FQ chapter 8

Sunrise was at five in the morning. Fan Qing got up at four-thirty. In the dim light, he glanced at the other bed — Luan Ye wasn’t moving, even his breathing was shallow.

Fan Qing didn’t turn on the room light. He washed up using the small nightlight in the bathroom, then went out to knock on the doors of the other two rooms to wake them, before returning to rouse Luan Ye.

When he opened the door again, Luan Ye had already washed up and was getting dressed.

As he zipped up his jacket, Luan Ye asked, “Why didn’t you wake me?”

Fan Qing replied, “I figured you’d get ready faster than the other two.”

“So I got to sleep ten minutes longer?” Luan Ye tilted his head and smiled. “How thoughtful.”

“…”

It had been a perfectly normal thing to do, but because of Luan Ye’s tone, Fan Qing suddenly felt awkward and turned away in silence.

There were many spots to watch the sunrise — they could stay on the hotel rooftop or hike up to a higher viewing platform. The couple from last night, due to the boyfriend’s discomfort, stayed behind at the hotel. The two girls and Luan Ye followed Fan Qing up the mountain.

Along the way, more and more people trickled out. The sky was still dark blue as a blurry line of figures climbed the slope — it looked like a migration.

Several viewing decks were built along the cliffside. As dawn approached and light slowly returned to the sky, people began to stop and wait. Fan Qing led them to the highest platform, and just then, the light began to spread.

Climbing at this altitude was exhausting. The two girls didn’t care about staying clean anymore — they tossed their bags to the ground and sat down to rest. Luan Ye stood at the edge, gazing toward the snow-covered peaks.

Without sunlight, the mountains looked cold and shrouded in mist. Someone nearby muttered a prayer for the clouds to clear.

Luan Ye turned and asked Fan Qing, “Will we be able to see it?”

“The weather forecast says we will,” Fan Qing replied.

Luan Ye sighed. “…I was hoping for some guide’s instinct or sixth sense.”

Truthfully, he did have that, but Fan Qing usually downplayed it to avoid tourists pestering him for tips.

Seeing Luan Ye’s expression, Fan Qing also sighed. “My guide’s instinct says yes — we’ll see it.”

Luan Ye looked at him and smiled slightly.

Less than ten minutes later, the sunrise arrived.

Golden light burst through the clouds and spilled over the snowy mountains, spreading like waves. The mist cleared, and countless cold mountain ridges began to sparkle in the sunlight — as if ignited.

The entire snow mountain was ablaze.

Flames of light wrapped around the peaks, reflecting in Luan Ye’s eyes.

Cheers and gasps of awe echoed from all around the mountainside. Luan Ye lifted his camera and aimed it at the distant peaks.

Fan Qing had seen this scene many times — its novelty had worn off for him. He watched for a while, then glanced at the two girls snapping photos in wonder before letting his gaze settle on Luan Ye.

At that moment, Luan Ye stood bathed in golden light. His hair was tied back again, the ends and his fingertips glowing. With the snow mountain behind him, he stood silhouetted against the sunlit peaks.

Fan Qing stared a little too long. Luan Ye turned and caught him.

“What are you looking at?” he asked.

Fan Qing hesitated, then pointed at the camera in Luan Ye’s hands.

Luan Ye wiggled it a bit, then asked, “Wanna take a few shots?”

Fan Qing didn’t respond immediately, and the camera was already tossed into his hands.

He caught it instinctively, a bit flustered. “I—I haven’t really used one before. I might not take good ones.”

The camera felt expensive and professional.

“No kidding,” Luan Ye said, “I’ve been doing this for years. If you took better photos than me, I’d just retire.”

Fan Qing couldn’t help but laugh, and his nerves eased.

“That’s the lens, that’s the focus ring, exposure here, shutter button there,” Luan Ye pointed casually. “Just shoot based on your feeling.”

His relaxed attitude made it easier. Fan Qing raised the camera, adjusted some settings, and began snapping photos.

Luan Ye’s eyes fell on him. Fan Qing was focused, expression intent. His eyelashes were long, casting shadows as he looked at the screen.

Luan Ye smiled, stepped closer, and looked over his shoulder at the photos.

As they scrolled through, Luan Ye realized Fan Qing’s shots were actually pretty good — nice composition, good use of light.

He reached over to tweak the white balance and ISO, then selected a few of his favorites.

“Not bad,” he said while adjusting settings. “Better than my first attempt. A few are a bit cluttered — pull in the framing next time.”

Fan Qing leaned in too, his eyes catching Luan Ye’s hand as he adjusted the settings.

