Dating sim loading: My girlfriend is a cunning young lady
Chapter 200 - 119. Takao Mountain Scenery (2)

Chapter 200: 119. Takao Mountain Scenery (2)

The hiking trail had six routes, and Kiyono Lin chose Route 6.

"This route has waterfalls, streams, and even a suspension bridge. It’s almost free of human traces, making it perfect for shooting scenes of Iwate Prefecture."

After hearing her explanation, Dubian Che voiced his dissatisfaction, "Whether it’s suitable or not, let me, a true Iwate Prefecture local, be the judge."

Kiyono Lin looked at Dubian Che, who held a lady’s sun umbrella, rested her chin on her hand, and smiled meaningfully.

"What are you laughing at?" Dubian Che looked at himself but didn’t spot any issues.

"Nothing. Let’s go."

Once they reached the mountain, the umbrella was completely unnecessary!

There were cedar trees everywhere, some even exceeding ten meters in height!

Apart from cedar trees, countless maple trees, cherry trees, and various other unrecognizable trees and weeds filled the area.

Takao Mountain is dubbed "the most visited mountain in the world." Besides its proximity to the global metropolis of Tokyo, the ubiquitous cherry and maple trees are also primary reasons for its fame.

Now at the end of August, there were no special seasonal vistas; the hillside was covered with green: green trees, green grass, green stones, even the shrine rooftops were bathed in green light.

Unless deliberately sought out, there was no place on Route 6 that got any sunlight.

Dubian Che folded his umbrella and glanced at Kiyono Lin’s knitted bag.

Thinking to himself, when there was sun, she had lent him the umbrella, making him carry it up the mountain without sun seemed somewhat unreasonable.

"Kiyono,"

"Hmm?"

"Give it to me."

Kiyono Lin set down her camera, looking at him puzzledly.

"The bag," Dubian Che said.

Kiyono Lin hesitated, looked at Dubian Che’s slim hands, then back at her own knitted bag, and suddenly seemed flustered.

"No, no need... Thanks."

"Just focus on your photography, leave the heavy lifting to me. Isn’t that my job anyway?"

Kiyono Lin paused, then smiled and nodded: "Fair enough."

As she began to transfer the knitted bag to Dubian Che’s hands, Yuzao Haomei suddenly interjected, "Let me help you carry that, Kiyono!"

"No need, thank you, Yuzao," Kiyono Lin gently declined.

"It’s no trouble, let me help!" Yuzao Haomei reached out to take the bag, but Kiyono Lin didn’t let go.

"Yuzao is offering to help, let her," Dubian Che said.

He wasn’t sympathetic towards Yuzao Haomei; if she wanted to carry it, he fully supported it.

Yuzao Haomei glared at Dubian Che, who had touched her butt earlier, and was about to speak when Kiyono Lin spoke first: "No."

Her brief response carried an irrefutable rejection, leaving Yuzao Haomei and the other three girls momentarily stunned.

A seasoned reader of "How to Charm a Rich Older Woman" and "Uncovering the Girlish Hearts of Young Ladies!", Dubian Che wasn’t intimidated by her—mostly, he was just accustomed to it.

With a hint of confusion, he asked, "Why not?"

To Dubian Che’s inquiry, Kiyono Lin appeared somewhat displeased, "Compared to Yuzao, I have a better relationship with you. It’s more comfortable for me if you help me with the bag."

Her statement left the surroundings silent.

Dubian Che looked at the surprised others; even the typically stoic Mayi Asuka was staring at Kiyono Lin in astonishment.

Dubian Che was also a bit taken aback; after spending so much time with Kiyono Lin, he had almost forgotten that she had a strange temper and was brusque with strangers—she just told the truth.

Thinking this, he found it incredible that he had somehow developed a ’Kiyono Lin Antibody.’

What was it that made him stick with someone who only spoke blunt truths for so long?

Beyond a bit of her charismatic appearance, it was likely her insistence on honesty, even if it meant having no friends.

"There’s no helping it, Yuzao. It seems Kiyono prefers me," Dubian Che said proudly as he easily took the knitted bag from Kiyono Lin’s hands.

Yuzao Haomei stared at Dubian Che, fire and fury burning in her eyes.

With a sigh, as if helpless, Kiyono Lin said, "Please don’t say ’prefers.’ That word makes me uncomfortable. It’s just that we’re closer."

"Tsundere?"

"What tsundere?"

"Never mind."

Looking at Dubian Che’s serious face, Kiyono Lin recalled Guan Gong’s phrases, and had she not just been...

She glared fiercely at Dubian Che and turned her face away unhappily.

"Let’s keep moving. The lighting is good now, which makes it easier to shoot." With that, Kiyono Lin led the way up the mountain.

Yuzao Haomei immediately followed.

"Sempai, let’s go too," Ichiki Aoi beckoned Mayi Asuka and Hanaoka Asako.

Unwelcome Dubian Che trailed at the back, opening the knitted bag to stash the umbrella.

With a quick glance, he checked the contents of the bag.

There wasn’t much: water, a wallet, a Watermelon Card for the subway, earphones, a phone, memory cards, tissues, and a neatly packed box of feminine hygiene products.

Dubian Che looked up at Kiyono Lin, who walked without hesitation, apparently just a precaution.

Women really have it tough; men should take good care of them.

Dubian Che patted the knitted bag and promised, "Comrade, brother, let me protect Kiyono with you. You are here, I am here!"

"Mr. Dubian, what are you doing?" Kiyono Lin called from a stone by the creek bed, looking down at him.

"Coming!" Dubian Che quickened his pace to catch up.

But to be honest, Kiyono Lin was really cunning, saying in front of both parties, ’compared to you, I’m closer to Dubian,’ now, he felt a slight joy while carrying the bag as if he was floating as he walked.