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Bianca suffered during the few days in the mountainous area.
She had followed Chris and Lena all the way, but when they got off the train, it seemed like Chris had completely
forgotten her existence.
When they boarded a bus to head into the mountains, she didn't have any change, so Chris kindly helped her buy a
ticket. But his demeanor toward her was like she was a complete stranger, merely assisting out of goodwill.
Bianca tried to strike up conversations with him, but he brushed her aside, showering all his attention on Lena.
Throughout the journey, Bianca gained nothing more than witnessing their affectionate interactions.
In the mountainous region, she made it her mission to show up wherever they went, even visiting the local school
and volunteering to take photos of the children with her camera. But Chris' attitude toward her remained lukewarm.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHis gaze was solely on Lena.
Moreover, the signal was terrible in the mountains, making it difficult for Bianca to find someone to vent her
frustrations. Meanwhile, the harsh living conditions made her extremely uncomfortable.
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Chris and Lena stayed at the only local guesthouse in the area. The owner, Edward Delaney, was a kind- hearted
middle-aged man who wasn't a local but was drawn to the place's natural beauty. Running the guesthouse was his
way of expressing his love for it.
This guesthouse rarely received visitors throughout the year, but Edward diligently kept it clean daily. Now that
three living souls had suddenly arrived, he was overjoyed.
He would occasionally brew a pot of tea and bring it out to the courtyard to chat with Chris and Lena. After getting
to know them a bit, he smiled and asked, "I can tell you two are a couple, but what about that young lady?"
Chris evaded the question. "Oh, she's our neighbor's daughter."
"But it seems like she's here for you!"
Chris widened his eyes, exchanged a secretive glance with Edward, and then sneakily glanced at Lena.
Lena sipped her tea and smiled without uttering a word.
"Oh, I see," Edward grinned slyly. "it looks like unrequited love, doesn't it?"
"Uh..." Chris was embarrassed and hid his face behind his cup.
"Nevertheless, it's unsafe for a girl to wander the mountains constantly. Have you noticed that village on the other
side of the mountain? There are so many single old men in that village! You'd better make sure no one snatches her
away to become their wife!"
"That won't happen!" Chris laughed. "She's timid and won't venture that far."
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Lena gazed toward the village on the other side of the mountain, her bright eyes filled with melancholy.
Sensing her troubled expression, Chris gently held her hand and asked, "What's wrong?"
After a prolonged silence, Lena finally asked, "Do you know that village?"
"Yeah." Chris nodded. "When I was on a mission here before, I visited that village. It looks closer than it actually is.
You have to cross this mountain, and it's quite a long distance."
"Do you know the people there?" Lena clutched her tea cup tightly, suddenly feeling a chill.
Chris nodded. "I know that the village is even poorer and more isolated. The men there are very lazy, and their only
pastime is drinking. After drinking, they often mistreat women..."
He abruptly stopped as realization dawned on him.
Lena had previously confided that she had grown up in a mountain village, where she was fostered. The man in that
family would become violent after drinking, often causing her to suffer for no reason...
"Lenny!" Chris held her in his arms and gently stroked her back.
Lena took a deep breath, paused for a moment, and finally mustered the courage to say, "I grew up there."
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