Luan Ye’s hands were elegant, pale against the black camera. It must’ve been a bit hot, since he’d pulled up his sleeves, revealing a fair wrist.

Then Fan Qing froze.

The handmade string bracelet Luan Ye always wore was gone. His wrist was bare — exposing an old scar.

A clean, straight line — likely from a blade. Time had faded it, leaving a faint raised mark. It must have been deep once. Normally it would be hidden by the bracelet, but now, in full sunlight, it stood out starkly.

Fan Qing looked away sharply, mind blank.

Luan Ye finished adjusting and pulled his hand back.

“Keep shooting,” he said.

Fan Qing lifted the camera again, and the settings did help — the display looked brighter — but his mind was somewhere else.

That scar. It must have been from a long time ago.

But why?

Ten minutes later, the sun rose higher and the golden light faded. The sky was clear.

Tourists began to descend the mountain. Nearby, some professional photographers were packing up their gear, chatting with the two girls.

“I camped here nearly a week — bad weather every day. Today was the first time I got the shot. You guys are lucky!”

“Sun-kissed snow mountains are a blessing,” he added. “You’re all blessed by the mountain.”

People around them beamed and gasped in delight. Some put their hands together to pray.

Fan Qing returned the camera to Luan Ye, who turned with a smile.

“Is it true, what he said?”

Fan Qing looked at him and nodded.

Luan Ye raised a brow. He’d expected Fan Qing to reply with something dry and scientific — like “the weather forecast.”

He packed up the camera and looked out over the mountains.

The sky was dizzyingly blue. The white peaks stretched endlessly across the horizon, silently watching the travelers below. Prayer flags flapped in the wind, murmuring in a language no one could understand.

“The snow mountain’s blessing,” Luan Ye repeated.

“What did the mountain bless me with?”

Fan Qing still had the image of the scar and Luan Ye’s words from last night in his mind. After a long pause, under the snow mountain’s gaze, he finally spoke, as if delivering a divine message.

“It blesses you with peace, fulfillment, health… and courage.”

Luan Ye stared at him, then slowly smiled.

He suddenly said, “I’m staying in Xuehu Village for about three months.”

The topic change caught Fan Qing off guard. “Huh?”

“I’ll hire you for those three months,” Luan Ye continued.

Fan Qing: “…”

That sentence was dangerously ambiguous — he didn’t know how to respond.

“You’ll still guide tours like usual. If there’s a group like this…”

Luan Ye pointed at the snowy mountain.

“If you think it’s worth photographing, you let me know.”

Oh.

He meant hiring a guide. A private one.

Fan Qing finally said, “I don’t know what places are good for photos.”

Luan Ye clicked his tongue. “Then just pick the ones you think I’d like.”

After a pause, Fan Qing nodded. “Okay.”

“If I need to go somewhere, I’ll call you. Just come pick me up. Shouldn’t be often — I don’t like going out much.”

“Two thousand a month,” Luan Ye said, packing up his camera and standing up.

“I’ll pay you monthly.”

Fan Qing looked at Luan Ye and knew part of the reason was because of last night’s conversation—he was trying to find a way to help him earn his tuition faster.

He appreciated Luan Ye’s kindness, but he still didn’t want him to spend money like that so casually.

Fan Qing said, “You could rent a car…”

“Got my license back in high school when I returned to China, and haven’t driven since,” Luan Ye interrupted. “If you think I’m safe on the road, go ahead and find me a car.”

Fan Qing: “…”

He went quiet for a while, then finally gave up arguing. “Make it 1,500 a month. Didn’t you say you don’t like going out?”

You’re really bad at making money, Luan Ye sighed internally.

“Deal.”

The snow mountain returned to its usual calm. Everyone went back down the same way, packed up at the hotel, and checked out. At the hotel entrance, Fan Qing turned around—not to Luan Ye—but to the two girls and said:

“Don’t forget anything when checking out—hats, sunglasses, chargers, rings, bracelets—pack everything and meet in the lobby.”

Luan Ye froze, quickly touched his wrist, then turned to look at Fan Qing.

Their eyes met. Fan Qing’s expression remained completely calm: “Go on ahead, I’ll go check on the other two.”

Luan Ye stared at him. He looked calm, like he hadn’t noticed anything.

He nodded. “Alright.”

After confirming that the couple was feeling better and could go down the mountain, Fan Qing lingered in the hallway for another two minutes before returning to the room.

Luan Ye had already packed and was sitting on the sofa using his phone. Fan Qing glanced quickly—he was wearing the bracelet again.

Fan Qing looked away and picked up his bag. “Let’s go.”