Chapter 17
On the snow-capped mountain, the wind howled.
A person in a light green monk’s robe, a melon-seed cap, a string of wooden Buddhist beads around his neck, and a half-man-high broom in his hand emerged from the desolate mountain.
The young man, looking to be seventeen or eighteen, had delicate features, a slender figure, and a calm and peaceful gaze, exuding an ethereal Zen-like aura.
Berlin’s eyes widened in surprise. The two stood several meters apart, staring at each other, each with slightly out-of-sync background music playing from their phones, neither speaking for a moment.
Two young people with their own personal soundtracks had met.
The moment Berlin saw the newcomer, he recognized him.
…Wasn’t this the uploader who, every morning, silently synced their exercise routine with him across the screen?
He should have known Han Yuzhe hadn’t just randomly chosen a mountain; he’d pinpointed the exact location!
The sudden offline, real-life meeting was as swift as a tornado, catching Berlin completely off guard.
Unconsciously, he held his breath and curiously looked at the top of the little master’s head –
[50].
Berlin: “!”
Neither high nor low, perfectly in the middle. As expected of a Buddhist disciple, matching supernatural beings with their mortal form, able to somewhat resist the allure of a heartthrob’s aura.
The little master was still young and hadn’t yet achieved complete detachment from earthly desires; it was understandable.
Berlin knew the uploader, but he didn’t know if the uploader recognized him. This wasn’t referring to their ID in the comment section, but to Berlin and Han Yuzhe’s idol group status.
A simple online search would reveal that Skye should be filming a variety show in Mong Kok; it was impossible for them to suddenly appear thousands of miles away in the snowy wilderness early in the morning. The consistently productive uploader clearly went online often, but it was uncertain whether they had ever surfed the same seas –
It’s like how although fish all live in water, fish in the Red Sea, the Black Sea, the Coral Sea, and the Caribbean Sea might never meet in their lifetimes and not even be aware of each other’s existence.
If someone asked Berlin the full name of the person who won the Nobel Prize in Physics this year, he wouldn’t be able to answer immediately, because it’s completely outside his field of expertise.
Several thoughts raced through Berlin’s mind, leaving only, “Heaven help the uploader not to recognize Skye.”
Although he knew that even if their secret was exposed, someone behind his teammates would probably take care of it, Berlin still hoped to avoid causing trouble for the uploader from the start.
Berlin: “Uh, hello, little master…”
Before he could finish his greeting, Berlin saw the other squint his eyes and slowly raise a hand.
The Shaolin uploader was taciturn, speaking slowly and calmly, his voice carrying the crispness unique to young men: “Layman, wait a moment.”
Berlin: “Hmm?”
Berlin didn’t know what he was going to do, then he saw the other slowly reaching into his monk’s robe and pulling out a pair of glasses.
Berlin: “…”
After putting on his glasses, the Shaolin uploader’s dazed, narrowed eyes opened, and the unconscious frown on his brow relaxed. He carefully looked at Berlin, then at Han Yuzhe, without glancing at the unusually flat area under Berlin’s feet.
Realizing that Han Yuzhe must have done something, Berlin visibly relaxed, his eyes shining as he stared at the little master.
Speaking of which, the Shaolin uploader was a nurturing project. When Berlin followed him, there were only about a hundred followers, and the comment section was completely empty, even the trolls were too cold to bother commenting.
This uploader’s cold and indifferent style stood out among the fitness uploaders on Bilibili, completely unique. Berlin liked this peaceful atmosphere of the snowing mountain, afraid that the treasure uploader might be disheartened by the lack of views, so he not only gave a “one-click triple” but also left a “[加油] (add oil)” comment under each of his videos.
Considering that tone couldn’t be conveyed over the internet, Berlin also carefully selected several cute emojis, with a cat shaking its head and waving a glowing stick, as encouragement.
Later, the treasure uploader became popular, and Berlin debuted. He was busy every day and didn’t leave any more comments, but when he had time, he would still throw all his saved coins to him.
When Berlin saw the uploader win the top 100 uploaders award, he happily bought himself a cake to celebrate, thinking that he indeed had good eyesight, and they both had a bright future.
