’Now *that’s* more in line with his cool and aloof persona...’

’So, does he really have no feelings for Sika at all?’

But then again, Xu Su didn’t think Sika was all that into Si Xuan either. At the end of the day, it was just a shallow attraction to his looks. Even if she got rejected, she probably wouldn’t be heartbroken.

Sure enough, after realizing Si Xuan was a lost cause, Sika promptly cut her losses. She moved on to her next best option, setting her sights on Yue Sen, the gentle and refined-looking guy.

The very next day, she announced she wanted to ride with Liu Yun and went straight to Yue Sen’s car in the back. As a result, Xu Su was the only girl left in Si Xuan’s car.

After crossing Zeduo Mountain, everyone started experiencing altitude sickness to varying degrees.

Xu Su’s two oxygen canisters finally came in handy. She curled up alone in the spacious back seat, hugging a canister and inhaling oxygen. Her face was flushed, and she looked quite pitiful.

As they passed through Yajiang and were getting close to Sky City, Si Xuan, who had been keeping an eye on the back seat, called out to her twice. When Xu Su didn’t answer for a while, his expression tightened. He pulled the car over to the side of the road and told Yang Nan to get out. He then found two pills and opened the rear door to get in.

Actually, Xu Su was conscious. Her altitude sickness wasn’t that severe. She was just used to being pampered, so even the slightest discomfort left her listless and unwilling to waste energy talking.

It wasn’t until the door was pulled open from the outside and Si Xuan got in that she managed to lift her head.

Si Xuan helped her sit up. "Are you okay?"

Xu Su hummed in response. Just as she was about to speak, two pills were popped into her open mouth. Si Xuan opened a bottle of water and handed it to her. "Take the medicine first."

The bitter pills washed down, and Xu Su felt a bit more alert. She set the oxygen canister aside, took a couple of sips of water, and was about to lie back down.

Si Xuan produced an oxygen pillow from somewhere, placed it on the front passenger seat, and said to Xu Su, "Go sleep in the passenger seat. You’ll be more comfortable with the seat reclined."

Xu Su dazedly followed his instructions. She was limply helped out of the car and then limply climbed into the front passenger seat.

Yang Nan watched the whole thing in silence. Once Xu Su was settled in his seat, he got into the back, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The members from the other cars, who had gotten out to stretch their legs during the stop, also had thoughtful expressions when they saw the scene.

It was hard to say whether it was the medicine taking effect or if she had just gotten enough rest from lying down, but in any case, Xu Su definitely felt much better after moving to the front passenger seat.

The improvement in her complexion was visible to the naked eye.

By the time they reached Sky City, she had enough energy to get out with everyone else to take pictures and have fun.

This group of vibrant young people had incredible adaptability. Everyone was full of energy. Sika was even pulling Liu Yun along, turning back to shout, "Susu, hurry up!"

It was summer vacation, so Sky City was teeming with tourists. Some were taking photos, others were chatting, and there were even a few artists with paintbrushes, sketching the scenery.

As one of the highest cities in the world, it would be a real waste to come all this way and not take a good look around.

Xu Su tossed her oxygen canister back into the car and walked toward them with a smile.

Just as she got close, Sika suddenly leaned in and whispered, "Why do I get the feeling Si Xuan is being special to you?"

"???" Xu Su was startled. "Is he?"

"I can testify to that, yes!" As the only woman among the four Elders of their group, Liu Yun had paid a lot of attention to a "prize" like Si Xuan. Having known him for so long, she might not know him like the back of her hand, but she had formed her own judgments about his personality.

Liu Yun nodded affirmatively. "I thought something was off with him a couple of days ago. You have no idea how aloof he is, but the way he smiles at you isn’t like him at all. It’s so gentle and warm. And he even took the initiative to have you sit in his passenger seat."

"Also, we’re on vacation. This is supposed to be one of the most beautiful scenic routes in the country. We’re all so happy to be here, but Si Xuan’s attention isn’t on the scenery at all. He’s always looking at you from time to time."

As she spoke, she and Sika exchanged a look, both grinning as if they had uncovered the truth.

Xu Su’s face was blank. She was a little skeptical.

Sika studied her for a moment, then blinked. "Of course. With our Susu’s beauty leading the charge, you’re simply invincible. Nothing can stand in your way. You’ve even conquered such a tough nut."

"Don’t be ridiculous!" Xu Su didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She felt like the two of them were just teasing her. She shook her head and said, "He had me sit in the front because I wasn’t feeling well and I’m the only girl in the car. It’s not too much to ask for him to take care of me a little, right?"

Sika sighed. "If you don’t believe it, just wait and see. You can’t hide it when you like someone. Even if you try to hide it on your face, your feelings will unconsciously slip out through your eyes."

"..." Xu Su was silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh. She teased, "So what should we do, Sisi? Are you going to be mad?"

Sika said, "Why would I be mad? Since I can’t get the one I want most, the others are all more or less the same to me. Si Xuan is very attractive, I’ll admit, but it doesn’t make much of a difference. If I can’t have a feast of delicacies, I can at least have a simple smashed cucumber salad, right?"

As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward the group of guys across the way.

Xu Su followed her line of sight. Yue Sen was sitting on an oddly shaped rock with Yang Nan and a few other guys, talking and laughing.

As a photography student, Yang Nan had long been entrusted with the important task of documenting the trip. He held a DSLR camera, raising it from time to time.

They were all in their early twenties. Yue Sen had a scholarly air about him, and his glasses made him look even more refined. He was thin and slender, and in the sunlight, his features had the delicate handsomeness of a scholarly rogue.

Sika tugged on Xu Su’s arm. "So? Doesn’t he have a certain vibe? I really want to see what he looks like without his glasses."

Xu Su already knew that after giving up on Si Xuan, Sika had immediately set her sights on Yue Sen. While she didn’t understand it, she expressed her absolute respect for the decision.

Xu Su nodded seriously and reminded her, "Just be sure to use protection. Other than that, as long as you’re happy..."

Liu Yun: "..."

She just stood there, watching and listening as two girls younger than her discussed such things. They were completely unfazed, while she, on the other hand, was blushing furiously...

’Are... are all the girls these days this fierce?!’

’To be talking so openly about how to hook up with guys!’

’It’s not fair!’

’How come I’m almost a junior in college and I’ve never even had a boyfriend?!’

Sika was true to her word. Over the next two days, she and Yue Sen hit it off, and it was clear to everyone that this time, the feelings were ’mutual’.

After officially entering the Xizang Autonomous Region, the temperature difference between day and night became even more pronounced.

Their overnight accommodations also changed from guesthouses to camping at campsites.

Along the way, they saw yaks, Tibetan mastiffs, several beautiful lakes, and the boundless Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. They even rode camels.

When she witnessed the Heavenly Gate of the Holy Elephant at Namu Lake, one of the three great Holy Lakes, Xu Su felt a sense of complete clarity. Here, the distance between the sea and the sky seemed within arm’s reach. In that moment, all people and all worries were cast from her mind.