Trembling At A High Altitude

"Is love really that vulgar? You don't love me anymore just because you can't touch me?" Yao Xue was flustered by the reason that Li Teng had given.

"According to your theory, not being allowed to touch means the genes can't make a deal, so there's no love," Li Teng argued strongly.

"Well, I didn't let you touch me, did I?" Yao Xue pulled her hand out of Li Teng's.

"But you let me hold you," Li Teng held Yao Xue a bit tighter.

"I didn't let you hold me, okay?" Yao Xue didn't know what to say anymore.

"But, you didn't refuse," Li Teng continued fervently.

"You're just shameless," Yao Xue saw right through Li Teng.

"It's really not my fault. I'm very pure and kind. The one controlling this body right now isn't me, it's my genes," Li Teng said, feeling aggrieved.

"I told you those theories not as a way for you to dodge responsibility and spout nonsensical excuses," Yao Xue was truly on the verge of a breakdown.

"But in fact, I find these theories quite scientific! I really am dominated by the genes inside me, become their slave, and my actions are out of my control, it's so hard," Li Teng hugged Yao Xue even tighter.

"You even make taking advantage of girls sound so righteous... I'm done," Yao Xue touched her forehead.

Fortunately, Li Teng made no further moves, and indeed, it was very cold. After being hugged by Li Teng, Yao Xue felt much better and did not force him to let go. Driven by the cold, the genes inside both of them temporarily reached an agreement to huddle together for warmth.

"This is so comfortable, it's like a dream," Li Teng said with a blissful expression.

Embracing a beautiful woman, something he wouldn't dare to imagine when he first came to Shizhu.

"Having a spring dream?" Yao Xue looked at him with disdain, thought about it, and still felt it was inappropriate, deciding to push Li Teng away.

"On the brink of danger. I hate it as the fragrant grass fades but still grows anew. I remember the blue horse beyond the willow trees when we parted, by the water the red sleeves split time, and my heart was secretly alarmed. Unreasonably, heaven made her delicate. The night moon brings a curtain of profound dreams, the spring breeze fills the air with tenderness..." Li Teng recited the poetry effortlessly.

"How can one bear, the joy gradually follows the flowing water, the raw string breaks, the green silk's fragrance fades, dreadful to see pieces of flying flowers at dusk, the dim lingering rain struggles to clear the sky. Right thee melting. The oriole cries out again," Yao Xue unconsciously continued the next part, absorbed in the melancholic sentiment of the poetry, and forgot about pushing Li Teng away.

...

The sky slowly darkened, and it was getting colder.

Even hiding in Li Teng's arms, Yao Xue still shivered from the cold.

"It might snow tonight, temperatures dropping to several degrees below zero. We need to prepare early," Li Teng released Yao Xue from his embrace and began examining a rainproof down overall, making a new discovery.

"The material of this clothing is elastic. I think we can wear it together," Li Teng tugged at the pant leg.

Though it's labeled as down, to prevent the Extras from using it to carry water, its filling was not down but a special material, and it was sectioned into blocks. After tugging, it had some elasticity. Li Teng tried it, and his two legs fit into one pant leg, though it felt a bit tight.

"How do we wear it together?" Yao Xue felt that Li Teng had ulterior motives.

"I'll put it on first, then you stretch your leg in here, then your arm in here, as long as we can zip it up, it's perfect," Li Teng roughly demonstrated to Yao Xue.

"Right? And then you can do whatever you want to me, and I can't resist," Yao Xue shook her head vigorously. She was somewhat puzzled. Hadn't Li Teng confessed or something? Why was he suddenly able to hug and hold her now? What was going on?

Was it her theories that had caused these troubles?

"How can you think so poorly of me? Am I that kind of person? Forget it, since you think so poorly of me, you wear it alone. I can handle a bit of cold," Li Teng handed the clothing to Yao Xue.

"Is it really going to drop to several degrees below zero tonight?" Yao Xue, hearing him say this, felt a bit heartbroken again.

"You won't believe anything I say," Li Teng seemed a bit heartbroken.

"Let's try it, see if two people can wear this clothing together," Yao Xue could only compromise. She couldn't just watch Li Teng freeze to death.

After Li Teng had dressed, he had Yao Xue take off her shoes and stretch her legs in first. Yao Xue didn't want to face him, so she turned her back to Li Teng and tried to slide her legs in, and surprisingly, she succeeded.

Then, both arms were forcefully squeezed into the sleeves.

Finally, the two of them fumbled clumsily and managed to zip the jacket up somewhat. Yao Xue was over ten centimeters shorter than Li Teng, so as long as the zipper wasn't fully closed, she could stick her head out from Li Teng's chest.

They actually managed to put it on!

It was just incredibly tight, basically rendering them immobile.

The only benefit was... it wasn't cold anymore.

"I want to sleep facing up, looking at the sky," Yao Xue suggested to Li Teng.

"Alright." Li Teng rolled over with effort, positioning Yao Xue on top of him.

"This human cushion is truly comfortable!" Yao Xue laughed heartily.

Li Teng felt slightly suffocated by the pressure.

Oh well, this could be considered a blissful worry.

In the cold night, they had warm clothing and a beautiful woman to warm one's embrace, which was happiness enough, and one couldn't ask for too much.

Yao Xue noticed something was amiss and voiced her complaint to Li Teng.

"It's not me, it's genetics..." Li Teng defended.

"You always pass the buck!" Yao Xue now regretted ever telling Li Teng about her mother's theory, as he clearly had no intentions of applying it properly!

It didn't snow that night, but it certainly grew colder.

Yao Xue, knowing it would make Li Teng uncomfortable, allowed him to turn his body to the side after a while.

Yao Xue started to doze off, and although Li Teng didn't feel much like sleeping yet, he didn't bother her anymore.

After a while, Yao Xue fell asleep.

With no ability to move, it didn't take long for Li Teng to fall asleep as well.

...

In the early morning when the sky was just brightening, both were awakened by a rustling sound.

"Things are bad!" Li Teng opened his eyes and felt that something was wrong.

"What's up?" Yao Xue was still somewhat groggy.

"It's actually hailing!" Li Teng saw the little ice balls falling on the stone pillar top.

"Hail?" Yao Xue finally woke up completely.

Just then, a ping-pong ball-sized hailstone 'thudded' onto their sleeves, the impact through the jacket causing Yao Xue's arm to ache terribly, making her scream in pain.

Li Teng quickly rolled over, lying on Yao Xue's back.

More hailstones fell densely from the sky, causing a loud noise as they hit the top of the stone pillar, with some even hitting Li Teng's back and even his head, producing dull 'thuds.'

"Are you alright?" Yao Xue couldn't help but shudder hearing that noise.

The ice that had hit her arm was already so painful, and now it was all falling on Li Teng!