Chapter 48: An Impromptu Departure, Part Five

After resting for a few days, the group resumed their journey toward Lhasa.

Su Zhou and Gu Shisheng had been having the time of their lives. Whenever they came across a scenic spot, they insisted on stopping to explore it. Since they were in no hurry, Su Yu did not object. They meandered along the way, stopping and starting, and because of the speed limits, drove at an exceedingly leisurely pace.

The high altitude of the region posed a problem, however. Even after taking a bus to many of the attractions, visitors still had to walk some distance before they could properly take in the scenery.

The men managed well enough, but Gu Yao gradually found herself unable to keep up. Her legs ached terribly, and once she reached the top, she could do nothing but gasp for breath, with no energy left for sightseeing.

Gu Shisheng took obvious delight in her misery. “Sis, so you have days like this too?”

Before they had left, Su Yu had insisted that Gu Yao put on layer after layer of clothing. With a huge scarf covering half her face, she was bundled up like a baby.

She tugged the scarf down to expose her mouth, glared at her brother, and exhaled a plume of white breath. “Don’t get too smug. Be careful, or I’ll send you back to tend the boiler again!”

The moment Gu Shisheng heard the word boiler, his spirits wilted. “Please, Sis, I’m begging you—don’t mention that word…”

After deciding that these excursions were simply too exhausting, Gu Yao stopped getting out of the car whenever they reached such attractions, firmly insisting that she would rather wait inside. Su Yu naturally stayed with her.

Seeing that there was still plenty of time before Gu Shisheng and Su Zhou returned, he drove her slowly around the nearby area. Unexpectedly, after turning onto a narrow road, they emerged into a suddenly expansive view and caught sight of the landscape on the far side of the glacier. Though it lay some distance away, it was astonishingly beautiful.

The two of them got out and stood by the roadside, taking photographs.

The air was crisp and fresh. Vast banks of cloud hung lightly over the mountain peaks, blending almost seamlessly with the snow gathered at their summits. When a gust of wind swept past, the clouds drifted with it. As they parted slightly, they dissolved into mist that wrapped around the mountaintops, creating a scene straight out of a fairyland. When Gu Yao zoomed in, she stared intently at the image on the camera, half expecting an immortal riding the clouds to fly out of it the next moment. She found it utterly enchanting.

To see such magnificent scenery without climbing a slope or paying an entrance fee left Gu Yao thoroughly satisfied. After admiring it for a while longer, she and Su Yu went to find something to eat, then returned to collect Gu Shisheng and Su Zhou.

Though the two men were in good physical condition, they were still panting heavily when they came down, their faces nearly purple. Only after asking them did Gu Yao learn that they had missed the bus back down and had walked the entire way themselves.

When she asked what the scenery at the top had been like, Gu Shisheng looked even more despairing. “There was nothing at all! Just a few big trees, and a viewing platform at the very top. The only thing it had going for it was the wider view. Once we took our pictures, there was nothing left to do.”

Gu Yao took out her camera and showed him the photographs she had just taken.

Gu Shisheng was stunned. “Where did you take these? They’re much better than the view from the platform!”

Learning that there was a free spot with even better scenery, the two men nearly died of regret. Yet their greater regret was still to come. Since Gu Yao and Su Yu had already eaten, they intended to continue on without stopping for another meal. The two unlucky men could only remain in the car and eat the food they hated most of all: instant noodles.

On the fourth day, they arrived in Lhasa. It appeared to be an extremely modern city, with buildings much like those in any other city and an abundance of commercial streets catering to tourists.

After finding an inn and settling in, they went out for a casual stroll. When they passed several shops selling ethnic handicrafts, Gu Yao went inside and picked out a few pieces of silverware. She was particularly fond of such little treasures.

One shop specialized in antique jewelry. Its old-fashioned silver bracelets bore the marks of time. Though their surfaces were no longer gleaming, they possessed an unexpected charm.

Gu Yao chose a pair of earrings. Just as she was about to try them on, another tourist stepped in front of the mirror, so she decided to wait. Su Yu reached over from behind, took the earrings from her, and carefully fastened them to her ears. Then he pulled out his phone so she could see herself.

In the front-facing camera, the woman’s profile looked delicate and charming. As she moved, the earrings trembled lightly with her, making her appear even more lively.

Satisfied with what she saw, she decided to buy them. Before she could say anything, Su Yu spoke first. Gently flicking one of the dangling earrings with his fingertip, he smiled. “Buy them. And that bracelet too. They look lovely on you.”

What woman would not enjoy such praise?

Gu Yao turned toward the reflection in the glass door. The earrings immediately seemed even prettier. Cheerfully, she carried them to the counter, only to find that Su Yu had already handed over the money.

She turned to look at him, wanting to refuse. It was not false modesty; she simply felt that she had money of her own and had no need to let him pay.

