Night, at the hotel.
Wei Zhi lay on the bed, arms raised high, holding a light gray cloth between her hands.
Staring.
Staring.
Staring—
Jiang Nanfeng’s voice drifted over, accompanied by the “swish-swish” of running water: “Where did you get that rag?”
Wei Zhi folded the… glasses cloth as reverently as when she had received it, then sat up with a sudden jerk: “Don’t be disrespectful. This isn’t a rag, it’s a blessed glasses cloth given to me by a great master.”
“How is it blessed? Hang it on your chest, and tomorrow you’ll be able to fly off the eight-meter platform at the park?”
Wei Zhi remained unfazed: “Do you know what a great master is?”
The sound of running water abruptly stopped.
“Hmm,” Jiang Nanfeng moved her hand away from the faucet, tore open a package, and slowly applied a hydrating face mask. Her tone was casual, “The one who taught you?”
“What are you talking about? Don’t listen to your coach’s nonsense. He’s just trying to save face for his friend.” Wei Zhi replied quickly, her tone nonchalant, “The great master I met today is a true great master. How great! The last time I saw him was on TV.”
“Who?”
“Someone whose snow suits hanging in the closet is worthy of having the five-star red flag embroidered on them.”
“…That is pretty cool indeed.”
“Right?”
“Why would someone like that give you a glass of cloth?”
“Because I’m good-looking.”
“Just because it gets dark early in Zhangjiakou doesn’t mean you can start talking nonsense as soon as the evening news ends.”
“The faucet was broken, water sprayed on my face, he saw it, he was kind,” Wei Zhi said, “Impressive people are always kind.”
That wishful tone made Jiang Nanfeng stop adjusting her face mask. She leaned to the side to look at the person on the bed from behind the mirror, just in time to see the latter lying on her stomach at the edge of the bed, solemnly folding the glasses cloth and putting it into the snowsuit pocket, then smoothing the pocket with reverence and affection before zipping it up.
She was just short of burning incense and bowing three times.
Jiang Nanfeng: “…”
Jiang Nanfeng: “If your mom finds out I tricked you into coming skiing and you’ve become a bit off in the head, will she ask me for compensation?”
“She will,” Wei Zhi replied without looking up, “Our family lawyer is already on the way.”
“Have mercy, if it weren’t for me, you’d never get a glasses cloth from a national ski team member in your lifetime.”
“That’s true. How about I give you a 20% discount on the compensation amount?”
The young girl on the bed rolled over contentedly, picked up her phone, and happily prepared to search for information about past members of the national snowboarding team—
Wait, what was that person’s name again?
…She didn’t know.
Damn.
…
The next morning, freezing rain started falling just as dawn broke.
Around seven o’clock, Wei Zhi was awakened by the pitter-patter of freezing rain hitting the window… She opened her eyes groggily, glanced outside, muttered “Oh my god,” then wrapped herself tighter in the blanket and rolled over to continue sleeping.
Just as she closed her eyes, her and Jiang Nanfeng’s phones suddenly chimed with WeChat notifications at the same time—
Their “Big Brother” Jiao Nian was waiting for them at the entrance of the ski equipment hall.
Wei Zhi grabbed her phone and struggled to check the time: 8:00 AM.
Eight o’clock.
Wei Zhi: “…”
Even roosters don’t get up that early.
[Little Girl Jiji: So early!]
[Chong: I’ve already been through the small forest twice.]
[Little Girl Jiji: …But it’s raining outside, big brother QAQ At least wait until the rain stops!]
[Chong: Get up.]
[Chong: Don’t whine.]
Wei Zhi: “…”
Today, Big Brother Jiao Nian is not in a very good mood, assessment is complete.
Also.
She wasn’t whining.
Putting down her phone, Wei Zhi kicked Jiang Nanfeng awake beside her, and yawning, she propped herself up, forced to start the day.
When they arrived at the ski equipment hall at 9:30, Big Brother Jiao Nian and the “scumbag pure-hearted coach” were already waiting there, looking like they had been waiting for a while…
Because there was a small puddle of melted snow where they were standing.
The rain hadn’t stopped, and the ski equipment hall was crowded with people seeking shelter from the rain (and snow).
The young girl, rubbing her hands that had turned red from the cold on the way, approached her Jiao Nian. She bumped his arm gently and playfully said, “Now we finally look like we’re rushing to participate in next year’s Winter Olympics.”
“…”
The person she bumped into didn’t respond.
