Warping the Scenery

Chapter 269

Gu Ran turned and went back to his room to start packing clothes for camping.

In the guest bedroom just a wall away.

Ye Zhenzhen stood in front of her open wardrobe, her gaze wandering over the dazzling array of clothes.

Finally, her eyes landed on a pair of sheer, semi-transparent stockings in the corner.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes showing a moment of struggle.

After a long deliberation, she reached out and took them out, gently placing them next to the slim-fit jeans she was about to change into.

Ten minutes later, the two of them, having changed their clothes, met in the living room.

Gu Ran was wearing a black lightweight windbreaker, zipped all the way to the top, covering his slender neck.

He was empty-handed, with only a hiking backpack slung casually over his right shoulder.

He had already loaded the tent and other large items into the trunk of the Audi downstairs.

He hadn't planned on sleeping at the top of the mountain anyway; it was just to block the wind, so he only brought a simple folding tent.

To the side.

Ye Zhenzhen wore an off-white knit cardigan on her upper half, and slim-fit jeans on her lower half that outlined her straight, well-proportioned legs.

In her hand, she was pulling a small, twenty-inch pink leather suitcase.

Gu Ran stopped in his tracks, looking at that completely out-of-place small suitcase.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Ye Zhenzhen, we're going camping at North Mountain to watch the sunrise."

Saying this, he pointed at the suitcase.

"Are you going on a vacation?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhenzhen paused her steps.

She looked down at her suitcase, and her small face instantly flushed red.

Bringing a suitcase to climb a mountain did seem a bit silly.

Compared to her stinky younger brother's capability, she looked so silly, really...

She was careless; her dignity as an older sister was being severely challenged!

The young girl embarrassedly bit her lower lip, turned around without a word, and tried to drag the suitcase back to her room, planning to just carry a backpack like Gu Ran.

"Alright."

Seeing this, Gu Ran took a step forward and directly blocked her path.

He casually grabbed the handle of the suitcase, pulled it toward him, and lifted it with one hand to weigh it.

"Just bring it."

Gu Ran's tone carried a hint of teasing and pampering.

"Anyway, this suitcase is much lighter than you are."

Ye Zhenzhen widened her almond eyes in embarrassment and annoyance.

This dog, teasing his older sister again!

He needs a beating!

Angered, the young girl lifted her long leg and unceremoniously aimed a light kick at his calf.

But the kicking motion pulled at the fabric, causing the hem of her slim-fit jeans to ride up slightly.

At her ankle, the edge of that cicada-wing-thin black stocking was just exposed.

Under the living room lights, that small section of delicate skin intertwined with the texture of the stocking.

Gu Ran's gaze locked straight onto it, and he was just about to bend down to grab that slender ankle.

"Click."

The doorknob of the master bedroom suddenly made a crisp sound.

Gu Xiangcheng and Ye Shulian pushed the door open and came out, talking to each other as they prepared to watch TV in the living room.

Ye Zhenzhen was so startled she shuddered all over.

Her right leg, suspended in mid-air, retracted as fast as lightning, and she brought her feet together.

She folded her hands in front of her, straightened her back, and quickly switched to a dignified, quiet, and well-behaved appearance.

Gu Ran: "???"

Good heavens, is this what they call a contrast?

Gu Xiangcheng walked into the living room, glanced at the pink suitcase in Gu Ran's hand, and then looked at the obediently standing Ye Zhenzhen.

He didn't think much of it, just casually reminded them.

"The wind is strong on the mountain at night, and the temperature is low. You two stay safe. Call immediately if anything happens."

"Got it, Dad."

"Okay, Uncle Gu."

After the two replied obediently, they quickly grabbed their things, opened the door, and went downstairs.

It wasn't until she sat in the cabin of the Audi and the car door closed that Ye Zhenzhen let out a long breath.

Gu Ran held the steering wheel with one hand, skillfully driving the car out of the residential area and heading towards North Mountain.

Half an hour later.

The car drove onto the winding mountain road and parked steadily in the open-air parking lot halfway up North Mountain.

For the rest of the journey to the top, vehicles could not pass, and they could only rely on walking.

The two pushed open the doors and got out of the car.

The mountain wind blew past, carrying the chill of late autumn.

Ye Zhenzhen stood by the car, her head lowered, continuously reaching down to tug at the hem of her left pant leg.

She tugged it several times before barely managing to pull the pant leg flat.

Gu Ran leaned against the car door, quietly watching her actions, a soft chuckle escaping his throat, but he didn't expose her.

Hearing the noise, the young girl looked up and glared at him, her lips moving slightly.

Dog...

Gu Ran shrugged, walked to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and took out the simple folding tent, holding it in his hand.

Then he walked to Ye Zhenzhen's side, reached out, and tightly wrapped her slightly cool little hand in his palm.

"Let's go."

The two stepped onto the bluestone stairs leading up the mountain.

Ye Zhenzhen held the pink suitcase in one hand and felt the warmth from Gu Ran's palm with the other.

Under the cover of the night, her cheeks grew slightly hot.

She lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the stone steps beneath her feet, softly and earnestly counting every step she took.

"One, two, three..."

Gu Ran slowed his pace, matching her rhythm, and slowly climbed the mountain with a smile.

North Mountain had a lot of foot traffic; even at eight or nine o'clock, there were still many people taking walks.

However, the higher they went, the sparser the people became.

The young girl stopped when she counted to the fiftieth step.

She felt she couldn't keep being led by the nose by her stupid younger brother, otherwise her face would just get redder and redder.

Then she took a few quick steps and walked in front of Gu Ran.

"I'll lead the way."

As she spoke, she slightly raised her chin, dragged the suitcase, and strode ahead like a dutiful guide.

Gu Ran didn't stop her; he just raised an eyebrow and followed leisurely behind, admiring the beautiful scenery.

Spring bustled in the background, but the woman was more beautiful than any peach or plum blossom...

This scenery was indeed quite "perky".

Over ten minutes later.

The mountain terrain gradually became steeper, and the stone steps got higher. Ye Zhenzhen's footsteps subsequently grew heavy.

Her originally light steps became sluggish, and her breathing lost its rhythm.

The young girl's speed slowed down, and every step she took seemed exceptionally difficult.

Gu Ran followed behind, looking at the figure in front of him who had weak footsteps but was still stubbornly holding on, and finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Hmph!

This dog, laughing at her behind her back again!

Ye Zhenzhen gritted her silver teeth, and the energy that had just leaked out was gathered up again.

Seeing this, Gu Ran stopped teasing her. He grabbed the handle of the suitcase from behind and easily took over control.

"Why are you trying to act tough."

Immediately after, he leaned forward slightly.

Before Ye Zhenzhen could react, he pressed his forehead against the bottom of her perky little butt.

Using his body weight and leg strength, he pushed her to continue climbing up, like pushing a small cart that lacked power.

"Ah!"

Ye Zhenzhen let out a low cry of surprise at this sudden action.

Her body instantly stiffened, and a current of electricity shot straight to the top of her head from the place she was touched.

She turned her head to glare at him in shame and anger.

"Gu 'Dog' Ran! What are you doing!"

Gu Ran's eyes held a smile, and he spoke with a bit of a roguish tone.

"Giving you some motivation. Otherwise, at your speed, we'll only be able to watch tomorrow's moon from halfway up the mountain."

"Get away! I can walk by myself!"

"No!"

Gu Ran not only didn't retreat, but he pushed forward a bit more.

"Focus on the road, don't trip."

"You..."

Her struggles proving futile, a blushing Ye Zhenzhen had no choice but to continue climbing upward, propelled by this "external force."