There was no hospital in Zeba Village.
The nearest clinic was located in a small town several hours away, accessible only by winding mountain roads that were rough and treacherous. In Lin Mo’s current condition, attempting to transport her there would be far too dangerous.
Fortunately, Danzeng was no stranger to altitude sickness.
After checking her oxygen saturation and confirming that her blood oxygen level hadn’t dropped into a critical range, the tension coiled inside his chest finally eased. Even so, he didn’t leave her side.
He remained seated beside the bed, carefully moistening her dry lips with sugar water using a cotton swab. Every ten minutes, he checked her oxygen levels again.
His movements were steady and practiced, revealing years of experience.
Only when the pale color gradually faded from her face, warmth returned to her cheeks, and her breathing became calm and even did he finally relax and sink into the chair beside her bed.
As dusk settled over the village, Lin Mo slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar room.
Traditional Tibetan décor filled the space. The furnishings were understated and elegant, simple at first glance, yet every detail quietly revealed a level of luxury that couldn’t be ignored.
For several seconds, her mind went completely blank.
Where am I?
Just as she struggled to sit up, the door opened.
A tall figure stepped inside carrying a bowl of warm sugar water.
The moment she saw him, she instinctively shrank backward.
Like a startled deer.
“W-Who are you?”
Her eyes widened in alarm.
The man before her was extraordinarily imposing.
He stood nearly six-foot-three, broad-shouldered and powerfully built. Even without saying a word, he radiated a natural authority that made people feel pressure simply by standing near him.
Years under the harsh plateau sun had bronzed his skin.
His features were sharp and striking, high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, strong jawline.
He possessed the rugged handsomeness typical of a Kangba Tibetan man.
For some inexplicable reason, he reminded Lin Mo of the male protagonists she used to draw in her high school manga.
Raw masculine energy seemed to pour from him.
Danzeng paused by the doorway.
His voice was gentle.
“I’m the owner of this guesthouse, Danzeng Luobu. You can just call me Danzeng.”
He walked over and placed the bowl down.
“A few hours ago, you collapsed from altitude sickness. I happened to pass by and brought you back.”
He was dressed in a simple dark-blue shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, exposing strong, sun-tanned forearms.
There was something uniquely captivating about him.
A blend of wilderness and calm.
He carried the freedom of a man raised beneath endless skies, yet hidden beneath that rugged exterior was an unexpected tenderness.
His appeal wasn’t the polished kind celebrated by city standards.
It was something far more primal.
Far more difficult to ignore.
Lin Mo suddenly felt her heart skip a beat.
Only then did she remember what had happened near the Lone Tree earlier that day.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
“Thank you.”
She quickly lowered her head.
“I really caused you a lot of trouble.”
Trying to sit up, she immediately reached for her phone.
“How much is the room? I’ll transfer the money right now.”
Danzeng waved dismissively.
“No need.”
His tone left little room for discussion.
“Just focus on resting. Altitude sickness isn’t something you should take lightly.”
Lin Mo frowned.
“How can that be okay?”
She shook her head firmly.
“I can’t stay here for free, especially after you saved me.”
She had always believed that every favor came with a cost.
Some prices were visible.
Others were hidden.
Either way, she wasn’t someone who liked owing people.
“Saved your life?”
A teasing smile appeared in Danzeng’s eyes.
“Then why not repay me by marrying me?”
Lin Mo froze.
“…Huh?”
For a brief second, she honestly wondered if she had heard him correctly.
Danzeng couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“I’m kidding.”
Then he casually added,
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
The topic of money was clearly closed.
Seeing how firm he was, Lin Mo stopped insisting.
Still…
Something about staying here made her feel strangely unsettled.
No.
I should leave as soon as possible.
After recovering enough to move around, she secretly searched for the guesthouse online.
When Danzeng went into the kitchen to heat up a bowl of millet porridge for her, she quietly walked to the front desk.
After finding the payment code, she scanned it.
Then she slipped away into the night.
When she saw the room rate, her heart nearly bled.
Two thousand yuan.
Per night.
For that amount, she could stay twenty nights at Sister Jiayang’s inn.
This place was wonderful.
Too wonderful.
And far beyond what her current finances could support.
As she calculated the remaining balance in her bank account, she silently sighed.
Looks like I’ll have to be even more careful with money from now on.
Meanwhile, Danzeng had just finished warming the porridge.
The payment notification suddenly rang through the lobby.
His expression changed instantly.
He had specifically instructed the front desk not to accept any payment from Lin Mo.
Without hesitation, he strode outside.
Unfortunately, he was already too late.
The lobby was empty.
Only the receptionist remained, looking utterly helpless.
“Brother Danzeng.”
She pointed toward the road.
