Chapter 30 Part 2

Group message.

He Lezhi: @luo I'm correcting the room request. Lezhi 1, Fangchi 1. Thanks, Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo: Fangchi is going too?

He Lezhi: Yep, haha.

Xiao Luo: okk.

Because of Han Fangchi's joining, He Lezhi inexplicably felt a little extra anticipation for this hike, beyond just the sport he loved.

Han Fangchi didn't have any trail running gear. He Lezhi had bought some for him before, but not winter clothes. He Lezhi had several windbreakers, so he quickly bought him a set of quick-dry and thermal inner layers.

"It's too much trouble. I can just find some sportswear to wear. It's not like I'm running," Han Fangchi said.

"That won't work. It's very uncomfortable when you sweat, especially in winter," He Lezhi said. "I'm not asking you to pick it out yourself, so don't say it's a bother."

"Then use my phone to buy it." Han Fangchi tossed his phone over.

He Lezhi glanced at his phone but ignored it at first. After a moment, he silently put his own phone aside, picked up Han Fangchi's, which didn't need a password to unlock, and opened the shopping app.

"Alright then," He Lezhi said.

Han Fangchi was sitting to the side reading a book when he heard He Lezhi speak calmly again, "How did you and your colleague calculate the rent? I'll transfer it to you."

Han Fangchi looked at him. He Lezhi was buying the items with a perfectly normal expression, looking completely unperturbed. Han Fangchi leaned over, snatched the phone from his hand, locked the screen, and pocketed it, saying, "The battery's dead. Use yours to buy it."

He Lezhi then switched back to his own phone. "Okay."

Han Fangchi was short on time. The others were going on the 11th and returning on the 13th, but Han Fangchi couldn't leave on the 11th. The two of them had to leave early on the 12th. Their destination was a county town, and upon arrival, they would meet up with the others and head straight up the mountain.

Han Fangchi only carried a backpack with a water bladder. He Lezhi didn't let him carry anything else. He had him bundled up from head to toe, with a hat and gloves on, and even goggles. Dressed in the blue and black gear, Han Fangchi's usual stern doctor-like demeanor was completely transformed, turning him into a sporty, long-legged handsome guy.

"So handsome," He Lezhi said with a smile.

Han Fangchi looked at He Lezhi and thought the same.

He Lezhi didn't run much this time. Winter was different from summer. He didn't have Han Fangchi run long stretches with him. They only ran a few segments at a low speed together, mostly fast-walking the rest of the way.

But even so, it felt quite invigorating. Winter had its own unique, piercingly dry cold. The icy air was warmed by his body heat before it could even be inhaled into his lungs. Amid the bleakness, it paradoxically made one feel a sense of hope that the harsh winter was coming to an end.

"Want to take a break?" He Lezhi asked.

Although he was a bit out of breath, there was an obvious joy about him.

Han Fangchi said, "No need."

"Are you cold?" He Lezhi asked again.

"Hot," Han Fangchi said. "I want to take this outer layer off."

He Lezhi waved his hand to stop him. "Don't. You can't take off the windproof one. The thin down jacket underneath will let the wind right through."

If it weren't for He Lezhi, Han Fangchi would never have participated in any outdoor sports in the winter. For someone who liked to exercise in a temperature-controlled environment, this kind of sometimes-cold, sometimes-hot outdoor setting was truly a hassle.

But when He Lezhi asked in a light tone, "Fangchi, do you ever get the feeling... like you've been washed over by the clean, cold air? It makes you feel very light."

Han Fangchi took a moment to carefully experience what he described and found that he really did feel that way.

"Yes," Han Fangchi said.

He Lezhi smiled. "I love this."

During continuous, uninterrupted exercise, the passage of time first speeds up, then gradually slows down. A section of the path before the summit was very steep. He Lezhi hadn't brought trekking poles for them, so on difficult parts like this, he would go up first and then turn back to reach a hand out to Han Fangchi. When their hands met through their gloves, He Lezhi would grip his tightly and pull him up.

"Do you often come out to run in the winter?" Han Fangchi asked him.

"Occasionally, not often. How could I have that much time?" He Lezhi let out a laugh. "The mountains where we live are closed off in winter. To go somewhere else requires at least three or four days, and I couldn't just take leave whenever I wanted at my previous job."

He Lezhi paused here, then continued, "If Xiao Hei came back, I couldn't get away either, or I would have gone to see him."

Now, He Lezhi could already speak of Zhou Muyao very casually. It was nothing to bring up things from the past.

Han Fangchi made a sound of acknowledgment.

They shouldn't have been having this kind of question-and-answer conversation. Given how close they were, Han Fangchi shouldn't have been unaware of whether He Lezhi went trail running in the winter or what he did; he shouldn't have needed to ask.

But there just so happened to be this long, blank period. You could say they weren't close, but they were; you could say they weren't friends, but they were still very good friends. Yet they knew nothing about each other's daily lives and would never meet alone unless they were in a group.

When they reached the summit, the two of them found an open space to rest for a while and ate something to replenish their energy. The others were a short distance behind them.

The rest of the way was downhill. After resting, He Lezhi took something out of his bag and said, "Put this on."

"What is it?" Han Fangchi glanced at it.

"A patella strap," He Lezhi said. "Normally, you wouldn't need it. Your glutes and leg muscles are definitely strong enough. But it's better to be safe and wear one when going downhill in the winter."

Han Fangchi reached out to take it, but He Lezhi had already crouched down and said, "Let me."

He naturally crouched down beside Han Fangchi and fastened the patella strap around his knee, constantly adjusting its position.

Han Fangchi looked down, unable to see his face, only his hat and a section of his jawline. His exhaled white breath dispersed around them. The scene had a texture that was both cold and warm.

After finishing one side, He Lezhi shifted his position a little to fasten the other side for him.

Han Fangchi watched him in silence.

"He Lezhi."

Hearing him use his full name, He Lezhi didn't stop what he was doing with his hands and responded, "Hm?"

Han Fangchi asked, "Are you still going to date?"

"Huh?" He Lezhi looked up at him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "What kind of question is that?"

Han Fangchi didn't speak.

"I don't have any plans for it right now. I'm not sure about the future," He Lezhi still answered seriously.

"Will it be like last time?" Han Fangchi asked.

He Lezhi paused, then asked, "Like what?"

The two of them looked at each other quietly through their glasses for a good while. Han Fangchi finally spoke, saying flatly, "Once you're in a relationship, you stop being close with other people."

He Lezhi asked softly, "Who are 'other people'?"

Han Fangchi said directly, "Me."

He Lezhi didn't answer. He averted his gaze, no longer looking up, and just continued to finish what he was doing with his hands. He carefully adjusted the straps for a long time, only standing up after confirming both sides were secure.

"You're not 'other people'," he said before turning around.