CHAPTER 171: CHAPTER 171: COSPLAYING A MALE COLLEGE STUDENT?

After the sharing session ended yesterday and she went home, Holly had a dream that night.

In the dream, she returned to her freshman year of university.

After the freshman ceremony ended, she and her newly met roommate headed to the freshman wish wall to write their wishes.

On the way, she sensed a gaze fixed on her.

This feeling intensified after she finished writing her wish.

Her roommate was already pulling her hand to leave, but she inexplicably turned around and looked back at the spot where she had been standing.

New freshmen had already occupied that spot.

"Probably just an illusion."

She thought to herself and withdrew her gaze.

However, just at that moment she turned back, a man in a dark trench coat stood against the crowd at the spot where she had written her wish.

He raised his head and stared at the still wet black writing on the wall.

The dream suddenly shifted.

She didn’t miss Kimo’s offer and went to Brelond for further studies.

On a rare sunny day in London, she bumped into someone at a corner near the Royal Academy.

In a panic, she looked up and met a pair of familiar amber eyes.

Then, a deep voice suddenly echoed in her ears: "Hello, Holly."

"Holly? Holly!"

Holly was abruptly pulled out of the dream by a familiar voice.

She opened her eyes to the familiar ceiling and Blake Sinclair’s face close by.

Her heart was still racing from the unbelievably real dream as she stared at him blankly.

The face that smiled at her on the street corner in London in the dream was identical to the one before her.

"Had a nightmare?"

Blake Sinclair gently rubbed her furrowed brow, his fingertips cool from freshly washing up, "I saw you frowning a lot just now."

Holly shook her head, her Adam’s apple bobbed, but she didn’t say anything.

Going back to university didn’t bring back any childhood memories, but instead gave her such an outrageous dream.

Blake Sinclair got up to get dressed, and Holly slowly sat up, staring at his back absentmindedly.

She dawdled as she went to wash up, still recalling details of the dream while brushing her teeth.

Toothpaste foam clung to the corner of her mouth, and Blake Sinclair’s voice came from the doorway: "Holly."

"Hmm?" She mumbled around the toothpaste and turned to look at him.

"I checked the weather forecast; it will be very cold at sunrise on Mount Avis tomorrow, so I prepared two sets of jackets. Come and see which one you like."

Only then did Holly remember they were going to Mount Avis today to watch the sunrise in the morning.

They had planned to go a few days earlier but postponed due to heavy clouds, and she almost forgot about it, if not for Blake Sinclair’s reminder.

"Oh, okay."

She wiped her mouth and walked to the bedroom, her eyes suddenly lit up as she reached the doorway.

Blake Sinclair stood in front of the wardrobe facing her.

A simple white T-shirt paired with black cargo pants, a red hiking backpack slung over his shoulder, and a black baseball cap on his head.

Sunlight streamed in through the curtain slit, casting a youthful vibe.

Holly couldn’t help but laugh: "The great President Sinclair, are you cosplaying as a college student?"

Blake Sinclair adjusted his backpack solemnly: "Dressing lightly for hiking is practical."

She didn’t believe him.

Who was so concerned about age last night?

Apparently, someone remembered that "daddy" and "older" comment from last night and tried to win back some points with his outfit.

She didn’t expose him.

Mount Avis is a 5A scenic area in Beldon, famous for its sunrises and starry sunsets, attracting hikers from all over every year.

Holly had been there once during university with her roommate.

Back then, she was a student full of energy.

They started hiking the evening before the sunrise, only to encounter thick fog at the summit, completely obscuring the sunrise and even the tree across the way.

Everyone was quite disappointed at the time.

It was Saturday afternoon, and by the time they reached the mountain’s foot, the entrance was crowded with people, mostly young adventurers prepping for a night hike.

Excited faces snapped photos with trekking poles at the entrance.

There are two hiking options: taking a cable car from the entrance to the mountain’s midpoint or starting from the base.

On the way from the parking lot to the entrance, Holly persistently coaxed Blake Sinclair:

"Give yourself a break; isn’t taking the cable car refreshing? Why wear out your legs unnecessarily?"

"I’m no longer the 18-year-old girl who could hike the whole trail in one go; wouldn’t it be better to conserve energy for other things?"

"Just look at how stable and spacious the cable car is, offering lovely views too—what a deal."

Blake Sinclair initially chuckled at her persuasion, but eventually surrendered: "You’re right, Holly; energy should indeed be reserved for necessary endeavors."

As he spoke, he turned and headed for the cable car ticket counter.

Holly stared at his retreating figure, taking two seconds to grasp the implication, her ears turning red.

This man was quite the strategist.

The cable car slowly ascended, revealing a widening view of lush layers beneath them, shrinking forests and streams with an expansive outlook.

Upon disembarking, the real climbing commenced.

Mount Avis’s pathway is all stone steps, winding upward with high safety ratings.

Rest stops along the way carried the aroma of food in the air.

Holly’s stomach growled at the sizzle of sausage on a nearby stall, eyes fixed hungrily.

Blake Sinclair noticed her longing and headed to the stall before she could speak.

Holly immediately trailed behind him.

As they prepared to pay, two nearby girls whispered excitedly yet uncertainly: "Hi, are you Holly?"

Holly turned to see two young girls in sports attire, faces alight with uncontrollable excitement.

Blake Sinclair instinctively took a step forward, shielding Holly and watching with slight wariness.

"Hello." Noticing their harmless intent, Holly greeted them.

The girls vibrated with excitement, hands clenched, voices trembling: "Holly! It’s really you! We adore you and President Sinclair!

We noticed your sweetness climbing; he kept watching you and helped you up the steps. Your backs looked familiar, and it truly is you two!"

Holly smiled and thanked them.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Blake Sinclair’s subtle smile before he turned back to the stall.

"Especially President Sinclair,"

One girl couldn’t help adding, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Blake’s back, "This outfit makes him look like a college boy from behind! It’s such a youthful look; we hesitated to recognize you two!"

At this moment, Blake Sinclair turned back, casually holding several bags, seemingly nonchalant.

But Holly could see the pride in his eyes.