Chapter 467: Pure Love Little Invisible (9)

Chapter 467 The Wallflower of Pure Love (9)

Before Song Chuyi could wrap his head around it, the chef had already served the delicious dishes.

He was starving, so he stopped chatting with Gu Yongnian and focused on eating.

After dinner, Gu Yongnian casually asked him, "Wanna walk off dinner together?"

Song Chuyi grinned and replied, "Why not?"

The two strolled around the foot of the mountain, and time flew by until it was already 10 p.m.

At some point, they ended up at the base of the Thousand-Step Climb. Song Chuyi looked up at the towering stairs disappearing into the clouds, zoning out for a moment.

Gu Yongnian, standing beside him, asked, "Feel like tackling the stairs again?"

"Sure," Song Chuyi agreed without hesitation. Since he wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he went home, climbing the stairs seemed like a good idea.

But then...

He turned slightly to Gu Yongnian. "Wanna race?"

A cocky glint lit up his eyes as he tilted his head slightly.

"Loser gets punished."

Gu Yongnian let out a low laugh and nodded.

Seeing his acceptance, Song Chuyi bounded up the stairs.

"Then I’ll go first."

In a few quick jumps, he was already five steps ahead.

Gu Yongnian watched from below, a warm smile playing in his eyes.

He stepped onto the stairs, taking his time, step by step.

At midnight, Song Chuyi stood on the 500th step, looking down at Gu Yongnian, who was five steps behind, and let out a scoff.

"You holding back on me?"

Gu Yongnian raised his head to meet his gaze.

The height gap made him seem at a disadvantage, but he held his ground, showing no sign of weakness.

"No," he replied with a smile. "There are still 499 steps left. I’m pacing myself."

Song Chuyi raised an eyebrow. "You know this 'Thousand-Step Climb' actually only has 999 steps?"

"Mm," Gu Yongnian responded, climbing higher. "I’ve counted."

Song Chuyi barked out a laugh.

"Dang, you’re just as bored as me?"

Gu Yongnian just shook his head, climbing higher.

"Not boring—I just come here to walk when I'm stressed."

Seeing Gu Yongnian catching up, Song Chuyi stopped talking and turned to continue climbing.

Gu Yongnian watched his retreating figure and kept following.

At 2 a.m., there were still 99 steps to the summit.

Song Chuyi’s breath grew uneven as he glanced at Gu Yongnian, who was only two steps behind.

"You’ve got great stamina—not even winded after all this climbing."

Gu Yongnian's eyes still brimmed with amusement.

"I’m used to it."

Song Chuyi: "You climb a lot? Must be stressed pretty often, then."

"I figured someone like you wouldn’t get stressed much."

Gu Yongnian didn’t answer, just climbed another step.

Song Chuyi: ...

No way he was losing!

He turned again and kept climbing.

An hour later, Song Chuyi planted his right foot on the top step while his left still rested on the second-to-last.

Gu Yongnian was two steps below—just two quick strides would overtake Song Chuyi.

But he stayed put, just watching.

"How’s it feel?" he asked.

The mountain wind was crisp, lifting the hems of their clothes.

Song Chuyi felt the damp breeze on his face, chilly yet oddly soothing.

"Feels amazing."

He was in good spirits, grinning openly.

"It’s 3 a.m.—sunrise in two more hours."

Gu Yongnian nodded. 'Sunrise at five.'

While he spoke, Song Chuyi pulled his left foot up, stepping onto the final tier and gazing down at him.

"I win."

Gu Yongnian didn’t move.

"Yeah, you won."

"So, what’s my penalty?"

That caught Song Chuyi off guard.

He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, "Haven't thought of anything yet. I'll owe you one for now."

Gu Yongnian didn't mind and agreed.

He stepped up the stairs and reached Song Chuyi's side in two quick steps.

"Want to check out the Ethereal Temple?"

Song Chuyi gave him a surprised look, "We can go in now?"

"Yeah." Gu Yongnian's voice had an uncharacteristically sly tone. "I'm the next abbot—perks of the position."

Song Chuyi was speechless.

The two successfully entered the Ethereal Temple. The temple was silent, as if even the wind had fallen asleep here.

Before long, they arrived in the courtyard of the Sacred Tree.

A heavy scent of wood filled the courtyard, giving them an energy boost the moment they stepped in.

The Sacred Tree standing at the center stood as solid as iron, unwavering.

Song Chuyi approached and reached out to touch the tree's trunk.

The rough bark chafed his palm.

Gu Yongnian stood beside him and explained, "I heard the flowers it used to bloom were beautiful."

"The fruits it bore were lovely too."

Song Chuyi tilted his head and pursed his lips.

Gu Yongnian copied his move, touching the Sacred Tree's trunk.

"Maybe it's unhappy. One day, it might stop blooming and bearing fruit."

He looked at Song Chuyi, partly serious, partly joking, and asked, "How can we make it happy?"

Song Chuyi looked him straight in the eye.

Gu Yongnian's pupils were perfectly jet black. When moonlight shone into his eyes, they gleamed like obsidian.

He saw himself reflected in those pupils.

Song Chuyi's long lashes were trembling, and he withdrew his hand.

"Maybe watering and fertilizing it would make it happy."

"Tried that." Gu Yongnian also withdrew his hand, his fingertips slightly trembling at his side. "Tried everything, but it's still not happy."

Song Chuyi shrugged. "It's just a Coffee Tree. Why bother whether it's happy or not?"

"If it doesn't bloom or bear fruit, it remains the Sacred Tree. If it does, it’s just like any other coffee tree."

"Besides, it's just a coffee tree. No one would care."

Gu Yongnian furrowed his brow.

"But he cares."

"He'd care himself."

Song Chuyi laughed. "Maybe he doesn't give a damn either?"

He patted Gu Yongnian's shoulder, switching gears.

"Do you know the best spot to watch the sunrise?"

"Wanna show me?"

A smile crept back onto Gu Yongnian's face.

"Right here."

He nodded toward the Sacred Tree, as if saying to Song Chuyi—or perhaps the tree itself—

"He deserves the best."

As he spoke, the morning sun rose, washing the Sacred Tree in golden light.

The light touched Song Chuyi too.

He folded his arms across his chest, watching his real form bathed in sunlight, the leaves shimmering with a faint golden glow, and tutted softly.

"Indeed."

He was back at the beginning.

He looked at Gu Yongnian, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I know how to get it to flower and fruit."

"But..."

Gu Yongnian didn't hesitate.

"Name your price."

Song Chuyi fell silent.

Sure, he knew Gu Yongnian was aware that the Sacred Tree was his real form, but Gu Yongnian used to be different.

Hadn't he been this way before? Had Gu Yongnian gone love-crazy? he wondered.