When Danzeng first opened Wujie, his goal had been incredibly simple.
He hadn’t dreamed of building a famous bar.
He hadn’t planned to create a trendy hotspot.
And he certainly hadn’t expected to become the owner of one of Chengdu’s most beloved hidden gems.
Back then, all he wanted was a small refuge.
A place where he and a few close friends could sit together after a long day, share a drink, and temporarily forget the pressures of life.
As long as the business could break even, he would have been perfectly satisfied.
But life had a habit of surprising people.
Wujie’s quiet philosophy somehow resonated deeply with city dwellers.
It never chased trends.
Never relied on flashy marketing.
Never tried to be loud.
Yet because of that, people remembered it.
Young couples loved its privacy and intimacy.
Middle-aged customers came for the unique Tibetan-inspired drinks and the rare sense of peace they couldn’t find elsewhere.
Even retirees often stopped by to enjoy a drink while listening to old folk songs and reminiscing about the years behind them.
Without anyone noticing when it happened, Wujie became a legend among locals.
A secret that everyone seemed eager to share.
Sometimes, Danzeng would sit alone in a corner booth, watching the warm lights bathe the room in gold.
Listening to laughter.
Listening to quiet conversations.
Listening to the music.
Whenever that happened, a feeling of satisfaction would settle in his chest.
The sanctuary he had built for himself had somehow become a sanctuary for countless others.
…
Of course, there was another reason for Wujie’s popularity.
One that Danzeng knew nothing about.
Several years earlier, a customer had secretly taken a photo of him while he was mixing drinks behind the bar.
The image spread online.
And exploded.
A handsome Tibetan man.
Tall.
Mysterious.
Low-key.
Possessing the kind of rugged charm that instantly stood out.
Naturally, the internet lost its mind.
Before long, countless young women began visiting Wujie for one reason and one reason only.
To catch a glimpse of the handsome owner.
Unfortunately for them, most left disappointed.
Danzeng rarely appeared.
And even when he did, he usually mixed a drink or two before disappearing into one of the private rooms.
Meeting him was surprisingly difficult.
Which only made him more mysterious.
And therefore more popular.
…
“Brother Danzeng!”
A cheerful voice cut through the music.
Cizhen arrived at the bar and immediately leaned across the counter.
“Can you make me a drink too?”
She pointed at the glass in his hand.
“The same one you’re having!”
Danzeng glanced at her.
Then sighed.
The expression was one of pure resignation.
“You little troublemaker.”
His voice carried the familiar helplessness of an older brother dealing with a stubborn younger sister.
“You’re still young. Why are you drinking alcohol?”
He pointed toward the crowd.
“This isn’t Kangding.”
“If you get drunk and someone sells you off somewhere, don’t come crying to me.”
Cizhen immediately puffed up like an angry squirrel.
“Looking down on me?”
She placed both hands on her hips.
“Your alcohol tolerance might not even be better than mine.”
Danzeng shook his head, trying not to laugh.
“Did you come alone?”
“Nope.”
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
“I brought a friend.”
“Good.”
His expression softened slightly.
“Order whatever you want.”
“It’s on me.”
Then Cizhen suddenly remembered something.
“Oh!”
She pointed toward the seating area.
“I met an unbelievably beautiful girl on the plane today.”
“She’s sitting right over there.”
Danzeng casually followed her finger.
Then frowned.
The seat was empty.
“No one there.”
“Huh?”
Cizhen blinked.
“She was literally sitting there a second ago.”
Danzeng chuckled.
“Then your beautiful friend has already escaped.”
He set down the glass.
“I’m leaving.”
Pointing toward another bartender, he added,
“If you want something, ask him.”
“Got it!”
Cizhen waved enthusiastically.
“Bye, Brother Danzeng!”
Then she stuck out her tongue.
In her opinion, Danzeng had one fatal flaw.
He was far too responsible.
Seven years older than her, he had spent most of her life acting like an overprotective brother.
Always lecturing.
Always worrying.
Always looking after people.
Hopelessly boring.
At least according to Cizhen.
A moment later, she happily ordered two cocktails and returned to her table.
…
At the same time, Lin Mo was walking out of the restroom.
She had already decided to head back to the hotel.
After a full day of traveling, exhaustion was finally catching up with her.
As she passed near the dance floor, soft lights swept across the room.
The music played lazily through the air.
People moved gently with the rhythm.
Lin Mo carefully navigated through the crowd.
Her white dress swayed lightly with each step.
A faint breeze from the air conditioning brushed against her waist-length hair.
She lifted a hand and tucked several loose strands behind her ear.
For only a brief moment—
Her silhouette appeared within Danzeng’s line of sight.
And his heart skipped a beat.
Just once.
Instinctively, he took a step forward.
Then stopped.
A second later, he laughed at himself.
Impossible.
There couldn’t be that many coincidences.
What were the chances?
The girl from the airport…
In Chengdu.
In his bar.
At the exact same time.
No.
He must have mistaken someone else for her.
Yet despite his reasoning, disappointment lingered stubbornly in his chest.
Had he really become this obsessed?
All because of a single glance?
A silhouette was enough to affect him now?
Ridiculous.
Shaking his head, Danzeng turned and walked away.
The music continued behind him.
Slow.
Melancholy.
And for the first time in a very long while, he felt strangely lonely.
…
After saying goodbye to Cizhen, Lin Mo returned to her hotel.
A hot shower washed away the fatigue of the day.
The moment her head touched the pillow, sleep claimed her completely.
The small amount of alcohol she’d consumed worked wonders.
The anxiety.
The uncertainty.
