CH 2.1

An Impossible to Reject Confession by Grumpy Crab

Chapter 2.1:

Qiao Mu had been her online friend. 

In her previous life, Xu Youyou did not follow Li Leyao back to China, but rather stayed in Country Y. Since I did not live comfortably, the mistress should not think about living comfortably. She lived in the house for three years, jumping around doing things that pushed the limits of humanity. Mountain climbing and photography were her hobbies at the time. She enjoyed the process of climbing to the top, she enjoyed the scenery at the top even more. 

She and Qiao Mu met in a mountain climbing group chat. Because they were both Chinese and around the same age, they quickly grew close. They always said they were going to arrange a time to climb together, but there was never a suitable time until the year she turned 26. Xu Youyou decided to climb Mount Everest. 

Waiting for the perfect time frame, Xu Youyou spent around three months in China. During these three months, Qiao Mu led her sightseeing around most of China, trying all the local delicacies. And in the fastest time possible, she fell in love with the place. Before heading off to Mount Everest, Xu Youyou told Qiao Mu that after returning from their climb she was going to settle down in China. At the time Qiao Mu had a complicated expression and worriedly told her, “Setting your goal like this is not auspicious, you have to pray in a temple.” *

“But we are about to set off, what do we do?” Xu Youyou grew up abroad and did not believe in such things. 

“Then I’ll set a goal too. If we die, we die together,” Qiao Mu smiled. 

“What goal are you setting?” Xu Youyou immediately became interested.

“After we get back, I’ll tell you a secret,” Qiao Mu said. 

The memory ended here and Xu Youyou could not help but beat her chest in sorrow. 

Why did the inauspicious goal setting come true?

After setting their goals, they set off to climb the mountain together. Not mentioning the dangerous journey, they were very lucky in reaching the top. 

There are no adjectives that accurately describe the joy of climbing to the top. Xu Youyou could only remember excitedly screaming, it was as if she owned the entire world. But just as they were getting ready to go back down, the weather suddenly changed. A whirlwind suddenly came out of nowhere and dispersed the group. Xu Youyou was the only girl in the group and her body was the lightest. When the whirlwind came, she was unprepared and could not react in time. And just as her body tumbled towards the cliff, Qiao Mu was the one who reacted just in time to pull the rope around her waist and out of the whirlwind. 

While they avoided the whirlwind, they could not avoid the blizzard. While she and Qiao Mu were wrapped up in a thermal blanket, as the winds grew bigger they were unable to persevere. What she was feeling at the time, Xu Youyou can’t remember anymore, just that it was cold — the cold that pierces the bone marrow, freezing the blood. Maybe it was the final adrenaline before death, the last moments of life, the two recovered a bit of energy and joked with each other. 

Xu Youyou: “Looks like we won’t make it down”

Qiao Mu: “The inauspicious goal setting came true?” 

Xu Youyou: “It definitely came true”

At that moment, if it wasn’t for the fact that her face was frozen stiff, Xu Youyou would have laughed. 

Qiao Mu: “Say, since we are going to die here, this counts as ‘living in the same quilt, dying in the same grave (like a married couple)’ right?” **

Xu Youyou: “You said that so warmly, you like me?”

Qiao Mu: “Yeah”

Xu Youyou: “……”

Qiao Mu: “So, in the next life, if I chase you, don’t reject me.”

After her rebirth, Xu Youyou never took these words seriously, after all who would have the heart to confess at a time like that? Besides, she and Qiao Mu meet ten years later, even if in this life they meet earlier it would have to be after four to five years. So during this time, she never even thought about it. 

But…

Facing the youth in the blue and white school uniform walking away, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but think about it. 

“Youyou” A warm hand carefully touched her forehead. 

Li Leyao watched as her daughter had no reaction after a while and worriedly walked over. 

“Mom?”

“What’s wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No, I was just thinking about something. You finished talking with the teacher?” Xu Youyou asked. 

“We finished.” 

“Oh right. Mom, what class am I in?”

“You weren’t listening earlier?”

Xu Youyou’s lips cracked open, revealing eight pearly white teeth. She smiled innocently. 

Li Leyao speechlessly glanced at her daughter: “Grade 10, Class 18.”

“What a coincidence!” Xu Youyou had a look of surprise. 

“What is a coincidence?”

“Nothing.”

Li Leyao didn’t ask further: “I have to go back and watch the store, I’ll pick you up after school. If you feel sick during class, you must tell the teacher or call me.” 

“Mom, have you ever seen a parent pick up their kid from high school?” Xu Youyou dumbfoundedly asked. 

“You are unique.”

“You want the whole school to know I have a unique condition?” 

Li Leyao was stunned, teenagers were perceptive. Xu Youyou’s condition was not suitable for everyone to know, otherwise she might get labeled as an outsider. 

“Fine, after school you can walk home by yourself. Are you familiar with the roads?”

“Yes.”

“Youyou’s mother, please come over” Teacher Song called them over from far away. 

The two turned and walked towards him. 

As they got closer, Xu Youyou’s line of sight could not help but move towards the youth. Is this person really Qiao Mu? But other than their eyes being similar, the person’s entire body was different from the Qiao Mu in her memory.

———————-Translator’s Note ————————

* “立flag“ is internet slang which is about when someone says an inspiration sentence or sets a goal but ends up slapping their own face. It similar to setting yourself up for failure.

** “生同衾死同穴” literally means “Live in the same quilt, die in the same grave” which is an idiom for a deep loving relationship between couples.