The Mountain Does Not See Me

The moonlight filtered through the window, casting a silvery glow on Shen Yi's arm.

The blood shimmered with a metallic sheen as it dripped, creating an eerie atmosphere.

"Choose between the alcohol or me," Shen Yi said calmly.

"Make your choice."

Bright red blood flowed from the wound, quickly pooling on the floor beneath Shen Yi's arm.

The sight was so jarring that Shu Yunyi instinctively recoiled, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.

Only when she noticed Shen Yi's hand moving toward his artery did she snap out of her daze.

"Are you insane?!"

Shu Yunyi's voice trembled with urgency as she sprang to her feet and rushed to Shen Yi's side. She snatched the glass bottle from his hand and hurled it across the room.

Clutching Shen Yi's arm, Shu Yunyi was at a loss. Blood continued to pour out, and no matter how hard she pressed, the deep, jagged cut along his forearm was too severe to stop.

"I... I'll get the first aid kit," she stammered, scrambling to her feet. But in her haste, she slipped on a puddle of spilled beer and nearly fell.

Shen Yi caught her, seemingly unfazed by his own injury. His focus was entirely on Shu Yunyi's reaction.

He pulled her close, locking eyes with her.

"Answer me," he said firmly.

"Choose the alcohol or me."

"How can you even think about this at a time like—"

Shu Yunyi's words caught in her throat as she met Shen Yi's clear, unwavering gaze. A flood of emotions—shock, gratitude, and disbelief—overwhelmed her.

"Waaah..."

Tears streamed down her face as she broke into sobs. She clung tightly to Shen Yi's waist, crying uncontrollably.

"No more drinking. I won't drink anymore," she sobbed.

"I choose you. Only you, only you..."

[After a makeshift bandage was applied to stop the bleeding, Shu Yunyi insisted on taking Shen Yi to the hospital for proper disinfection and stitches.]

[This marked the first time in a long while that Shu Yunyi had willingly stepped outside the campus and into the outside world.]

[She had been holed up at home for months, but for Shen Yi, she was willing to leave her comfort zone.]

[While waiting at the hospital, Shen Yi took the opportunity to ask Shu Yunyi about her past.]

[She paused, then smiled faintly. Seeing no reason to hide anything, she began to share her story in a calm tone.]

[It turned out that Shu Yunyi had once been in a serious relationship, one that had almost led to marriage.]

[Her ex was a British-educated Ph.D. holder—young, wealthy, and impeccably charming. In terms of both family background and appearance, he was considered top-tier.]

[As a prominent figure on campus, he quickly noticed Shu Yunyi and began pursuing her.]

[Unable to resist his charm and relentless efforts, Shu Yunyi soon agreed to date him.]

[Their relationship progressed smoothly, and within a year, they were officially a couple, even reaching the stage of meeting each other's parents and discussing engagement.]

[However, despite his apparent affection, he never made any physical advances beyond holding hands during outings. This left Shu Yunyi increasingly puzzled and suspicious.]

[One day, by chance, Shu Yunyi went to his place and witnessed a scene that would haunt her for the rest of her life—a sight so shocking that even recalling it now made her nauseous.]

[There, on the bed, were two naked bodies entwined. One was her current boyfriend, but the other... was also a man.]

[It turned out that this was his true love, and Shu Yunyi was merely a cover—a facade to hide his real relationship. She wasn't even a backup; she was a tool.]

[When confronted, he dropped the act and bluntly asked Shu Yunyi if she would continue pretending to be his girlfriend to appease his family.]

[In exchange, he offered her money, a car, and lavish wedding gifts. He admitted that he only valued her status and looks, which made her the perfect candidate to fend off societal pressures and family expectations.]

[Shu Yunyi, with her pride, couldn't accept such a betrayal. Coupled with setbacks in her career, she spiraled into depression and withdrew from the world, isolating herself at home.]

[Her despair was compounded by the fact that her father was also part of the same community. Both she and her mother had been victims of this kind of deception, making it even harder for her to come to terms with it.]

[Shen Yi listened quietly, sighing at the cruel twists of fate. It seemed as though both mother and daughter had been dealt a similar hand by life.]

[As he reflected on her story, Shen Yi suddenly understood why Shu Yunyi had often teased and tested him in the past, never letting things go too far. She had likely been trying to figure out if he was genuinely interested in women.]

[With a resigned shake of his head, Shen Yi comforted Shu Yunyi, assuring her that she had done nothing wrong.]

[Shu Yunyi looked at him with teary eyes, saying she had already let go of the past and no longer dwelled on it.]

[Shen Yi's robust constitution allowed his wound to heal quickly, and life soon returned to normal.]

[This time, Shu Yunyi was determined to quit drinking and threw herself into exercise.]

[Shen Yi gladly joined her, knowing that physical activity not only improved health but also helped break the cycle of alcohol dependency.]

[With Shu Yunyi's strong resolve, her journey to sobriety was remarkably smooth. She hadn't touched a drop of alcohol in a month.]

[Those around her noticed the change and were full of praise and encouragement. Even her mother was moved to tears, overjoyed by her daughter's transformation.]

[Some time later, Shu Yunyi invited Shen Yi to climb Mount Tai to watch the sunrise.]

[They set out before 4 a.m., determined to conquer the mountain's 6,331 steps, which led to its peak at 1,545 meters above sea level.]

[However, Shu Yunyi, still new to regular exercise, quickly grew exhausted halfway up the mountain.]

[As she leaned against a railing, gasping for breath, Shen Yi gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and suggested taking the cable car.]

[But Shu Yunyi stubbornly refused, determined to reach the summit on her own.]

On the stone steps, Shu Yunyi's face was flushed, and beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks.

She propped herself up with one hand, panting heavily as she rested by the path. Shen Yi unscrewed a water bottle and handed it to her, letting her take a sip.

Glancing at the sky, Shen Yi said, "If we don't take the cable car, we might miss the sunrise."

Shu Yunyi shook her head stubbornly, too exhausted to speak. This climb wasn't just about conquering Mount Tai; it was about conquering the mountains within her heart. She wasn't willing to take shortcuts.

Seeing her determination, Shen Yi stopped trying to persuade her. Instead, he stepped in front of her, bent down, and scooped her up onto his back.

Shu Yunyi instinctively tried to wriggle free but couldn't overpower Shen Yi. She scolded him half-heartedly, "What are you doing? I can walk on my own."

Shen Yi chuckled, understanding her thoughts.

"You conquer me, and I'll carry you up Mount Tai. That way, it still counts as you conquering the mountain."

"Hold on tight. If you fall, I'm not responsible."

With that, he took off like the wind, bounding up the steps three or four at a time.

Shu Yunyi let out a startled yelp and clung tightly to Shen Yi's neck.

Fellow hikers along the path watched the young couple with admiration, their hearts warmed by the scene. Smiles spread across their faces as they exchanged knowing glances.

In that moment, some sighed with nostalgia, others gazed with envy, and many were reminded of their own cherished memories.