The frustration of the past six months.
Everything disappeared.
Sometimes, alcohol truly felt magical.
…
The next morning.
Lin Mo arrived at the agreed meeting location nearly twenty minutes early.
She had always been like this.
Her parents had taught her from a young age that being punctual was a form of respect.
Whether meeting friends or strangers, arriving early was simply good manners.
The June sunshine already illuminated Chengdu’s streets.
While waiting, she wandered into a nearby supermarket.
A few minutes later, she emerged carrying several bags.
Fruit.
Bottled drinks.
Snacks.
The trip to Kangding would be long, and she thought everyone might appreciate refreshments along the way.
Soon afterward, Cizhen arrived.
Then came her uncle.
The three of them climbed into the vehicle and began their journey west.
The middle-aged man glanced at the bags.
His eyebrows immediately rose.
“Young lady.”
“You really didn’t need to buy all this.”
Lin Mo quickly handed him a drink.
“Uncle, thank you for driving us.”
The moment she said it, her cheeks turned slightly pink.
Social interactions had never come naturally to her.
She was reserved by nature.
Slow to warm up to strangers.
Meanwhile, Cizhen looked downright heartbroken.
“Why did you spend money?”
She stared at the bags as though they contained gold bars.
“What a waste!”
Lin Mo smiled awkwardly.
“It’s a long drive.”
“I thought everyone might want something to snack on.”
To her, it was a small gesture.
Nothing more.
Yet judging by their reactions, one might have thought she’d purchased an entire banquet.
…
The drive soon carried them into the mountains.
Towering peaks rose on either side of the road.
Winding highways snaked endlessly through the landscape.
Both girls suffered from motion sickness.
As a result, they spent most of the trip drifting between sleep and wakefulness.
Even Cizhen became unusually quiet.
Several hours later, they stopped at a service area to refuel.
While everyone else was distracted, Lin Mo quietly walked into the convenience store.
And paid for the fuel.
Unfortunately.
She underestimated how quickly Tibetans discovered things.
Within minutes, Cizhen’s uncle came hurrying toward her.
Several red banknotes were clenched tightly in his hand.
His expression was one of genuine concern.
“Young lady!”
“How could you pay for the fuel?”
He immediately tried to force the money back into her hands.
“You’re Cizhen’s friend.”
“That makes you our guest.”
“How can I let you spend money?”
Beside him, Cizhen crossed her arms.
Her face was equally serious.
“Are we friends or not?”
“If you keep doing things like this, how am I supposed to bring you anywhere?”
“We don’t do things this way.”
Lin Mo felt utterly helpless.
Ever since childhood, her parents had taught her the same values.
Be polite.
Never take advantage of others.
Maintain your dignity.
A young woman should be independent and self-respecting.
Those lessons had become deeply rooted within her.
Every gesture.
Every interaction.
Every decision.
Yet now she found herself surrounded by people who were just as sincere.
These warm-hearted Tibetans offered kindness without expecting anything in return.
And it left her completely at a loss.
Realizing further refusal would only create awkwardness, Lin Mo finally accepted the money.
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Her voice was soft.
Only then did everyone relax.
“See?”
Cizhen immediately grinned.
“You’re such a silly girl.”
“Who refuses free benefits?”
Everything she thought appeared directly on her face.
She was as transparent as clear glass.
Lin Mo laughed.
Her eyes curved into crescents.
The smile that bloomed on her face seemed brighter than the afternoon sunshine.
For a moment, Cizhen simply stared.
Then she suddenly grabbed her phone.
“Can we take a picture together?”
Her eyes sparkled.
“You’re seriously the prettiest girl I’ve ever met.”
The compliment arrived with the same brutal honesty as always.
Lin Mo laughed helplessly.
“Of course.”
She stepped closer.
The camera clicked.
A single photograph captured two youthful smiles forever.
Cizhen stared at the picture repeatedly.
The more she looked, the happier she became.
After receiving permission, she immediately uploaded it online.
The caption read:
“New friend. Picked up a little jasmine flower on my way home.”
The moment Lin Mo saw it, she burst into laughter.
…
Several hours later, they finally arrived in Kangding.
It was already past two in the afternoon.
After dropping them off at a hotel, Cizhen’s uncle hurried away to handle his own business.
The vehicle disappeared down the road.
And suddenly, Lin Mo found herself standing in an entirely new world.
She slowly looked around.
This was her first time visiting the city immortalized by the famous Kangding Love Song.
And it looked nothing like she had imagined.
Kangding wasn’t built across open plains.
Instead, it stretched through a narrow mountain valley like a ribbon woven between towering cliffs.
Suddenly, its nickname—
The City of Love Songs
—felt strangely appropriate.
Massive mountains rose steeply on both sides.
Their imposing presence formed a dramatic natural corridor.
For someone raised among northern plains, the scenery felt almost overwhelming.
The Zheduo River surged through the heart of the city.
Fed by snowmelt from distant peaks, crystal-clear water rushed beneath stone bridges.
Sunlight danced across the surface.
Sprays of water sparkled like scattered diamonds.
Tibetan-style homes climbed the mountainsides.
Colorful prayer flags fluttered endlessly in the wind.
Nearby restaurants filled the air with rich aromas.
Beef.
Mutton.
Yak butter tea.
The scents blended together, creating an atmosphere unlike anything Lin Mo had ever experienced.
She took a deep breath.
The cool mountain air filled her lungs.
And for the first time since leaving home, excitement truly ignited inside her heart.
This wasn’t a dream anymore.
This wasn’t a video on a screen.
She had arrived.
Her journey had finally begun.