Liu Li’s words caused another turn of events.
Li Younan’s heart suddenly became bold, and he gently grasped Liu Li’s shoulders with both hands.
Liu Li’s frame wasn’t large, fitting perfectly in his hands, soft.
Of course, while performing this action, he could feel the girl’s body had completely stiffened like a rock, muscles trembling slightly beyond her control, and her entire back was indeed tense.
Li Younan could mostly imagine that the girl was very nervous right now.
He had never pressed such comfortable shoulders before.
"No... no need."
Liu Li did not look back at him, her voice trembling slightly.
Li Younan continued as if speaking to himself, "Isn’t it just a massage? You’ve given me one before, what? Are you thinking too much? Keep it pure, alright?"
The girl seemed provoked by this, and snorted, "Where is it not pure? I know, it’s just a massage. I’m just... worried you’re more tired."
"It’s okay."
"Then go ahead," the girl said with an indifferent manner.
It made Li Younan find it even funnier.
In the following moments, he stopped speaking and began earnestly massaging Liu Li’s shoulders.
His large hands didn’t use much force, gently kneading the muscles of her neck, while both thumbs lightly massaged up and down the center of her back.
The fragrance from her hair drifted over, and Li Younan also noticed that her neck and behind her ears were already wholly red.
After a while, Liu Li seemed to have completely abandoned resistance, her body relaxing.
Li Younan gently massaged her for a while, and then she suddenly turned to look at him, her gaze carrying a hint of bewilderment, her face flushed.
Li Younan blinked, and the two just stared silently at each other for a few seconds.
Then Liu Li slowly said, "I’m already comfortable... alright now?"
Her tone seemed very helpless.
A taste of "Can’t resist you anymore."
Li Younan silently released his hands, allowing Liu Li to stand and go to the bathroom.
Just as she reached halfway, she stumbled, nearly falling... not daring to look back, then somewhat awkwardly hid in the bathroom.
Li Younan blinked, then let out a somewhat happy laugh.
It had been a long time since he felt so happy because of a girl.
On the journey ahead, there were many scenic views, but Li Younan didn’t intend to stop at every scenic spot.
The long drive on the 318 would naturally induce fatigue, and stopping at every scenic spot would result in a journey without a single highlight.
So, Li Younan planned to drive straight to his long-yearned location—beside Ranwu Lake.
Ranwu Lake is located within the borders of Changdu in Tibet, being the first lake encountered on the journey to Tibet. Moreover, it was his first official check-in spot after entering Tibet.
There are many online comments about the disappointment of this lake as a scenic spot, but Li Younan was very aware that when they arrive at Ranwu Lake, it would be at its bluest.
Imagine this scene: the vast lake surface extending with clear blue waves, sunlight sparkling across the water, pine forests on the opposite shore, and further up the eternally snow-covered glaciers and mountains.
Li Younan had been looking forward to it, and when he described Ranwu Lake to Liu Li, the young girl naturally began to look forward to it too.
From Mangkang to Ranwu Lake is a distance of four to five hundred kilometers, and this four to five hundred kilometers is not like that on the highway.
On the 318 National Road, even when infrastructure has improved significantly, some sections still require slow driving, especially the 72 turns of Nu River, which are far more thrilling than the racing track of Mount Akina.
The journey forwards would take at least eight to nine hours, assuming there were no meals, rests, or any traffic jams.
Li Younan planned to stay at Ranwu Lake, just as he did before, for a few days, and near Ranwu Lake, supply points were relatively scarce. So when he entered Mangkang, he replenished supplies, filled the fridge to the brim, topped up the oil and water, and cleaned the gray water tank before departing.
The continuous driving brought some fatigue to Li Younan, mostly mentally.
Liu Li found riding in the car quite tiring too. Li Younan suggested that it’s best to stay awake and enjoy the roadside scenery, which can be relaxing, as sleeping throughout the ride can cause shoulder and back soreness from holding a posture too long.
Since Li Younan gave her a massage that night, the young girl became somewhat silent and less talkative, but she took his advice seriously, gazing attentively out the window.
Today, she wore a white cap, pulling the brim very low, like a cool kid.
Though she didn’t pay much attention to Li Younan, whenever there was a car opposing their left turns, she’d promptly remind him.
This journey was marked by rivers and lakes forging through the valleys, and at the river’s end, a sky-borne grassland met their eyes.
This was the Bangda Grassland.
Essential to the Tea Horse Ancient Road, located in Eastern Tibet, with ample rainfall, flocks of cattle and sheep roaming and feeding.
At this moment, Li Younan had been driving continuously for hours, when Liu Li softly suggested, "Let’s rest. You must be tired."
Li Younan glanced at Liu Li, intending to brush it off, but saw a hint of... concern in her eyes?
Concern for him driving too long?
Li Younan found it amusing.
Yet his heart felt some warmth.
But he hesitated briefly—if they delayed here, it was likely they couldn’t reach Ranwu Lake today.
But then Liu Li quietly said, "We’re here now..."
It’s like a soul-stirring summon, disguised as lightning, coursing through Li Younan’s body, and he rolled his eyes, "Alright then."
The two drove off the road, heading further toward the grassland.
Sky Grassland, it is called the Sky Grassland because it grows on the main ridge of Weng Mountain between the Lancang River and the Nu River.
