Lin Mo couldn’t help recalling the scene from earlier.
Danzeng and Tashi Medo had stood side by side, both carrying the same faint sense of distance and reserve. They were handsome and beautiful, equally striking in appearance and temperament.
Together, they looked exceptionally well-matched.
For some reason, the thought left Lin Mo feeling irritated.
She opened the small gift bag Danzeng had given her.
Inside was a tube of hand cream.
The brand was LP.
Lin Mo remembered it clearly.
Back in college, there had been a wealthy girl in her dormitory who bought one every winter. A tiny tube cost well over a thousand yuan. The girl would constantly hold up her slender fingers and carefully apply it throughout the day.
Even watching her had made Lin Mo’s heart ache for the money being spent.
She vaguely remembered mentioning something while sketching in the mountains that day.
The plateau climate was so dry that her hands had started peeling.
She had only muttered it casually.
Yet Danzeng had heard it.
Not only had he heard it, he had remembered it.
Saying she wasn’t touched would have been a lie.
But that was all.
Lin Mo didn’t dare entertain any unrealistic hopes.
“You’ve been here for more than half a month already. How are you still this fair?”
Cizhen sat in front of the vanity, curiously examining Lin Mo’s skincare products.
Lin Mo pointed toward the oversized straw hat lying on the sofa.
“Your brother gave me that. I wear it almost every time I go out.”
She paused.
“And I use sunscreen.”
Cizhen sighed dramatically.
“Life is so unfair.”
“No matter how much sunscreen I use, it’s useless.”
“I’ve been dark-skinned my whole life.”
She pouted.
“It’s not pretty at all.”
“Who said that?”
Lin Mo replied sincerely.
“You look great.”
“You have a healthy, natural beauty.”
“You’re full of vitality.”
“That’s something unique.”
Cizhen shot her a sideways glance.
“You really know how to comfort people.”
She sighed again.
“I still envy your skin and Brother Gyatso’s.”
It was impossible to tell whether she was happy or annoyed.
Fortunately, Cizhen quickly fell asleep.
She had always been carefree like that.
Never worrying about anything.
Never carrying burdens in her heart.
The kind of person others couldn’t help but envy.
Lin Mo didn’t have classes that day.
Thinking about her steadily growing social media account brought her a small sense of satisfaction.
Just two days ago, a company had even approached her about advertising partnerships.
She had politely declined.
It felt too early.
She wasn’t interested in cashing in just yet.
At least she’d managed to build a small career of her own while she was here.
That thought comforted her.
She picked up her paintbrush, hoping to clear the chaos from her mind.
Unfortunately, the harder she tried, the more tangled her thoughts became.
Her inspiration refused to come.
Am I becoming someone who worries about gaining and losing?
Lin Mo disliked that version of herself.
Determined to do something productive, she grabbed her backpack and left.
Once again, she headed for the Zeba Hidden Paradise.
The last time she’d come here with Danzeng, her emotions had been too complicated.
Excitement.
Disappointment.
Anticipation.
She hadn’t even managed to focus properly on her work.
Ever since then, she’d wanted to return.
The journey wasn’t far.
Following the narrow path across the grasslands, she leisurely made her way there.
About half an hour later, she arrived.
Finding a spot with the perfect view, she sat down, switched off her phone, and immersed herself completely in painting.
There was no signal in this area.
And whenever Lin Mo entered a creative state, she completely lost track of time.
Back at the guesthouse, Cizhen woke up and couldn’t find her.
Concerned, she went looking for Danzeng.
Danzeng frowned immediately.
“Wasn’t she with you?”
“Maybe she went into the mountains to sketch again.”
Gyatso happened to walk over.
“She’s been carrying her sketchbook around lately.”
“Sometimes she disappears for most of the day.”
He smiled reassuringly.
“She’ll probably be back soon.”
But Cizhen remained uneasy.
“It’s almost dark.”
“The mountain trails are hard to navigate.”
“And there’s no signal out there.”
Her expression grew serious.
“Have you forgotten? A few years ago, we even ran into wolves.”
Danzeng glanced outside.
The sky was steadily darkening.
An uneasy feeling began spreading through his chest.
Without another word, he and Gyatso rushed out.
Each mounted a horse and galloped toward the mountains.
Meanwhile, Lin Mo had finally packed away her painting supplies.
The setting sun was sinking below the horizon, dyeing the sky in brilliant shades of orange and red.