Han Yuzhe had a good memory; he had seen Berlin exercise with the videos many times and recognized him. However, unlike Berlin, who had a nurturing filter, he leaned against a tree trunk, showing no intention of joining the conversation, lazily closing his eyes and refusing to interact.
The bgm stopped automatically, and the air suddenly fell silent.
The Shaolin uploader spoke first: “Layman, this is…”
Berlin scratched the back of his head, smiling and happily replying: “Yes, exactly as you imagine!”
He meant that he was indeed watching the uploader’s videos, and he was a long-time fan. Unexpectedly, the next second, the Shaolin uploader’s relaxed brow furrowed again: “Layman, why would you go to this deep mountain to see this monk?”
Berlin: “…?”
He pondered for a few seconds before realizing the misunderstanding.
No, he wasn’t a stalker! But didn’t this simultaneously prove that the uploader didn’t recognize him? Berlin fell into thought, momentarily unsure how to answer.
The Shaolin uploader continued to persuade: “Vegetarian food is not as good as meat; the layman will probably be disappointed.”
Berlin had a flash of inspiration and casually asked: “How does the uploader know that vegetarian food is not as delicious as meat?”
The Shaolin uploader paused: “…”
The air fell silent again.
The two looked at each other silently for a moment, both avoiding each other’s questions, choosing to let it go.
After hesitating for a moment, the Shaolin uploader turned his head: “There’s nowhere to find food in the wilderness; this monk will offer the layman a meal. I hope the layman will leave after eating.”
Berlin’s eyes lit up: “Really? Thank you!”
“Monks don’t lie,” The Shaolin uploader shook his head and turned to lead the way; Han Yuzhe, seeing Berlin’s happy expression, said nothing and followed leisurely behind.
Along the way, Berlin cleverly stepped in the Shaolin uploader’s footsteps while chattering: “Little master, do you live here alone?”
The Shaolin uploader’s steps were steady, his tone calm and unwavering: “No.”
Berlin curiously asked: “Who else is there? Is there a master?”
A faint expression appeared on the Shaolin uploader’s handsome face: “There is Buddha, residing in my heart.”
Berlin: “…”
This sudden cheesy line made Berlin want to laugh, but he knew the little master was being sincere, so he took a deep breath and held back.
While Berlin was distracted, he slipped and was about to fall. At the critical moment, the uploader, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, steadily grabbed his arm.
It was a pair of hands with many calluses, not smooth, but very strong.
Berlin scratched his head awkwardly: “Thank you.”
A heavy thud came from behind. Berlin turned his head and saw Han Yuzhe calmly sitting in the snow, like a large dog confidently extending his hand towards Berlin: “Berlin, I fell.”
Han Yuzhe raised his delicate, pale chin, his face clearly saying: I need Berlin’s help to get up.jpg.
Berlin: “…?”
You don’t lack experience as a human; you’ve even mastered the most difficult art of feigning injury.
Just as he was about to say something, he saw the Shaolin uploader, without changing his expression, extend a hand to Han Yuzhe first.
Han Yuzhe looked up, expressionless. After a moment, he ignored the hand, calmly standing up and saying listlessly: “Let’s go.”
The Shaolin uploader didn’t seem angry, quietly looking at him once before turning and continuing to walk.
Berlin shook his head disapprovingly at Han Yuzhe, then tried to joke with the Shaolin uploader to lighten the atmosphere: “Master, you live in the mountains, practicing vegetarianism and reciting Buddhist scriptures. Why are you nearsighted? Did the Buddha’s golden body emit light that stung your eyes?”
Shaolin uploader: “Buddha can’t edit videos for me, so I’m nearsighted.”
Berlin: “…”
The uploader was different from what he had imagined; a rather cold-faced comedian. Indeed, monks don’t lie.
Berlin curiously asked: “Why did you decide to become an uploader while living in the deep mountains?”
Shaolin uploader: “Buddha doesn’t provide food; I hide in plain sight online.”
Berlin: “What network?”
Shaolin uploader: “The internet.”
