In January, Chengdu didn’t have snow, but it had been overcast for many days, with a wet chill permeating the air. The weather became extremely cold.
This kind of cold is more unbearable than the crisp snowfall in the north. It seeps everywhere, enveloping you from all directions, chilling you to the bone.
However, this was temporarily unrelated to Li Younan because he was genuinely very warm at the moment—not in a psychological sense, but in a very material sense.
At this moment, Li Younan was sitting in the Unimog camper van... or to be precise, it should be called "Freedom".
This was the name Li Younan chose for his new camper van. The name was rather hastily decided, a spur-of-the-moment choice.
But always calling it Unimog made it difficult to distinguish it from other Unimog camper vans.
At this moment, Li Younan was sitting in the driver’s seat, holding the steering wheel with one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other, humming a tune, in an extremely comfortable position.
It must be said, driving a vehicle with the same height view as a big truck on the road is truly enjoyable.
The driver’s seat has a nearly three-meter height view, allowing Li Younan to see over almost all vehicles on the road, experiencing a top-of-the-world perspective that sees to the end of the road.
Its bumper is even higher than the body of an average SUV, can you believe that?
Driving it gives a sense of complete safety.
The higher view has many advantages. A broader view makes traveling more pleasurable.
Outside, a light drizzle was falling. In such a season, this kind of weather is truly terrible.
The outside temperature was around two or three degrees, but anyone who has studied biology knows that humidity hinders the body’s core heat dissipation. High humidity amplifies the sensation of stuffiness in hot weather and the feeling of damp cold in low temperatures, making the perceived temperature far exceed the actual temperature.
For example, in low temperatures, humid air conducts heat faster than dry air, which takes away the body’s heat more quickly.
However, at that moment, the cockpit was incredibly warm, not only in temperature but also maintaining the most human-friendly humidity level.
This benefits from the perfect temperature and humidity control system of the entire vehicle.
Not only was the cockpit like this, but the entire camper van’s body was also like a spring all year round.
Beneath Li Younan’s seat was a custom-installed air cushion seat. This seat relies on dynamic support and shock absorption, making it especially comfortable when driving.
Li Younan even felt that sitting on such a seat, he wouldn’t feel tired even after driving thousands of kilometers non-stop.
The destination at the time was JK Long’s neighborhood.
In fact, even if JK Long hadn’t sent that message, Li Younan would have wanted to come over...
Overall, with such a doomsday fortress of a vehicle, a route like 318 would pose no danger.
It is practically just a leisurely journey, staying in a safe, solid, comfortable mobile little nest throughout the trip.
Camper vans have many drawbacks, but this camper van certainly doesn’t.
Previously when living alone in the wilderness, Li Younan experienced what it was like to live alone for a long time. To be honest, at that time, even a ridiculously stupid little sheep could make him feel very warm.
This is why he was so angry after the little sheep was killed by a grizzly bear.
This time going to 318, though the journey on the national road would be about 20 days, there would definitely be lots of time consumed outside the route. It would certainly be another fairly long trip.
So... if possible, Li Younan hoped someone could accompany him on the road.
Of course, when considering who this person might be, JK Long came to mind first. His thoughts were rather conservative.
The first thing to consider is JK Long’s gender. She is a girl, just in her early twenties, and her relation with him... is friends, but with somewhat more of a partnership element.
If they hit the road together, it would be just a man and a woman in the same space.
He personally would enjoy such company very much, but a young girl may not feel the same.
To be precise, she would most likely find it ridiculous, right?
Additionally, JK Long is also a patient; she is terrified of open spaces.
Being in a camper van that gets driven into an open space may or may not trigger negative effects for JK Long; Li Younan had no confidence about this at all.
If something unexpected happens on the road, could he shoulder that responsibility?
So, even though he occasionally thought the trip would be much more fun if JK Long joined, he never mentioned it to her or showed any intention along those lines.
Now that JK Long had asked him to bring the camper van over, Younan thought that after watching the modification livestream for so long and even making several clip videos, she must be quite interested in the real thing.
So bringing the van over to let her see it in person seemed quite necessary.
It is worth mentioning that the JK Long family’s neighborhood is an old community from before, with parking spaces under each unit building, sparing the awkwardness of underground parking height limits.
Li Younan parked the vehicle right in front of JK Long’s unit building.
Just as Younan parked the camper van, the electric lift stair automatically unfolded, and his descent attracted quite a bit of attention from passersby.
No wonder, the vehicle is just too eye-catching.
At that moment, "Freedom", after modification, stood at an impressive 3.6 meters height, with an over-the-top-exhaust pipe akin to Optimus Prime’s.
The over-the-top exhaust pipe has many advantages. It keeps exhaust away from the cockpit, reduces noise, improves vehicle performance, and shortens exhaust pipe lines to enhance power response.
The whole vehicle sports a dirt-yellow explosion-proof paint; the box is square, and in an enclosed state, the doors seamlessly align with the body making the door invisible, along with closed windows, giving a hardcore, robust vibe.
