Chapter 215: Mid-Mountain Memories
by xennovelWhite Cloud Mountain, Mid-Mountain Lodge.
Xu Chen parked the car and turned to Xie Bingran.
“Wait in the car—I’ll handle check-in and come back for you.”
Xie Bingran didn’t quite understand Xu Chen’s approach but nodded with an “Oh,” clutching the backpack and staying put.
Xu Chen turned off the headlights, slung the backpack over his shoulder, and headed toward the hotel lobby.
Xie Bingran watched Xu Chen’s retreating figure, lost in thought.
She blinked her big eyes, thinking about the years without talking to him—he’d changed so much.
And she had too.
Luckily, since they started speaking again, her old self seemed to return.
Once Xu Chen vanished from sight, she glanced around. The light was dim, with a streetlamp under a large banyan tree buzzing with insects, its glow flickering.
This was up in the mountains, and the hotel seemed deserted.
Good thing it was Bing Ge with her and not some other girl—or there’d be screams of fear.
…
A few minutes later, Xu Chen walked back.
He smiled as he opened the door and got in, then twisted the key to start the engine.
“Got the room sorted. This place doesn’t seem to advertise much—lots of rooms sitting empty.”
He glanced at Xie Bingran:
“First, let’s get you fed.”
With that, he turned the car around and drove out.
…
…
Half an hour later, they arrived on Construction Six Road in the old district.
This was one of Yangcheng’s earliest bustling areas, the heart of the city before Tianhe City rose up.
Many foreigners working and living in Yangcheng still settled here, with bars run by Westerners dotted around.
Xu Chen found a spot in the mall’s underground parking and led Xie Bingran to the main street.
It was past nine at night, yet restaurants and bars were just heating up.
Groups of tall foreigners wandered the streets, cigarettes in hand, their strong cologne lingering in the air as they passed.
There were also burly locals chatting in unfamiliar languages, arms slung over shoulders.
Everything gave off a slightly uneasy vibe, but this spot was safer than near the train station.
Xie Bingran followed Xu Chen into a side alley.
It looked like a residential area, not somewhere to grab a meal.
After a few turns, Xu Chen sighed:
“Looks like it’s not open yet.”
The place he’d hoped to find wasn’t operating in 2006.
Xie Bingran: “No worries, we can try somewhere else.”
Xu Chen smiled: “I spotted another spot on the way in—it’s got great food!”
…
Minutes later, they sat in a yakitori Japanese restaurant.
It was packed with young people out for a late-night bite.
Sake, grilled skewers, and quiet conversations filled the air.
In the background, the shop played old songs by Masashi Sada.
Xu Chen avoided places with beef, lamb, or pork for Xie Bingran—here, the poultry and fish were safer.
They ordered Beijing scallion chicken, salt-grilled mackerel, buttered potatoes, and salmon rice bowls…
Plus two bottles of Calpis as drinks.
Xie Bingran pointed to a dish and asked:
“What’s this?”
Xu Chen: “Chicken ovaries and eggs. It should burst with flavor if cooked right—depends on the chef’s touch.”
Xie Bingran wasn’t fussy; she picked up a piece and tried it.
She chewed, brow furrowed: “It’s a bit odd, but pretty tasty.”
…
Xu Chen sipped his drink, smiling as he watched Xie Bingran eat heartily.
He remembered middle school when they shared a desk—she was quiet and guarded, barely speaking for days.
Their first real talk came when he saw her nibbling a dry bun with no sides and shared his lunch.
Back then, her hair was longer; she ate with her head down, hiding behind those strands…
Now, here she was across from him, digging in just as eagerly.
Her eyes still held that girl from years ago, but she’d grown in ways he hadn’t expected.
…
Xie Bingran chewed a piece of salted water bamboo, then noticed Xu Chen staring and looked awkward.
She mumbled: “What?”
Xu Chen: “Nothing…”
Seeing her embarrassment, he added with a grin:
“I just like watching you eat.”
Xie Bingran swallowed and said:
“I think I’ve got a competition in Osaka or somewhere this year.
