The scenery at Mountain Summit was beautiful, and the air was fresh. The only problem was that it was a bit boring while waiting for the rest of the group to climb up.
Mu Jing noticed an ice cream stand not far away. She pointed at it and said to Xu Ge, “Xu Ge, I want ice cream. Milk flavor!”
While Xu Ge went over to buy it, Mu Jing wandered around the area nearby.
She was good-looking and tall, so it was easy for her to attract people’s attention.
Soon, encouraged by his friends, a young man ran over and greeted her enthusiastically with a smile. “Miss, would it be convenient to add each other on The Federation account?”
The Federation account was an online chat application launched by The Federation. It was equivalent to the WeChat from Mu Jing’s previous world, except that The Federation account belonged to the state and was much more strictly regulated. Every person had one—and only one—Federation account.
If someone wanted to maintain alternate accounts for flirting or other purposes, they would have to use other chat applications.
Mu Jing smiled and shook her head. Then she pointed at Xu Ge, who was walking toward them. “Sorry, I already have a boyfriend.”
The man shrugged. “Alright then. I wish you two a long and lasting relationship.”
“Thank you.”
I also hope I can live a long and lasting life…
Mu Jing gently let out a breath. When she looked back at Xu Ge, her face was full of pride. “Did you see that? This young lady’s charm.”
“Mm.” Xu Ge handed her the ice cream. Then, in a serious tone, he reminded her, “Be careful about casually giving your phone number to strangers. Your information could get leaked.”
Mu Jing had been about to take the ice cream, but upon hearing that, she immediately snorted and placed both hands on her hips. “How can you make your girlfriend tear open the wrapper herself? That’s really too much!”
Xu Ge remained expressionless. “You can’t tear it open?”
Mu Jing answered confidently, “I can’t.”
Shameless and invincible.
Xu Ge was rendered helpless by her behavior. He tore open the wrapper and handed her the ice cream. “Can you bite it?”
“Hmph. Whether I can bite it or not is none of your business.” Mu Jing was satisfied now. While biting the ice cream, she took out her phone and opened the camera. “Quick, stand behind me. Let’s take a photo.”
“You can take it yourself.”
“…Xu Ge, I really don’t understand. Is it better to refuse to repay a debt, or is saving someone’s life not important anymore?”
“…Does Miss Mu plan to use the life-saving favor to threaten me for the rest of my life?”
“Hmm… why wouldn’t that be possible?” Mu Jing pouted. Even though she tried to hold it back, the smile at the corner of her lips was obvious.
Xu Ge fell silent for a moment, then walked behind her. They took a photo together.
After that, Mu Jing stuffed the phone into his hands and had him take several pictures of her in some of the nicer spots around Mountain Summit. When she checked them afterward, the scenery looked beautiful—but the person in the photo looked short and ugly.
“What kind of photos did you take? I told you to take pictures of me. Why are you photographing the scenery?”
“Didn’t you see yourself in the photo?”
“I’m one meter seventy-five when I wear shoes. Do I look like one meter seventy-five in that picture?”
“…It’s enough that you know how tall you are.”
“What do you mean it’s enough that I know? I’m posting these photos, idiot! I look so ugly I might as well die.”
Seeing her stomp her foot in anger, Xu Ge comforted her, “Don’t always talk about dying. It’s inauspicious.”
“You—!” Mu Jing glared at Xu Ge’s innocent and serious eyes. He clearly meant what he said and was sincerely trying to advise her. A man who didn’t even have a smartphone couldn’t really be expected to know how to take good photos.
“Hmph, forget it.” Mu Jing snatched the phone back. “There’s no point getting angry with you.”
Xu Ge didn’t know how to respond, so he remained silent.
And in that silence, the rest of the group finally climbed up to Mountain Summit.
“It’s so hot. I’m never climbing a mountain again.” Xin Shi tugged at his collar and fanned himself. When he saw Mu Jing and Xu Ge, he immediately ran over. “Mu Jing, taking the cable car really is faster. Are you feeling better now?”
“Much better.” Mu Jing smiled. “Thanks for asking.”
“It’s nothing. Friends care about each other.” Xin Shi patted Xu Ge on the shoulder. “Too bad your boyfriend took the cable car with you. I originally wanted to talk with him about No. 3 Middle School.”
Xu Ge’s eyes swept over the slightly forceful fingers on his shoulder. Just as he was about to raise his hand, Mu Jing had already wrapped her arm around Xu Ge’s arm.
“Then you two can chat later. Right now I want to eat ice cream.”
She pulled Xu Ge away.
Xin Shi stood there, his gaze heavy as he stared at the arms linked together.
“Xin Shi, want a cigarette?” Another person handed him one and advised, “Stop staring. He’s just an ordinary person who hasn’t awakened any abilities. Do you think Mu Jing’s father would ever agree to them being together?”
“I’m just unwilling to accept it… damn it. I’ve been chasing her for so long.”
“Does it hurt?” Mu Jing looked up at Xu Ge. “That guy is the one that gives me the biggest headache… one of my pursuers. Always full of himself, bragging nonstop.”
“He looks like a headache,” Xu Ge said calmly.
“Hm? Are you saying he’s ugly? Actually he looks okay. Just a bit… non-mainstream.”
Xu Ge: …
He almost laughed in irritation and let out a cold snort. “If your standards are at that level, then canceling this engagement was really a huge loss for me.”
Mu Jing pressed the ice cream she had bought against his face. “What loss? You showed up at my house out of nowhere with a marriage contract. I was completely confused too, okay? I even thought my dad was going to sell me.”
“Who would buy a woman who can’t even tear open an ice cream wrapper?” Xu Ge took the ice cream, tore off the wrapper, and handed it back to her. “You should eat less of this. It has preservatives and additives.”
“…That one was for you, idiot.” Mu Jing pushed it back toward him irritably. “Honestly, you’re such a… over-the-top old cadre.”
Although in the story Xu Ge was indeed the type who was steady, reserved, and somewhat like an old cadre in daily life—but could become petty and vengeful when necessary—actually encountering that personality in real life still left Mu Jing feeling a little choked with irritation.
Xu Ge looked serious. “What does ‘over-the-top old cadre’ mean?”
“It’s a compliment.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“…You’re going to make me die of anger. If you don’t eat it, your ice cream will melt.” Mu Jing grabbed the hand holding the ice cream and raised it toward his mouth.
When Xu Ge opened his mouth and bit into the ice cream, she immediately said, “Even eating can’t shut your mouth.”
That sentence, Xu Ge understood. “I don’t talk much.”
Talking to Xu Ge felt like she was going to die of anger, but fortunately Mu Jing was generous and broad-minded. After being annoyed for a while, she was called away by the class monitor and the others to take photos.
On the way down the mountain, she held up the photos that the class monitor had taken for her and proudly showed them to Xu Ge.
“See this? Look at the ones our class monitor took, and then look at the ones you took. Do you think they’re photos of the same person?”
Xu Ge examined them carefully and analyzed calmly. “It’s enough that you know it’s the same person.”
He paused, then continued before Mu Jing could get angry again, “If you don’t like them, delete them. I don’t know how to take photos.”
“If you don’t know how, then learn! You’ll need to in the future—Ah!!”
The mountain path was steep, and Mu Jing nearly slipped and fell down the steps