His eyelashes just fluttered slightly as he looked down at her.
He stared for a few seconds.
“What’s wrong?” Wei Zhi felt uneasy under his gaze, completely puzzled. “What’s wrong, what’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
Slowly, the man finally spoke, averting his gaze, still in that indifferent tone.
“…”
Alright, today Big Brother Jiao Nian isn’t in a good mood, Wei Zhi thought.
“It’s snowing up on the mountain, big snowflakes! Skiing in the snow is the most comfortable state. You’re lucky to have caught this, don’t take it for granted, little sister!” Beside them, Lao Yan handed Jiang Nanfeng her snowboard and smiled as he joined the conversation, “Skiing videos look beautiful in the snow.”
“What videos? Someone said I ski like poop and I’m not even worthy of taking photos, let alone videos.” Wei Zhi pointed at the people sitting and resting in the ski equipment hall, “Don’t they know how to appreciate this?”
Before Lao Yan could answer.
Shan Chong glanced at her finger, directly ignoring the first half of her statement, and responded impassively: “Mm.”
Wei Zhi: “…”
Wei Zhi resignedly opened her arms to embrace the snowboard that had already been rented for her and placed nearby.
Before her fingertips could touch it, a hand reached out from beside her and pulled out three green things from behind her snowboard—they were the protective gear that Shan Chong had forcibly “borrowed” from his beloved student’s backstabbing yesterday.
Three green turtle plush toys.
Wei Zhi knew what these were because whether in the magic carpet area or up on the mountain, novice beginners were wearing them everywhere, stumbling and falling. Whenever they fell, it looked like they felt very safe…
Yesterday, when her bottom hurt particularly badly after a few falls, she had considered going to the ski equipment store to buy some to use.
But then she forgot.
Instead, it was her Jiao Nian who remembered her.
Wei Zhi was very touched.
She opened her arms to receive them: “I can hold back from arguing at least three times today.”
Just as her hand touched the little turtle’s tail, the turtle suddenly lifted a few centimeters.
“?”
Wei Zhi looked up at the man holding the little turtle in a victory goddess pose.
Shan Chong: “Suddenly, I don’t want to give it to you.”
Wei Zhi: “?”
Lao Yan: “…”
Jiang Nanfeng: “…”
Shan Chong: “Ungrateful brat.”
Wei Zhi was completely confused: “Why are you suddenly insulting me!”
Shan Chong’s face remained expressionless: “Because I feel like it.”
…You might feel like it, but I don’t!
And is this the tone of someone who “feels like it”?!
Are you trying to fool a pig?
Wei Zhi’s outstretched hand helplessly grasped at the air, feeling very wronged: “What’s wrong with you? Are you taking out your bad mood on an innocent young girl?”
Shan Chong ignored the “innocent young girl,” still maintaining that impassive, unmovable expression. He lowered his eyes and stared at the person in front of him for a long time.
This time, Wei Zhi puffed out her chest and stared back.
The two glared at each other.
“…”
His gaze deepened slightly.
A few seconds later, he clicked his tongue and tossed the turtles into her arms.
She caught them hurriedly, putting away her pitiful expression and burying her head to quickly put on the little turtles—
As if afraid that the free protective gear would be snatched back the next second.
Seeing this, Jiang Nanfeng thoughtfully rubbed her bottom: “Should I get a set too?”
Before Lao Yan could speak.
“You don’t need it if you don’t fall.” Shan Chong glanced at Wei Zhi, not leaving any face as he said, “Only people who fall a lot need it.”
Wei Zhi clicked the fastener on her waist closed, and upon hearing this, quickly looked up to glare at him.
“Want to try glaring again?”
Shan Chong made a move as if to snatch back the remaining knee pads. Wei Zhi quickly grabbed the knee pads and hopped behind Jiang Nanfeng: “What’s wrong with you? You’re very emotional today, and very aggressive.”
“…”
Shan Chong couldn’t be bothered to argue with someone who seemed blind.
He turned his hand, picked up the snowboard belonging to Wei Zhi from the table, and holding one snowboard in each arm, walked towards the exit. After a couple of steps, he seemed to remember something and looked back at Lao Yan: “Where are you guys going today?”
“We’re continuing to learn front edge today, going to the advanced C trail,” Lao Yan answered, “What about you?”
“This lazy one who learns slowly, back edge falling leaf, advanced A trail.” Shan Chong said without much regret, “Bye.”
