Section 2

After a moment, she finally found Cheng Feng among the crowd. He was sitting together with the middle management of the company.

Qi Dong held two skewers of stinky tofu in his left hand, while simultaneously carrying a small paper box filled with potatoes. With his right hand, he pinched a toothpick, picked one up, and popped it into his mouth, letting out a gasp from the heat. Yet, his brows and eyes were smiling, unable to contain his joy.

In order to successfully sell herself, she must break through this layer of shackles. Although she cannot turn around at the moment

It is often said that the emotions between men and women are the most difficult to fathom, yet in reality, it is quite simple; it merely comes down to the distinction between being sincere and insincere. Men are prone to impulsiveness, while women are easily moved.

My home is in Chongqing. Chongqing has eighteen peculiarities, one of which is that walking is faster than driving. Do you know why?" Cheng Feng, with an expression as usual, opened up the conversation.

Then I shall take the lead... Cheng Feng's eyes were filled with laughter, admiring Qi Dong's intelligence. After taking a few steps, he turned back to look at Qi Dong and said, "Don't rest for too long. The wind is strong here, and be careful not to catch a chill after sweating."

At this moment, Cheng Feng naturally pointed to the Zhenwu Temple and said: "There is a very interesting stone wall in this temple; you should take a look after dinner. Are you tired? Would you like to rest here for a while?"

After speaking with Qi Dong, she felt a chill run through her. She thought silently, she had become accustomed to pretending to be innocent and naive in front of Cheng Feng. What would be the consequences when her true self is revealed in the future

The gazes of the two individuals met across the space, as Cheng Feng inquired with his eyes. Qi Dong quickly responded with a faint smile. Upon seeing Cheng Feng's slight smile, she finally lowered her head and began to eat heartily.

Cheng Feng's wet wipes and mineral water seemed to be specially prepared for Qi Dong, always handed to her at the moments she needed them most

How many years ago did she label herself with Gu Lei's name? She firmly believed that he was her only man, the only one who had held her hand, kissed her lips, tousled her hair, and embraced her tightly.

She is too sensitive

Hmm. Qi Dong nodded, resembling a well-behaved child.

She does not want to become a terrifying old woman haunted by her thoughts of Gu Lei. She slightly tightened her grip on him with her fingers.

Lunch was served in the side hall of the Zhenwu Temple. The side hall was vast, filled with over thirty large round tables occupied by visitors. Qidong Company alone had about ten tables of people, with laughter and chatter echoing among the fragrant air in the beams. No one noticed Qidong's arrival

Qi Dong nostalgically recalled an old movie. A woman who lost her groom remained in an old house wearing her wedding dress, never taking it off throughout her life, gradually growing old in that manner

Why? Qi Dong asked in response to his words. Her gaze fell on his hand, and her mood became calm due to Cheng Feng's natural attitude. She self-deprecatingly thought, it is merely holding her hand to walk across this three or four meter long stone bridge, not that Cheng Feng is proposing to her. A thief indeed feels guilty.

This is the second time Cheng Feng has asked her if she wants to take a break. ... The first time was out of concern, but the second time was ...! ... He is truly a remarkable person! Qi Dong suppressed the urge to laugh, patted his leg, leaned against the stone railing, and winked at him: "I am not from Chongqing. My legs are weak from walking. The scenery here is really beautiful, so I will take a break. You go ahead, don't wait for me."

Qi Dong did not ask Cheng Feng whether he was intentionally waiting for her. Cheng Feng did not offer any explanation either

Qi Dongkuan calms her heart. After all, Cheng Feng still remembers to look for her in the crowd. She gives little, and cannot demand too much from him

What are you thinking? Although these paths are made of concrete piles instead of wooden ones, no railings have been built to maintain the rustic charm of the mountains. Cheng Feng reached out to support Qi Dong's elbow, offering a careful reminder.

As they crossed the stone bridge, Cheng Feng let go of her hand. It was as if his earlier actions were merely to ensure her safe passage across the bridge

It may be Cheng Feng, or perhaps another man. Her hands, her lips, her embrace will not only carry Gu Lei's scent

"With legs this long, yet walking so slowly." Cheng Feng, dressed in casual attire, sat in a pavilion by the roadside. Upon seeing Qi Dong, he stood up, approached her while speaking, and naturally took the stinky tofu she was holding in her left hand, raising his eyebrows with a smile and saying, "Treat me to a skewer!"

They are all intelligent individuals. The moment their gazes met, they understood each other.

Her slow pace is a desire to relax and unwind, while another reason is to see if Cheng Feng has any feelings for her. His appearance is the best answer. This answer propels her to passively continue moving towards her original goal.

