177: Chapter 177 You said, have any emperors throughout history walked along this section of the city wall?

"I am listening carefully."

"Then tell me what you heard."

Hu Tian thought for a moment and repeated solemnly, "You run occasionally, so you will definitely be able to climb to the very top today."

Zhou Waner nodded with satisfaction, "Yes, that's exactly what I meant."

The two took a taxi to the Shanhai Pass scenic area. Along the way, Zhou Waner was scrolling through travel guides on her phone, occasionally looking up to say a few words to Hu Tian, "This section of the wall was built in the ming dynasty and has a history of over six hundred years," "The weather forecast says the high today is twenty-three degrees, perfect for climbing," "They say the scenery on the mountain is amazing, and you can see the sea."

Hu Tian leaned against the car window, listening with a constant smile on his lips.

Arriving at the entrance of the scenic area, Zhou Waner bought the tickets and strode toward the entrance. Her steps were light, and she seemed like a bird just released from a cage, full of inexhaustible energy.

Hu Tian followed behind her, unhurriedly.

"Let's go, let's go, keep up!" Zhou Waner turned her head to urge him on.

"I am following."

The beginning of the path was indeed easy to walk; the steps were even and the slope was gentle. Zhou Waner walked in front, looking around as she went, examining the gaps between the bricks on the wall, looking at the rolling mountain ridges in the distance, and the parking lot that was getting smaller and smaller beneath her feet.

"It really is beautiful!" she exclaimed, "This section of the wall is so well preserved. Look at these bricks, they even have the marks of the ming dynasty."

Hu Tian leaned in to take a look and nodded.

"Come on, take a picture of me. Make sure the wall is in the background."

Hu Tian took the phone, stepped back two paces, framed the shot, and took a picture.

Zhou Waner checked it and nodded with satisfaction, "Good, let's keep going."

After climbing a bit further, the steps began to steepen, the walls on both sides grew higher, and the path became narrower.

Zhou Waner's pace slowed down just a little, but her tone remained relaxed, "This part is a bit steep, but it's okay, piece of cake."

"Hmm."

"Look at me, my breathing is still very steady."

"Hmm."

After climbing for another ten minutes, Zhou Waner's talking noticeably decreased.

Hu Tian quietly observed her, noticing that her strides were getting shorter and shorter, she had to pause after every step, and fine beads of sweat were seeping from her forehead.

But she still wouldn't admit defeat, "The scenery here... is really good, I want to take a good look."

As she spoke, she stopped, leaning against the wall and pretending to admire the view, when in reality, her chest was heaving, and she was panting heavily.

Hu Tian stood beside her, completely composed, "Tired, aren't you?"

"No," Zhou Waner denied immediately, "I just think the view is good here, so I'm looking for a while longer."

"Alright, then let's look for a while longer."

Hu Tian clasped his hands behind his back and began to admire the scenery in a leisurely manner.

Zhou Waner glanced at him sideways and, seeing that he wasn't panting at all, felt a bit unconvinced. She steadied her breath and started walking upward again.

Another ten minutes passed, and they completely reached a section of nearly vertical steps. The height of each step was nearly half a meter, requiring the use of both hands and feet to climb up.

Zhou Waner stopped in front of the third step.

She looked down at her feet, then looked up to see how much further it was. She took a deep breath, bent down, placed both hands on the step, and then... started to crawl.

Hu Tian followed behind, witnessing her transition from head-held-high ambition to the practical crawling on all fours, and tried hard to hold back his laughter.

"...Hold it in, don't laugh." Zhou Waner didn't even lift her head, panting breathlessly.

"I'm not laughing."

"I heard the sound of you holding back laughter."

"That was the wind."

"..."

Zhou Waner laboriously climbed up one step, held onto the iron chain beside her to stand up, and looked back at Hu Tian. Seeing him standing straight with a calm expression on his face, not even a hair out of place, she couldn't help but feel a bit aggrieved, "How are you not tired at all?"

"Good stamina." Hu Tian answered truthfully.

"Show-off."

"Fact."

Zhou Waner turned back around huffily to continue climbing, but before she had taken three steps, her legs went weak, and she squatted down, leaning against the wall, "I can't do it, let's rest for a while."

Hu Tian walked over, squatted beside her, and handed her a bottle of water he had prepared in advance.

Zhou Waner took it and drank a few sips, then leaned her head back against the cold wall bricks, looking up at the azure sky. With a pained expression, she said, "I feel like my legs aren't mine anymore."

"How much further?"

"I don't know, it feels like... we'll never reach the top."

Hu Tian stood up, looked upward, estimated the distance, and then turned back to look at her.

Zhou Waner was rubbing her thighs pitifully. Her ponytail was messy from the wind, with a few stray hairs stuck to her forehead. The light makeup she had applied before leaving had also been slightly smudged by sweat, but there was still a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.

Hu Tian thought for a moment, then squatted down, turning his back to her, "Get on."

Zhou Waner was stunned, "What?"

"I'll carry you up."

"..."

Zhou Waner was silent for a few seconds, "No need, I can walk myself."

"You just said your legs weren't yours anymore."

"That was... a figure of speech."

"Get on." Hu Tian's tone was calm and unquestionable.

Zhou Waner looked at his broad back, hesitated for a second, and finally climbed on. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clamped her legs around his waist, saying softly with a hint of embarrassment, "If you get tired, put me down."

"Hmm."