She stretched her stiff limbs and prepared to head back.
“Beautiful lady, what are you drawing that’s got you so absorbed?”
A greasy voice suddenly sounded behind her.
Instantly, a chill ran down her spine.
She turned around.
A burly man stood not far away.
His fleshy face was twisted into a vulgar grin.
His eyes lingered on her with obvious lust.
Lin Mo recognized him immediately.
Awang.
She had seen him around the village before.
A lazy, idle man who never seemed to do any actual work.
Whenever he saw her, his narrow eyes openly roamed over her body.
Every time, she made sure to avoid him.
Whether this was a spur-of-the-moment impulse or something he had planned for a long time, his sudden approach immediately triggered her instincts.
Danger.
“All alone?”
Awang staggered forward a couple of steps.
The smell of alcohol rolled off him.
It was nauseating.
He had been eyeing Lin Mo for a long time.
The city girl was unbelievably fair-skinned.
Soft and delicate as water.
With a face that looked almost unreal.
The most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.
He had wanted her for a very long time.
And now he had finally found an opportunity.
“Aren’t you lonely?”
He grinned.
“Want your big brother to keep you company?”
Awang lit a cigarette.
After taking a deep drag, he deliberately blew the smoke toward her face.
The cheap, foul smell instantly filled the air.
Disgust flashed across Lin Mo’s eyes.
She forced herself to remain calm.
Quietly, she tightened her grip on the utility knife she carried for art projects.
“No need.”
Her voice remained steady.
“My boyfriend is nearby.”
“He’s coming over right now.”
Awang snorted.
His eyes swept across the empty grasslands.
The sky was growing darker.
There wasn’t another soul in sight.
Boyfriend?
Who was she trying to fool?
“Pretty girl.”
His smile widened.
“Lying isn’t very fun.”
His patience was gone.
He stepped closer and reached for her arm.
Lin Mo hurriedly retreated.
Too late.
Awang grabbed her wrist.
His grip was terrifyingly strong.
Like an iron vise.
Pain shot through her arm instantly.
“Let go of me!”
She struggled desperately.
But her resistance only seemed to excite him.
He tightened his hold even further.
During the struggle, several buttons on her shirt were torn away.
A patch of fair skin became exposed.
Her wrist twisted painfully, already beginning to bruise.
Awang’s expression darkened.
Her resistance enraged him.
And that glimpse of pale skin only fueled his desire.
He yanked her violently toward him.
“Who are you pretending for?”
His voice dripped with malice.
“Acting all pure and untouchable.”
“I bet you’re not nearly as innocent as you look.”
The filthy words made Lin Mo’s face burn with humiliation and anger.
In panic, she suddenly raised the utility knife.
Though fear filled her eyes, stubborn determination remained.
“I really do have a boyfriend!”
Her voice trembled.
“He’s coming right now!”
“If you don’t let me go, he won’t let you get away with this!”
The blade caught the fading sunlight.
For the first time, hesitation appeared in Awang’s eyes.
Yet he still refused to release her.
“Oh?”
He sneered.
“Then what’s your boyfriend’s name?”
Lin Mo nearly shouted the answer.
“Danzeng!”
“Danzeng Luobu!”
“You know who he is!”
“He’s very powerful!”
“If he finds out about this, you’ll regret it!”
The moment Awang heard the name Danzeng Luobu, his expression changed.
The arrogance on his face weakened.
A flicker of uncertainty appeared.
Danzeng was well-known throughout the surrounding villages.
His ancestors had lived on this land for generations, and he considered it his home.
Tall and strong, skilled in a fight, generous with others.
Over the years, he had contributed greatly to local development.
Despite his youth, he carried considerable influence.
Lin Mo immediately sensed his hesitation.
Without missing the opportunity, she twisted her wrist with all her strength and tore herself free.
Then she turned and ran.
As fast as she could.
She ran so frantically that she even abandoned her beloved sketchbook.
Her heart hammered violently against her ribs.
She had never run this fast in her entire life.
At that moment, she forgot everything.
Forgot to breathe.
Forgot the dangers of altitude sickness.
Forgot everything except one thing.
Escape.
Run.
Get away.
Her legs felt weak beneath her.
She stumbled repeatedly.
Fell.
Scrambled back up.
Then fell again.
Half running, half crawling, she threw herself down the mountain path with every ounce of strength she had left.