152: Chapter 152 I can cook whatever you want to eat.

Evening.

Xia Ningle and Xiao Wenhan climbed the viewing platform next to the village.

The sun was setting, the distant mountains were like waves, and clouds flowed through the peaks.

The lights of the Miao Village lit up one by one, like stars scattered across the mortal world.

"So beautiful..." Xia Ningle couldn't help but sigh.

"It feels like all my worries are being blown away by the wind."

Xiao Wenhan stood beside her, quietly looking at the distant scenery.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a soft golden edge on his well-defined profile.

"Xiaxia..."

He suddenly spoke, his voice gentler than usual: "Do you know why I was willing to come on this trip with you?"

Xia Ningle turned her head and looked at him curiously: "Why?"

"Because you are like the wind in these mountains."

Xiao Wenhan smiled slightly: "Fresh and free, making people unable to resist wanting to get closer."

Xia Ningle was stunned; she hadn't expected the always steady Xiao Wenhan to say such things.

She felt her heart skip a beat, and then it began to race.

"Then you're like these mountains—steady, reliable, making me feel... very secure."

Night fell completely, and scattered lights flickered in the mountains.

On the way back to the guesthouse, the two walked side by side; their arms occasionally brushed against each other, but neither made a move to pull away.

"Let's go to Huangguoshu Waterfall tomorrow."

Xiao Wenhan broke the silence: "I heard the water volume is at its peak right now; it's very spectacular."

Xia Ningle nodded: "Okay, I can't wait!"

As she spoke, her eyes stole a glance at Xiao Wenhan's profile, and the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously.

On this August night, the mountain breeze was slightly cool, yet it couldn't disperse the warmth quietly rising between the two.

The distant singing was still faintly audible, like chords quietly sounding in their hearts.

Gentle yet persistent, it suggested that this journey had only just begun.

...

The appointed time arrived.

Su Lingyin looked in the mirror and took a deep breath before heading out.

Walking to the elevator, she happened to run into Chen Yu, who was also coming out of his room.

He had also changed into a clean T-shirt, and his hair was still slightly damp, looking fresh and neat.

The two exchanged a look and were both stunned for a moment, then they laughed at the same time, a tacit understanding flowing silently between them.

"Decided what to eat?" Chen Yu asked as the elevator descended.

"You decide, I want to eat everything!" Su Lingyin's tone was cheerful, full of expectation for Xinjiang's cuisine.

Chen Yu was clearly prepared: "I'll take you to a place that isn't just for tourists; there are many locals too. How about trying some Big Plate Chicken and Belt Noodles?"

Chen Yu had clearly done very detailed research and had scoured the comment sections of various apps.

"Okay!"

At 7:30 PM in Xinjiang, the sunlight was still intense, but the heat had slightly subsided.

Chen Yu navigated and drove through several streets to a food street that looked quite old.

The air was filled with the strong aromas of cumin, chili, and grilled meat, greatly stimulating the appetite.

The shop they found didn't have a large storefront, but it was very popular; a whole lamb was hanging at the entrance, and a worker was busy in front of a huge Naan Pit.

The shop was packed to the brim and noisy; almost every table had a portion of Big Plate Chicken that was heaped high and enticingly colored.

They finally managed to find an empty table and sat down.

Chen Yu ordered a medium portion of Big Plate Chicken, plus two roasted lamb skewers and two glasses of Kawas (a Xinjiang-style honey fermented drink).

When the platter, which was larger than a washbasin, was brought out, Su Lingyin's eyes widened in surprise: "This... this is such a large portion?"

Dark brown chicken pieces, golden potatoes, bright red chilies, and green bell peppers.

Immersed in a thick, glossy sauce, it gave off an incredibly bold aroma; at the very bottom were the wide, thick, and chewy Belt Noodles, which had soaked up the sauce.

"The portion is very generous." Chen Yu smiled and handed her a pair of chopsticks.

"Try it, be careful, it's hot."

"Okay." Su Lingyin reached out with her chopsticks and began to eat.

The chicken was stewed until tender and flavorful, the potatoes were soft and soaked in sauce, and it was spicy yet aromatic—extremely satisfying.

The Belt Noodles were the soul of the dish; they were chewy and firm, coated in the rich sauce, making it impossible to stop eating.

The roasted lamb skewers had a mix of fat and lean meat, grilled until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a strong cumin aroma.

Su Lingyin ate until her nose tip was sweating and her lips were bright red from the spice, yet she had a look of complete satisfaction.

Seeing her gasping from the heat, Chen Yu pushed the chilled, bubbly, and honey-sweet Kawas toward her.

"Drink this to cool the spice."

He also ate heartily, with fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

The two focused on their meal, occasionally looking up to exchange comments like "these potatoes are delicious" or "those noodles are really flavorful."

The joy of sharing good food filled the air.

In this bustling marketplace, the satisfaction arising from a hearty and delicious pot of food was simple and direct, yet it easily brought people closer together.

"It's so delicious! It's just... I can't eat anymore."

She felt like she was already full after eating only half.

What a pity! T^T

Chen Yu said with a smile: "It's okay, I can cook anything you want to eat, though the taste might not be quite as good."

"I like everything you cook." Su Lingyin wiped her mouth, barely maintaining her composure.

"I'm finished."

"I'm finished too, let's go."

The good thing was that the Production Team was footing the bill.

She thanked the Production Team in her heart.

When they walked out of the restaurant, it was already past 9:00 PM.

The sky was no longer a blindingly bright white but was instead tinged with a gentle orange-pink, and the temperature had become cool and pleasant.

As the lights were just coming on in the streets, the evening breeze blew past, carrying the residual warmth of the day and the coolness of the night, making it very comfortable.

"Take a walk?" Chen Yu suggested, pointing to a small plaza nearby.

"Okay, I'm stuffed." Su Lingyin rubbed her stomach and smiled sheepishly.

The two walked slowly along the brightly lit street, chatting about the food they just had and their official itinerary starting tomorrow.

They planned to set out early tomorrow morning for Tianshan Tianchi.

The night had shed the heat of the day, feeling leisurely and cozy.

The streetlights stretched their shadows long, sometimes crisscrossing and sometimes separating.

While waiting for a red light at an intersection, an electric bike quickly brushed past Su Lingyin.

Chen Yu instinctively reached out and lightly pulled her by the shoulder, bringing her a bit closer to himself.

"Be careful."

Chen Yu's palm was warm, drawing back as soon as it touched.

Su Lingyin, however, felt the skin on her shoulder where he had touched her grow slightly hot, and her heart also skipped a beat.

"Um... thanks," she said softly, looking at the traffic light ahead, not daring to turn her head.

The light turned green.

Chen Yu naturally walked on the outside of her, continuing the previous topic about Tianchi.

"Actually, I should have bought a camera," Chen Yu said with some regret.

"Photos taken with a phone are already good enough; what's important is the scenery in our eyes."

There was one more sentence she didn't say: what's important is each other in our eyes.

Some sparks are born in the cool night breeze, flickering silently, waiting for a more intense moment.

...