Chapter 8: One Hundred Years of Solitude

The ultimate day’s itinerary was to go to the Pudacuo Nationwide Park in Shangri-La after which hurry on to Diqing Shangri-La Airport within the afternoon to return to Metropolis A. At this level, the five-day and four-night journey was coming to an finish.

As earlier than, the alarm clock sounded for Ruan Zhizhi to stand up very first thing within the morning. When she washed up within the toilet, she discovered that her complexion was unexpectedly good right this moment. Maybe it was resulting from final night time’s comparatively top quality of sleep. She hadn’t had a single dream and didn’t get up in the course of the night time in any respect. 

Was it due to Shi Yan?

Ruan Zhizhi placed on some make-up and checked out her already-packed baggage for some time. Lastly, she took out a big pink down jacket from the underside of her suitcase and put it on. This was one thing Gu Nian had purchased together with her earlier than. She’d stated that sporting shiny garments would additionally enhance her temper. If solely it have been so.

The big bus travelled all the best way to the route of Shangri-La. Ruan Zhizhi sat by the window and squinted her eyes as she surveyed the surroundings outdoors. It appeared that right this moment’s climate was sunny and cloudless, though nonetheless bone-chillingly chilly.

Her gaze unintentionally swept over Shi Yan, who was sitting diagonally forward of her. He was sporting a yellow windbreaker, his again straight and head lowered as he casually folded a paper serviette right into a frog.

He appeared to actually like paper folding.

The bus jolted the whole means. Two hours later, they reached Pudacuo Nationwide Park. The park had lakes and wetlands, forests and meadows, uncommon crops and animals, and extra. The unique ecosystem was well-preserved and was one of many main sights for vacationers in Shangri-La.

Following the tour group, they bought their tickets and went in. As earlier than, the tour information walked in entrance with a conveyable loudspeaker to clarify, whereas the middle-aged and aged professors within the group adopted carefully behind with enthusiasm. Lastly, there was Ruan Zhizhi and the opposite younger folks forming companionships and chatting.

“Zhizhi, you could have had a pleasant relaxation final night time, I can see your complexion seems good,” Chen Jiayan greeted her whereas grinning. En…he was all the time essentially the most enthusiastic one among the gang.

Ruan Zhizhi additionally smiled politely in return: “Sure, final night time I slept very properly.” Saying so, she glanced covertly at Shi Yan. The opposite celebration was already surrounded by a number of ladies led by Yan Rui. She didn’t know what they have been in the course of speaking about. Though there was nothing peculiar about his expression, Ruan Zhizhi simply felt that he appeared slightly impatient.

It was absurd, why did she secretly speculate about different folks’s moods with out rhyme or motive?

Shaking her head, Ruan Zhizhi tried her finest to refocus her consideration. She continued to talk with Chen Jiayan, talking one minute and being quiet the following.

It needed to be stated: The surroundings was exceptionally stunning in Pudacuo Nationwide Park. After coming into the Bita Sea, an enormous stretch of lush crimson rhododendrons could possibly be seen rising in all places, folding over layer upon layer. Nothing extra stunning could possibly be imagined.

Chen Jiayan took a deep breath and exclaimed in adoration: “Certain sufficient, the air on the plateau is brisker and cleaner than within the metropolis.”

After they arrived at Shudu Lake, the tour information waved his hand, allowing everybody to have free time. Ruan Zhizhi made a random excuse to depart Chen Jiayan’s facet. Alone, she walked to the lakeside, misplaced in thought.

Bita Lake and Shudu Lake, the 2 stunning freshwater lakes, have been generally known as the jewels of the plateau. The blue water of the lakes was so clear that one may see the underside—like an incredible mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds inside it. It actually was a pure occasion of water and sky merging into one color.

“Wanting on the surroundings?”

Instantly a voice fell into her ears. Clearly it was a bit abrupt, but it surely didn’t make folks really feel offended in any respect.

Ruan Zhizhi smiled and rotated: “Sure, the surroundings right here is kind of stunning.”

Shi Yan walked over unhurriedly. The gap between the 2 was constantly reduce down along with his footsteps, till he was standing lower than a centimetre behind her. Shi Yan slowly lowered his head, his lips approaching her ears. His voice was very low, and it appeared to hold a hint of intimacy: “Miss Ruan Zhizhi, are you able to do me a favour?”

Ruan Zhizhi froze in place, not understanding what he meant in any respect. Her physique’s intuition made her need to escape this man’s space of management without delay, however she rationally considered the entire care he had proven her as of late. Nonetheless making an attempt to suppress the urge, she replied softly, “What favour?”

“Stand right here quietly, don’t transfer, don’t keep away from me.”

