63

"Sometime from now, or a few years down the line, if we get the chance to come back, we can come take a look," Huo Cheng said, "see how our locks are doing, and whether all our wishes came true."

Zhai Xingchen said, "Okay."

"It's a deal then." Huo Cheng said with a smile.

Going up was easy. Going down was hard.

By the time they were heading down, the sky had gotten darker, and the wind had picked up.

Huo Cheng's whole heart was overflowing with a tender, gentle love.

He kept looking back at Zhai Xingchen as they walked down. The wind was pretty strong, so Zhai Xingchen kept gripping the railing, but his Gloves were so thick they made it hard to hold on, so he was walking really slowly.

He wanted so badly to take Zhai Xingchen's hand, but he didn't dare.

Love makes people timid. He'd gone from a man who could just throw an arm around Zhai Xingchen to someone too scared to even hold his hand.

The bigger the love in your heart, the more careful you become.

"There's a restroom down below. Let's rest there for a bit," Zhai Xingchen said.

He noticed their cameraman's hands had started shaking.

So tough.

Right next to the restroom was a little shop, and in this freezing weather, the owner was bundled up in a military coat, still holding down his post.

They went and bought three hot drinks, and sheltered in the shop for a bit. The cameraman held out his hands to show them — he'd already gotten chilblains.

"Just got these in the last couple days," he said.

"I've got an ointment that works great on chilblains. I'll give it to you to try when we get back," Huo Cheng said. "Back when I was in school, I used to get them too — on my feet, my ears, my hands. The worst time, I even got them on my face. At first we'd all boil eggplant stems in water and soak in it, and it had to be pretty hot. You know how it is when you've got chilblains and then you soak them in hot water — that sting, it's enough to make you scream."

Zhai Xingchen asked, "Does it actually work?"

"Honestly, none of that stuff really worked. It was all just country folk remedies. But we didn't have anything better back then. It wasn't until I went to high school in the county that my homeroom teacher saw how bad my chilblains were and found me this secret recipe — really effective. Some kind of herbal ointment, smells terrible, but I put it on and let it heal for half a month, and they actually all went away. I kept using it for two years after that and never had them again. I even brought a box with me this time."

"Your homeroom teacher was really good to you."

"Yeah, I was the most popular kid in our class in high school." Huo Cheng laughed. "Sometime I'll show you my high school photos. I looked pretty dumb back then."

The cameraman said, "I've seen your high school graduation photo."

Zhai Xingchen asked with a smile, "How was it?"

The cameraman said, "You could spot him right away. Stood out from the crowd."

"I was just a big dumb kid back then." Huo Cheng laughed. "You guys have seen Xingchen's childhood photos too, right? How were they? Wasn't he cute?"

"He's been good-looking since he was little," the cameraman said.

"Must've been adorable." Huo Cheng said, his heart itching at the thought of what little Zhai Xingchen might have looked like — so delicate, so cute.

Unlike him, dark-skinned and stocky since childhood.

"The Production Team had us provide childhood photos earlier. I thought they'd use them when we first met — you know, some variety shows play childhood photos during the intro and have everyone guess who it is." Zhai Xingchen said, "The photos I gave were all pretty young."

"I gave them my high school graduation photo. I didn't have many photos as a kid — just two before college, one from middle school graduation and one from high school graduation. The middle school one wasn't stored properly, got damp, the whole thing got ruined." Huo Cheng said, turning to look at Zhai Xingchen: "I really want to see what you looked like as a kid."

He suddenly stood up as he spoke, nudging Zhai Xingchen toward the middle: "You squat inside."

He walked around to Zhai Xingchen's other side and squatted where he'd been.

He noticed the wind kept blowing on Zhai Xingchen's side.

But they hadn't been squatting there long when Zhai Xingchen asked, "Is it snowing?"

It really was snowing, but just a light snow, fine flakes, and people were still making their way up.

"It's snowing and they're still going up?" Zhai Xingchen said.

The shop owner next to them said, "Lots of people come up specifically when it snows to see the scenery. There's a hotel up there too. Lots of people go up after dark and wait for sunrise the next day."

Huo Cheng said, "Wish we'd spent the night up there."

Huo Cheng took the camera from the cameraman as he spoke: "Let me carry this for a bit. Let's go."

