Chapter 1468


    "Why do you sound so pessimistic?" Leah looked at Ernest in surprise. "You''re a splendid young


    lad. Why are you talking like an old grandpa?"


    Hearing a grown man saying such somber things made it seem as if he had gone through a tragedy.


    His voiced was tinged in despair, and hearing it made her felt uneasy.


    Maria could sympathize with what Ernest had meant. Sometimes, not having your feelings being


    reciprocated could bring such sorrow.


    She shrugged her shoulders and continued climbing uphill beside Liam.


    Leah took note of Ernest''s silence, so she didn''t say anything else. Something was shing through


    her mind, and she felt as if there was something off with what Ernest said earlier.


    However, Leah wasn''t one who was good at probing into people''s secrets, so she didn''t ask any


    further.


    For the journey after that, Leah also fell into silence, not saying much.


    Adrian, who was a lively person, probably couldn''t deal with the quietness, so he ended up starting


    an animated conversation with Leah.


    All that led to their situations then. Liam and Maria were walking together whilst Leah and Adrian


    were side by side, but Ernest was the odd one out by himself.


    When they reached the peak of the mountain, they were exhausted. Panting, Maria said, "I''m so


    tired, I regret climbing up this mountain. We should''ve taken the cable cars up the slope and walked


    our way down. We still would''ve been able to enjoy the view."


    Seeing Maria so out of breath, Liam felt a little distraught. They had been hanging out together for


    the past few days, Maria''s stamina had been exhausted, and she had to hike up a mountain then.


    "Well take the cable cars back down," Liam said.


    Maria nodded.


    At that time, Leah said, "The scenery when you''re trudging up a mountain really is different


    compared to when you''re going down. It''s so much more beautiful when you''re hiking up the


    mountain."


    "Why?" Maria asked.


    "That''s because going up the hill takes effort, and you appreciate it more as you struggle.


    Descending on the other hand, is so much easier, and you tend to miss the details of the beautiful


    view." Leah smiled, sounding profound. "It''s the same concept with people. You take the scenery


    thates easily for granted, and as for the ones that are hard to acquire, more people tend to


    savor it."


    "That makes sense." Maria nodded in agreement.


    Liam, however, begged to differ. He said, "I think that admiring the scenery has something to do


    with the person''s current feelings. It''s not about how easy or difficult it is toe by. If someone


    knows how to treasure the things they hold dear, even if ites to them effortlessly, they''ll still


    cherish it with all their heart. If they don''t, then it doesn''t matter how far or wide they went to obtain


    it, they still won''t appreciate it."


    Maria turned to see Liam with a serious expression, yet his eyes were full of gentleness and


    warmth.


    Leah burst intoughter. "Liam, I have to admit that what you said was wise andpelling. I guess


    people like that really do exist in this world, I yield."


    Liam didn''t respond.


    They gathered around and took a group photo at the peak of the mountain.


    As they were getting ready to descend the mountain, Liam said to Ernest, "Maria''s tired. I''ll take her


    to the cable cars. Do you want toe along?"


    "We''ll walk our way down." Ernest did not want to be the third wheel. If they took the cable


    cars down, Liam and Maria would get to have some private time to themselves. It was a rare


    opportunity forthem.


    He looked to Leah and Maria and asked, "You don''t seem to be so tired, should we walk down?"


    "Of course we should," Leah said. "How about we do it this way, the three of us should have fun


    without interfering with the lovebirds. Let them do whatever they decide to do. We''ll take another


    path downhill. This way, we''ll see lots of different sceneries."


    "I don''t have a problem with that." Ernest nodded.


    Adrian also nodded. "Yes, let Liam and Maria do whatever they want. I don''t like being the third


    wheel."


    Liam was taken aback and stiffened for a moment.


    Maria blushed.


    Then, Liam spoke as if no one else was there, "Well then, we''ll get going first."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he shamelessly pulled Maria away.


    The three of them looked at their figures getting smaller into the distance with simr peeved


    expressions.


    Leah suddenly spoke up, "I was just being courteous, but they really went off on their own. Can''t


    they stay away from each other for just a minute?"


    "They''re in their honeymoon period, be a little more understanding," Adrian said with a smile.


    "People in their honeymoon period can''t bear to be apart from each other for even a minute. Plus, I


    was the one who forced them to tag along, so I totally understand how they feel. They''re probably


    going to return home after getting off the mountain. What should we do? Should we head back


    too?"