“…It appears to be quite simple.”

“Sure, it’s actually that easy. I hope you don’t refuse.”

“It’s only a slight effort, nothing extra.”

Though she stated it indifferently, actually, Ruan Zhizhi’s coronary heart had been surging like a gathering storm already. In her reminiscence, other than Li Sichen, she had by no means been so near different males like this. After all, the few occasions she’d had shut contact with Li Sichen have been merely to assist him tie a tie, or when the 2 of them have been discussing one thing with their heads shut. It was solely to this extent, nothing extra.

Nonetheless…the sensation that Shi Yan gave her was the exact opposite of Li Sichen. He was extra mysterious than Li Sichen, extra harmful than Li Sichen, and naturally, extra fascinating than Li Sichen.

Taking a deep breath, Ruan Zhizhi tried her finest to disregard the heat coming from the person’s chest. At the moment, Shi Yan abruptly prolonged his hand, casually serving to her tuck her lengthy hair that had been tousled by the wind behind her ear.

His fingertips have been barely chilly. After they grazed her earlobe, for a break up second it was like an electrical shock. She couldn’t assist trembling.

On this second of electrical flint sparks, Ruan Zhizhi abruptly realized the which means behind Shi Yan’s incomprehensible actions. Her eyes simply so occurred to inadvertently look at Yan Rui, who was standing far behind them. The opposite celebration regarded their intimate actions and now seemed to be very livid. She gestured animatedly whereas saying one thing to Chen Jiayan and the opposite ladies.

Ruan Zhizhi was helpless: “It appears that you’re utilizing me as a defend.”

Shi Yan set free a low snort, and the sound of his laughter didn’t match him: It turned out to be melodious and clear. He reached out and stroked her hair fairly naturally: “Shh, you understand and I do know.”

Ruan Zhizhi’s face flushed crimson within the wake of his actions. This man was too harmful…she needed to evacuate as shortly as doable. Pondering like this, she tried her finest to quietly withdraw from the define of the person’s physique which appeared to be embracing her. A innocent smile rose on her face: “Yan Rui and the others have already left, the duty is accomplished, goodbye.”

There have been no nice waves in his expression. Shi Yan lowered his head barely, wanting down at her from larger floor. His eyes remained unwavering. “Goodbye.”

The go to to Pudacuo Nationwide Park ended at round two o’clock within the afternoon. Because of the have to rush to the airport, Ruan Zhizhi and the others within the tour group settled their final meal on the bus. One lunch per particular person, three dishes and one soup, with meat and greens. The outer look was not dangerous. Sadly, Ruan Zhizhi had all the time had a nasty urge for food. After taking just a few bites, she closed the lunch field. 

After arriving at Diqing Shangri-La Airport eventually, the tour information was nonetheless accountable and thoughtful. He helped them change their boarding passes and verify of their baggage, and even gave an official, enthusiastic farewell speech to conclude their journey earlier than sending them by way of the safety checkpoint.

As soon as she handed the safety verify, Ruan Zhizhi needed to roam round and buy one thing to eat. Sadly, the display screen on the departure gate indicated that they must register in fifteen minutes. Ruan Zhizhi patted her abdomen and had no alternative however to sigh helplessly.

Talking of which, she was additionally thought-about to be extraordinarily choosy about meals. She preferred to eat snacks, however wasn’t keen on consuming full meals. Consequently, she was 165cm tall however solely weighed roughly 90 catties. Gu Nian all the time ridiculed her, saying that the wind would blow her away. 

As she let her ideas stray, there was already a protracted queue of individuals in entrance of the departure gate making ready to board the airplane. Ruan Zhizhi was nonetheless sitting in her seat. It wasn’t till a lot of the line went by way of the gate one after one other that she stood up unhurriedly.

By the point she entered the cabin, virtually everybody had already discovered their correct seats.

“22C…” Ruan Zhizhi seemed on the seat info on her boarding cross, walked inside for some time, and noticed the vacant seat underneath the 22C designation at a look. 

She walked over. She had simply sat down and hadn’t even mounted her seatbelt when she was shocked to find that the particular person sitting beside her on the window was truly Shi Yan.

Ultimately, was it a predestined relationship between the 2 of them, or an ill-fated relationship?

“Hello, what an excellent coincidence.” Ruan Zhizhi turned to take a look at him. The smile on her face was barely stiff.

It wasn’t good in any respect…sitting along with him for 2 and a half hours would definitely be awkward and boring to demise.

Shi Yan turned a blind eye to the phrases she didn’t imply. He raised his eyebrows and politely responded, “What an excellent coincidence.”

The plane took off easily. For the reason that flight time was solely two and a half hours, there was no in-flight meal ready on the airplane. A bag of milk biscuits was distributed as an alternative.

