Chapter 90

After much persuasion, Bak finally promised to take the two sisters out to play often, in exchange for their promise not to oppose Sister Zhou.

Bak sent them upstairs and made an appointment with Zhou Xiaoli, then called his father to go home together. Ba Dacheng still complained that the back seat of his son's motorcycle was uncomfortable and was particularly looking forward to learning how to drive.

What Bak wanted was this kind of anticipation from his parents for the new lifestyle.

The next morning, he went to pick up Zhou Xiaoli with a heavy backpack. The two sisters, who had agreed not to go together last night, had already finished running and exercising on campus. They waved weakly as Zhou Xiaoli got on the back of the motorcycle, and after it drove away, they whispered to each other and went home.

Zhou Xiaoli watched the two sisters, dressed in peach-pink sportswear and tight six-inch shorts, gradually become two small dots in the rearview mirror: "I heard from your mom that they are your distant cousins?"

Bak thought Liu Shufen hadn't revealed everything: "Yeah, very distant. Where are we going hiking?"

Zhou Xiaoli pointed in a direction, puzzled: "I don't think it's a completely brother-sister relationship? No blood relation?"

Bak complained: "You don't have to get mad at those little girls, do you?"

Zhou Xiaoli's voice was gentle: "You know what I mean. They defend you more than your mom. One word from me is like three. If we really become a family, won't they fight with me all the time?"

Bak tried to mediate: "Rebellious phase, rebellious phase. Don't mind it. Besides, they will have their own lives. Once they grow up, they'll fly away."

Zhou Xiaoli hugged his waist and patted him: "Fly my ass! The key is they won't fly! Do you think I'm stupid? They keep telling your mom they want to go back to live. Is the condition here not good enough?"

Bak tried to steer the conversation back to their date: "Not bad, not bad. Which mountain are we climbing? See how much I've prepared?" He shrugged to show his backpack.

Zhou Xiaoli, separated by the backpack, was finally surprised: "Going to Ciyakou... What did you pack? It's just a mountain hike, do you need such a big bag?"

Bak was puzzled: "Yeah, it's a mountain hike. Why are you dressed so nicely, and in high heels?" He knew the place, an ancient town street. Was there a mountain? Were there cliffs or caves worth exploring?

The girl finally felt better after being complimented: "Not bad, right? My mom helped me alter the pants. She's good at it. She can turn a seven out of ten into a ten!"

It did look good. A black straight pencil skirt, very straight and tight with no decoration, a simple white round-neck T-shirt with only a triangular metal tassel at the neckline, and a dark gray jacket-style cardigan. The whole outfit was in simple black, white, and gray, fresh and natural, perfectly matching her neatly straight shoulder-length hair. She wore black high heels, looking very professional and a bit casual, but not like someone ready for outdoor activities.

Bak was sweet: "Ten out of ten! Really, I'm used to seeing you in your work suits. This look is great, even without dyed hair!"

The girl looked at herself through the helmet and was satisfied: "I just wanted to look cool on the motorcycle, that's why I wore this cardigan, but the wind is a bit cold." Indeed, the temperature wasn't high, and there was still fog in the early morning. The motorcycle was already weaving through the fog.

Bak suggested: "Do you want to wear my thin jacket? It's windproof."

Zhou Xiaoli touched it, not quite believing: "Plastic? Aren't you cold?"

Bak was in a good mood: "I have a fire in my heart!"

The girl understood what he meant, playfully twisted his waist, but found his abs were very tight, making it hard to apply force. She then touched him and directed: "So skilled! Pull over and give me the jacket."

Unlike some girls who are shy, she expressed her emotions directly and was happy to accept Bak's attentiveness, as if it added weight to her heart.

Bak's jacket was made of ghost nylon quick-dry fabric, which could resist UV in summer, serve as a raincoat in the rainy season, and protect against wind and cold in winter, even with a fleece layer for icy conditions. It folded into a small bag the size of a fist, the most practical climbing jacket he could think of to buy online, covering almost all possible situations.

It was expensive, but bought last minute.

But when he took it off, it was just like a five-yuan plastic raincoat, even less noticeable in its mud-gray color. Zhou Xiaoli put it on excitedly, not caring about the price: "Wow, your sleeves are so long, the hem can cover my butt, and it's warm!"

Bak, still in a black T-shirt, didn't even take off his helmet, helped the girl zip up the jacket to the helmet, and then turned to start the motorcycle. Zhou Xiaoli exclaimed: "Really, no wind at all, but it's not stuffy, so breathable!"

Bak didn't explain the special antibacterial and anti-itch coating, just took credit: "Then won't you reward me?" He turned his helmet towards her.

Zhou Xiaoli giggled: "You wish!" But she still leaned in, her helmet touching Bak's side, and turned his helmet back: "Watch the road!" Only then did she finally ask: "Are you cold?"

Bak, being very smooth: "I'm not cold if you're not cold."

Zhou Xiaoli hit his helmet against the back of his head: "You talk better than you sing!"

Bak really sang: "Left hand a chicken, right hand a duck, on my back a chubby baby..."

The girl was left with only a silver bell-like laugh, laughing without stopping. Bak, who was good at acting, played his role so well that he didn't know if it was genuine or subconscious.

In any case, with the laughter and the occasional disdainful looks from passing cars, the motorcycle finally arrived at Ciyakou, a famous ancient town by the river in the suburbs. Zhou Xiaoli directed Bak to drive the motorcycle along the stone-paved street, in the early morning mist and damp wooden houses: "Stop there! Let's start climbing!"

Bak, carrying a large backpack with climbing carabiners, nylon ropes, reflective paracord, and climbing claws, looked up in surprise. Next to them was a neat old stone staircase, extending straight up to the high mountain top, with no turns, just a steep slope from the street.

But this height was only to describe the feeling of steepness; in reality, it was about a hundred steps.

Bak swallowed hard and confirmed with Zhou Xiaoli: "This... is climbing?"

The girl matter-of-factly: "What else? If this isn't climbing, is it swimming?"

Cough...

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