Cheng Feng shook his head while biting into a piece of stinky tofu: "It's cut too delicately; eating it with a toothpick is not satisfying."

She steeled her heart. Although the company does not advocate office romances, it has not explicitly prohibited them either. At most, she would just be the subject of curious glances for a while. Liu Shiru is not afraid of losing face by openly harboring a crush on Cheng Feng, so what does she have to fear?

Qi Dongsong let out a sigh and quietly expressed his feelings of resignation

Since he has developed feelings but does not intend to make them public, why is she being so serious and anxious? Qi Dong regrets her earlier thought of being reckless and indifferent.

His maturity and thoughtfulness bring a sense of stability. If he can continue to take care of himself in this way, and in return, I offer him warmth, even the most ordinary marriage can possess a warm happiness. Qi Dong gazed at the long mountain path and thought, without perilous peaks and treacherous valleys, one can still reach the summit safely and smoothly, can't one

Qi Dong smiled as she raised the paper bowl in her hand: "Would you like another bowl of stir-fried potatoes?"

Cheng Feng, however, was quite fond of her娇嗔 demeanor, and his tone became even gentler: "I grew up in Chongqing, so I am used to climbing hills and navigating rough paths. Such mountain roads are no challenge for me. Do you want to take a break?"

Cheng Feng smiled: "Let us walk a bit slower. If we miss the meal time, I will treat you to stir-fried potatoes and fried stinky tofu"

She admitted that she was a bit selfish. She wanted to keep Cheng Feng interested, yet did not want to finalize their relationship too quickly

The stone bridge was narrow, and the two people were very close to each other. Qi Dong had a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. She was not wearing any makeup, and her skin radiated a natural, healthy glow, with her lips as delicate as flower petals. Like the small wildflowers blooming between the mountain walls, they shimmered with a refreshing beauty under the sparse sunlight. Cheng Feng took a deep breath, his hand naturally sliding down her elbow to rest on her hand, holding it gently, giving a vague response: "Watch your step"

At this moment, Qi Dong hesitated. The fish she intended to catch had swallowed her hook, yet it offered her the opportunity to choose to give up. The mountain path was tranquil, with only the two of them present. If she simply withdrew her hand, Cheng Feng would understand her refusal. By not letting go, she was giving Cheng Feng a clear hint.

Qi Dong once again persuaded himself

The mountain breeze blowing towards her tousled her hair, and her heart gradually calmed down

With a companion, the mountains no longer remain silent, the mountain paths are no longer winding and long, and laughter gradually rises

The multiple-choice questions came too quickly, leaving Qi Dong somewhat taken aback

She quietly immersed herself in the laughter and conversation of the vegetarian meal with her colleagues

Qi Dong shook his head

Cheng Feng glanced at her, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth: "Chongqing has many winding mountain roads. Traffic jams are a common occurrence. Taking the steps to traverse is certainly much faster than taking a detour up the mountain."

She did not resent Cheng Feng's actions; on the contrary, she felt a sense of relief

Qi Dong came to his senses and quickly expressed his gratitude: "I was wondering if we might be the last ones to arrive at the Zhenwu Temple"

As Qi Dong gazed at the glazed roof of the Zhenwu Temple, he felt a sense of worry. How many eyes would be drawn to their simultaneous appearance? At this moment, suggesting to part ways would seem overly sentimental.

After the meal, it is free time for activities. Some engage in tea drinking and card games, some pray to the gods and seek omens, while others enjoy the scenery of the grand temple. Given Cheng Feng's cautious nature, he would not suddenly appear again. Upon returning to the Zhenwu Temple for the first time, Qi Dong went to look for the stone wall that Cheng Feng had mentioned.

Despite this being said, the two individuals still quickened their pace

This unspoken understanding between them almost instantly brought the two closer together

He did not hold it tightly; with a gentle pull, Qi Dong could easily take it away.

Qi Dong cast a glance and clearly saw the curiosity and smile in Cheng Feng's eyes. She lowered her head, like all shy girls do, and playfully complained, "This mountain doesn't look high, but it's really tiring to walk up."

Qi Dong stood upright, casually patting her hands on her hips and wiping them. It was unclear whether she intended to brush off the dust from the railing or to wipe away the lingering presence of Cheng Feng's touch. A nonchalant demeanor, which left Qi Qing and Ma Tianming astonished, once again appeared on her face.

Beneath your feet are several parallel concrete piles resembling wood, forming a stone bridge only one meter wide on either side of the stream. It is just over one meter above the water surface, with rugged rocks below, making it very easy to get injured if one falls.