Berlin: “…”
This conversation is really difficult to have.
The destination wasn’t as far as imagined; it was just that the branches and leaves of the fir trees had been blocking the view.
It was more of a simple brick house than a temple; it was small and simple.
The Shaolin uploader asked Berlin and Han Yuzhe to sit at a small stone table in the courtyard while he went into the kitchen.
In less than two minutes, the Shaolin uploader came out with a bowl.
Berlin looked closely and was stunned.
The so-called vegetarian food was a bowl of plain noodles with two blanched green vegetables; the soup was just water, without even a speck of oil.
Of course, there was no poached egg.
Han Yuzhe: “I won’t eat, thank you.”
The Shaolin uploader nodded and placed the bowl in front of himself.
Berlin ate the tasteless meal but politely cleaned his plate, leaving nothing behind.
It was almost time to go.
Before leaving, Berlin asked: “Can I light a stick of incense?”
The Shaolin uploader paused slightly: “You can. Do you also believe in Buddha?”
Berlin scratched his head and smiled: “Not really, but I’m already here.”
Shaolin uploader: “…”
Berlin was originally an atheist, but since being able to see favorability ratings and meeting all sorts of strange people and creatures, he felt that it was better to believe in something. It wasn’t that he really believed, but when he went to a temple, he made a wish to the Buddha, and when he went to a church, he made a wish to Jesus – each time he wished for something different. If one came true, Berlin would consider giving up being a womanizer.
Of course, this was only something he could think about in his heart and couldn’t say to the little master.
The journey took ten minutes, and the meal took one minute.
There was some time left after the meal, so Berlin insisted on helping wash the dishes. The little master didn’t refuse, considering it as payment for the meal.
The water was drawn from the mountain and was freezing cold. Berlin thought it was fortunate that Han Yuzhe had blocked the cold earlier. He caught sight of the little master’s phone ringing; it was the classic WeChat notification sound.
Berlin joked: “Did the Buddha contact you?”
The little master calmly typed: “No, it’s an advertiser looking for me to do a promotion.”
Berlin: “…”
Next, the little master’s phone rang with the Alipay transfer notification sound: “Alipay transfer received – eight, ten thousand, yuan.”
Berlin: “…”
Little master, you’re a bit expensive.
Berlin sighed: Unexpectedly, the uploader he nurtured had already become self-sufficient. It was all worth his years of daily logins and diligent donations of coins.
However, the little master earned quite a lot, but his living conditions were too simple; he wondered if he really used all his money to support the temple.
Feeling Berlin’s complicated gaze, the little master finished his business, looked up, and said calmly and seriously: “One needs to eat to live. This monk pays taxes honestly and has a clear conscience; I am a good citizen.”
Berlin muttered softly, “You shouldn’t say that.”
Some collapsed celebrities’ PTSD from the repeated mentions of honest tax payments and good citizenship.
The little master didn’t hear him, and Berlin didn’t continue.
Berlin didn’t intend to snoop, but he accidentally noticed that the Shaolin uploader’s WeChat interface looked very different from his own.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a WeChat interface like this!”
The little master pushed his glasses: “I have WeChat’s accessibility mode turned on.”
Berlin heard of this function for the first time: “Ah?”
The little master opened the settings to show him –
[Larger text, stronger colors, larger buttons, and the ability to turn on the [listen to text messages] function]
Berlin: “…”
He learned something strange.
The Shaolin uploader didn’t see them off; he watched them for a while before calmly starting to sweep the snow.
They had to wait until they were out of the Shaolin uploader’s sight to teleport; Berlin hopped along, following the footprints from their arrival.
Half an hour passed, and the light had noticeably brightened. The light shone through the pines, and Berlin noticed something on the ground.
He walked over, bent down, and picked up the reflective object from the snowdrift.
Berlin brushed off the snow and mud, and found that it was a ring.
The author has something to say:
Little darlings, we’ve agreed with the editor to start VIP chapters! There will be an update tonight at 0:00!
I hope you little darlings will continue to accompany me, muah!
Thank you for your support, I will continue to work hard!