    "Why do you want to go back?" Ernest replied with a smile. "They''re the ones who are tired. Don''t


    tell me you''ve run out of energy as well?"


    Adrian shed a grin and said, "Of course not, my body''s in great shape, and I have nowhere to let


    it out. I''m good to go, how about you, Ernest?"


    "I''m feeling good too, I still have lots of energy." Ernest smiled eloquently and walked in the other


    direction. "Let''s go down the mountain."


    Leah followed behind them. For a brief moment, she felt like they were discussing about having sex,


    which was a little crass and odd.


    "Hey, do the two of you think it''s appropriate to say these kinds of things in front of a girl?" Leah


    protested disapprovingly.


    Adrianughed. "Oh, sorry for neglecting you just now. I thought you were a man."


    "Screw you, I''m a woman, can''t you see the obvious?" Leah looked down and inspected herself.


    Was it not obvious? Men always felt so entitled. Were they blind?


    Adrian looked at her and teased, "Let''s go, brother."


    Leah wanted to die.


    "Well, I''m a brother then." She wasn''t backing down. "I''m not going to argue with you."


    Ernest was quiet. He lowered his head and walked forward.


    Leah cursed in her heart. She didn''t expect Ernest of all people to start that kind of joke. It seemed


    like she might need to make a few changes to the male lead in her story.


    Under his cool demeanor, he was a man full of surprises.


    "Phew!" They were halfway down the mountain when Leah mumbled, "I''m so hungry."


    "Pfft!" Adrianughed and said, "No way, first you ate a gigantic breakfast, and then you had even


    more food in the car. It''s not even lunchtime yet, and you''re hungry already?"


    "My good brother, it''s almost two o''clock. We''ve been hiking up the mountain for two and a half


    hours. Also, how long has it been since we started going down? You guys may not be hungry, but


    I''m about to starve to death. Can''t you see me rolling my eyes already?"


    "Aren''t you exaggerating?" Adrian was riled up.


    "I''m not exaggerating at all. My blood sugar is low and I''m shaking all over." She sat down on a


    rock. "I don''t have a lot of energy. I may be a fellow brother, but I''m still a girl, and I can''tpare to


    fit guys like you. I admit defeat."


    Adrian looked at Ernest and said, "Ernest, what do you think we should do? I don''t think that there is


    anywhere down the road with a ce to eat, is there?"


    Ernest looked around when something shed in his eyes. "Wait here for a bit," he said.


    Then, he walked along the mountain road.


    On their way back down, they took the back route of the mountain. It was rtively isted, but


    there were a few orchards along the path, and there was a chance he could purchase some fruits.


    "Where is he going?" Leah looked at Ernest in surprise.


    "He must have found you something to eat. There seems to be an orchard up front," Adrian said.


    Leah instantly became excited when she heard that there was food to eat.


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    Sure enough, after more than 20 minutes, Ernest came back carrying two bags filled with crimson


    honey peaches. The moment she saw the peaches, she was ready to gulp them down.


    "Wow, Ernest, you''re the best," Leah praised him sincerely. "These peaches look delicious."


    As soon as Leah set her eyes on the food, she jumped at them, and was ready to just eat them.


    "Wait," Ernest said, "You can''t eat it yet."


    "Why not?" Leah looked at him, and her face was immediately filled with disappointment.


    With a heavy gaze, Ernest nced at her and said, "Eat it after you peel the skin."


    As he said that, he set the bag down on a stone and took out a folded knife which he hung on his


    key chain, from his pocket.


    He flipped it open and peeled a peach for Leah.


    Leah stood still for a few moments. She watched his slender fingers grasp the peach in his hands


    as he turned it around while slicing off the skin. The lush and sulent flesh of the peach was


    exposed, and it looked mouthwatering.


    "Now you can eat," said Ernest, handing over the peaches.


    Leah promptly took it and said, "Thank you."


    "You''re wee." Ernest looked at Adrian and asked, "Do you want some?"


    "Yeah."


    "Peel it yourself," he said.


    "Such favoritism." Adrianughed and joked.


    Ernest smiled gently. "Don''t be so dramatic."


    "Fine, I''ll do it myself." Adrian walked over and took a peach to peel off the skin himself.


    Leah held the peeled peach in her hands and took a bite. "Wow, it''s so sweet."