“That young lady paid and ran before I could stop her.”
Danzeng frowned.
A trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes.
Zeba Village wasn’t large.
A few dirt roads connected the entire settlement.
After asking around, he quickly obtained information from a local herder driving cattle through the village.
Before long, he spotted a familiar figure in the distance.
A slender girl carrying a backpack.
Walking alone beneath the fading evening sky.
Danzeng immediately quickened his pace.
A few minutes later, he caught up to her outside the inn.
Reaching out, he gently grabbed her arm.
Lin Mo turned around.
The moment their eyes met, embarrassment flickered across her face.
Her cheeks reddened again.
“Leaving without even saying goodbye?”
Danzeng looked mildly annoyed.
“I saved you, yet I don’t even know your name.”
“Ah…”
Lin Mo instantly became flustered.
“Sorry.”
She hurriedly replied,
“My name is Lin Mo.”
Danzeng looked directly into her eyes.
His pupils were dark as obsidian.
Pure.
Deep.
Intense.
For one dizzying moment, Lin Mo felt as though she had been pulled into a bottomless black hole.
“You left before fully recovering.”
Danzeng took a step closer.
His expression turned serious.
“Feeling better doesn’t mean you’re safe.”
“I have oxygen equipment at the guesthouse, and all the medicine you’ll need.”
He paused.
Then continued in a tone that sounded less like a suggestion and more like a final decision.
“You’ve already paid for the room.”
“Stay one more night.”
“Recover properly before deciding what to do next.”
Lin Mo bit her lip.
She hesitated.
Just then, Sister Jiayang happened to walk over.
Without waiting for Danzeng to continue, she grabbed Lin Mo’s hand.
“Listen to him.”
Her voice was filled with concern.
“Altitude sickness isn’t something to joke about.”
“If it gets serious, people can die.”
She looked Lin Mo up and down before sighing.
“You’re such a beautiful young girl. You have to take care of yourself.”
Looking at Danzeng’s earnest gaze and Jiayang’s worried expression, a warm feeling slowly spread through Lin Mo’s chest.
In this unfamiliar place, she had unexpectedly encountered kindness.
Genuine kindness.
At last, she nodded.
“Okay.”
Only then did Danzeng finally relax.
After Lin Mo returned upstairs to pack her belongings, he immediately followed her, insisting on helping carry her luggage.
The next morning, after a full night’s rest, Lin Mo felt much better.
She sought out Danzeng once more.
After thanking him sincerely, she prepared to continue her journey.
“Have breakfast with me first?”
Danzeng gestured toward the dining area.
Lin Mo realized she was indeed hungry.
So she nodded and sat down.
The two ate quietly for a while.
Halfway through the meal, Danzeng suddenly asked,
“What are your plans now?”
Lin Mo smiled helplessly.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
She stirred the porridge absentmindedly.
“I’ll probably stay around here for a while.”
“It wasn’t easy getting all the way here.”
Thinking about the exhausting journey that had brought her to Genie, she couldn’t help feeling discouraged.
She had traveled thousands of miles chasing the scenery she had dreamed about for years.
Yet before she could truly experience any of it, altitude sickness had knocked her flat.
Finding inspiration?
Finding direction?
Right now, she hadn’t even managed to properly see the landscape she came for.
Danzeng watched her quietly.
An idea suddenly surfaced in his mind.
“How about becoming a volunteer here?”
Lin Mo blinked.
“A volunteer?”
“I noticed you always carry a camera and a sketchbook.”
Danzeng spoke with complete confidence despite making up half of the plan on the spot.
“Our guesthouse needs help with online promotion.”
“There aren’t any fixed working hours.”
“You’d just need to take photos and videos of Genie’s scenery and the guesthouse.”
“We’ll provide meals, accommodation, and staff housing.”
Lin Mo stared at him.
The offer was unexpectedly tempting.
Not only would it solve her accommodation expenses, but it also aligned perfectly with the purpose of her trip.
Still, she hesitated.
“I’ve never done marketing before.”
“What if I do a bad job and hurt your business?”
“It’s very simple.”
Danzeng reassured her immediately.
“You only need to provide the material.”
“I’ll handle everything else.”
Then he sighed dramatically.
“You’ve seen how remote this place is.”
“It’s almost impossible to hire people.”
His tone became so sincere that refusing him suddenly felt cruel.
“Can you help me out?”
Lin Mo hesitated for another moment.
Then curiosity began to outweigh caution.
“The staff quarters are in the back courtyard.”
Danzeng stood up.
“Come take a look first.”
Curious about this unexpected opportunity, Lin Mo followed him outside.
The two walked through the courtyard.
When they reached the rear building, Danzeng pushed open a door.
The moment Lin Mo saw what was inside…
She froze.