Forbidden Land – CH 027

The next morning, before 7 AM, Student Leader Wu Yu knocked on each dormitory door, waking everyone up. Everyone complained about having to hold a safety lecture on a Sunday and why they absolutely had to attend.

Complaining aside, everyone eventually got up and went.

Zhang Chao had taken sleeping pills the day before, and only a few hours later, he felt like the world belonged to others, not him. He absentmindedly washed up, ate something, and mechanically rode his bike to a classroom in East Building 2 with everyone else.

Half the room was filled with third-year students from their college, sitting boredly, waiting for the lecture to begin.

At 8 AM, several college leaders and teachers arrived, and the lecture started. Zhang Chao was surprised to find Chen Rong sitting on the stage.

It seemed Chen Rong was a very accomplished doctoral student; otherwise, they wouldn’t have invited a student to this psychological counseling lecture.

Chen Rong smiled and gave him a subtle nod, then quietly lowered her head and took out her phone.

While the college leaders were still giving their opening remarks and reporting on Li Weihao’s situation, Zhang Chao received a text message from Chen Rong: “After the meeting, stay behind; let’s go together.”

Zhang Chao scratched his head, thinking to himself, “Such an ambiguous text message. Bai Qiu is sick, and it isn’t really appropriate for me to be with other women all the time.” But then he thought about it, and it seemed he and Chen Rong shared an unspoken understanding.

After all, Chen Rong could listen to him, could understand him, and sometimes they shared many of the same thoughts.

Although Chen Rong was there to provide him with psychological counseling, what she did went far beyond what a counselor should do. She wasn’t like other psychologists or counselors who would just ask silly questions and try to “help” explain everything from a scientific perspective. She talked about science, she talked about superstition, and she was incredibly empathetic.

He wondered if she had a boyfriend. Suddenly, this thought surprised Zhang Chao himself. Why was he concerned about whether she had a boyfriend?

Then he thought, if she really had a boyfriend, he might feel a tiny bit of loss.

Sigh, impossible, and it isn’t possible. He already had Bai Qiu, this beauty who fell from the sky. Even if she had a mental illness, he had decided to stay by her side forever. Besides, Chen Rong was three years older than him. There was a saying, “A woman one year older isn’t a wife.”

Let alone three times older.

Why was he thinking such nonsense?

He corrected his thoughts. It must be because he took sleeping pills yesterday and didn’t sleep enough this morning.

In a daze, it was 10:30, and the safety lecture was over.

Watching Chen Rong sitting on the podium, seriously addressing so many students, and talking about various things for two hours, she seemed like a mature teacher. But sometimes she was like a little girl.

After the lecture, everyone filed out of the classroom. Zhang Chao walked out the door, deliberately walking slowly.

Lin Yi’ang rushed up behind him, slapped him on the shoulder, and said, “What are you doing? Walking so slowly!”

Zhang Chao replied, “Waiting for Chen Rong.”

Lin Yi’ang laughed and said, “Haha, if you can hook up with a female PhD, you’re really lucky.”

Zhang Chao said, “If I really did hook up with a female PhD, would you, my brother-in-law, still be able to sit still?”

Lin Yi’ang said, “Whatever, whatever, it’s none of my business.” Saying this, he ran out.

Zhang Chao walked to a large table between East 1 and East 2 and sat down to wait for Chen Rong.

After a while, he saw Chen Rong and several teachers from the college come out chatting and laughing. After exchanging a few greetings and saying goodbye, she walked towards Zhang Chao.

Chen Rong sat down opposite Zhang Chao, glanced at his face, and chuckled, “What’s wrong? Still not fully awake?”

Zhang Chao grimaced, “I took a sleeping pill around 3 AM last night and was woken up at 6 AM. Do you think I’m a god?”

Chen Rong giggled, “Then can you handle it this afternoon?”

Zhang Chao asked, “What can I do?”

Chen Rong said, “Let’s go hiking up Beigao Peak.”

“Ah, Beigao Peak!” Zhang Chao exclaimed, his mouth agape. “Yesterday it was West Lake, today it’s Beigao Peak! Goddess, you’re an athlete, and I’m a sports cripple!”

Beigao Peak was a famous mountain in Hangzhou. Although it was called “Peak,” it wasn’t actually very high, only about 300 meters. However, the path to the top wasn’t direct; you first would go to Laohe Mountain at Zhejiang University’s Yuquan Campus and then up Beigao Peak, so the journey was quite long. There was a temple dedicated to the God of Wealth on Beigao Peak, said to be very efficacious, attracting many locals, tourists, and people from Hong Kong and Taiwan to burn incense and pray. Below Beigao Peak was the famous Lingyin Temple, a place always bustling with worshippers. However, both entrance fees and incense offerings were quite expensive. As for whether the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with higher “fees” were more efficacious, that was a matter of opinion.

Chen Rong, looking at Zhang Chao’s lazy demeanor, said, “Don’t be like that; put some effort into it! You’re a man!”

Zhang Chao asked, “Why do we need to go to Beigao Peak?”

Chen Rong replied, “You went through too much last night. Going up the mountain to breathe some fresh air will do you good.”

Zhang Chao thought about it. He was indeed feeling quite depressed, and getting some fresh air on the mountain would be good. Besides, being with Chen Rong seemed quite pleasant. So he said, “Okay, let’s go to Beigao Peak this afternoon.”

In the afternoon, the two drove to Yuquan first, then climbed Laohe Mountain from Yuquan, continuing their journey towards Beigao Peak.

The spring sunshine was bright, and many people were hiking—students, young working professionals, and some local elderly people—all in high spirits, the path bustling with activity. Watching so many people chatting and laughing as they walked along the mountain path, gazing at the city below, a vibrant city, vibrant people. The mountain scenery, combined with the view of West Lake, created a unique charm. In this environment, one could leave behind all pressure and burdens and simply stroll freely—truly a great enjoyment.

Chen Rong smiled and asked Zhang Chao to take her picture, and Zhang Chao happily obliged.

Although Chen Rong wasn’t exactly beautiful, she had a sweet smile and was very approachable. Zhang Chao thought that if someone like her were a psychologist, those without illnesses would become lovesick.

As they walked, Chen Rong asked again, “Zhang Chao, are you still thinking about yesterday?”

Zhang Chao frowned, shaking his head helplessly, “What’s the use of thinking about it? I can’t explain it; it’s really hard to understand.”

Chen Rong nodded, and it was unclear what she was really thinking.

Zhang Chao smiled, sighed, and said, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s pointless to chat about this during the day.”

Chen Rong smiled and said, “It’s good that you think that way.”

Zhang Chao smiled and said, “But can I ask you one last question?”

Chen Rong smiled and said, “I know what you want to ask.”

“Oh?” Zhang Chao asked curiously, “Then, guess?”

Chen Rong said, “You just want to ask me if I believe what you said you saw yesterday?”

Zhang Chao smiled in surprise and said, “You’re really sharp! So, do you believe it or not?”

Chen Rong said, “I believe it. Okay, you know the answer. Now let’s not talk about this anymore; let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay, okay.” Zhang Chao nodded, and the two continued on their way, talking about other unrelated topics.