An Encounter In Canyon

The man not far away was burly and sturdy, exuding the wildness and ruggedness of a Viking with his robust physique. His light brown curls appeared untamed, and his deep features carried a ruggedness that couldn't be concealed even by the unkempt stubble covering much of his cheeks, yet it couldn't mask the openness between his brows.

At this moment, like Renly, he wore a chalk bag around his waist, and a large red rope hung behind him. They had just begun their bare-handed rock climbing, with him positioned slightly below Renly. Even so, his orange T-shirt was already soaked with sweat.

"Hamilton?"

Recognizing the figure, Renly's voice also filled with surprise. He searched every corner of his mind, imagining every person he might encounter here, but he never expected to meet this guy here, especially engaged in bare-handed rock climbing like him. It was truly amusing.

Andrew Hamilton, the youngest son of the Duke of Hamilton, was Renly's peer at Eton College, where he had two older brothers. He was Renly's roommate at Eton, known for living life to the fullest as the youngest member of his family, unconcerned with inheriting titles or pursuing a career, embodying the epitome of a "playboy." In reality, he was the living template of it.

Renly was never one to strictly adhere to rules. Back at Eton, he competed for the position of dorm prefect only to blatantly break the rules afterward, such as turning on the dorm lights at midnight, forcing everyone out; or sending emails informing everyone of class time changes, leaving the classroom empty.

One of the most infamous incidents at Eton involved him bringing three boars into the dormitory, causing chaos that took a whole night to resolve, involving eighteen staff members.

During those times, Matthew Dunlop and the current Andrew were Renly's accomplices, or rather, sidekicks.

Despite openly defying the authority of Eton College, Renly managed to avoid expulsion. His impoverished baron father and Matthew's baron father were powerless. The real reason was Andrew—his father was a duke, and his maternal family had significant influence.

However, after graduation, Andrew followed his family's plan and went to Oxford. It's well-known that Oxford is a stepping stone into politics, while Cambridge is more of an academic haven. This reflected the distinguished lineage of the Hamilton Duke's family, just as the Hall family was known for its connections to Cambridge—thus, the more fallen noble families hailed from Oxford.

Their contact gradually dwindled. The last time they met was at the New Year's party in 2007, wearing intricately tailored suits, engaging in gentlemanly conversation amidst fragrances and clinking glasses. Nearly three years had passed since then, and their reunion occurred on a desolate cliff, clad in shorts and T-shirts, drenched in sweat and looking disheveled.

Renly grabbed the carabiner, which dropped mid-air and swayed in the wind as he looked at Andrew, then nodded politely, placing his left hand over his chest, "Lord Andrew."

Returning the gesture, Andrew also freed his right hand and made the same gesture, a joyful expression flashing between his brows. "What brings you here? I heard you went to the United States to embrace new challenges. I was rather envious back then."

"I'm sure the rumors are exaggerated." Renly's banter made Andrew burst into laughter.

According to rumors, Renly had fallen into despair in Hollywood, his situation dire enough for George and Elizabeth to freeze his bank accounts. Thus, Renly had resorted to pawning his watches and jewelry to survive, struggling through life.

Noble life was often too dull; they needed more excitement to spice things up.

However, Renly didn't mind. "I just finished a job and needed a short break to relax, so..." Renly gestured to his current activity: rock climbing, his choice of vacation. "What about you? You seem...," Renly paused for a moment, "unlikely to let Charlie see you." Charlie was Andrew's father, and Alexander was Andrew's elder brother. Clearly, Andrew was an outlier in the Hamilton family.

"It's not wise to stay in London all day. Those people are either hypocrites or masked men. I'm only twenty this year, not sixty." Andrew's disdainful tone revived Renly's memories, and laughter echoed in the canyon. "I still remember when we went on holiday to Switzerland. You showed off your downhill skiing skills, opening up a whole new world for me. So, here I am."

"Obviously, I'm still the trailblazer." Renly's confident tone was evident in his casual remarks, making Andrew chuckle. "I can't argue with that." Both men grinned.

