Zhongnan Mountain spans the southern area of Guanzhong, stretching from Qianlong in the west to Lantian in the east, covering a distance of eight hundred miles. People in ancient times used to say that besides the Taihang Mountains, Zhongnan is the most significant.
Qin Guanglin and He Fang lay on the bed, heads together, searching strategies and planning the next day’s journey. Zhongnan Mountain was so vast that visiting all of it would be too time-consuming; they had to choose specific spots selectively.
"Look at this," He Fang said, browsing on her phone and drawing circles on the map, "’Among the hundred scenic spots in Guanzhong, Zhongnan is the best; among the thousand-mile lush greenery of Zhongnan, Louguan is optimal.’ We definitely need to visit Louguan Platform."
"Hmm, and there’s Taiyi Palace as well," Qin Guanglin pointed to a location for her to circle.
"Right, clean out your bag tomorrow," He Fang suddenly remembered, "We should buy some incense and candles at the foot of the mountain. It’s too expensive to buy them up there."
"Oh."
Qin Guanglin nodded. He was just there to have fun and didn’t plan on worshipping anything. If she wanted to, then let her go ahead.
"Should I pack some snacks?" he asked.
"Yes, we’ll also need to pack some snacks," He Fang tore a sheet off her notebook and started listing items, "Think of anything else we need, and I’ll jot it down now so we don’t forget."
"Add a few bottles of mineral water... guess that’s it?" Qin Guanglin thought for a moment and couldn’t think of anything else, "No need to write it down, if we need anything, we can probably buy it there."
He was accustomed to carrying just a backpack when traveling alone; rarely making any detailed plans as they often change. It’s better not to plan anything and just go with the flow.
"That’s true, let’s go with these for now, and add anything else if we think of it."
He Fang tucked the paper back into her notebook and placed it beside the bed. Then, turning over and lying flat, she stretched lazily. The long car ride was tiring, and by this point, lying on the bed without wanting to move and closing her eyes to rest a bit felt perfect.
Qin Guanglin too lay down and sighed with relief. Turning his head to look at He Fang, he wiggled closer, wanting to snuggle, but heard her with closed eyes say, "Go back to your own bed."
"In a while," Qin Guanglin nuzzled his head into her neck, unable to get enough of her scent, which he found enchanting.
He liked this feeling—relaxed, comfortable—experienced only when he was near her. His entire being felt at ease, wishing time would slow down to savor the moment a little longer.
"Then you better keep still. If you move, go back to your own," He Fang said, remaining motionless.
The twin room had two single beds, which weren’t as large as the ones at home. The two were close enough on the single beds, oddly more comfortable than a large one.
Qin Guanglin drifted into sleep unknowingly. When he woke up, it was completely dark outside. The room light was on, but the person in his arms was gone.
His heart startled, he got up and looked around, only relaxing when he saw movement in the washroom. He lay back down and calmed himself by watching the silhouette.
The sound of water flowing buzzed in his ears, and after a moment, Qin Guanglin realized she was bathing. Watching the semi-transparent frosted glass, he felt a little overwhelmed.
He had thought about this scenario, but now that it was happening, he couldn’t help but feel nervous. It was his first time sharing a room with the opposite sex, and he wasn’t sure what to be mindful of.
Would He Fang be looking through the glass later when it was his turn to shower?
Thinking this, Qin Guanglin felt awkward. Why did hotels make their washrooms out of glass?!
Absorbed in watching the silhouette, his mind wandered back to that half-deflated ball, cycling through various images until he shook his head vigorously, pushing the thoughts aside, and returned to his own bed.
The sound of water suddenly ceased, and shortly after, the bathroom door opened. He Fang emerged in a large white T-shirt, those freshly showered pale legs peeking out as she walked, towel in hand drying her hair.
Qin Guanglin lay on his bed pretending to play with his phone, but his eyes kept darting in her direction, swallowing at the sight of her freshly bathed, rosy-cheeked face.
"What’s that pretense?"
He Fang walked up to the side of the bed, pulling a hairdryer out of her suitcase and handed it to him, "Help me dry my hair."
"Oh," Qin Guanglin quickly put down his phone, took the hairdryer, plugged it in to test the hot and cold air, while sneakily glancing at He Fang.
He Fang moved a chair over to the side of his bed and sat down, her back towards him, smoothing her hair twice, "What are you dazed for? Start drying."
The hairdryer buzzed to life. Qin Guanglin had never dried such long hair before and didn’t know where to start, so he simply used his hand to randomly tousle and dry it.
"Is this how it’s done?" He dried for a bit and asked for her opinion.
"Lift it up, like this..." He Fang reached her hands back to show him.
Imitating He Fang, he lifted and dried the hair, Qin Guanglin’s gaze unintentionally drifted below, where the oversized T-shirt couldn’t cover her fair, well-proportioned legs, tightly pressed together, they were quite tempting.
"Do you usually dry your hair by yourself?"
Although He Fang’s back was towards him, Qin Guanglin still couldn’t help but make conversation to divert her attention.
"Otherwise, who would help me?"
"That must be tough, unlike my hair which is easy to dry," he moved his wrist around, feeling a bit sore.
"Yours doesn’t need drying, just a wipe and it’s dry."
"That’s true."
He Fang suddenly stretched out her legs, "Do they look good?"
"Ah?" Qin Guanglin was startled, subconsciously nodding, then realizing she couldn’t see his gesture, he added, "They look good, really good."
"Hmph, now you can only look," He Fang seemed to do it on purpose, swaying her legs a few times.
"Really?" Qin Guanglin suddenly felt a bit bold—since they were sharing a room, what could be wrong with touching a bit?
"Or what else do you want to do?"
"What do you think I want to do?"
"Don’t even think about it, just stay put," He Fang gently shook her head, intentionally making him crave, it was her payback for the prank he pulled when he first came in.
With undying mischief in his heart, Qin Guanglin said, "We’re sleeping in the same room..."
"There are two beds, you on yours, me on mine, dare to come over and I’ll kick you to death."
"That harsh?" He had fantasized about falling asleep holding a warm body.
"Try it if you don’t believe me."
"Can I at least touch the legs..." Qin Guanglin tried to struggle a bit more.
"Hm?" He Fang turned her head to look at him, "Do you want me to book another room?"
"...Turn back around, we were drying hair."
Initially, seeing her joke, Qin Guanglin had some ideas, but seeing her serious expression, he dismissed those thoughts.
After all, doing nothing and just watching those tender, swaying legs was a kind of enjoyment too—not a bad deal.
She’d be his sooner or later, no rush.