With that, he turned and left.
Wei Zhi, who had just finished putting on the little turtle knee pads and straightened up, looked bewilderedly at his back, then helplessly at Jiang Nanfeng. Her dark eyes seemed to silently complain: See, my coach has a bad temper!
The latter smiled and bent down to pat the snowsuit pocket where the “blessed object” was kept, with a loving expression: “Go on, may the great master bless you to learn back edge falling leaf and front edge push in just one morning, so we can ski together in the afternoon.”
Wei Zhi swatted away her mischievous hand.
Making a face, she fiercely pulled down her ski goggles. Turning her head, she saw that her Jiao Nian had already walked dozens of meters away. With an “Oh no,” she waved goodbye to her friend and her coach, then turned to chase after him.
…
Jiang Nanfeng watched as Wei Zhi stumbled like a little penguin, flapping her wings as she chased after Shan Chong.
A voice drifted from behind: “What great master?”
Jiang Nanfeng turned around to see Lao Yan looking curious, so she told him about Wei Zhi’s encounter with a kind-hearted, benevolent great master who had given her a glasses cloth yesterday… After listening, he was silent for three seconds, then said: “Although this ski resort is big, famous skiers generally don’t like to come here! Those who play in the park are at the ski resort at the foot of the mountain, and then both current and retired professional athletes are all gathered at the Olympic venue ski resort next door.”
He counted on his fingers, then after a while, held up his index finger, stopping it less than three millimeters from the bridge of Jiang Nanfeng’s nose: “If there’s a great master at this ski resort, there should only be one.”
The fresh scent of soap wafted into her nostrils.
Jiang Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.
Lao Yan seemed unaware that this gesture had broken through personal space. He naturally withdrew his hand, tilted his head back slightly, and used his chin to point at the back of the man walking towards the cable car with two snowboards in his arms.
Jiang Nanfeng glanced over and calmly followed the topic: “You did tell me he’s very skilled, but Jiji said she saw that great master’s competition footage on TV, so that person should be a professional athlete.”
Lao Yan blinked: “That’s not contradictory. When Brother Chong represented the country in competitions, we were still playing in the mud… So, what’s wrong with showing his competition footage on TV?”
Jiang Nanfeng: “…”
Lao Yan sighed: “This morning, Backstab asked him why he changed his glasses cloth today, and this guy lied to us saying he dropped it on the way home after class yesterday. Oh my! I said he drives home himself, how could he drop anything!”
Amidst his sighs, Jiang Nanfeng roughly understood the whole story: “You mean someone failed to recognize Mount Tai right before their eyes.”
Lao Yan: “Maybe Brother Chong didn’t have a chance to take off his face guard in front of her, and in that one second when they happened to meet and he had taken it off, the surprise came too suddenly, so… she didn’t recognize him.”
Jiang Nanfeng: “…”
Lao Yan looked at Jiang Nanfeng with an innocent and harmless expression: “So, should we tell her?”
Jiang Nanfeng was silent for a few seconds.
“Let’s not,” she made her choice carefully and said sincerely, “I want to watch the show.”
…
Ten minutes later, on the cable car.
Sure enough, big snowflakes started falling halfway up the mountain.
Shan Chong stared out of the cable car, lost in thought.
Wei Zhi stared at Shan Chong, lost in thought.
Fixated on her Jiao Nian, whose sour face was evident even through his face guard, she was racking her brains trying to figure out what had gotten into him today to put him in such a bad mood. At this moment, her phone vibrated.
[Ginger Juice: I don’t know if you’ve heard this saying before, even if they’re usually heroes of Liangshan, gangsters of Hung Hing, or fierce dragons that overturn rivers, as long as they’re novice skiers, their lives are in the hands of their instructors once they’re on the mountain.]
[Little Girl Jiji: ?]
[Ginger Juice: [Praying hands][Praying hands][Praying hands][Praying hands][Praying hands]]
Wei Zhi, confused and with her scalp tingling, quickly locked her phone and sat up straight. The person who had been lost in thought heard the sound and slowly turned his gaze back, glancing at her.
The young girl smiled, showing her white teeth: “Jiao Nian, today will be a joyful and relaxing day, right?”
The man didn’t speak, remaining silent.
His gaze was full of coldness.
………………………
It seems the answer is “no.”
Wei Zhi: “…”
Today is also a day when she urgently wants to jump off the cable car halfway up the mountain.
How nice 🙂