You should come—I’ll show you around the local spots…”
Xu Chen: “Sounds good. I’ll wait for your invite.”
Xie Bingran took a sip, looking pleased:
“I’ll check with the coach about the details.”
Xu Chen: “You don’t even know when or where?”
Xie Bingran: “The team and coaches handle all that. I just focus on training and showing up.
I overheard Coach Cheng mention something about Osaka, but didn’t pay much attention.”
Xu Chen: “Besides training and competitions, what else do you do?”
Xie Bingran: “Some cultural classes—teachers come to the team, but no exams.”
Xu Chen: “I heard from Chen Dahai that older team members sometimes bully the newcomers…”
Xie Bingran snorted: “I took care of that.”
Xu Chen: “…”
Xie Bingran: “Later, could you find a spot for me to run? I haven’t done my daily routine yet.”
Xu Chen: “Any specific place?”
Xie Bingran: “A field, basketball court, or just open ground works.”
Xu Chen thought for a moment: “I’ll take you to Industrial University—it’s close, and they’ve got a rubber track.”
Xie Bingran: “Okay.”
…
After dinner, they strolled the streets to walk it off.
Walking side by side, Xu Chen said:
“I swear you’ve grown taller again?”
Xie Bingran replied coolly:
“Maybe a centimeter or two.”
“…”
Xu Chen: “Bing Ge, don’t get taller than me—that’d be embarrassing standing next to you.”
Xie Bingran glanced at his head:
“That won’t happen.”
Xu Chen suddenly looked wary:
“In the national team, there must be a bunch of tall, handsome guys, right?”
Xie Bingran: “Yeah, we train together sometimes.”
Xu Chen narrowed his eyes: “Don’t the coaches worry about mixing men’s and women’s teams affecting performance?”
Xie Bingran: “They keep it strict. Coaches hate players dating, especially girls—it tanks results.”
Xu Chen: “With your charm, Bing Ge, there have to be guys on the team who like you.”
Xie Bingran smirked: “They’re all clueless.”
Xu Chen: “Huh?”
Xie Bingran seemed to catch herself and turned to him:
“What if someone does like me?”
Xu Chen: “Huh?!”
…
…
At Industrial University’s field, people were out for night runs—students, locals, even elderly couples.
Xu Chen sat on the grass, resting, while Xie Bingran did light interval runs on the track.
She blended in, her pace steady and unassuming.
Passersby had no idea this quiet, tall girl had just won a national championship in Yangcheng.
Out of 1.3 billion people, half women—that made her number one among millions.
Xu Chen couldn’t help smiling. He’d struck gold with her.
Who’d have thought that shy desk mate he once fed would achieve so much?
…
…
Xie Bingran finished quickly—less than half an hour—and sat beside him.
Xu Chen handed her a water bottle:
“That it?”
She was a bit out of breath as she took a sip:
“Yeah, just enough to keep in shape out here.”
In the dim field lights, sweat glistened on her slender neck…
She downed the bottle in one go, full of energy.
…
Back at the hotel, it was past eleven.
They parked and walked toward the lights.
Their rooms were halfway up the slope, through winding paths and stairs, around a small pond with a few cabins.
“It’s so quiet,” Xie Bingran said.
“No other guests around,” Xu Chen replied with a smile.
“Oh.”
“Not scared?”
“Nothing to fear here except you,” she muttered.
“Afraid of me?” Xu Chen teased with a grin.
She paused, then: “No.”
…
…
Inside, it was a small suite—a tiny living room with a double bedroom beyond.
“You go shower first. I’ll watch TV out here,” Xu Chen said.
Xie Bingran bit her lip, sensing the odd tension.
She blinked: “Don’t come in.”
Xu Chen: “I promise.”
…
Xu Chen lounged on the sofa, flipping channels absentmindedly, yawning.
He landed on a National Games recap on the local sports channel.
And there was Xie Bingran on screen…
The sound was low, and from the bathroom came the faint rush of water.
Xu Chen scratched his head, thinking rebirth had one downside—these youthful urges tested his self-control.
…
“Xu Chen!”
She called from inside.
“Yeah?”
“Come help me dry my hair.”
“…”