Su Yu had anticipated her reaction. He smiled and said, “Jewelry is meant to be a gift from a man to the woman he loves.”

The shopkeeper, a woman in her fifties, immediately chimed in. “Your boyfriend is right, miss. Just listen to him!”

Her voice was loud enough to draw everyone’s attention. Gu Yao said nothing more.

After walking on for a while, Su Zhou and Gu Shisheng plunged into the food street nearby. The remaining two were more than happy to enjoy the quiet. Gu Yao’s hand was clasped in Su Yu’s large, warm one. The weather was pleasant as well; beneath the sunlight, it was far less cold than it had been during the previous few days.

A Tibetan clothing shop stood by the roadside. The large advertising photographs outside caught Gu Yao’s attention, and she stopped to take a closer look. The garments were filled with exotic charm and looked exceptionally beautiful.

“Would you like to go in and try something on?” Su Yu asked, pulling her inside.

The shop specialized in renting clothing to tourists for photographs. As soon as the two entered, someone came forward to greet them and enthusiastically introduced the various outfits. Gu Yao had originally intended to try on something ordinary.

Su Yu suddenly asked, “Do you have anything people wear for weddings?”

The shopkeeper smiled. “So the two of you are planning to get married? Of course we do. We have plenty of outfits here. Come upstairs and take a look.”

She led them to the second floor, where rows of Tibetan garments were displayed. There were clothes for both men and women, all decorated with exquisite patterns.

Gu Yao selected an outfit and entered the fitting room. She stood there with her arms outstretched while the shopkeeper helped dress her. The garments were far too complicated for her to put on by herself.

Halfway through, Su Yu knocked on the door. The shopkeeper’s fussing had made Gu Yao feel somewhat awkward. She stood there with her arms spread like a wooden doll, able only to turn her head slightly and call out, “The door isn’t locked. Come in.”

Only then did he push the door open. Tall and broad-shouldered, he immediately made the fitting room seem cramped.

He came straight over. After watching the shopkeeper for a moment, he roughly understood how the clothing should be put on. Taking the final garment from her hands, he said, “I’ll do it.”

The shopkeeper stepped aside and retreated a pace, offering verbal instructions from where she stood.

With him there, Gu Yao no longer felt self-conscious. His movements were quick and practiced. She smiled and lowered her head to watch him dress her, then let her arms fall and reached up to stroke his hair.

“What is it? You couldn’t wait even a moment?”

“Yes.”

By then, Su Yu had straightened and finished tying her sash. He turned to the shopkeeper and asked, “Is this right?”

“Yes. If you want it more elaborate, she’ll need to have her hair braided and wear a headdress.”

“Then braid it,” Gu Yao said with a nod.

Her hair had grown quite long, more than enough for several styles. Besides, she had been intrigued by the hairstyles of Tibetan women in the photographs outside.

The shopkeeper led her out and seated her on a stool. She undid Gu Yao’s ponytail, gave it a quick comb, and began braiding.

The process was extremely intricate. During it, Su Yu selected a groom’s outfit and went in to put it on. By the time Gu Yao’s hair was finished, he emerged as well.

She turned her head and froze.

She had never imagined that he would look so handsome in Tibetan clothing. His tall figure suited the broad robe perfectly, without the slightest hint of awkwardness. He wore Tibetan boots, and his features were striking and handsome, his bearing powerful. He looked as though he had stepped straight out of a television screen.

Because the outfit was intended for a wedding, it was especially formal and took a long time to put on. After walking over, he examined her hairstyle and nodded with satisfaction, his dark eyes fixed intently upon her.

Her hair had been woven into numerous fine braids, with a few wisps falling loose over her forehead. Her complexion looked pale and delicate, making her appear much younger. The many ornaments in her hair brought out the beauty of her features, giving her an indescribably graceful allure.

His gaze lingered on her. The tenderness in his eyes made her feel embarrassed, especially with the shopkeeper standing nearby. Gu Yao lowered her head instinctively, only for him to lift her small chin in the next instant.

After studying her carefully for a while longer, Su Yu gave a soft laugh and praised her. “Beautiful.”

They were only two simple words, yet coming from him, they carried an entirely different weight. Gu Yao was not usually prone to blushing, but now a warm flush spread across her cheeks.

She raised a hand to cover her face, unable to understand why she had suddenly become so shy, like a young girl. After analyzing it in confusion for a while, she decided it must be because she was unaccustomed to the new hairstyle.

Then the man suddenly took her hand. Pulling her to her feet, Su Yu put an arm around her and led her to the mirror.

In the reflection stood two figures dressed in splendid attire—familiar, yet strangely unfamiliar. Gu Yao stared at them in a daze.

The two of them really did look like newlyweds.

The tall man stood behind her and gave a quiet laugh. Reaching around from behind, he slipped an arm around her waist and leaned down to ask affectionately, “Look at you now. Don’t you look just like a shy bride?”