Ruan Zhizhi sat in her seat and watched movies on her cellphone. She shortly completed the bag of biscuits in her hand. She wished for extra as she licked the biscuit crumbs protecting her fingers, sighing considerably regretfully. 

At the moment, a hand aptly appeared in entrance of her eyes, holding an unopened bag of milk biscuits. Ruan Zhizhi swallowed and reached out to take it subconsciously. She opened the packet and took out a biscuit, inserting it in her mouth. Then she glanced at Shi Yan furtively. With a little bit of embarrassment, she requested, “Shi Yan, you’re not consuming?”

The opposite celebration’s head was lowered as he targeting his ebook, not minding her: “I don’t like consuming biscuits.”

Ruan Zhizhi adopted his line of sight all the best way down and located that the ebook in his fingers was the masterpiece of writer Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude.

She chewed the biscuits in her mouth with a “kengchi kengchi” whereas her mind had no management as she started to talk: “I additionally like this ebook very a lot.”

…Was she hanging up a dialog with Shi Yan? How frightful.

After listening to her phrases, Shi Yan turned his head and narrowed his eyes as if : “Which character do you want essentially the most?”

Ruan Zhizhi swallowed the final biscuit, considered it earnestly, then replied: “I just like the love story of Renata Remedios from the fifth technology essentially the most.”

Shi Yan nodded, under no circumstances shocked. His voice was low and slightly hoarse, however nonetheless as nice as all the time: “Becoming a member of a convent to reside as a widow for her deceased love and never saying a phrase for the remainder of her life. It’s certainly worthy of respect.”

Nodding in approval, Ruan Zhizhi initially needed to ask who his favorite character was too, however after serious about it, she was considerably hesitant. This…would it not appear as if the 2 of them have been slightly bit too acquainted?

Ultimately, she didn’t ask. As a substitute, she took a moist towelette and wiped her fingers clear. Then she unlocked her telephone and proceeded to quietly watch movies.

When the airplane was nonetheless half an hour away from touchdown, Ruan Zhizhi completed watching a video and lifted her sore neck to loosen it for some time.

At her facet, Shi Yan bowed his head and took a sip of espresso. The define of his facet profile was refined, like a useful treasure in a show window that had but to be bought, quiet and sleek.

Ruan Zhizhi checked out him like this and unexpectedly felt that possibly this man’s thoughts was not as deep as she had imagined. Maybe he was identical to her, simply an bizarre particular person trapped by love in a boundless sea of individuals.

“Shi Yan, do you’ve somebody you want too?” She turned her head and watched him start to talk softly. For the primary time, she was making an attempt to provoke a friendship with the particular person beside her.

Shi Yan closed the thick ebook in his hand, wanting down on the considerably worn cowl. “After all.”

As anticipated.

“Then, does the lady you want…know?”

Shi Yan tilted his head and gazed at her. His eyes mirrored the lights on the airplane, illuminating and extinguishing again and again: “She doesn’t know.” He paused, then added with a composed expression, “However inevitably there will likely be a day that she is aware of, and inevitably there will likely be a day that she marries me.”

Ruan Zhizhi made a “囧” face. Simply as she was about to ask him how he was so assured, her line of sight shifted to his face that might even incite a god’s wrath. Ultimately, she tactfully closed her mouth.

On this world, there was most likely no lady who may resist his appeal.

She initially thought that she’d made peace with herself these previous three years. She didn’t count on that after barely 5 days, this man may make her coronary heart uneasy.

However it didn’t matter. Ruan Zhizhi couldn’t be extra clear about it in her coronary heart. This type of particular feeling she had in the direction of him was solely a brief impulse, identical to a woman seeing beautiful crystal sneakers in a show window. The identical heart-stirring feeling would rise immediately, but it surely was solely fleeting. In any case, everybody preferred stunning issues, however not everybody preferred them from starting to finish. 

When the airplane descended quickly, she noticed the person at her facet open his mouth quietly, as if saying one thing. It was a pity that her eardrums have been in ache from the super noise of the airplane taxiing on the airstrip. Ruan Zhizhi lined her ears and couldn’t hear something.

When lining as much as get off the plane, Ruan Zhizhi considered it and in the end rotated to bid a honest farewell to Shi Yan: “Shi Yan, thanks very a lot for taking good care of me as of late. If there’s a probability to see one another once more, I’ll definitely invite you to a meal.”

When Shi Yan heard her phrases, he simply smiled faintly. A misty fog appeared to seep out of his heavy eyes, clearly loneliness, and but there was all the time a hint of sunshine rising from the depths.

He replied: “There will likely be such a day.”

And that day would come quickly.