91: Heading back!

Jiang Yuan walked to the car door, and it automatically identified him and unlocked.

"Hiss—"

The pneumatic door slowly popped open, and the automatic step extended.

The previously pitch-black cabin instantly lit up with soft, warm lights; this was the automatic welcome mode triggered when the smart brain, "Xiao Jiu," sensed its master's return.

A faint fragrance, mixed with warmth, instantly enveloped the two of them.

Stepping inside felt like walking straight from hell into heaven.

The moment the door closed, the cold wind, howling sounds, and dusty air outside were all completely isolated in another world.

"Phew..."

Lhamo collapsed onto the leather sofa, not wanting to move even a single finger.

Although her body wasn't too tired, the mental exhaustion couldn't be relieved by a drink.

The packed schedule of the past two days had left her mentally exhausted, and now she just wanted to sleep.

"Don't sleep yet, go take a shower; you'll be more comfortable when you sleep after that."

Jiang Yuan put down the huge backpack. Although he had walked over fifty kilometers, he wasn't even panting, and his hairstyle hadn't even been messed up.

Xiao Jiu had already automatically heated the water, keeping it at a constant temperature, so there was no need to wait for it to heat up.

"Alright..."

Lhamo stood up with difficulty, swaying as she walked toward the bathroom.

When the hot water poured down from above, she felt so comfortable she almost groaned out loud.

This was no ordinary shower; the top-tier constant-temperature showerhead, combined with the perfectly balanced water pressure, washed away every speck of dust from her skin and kneaded away her tense muscles.

When she finished washing and came out wrapped in a bathrobe, she looked like a gesang flower nourished by water—exhausted, yet exuding a fresh, vibrant charm.

"Come over and have something to eat."

Jiang Yuan was already sitting at the dining table.

There was no complicated French cuisine on the table, just two steaming bowls of top-quality beef noodles, topped with two soft-boiled eggs and a sprinkle of vibrant green scallions.

The two sat face-to-face, eating the noodles heartily.

"Jiang Yuan."

Lhamo finished the last drop of soup, put down her chopsticks, and looked at the man opposite her who seemed to never tire, her eyes full of tenderness.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Yuan pulled out a tissue and handed it to her.

"This is the first time in my life, and also the happiest time, that I've ever gone on a mountain pilgrimage."

Lhamo said softly.

"As long as you're happy."

Jiang Yuan smiled and stood up to clear the bowls and chopsticks. "Alright, go get some sleep. Sleep in the bed tonight; no need to squeeze into the tent."

Lhamo blushed, remembering the crowding and intimacy in the tent last night. Surprisingly, she felt a tiny bit of disappointment, because on the bed, Jiang Yuan wouldn't be holding her quite so closely.

However, when she lay down on that cloud-like bed, which could automatically adjust its support based on the curves of the human body, that trace of disappointment was instantly drowned out by boundless comfort.

Two days of mountain pilgrimage, over fifty kilometers of high-altitude trekking.

Her body wasn't tired, but her mind was still very exhausted.

Fortunately, she had Jiang Yuan's company by her side.

Lhamo slept more sweetly than ever before, with even her dreams filled with that sacred mountain and the back of that man.

The next day, the sun was high in the sky.

The highland sunlight shone through the car windows, softened, casting mottled light and shadows on the carpet.

Lhamo finally woke up.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked out, draped in a silk bathrobe.

Although the robe was a bit loose, it was wrapped tightly, revealing only a small section of her fair calf as she walked, exuding a sense of domestic laziness.

"Jiang Yuan, tashi delek."

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying the nasal tone of someone who had just woken up.

"tashi delek."

Jiang Yuan was sitting on the sofa looking at his phone, with breakfast still steaming on the table in front of him.

"Go wash your face and come have breakfast. I just went out to buy it; it's still hot."

Besides the butter tea he had specifically gone to buy, there were also some steaming beef buns. Darchen had many tourists, so there was a good variety of breakfast options.

"Okay."

Lhamo nodded obediently, the corners of her mouth lifting involuntarily.

This feeling of having food to eat and someone waiting for her the moment she opened her eyes was truly wonderful.

The two sat face-to-face.

Watching Lhamo take small bites of her bun, Jiang Yuan put down his phone and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if speaking about a very casual, trivial matter:

"This trip is about to come to an end."

Lhamo's action of eating the bun came to a sudden halt.

Jiang Yuan looked at her, his tone calm:

"I need to go back to my hometown. I just bought a villa there, it's currently being renovated, and there are quite a few things waiting for me."

"After dealing with those, I plan to go abroad in a while, to Iceland."

At this point, he paused, his gaze landing on Lhamo's face:

"Do you want to come along?"

"Um..."

Lhamo lowered her head; the once delicious beef bun suddenly became difficult to swallow.

She was silent for a few seconds, the light in her eyes visibly dimming:

"So soon..."

"I... I can't go this year. I have some things at home I can't get away from... I guess I'll have to wait until next year."

It had only been a few short days.

She realized she had already grown accustomed to this man's presence; the excitement of these past few days was more intense than the last twenty years of her life combined.

The sudden separation left her feeling empty inside.

"It's okay."

Jiang Yuan seemed to have anticipated this answer; he smiled and handed her a tissue:

"Then wait for me to return from Iceland. When you can go abroad next year, I'll take you to other places."

"Really?"

Lhamo suddenly looked up, hope reigniting in her eyes.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "I said I'd take you on a mountain pilgrimage, and I did; I said I'd take you out to have fun, and I did."

"Okay! Then I'll wait for you!"

Lhamo nodded heavily, her face once again blooming with that unreserved smile.

"You can't go back on your word."

In truth, as a woman's intuition, she could vaguely feel that Jiang Yuan wasn't that simple.

How could a man as outstanding, mysterious, wealthy, and free-spirited as him be lacking women around him?

Even the playful smile at the corner of his mouth sometimes when he looked at his phone told her that he didn't belong to her alone.

But so what?

Every minute and every second she was by his side, his eyes were only on her, and the kindness he showed her was genuine; that was enough.

Lhamo was not one of those Girls who would dwell on such things; she knew how to seize the happiness right in front of her.

...

The next few days.

The two were not in a hurry to part ways; instead, they drove slowly back to Lhasa.

During these few days, the two acted like the most ordinary couple, strolling through Barkhor Street, drinking sweet tea, and basking in the sun. It was also during these days that they broke through the final layer of paper, completely confirming their relationship.

The day of their separation, at Gonggar Airport.

"Keep this car and drive it."

Jiang Yuan pointed to the "guardian" parked on the side of the road.

"Huh?"

Lhamo was stunned, waving her hands repeatedly in fright. "No, no, no, this is too valuable! And such a big car, I..."

"Take it."

Jiang Yuan stuffed another access card directly into her hand and had Xiao Jiu record the data, his tone brooking no argument:

"I'm flying back; I can't be bothered to drive thousands of kilometers back to Beijing. Shipping such a big car is also a hassle."

"You keep it; it's convenient for taking your family out, or it wouldn't be bad to park it in the yard as a mobile guest room."

He said it nonchalantly, as if what he was giving away wasn't a priceless, high-tech camper, but a second-hand toy he didn't want to take with him.

"When I have time, I'll fly over to see you, and I'll need the car then."

Jiang Yuan patted her head, finding a reason she couldn't refuse.

"Then... then I'll keep it safe for you."

Lhamo clutched the card tightly, her eyes slightly red.

She knew this was a keepsake Jiang Yuan had left for her.