However, the elegance and composure with which Younan stepped out vanished in the next moment.
Because it was so comfortable inside the vehicle that he only wore a single layer, and once he got out, the piercing cold hit...
He went back obediently to add a piece of clothing.
Liu Yu stood by the window, silently watching Younan.
The guy got out and smugly waved, went back in, and then stepped out wearing a jacket.
He paused for a moment, then let out a heavy snort.
Showing off or what?
Granted, Younan did look quite dashing stepping out from a vehicle like that...
But was it really necessary to make the entrance twice?
Thinking of this, he helplessly glanced at his sister.
The thing he was most worried about seemed to have happened, after all; Younan had utterly entranced his sister.
Liu Yu sighed and said, "Have you thought this through?"
"Brother, I want to give it a try."
"But have you thought about it? A single man and woman, if word gets out... what about your reputation?"
"Brother, do you not trust me or do you not trust Li Younan?"
Liu Yu looked at Liu Li as she asked this question seriously, and felt a bit overwhelmed for a moment.
He wanted to say that he didn’t trust either of them, but he held back and said, "It’s not a matter of trust."
Liu Li fell silent, keeping her head down and saying nothing for a while. Then she took a deep breath, looked at her brother earnestly, and began to speak slowly: "Brother, do you want me to continue like this?"
Liu Yu was suddenly speechless.
"Brother, ever since I got this illness, I’ve known I’ve become a burden to you."
"Actually... I’ve always been in pain. I don’t want to be a burden to you forever."
"I’ve tried hard, really, many times. I want to step out of the house, not just for myself, but even for you..."
"You..."
"Brother, let me finish."
"Before I met Li Younan, there was a time when I truly felt finished, like maybe my whole life was just going to be this way."
"In the darkest and hardest moments, I even thought about... but I couldn’t do it, even if not for myself, I had to for you..."
"Later on, I realized that even if I couldn’t go out, I could still help you at home, so I learned how to edit videos, and learned many skills and knowledge that could aid you."
"But I still hope to be like a normal person."
"I can’t have you keep taking care of me my whole life."
Pain flashed across Liu Yu’s eyes.
His sister’s words pierced his heart, every single one of them.
"Until I met Li Younan."
"Besides you, he’s the only person I’m not afraid to be alone with."
"I feel like this might be the closest I’ve gotten to stepping out."
"He made that camper, and I’m genuinely happy about it."
"Brother, do you know... every day I watch him perfect that camper bit by bit in the live stream, and it makes me so happy, as if it were my own house."
"I can’t help but think about how it would be if I could stay inside it..."
At this point, Liu Li’s voice weakened, with a hint of sobbing.
Liu Yu was startled and looked towards his sister, but at that moment, he didn’t dare meet her eyes.
Liu Li, however, bravely met his gaze and continued, "Brother, actually... it hasn’t come to that step yet."
Liu Yu paused, "What?"
"I mean... it hasn’t come to that step yet."
She gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Brother, let alone that I’m not sure if I can even walk to his camper by myself..."
A glimmer of tears appeared in Liu Li’s eyes, "I’m just a little fool."
"Li Younan... would he really be willing to take me along?"
Liu Yu almost blurted out, who dares say you’re a fool! Would Li Younan dare not take you? Yet the thought just spun in his head... and he was choked.
"So... it hasn’t gotten to the point where I need to consider whether I want to travel with him or not."
After saying this, Liu Li lowered her head and gave a gentle smile.
Liu Yu looked at his sister, unable to speak for a long time.
Finally, he sighed softly, as if his body were drained.
Then he laughed at himself a little, though he couldn’t quite understand why it was so hard for him to accept his sister traveling with Li Younan.
Was it because of societal perceptions?
Clearly not.
His sister almost had no social circle, so how others saw her made no difference.
Was it because he worried about them being alone together, and that Li Younan might take advantage of his sister?
He had known Li Younan for a long time and knew very well that Li Younan wasn’t that kind of person.
Then what was he worried about? Was he concerned that Li Younan wasn’t good enough for his sister?
That seemed even more absurd.
Guys like Li Younan... whether or not he wanted to admit it, he’s someone who, by just lifting a finger, could have countless high-quality girls chasing after him with unrestrained zeal!
On this point, even in his wildest confidence, he had to concede.
So, what exactly was he worried about?
What was he resisting?
If he faced his heart, the answer was quite simple.
He sighed slightly and patted his sister’s head.
Liu Li raised her head and saw the gentle light in her brother’s eyes. She realized her brother had agreed.
Liu Yu turned his head away and laughed at himself, "I’ve been taking care of my sister for so long... haha."
He knew all too well... he just didn’t want his sister to be taken away by someone else.
In some sense, this feeling was akin to the pain a father feels when his daughter gets married.
"Brother?"
Liu Li looked at her brother with some concern.
"That guy... is about to come up, go change your clothes."
Liu Yu said calmly.

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