Wei Zhi bent down to pick up the ski boots, feeling perplexed—
These were quite different from the shoes she usually wore.
Snowboarding is a leg-intensive sport, that requires specialized snowboard boots. The quality of the boots can affect one’s riding technique and progress. Different boots have varying degrees of stiffness, which correspond to different riding styles…
Wei Zhi was a beginner and didn’t understand these nuances.
She just knew she didn’t know how to put these boots on.
Traditional snowboard boots come in three types—
One type has a pull-string system, like the pair Shan Chong was wearing.
Another type uses the BOA system. These boots are easy to put on and take off, with a wire lace system on the front tongue. You pull, twist, and push a dial, making them very user-friendly for women with less hand strength.
The third type is the traditional lace-up boot. These are usually the cheapest and are commonly rented out at ski resorts. Putting them on and tightening them can work up a sweat, requiring all your strength, and you might still not get them on properly…
Wei Zhi was holding the third type.
She lifted her head to look at Shan Chong, holding the boots.
He was also looking down at the top of her head, wondering how long she was going to stand there pondering over the boots.
“It’ll be dark outside soon,” his slightly raspy voice came from behind the face mask. “What are you thinking about?”
“Thinking about how to put these boots on,” Wei Zhi said. “Why are there so many laces?”
She was just asking casually, expecting her instructor to give her some condescending pointers before she put the boots on—that should have been the process. But to her surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, the person in front of her knelt on one knee.
Wei Zhi: “…”
She was so startled she scooted back a bit.
But the person in front of her didn’t pay attention to her reaction. Without lifting his head, he took the snowboard boots from her hands, grabbed one, and started to put it on her foot.
First, he opened the boot tongue, slipped her foot in, and then pulled out a lace from between the tongue and the boot upper. As he tightened the lace, Wei Zhi felt like her foot could no longer breathe… He flipped down the lace lock, then casually rolled up the excess lace and tucked it into the space between the tongue and the boot upper.
“Is it tight?” he asked without looking up.
“It’s so tight my blood can’t circulate. Is this normal?” Wei Zhi asked sincerely. “Will I need an amputation later?”
To her surprise, he chuckled lightly: “You’re delicate.”
As he said this, his actions were ruthless. He pulled the outer laces tight with one hand, causing Wei Zhi to inhale sharply. Now, not only her foot but also the front half of her lower leg was bound in the boot like a zongzi…
She wiggled her calf, feeling like she might not even be able to walk.
As she was fidgeting, someone lightly patted her calf: “Don’t move.”
She immediately stopped.
Shan Chong picked up the other boot, but Wei Zhi quickly snatched it away: “I know how to put it on now, you can get up.”
Shan Chong looked up at her.
His dark eyes were calm, and they were quite close. Wei Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. She steadied herself before saying, “You’re making me feel pressured like this.”
“Like what?”
“Kneeling.”
“…”
“…”
Wei Zhi wanted to slap her uncontrollable mouth.
Unexpectedly, after a long while, Shan Chong’s expression didn’t change at all. He was extremely calm as if someone had just invited him to dinner. He slowly stood up and said lightly, “You’d better get used to it.”
“Get used to what?”
“There will be plenty more times I’ll be kneeling for you.”
“…400 yuan for an afternoon of kneeling service from a young, handsome guy?”
“Interesting interpretation. Remind me later to suggest to the ski resort owner to rename this place ‘Snow State Male Host Club’.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“No,” Shan Chong stood up straight, leaned lazily against the locker, and yawned. “I’m not even trying to hide it, where’s the ‘sarcasm’?”
“…”
This guy spoke slowly, his tone unhurried, but every sentence was perfectly cut.
Wei Zhi didn’t dare to speak anymore. She mimicked what he had done to put on the other boot, stood up, and hopped forward a couple of steps. She indeed felt like a clumsy bear, unable to even bend her knees.
Shan Chong stood patiently to the side, arms crossed, watching the young girl hop around for a while. Once she seemed familiar with the constricting feel of the boots, he casually picked up both of their boards and said, “Let’s go.”
Wei Zhi looked back at him carrying a board in each arm, suddenly remembering that he had carried both boards all the way here to change boots.
Snowboards are quite heavy.
Wei Zhi suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. She opened her arms to take her snowboard.
Unexpectedly, Shan Chong shifted to one side, avoiding her, and said calmly, “I’ll give it to you after you get your gloves. The board edges are sharp.”
Wei Zhi stared at the veins slightly protruding on the back of his hands: “But you’re not wearing gloves either.”