"Are you planning to return to London next?" Andrew inquired curiously.

"Oh, no. If even you are fleeing from there, how could I willingly walk into the trap?" Renly joked, making Andrew smile. Renly adjusted the rope, then smiled, "I'm ready to descend, and you should continue climbing. Let's catch up next time." Rock climbing was a strenuous activity, and no one could stay in one spot for too long; it was suicidal.

Andrew nodded, grasped the anchor point again, and adjusted his breathing. "I might go to the United States soon, but I haven't decided whether to visit Hawaii or the mainland first. There's a surfing competition on the north shore of Oahu in December. Are you planning to participate?"

"I'll see when the time comes. I'm hoping to find a new job when I get back." Renly chuckled, exchanged a glance with Andrew, then started lowering himself down.

Taking a deep breath, Andrew focused his attention and began climbing again, agile as a leopard. He pushed off with his toes, using his right hand as a pivot, launching himself into the air. His left hand stretched out to its fullest, gripping the protrusion above, then he quickly retracted his feet, landing firmly on the support point. He released his right hand, grabbing onto a nearby cliff crack.

Meanwhile, Renly smoothly descended, dispelling the shadows that had plagued him for over a month. Though the confusion between the methods and the styles of acting still awaited resolution in his mind, the shadow of "being buried alive" was left behind.

Looking up at the not-so-distant cliff top, seeming so close yet so far, today he had failed to reach it. It was like his life, the road to his acting dreams, the challenges of his craft—destined not to be smooth. This was just the first hurdle he encountered, but Renly couldn't help feeling excited, eager to face the next challenge, the next attempt.

Such a life was worth living.

With a relaxed smile on his lips, he landed on his feet, starting to unpack his gear. A bustling sound reached his ears, and he turned to see a group of about five or six people just arriving at the relatively flat boulder. They seemed to be another batch of challengers.

After observing for a moment, Renly noticed their cumbersome equipment, more suited for top rope climbing.

Lowering his gaze, he continued packing his gear. "The climb just now was thrilling. Though I regret not succeeding, the performance was truly spectacular," a friendly voice spoke beside him, a common occurrence in extreme sports challenges, even among strangers, like the middle-aged man and Andrew earlier. "Such a pity."

Renly smiled, "The unpredictability of nature is part of the charm of climbing, isn't it?"

"Of course, of course," the man laughed heartily, scratching his head awkwardly, "Paul Walker."

With golden short hair, blue eyes, and a radiant smile, exuding warmth and kindness, as if the ocean itself resided in his eyes, Paul, known for his roles in the "Fast and Furious" series, had already carved out a place for himself in Hollywood, yet he had no airs about him, genuine and open.

Renly extended his right hand, "Renly Hall."

"Is this your first time trying bare-handed climbing?" Paul shook his head while speaking, his smile somewhat shy, "It doesn't seem like it, but this is my first time trying outdoor top rope climbing. Feeling a bit nervous. I used to surf, but now I want to try something new."

"This is my first time bare-handed climbing," Renly's lips couldn't help but curl up slightly, "Technically, I started training two weeks ago, had my first practical attempt three days ago, and today is my third attempt." Paul widened his eyes, looking genuinely surprised, prompting Renly to shrug, "So, you definitely can do it."

It dawned on Paul that Renly was cheering him on. He scratched his head again, "Phew, always gotta try something new, right? Nature offers more than just the sea; there are mountains, forests, and deserts we barely know about."

"That's a fact," Renly nodded, "But I wouldn't say surfing is simple. Last summer on the Gold Coast, I almost hugged the sea forever. I'd love to show you the scars on my legs, but that feels too girly, so I've decided to keep quiet."

"Haha!" Paul burst into hearty laughter, "Then I'd better not show you the scar on my butt."

"Next time, there will definitely be a chance," Renly joked, finishing packing his gear and shouldering his backpack. "Well then, good luck today!" With that, he bid farewell and left the crowded boulder behind.

"Wish you a pleasant day!" Paul waved goodbye, calling out.