In the distance, snow-capped peaks; nearby, a cedar forest; several houses nestled amongst the tinted layers of trees; a small bridge over a stream; the morning mist embracing all the scenery within its hold—the little mountain village was picturesque.
Within this picturesque scenery stood two figures, one old and the other young.
Luo Ziling, with a travel bag on his back, was speaking to Luo Liansheng, who stood under the bridge at the entrance of the village.
"Grandpa, I'm leaving. You must take care of yourself," Luo Ziling said, his face full of reluctance.
"Go ahead," Luo Liansheng watched his grandson affectionately, smiling with a hint of sorrow.
Seeing the loving smile on his grandfather's face, Luo Ziling felt a wave of emotion but mustered a forced smile, "I'll come back to see you during the winter break, to spend the New Year with you. I'll show you the photos I took at school, tell you about university life, and bring you some specialties from Yanjing."
"During the winter break, you don't have to come back." Luo Liansheng's smile had a tinge of sadness, "By then, the paths will already be sealed off by heavy snow."
"No, I will definitely come back to spend the New Year with you."
"Ah!" Luo Liansheng patted Luo Ziling's shoulder heavily, said nothing more, and turned to walk back to his house.
Only after watching the old man enter his house and disappear from view did Luo Ziling turn around and stride away.
Upon crossing the bridge and exiting the valley, facing the vast grassland, Luo Ziling stopped in his tracks and looked back at the beautiful mountain village where he had lived for nearly twenty years.
He took out a slightly yellowed photograph from his pocket and stared at it with a complex expression, the astonishingly beautiful woman in it causing him to mutter somberly, "After all these years, why haven't you come to see me?"
No matter how many unspoken hardships you have, but having abandoned me twenty years ago and never coming to see me, at least for now, I cannot forgive you—as for later, we'll see!
"I'm going to study in Yanjing; will you come to see me? If someday, you unintentionally appear outside my classroom, how will I feel? Will I cry or smile, or would I not want to acknowledge you?"
He glanced at the photograph silently a few more times, carefully put it away, and then shouldered his travel bag properly before walking on without looking back.
After two hours of walking across the grassland beyond the valley, Luo Ziling reached the nearest small town to their village.
This town, represented by merely a dot on the provincial map, was the liveliest spot for miles around.
He caught the daily bus that only went one way to the county town, had lunch there, and then took the afternoon train heading to the provincial capital, Wushi.
The plane he was to catch was departing at ten o'clock the following morning.
After a grueling train journey lasting more than ten hours, Luo Ziling finally arrived in Wushi.
This was Luo Ziling's first time flying, and he had no idea how to proceed with the boarding formalities.
As Luo Ziling was about to ask at the information counter, he accidentally bumped into a pretty woman with a suitcase.
The woman with the suitcase walked quickly with her head down, while Luo Ziling was looking around; thus, their collision was entirely unintended.
"Sorry," almost knocking the woman over, Luo Ziling quickly apologized.
"It's okay, I wasn't careful," the mature and attractive woman, who looked to be in her thirties, examined Luo Ziling closely before breaking into a brilliant smile, "Handsome boy, did I hurt you?"
Relieved by the woman's friendly reaction, Luo Ziling quickly shook his head, "No!"
As they spoke he became somewhat shy, his expressions always revealing his discomfort under the gaze of a beautiful woman.
The woman did not leave immediately but looked Luo Ziling over and continued to chat, "Handsome boy, are you in a rush to board your plane? What time is your flight? Have you checked in yet?"
"My flight is at ten o'clock," Luo Ziling said, growing even more embarrassed, "I haven't checked in yet."
"What a coincidence?" The beautiful woman asked with curiosity, "My flight is also at ten o'clock. Which flight are you on?"
After checking his ticket, Luo Ziling replied, "CZ6901."
"That's such a coincidence, I'm on the same flight," the beautiful woman laughed joyfully, "How about we go check in together?"
Luo Ziling, unsure of how to check in, was instantly delighted and quickly agreed.
Following the beautiful woman, Luo Ziling quickly completed his boarding procedures.
The beautiful woman helped him pick a seat, and their seats were next to each other.
During the boarding process, Luo Ziling also learned that the beautiful woman's name was Li Jing, a Yanjing native, on a business trip to Wushi.
He was very glad that the accidental bump had saved him a lot of trouble.
Li Jing was very enthusiastic, taking care of all the procedures for him, and it was she who led Luo Ziling onto the plane.
During the flight, she helped Luo Ziling get a meal and drinks, chatted with him all the way, and told him about Yanjing.
Li Jing's warmth eliminated Luo Ziling's caution and led him to share his purpose for going to Yanjing with her.
After Li Jing found out he was going to school, she told him many interesting stories about Yanjing University and things to pay attention to while studying.
Luo Ziling was even more grateful.
Having an enthusiastic beauty for company, the hours-long flight journey went by in a flash.
After getting off the plane, it was again Li Jing who led him to pick up his luggage.
After leaving the airport, Li Jing did not say goodbye to Luo Ziling, but took the same subway with him.
"I live near Yan University, we're on the same route," Li Jing said with a smile to Luo Ziling, "It seems I'm really destined to meet this handsome young man."
These words made Luo Ziling blush, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.
Being unfamiliar with everything, he was very glad to have met someone as enthusiastic as Li Jing; otherwise, he would have faced many more difficulties.
He was extremely thankful to Li Jing.
Lacking a mother's love since childhood, in just a few hours of contact, he had developed a deep attachment to Li Jing.
He couldn't help but wonder if that woman would also have been this good to him if she were by his side.
Thinking about this, a sour feeling involuntarily rose in his heart.
Li Jing and Luo Ziling exited the subway station, accompanied him to the gate of Yan University's campus, and took a few photos of him with her phone.
"Once you've bought a phone, I'll send you the photos!" On the plane, Li Jing had already learned that Luo Ziling didn't have a phone. She gave him her phone number and made him promise to notify her once he bought a phone.
Luo Ziling naturally agreed.
When saying goodbye to Li Jing, Luo Ziling sincerely said thank you, "Mrs. Li, I'm very thankful for your help."
"Meeting is destiny, and who knows, we may meet again," Li Jing said, smiling and waving goodbye to him.
After watching Luo Ziling enter the campus, she finally took a long breath, took out her phone, and dialed a number.
The call connected immediately.
"Hello," a rather magnetic female voice came from the other end of the phone, "Li Jing, have you arrived in the Capital?"
"Miss, it's me," Li Jing's face showed respectful deference, "We've arrived, and I've safely brought him to the campus of Yanjing University."
The woman on the phone was silent for a moment and then, trying to suppress the excitement in her heart, said softly, "You've worked hard!"
"Miss, I've taken some photos of him, I'll bring them to..."
Li Jing was interrupted before she could finish her sentence: "Send them to me now, immediately!"
"Yes, Miss!"