“Can’t sleep?” Ji Yuqing asked softly.
Tang Yan stiffened in a panic, lying flat on her back and not daring to move. Her voice trembled, “A little…”
She could feel Ji Yuqing shifting beside her, turning to lie flat as well. Now both of them stared up at the dark ceiling beams overhead, unable to see a thing in the blackness.
“Do you want to tell me what’s keeping you up?”
Tang Yan clutched the edge of the blanket, hesitating. “I… my head’s just full of random thoughts. They keep rushing in all at once. I can’t quiet them down.”
“At your age, especially for girls, that’s normal. Me—at this age, I’ve learned to let things go. If I want to sleep, no worries can really keep me up,” Ji Yuqing said calmly.
“Aunt Ji, I…”
“What is it?”
Tang Yan sucked in a breath but couldn’t let it out the way she wanted. She still didn’t have the courage to say everything. She was afraid—afraid of being rejected, of ruining this peaceful, perfect moment.
“Nothing…”
Seeing that, Ji Yuqing didn’t press her. Instead, she changed the subject. “Want me to tell you the story about this family?”
“Yes, please.” Tang Yan agreed readily.
And that conversation stretched on for another hour. Bit by bit, Tang Yan came to understand everything. She was deeply moved by Aunt Ji’s kindness—how she had helped a struggling family without ever seeking praise or recognition. It made her admire her even more. Aunt Ji was truly someone worth loving.
Somewhere in the middle of that story, Tang Yan drifted off. When Ji Yuqing called her name softly and got no reply, she finally let out a sigh of relief. The kid was asleep. She reached over to tuck in her blanket, then closed her own eyes to rest.
They slept until morning.
Tang Yan jerked awake, sitting up with a start. The spot beside her was already empty. Sunlight streamed through the window. It was a beautiful day. Just as she rubbed her eyes, she heard someone coming up the stairs—it was Aunt Ji.
“Breakfast is ready. Come down when you’re done freshening up.”
“Okay, coming!” Tang Yan threw off the covers and jumped out of bed.
She washed up quickly using the warm water and face wash Aunt Ji had thoughtfully prepared. Not one to fuss, Tang Yan skipped the cleanser—just warm water was enough. In her mind, using face wash was a hassle, and in the time others spent on it, she could already be brushing her teeth. Her roommates were always amazed that even without skincare routines, her skin was still smooth and flawless.
Downstairs, she met the entire family—five members in total. The grandparents wore traditional clothing and had the kindest smiles. Breakfast was abundant. For the guests, the family had brought out a table and laid out all the dishes: rich milk tea, crispy roasted buns filled with juicy lamb, and a spread of foods Tang Yan had never even seen before.
After stuffing herself silly, Tang Yan leaned back with her hands on her stomach, struggling to get up. Ji Yuqing watched her with amusement. “Want to go out and walk off some of that food?”
Tang Yan didn’t get it at first. Then she realized what Aunt Ji meant.
The family had a daily tradition of herding their horses and sheep in the morning, searching for the best grazing spots. Since it was a rare chance, Ji Yuqing brought Tang Yan along.
The air here felt fresher than in Huadu. Streams from nearby snowcaps ran through the highland pastures, nourishing the lush green grass.
“Aunt Ji!”
“What?” Ji Yuqing turned at the call—just in time to have Tang Yan sneak a picture of her.
“Look! Doesn’t it look nice?” Tang Yan waved her over.
Curious, Ji Yuqing leaned in to see, but just then, Tang Yan switched the camera to selfie mode. Snap! A close-up of their faces, pressed together in the photo.
“You little rascal, getting sneaky now,” Ji Yuqing laughed, pinching Tang Yan’s nose playfully.
Tang Yan grinned and ran ahead. When she saw Aunt Ji lagging behind, she slowed down and pulled out her phone to admire the photo—blue skies, white clouds, her mischievous smile, and Aunt Ji’s adorable, wide-eyed expression. It was perfect.