It had started snowing, so they sped up going down. The whole trip up and down had taken nearly four hours, and it was already getting dark.

But when they reached the bottom, the Production Team's car still wasn't there to pick them up.

The cameraman called the Production Team, who said, "The car had some trouble on the road — engine broke down. Once Hu Ying's car gets back, we'll send it to pick you up."

"Elk Park is right next to you. There's a resort hotel, and villages nearby. You won't freeze or starve, so don't worry too much." Guo Bing said, "We'll definitely make sure you're safe."

"Pei Xu and Qingning already went back?" Zhai Xingchen said. "Hu Ying and Yan Zhi haven't come back yet?"

Pei Xu and Lin Qingning had gone back early, which was expected — Elk Park didn't have much to do, an hour was enough. But Hu Ying and Yan Zhi still hadn't come back, and it was almost dark.

Huo Cheng was surprised too: "I thought those two would be the first ones back."

"So where are we going now?" Zhai Xingchen asked.

"Let's find a restaurant and eat. I saw what looked like a restaurant on the way here."

Right next to Elk Park was a small village, and at the village entrance was a farmhouse-style restaurant.

They went in and had a Northeast Region hodgepodge stew.

Hu Ying and Yan Zhi had not only toured Snow World today but also done a bunch of activities at the specialty shops, freezing and exhausted. They got on the car and immediately got sleepy, dozing off the whole way.

But the moment the car pulled in, she came alive, grabbed her phone, and rushed into Room 1.

Inside, she saw Pei Xu and Duan Yihua sitting in the living room.

"Zhai Xingchen!" she called out.

"Xingchen and Huo-ge haven't come back yet," Wen Nu answered.

"Not back yet?" Hu Ying asked in surprise.

Then Yan Zhi came in, looked around, went to change clothes, took a box out of his pocket and put it on the windowsill, and cracked open the window a bit.

After changing, he came out and asked, "Xingchen and Huo-ge still not back?"

Wen Nu said, "No."

"They can't be stuck on the mountain, can they?" Hu Ying looked at the heavy snow outside. "It's snowing so hard out there."

"Probably not," Duan Yihua said.

"I just went to ask the Production Team. They said the car they sent to pick them up had a small problem, they're handling it, told us not to worry," Wen Nu said.

"Is the Production Team staging something?" Hu Ying looked at Pei Xu and the others.

She knew with these variety shows, sometimes the Production Team would deliberately set up scenarios to make the show more interesting.

Like in Love Variety Shows, when everyone goes on dates, there's always one couple that doesn't get home until the middle of the night, to stir up feelings and conflict.

Hah, none of this escapes her sharp eyes.

But guessing was one thing — everyone was getting a bit restless.

That's Huo Cheng we're talking about! Netizens say he's the thirstiest one!

Zhai Xingchen wouldn't actually spend the night out there with him, would he!

"If Xingchen doesn't come back, no one's cooking," Hu Ying said.

Duan Yihua stood up: "How about I make some instant noodles."

Yan Zhi had already gone to the kitchen.

Hu Ying looked around: "Where's Qingning?"

She looked at Pei Xu: "He should have come back with you, right?"

"He's not feeling well. Sleeping," Duan Yihua said.

Hu Ying paused, sensing the atmosphere was a bit off.

They made some instant noodles, and Duan Yihua took a portion to Lin Qingning.

Hu Ying asked Pei Xu while eating: "What happened between you and Qingning?"

Pei Xu said, "Nothing."

As expected, no point expecting anything from the grumpy-face guy!

She could already imagine what happened between Pei Xu and Lin Qingning this afternoon.

Like Lin Qingning mustering his courage, standing in front of Pei Xu.

Pei Xu with his dead-fish face, telling Lin Qingning, "I'm not interested in dating. Don't bother me."

Hu Ying felt infinite tenderness toward Lin Qingning.

Pei Xu probably doesn't even know what it means to be gentle with someone!

She told you — don't get close to Pei Xu, it'll make you miserable!

By comparison, she felt even more that in dating — especially dating on a Love Variety Show — the other person's personality matters so much!

She missed Zhai Xingchen even more.

Hu Ying was starving today too. She drank all the soup, then went to check on Lin Qingning.