Hu Tian stood up, firmly supporting her legs, and started walking upward again.

Zhou Waner lay on his back, tense at first, but gradually relaxed. She rested her cheek against the back of his neck, quietly feeling the steadiness and stability of every one of his steps.

Occasionally, other tourists would pass by on the wall, and upon seeing this scene, they couldn't help but take a few extra looks. Some smiled kindly, and some whispered, "That's so nice."

Zhou Waner's ears turned slightly red.

"Those two people over there are looking at us," she whispered.

"Let them look."

"Don't you feel embarrassed?"

"No."

Zhou Waner buried her face deeper into the back of his neck and didn't speak again.

Hu Tian carried her, walking step by step upward. His pace was steady, his breathing even, as if he weren't carrying a person, but just something handy.

Zhou Waner couldn't help but ask, "Are you really not tired at all?"

"It's fine."

"How much weight do you have on you?"

"One hundred and fifty jin."

"..."

Zhou Waner silently hid her face in the back of his neck and said in a muffled voice, "I only weigh one hundred jin."

"I know."

"Then what did you mean by one hundred and fifty jin?"

"You plus myself."

Zhou Waner thought about it, felt relieved, and rested her chin back on his shoulder, shifting into a more comfortable position, "Then... do you think emperors of past dynasties have walked on this section of the wall?"

Hu Tian thought for a moment, "Maybe."

"Then when they reached this section, did they walk up themselves, or were they carried up?"

"They were probably carried."

"Then I have the same treatment as an emperor."

"Yes."

Zhou Waner laughed contentedly, "That's actually pretty nice."

The corners of Hu Tian's mouth curved slightly, but he didn't speak, continuing to walk upward.

The final section near the top of the mountain suddenly flattened out, and the view opened up abruptly.

The wall extended into the distance, connecting with the outline of the mountain ridges, appearing majestic and vigorous under the blue sky and white clouds; on the other side was a vast sea, the surface shimmering with rippling light under the sun, blending with the color of the horizon.

Hu Tian stopped in front of the watchtower and let Zhou Waner down.

Zhou Waner steadied herself, looked up, and upon seeing this scene, was momentarily stunned in place.

The wind blew from the mountaintop, sweeping all her hair back. She squinted, watched for a long time, and finally exhaled softly, whispering, "It was worth it."

Hu Tian stood beside her, following her gaze toward the distant sea surface.

"Let's take a picture."

Zhou Waner handed him her phone, walked to the side of the watchtower, and stood ready, with the stretching Great Wall and the sea in the background.

Hu Tian raised the phone, framed the shot, and pressed the shutter.

Zhou Waner came over to look, found no fault, just nodded and said, "This one is good."

Then she looked up at him, then back down at the photo on the phone, and suddenly said, "You come too, let's take a group photo."

Hu Tian was a bit surprised, but he walked over and stood beside her.

Zhou Waner stood on tiptoe, held the phone high, leaned in close to him, and adjusted the angle, with the Great Wall, the sea, and a vast sky in the background.

"Okay, look here."

The shutter sound rang out.

Zhou Waner looked at the photo on the screen; the two of them standing by the watchtower, with the stretching walls of Shanhai Pass and the shimmering sea in the distance behind them. The world was vast, and they looked small, yet it was inexplicably beautiful.

She didn't speak, just put the phone into her pocket.

Hu Tian looked at her profile, "Keeping it?"

"Keeping it."

Zhou Waner said softly, her tone carrying a hint of something, hard to articulate, "I won't delete this one."

The wind continued to blow, making the flags on the watchtower snap loudly. Shanhai Pass stood there, for hundreds of years, still so silent, so magnificent.

The two stood side by side, neither in a hurry to leave.

Early the next morning.

Hu Tian accompanied Zhou Waner to watch the flag-raising ceremony.

Tiananmen Square was crowded with people. Zhou Waner stood in the crowd, wrapped in her coat, looking up as the national flag slowly rose, the light of the morning sun reflecting in her eyes.

Hu Tian stood behind her, blocking the surging crowd, allowing her to watch the ceremony peacefully.

After the flag-raising ended, the two went to the Bird's Nest.

Zhou Waner stood on the perimeter of the Bird's Nest, took several photos, and finally dragged Hu Tian to take a group photo together, only then satisfied enough to head back.

It was already afternoon when they returned to the hotel. Zhou Waner took a shower, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat on the sofa scrolling through her phone.

Hu Tian was to the side organizing the photos taken over the past few days, and incidentally organizing some data that needed to be backed up.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Waner suddenly spoke, "Brother Hu Tian."

"Hmm?"

"For the National Day holiday... are you really going to take me to your hometown?"

Hu Tian looked up and glanced at her, "It's settled."

Zhou Waner pursed her lips, lowered her head, and unconsciously swiped on her phone screen, "Then... there are about twenty days left."

"Hmm."

"Do you... have anything to prepare?"

Hu Tian put down the tablet in his hand and looked at her, "What do you want to ask?"

Zhou Waner's earlobes turned slightly red, and her voice lowered, "Just... what do your parents usually like? Do they have any dietary restrictions? What are their temperaments like? Will they be very serious?"

Hu Tian was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his words.

"My mom is quite easy to talk to, likes liveliness, and also likes young people. You just need to chat with her."

Zhou Waner nodded seriously, took out her phone's notes app, and started writing, "Then... what does your mom like? Should I bring some gifts?"