CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: FATHER-IN-LAW CALLS +9

Climbing up a mountain is a breeze; it’s the descent that truly tests your will—this statement is no joke.

On the ascent, spirits were high, with thoughts only on how to have fun; fatigue didn’t even register, and up we climbed, step after step. But on the way down, the sole desire was to hurry back for a meal and some rest, making the path seem endless; it felt like walking for half a day to only cover half the distance.

"Are you very tired?" Qin Guanglin turned to look at He Fang. She had taken the lead on the way up, but now she was lagging behind.

"I’m exhausted. I didn’t realize the path was this long when we were climbing up..." He Fang complained, devoid of energy.

Rarely can girls’ physical strength surpass that of boys, except when it comes to shopping.

Qin Guanglin thought for a moment, then swung his backpack to the front to shield her and half-squatted, "Let me carry you."

Even he was feeling a bit worn out, let alone He Fang, who barely ate more than two mouthfuls in a meal—and it wouldn’t be a pretty sight if her adorable little feet got blisters...

"No need, you’ll overexert yourself," He Fang declined. She knew all too well how taxing it must’ve been for him, having carried the backpack and umbrella all day long.

"Hop on," Qin Guanglin insisted, "we only have a small stretch left, it won’t be too tiring."

"Really, there’s no need."

"If you don’t get on, I’ll just carry you down."

"..."

He Fang gave in, genuinely fearing this fool might do as he did that day and just pick her up. This time they were descending the mountain—any trip could send them both tumbling like rolling gourds.

Qin Guanglin supported He Fang’s thighs and lifted her slightly to find his footing as he proceeded downhill.

"Do I feel really light?" He Fang was overflowing with happiness, whispering in his ear as she planned on properly rewarding him later.

"Yeah, you eat like a kitten, how heavy could you be?"

"What if I become a big fatty and exhaust you to death?"

"If you turn into a big fatty, I won’t carry you." Qin Guanglin laughed, "Then you’ll have to carry me."

"Hmph, dare not carry me and see what happens." He Fang opened her mouth and gently nibbled on his ear, careful not to bite too hard.

"Stop that," Qin Guanglin blushed instantly.

He couldn’t figure out why his ear was so sensitive, her bite sending a tickling numbness through him, even causing his heart to skip a beat.

"Will you carry or not?"

"I will, aren’t I carrying you right now?"

"That’s good, here’s your reward, and I’ll make good on it later." He Fang wrapped her arms around his neck and stretched to plant a kiss on his face, "This one is a freebie."

"Wow, suddenly I don’t feel tired at all." Qin Guanglin’s steps noticeably lightened, "How about another one?"

"Alright, I’ll give you two more."

He Fang generously added another to his bounty, then giggled as she rested on his shoulder.

"I should work out like Sun Wen, so I can carry you everywhere, every day." Qin Guanglin beamed as he adjusted her higher up, his face, back, and hands all reaping the benefits—it was quite the profitable deal.

"Don’t be like him."

Qin Guanglin, puzzled, asked, "Do you know Sun Wen?"

"No," He Fang denied, then, on second thought, added, "I mean, you’re perfect as you are now. No need to work out; I’ve heard those gyms can be quite messy."

"Messy, huh?"

"Isn’t that chaotic?"

"I think it’s all right..." Qin Guanglin recalled the gym he had visited during university, "It seems like it’s always the guys hitting on the girls, I’ve never seen a woman hitting on a man, what are you afraid of?"

"Who’s scared?" He Fang muttered quietly, "With you being so clueless, you’d probably mistake someone flirting with you for a salesperson."

"How could that happen?" Qin Guanglin snorted, never considering himself clueless, "Can’t I tell if someone is hitting on me?"

"Yeah, you’re the best."

He Fang rolled her eyes secretly, "Tired yet? Let me walk for a while."

"Not tired." Qin Guanglin rejected without hesitation, striding down the mountain with a clackety sound.

It wasn’t until they reached the roadside at the bottom of the mountain that Qin Guanglin let her down to walk by herself. They caught a taxi within a few steps and returned together.

"Sweating and still pretending to be strong," He Fang wiped his forehead with her sleeve, feeling a bit sorry for him.

"Consider it a workout."

"We are going to visit the main peak tomorrow. If you can’t get out of bed, I want to see how you’ll manage to have fun."

"I already said I’m not tired." Qin Guanglin felt underestimated, very dissatisfied, "After we get out of the taxi, I can even carry you back with no problem."

He Fang felt somewhat helpless, "Alright, I know you’re tough."

Men often like to show off their strength, especially in front of the opposite sex, and even more so in front of someone they like. They would flaunt it to the skies.

A moment later, she suddenly slapped her thigh, "Oh no, I forgot to show you The Thunderclap Monastery. We’ve already missed it."

"It’s just a shabby little house, I saw it this morning."

The car continued to speed along, fearlessly cruising down the road, swiftly reaching their destination. The two paid the fare and headed upstairs together.

"Dinner first or shower first?" Qin Guanglin had sweated quite a bit and figured He Fang was likely the same, casually asking.

"Shower first, so we can eat dinner feeling fresh and clean."

He Fang took out the room card, opened the door, and wanted to pounce on the bed, but she remembered she hadn’t showered and forcefully restrained herself. She went to pull clothes out of her small suitcase without raising her head, "You shower first, you’re quicker."

"Okay, sure." Qin Guanglin had no objections since she would also have to wash her hair, which indeed took time.

Men’s showering was basically just a rinse. Turn on the shower, let it run over them, lather some body wash, rinse again—that was it, usually not taking more than ten minutes, at most fifteen.

When he came out drying his hair, He Fang’s game of "Fight the Landlord" still hadn’t progressed much. Seeing a new round just starting, she handed her phone to Qin Guanglin to play for her and went to shower with her clothes.

Qin Guanglin looked heartbroken at the three thousand beans on the phone’s screen; just yesterday, she was nearly at a hundred thousand, but now she was back to living on welfare. This woman could really lose big.

It was a good thing the system accumulated them; otherwise, he would have had to secretly create a new account to gather those hundred thousand beans.

"The phone’s ringing." Just as Qin Guanglin finished a round, He Fang’s phone started ringing. He picked up the phone and knocked on the bathroom door, intending to pass it through the gap.

"Don’t worry about it. I’ll call back later," He Fang’s voice came through from inside.

"Oh, okay." Qin Guanglin set the phone aside, anxiously eyeing the caller ID on the screen.

He.

Could it be her dad?

In the afternoon, her brother had found out she had a boyfriend, and now her dad was calling in the evening—was there a connection?

Qin Guanglin’s mind was filled with various possibilities. He glanced occasionally at the silhouette in the bathroom, at the phone.

The persistent ringing of the phone convinced him more and more that this call was about her getting a boyfriend.