Only Pei Xu, Yan Zhi, and Wen Nu were left in Room 1.

After eating, the three of them silently washed dishes and pots. Without Hu Ying, Huo Cheng, and Zhai Xingchen to liven things up, they all became quiet as clams.

After washing, Yan Zhi went back to the bedroom to shower. The moment he walked in, he saw the Down Jacket Huo Cheng had given Zhai Xingchen.

He stood there alone for a long while.

Meanwhile Pei Xu went straight to the Production Team to ask about the situation.

Wen Nu was alone in Room 1's living room, sprawled out, feeling especially lonely. He didn't know if Zhai Xingchen and the others would come back, or when, or if he should just head back to the Hotel alone.

Just as he was thinking this, Pei Xu suddenly came back: "Wen Nu."

"Here!" Wen Nu quickly stood up.

Pei Xu seemed to not have figured out what to say yet, paused for a second: "When Huo-ge and the others get back, they might want some hot soup. Could you use the frozen pears we bought to make them some soup... if it's not too much trouble?"

Wen Nu quickly nodded: "Of course."

Having something to do was great — he didn't have to awkwardly wait around.

Pei Xu left again after saying that.

Wen Nu even suspected Pei Xu had come back just for him, to give him something to do.

But he also felt the thought was ridiculous.

This is Pei Xu, famously cold. Lin Qingning went out with him once and came back completely wilted.

Pei Xu went to the Production Team to ask about Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen's situation.

"Nobody could have predicted this sudden situation. The weather forecast said no snow today, but a gust came and suddenly it started snowing. We've already sent people to pick them up." Guo Bing said: "We definitely won't let them spend the night outside."

Guo Bing felt they were being unfairly blamed too.

Although honestly, given the current situation, they were happy to see it play out.

But heaven knows, it really wasn't a script they wrote! It's so cold here, cars break down easily.

Pei Xu knew the Production Team would never admit it even if it was intentional. After leaving, he went back to Room 3.

The snow was falling heavily now. Tonight would definitely be freezing.

When Zhai Xingchen and the others came back, they'd definitely pass by the road outside Room 3. He stopped at the intersection, feeling restless with nothing to do, and started building a Snowman.

Hu Ying came back from Room 2 and saw a tall, thin man busy at the intersection. She didn't know who it was at first, but when she got closer and shone her phone light, she saw it was Pei Xu, building a Snowman.

She asked, shivering: "Aren't you cold?"

"Just playing around," Pei Xu said.

Hu Ying was confused now.

She thought Lin Qingning would be crying his heart out in bed by now, but when she went to check, Lin Qingning looked normal, just a bit listless. When asked, he said he had a good time with Pei Xu today.

Of course it probably wasn't really that good, but Pei Xu might not be as cold as she'd imagined.

Room 3 was freezing — they hadn't lit the kang bed yet, the room was like an ice cave. Hu Ying went back to grab some stuff and ran out quickly, and when she came out, Pei Xu had already rolled out a big snowball.

"Freezing to death. I'm going to Room 1. You coming? Xingchen and the others should be back soon," Hu Ying said, shrinking her neck.

Pei Xu didn't seem to feel the cold. He'd even taken off his Gloves, his big hands red from the cold. He wasn't wearing a hat either — black hair, a cold-white face. The aloof handsome guy in the ice and snow automatically got an extra filter, looking even more handsome.

"You go ahead," Pei Xu said.

Hu Ying said, "Are you in a bad mood? Want to talk about it?"

"No need," Pei Xu said. "Just go."

Hu Ying didn't have the patience to kiss up to a cold ass. She couldn't be bothered with Pei Xu, and ran toward Room 3.

Soon Pei Xu's follow-cam cameraman ran over, shouldering the camera to film him.

Pei Xu ignored him too, just kept building the Snowman. Snowflakes covered him all over.

He built two big Snowmen in the night.

When Zhai Xingchen and Huo Cheng's car came, the headlights lit up the whole road. The cameraman didn't film their car, just filmed the two giant Snowmen under the headlights. The light hit them, and the snow particles reflected fine, clear light. The two Snowmen were holding hands, while Pei Xu, in all black with snowflakes all over him, stood alone.