Chapter 107: Snow Mountains
After hanging up the phone with Pei Zhouye, Wen Yan’s fingertips lingered on the chat interface. He couldn’t quite suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
He stood up, walked to his desk, and opened his notebook. On the latest page, he wrote: “Pei Zhouye is coming to Switzerland next week. We’re going to see the snow mountains together.”
He gripped the pen tightly, lost in thought for a moment. Then, his nib paused before adding another sentence: “Paper submitted to a Nature sub-journal. Looking forward to good news.”
Moonlight filtered through the blinds, casting fragmented shadows across the paper. As Wen Yan looked at those lines, he suddenly felt as if the entire room had brightened. With the anticipation of a lover and a promising career ahead, his life felt full in a way he had never dared to imagine before.
Over the next few days, Wen Yan pushed forward with his subsequent experiments while waiting for the results of his paper’s review. He worked alongside the members of the nanomaterials group to optimize the stability of the nano-carriers, attempting to push the induction efficiency up by another percentage point. Life in the lab was busy yet fulfilling. Every time he saw the perfectly formed stem cells in the petri dishes, he felt that all the hard work was worth it.
Professor Li Wei would occasionally drop by the lab to check on his progress. Seeing Wen Yan’s focused demeanor, she would often tease him with a smile. “Looking at your drive, I’m afraid that even when President Pei arrives, you won’t be able to tear yourself away from your experiments.”
Wen Yan’s cheeks flushed slightly, but he nodded seriously. “This is a critical stage. If I do a bit more now, we can see the results sooner.”
“Having ambition is good, but you must also remember to rest.” Li Wei handed him a cup of hot coffee. “President Pei specifically instructed me to make sure you eat on time and leave work on time. Don’t make it impossible for me to report back to him.”
Wen Yan took the coffee, his heart feeling scaldingly warm. He knew Pei Zhouye was always like this; even from thousands of miles away, he looked after every detail of Wen Yan’s life.
On Friday afternoon, Wen Yan had just finished a set of experiments when his phone rang. Seeing “Pei Zhouye” on the caller ID, he answered immediately. “Have you reached Switzerland?”
“Just landed. Tom is already picking me up.” Pei Zhouye’s voice carried the fatigue of travel, yet it remained tender. “Where are you? I’ll come straight to you.”
“I’m at the lab finishing up some final work. I’ll be done very soon.” Wen Yan quickened his pace in organizing the data. “Go to the hotel and rest for a bit first. I’ll be back shortly.”
“No need. I’ll wait for you at the lab,” Pei Zhouye said firmly. “It’s a good chance to see where you work.”
After hanging up, Wen Yan felt a mix of anticipation and nerves. He quickly tidied his lab bench, changed into clean clothes, and even took a moment to straighten his hair in the mirror.
Before long, the lab door was pushed open. Pei Zhouye stood in the doorway wearing an off-white cashmere coat, holding a thermal bag. The sunlight fell upon him, outlining a soft, elegant silhouette.
“So this is where you spend every day?” Pei Zhouye walked in, his gaze sweeping across the rows of experimental equipment before finally landing on Wen Yan. “It’s more professional than I imagined.”
“It’s all thanks to the team; the school provided the equipment.” Wen Yan took his hand and led him to his lab bench. “Look, these are our latest cultured stem cells. The induction efficiency has stabilized at 35%.”
Pei Zhouye leaned in to look at the cells under the microscope. Although he didn’t understand the technical jargon, he still nodded earnestly. “Very impressive. It’s improved since the last time you told me.”
Wen Yan’s heart swelled with pride. He led Pei Zhouye over to look at his experimental designs, excitedly explaining every step. Pei Zhouye listened patiently, occasionally asking a few “layman” questions that made Wen Yan burst into laughter.
“Alright, enough about the experiments.” Pei Zhouye pulled a lunch box from the thermal bag. “I had the Ayi make the hongshaorou you love, along with your favorite vegetable salad. Eat it while it’s hot.”
Looking at the familiar food, Wen Yan’s eyes suddenly grew hot. He hadn’t expected Pei Zhouye to bring hongshaorou all the way from China just so he could have a taste of home.
“What’s wrong? Do you not like it?” Pei Zhouye asked, sounding a bit nervous at his reaction.
“No, I love it.” Wen Yan picked up his chopsticks and tucked into a piece of the braised pork. The familiar flavor spread across his tongue, tasting exactly like the first time Pei Zhouye had cooked for him in his memory. “It’s delicious. Just as good as the first time you made it.”
