We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

It was 6:24 PM. Li Mubai released Xie Shu's hand, saying he felt a little hot. Actually, he was feeling embarrassed under the gaze of passersby after calming down, and also...

Is he really going to walk all the way back to Xie Shu's house from here? He had just secretly checked, and the two places are more than 20 kilometers apart. Even without stopping, it would take five and a half hours to walk, and he probably wouldn't get home until midnight. That doesn't even include the time spent resting along the way...

Will Xie Shu's parents question her about coming home late?

Will his parents question him for coming home in the early hours of the morning?

Will they encounter danger halfway there? Can he protect her?

Suddenly, all sorts of concerns flooded my mind.

Looking at Xie Shu walking briskly ahead, Li Mubai finally spoke:

"Xie Shu, are we really going to walk back from here?"

"Hmm." Xie Shu turned slightly to look at him. "Try walking first, and then take a taxi if you really can't walk anymore."

Upon hearing this, Li Mubai breathed a sigh of relief. According to the average girl's physical strength, she probably wouldn't be able to keep going after walking ten kilometers.

"Going home so late... Won't your family worry?" he asked, voicing his last concern.

"No, I told them I was going out with Deng Yi to clear my head and I won't be back until tomorrow." Xie Shu paused, "Besides, they haven't had time to keep an eye on me lately."

Li Mubai guessed that Xie Shu's "going out for a walk" probably meant going to another city.

"Will your family worry about you?" Xie Shu asked in return.

"Probably..."

When he was in elementary school, he and Li Muyong secretly went to an illegal internet cafe for an all-nighter. When their parents found out he wasn't home in the middle of the night, they didn't have cell phones or smartwatches. Li's parents were so worried that they called the police. When he finally got home, he inevitably got a beating.

"Should we tell our family?" Xie Shu suggested. "You can say you're going to my house to study, and you won't go back until very late."

He and Xie Shu were like two people secretly planning to elope, plotting together how to deceive everyone.

However, Xie Shu's idea was out of the question. He still wanted to live, and going to his female classmate's house late at night probably wouldn't work...

"Mom..." Li Mubai picked up his phone to send a voice message to his mother, but when he noticed Xie Shu listening nearby, he felt inexplicably embarrassed.

"I'll talk to you later." He put away his phone, thinking he might not leave until nine or ten at night, since his parents usually didn't get home until ten.

"it is good."

Xie Shu nodded slightly, turned to look at the mountainside, and sighed softly:

"The sun has set; there's a beautiful sunset tonight."

Li Mubai followed her gaze and saw the setting sun slowly sinking into the mountain valley, its afterglow gently falling on their faces. He thought of a phrase—a final burst of light before death.

"Let's keep going, we have a long way to go today."

"Um."

The majestic mountains swallowed the setting sun, the evening glow on the horizon gradually faded, and the sky slowly darkened.

At 7 p.m., they passed by the school. From a distance, the school was completely dark. Today was May Day, and even senior high school students had a three-day holiday.

Xie Shu joked that if they went to school now, it would be pitch black and they wouldn't be able to find each other.

At 7:30, night had completely fallen, and the temperature had dropped as well.

The two walked to a road without streetlights, where only the occasional passing vehicle provided fleeting glimpses of light.

Li Mubai couldn't help but let his mind wander. What if a bad guy suddenly jumped out of the darkness, or a vicious dog rushed out? How could he safely escape with Xie Shu?

call--

A car sped past with a whoosh.

"Are you tired?" Xie Shu asked, looking at him.

"fine."

Their legs were already feeling a bit tired; they had been walking for an hour and a half, but seeing Xie Shu's cheerful steps, it was clear she was in high spirits.

I don't know why Xie Shu likes to do these kinds of "exciting" things; it's possible that she used to only be able to follow the rules.

"Wait, Xie Shu, is this the right way?" Li Mubai called out to the girl who was about to plunge into the darkness. Based on his memory of taking the bus, he felt that the direction was wrong.

"I don't know." Xie Shu shook his head. "But as long as we keep heading towards the light, we should reach a city."

Well, that's true, but if we go astray, we'll only get further away from our destination.

Li Mubai took out his phone, checked the navigation, and pointed in another direction:

"This is a city."

"it is good."

Xie Shu did not hesitate and turned to walk in the direction he pointed.

