Chapter 177: Writing Down Blessings

[They say that climbing a mountain together as a couple is the ultimate test of each other's character.]
[Why is that?]
[Because some people start complaining the moment they get tired, and those kinds of people aren't suitable for building a life together.]
[Right, right, right. I know that feeling all too well. Back then, my ex-boyfriend and I climbed a tall mountain. I was exhausted to death the entire way, but all he did was endlessly criticize me, calling me useless and putting me in the worst possible mood.]
The perfectly normal comment section had somehow derailed as the conversation went on.
It even ended up reaching the point where people claimed that couples lacking deep destiny shouldn't visit temples or pray to Buddha, as it easily leads to a breakup.
Consequently, a bunch of people started saying that Song Wanning had chosen a terrible location.
They argued that Young Master Wen and Song Wanning were mismatched from the start, and that being together was already a blessing Song Wanning had cultivated in her past life. If they went on this trip, the two of them would definitely break up and call off the engagement upon their return!
Later on, quite a few fans appeared in the livestream chat to defend Song Wanning, and these pessimistic voices finally began to dwindle, though every now and then, an unpleasant remark would still pop up.
At the very beginning of the climb, Song Wanning was fine. She didn't feel very tired and didn't even need to lean on Wen Jingxing for support.
However, as time went on, the delayed fatigue gradually caught up with her.
Her face was covered in sweat, and she gulped down water again and again.
On Wen Jingxing's back was a large black backpack filled entirely with items for Song Wanning's use, such as tissues, several bottles of pure water and saline solution, a towel, and a small electric fan.
Song Wanning couldn't help but wonder why Wen Jingxing was like a treasure chest, having whatever she needed.
Eventually, as she kept climbing and truly could not walk another step, she asked Wen Jingxing, "Jingxing, do you happen to have a walking stick?"
Song Wanning asked in a joking tone; she knew for a fact that Wen Jingxing's backpack definitely didn't contain such a thing.
Wen Jingxing always walked right behind Song Wanning. Seeing her sitting on the steps, he approached her, squatted down in front of her, and smiled as he said, "No walking stick, but would you like a human walking stick instead?"
Song Wanning held out her hand. "Yes."
"Alright."
Wen Jingxing accompanied her to rest for a little longer before they continued upwards.
Along the way, Song Wanning finally remembered the number of steps Wen Jingxing had mentioned earlier. "Why is it precisely 1,314 steps?"
"Because it happens to be exactly one thousand three hundred and fourteen, which is why it's called Matchmaker Mountain."
"And that's why the director chose this place?" Song Wanning asked.
After all, the other two groups were at amusement parks; why on earth would the director pick a spot like this?
"Lean in closer, and I'll tell you why."
"Oh? Okay, okay!" Thinking she was about to hear another story, Song Wanning eagerly leaned her head forward.
"This is our promise."
He dropped that seemingly random remark, leaving both Song Wanning and the viewers of the livestream baffled.
[A promise? What are these two whispering about behind our backs again?!]
Guessing it might be something from their childhood, Song Wanning asked, "Is it from when we were kids?"
Wen Jingxing nodded firmly. "Mhm. I figured since you forgot, I'd bring you to a place we used to go. Who knows, maybe you'll have some kind of memory."
Song Wanning thought about it and nodded. "True. The first time I heard of this place, it felt a little familiar, like I'd been here before."
These words slipped out of Song Wanning's subconscious. After speaking, she even felt a bit incredulous.
As for the things the original host had experienced, she was at best a soul occupying someone else's shell. Why would she feel a sense of familiarity regarding the experiences shared by the original host and Wen Jingxing?
That feeling was as if these events had truly been experienced by her very self.
Wen Jingxing's eyes lit up, as if he had caught sight of hope.
Noticing him gazing at her with such intense earnestness, Song Wanning turned her face away. "Let's... hurry up and go on up."
Throughout the trek, she walked slowly, but Wen Jingxing never urged her once, even offering several times to carry her up the mountain on his back.
Song Wanning felt that certain things only had meaning when done by oneself. After politely declining Wen Jingxing's kind offer, she finally managed to reach the summit right before lunchtime.
Her back was soaked with sweat, and her face was flushed red, yet a joyful smile beamed across her features. "Jingxing, look! The view from up here is amazing!"
One side of the peak of Matchmaker Mountain was completely free of trees, offering a panoramic view of the entire central flower field. Surrounded by towering skyscrapers on all sides, that single spot remained a vibrant oasis of spring.
Wen Jingxing handed her a towel. "A-Ning is getting tougher and tougher, making it all the way up on her own two feet."
[Ah~ True love really is different. You even get praised just for climbing a mountain!!]
[Wanning's physical condition really does look better than before.]
[What does this prove? That martial arts routine actually works!]
Grinning from ear to ear, Song Wanning looked at Wen Jingxing. "Let's go inside the Matchmaker Temple and take a look!"
Inside the Matchmaker Temple, there were quite a few tourists.
While not exactly packed shoulder-to-shoulder, for a regular weekday, this volume of foot traffic meant the place was already quite famous, with throngs of people coming to draw divination sticks and offer prayers.
That was simply because the fortunes told here were known to be remarkably accurate.
Furthermore, there was one exceptionally famous scenic attraction: a peach blossom tree that had stood for over a thousand years.
After entering the temple, Song Wanning and Wen Jingxing had to begin fulfilling the variety show's assigned task.
First, they needed to go to that peach blossom tree, write down blessings, and offer joint prayers for thirty seconds.
When Song Wanning asked a young monk there, the monk took her hand and guided her deep into the temple grounds, where Song Wanning finally laid eyes on the peach blossom tree, which stood as tall as a three-story building.
At that moment, it was not the season for peach blossoms to bloom. Yet, miraculously, the tree was covered in vibrant, pink peach blossoms.
With bright, sparkling eyes, Song Wanning stared at it. "Don't peach blossoms only bloom in the spring?"
Wen Jingxing nodded. "Yes, but this peach blossom tree has perhaps grown for so many ages that it has gained a spiritual essence, blooming all four seasons of the year. That's why couples love this place so much—it symbolizes an everlasting love that never fades."
Song Wanning clicked her tongue twice. The way Wen Jingxing uttered romantic lines was truly something else.
Red silk ribbons hung densely all over the lower part of the peach blossom tree, while the upper branches remained completely bare.
Noticing Song Wanning gazing at this, the young monk explained to her, "Every pair of newlyweds who comes here receives a pair of red silk ribbons. After writing blessings for each other on them, you secure them with a golden lock and toss them up into the tree. Legend has it that the higher you toss them, the closer you are to your wish coming true. But since this tree is so tall, people can only ever throw them up to a certain height."
Song Wanning nodded to show she understood. "Is this our task?"
Without her noticing, Wen Jingxing had already produced two ribbons in his hand. "Right. Let's find somewhere else to write."
Right nearby was a small cabin providing writing brushes, ink, desks, and chairs.
Quite a few young couples were also queuing up there to collect their red silk ribbons.
Finding it all quite novel, Song Wanning glanced around a few more times before Wen Jingxing pulled her inside the inner room.
The red silk ribbons were spread out across the desk. Wen Jingxing picked up a brush and resolutely penned a line of characters.
Song Wanning craned her neck to peek, and Wen Jingxing made no effort to hide it. The line read: "May A-Ning always be happy, with me by her side forever."
Her eyebrows instantly arched as she teased Wen Jingxing, "You slipped your own selfish wish into these blessings, didn't you?"
Just as the cameraman stepped forward to film, Wen Jingxing rolled up the red silk ribbon, allowing only Song Wanning to see it.