"Hey, Xin, let me ask you something. Why are you so good to me?"

Perched on Yun Mingxin's slightly broad back, Mengxi buried most of her face into it, leaving only one eye visible. She looked extremely shy.

Yun Mingxin supported her thigh with one hand and held her hip with the other. He looked strained.

This was a mountain path, and they were still climbing. The terrain was rugged and uneven, quite dangerous.

After a quick disinfection, they chose the nearer hilltop pavilion over the distant foot of the mountain to tend to her wound.

They both carried ointment for scrapes.

But an indescribably soft sensation from his hand brought him physical and mental torment.

Yun Mingxin didn’t notice her unusual tone. He pursed his lips and said casually, "Isn’t that just natural?"

Mengxi’s face flushed deeper red. She buried her head completely into his back and mumbled.

"Exactly. I’m asking why you help me so naturally."

Yun Mingxin sounded confused. "Maybe it’s habit. Caring for you just feels natural now."

"What kind of answer is that?" Zhan Mengxi pouted her lips, full of displeasure.

She started scanning wildly around, seeking distraction.

Yun Mingxin suddenly felt the restless girl on his back struggle violently.

"Stop squirming!" he sighed in exasperation.

Her hands flailed; one gripped his cheek tightly.

"Xin, look! Over there!"

Zhan Mengxi waved excitedly, her finger pointing to a distant grove.

"Alright, I see it. Don’t move!"

Her body slid down, and his right hand squished her hip softly, yielding a plush feel.

He finally understood where she was so softly plump.

Once she calmed, he followed her finger’s direction.

A vast forest stretched out. Focusing, he spotted bright red berries on one tree.

From afar, they resembled red beans.

"It’s a Chinese yew," Yun Mingxin said, his voice softening.

The Chinese yew was his first encounter with a top-tier protected plant.

He’d learned about it in elementary school natural science class.

It had ancient origins and produced paclitaxel, a potent anti-cancer drug.

Its price dwarfed gold’s.

Wild Chinese yews were rare—seeds needed bird digestion or artificial treatment to sprout.

Spotting one here was lucky.

"This yew must have grown through so much hardship."

His tone grew gentler. "Remember? You were such a troublemaker as a kid."

"Hehe," Zhan Mengxi smiled sheepishly.

They’d bonded over that very lesson in elementary school.

Classmates with nearby homes, yet no prior contact.

"I remember your antics that day clearly," Yun Mingxin chuckled, teasingly.

Their natural science teacher was a stubborn old man.

The class covered the Chinese yew chapter.

When he called it a rare living fossil, like a panda, students’ eyes lit up.

Coincidentally, these trees grew near their hometown.

Rumors said someone found one years ago, reported it, and earned a big reward.

Zhan Mengxi was the most excited.

Ignoring class, she stood, slammed her desk, and laughed loudly. She vowed to find one, get the money, and treat everyone to spicy strips and dagao snacks.

The old teacher snapped in rage.

After scolding all, only that silly girl kept smiling.

He fumed, "Smiling like that? Not a good sign! Zhan Mengxi—stand for the rest of class!"

The unflappable Zhan Mengxi sulked, forced to stand all day.

Full of pent-up energy, she kicked a soccer ball wildly at home.

Her kick shattered her family’s window…

Unplanned coincidences could weave two strangers’ lives together.

Truly magical.

Yun Mingxin hadn’t gained a dreamlike childhood sweetheart from it.

But that mischievous, laughter-bringing troublemaker was his one true childhood sweetheart.

Yun Mingxin had walked over twenty minutes. His face paled, drained of color.

Carrying two light backpacks and a person, he neared his limit.

He was purely forcing himself onward.

The sky shifted slowly from clear to gloomy.

Southern weather changed too fast to keep up.

Fine raindrops began falling.

*Damn*, Yun Mingxin thought. Another downpour was coming.

Even brief rain could drench them like drowned rats.

Ahead, the rest pavilion came faintly into view.

"Alright, let’s push through!"

Holding the fidgeting girl steady, he tensed his legs and jogged forward.

"Ah, exhausted!"

He dumped Zhan Mengxi onto the pavilion’s stone bench. Ignoring dust, he collapsed beside her.

He gasped for air. Minutes passed before he felt slightly alive again.

For a moment, he nearly fainted.

His mind blank, arms limp, leg muscles trembling.

Zhan Mengxi watched him with aching concern, overwhelmed by shame.

If she hadn’t been careless, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

If not injured, Xin wouldn’t be this drained.

Ignoring her leg’s pain, she struggled up and whispered, "Xin, are you okay? Drink some water."

"I’m fine. Don’t talk to me now," Yun Mingxin muttered weakly, eyes shut tight, waving a hand.

Zhan Mengxi fell silent. She limped closer, gazing tenderly.

She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped sweat from his brow.

Too exhausted to sense her, Yun Mingxin drifted near unconsciousness.

Zhan Mengxi watched quietly. Distant stream water splashed softly.

Thunder rumbled louder. Heavy rain poured from the sky.

She took a leather waterproof jacket from her bag and draped it carefully over him.

Then she lay on the bench’s outer edge, making space for the sleeping Yun Mingxin inside.

Raindrops splashed only onto her.