The air was cool, carrying the fresh scent of soil and grass.
The stars overhead seemed freshly washed, dazzlingly bright, a starry sky unseen in the city but so vivid here.
Out in the wild, everyone is a friend.
Li Younan, of course, did not eat alone. He shared his food with the young girl, and she generously brought over her self-heating pot.
Through chatting, he learned the girl's name was Liu Zhixin, nicknamed Zhizhi.
Li Younan helped Liu Zhixin—Zhizhi, to rearrange her "soulful" tent, tightening the cords and securing the stakes, finally turning it into a passable night shelter.
She let out a breath of relief, blushing a bit with embarrassment, and softly whispered, "Thank you, Brother Li," her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
A warm yellow glow enveloped them both.
Zhizhi brought out her exquisite hand-crank coffee grinder and small pot again, studying the instructions to brew coffee, her movements clumsy, spilling a few beans that rolled into the grass.