Pei Zhouye breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to wipe a smudge of sauce from the corner of Wen Yan’s mouth. “Eat more if you like it. You’ve lost quite a bit of weight lately.”
The two sat in the lab’s break area, eating and chatting. Wen Yan told him about the interesting things happening in the lab, Li Wei’s sense of humor, and how cute the nanomaterials group members were. Pei Zhouye, in turn, told him about things back home—how Shen Yao had been criticized by the board again for being too playful, and how the company’s newly signed projects were progressing smoothly.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the floor. Watching Pei Zhouye listen to him so intently, Wen Yan suddenly felt that these quiet, ordinary moments were more comforting than any grand, sweeping romance.
After dinner, they returned to the hotel together. On the way, Pei Zhouye suddenly said, “Let’s go to Jungfraujoch tomorrow. I checked the weather forecast; it’ll be a clear day, perfect for seeing the most beautiful mountain views.”
“Really?” Wen Yan’s eyes lit up. “I’ve wanted to go to the Jungfrau for a long time. I heard the sunrise there is breathtaking.”
“Then we’ll get up early tomorrow to catch it,” Pei Zhouye said with a smile.
At four o’clock the next morning, the two were already awake. Tom was waiting at the hotel entrance. As the car drove toward Jungfraujoch, it was pitch black outside. Wen Yan leaned into Pei Zhouye’s embrace, feeling a bit sleepy yet exhilarated by anticipation.
“Sleep a bit longer. I’ll wake you when we arrive.” Pei Zhouye tucked Wen Yan’s head onto his shoulder and gently patted his back.
Wen Yan nodded, closed his eyes, and soon drifted off. When he woke again, the car had reached the base of the mountain. Dawn was just beginning to break, and the distant snow-capped peaks shimmered with a faint silver light in the morning glow, looking like a magnificent oil painting.
“We’re here. It’s time for the mountain train,” Pei Zhouye said as he woke him, helping him wrap his scarf tight.
The cogwheel train climbed slowly along the tracks, and the scenery outside changed gradually. From dense forests to low shrubs, and finally to slopes covered in pristine white snow, every vista left Wen Yan in awe.
“Look, that’s Jungfraujoch!” Pei Zhouye pointed at the distant peak, his voice full of excitement.
Wen Yan followed his finger. The summit was dyed gold by the morning light, looking as if it were wearing a magnificent crown. He pulled out his phone, taking photo after photo, wanting to preserve this beauty forever.
Finally, the train reached the Top of Europe. As they stepped out of the station, a blast of cold air hit them. Pei Zhouye immediately took off his own coat and wrapped it around Wen Yan. “Careful not to catch a cold. It’s much chillier up here than at the bottom.”
Wrapped in Pei Zhouye’s coat, Wen Yan felt warm in both body and soul. He looked around at the vast expanse of white; the undulating peaks looked extraordinarily majestic in the morning light.
“It’s so beautiful. More beautiful than I imagined,” Wen Yan couldn’t help but exclaim.
“It is.” Pei Zhouye took his hand and led him to the observation deck. “Look, the sunrise is starting.”
Wen Yan looked toward the east. The sky gradually turned orange as a crimson sun slowly rose from behind the peaks, dyeing the snowfields in gold. The sunlight spilled over them, warm and dazzling.
“Pei Zhouye,” Wen Yan spoke, his voice a little raspy. “Thank you for bringing me here. Thank you for always staying by my side.”
Pei Zhouye turned to look at him, his gaze serious. “Silly, what are you thanking me for? Being able to see the world’s beauties with you is my greatest joy.” He paused, then pulled a small box from his pocket. “Wen Yan, there’s one more thing I want to say.”
Wen Yan looked at him in confusion. Pei Zhouye dropped to one knee and opened the box. Inside was a ring that matched the one Wen Yan was wearing, but this one was engraved with a small character: “Yan” (言).
“Wen Yan,” Pei Zhouye’s voice trembled slightly, yet it was incredibly firm. “I know you are currently focused on your research and have many dreams yet to realize. I’m not proposing to pressure you. I just want to tell you that no matter how far you go or what you want to do, I will always be by your side, supporting and accompanying you. When you are ready, let’s get married, okay?”
Looking at Pei Zhouye on his knee and the earnest expectation in his eyes, Wen Yan’s tears finally began to fall. He nodded vigorously. “Yes! I will! Pei Zhouye, I will!”