Around 8 p.m., they emerged from the darkness and could vaguely see the edges of the city. The section of road they had just walked through should be the area between the suburbs and the city center, sparsely populated.

Li Mubai was already feeling visibly tired. He turned his head to look at Xie Shu, who was still full of energy and didn't stop walking at all.

Sigh, let's keep going.

As you enter the city, the number of pedestrians gradually increases.

Xie Shu suddenly stopped, giving Li Mubai a chance to catch his breath.

"What's wrong?"

"Let's go to that square and rest for a while."

We've already arrived at People's Square...

He found a seat and sat down. Xie Shu sat next to him. They had watched the fireworks here at the beginning of the year, and he never expected to end up here again.

"Xie Shu, aren't you tired?" Li Mubai asked.

"It's alright," Xie Shu said softly. "This is only my second time in this square; I've only ever passed through it before."

People's Square? It seems to be a memory for the people of Pingyang City.

"I think I have a few photos taken in this square when I was a few years old."

"Really? May I take a look?" She chuckled softly as she leaned closer, causing Li Mubai to unconsciously lean back.

"Uh—those are all printed photos; I don't have them on my phone."

"I have a few too."

Xie Shu then turned his gaze to the square, where the city's neon lights could be heard from time to time, accompanied by the laughter of children and the chatter of adults.

"Let's keep going, we still need to head to the suburbs." Xie Shu stood up.

"...Okay." Although he wanted to rest a little longer, Li Mubai got up and followed.

At nine o'clock in the evening, they left the bustling city center again and slowly headed towards the suburbs.

Xie Shu's stamina is amazing!

She seemed tireless, but Li Mubai's legs felt as heavy as lead. He glanced at the navigation; there were still nine kilometers to go.

"Let's rest a bit more," Xie Shu said, seemingly noticing that he was slowing down.

Li Mubai nodded quickly and sat down on a public bench by the roadside.

"Xie Shu, have you ever participated in any physical training?" He looked at the person next to him.

"no."

Okay, looks like he's a naturally gifted player.

Li Mubai looked up and saw scattered lights from the city's high-rise buildings in the distance.

The weather is great tonight; you can see the moon and stars. The place where they are sitting looks like outside a park, where you can see the night sky when you look up.

A spring night breeze swept by, carrying a hint of coolness. Li Mubai shivered slightly. Suddenly, his hand was grasped again, and he turned to look at Xie Shu.

"It's a bit cold," the girl said softly, looking away.

Li Mubai realized that Xie Shu seemed to be wearing a short-sleeved dress. It wouldn't feel cold during the day, but the temperature difference would be quite large at night.

"Wait a moment."

He gently pulled his hand away from hers, and under Xie Shu's puzzled gaze, took off his coat and handed it to her.

"If you... don't mind, you can wear this."

"……good."

Xie Shu took the coat and put it on. The wide hem covered her palms, leaving only a few slender fingers exposed, instantly keeping out the chill of the night.

She glanced at Li Mubai, who was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and said softly:

"Come closer to me."

"It's okay, I'm not cold." Li Mubai smiled.

Xie Shu didn't say anything more. If the mountain won't come to me, then I'll go to the mountain. She moved closer to him and pressed her arm tightly against his. Li Mubai's body stiffened instantly.

Actually, Xie Shu was also tired. He had walked more than ten kilometers. How could he not be tired?

She awkwardly reached out and pried open his stiff fingers, then clenched them tightly.

Li Mubai sat upright, only able to hear his heart pounding.

She was a little tired and wanted to lean gently on his shoulder...

"Hahaha! Let's find another place to continue drinking, you little punks."

A group of drunk young people appeared, interrupting Xie Shu's actions and instantly putting Li Mubai on edge.

"Hey, there's a young couple here, let me go check them out!"

Li Mubai subconsciously tightened his grip on Xie Shu's hand, ready to run away with her at any moment.

"Alright, alright, stop bothering them, let's go!" The person in the group quickly pulled the young man away.

Li Mubai breathed a sigh of relief as he watched them walk away.

"You're gripping too tightly," Xie Shu suddenly said.

"Ah, sorry." Li Mubai quickly let go, but Xie Shu's hand remained tightly gripping his.

"Don't drink alcohol anymore," she said softly.

"Uh—okay."

"Let's keep going and finish the last leg of the journey."

Li Mubai stood up, not letting go of each other's hands, and walked side by side into the unknown darkness ahead.