Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Actually, I Am Very Timid
Translator: 549690339
After walking to a snack stand with Yang Qingyin’s hand in his, Luo Ziling really did buy two ice creams, along with some other snacks.
With these treats in hand, he pulled Yang Qingyin over to a chair that was positioned higher up and plopped down on it.
“Sitting here eating snacks and enjoying the view, while listening to senior sister explain the history and culture of the Summer Palace, is truly one of life’s greatest pleasures,” said Luo Ziling with a smile, looking at Yang Qingyin who had seated herself beside him, “So you knew that sitting here and enjoying the scenery is pretty nice, huh!”
“I learned it by accident,” Yang Qingyin said with a playful smile, and then took a very elegant bite of her ice cream, “Actually, this is only the second time I’ve eaten ice cream this year.”
“No way?” Luo Ziling was greatly surprised.
“The last time was at the Summer Palace.”
“You don’t eat it usually?” Luo Ziling asked, nibbling his ice cream and looking in amazement at Yang Qingyin, who was savoring hers, “Did I lead you astray?”
“Usually I just don’t think about eating it, I rarely hang out with others, and when I’m with them, I don’t think about eating such things.” As she spoke, Yang Qingyin’s mind flashed back to the last time she and Luo Ziling had fun at the Summer Palace, the scene of them eating snacks while sitting on a bench made her smile again.
Many things happen only when you’re with certain people, and it’s then that you do things you normally wouldn’t. With someone special, you would do these things without hesitation and experience an indescribable joy.
Despite disliking it, Yang Qingyin inevitably had to attend social events because of her good looks and family background.
But at those events, she rarely chatted or drank with others, let alone ate ice cream or other messy snacks.
Her family had never seen her eat these kinds of snacks bought from small stands, and those who knew her didn’t think she would casually sit and eat these things like ordinary people.
Everything changed because of Luo Ziling. His easygoing nature meant she had no concerns whatsoever.
The joy of these little things simply couldn’t be put into words.
“The Summer Palace was built by Emperor Qianlong in 1750 to celebrate his mother’s birthday, originally known as Qingyi Garden. In 1860, it was destroyed by the British-French Allied Forces, and in 1886, Empress Dowager Cixi diverted naval funds to rebuild it, changing its name to the Summer Palace. In 1900, it suffered severe damage again at the hands of the Eight-Nation Alliance,” Yang Qingyin began to tell Luo Ziling about the Summer Palace, happily eating her ice cream.
Luo Ziling listened attentively, interrupting from time to time to ask a question or two.
Yang Qingyin spoke casually, mentioning whatever came to mind, sometimes speaking at length about a minor scenic spot, captivating Luo Ziling.
After finishing the ice cream and having devoured some snacks, Yang Qingyin patted her not-so-full belly, “I’ve eaten so much, it’s time for some exercise, or I’ll gain weight!”
“If someone says you’re fat, I’ll fight them,” Luo Ziling joked again, “I’ve never seen a woman maintain a better figure than you.”
This casual compliment instantly delighted Yang Qingyin.
“Really?” she asked, tilting her head to look at Luo Ziling, “It seems you’re quite good at charming women.”
“I rarely interact with women,” Luo Ziling said a bit shyly, “Actually, it’s only after coming to Yanjing to study that I really started interacting with girls. Ouyang Huihui is the granddaughter of my grandfather’s old friend; I treated their family once, but I don’t like her. She’s too arrogant and always displeased with me. We’re always arguing, and I had no choice but to meet her.”
To Yang Qingyin’s surprise, Luo Ziling actually went out of his way to explain about Ouyang Huihui.
“You’re my first true friend, a female friend,” said Luo Ziling very sincerely.
Although the remark sounded a bit odd, as Yang Qingyin thought it over, she felt deeply moved.
She couldn’t help asking, “Didn’t you have friends before?”
“Yeah, I’ve always grown up in a small mountain village in the Northwest, never attended school, and had little contact with others. I’ve been very lonely, always hoping for company, but it never happened.” As he said this, Luo Ziling appeared somewhat dejected.
“I’m sorry,” Yang Qingyin felt a bit sad as well, “if you’d like, you can talk to me about the past, because we’re friends.”
“Right, we are friends,” Luo Ziling showed a charming smile again, “Actually, the little mountain village where I grew up is really beautiful. From any angle, the view is absolutely gorgeous. Nearby are the Tianshan Peaks. You can see different kinds of snowy mountain scenery all year round. If you ever go there, you’d definitely fall in love with the place.”
“I really do want to go see it.”
Luo Ziling felt moved and blurted out, “When should I take you there?”
“Sure!” Yang Qingyin agreed without hesitation, “Then you’ll be my tour guide when the time comes.”
“I’m more generous than some senior sister; being your tour guide will be free of charge, no payment needed,” said Luo Ziling, grinning happily.
Yang Qingyin didn’t mind at all and laughed just as cheerfully, “It’s normal for a woman to be a little stingy!”
“Let’s go, let’s continue sightseeing,” Luo Ziling reached out his hand to Yang Qingyin, “Wait until next summer vacation, I’ll take you to the Northwest. Summer is the best season for traveling there. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with it and might not even want to return to Yanjing.”
“Yanjing really isn’t great, with such congested traffic and frequent sandstorms,” Yang Qingyin didn’t refuse and handed her hand over to Luo Ziling, “Alright then, you’ll take me to the Northwest next summer.”
“I will definitely keep my promise!” Luo Ziling extended his pinky finger to Yang Qingyin.
Yang Qingyin also extended her pinky finger and hooked it with Luo Ziling’s.
The two entered the Summer Palace from the East Gate and first saw Ren Shou Hall and Dehe Garden, then moved on to Leshou Hall.
Inside these halls and gardens, the decor displayed the Empress Dowager Cixi’s dominance over Emperor Guangxu, exuding an aura of imposing superiority everywhere.
Yang Qingyin and Luo Ziling had explained all this to him, and only then did he come to know about it.
“The fate of the Qing government, because of having an Empress Dowager Cixi who was not the emperor yet outshined the emperor, endured so many more trials, and Huaxia’s history thus suffered so many humiliations!” After listening to Yang Qingyin’s explanations, Luo Ziling couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
Hearing Luo Ziling sigh like this, Yang Qingyin couldn’t resist teasing, “You get quite emotional visiting the Summer Palace; you had a lot of feelings today too. Seems like you’re really a passionate young man!”
“If a young man at this age isn’t passionate, then he never will be again for the rest of his life!” Luo Ziling laughed brightly, “Twenty-somethings, both men and women, naturally have the most passion, the most impulsiveness, and the most exuberance. Many things, once we think of them, we just go ahead and do them; once we think of them, we just say them out loud.”
Yang Qingyin knew Luo Ziling was hinting at something and nodded seriously in agreement, “You’re right, young men and women at this age are just like that.”
“It’s like deciding to travel on a whim!”
Seeing Luo Ziling looking at her with such affection, Yang Qingyin couldn’t help but blush slightly, and nodded gently, “Right, just do what comes to mind!”
“So, for the National Day holiday, we should go on a trip together!”
“You’re bolder than most!”
“Actually, I’m quite cowardly!”
“Who would believe that!”
“I believe it!”
“I don’t!” Yang Qingyin looked at their hands clasped together.
Luo Ziling didn’t know what else to say and could only grin sheepishly, which earned him an eye roll from Yang Qingyin.