Chapter 355: Chapter 176: They’re Used to Bullying Others

After reaching the summit, we quickly felt the chill.

On the road to Jade Emperor Peak, Jiang Banxia began to tremble all over.

“Master Li… How about we rent a military coat?”

“No worries, no worries, walk a bit further, I brought clothes.”

“Really?”

Jiang Banxia never dreamed that in July, it could still be cold enough to shiver like a child.

Before this, she was completely unprepared.

Xue Ning was prepared, but only wearing a long sleeve, which obviously wasn’t enough at this time.

As for Li Yang?

He’s been here before.

In his past life, he came in early April, and found snow at the top after running up…

Even though it was over twenty degrees outside…

“Yangyang, did you really bring clothes? I didn’t see you buy any.”

Upon hearing, Xue Ning asked too.

“I did, hold on for ten more minutes, then we’ll find a spot.”

“Find a spot?”

“Exactly.”

Upon knowing Li Yang had brought clothes, Jiang Banxia and Xue Ning quickened their pace considerably, arriving at the location in about ten minutes.

Li Yang took off his backpack and then… pulled out a quilt.

Jiang Banxia: “????”

Xue Ning: “???”

Li Yang said with a smile: “It’s the hotel quilt; since the room is booked, why not bring one for the climb? Come on, let’s gather around, this quilt can just cover the three of us. I also brought a pillow, we can put it in the middle and lie on it for a rest.”

At this moment, Jiang Banxia completely admired Li Yang.

How could he do something so embarrassing yet act like it’s completely normal?

Three people wrapped in a quilt at the summit? If others saw, they’d laugh to death.

Thankfully, it’s dark, and the small colored lights along the path don’t provide much light; no one could recognize them.

If someone did, she’d definitely try to wedge herself into a crevice.

But when Li Yang found a corner near the rock wall and spread the quilt, the wind instantly couldn’t blow in.

Li Yang initially wanted a whole tent, but found bringing a quilt was more convenient.

Anyway, the hotel’s quilt isn’t large, it fits snugly in the backpack.

Li Yang placed the pillow against the stone wall, “Master Jiang, use your head to press down on the pillow.”

“Xue, you pull the quilt, then lean against the rock wall, hold the edge of the quilt down.”

“Yeah, I’ve got this side too.”

Then, a masterpiece appeared.

The three leaned against the wall, sharing a pillow, covered by the quilt.

Jiang Banxia found herself enclosed in the middle and suddenly laughed.

“It actually feels quite cozy.”

There was a sense of sleeping on the floor, like during childhood New Year visits, staying at grandma and grandpa’s when travel wasn’t as convenient, and other relatives would come too, so there weren’t enough beds.

The floor then became a makeshift bed, sometimes over ten relatives would sleep in one room, with kids running everywhere.

Due to the pillow not being long enough, Jiang Banxia leaned her head on Li Yang’s shoulder.

She began talking about her childhood, and soon fell asleep while chatting.

Xue Ning listened but felt like she was just a third wheel.

If she weren’t there, Li Yang and Jiang Banxia would surely be romantic.

After Jiang Banxia fell asleep, Li Yang whispered, “Xue, why did you stop talking?”

“I… don’t have a childhood, so listening to you is fine.”

Xue Ning felt no nostalgia for her childhood; it was a painful time.

She was an orphan with no one to care for her; it was Jiang Yaoting who paid her tuition and gave her over a thousand yuan for living expenses each year.

Otherwise, she didn’t know how pitiful her life would have been.

Later she went to teacher training college, not because she wanted to, but it promised stable jobs after graduation.

She never felt she had the right to pursue happiness.

Li Yang said, “My childhood wasn’t happy either; each New Year, the family would argue over trivial matters, and I’d anxiously watch from the side. I used to wonder why those relatives didn’t just die! I couldn’t understand why my parents tolerated them so much.”

“What about now?”

“I still don’t understand, but I don’t want them dead now. If they did die, where would my parents find happiness?”