Pei Zhouye stood up, slipped the ring onto his own ring finger, and pulled Wen Yan into a tight embrace. On the peak of the snow mountain, amidst the light of the sunrise, they held each other close. The surrounding tourists broke into applause, and some even took photos to record this romantic moment.
“I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait for you to finish your research and achieve your dreams,” Pei Zhouye whispered in his ear. “When that time comes, we’ll go back home, find a quiet place, and live the life we want.”
“Alright, I’ll wait for that day.” Wen Yan leaned into his chest, his voice choked with emotion. “With you here, Pei Zhouye, I’m not afraid of anything.”
They stayed at the summit for a long time, only leaving reluctantly once the sun was high. On the way down, Wen Yan kept his hand interlaced with Pei Zhouye’s, the ring on his finger sparkling in the sunlight.
Back at the hotel, Wen Yan couldn’t wait to message Professor Zhang to share the news of the proposal. Zhang-Jiaoshou replied quickly and even sent a large digital Red Envelope: “Congratulations! When you two return home, I will definitely prepare a grand gift for you!”
Looking at the reply, Wen Yan was deeply moved. He knew that his current happiness was inseparable from Professor Zhang’s mentorship and Pei Zhouye’s constant protection.
Over the next two days, Pei Zhouye accompanied Wen Yan to many places. They went to Lake Lucerne, taking a boat to admire the mountains and the water. They went to Interlaken, strolling leisurely through the town, and visited local markets to buy unique little gifts.
Everywhere they went, Pei Zhouye took photos of Wen Yan, documenting every moment they spent together. Wen Yan also took photos of Pei Zhouye, his heart filling with happiness as he looked at the man’s brilliant smile in the pictures.
On Sunday evening, it was time for Pei Zhouye to return to China. Wen Yan went to the airport to see him off, his heart heavy with reluctance. “Remember to call me once you’re back. Don’t tire yourself out too much,” Wen Yan instructed.
“I know. Take care of yourself here too.” Pei Zhouye reached out to stroke his hair. “Tell me the moment there’s news about your paper. Whether it’s good or bad, we’ll face it together.”
“Mhm, I will.” Wen Yan nodded, fighting back tears. “Come back soon. I still want to go see the seaside sunrise with you.”
“I will. I’ll be back soon.” Pei Zhouye kissed his forehead and turned to enter the security gate.
Watching his figure disappear into the crowd, Wen Yan’s tears finally fell. He knew that short partings were for better reunions. They still had a long way to go and many more beautiful sights to see together.
Upon returning to the lab, Wen Yan threw all his energy into his work. He knew that only by finishing his research as quickly as possible could he return home to be with Pei Zhouye sooner. Every night, they would video call, sharing their lives and work with each other.
A week later, good news arrived from the Nature sub-journal. Wen Yan’s paper had been accepted! The moment he received the email, Wen Yan jumped up in excitement and called Pei Zhouye immediately.
“Pei Zhouye, our paper was accepted! The Nature sub-journal!” Wen Yan’s voice carried a sob of joy.
“That’s amazing! I knew you could do it!” Pei Zhouye’s voice was equally excited. “Wait for me. I’ll fly over tomorrow, and we’ll celebrate properly!”
After hanging up, Wen Yan skipped and hopped around the lab like a child. The team members and Professor Li Wei were all thrilled for him, coming over one by one to offer their congratulations.
“Wen, you are incredible! This is a Nature sub-journal; many scholars never get a chance to publish there in their entire lives!” Professor Marc patted his shoulder excitedly. “I knew you would become a rising star in the field of cell differentiation!”
“Thank you, Professor.” Wen Yan’s eyes were brimming with tears as he fought back the urge to cry. “I couldn’t have achieved this without you and the team’s help.”
“This is the result of your own hard work,” Li Wei said with a smile. “When Professor Zhang finds out, he will be so proud of you.”
That evening, the lab members went out for a celebratory dinner. They raised their glasses in a toast, chatting about future plans in a warm and lively atmosphere. Looking at these like-minded partners around him, Wen Yan was filled with gratitude. He knew that his current success was built on their support.
The next day, Pei Zhouye arrived in Switzerland as promised. He brought many gifts for the lab members and even prepared a large cake for Wen Yan that read: “Congratulations to Wen Yan on the successful publication of his paper.”
“Thank you, Pei Zhouye.”
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