Colorful years

During their journey around the broad plateau at the top of the mountain, Zhang Cong, Lu Rong, and Liu Ling gradually became more familiar with each other.

They strolled along, enjoying the beautiful scenery around them and chatting happily. They talked enthusiastically about their hobbies, shared interesting anecdotes from their work, and expressed their hopes for the future.

To Zhang Cong's delight, he discovered that he and these two strikingly beautiful women shared many common topics and deep interests. Their conversations were sometimes filled with cheerful laughter, playful banter like close friends; at other times, they would delve into in-depth discussions, sharing their insights on various topics as if they had endless things to say.

Before we knew it, lunchtime had arrived. Everyone took out the food they had carefully prepared from their backpacks, then casually sat down on the ground, forming a circle, and happily shared it with each other.

Zhang Cong was no exception. He carefully took out the bento box he had prepared with great care and smiled as he shared it with Lu Rong and Liu Ling. The three of them enjoyed the delicious food while chatting happily, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

Over a pleasant lunch, Zhang Cong gained a deeper understanding of the two beautiful women. During their relaxed conversation, he learned that Lu Rong and Liu Ling were actually half-sisters born in the same year, both two years older than him.

In order to maintain a long-term relationship and friendship, Zhang Cong had a bright idea and immediately and without hesitation recognized them as his older sisters, affectionately calling one Sister Rong and the other Sister Ling.

After lunch, everyone rested for a while and adjusted their state before embarking on the journey down the mountain.

They slowly descended from the summit, heading towards the mysterious and profound Tianmen Cave. When they arrived at Tianmen Cave, they were deeply awestruck by the magnificent sight before them.

The sky gate was oval in shape and a hundred meters high, with a magnificent presence, as if it were a masterpiece of art sculpted by nature.

The cave was very spacious, large enough for dozens of people to sit comfortably together. Inside Tianmen Cave, everyone took a short rest to recover from their fatigue.

After a short rest, everyone descended the winding northern mountain in front of Tianmen Mountain, officially embarking on their return journey.

The narrow path leading down the mountain is rarely used and is now covered by dense thorns, making it quite difficult to walk.

Seeing this, Zhang Cong decisively took out the sand knife he had specially prepared that morning, bravely walked in front, and worked hard to break through the thorns, opening up a feasible path for everyone.

Lu Rong and Liu Ling followed closely behind Zhang Cong, helping each other and supporting each other throughout the difficult descent down the mountain.

During the descent, an accident occurred. Liu Ling slipped and fell, sustaining large scrapes on her knees.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Cong and Lu Rong rushed over and carefully helped her up, asking with concern about her injuries. Liu Ling smiled bravely and shook her head, indicating that she was fine.

However, after Zhang Cong and Lu Rong insisted, she finally accepted the band-aid that Zhang Cong offered.

After more than an hour of arduous trekking, the group finally made it down the mountain and back to the city.

It was already evening, and the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the earth like a golden veil, draping the city in a dazzling golden coat. Although everyone felt extremely exhausted, their hearts were filled with a sense of satisfaction.

Everyone said goodbye at the crossroads and then headed home.

But Zhang Cong's heart remained unsettled for a long time.

His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to everything he had experienced on Tianmen Mountain that day, and his heart was filled with emotion and gratitude.

This social event not only allowed him to make many new friends, but more importantly, it gave him the good fortune to meet two kind and caring older sisters.

In the days that followed, Zhang Cong maintained close contact with Lu Rong and Liu Ling.

They often go out together to explore every corner of the city; they also frequently dine together, enjoying the pleasure of food; and they chat happily in their spare time, sharing the little things in each other's lives.

As the years quietly passed, the friendship between the three grew richer and more mellow, like a fine old wine. Zhang Cong was deeply immersed in every beautiful moment they spent together.

However, sometimes even he himself felt confused and bewildered—was the special emotional bond between him and Liu Ling a pure and sincere friendship, or a love that had quietly sprouted and grown?

This vague feeling often made his thoughts seem elusive, as if shrouded in a light mist.

Every Sunday, Zhang Cong would happily head to Sister Ling's cozy and comfortable single dormitory to fully enjoy the delicious food she had carefully prepared.

Those delicious and visually appealing dishes seem to possess a magical power, instantly dispelling the fatigue and stress that have accumulated over the past week.

Sister Ling's single dormitory is located on the third floor of the Civil Trade Bureau building. It is a spacious room of about 20 square meters. After her careful arrangement and decoration, it looks particularly elegant and warm, just like the legendary "lady's living room", which is why it is very popular among her friends.

However, Zhang Cong is not the only one who comes to Sister Ling's place to gather and spend wonderful time together every Sunday.

At this time of year, the small dormitory room is filled with laughter and lively chatter. Friends either sit together chatting and laughing, sharing anecdotes from their lives; or they share a captivating movie, laughing and being moved by the plot; or they immerse themselves in a thrilling game of chess, enjoying the intellectual thrill of the contest…