Xue Ning chuckled, “Oh you, why are you so petty? You’re so capable now, you shouldn’t let these small matters bother you.”

“Hehe, to me, family matters aren’t trivial. I just want to take care of my family, let them live happily without stress.”

“And yourself?”

“My family will take care of me too, like you, Xue…”

“Hmm? I count as family?”

“Hey, you’ve taken thousands in name-change fees, you aren’t thinking of denying it now, are you?”

Xue Ning laughed, “Knowing you, I feel you aim to marry me off and earn some dowry money.”

“I wouldn’t bear to.”

Li Yang’s words gave Xue Ning a jolt.

She glanced at Jiang Banxia, still sleeping, showing no sign of waking.

Li Yang sounded crazy, speaking like this before Jiang Banxia.

“Shut up! I want to sleep a bit, don’t disturb me!”

She dared not continue talking.

But upon hearing that sentence, she suddenly felt a warmth within.

Indeed, she felt kindness from Li Likun and Wang Cuiping, but even after such a long time, she still felt like her soul had no home.

Being a goddaughter was quite different from being an actual daughter.

Like before when dining in Capital City, she hoped Li Yang would leave later, while Wang Cuiping wished for more time between Li Yang and Jiang Banxia.

There was no absolute right or wrong, but every person had a clear stance.

She was sensitive, not only towards others but also to herself.

Trying hard to prove herself around Li Yang, she just didn’t want Li Yang to suffer by being with her, and wanted to earn money with a clear conscience.

Things grew quiet, some passersby glanced at them, appearing to have an epiphany, seemingly making plans for their next Mount Tai climb.

Jiang Banxia turned over, uncomfortable against the rock, and laid entirely upon Li Yang.

This effectively had her overlapping Li Yang’s position, eliminating the barrier between Li Yang and Xue Ning.

Unknowingly, the eastern sky began to brighten with a hint of red brewing from the horizon; more people gathered at the summit.

Some were carefully choosing spots and setting up cameras.

The light awoke Jiang Banxia, whereas Xue Ning hadn’t slept at all, just feigned it.

At five thirty, a round red sun ascended the horizon slowly, standing atop made one feel like the world was at their feet.

To Li Yang, the feeling was even stronger.

Jiang Banxia slept over two hours, waking refreshed, pulling Li Yang along to take many photos, Xue Ning also volunteered to take pictures of the pair.

Li Yang struck a power pose, capturing the sun within his palms.

Jiang Banxia found the photo particularly impressive, as did Xue Ning.

Because that guy was their sun.

No matter how cold it got, he could still warm hearts.

The descent… was painful.

Climbing was exhausting, tendons fatigued; descending meant feeling the full weight on the legs, each step sending pain through the calves.

However, descending was faster; in less than two hours, they were at the foot.

The hotel was nearby, Li Likun came specifically to pick them up.

After breakfast, they returned to the hotel.

They needed some sleep and would continue homeward tomorrow.

This section of the trip was only a third done, while the remaining two thirds had no specific plans, aside from Li Yang’s brief stops, most time would be spent traveling.

After breakfast, Jiang Banxia went to Li Yang’s room to sort through photos, taking about an hour, before they both went to shower.

But… after showering, Jiang Banxia snuck back.

“Master Li, I want to sleep with you.”

Li Yang lifted the covers, “Come on, come on, I specifically saved a spot for you.”

Jiang Banxia laughed and tucked herself under the blanket; as Li Yang lay down, she reached over, wrapping an arm around his neck.

Just like dawn.

“Master Li, did you fail your exam again?”

Li Yang: “…”

“Why do you always have to mention the worst things…”

Jiang Banxia said, “Actually… some people think we’re easy targets; they’re used to bullying others, right?”

“Hm? Why the sudden talk about this?”

“Uh… Master Li, can you recommend a stock?”

“What are you up to now? Haven’t you seen the recent panic-selling scene?”

“I have, but I think it’s also an opportunity.”

“You still need to study.”

“I don’t want to study anymore; I want to do mutual funds, I want those people to think we’re not easy targets.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep