Chapter 1_2

The motorcycle youth was somewhat annoyed and couldn't help but look back to discover that the car had indeed stopped ahead of him. He hesitated for a moment, and You Mingxu took the opportunity to break free and run. The youth cursed softly under his breath and was just about to run after her when he saw the car make a U-turn. "Honk—" the sharp sound of the car's horn suddenly rang out, and the vehicle went straight at them.

You Mingxu stumbled and ran a few steps, looked up, and saw that the black sedan was only a dozen or so meters away. The man in the driver's seat stared at her, his gaze alert and steadfast. His hand constantly pressed on the steering wheel, the car's horn continuously blaring, piercing through the rain and reverberating across the fields.

You Mingxu felt a sudden warmth in her heart, a sense of security inexplicably welling up. She seemed to see the driver nod to her and accelerate, the car almost instantly reaching her.

You Mingxu turned back to see the youth jump onto the motorcycle and speed off.

Like a tree stump, You Mingxu stood there, clutching her backpack, staring blankly.

The rain, unknowingly, had become heavier, pattering down on the ground and on his car. He suddenly applied the brakes, and the driver emerged from the vehicle. Despite the greyish gloom and heavy rain, extending all around them and beyond into a hazy world, You Mingxu could still see clearly. He was roughly 1.8 meters tall, clad in a windbreaker and trousers, well built, with a gentle and clean face.

He glanced at You Mingxu, then looked in the direction the motorcyclist had gone, his expression momentarily vicious. But he quickly softened it and turned back to her. "Are you okay? Were you... injured?" he asked.

You Mingxu shook her head: "I'm okay. Thank you... Thank you for coming back to me. If it weren't for you, I would have been done for."

He responded with a gentle smile.

He never thought that the girl he rescued would be so stunningly beautiful. In such a grim setting, her face still managed to brighten up the surroundings. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before moving away, asking, "Do you have any companions? Do you need to contact them?"

You Mingxu replied, "I'm alone right now. I had a friend with me, but she had to return home due to an unexpected family matter. I wanted to complete the rest of the journey."

The man didn't say anything. His hand rested on the car door, knocking absentmindedly. You Mingxu noticed the silent trickle of water running down his slender, defined hand.

He asked, "Can you continue riding on your own? Do you need to call the police?"

You Mingxu lowered her gaze to his boots. His windbreaker trousers were tucked into them, the lines very chic. She responded, "Could I ride with you until I find a safe place? I can't ride anymore, and frankly, I don't want to."

The man fell silent for a moment.

You Mingxu looked up to see his eyebrows slightly furrowed, seemingly reluctant. But this was gone quickly, and he said, "Alright."

You Mingxu smiled at him, "Thank you! I really owe you one today."

The rain fell steadily from the sky, creating an amalgamation of hazy colors, where the slender woman stood. Seeing the clear and dynamic eyes, the delicate nose, and the full, red lips when she smiled, which gave off a natural sensuality, stirred a strange restlessness in him. It had been a long time since he had been with a woman. He had already averted his roving gaze when she looked at him.

He said, while driving an ordinary car, "The trunk is full of luggage." He then helped You Mingxu store her bicycle on the car roof.

The storm was approaching.

The low-hanging clouds pressed towards the mountaintop. The dullness enveloped heaven and earth, there was only the sound of heavy rain and the once vibrant scene of Tibet seemed to have lost color in an instant. All that remained was a darkness that seemed capable of engulfing everything, making visibility low.

His car was moving at a moderate speed, and occasionally, other cars would pass them by. There was heat inside the car, so You Mingxu took off her coat and, wearing only a tight long-sleeved top, felt her body warming up after sitting for a while.

She sneaked a peek at him; he seemed to be concentrating on driving. He had also taken off his coat after getting soaked in the rain; underneath it was a dark grey long-sleeved shirt that suited him well.

After a while, he asked, "Do you mind if I smoke? I'm a bit tired."

You Mingxu replied, "Not at all. Can you give me one as well?"

He looked at her, surprised, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He reached for the glove box and took out a half-empty pack of cigarettes. You Mingxu was quite tactful and took them directly, drew out one for him first.

He took it, saying, "Thank you."

You Mingxu placed one in her mouth, then he reached out for the lighter, lit up his cigarette, and handed it over to her. She expertly held it and began to draw. Despite the minimal conversation, the atmosphere felt closer and more familiar than when she'd first got into the car.

He said, "I'm Gu Tiancheng."

"You Mingxu," she replied, glancing at the rain outside. "If I hadn't run into you, I don't know what I would've looked like, soaked to the bone."

A smirk played on the corner of his lips: "Small matter."

You Mingxu asked, "What do you do?"

Gu Tiancheng replied, "IT. What about you?"

You Mingxu: "Fashion, I'm a fashion designer."

Gu Tiancheng grinned slightly and, in a soft voice, said: "No wonder you look so good."

When You Mingxu heard this, she didn't respond. She wasn't sure what he meant by 'good'. He also stayed quiet, as if he hadn't said anything. Both of them finished their cigarettes, and with the rain slightly letting up, she glanced at the darkening sky outside and asked, "How long until we find a place to rest?"

He replied, "I'm not sure. But from what I remember from a couple of years ago, after a few more hours of driving, we should be able to see a Tibetan household."

You Mingxu said, "Okay." She hugged her arms, leaned back in the car seat and, after a while, wiped her face and pressed her forehead.

Gu Tiancheng noticed this and asked, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

She then buried her face in her arms and replied in a muffled voice, "I'm okay. I'm just thinking about what happened earlier. It still scares me."

Her voice was calm, with a hint of self-mocking laughter and a thinly veiled sense of distress. Gu Tiancheng thought this woman was very brave and calm. After getting in the car, she didn't cry or lose control, and she was able to chat and smoke with him with ease. It was only after reflecting on the incident from earlier that she appeared fearful, finally revealing a trace of vulnerability.

As he glanced at her, she had let her long hair loose; the wavy curls were dark and intense. Her small face remained hidden behind her arm, while below were her slender waist and long legs. Her chest's contours were even more well-defined. When she looked up from hiding her face behind her arm, her eyes sparkled defiantly.

Something pricked Gu Tiancheng's heart. He looked ahead, at the barren wilderness where Sichuan and Tibet met, the sky acting as a curtain, and the earth as a mat. There was nobody else, far away from the city, far away from everything ordinary, crowded, scheming, and deceitful. Against all the odds, he was with this woman, stranded like a lily in a wild field, taking shelter from the storm, and seeking warmth as they made their way forward.

You Mingxu and his gazes locked. His expression remained indifferent but his voice softened, "Don't be afraid. I promise to take you to a safe place."