To reach the grassland, you still need to drive up a segment of wild road. To put it bluntly, only off-road vehicles can make it through. If it’s a regular SUV or sedan, it’s surely going to scrape the undercarriage.
After driving quite a while, the car climbed onto the highland, and suddenly after crossing a high slope, the view ahead became infinitely vast.
Seeing the scenery ahead, Li Younan paused for a moment, and looked at Liu Li with some surprise. If it weren’t for Liu Li’s insistence, they might have missed this beautiful view.
Li Younan stopped the car, got out, and Liu Li followed suit, getting out as well.
The two stood at the edge of the grassland, looking ahead—
Even though they had seen many grasslands along the way, at this moment, it still felt incredibly awe-inspiring.
This grassland is different from those Li Younan had seen in Inner Mongolia.
A grassland growing on a highland, so vast you could gallop on horseback, while here the altitude is over 4,200 meters, almost just a stretch of the hand can touch the blue sky.
No wonder it’s called Sky Grassland.
The green grass is like felt, mountain flowers are as lovely as brocade, looking out, groups of yaks leisurely drink water and rest by the river, while in the distance is the continuous Tanggula Mountain Range.
But then Li Younan suddenly realized something, glanced at Liu Li, wondering if she might feel uncomfortable here given its vastness?
The next moment, he felt reassured, seeing Liu Li’s face calm, showing no signs of discomfort.
She crossed her hands behind her back, watched the grassland for a while, then suddenly smiled, looking at Li Younan and saying, "If only we could gallop on horseback here, wouldn’t it be fun?"
She seemed to imagine the scene, a hint of longing smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Li Younan blinked, looked again at the grassland, there were no horses here, only yaks.
Yaks are probably not easy to ride.
But Li Younan suddenly laughed, "Come, follow me."
As he spoke, he naturally grabbed Liu Li’s hand, heading towards the back of the car.
Liu Li stared in surprise, watching Li Younan hold her hand. This wasn’t the first time Li Younan held her hand, but before there was always a legitimate reason, because she didn’t dare to be alone outside, and now... what could this be?
Without realizing, Liu Li had been pulled to the back of the car, then heard the sound of the motor, as the beautiful mountain motorbike slowly descended from the back end.
Liu Li instantly understood what Li Younan intended to do.
Li Younan released her hand, then unlocked the car and pushed the bike down.
Liu Li stepped back half a step, "What are you doing?"
Li Younan opened the motorbike’s storage box, took out two helmets he had bought earlier, put on the black one himself, and then handed over the pink one, "Obviously, put it on."
His tone was indisputable.
Liu Li silently accepted the helmet, huffed, "So bossy! I’m Brother Long, how can you talk to Brother Long like that?"
Though she grumbled, she earnestly toyed with the pink helmet for a while, looked up, "When did you buy it?"
"Before we left Chengdu."
"You bought it especially for me?"
"No, I just like pink, sometimes I switch things up."
Li Younan answered seriously.
Liu Li burst into laughter, playfully punched Li Younan.
After dawdling for a bit, Li Younan mounted the motorbike, Liu Li climbed on from the back, initially not holding onto him... seemingly hesitating over something, but Li Younan didn’t mind, casually said, "You seem to be overthinking. Remember when you hugged me while looking for hot springs? This is just for safety."
The girl huffed, hugged Li Younan tightly, showing a fearless stance.
Feeling the gentle embrace from the girl, Li Younan’s heart swelled with pride, ahead lay the open path, twisting the motorbike’s throttle, the roar sang a hymn to freedom across this primitive expanse.
"And we’re off!"
The wind swept over their bodies, speed increasing, the path ahead over the grassland uneven, mostly smoothened by the professional suspension, but still transmitting some bumps, making Liu Li hold onto Li Younan even tighter.
Rising, speeding.
Her head now pressed closely against Li Younan’s back, her whole body curled up, eyes shut, her hair lightly dancing from the helmet.
Li Younan navigated with ease, such terrain posed no risk for him, he crossed the grassland from where the RV was parked.
Nearby yaks lifted their heads, gave them a silent look, and resumed grazing.
The clouds drew nearer, Li Younan couldn’t help releasing one hand from the handlebars, reaching to grasp the sky’s clouds.
The motorbike stopped by the river.
Li Younan parked the motorbike, Liu Li still tightly clung to him.
He did not interrupt, instead quietly allowed her to hold onto him.
They stayed like that for several seconds, then Liu Li gently released her hold, first getting off the bike.
Li Younan turned around, preparing to ask Liu Li how the ride was, but paused—Liu Li’s eyes were rimmed red, as she sniffed intently.
Li Younan thought she had been frightened, but shortly after, Liu Li showed a touching smile.
She wiped the corner of her eyes, "Li Younan, in the future, I will... I will like grasslands, and open spaces, and will enjoy... sitting on the back of a motorbike, feeling the flow of the wind!"
Then she took a deep breath, loudly told Li Younan, "I, in the future, will never, never again fear open spaces!"
"Thank you, Li Younan!"
After finishing, she lunged forward, falling into Li Younan’s embrace.
In the sunlight, the girl’s head nestled into Li Younan’s chest, her calves lifted high, her hair fluttering.

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