Wei Zhi hadn’t even processed what had just happened.
She blinked, realizing the snow goggles now on her face were frameless, offering a much wider field of vision than the cheap roadside ones she had bought before. The lens color was also quite attractive.
She took off the goggles and examined them in her hands, her mind still blank. Suddenly, a hand reached out and tapped the edge of the goggles.
“Burton M4 lenses, magnetic attachment. Replaceable. This model comes in other colors too. You can use different lens tints for different conditions and buy them separately,” the man’s voice came from above. “If they fog up later, you can just remove the lens to wipe it instead of taking off the whole thing. Much less hassle.”
For the past few days, her main entertainment on the cable car had been wiping the fog from her cheap goggles. She’d have to take them on and off thrice each ride.
“…” Wei Zhi held up the goggles, looking at them repeatedly, blinking in disbelief. “For me?”
By now, the man had withdrawn his hand and was walking towards the ski equipment hall, carrying his board.
Only his faint “Mm” drifted slowly into Wei Zhi’s ears on the cold wind.
Wei Zhi stood rooted to the spot for three seconds, then hooked the new goggles onto her elbow and hurriedly followed him into the equipment hall, hugging her board.
At this moment, the equipment hall at the top of the mountain was almost deserted.
Most of the lights were off, the bustling crowds of daytime gone. In the darkness, lockers stood silently in the shadows, with only a few lights illuminating the main walkway. The remaining light came from the reflection of the snow outside…
Occasional whispers of late returnees could be heard from some corners.
Wei Zhi hugged her board and looked around, finding the direction of her locker. As she moved towards it, she heard footsteps behind her.
Looking back, she saw Shan Chong following her.
Wei Zhi: “?”
Usually after class, they would part ways outside the equipment hall. She would go to her locker while Shan Chong would drag his board to take the cable car again to find Beici and the others.
Today he had followed her. It was very unusual.
“Go on,” as if knowing her confusion, the man casually explained in a flat voice, “It’s dark outside. I’ll walk you to the hotel entrance later.”
“Oh.”
— After their brief argument, Teacher Nian’s big brother decided to be a decent person.
This was Wei Zhi’s mental translation of Shan Chong’s words.
They first went to the counter to return their boards, then walked to the lockers. As usual, Wei Zhi’s priority was loosening her ski boots and wiggling her toes before changing into her shoes…
Then she took off her helmet and set it aside.
Next, she removed her faceguard and stuffed it into the helmet. As she took the new goggles off her elbow, she lovingly stroked them. Suddenly remembering something, she looked up at Shan Chong and said softly, “Thank you.”
“Mm.”
“If you want them back, you can have them anytime.”
Before the man could respond to such a humble statement, she quickly added:
“Although I’ll cry when I give them back to you.”
“…”
Having finished her moral blackmail, Wei Zhi reluctantly placed the new goggles into the helmet, which was already padded with the face guard, lens side up to avoid scratches.
The man stood nearby, casually leaning against the lockers with his arms folded, watching her series of actions without rushing, as if he had all the patience in the world.
He silently observed as Wei Zhi slowly removed her green turtle butt pad, turned it over, felt it, and picked at the frozen snow stuck to the little turtle’s tail…
Wei Zhi: “Huh.”
Shan Chong finally couldn’t resist: “Do you spend this long saying a solemn goodbye to your turtle every day?”
“…No,” Wei Zhi held up one of the turtle’s legs. “Look, it’s broken.”
“?”
Shan Chong bent down slightly to take a closer look. In the dim light, he indeed saw that the turtle’s butt had split open, right next to the tail, with a small tuft of cotton poking out…
These beginner butt pads were modified stuffed animals, so the quality wasn’t very good to begin with.
…But seeing one worn to the point of bursting open was indeed a first for him.
Taking the turtle, the man’s slender fingertips pushed the cotton back in a bit, only for it to stubbornly “puff” out again.
“…” He clicked his tongue, “Its innards are coming out. You did sit this turtle to death.”
Wei Zhi’s face reddened slightly as she tried to snatch the little turtle back, but the man quickly raised his hand, causing her fingertips to just brush past the turtle’s tail…
The scene mirrored the moment years ago when he had first handed it to her.
Wei Zhi grew anxious and spread her arms: “Give it back.”
Shan Chong: “What’s the rush? I’ll take it back and fix it.”
Wei Zhi: “How will you fix it?”
Shan Chong: “Don’t worry about it.”
Wei Zhi: “I’ll die without it.”
Shan Chong: “I know.”
…