng all set off in one car.

"The weather isn't great today," Lin Qingning said, looking out the window. "You two be careful hiking."

"The Production Team originally scheduled it for tomorrow, mainly because they heard there'd be heavy snow tomorrow, so they moved it up to this afternoon," Zhai Xingchen said.

"The weather's okay today, shouldn't snow," Huo Cheng said, looking at the intermittently visible sun.

"Why do we have to visit all these scenic spots? Is it a requirement from the local authorities?" Lin Qingning asked.

He'd heard their show had some cooperation with the local authorities.

"Probably also to film more unique spots, add to the show's appeal," Zhai Xingchen said.

Elk Park was in the woods at the foot of White Jade Mountain. The four of them got out of the car together. Lin Qingning asked, "Do you want to see the elk first, or go hiking?"

"We should hike first," Huo Cheng said. "We'll see if there's time later. Don't want the wind to pick up."

The four of them parted at the foot of the mountain. Zhai Xingchen and Huo Cheng walked up along the wooden boardwalk. Just as they were about to leave the woods, Zhai Xingchen looked back and saw Pei Xu and Lin Qingning entering Elk Park together.

Huo Cheng followed his gaze and said, "Hope Pei Xu's face isn't too sour today."

Pei Xu had been quiet in the car, but he looked incredibly handsome when he was aloof.

The White Jade Mountain they were going to climb was famous locally. It wasn't very high, but very long. At the viewing platform, the view was vast, directly overlooking the neighboring country. Maybe because it was colder, there weren't many hiking tourists. The boardwalk was gentle, the air crisp. The higher they went, the stronger the wind. Occasionally, other tourists greeted them.

Because they were dressed thickly, they climbed slowly. Huo Cheng reached out a hand. "Want me to pull you?"

Zhai Xingchen smiled and shook his head, pulling his mask down a bit. "Your eyebrows have frost on them."

Huo Cheng wiped his forehead. "Didn't expect the wind up here to be this strong."

He actually wanted to climb further. There were three viewing platforms here, each supposedly with different scenery. He’d originally wanted to climb to the highest point — he’d heard there was a Wish Lock up there, and many people went to make wishes.

The longer they climbed, the longer he'd be alone with Zhai Xingchen.

But seeing the wind this strong, he suddenly couldn't bear it. He couldn't stand to see Zhai Xingchen suffer.

"Then let's just climb to the first viewing platform and turn back," Huo Cheng said.

"Let's see how the weather is later," Zhai Xingchen said. "The Production Team definitely wants us to climb higher. I hear the main attractions here are all above the highest viewing platform."

An hour later, they reached the first viewing platform.

Standing there looking down, they saw a vast river in the distance, mountain ranges stretching on and on. Their hearts felt expansive too.

Huo Cheng took off his mask and let out a loud shout there.

His voice was carried by the north wind, dissipating into the vast wilderness. Huo Cheng turned to him with a smile. "You try it too. Feels great."

Zhai Xingchen followed with a shout. Seeing someone coming down the boardwalk from above, he asked, "Brother, how's the scenery up there?"

"Really good, just a bit steep," the other man said with a smile. "You guys filming a show? Then you should go up higher. The view's even better up there."

"Thank you," Zhai Xingchen said to Huo Cheng. "Then let's climb a bit higher. Look, the sun's almost coming out."

They continued climbing. When they reached the second viewing platform, a tour group happened to be coming down from above—about a dozen people, all middle-aged or elderly. They wore matching 'Lei Feng' hats, and the tour guide held a small red flag.

Huo Cheng asked, "Is it easy to climb up there?"

Before the guide could answer, the group of uncles and aunties rushed to say, "Not bad, just a bit windy."

“There’s a White Jade Fairy Ice Sculpture up there, and Wish Locks. Worth a look.”

Hearing this, Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen decided to keep climbing.

But before they even reached the White Jade Fairy Ice Sculpture, they felt the wind getting stronger and stronger.

But they were already very close to the highest viewing platform. Turning back now felt like giving up halfway. Huo Cheng asked the cameraman following them, "Still go up?"

The cameraman was also dedicated. "We've come this far. Just a few hundred meters left. Keep going."

But when they reached the highest peak, they felt all the hardship was worth it.

The view was too spectacular. Almost the entire North City was laid out below them, Snow Mountain ranges stretching on. They saw the five-starred red flag on the border line.

The world was so vast. Huo Cheng was excited. He looked at the vast landscape one moment, and at Zhai Xingchen beside him the next.

He'd climbed countless mountains, maybe higher, more beautiful, more spectacular than this one, but none could compare to how this one made him feel.

"Let's buy a lock and make a wish too," Huo Cheng said.

There were chains on the railing, covered in Wish Locks. Two young girls were leaning there, writing their wishes.

"Do you write it on paper?" Zhai Xingchen asked.

"Yes, write on paper, stuff it inside, then lock it," the vendor said. "Handsome, make a wish. This is the northernmost Wish Peak."

Any place became special when you added 'northernmost' or 'southernmost.' Huo Cheng said, "We'll take two."

It was too cold up there, hands shaking from the chill. Zhai Xingchen rubbed his hands together and blew on them.

"What do you want to wish for?" he asked Huo Cheng.

"Won't it lose its power if I say it out loud?" Huo Cheng said with a smile.

He wasn't wearing a mask now. His tall nose was bright red from the cold, but his smile was brilliant, his eyes sparkling. He was very handsome. The two girls nearby kept looking at him.

Zhai Xingchen thought for a moment and made a very practical wish.

He wished for all the people he loved to live well, without sorrow, healthy, happy, safe and sound.

In whichever world.

He stuffed the note inside and turned to look at Huo Cheng beside him.

Huo Cheng was still writing, one hand covering the paper.

Zhai Xingchen deliberately leaned over to look. Huo Cheng covered it. "You can't see it now."

"You already let the cameraman see it," Zhai Xingchen said.

Huo Cheng looked back at the cameraman. The cameraman said, "No, really didn't get it."

Zhai Xingchen went to hang his own lock.

Huo Cheng's handwriting was ugly, mainly because it was so cold, his hand wasn't obeying him.

After writing it, he rolled it into a thin strip, stuffed it in, locked it, and hung it next to Zhai Xingchen's. The wind was so strong it made the bronze locks sway, emitting crisp clinks.

"Zhai Xingchen," he called.

Zhai Xingchen turned to look at Huo Cheng. He thought Huo Cheng's eyes were so bright.

"Let's go down," Zhai Xingchen said. "It's too cold."

"Thanks for climbing with me. Sorry for the trouble," Huo Cheng said.

The cameraman focused the lens on their two locks again.

The cameraman was moved. He even felt a little sad.

He'd thought Huo Cheng would wish for the person he loved to love him back, wish that he'd end up with Zhai Xingchen, wish for smooth work, a smooth show, things like that.

He thought Zhai Xingchen definitely wouldn't expect it, the netizens wouldn't expect it either. The most lustful, most direct, most rough-around-the-edges Huo Cheng, his wish was:

"I hope every wish Zhai Xingchen made comes true."

He believed in that moment, Huo Cheng truly loved him, because he'd given him all the tenderness a rough man possessed.