“Tired?”
Danzeng cleared his throat, breaking the strange tension that had been lingering between them ever since they returned.
“We’ll head back to the guesthouse for lunch.”
He glanced at her.
“I still have plans for this afternoon.”
Lin Mo obediently shook her head.
As far as she was concerned, she was perfectly happy following whatever arrangements he made.
…
After lunch, Danzeng noticed the faint traces of fatigue still lingering beneath her eyes.
“You should take a nap first.”
His tone left little room for negotiation.
“We’ll go out again later.”
Lin Mo nodded and returned to her room.
She lay down on the soft bed and closed her eyes.
But sleep refused to come.
Every time she tried to relax, a familiar face appeared in her mind.
Dark eyes.
A calm smile.
A deep, steady voice.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Danzeng’s image seemed determined to occupy every corner of her thoughts.
Lin Mo suddenly rolled over and buried her face in the pillow.
Then she sat up in frustration.
Patting her warm cheeks, she muttered to herself,
“Lin Mo, what’s wrong with you?”
“Why can’t you stop thinking about him?”
She tossed and turned for over half an hour.
Not a trace of sleepiness appeared.
Just as she was about to give up, the distant sound of hoofbeats drifted through the window.
Curious, she got up and walked over.
The moment she looked outside, her eyes widened.
Danzeng was riding toward the guesthouse.
Without thinking, she hurried downstairs.
By the time she reached the courtyard, questions were already tumbling out one after another.
“You’re not riding the motorcycle today?”
“Where did the horse come from?”
“And where are we going?”
Danzeng had barely dismounted before being bombarded.
He couldn’t help laughing.
Reaching out, he affectionately rubbed the horse’s neck.
“So many questions.”
His eyes curved with amusement.
“Which one should I answer first?”
Without waiting for her reply, he continued,
“This is my partner.”
He patted the horse proudly.
“Dorje.”
“We’ve been together for more than ten years.”
Then he looked at Lin Mo.
“So today, I thought I’d introduce you two.”
Lin Mo blinked.
Then, completely serious, she stepped forward and politely greeted the horse.
“Hello, Dorje.”
The sincerity on her face was so genuine that Danzeng almost burst out laughing.
This girl…
Sometimes she was unbelievably adorable.
“Come on.”
He extended his hand toward her.
The familiar gesture instantly brought back memories of their previous ride.
Lin Mo’s face immediately turned red.
Still, she obediently placed her hand in his.
A second later, she let out a small gasp.
Once again, Danzeng effortlessly lifted her onto the horse.
And once again…
She found herself seated directly in front of him.
Surrounded by his warmth.
The familiar scent of cedarwood and mountain air drifted around her.
Her heartbeat immediately became uncooperative.
…
Dorje moved at an easy pace along a winding path through the grasslands.
Neither of them spoke.
The world seemed unusually quiet.
Only the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats echoed across the open plateau.
And somewhere beneath that rhythm…
The beating of two restless hearts.
The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable.
If anything, it felt increasingly dangerous.
Along the way, an elderly Tibetan man passed by.
The moment he saw them, a broad grin spread across his weathered face.
“Danzeng!”
he called out in Tibetan.
“Is this your girlfriend?”
Danzeng smiled.
He neither confirmed nor denied it.
Instead, he simply greeted the old man politely.
After the man left, Lin Mo looked back curiously.
“What were you talking about?”
Danzeng answered immediately.
Without even blinking.
“He thought you were my girlfriend.”
Lin Mo froze.
Then Danzeng added with a perfectly serious expression,
“And he said we make a very good-looking couple.”
For a second, Lin Mo’s brain stopped functioning.
The next moment, her face turned bright red.
Her cheeks bloomed like flowers beneath the summer sun.
Seeing her reaction, something stirred inside Danzeng’s chest.
His heartbeat unexpectedly quickened.
…
About fifteen minutes later, a vast pasture appeared before them.
Yaks and sheep wandered peacefully across the vibrant green grasslands.
Several traditional Tibetan tents stood nearby.
Thin wisps of smoke rose from cooking fires.
The rich aroma of butter tea mixed with the scent of fresh grass.
The entire scene radiated warmth and life.
Outside one of the tents sat a middle-aged Tibetan woman.
She was milking a cow with practiced ease.
Silver ornaments shimmered beneath the sunlight as her hands moved steadily.
“Mola!”
Danzeng called out with a smile.
Mola was a respectful title used for older Tibetan women.
The woman looked up.
The moment she saw them, her face lit up.
She immediately set aside the milk bucket and stood.
“Danzeng Tashi!”
“Lin Mo Dolma!”
Her smile widened.
“You’ve come!”
“Quick, come sit down!”
Lin Mo’s eyes instantly brightened.
This was her first time truly experiencing the daily life of Tibetan herders.
Everything felt fascinating.
Warm.
Authentic.
“Mola.”
She stepped forward eagerly.
“Can I try milking the cow?”
Qumu laughed.
“Of course!”
A small stool was brought over.
Lin Mo sat down.
