I Will Go to the Mountain

Shen Yi was agile and full of energy, carrying Shu Yunyi on his back as if walking on flat ground, resembling a nimble deer leaping through mountain cliffs.

Shu Yunyi felt the scenery rushing past her eyes, and sensing the vitality and vigor radiating from Shen Yi’s body, her heart swelled with excitement, almost wanting to cheer out loud.

“You... slow down a bit, don’t tire yourself out,” Shu Yunyi suppressed her urge to cheer, lowering her head and leaning close to Shen Yi’s ear to whisper.

After all, she was worried that carrying her, a full-grown person, might exhaust or even injure him.

But Shen Yi wasn’t tired at all; in fact, he even had the energy to respond,

“This isn’t fast at all. If we go any slower, we’ll really miss the sunrise.”

Truth be told, the two of them had miscalculated. Without taking the cable car, starting at 4 a.m. was already late if they wanted to catch the sunrise on Mount Tai.

Shen Yi was already holding back his speed while carrying her. If he went all out, it would probably startle the other hikers.

Even at this pace, Shu Yunyi was amazed.

To her, it seemed like Shen Yi’s stamina was endless. Leaning against his back, listening to his steady breathing and strong heartbeat, she felt a deep sense of security.

A 1,500-meter altitude and a roughly 10-kilometer journey felt like a straight path under Shen Yi’s feet, not a winding mountain trail.

The sky was still gray, not fully lit, and a gentle breeze carrying a hint of dew brushed against Shu Yunyi’s face.

The entire journey felt like a constant overtaking, leaving everyone else on the trail far behind.

After running nonstop for nearly half an hour, Shen Yi finally slowed down and stopped by the side of the steps, his body radiating heat and sweat beading on his forehead.

Shu Yunyi struggled to get down, looking at Shen Yi with astonishment.

At this altitude, the morning chill was biting, yet Shen Yi’s body was emitting a faint mist of steam.

“Are... are you okay? It’s fine if we miss the sunrise. I’m worried you’ll overexert yourself,” Shu Yunyi asked with concern, observing Shen Yi’s condition. Seeing his state, she lovingly used her sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Shen Yi smiled and shook his head. The run had just warmed him up, and he stopped not because he was tired, but to let his body cool down.

He paced back and forth on the mountain path, waiting for the steam to dissipate, then turned to Shu Yunyi and said,

“It’s almost 5 a.m. Let’s push through and make it to the top.”

“You’re already rested? It hasn’t even been ten minutes. Let’s rest a bit longer,” Shu Yunyi circled around Shen Yi, pinching his arm and poking his thigh, as if seeing him for the first time.

Shen Yi, full of energy, said to Shu Yunyi,

“Don’t worry, I’m fully rested. The best time to watch the sunrise is around 5:30 a.m. We don’t have much time left.”

Shu Yunyi was skeptical. While she wanted to see the sunrise, she cared more about Shen Yi’s well-being.

“Forget it, I don’t want to see the sunrise anymore. I’ve rested enough. I’ll just climb up slowly on my own.”

With that, she started walking ahead, mainly afraid that Shen Yi might insist on carrying her again. She’d rather tire herself out than see Shen Yi exhausted.

Seeing her determination, Shen Yi had no choice but to follow behind Shu Yunyi. He checked the time—it was 4:30 a.m., and there was still about an hour until sunrise.

Fortunately, he had already covered most of the distance earlier. With his help, even at a slower pace, they should make it in time.

Shu Yunyi’s stamina was no match for Shen Yi’s. She adjusted her breathing and slowly climbed the steps one by one.

Shen Yi came to her side, supporting her and sharing some of the effort as they ascended.

Walking and resting when tired, the two finally approached their final destination—the Jade Emperor Summit.

The Jade Emperor Summit, located north of the Bixia Temple, is the highest peak of Mount Tai, formerly known as Taiping Peak or Tianzhu Peak.

By now, Shu Yunyi’s nose was dotted with sweat, her face flushed, and her legs felt as heavy as lead. She trudged up the steps, her only thought being to reach the summit.

After what felt like an eternity, her feet finally came to a stop. In a daze, she looked up and murmured,

“Am I... dreaming?”

“Did we really make it to the top?”

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the timing was perfect.

She steadied herself, realizing they were already at the Jade Emperor Temple.

The summit was already dotted with a few tourists, some of whom had even set up tents the night before.

Shen Yi let go of her hand, gently patting her back to help her catch her breath, and smiled,

“Yes, you did it. Mount Tai is beneath your feet now.”

Shu Yunyi smiled as well, feeling both the satisfaction of conquering the peak and the exhilaration of being drenched in sweat.

She was starting to enjoy exercising.

In the center of the temple courtyard stood a stone marker, with a stele inscribed with the words “Highest Point of Mount Tai” and “1,545 meters.”

Standing in front of the stele, Shu Yunyi quickly pulled out her phone and called Shen Yi over,

“Come here, come here! Let’s take a photo to remember this.”

Shen Yi leaned in, his figure entering the frame.

Shu Yunyi pursed her lips, leaning her cheek close to his, secretly making a peace sign.

“Click.”

Their radiant smiles were captured in the photo, preserving this beautiful moment.

Shen Yi teased her,

“What era are you living in? Still doing the peace sign? So old-fashioned.”

Shu Yunyi, embarrassed, lightly slapped his back and pretended to scold him,

“Old-fashioned or not, I’m still your teacher. Don’t be disrespectful.”

“Oh, is that so? That’s debatable,” Shen Yi replied playfully, hinting that their roles weren’t so clear-cut.

Shu Yunyi, flustered and remembering something, chased after Shen Yi, trying to grab his ear.

“Stop! I order you not to run!”

But Shen Yi, as agile as a fish, easily dodged her grasp.

With many people coming and going at the summit, no one would have guessed they were teacher and student. They looked more like a playful couple hiking together.

Circling around the stele, they reached the highest point of Mount Tai, surrounded by stone railings.

Shu Yunyi, chasing Shen Yi, arrived here and was struck by the view.

Before her eyes, a faint light emerged, with purple morning clouds illuminating the horizon, painting a scene so beautiful it felt like a dream.

Shu Yunyi stood in awe, finally understanding what the ancients meant by “purple clouds from the east.”

She secretly grasped Shen Yi’s hand, feeling a deep sense of contentment. Witnessing this scene made all the effort worthwhile.

The morning clouds were surreal, and the rising sun cast a golden glow, bathing everything in a serene and beautiful light.

“Look, doesn’t that cloud look like a face?” Shen Yi pointed excitedly.

Shu Yunyi turned to Shen Yi, the sunlight illuminating his face, making him seem radiant.

Wasn’t this sunrise a metaphor for his arrival in her life?

“A face? Whose face?” she asked absentmindedly.

“Haha, I think it looks like someone here with me,” Shen Yi joked.

Shu Yunyi’s heart raced uncontrollably, convinced that this man was a gift from the heavens.

Her breath trembled slightly as she hesitantly asked,

“Then... what do you think of her?”