Even zoomed in, Aunt Ji’s skin looked flawless. Anyone seeing the picture would never guess her actual age.
Tang Yan loved the photo. She posted it on her Moments, along with the candid of Aunt Ji she’d snapped earlier and other shots of the grasslands, sky, and livestock, making a neat nine-image grid.
While she was busy editing, Ji Yuqing was chatting happily with one of the herdsmen. Moments later, she returned leading a horse. “Yanyan, want to try?”
Tang Yan turned around and came face to face with the horse, gasping and stumbling backward. She was mortified to look that silly in front of Aunt Ji.
“I-I’ve never ridden a horse before,” she stammered.
“No problem. I’ll ride with you.” With that, Ji Yuqing mounted the horse in one fluid motion—cool and elegant like a heroine from a wuxia drama. She leaned forward, extending a hand. “Come on, sit in front of me.”
“Uhh…” Tang Yan hesitated. It felt… a bit too intimate.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try? Just once,” Ji Yuqing coaxed, her voice smooth and persuasive.
Tang Yan gave in. She reached out, and with Aunt Ji’s help, climbed up. She was surprised how high up it felt—the view was amazing.
“Let’s go.” Before she could brace herself, Ji Yuqing tugged the reins, and the horse began to move. Tang Yan yelped, heart pounding from the sudden motion.
After a full loop around the pasture, she finally relaxed, even started to enjoy it. “This is so fun!”
“Want something even better?” Ji Yuqing asked with a grin.
Before Tang Yan could respond, she gave the horse a stronger nudge. It broke into a run. They bounced wildly, wind whipping past them. Tang Yan’s heart thudded out of control.
And then, in all that rushing wind, she could hear Aunt Ji’s breathing, right by her ear. Each breath made her heart race. Her ears turned red. The combined thrill of the ride and Aunt Ji’s closeness was almost too much. Tang Yan was hooked.
They galloped for several rounds before finally slowing to a stroll.
“Fun, right?” Ji Yuqing asked.
Tang Yan nodded. “I didn’t expect it to be this fun! Wait—how do you know how to ride?”
“I used to be into it. Joined an equestrian club when I was younger.”
“Wow, Aunt Ji, that’s amazing!” Tang Yan looked at her like a fangirl.
“It’s not that hard. If you’re interested and willing to learn, you’ll get the hang of it.”
“But I bet it’s expensive…” Tang Yan imagined burning piles of money.
“Want to try it once we’re back in Huadu? I’ll take you.”
Tang Yan smiled and waved her hands. “Maybe not.” She didn’t want to splurge just because she liked something. She still had her own pride.
When they got back, the moment her feet touched the ground, she still felt like she was floating. After returning the horse, Ji Yuqing was praised by the herders for her skills. She laughed so hard her eyes crinkled.
Just then, Tang Yan got a video call from her annoyed roommates. On the screen, three girls glared at her.
“We’re stuck eating instant noodles at the inn and you’re out frolicking in the mountains? Ugh, so unfair!” cried Xia Zihan.
“Come back, Tang Yan! Our team leader’s about to lose it. Lu Wan and I can’t hold her back much longer,” said Han Shuang.
Lu Wan chimed in, “The scenery is gorgeous. And wow, your Aunt Ji looks even younger than you in that pic, haha!”
Shen Yuyin added, “A perfect match~”
Zhao Xiaoyun: “Wishing you two a lifetime of love”
Tang Yan panicked and DM’d Xiaoyun to delete the comment. Even though Shen Yuyin’s post wasn’t visible to Aunt Ji, Xiaoyun’s definitely was.
Just then, she glanced up—and saw that Aunt Ji was also looking at her phone.
Tang Yan froze.
Ji Yuqing turned to her with a teasing smile. “Your friends are pretty funny. Quite the jokers.”
Tang Yan: Dead.