Then copied Qumu’s movements exactly.
She grabbed the cow’s teat.
And squeezed.
Nothing happened.
She squeezed harder.
A few lonely drops finally appeared.
Most of them landed on her sleeve.
Not the bucket.
Lin Mo frowned.
Tried again.
This time, milk splashed everywhere.
Except where it was supposed to go.
The more nervous she became, the clumsier she looked.
“It’s okay.”
Danzeng’s voice sounded beside her.
“Think of it as part of the experience.”
He pulled a tissue from his pocket.
Then gently wiped the milk stains from her sleeve.
The gesture was so natural.
So effortless.
So unbearably gentle.
Lin Mo froze.
Even her breathing seemed to soften.
The only thing she could smell was the familiar cedarwood scent lingering around him.
…
After helping with the cows, Danzeng suggested feeding the yaks.
Most of the animals were calm and friendly.
Unfortunately…
One young calf had very different ideas.
Just as Lin Mo approached carrying an armful of grass, the mischievous little creature suddenly lowered its head.
Then charged.
“Baaah!”
“Ah!”
Lin Mo jumped in surprise.
Without thinking, she darted behind Danzeng.
And grabbed the corner of his jacket.
Danzeng immediately stepped in front of her.
Shielding her from the calf.
“It’s okay.”
His voice was reassuring.
“He’s just playful.”
“He won’t hurt you.”
Then he turned around.
Looking directly at her.
His eyes were filled with unmistakable tenderness.
Lin Mo suddenly found herself unable to look away.
…
A little later, Qumu invited them inside the tent.
Fresh butter tea.
Milk curds.
Simple hospitality.
Yet everything felt warm and welcoming.
The cozy tent quickly filled with the rich aroma of tea.
Lin Mo looked around curiously.
Then asked,
“Why is Mola here by herself?”
“Where’s her family?”
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
Silence settled over the tent.
After a moment, Danzeng spoke quietly.
“Her husband and son were working in Wenchuan in 2008.”
His expression darkened.
“They never came back.”
Lin Mo froze.
Wenchuan.
The moment she heard the name, old memories resurfaced.
The devastating earthquake.
The tragedy that had shaken the entire country.
Back then, she had only been a child.
Too young to truly understand death.
Too young to fully grasp loss.
Yet she still remembered her parents sitting in front of the television every day.
Crying.
She remembered crying with them.
Remembered refusing to watch cartoons because the news made her heart ache.
Later, her parents stopped letting her watch those broadcasts.
But the memories never disappeared.
When her school organized donations for the victims, she had carried her entire piggy bank to school without hesitation.
Danzeng continued softly.
“When I opened the guesthouse last year, I invited her to work there.”
“Mola is hardworking.”
“And optimistic.”
Lin Mo lowered her eyes.
A dull ache spread through her chest.
Every day, Qumu greeted people with laughter.
With smiles.
With warmth.
No one would have guessed that such pain existed behind that cheerful face.
Yet somehow…
She had managed to grow flowers from a life filled with sorrow.
…
Lin Mo picked up a piece of milk curd.
The flavor surprised her.
Slightly sour.
Rich and creamy.
Unlike anything she had tasted before.
As she looked up again, she suddenly realized something.
Danzeng was watching her.
Not casually.
Not accidentally.
Watching.
His gaze was warm.
Open.
Unhidden.
As though he no longer had any intention of concealing his feelings.
Caught off guard, Lin Mo quickly looked away.
Her heartbeat once again betrayed her.
…
Outside, the sun was slowly beginning to set.
Golden light spilled across the endless grasslands.
The livestock gradually returned to their pens.
In the distance, Qumu softly sang while she worked.
Her voice drifted through the evening air.
Gentle.
Melodic.
Beautiful.
The sounds of the pasture blended together into a picture of life on the Tibetan plateau.
A sudden feeling rose within Lin Mo’s chest.
Without hesitation, she pulled out her sketchbook.
Her pencil moved rapidly across the page.
Qumu milking the cow.
The mischievous calf.
The tents scattered across the grasslands.
The food resting on the table.
And beside her…
Danzeng’s gentle smile.
With only a few simple strokes, she captured the warmth and humanity surrounding her.
As she drew, a realization quietly settled inside her heart.
Perhaps…
This unexpected journey was the greatest gift fate had ever given her.
…
On the way back to the guesthouse, the setting sun painted the world gold.
Dorje carried them steadily through the glowing grasslands.
Ahead, a group of children appeared on the path.
School had just ended.
Their backpacks bounced as they ran.
The moment Danzeng spotted them, he dismounted.
Holding Dorje’s reins, he walked over.
Instantly, the children erupted with excitement.
“Brother Danzeng!”
“Brother Danzeng is back!”
The group rushed toward him from every direction.
Tiny figures surrounded him.
Talking all at once.
Laughing.
Smiling.
The familiarity between them was obvious.
They treated him like family.
Still seated on Dorje’s back, Lin Mo watched the lively scene with growing curiosity.
Unable to hold back any longer, she finally asked,
“You know all of these children?”