You Mingxu arranged her sleeping bag and brought out some chocolates and snacks from her bag to share with the girls. They accepted and reciprocated by offering some snacks and water. They all got along politely and pleasantly.
Zou Fuyu said, "Hey, your friend is cool, what does he do?" completely in the manner of a girl gossiping about a handsome stranger. Song Lan said, "Enough of you, keep it down." As Zou Fuyu laughed, You Mingxu replied, "He said he works in IT."
Zou Fuyu asked, "Where is he from?"
You Mingxu replied, "I didn't ask."
Zou Fuyu said, "I'll ask him later then." As Song Lan rolled her eyes, Zou Fuyu said, "Oh, come on, can't I admire a handsome guy? What do you think I'm going to do? It's boring on the road, this is what's called a romantic adventure, don't you know? At least he's pleasant on the eyes, right?"
This made even You Mingxu laugh, thinking of Gu Tiancheng's silent driving, his profile, his shoulders, his hands. Indeed, he was quite pleasant to look at. That man had a somewhat attractive aura about him.
Ming Tao chimed in, "You guys, how can you have no sense of caution around strange men? Be careful you meet a serial killer."
Earlier, he had been warning the two ladies about the "highway serial killer", but they were only slightly surprised and didn't really care. Zou Fuyu said, "Even if there are serial killers, Tibet is so big, what are the chances of bumping into one?" Li Lan also said, "Yeah, we're actually quite cautious. There are three of you guys, and none of you look like bad people."
So when Ming Tao brought up the dangers of killers again, the two just laughed and continued chatting with You Mingxu. Not getting attention from the ladies, Ming Tao sulked for a while and started fiddling with the last bit of battery on his phone.
Just as You Mingxu was about to return to her tent, she saw that figure who had caught the girls' eyes, coming out from behind the house. Being outdoors, it wasn't hard for You Mingxu to guess what he had just done.
As he approached her, he looked at her and also laughed, "Why are you staring at me?"
You Mingxu replied, "I was wondering... where you're from and where you're headed."
Gu Tiancheng paused, sitting down in his tent. Their tents were next to each other, and You Mingxu looked at him with his jacket half slung over his well-formed shoulders. He lit a cigarette, his face barely visible in the dim light. "I come from everywhere and am headed nowhere," he answered, laughing at his own joke, then continued, "Just kidding, I came from Jiangcheng and need to go back there. What about you? Where are you from?"
Perhaps, this was a particularly serene and gentle moment. The sky was clear, dark blue and transparent, stars poking through. The wind blew through the field between the mountains, and the dim light set an unpretentious mood as two people sat cross-legged on the ground inside their tents, casually chatting.
Avoiding his gaze, You Mingxu answered, "I'm from Xiang City. From the same place as our serial killer that Ming Tao idolizes." She laughed as she finished speaking, Gu Tiancheng also laughed and said, "That's close."
"Yes, just one river apart."
He offered, "Want one?"
"Sure." She took the cigarette and lighter, not many left of the "World Unity" brand.
"This cigarette from Hunan is quite good." he said.
She laughed, placed one in her mouth, saying, "I usually can't afford them, thanks."
Gu Tiancheng chuckled and said, "If you ever come to Jiangcheng, I'll supply you." After a pause, neither said anything. She simply held the cigarette between her fingers, smiling faintly.
Her long hair draping down, the jacket was draped over her, revealing her black, tight T-shirt underneath. At first glance, her almond-shaped eyes and red lips gave her a naturally seductive look. But upon a closer look, her eyes were extremely clear, and the brow revealed an aura of determination, making her seem calm and pure.
Gu Tiancheng had rarely been interested in women, but sitting opposite such an individual, he felt a slight movement of emotions he hadn't felt for a while. After being alone and silent for so long, he even started to miss the hustle and bustle of the city and skirmishes on the business fields. Yet unexpectedly, he had met such a woman, beautiful, stubborn, mysterious, intelligent, and unpredictable.
"Do you find your job interesting?" asked You Mingxu.
Gu Tiancheng replied indifferently, "It's okay. It keeps me busy flying around and attending to social engagements. I prefer being alone."
You Mingxu's thin lips parted slightly, she exhaled a graceful smoke ring and asked, "Aren't you in IT? Why do you have to travel so much?"
Gu Tiancheng gave a light chuckle, "I manage technical things."
You Mingxu: "Oh," she thought for a while and then realized he could be some sort of executive. She then asked, "So, why did you come to Tibet? In search of a dream? Escapism? Spirituality?"
Gu Tiancheng remained silent for a while, engrossed in his thoughts, then laughed and said, "Do you believe that a trip to Tibet can lead to spiritual liberation?"
You Mingxu shook her head straightforwardly, "Of course I don't believe in that. I believe in self-rescue."
Gu Tiancheng looked at her and nodded, "You're right. I came to Tibet purely for fun. I was never enthusiastic about those unrealistic expectations. What about you? Why did you come to Tibet?"
You Mingxu finished her last puff, gently put out the cigarette in the soil, and, without lifting her head, replied, "Isn't setting off on an unknown journey somewhat intriguing? You never know what will happen the next day. For instance, I met a robber today, but you too. Now, I'm spending the night in a tent in the wilderness with four strangers, and smoking a luxury cigarette I normally can't afford."
Gu Tiancheng propped himself up with his arms, his face lifted slightly and his eyes filled with a deep sense of amusement, he whispered, "Confidante."
This was probably the second time this man, usually stern and restrained, had shown a spirited side since humming along in the car. However, You Mingxu didn't appear particularly joyful or flustered. She simply mimicked his posture, stretching her arms and legs on the ground. She moved her beautiful long legs a bit then asked, "Do you have a girlfriend? Or are you married? Don't tell me you, a man like you, is still single."
The color drained slightly from Gu Tiancheng's relaxed face. He pulled out another cigarette, and lit it quietly, covering the flame with his hand. He took a couple of puffs, then put on a rather gentle and soft smile, "I had."
You Mingxu studied him intently.
He continued, "I was too busy and spent too little time with her back then. She left because she couldn't wait for my success."
You Mingxu remained silent. His story was common, yet there was something poignant about him telling it.
She urged, "One should always look forward."
"Hmm," he agreed, "I've long forgotten her. She was not worth it. There are many things in life worth pursuing."
You Mingxu flashed a smile of approval, then asked, "What about now?"
Gu Tiancheng gazed at her, the laughter evident in his voice, "What?"
"You haven't had a girlfriend since then?"
His eyes sparkled with playfulness, "No. I have been waiting for someone. You've been asking me so many questions, how about you? Don't tell me a woman like you doesn't have a boyfriend."
Throwing her own words right back at her, You Mingxu smirked and replied, "Thank you. I..." she looked up at the sky as if trying to glimpse something in its vast depth. Gu Tiancheng heard her murmur: "I've also been waiting for someone."
Gu Tiancheng followed her gaze to the night sky. Its deep colors resembled a dream from which one might never awaken, yet the starlight twinkled gently upon it. Gu Tiancheng thought, 'So, it's true. You can spend years with someone, love them for years, and still not truly know who they are. Yet, with another, a few hours can make you feel as if a bolt of lightning has silently burst across your life, leaving you on the verge of understanding something profound.'