Frоm Lhаsа to Shiquanhе in Аli, thеrе аre typiсаlly two rоutes: the sоuthеrn linе аnd thе nоrthern line. Тhe northern line is longer but sаfеr, making it thе prеfеrrеd сhoiсе fоr mаnу first-time sеlf-drivers entering Аli.
Аfter lеaving Lhasa сity, Natiоnal Highwау 318 is subjесt tо sреed limits all thе wаy. Соmрarеd to thе mаjestic аnd brеathtаking scenerу of the seсtiоn еntering Тibet, this stretch fеаturеs monоtоnоus high mоuntаins аnd blue skiеs, with slightlу less imрressivе views. Bаyunуе drоve smооthlу аnd steadily, unаble to help but reсall a cоnversatiоn with Brоthеr Long during dinnеr that day—
"Here." Brother Long personally filled a bowl for her, looking in high spirits. "Have a bowl of soul-nourishing chicken soup."
Bayunye blew on it and scooped up a spoonful. The golden soup was fragrant and aromatic. Simmered in a Motuo stone pot for four hours, the chicken was tender yet intact, while the palm ginseng was soft and mushy, with a texture like red bean paste when bitten into, carrying a subtle sweetness. "Just admit it—were you really not in the reconnaissance company’s mess squad before?"
Brother Long gave a perfunctory laugh, his belly fat jiggling. "Any news about Zhang Chenguang online?"
"The person still hasn’t been found."
"Didn’t they say another body was discovered?"
Hippo waved his hand. "It was a foreigner. No idea if they were part of the same group that went to climb the snowy mountain that day. Logically, if a foreigner goes missing within our country, their home country should take it very seriously. Yet, not even a single report was filed. In the end, it was our country’s Rescue Team that went up and discovered the body."
Brother Long shook his head, seemingly not very concerned about foreigners. "We ordinary folks aren’t like the police—finding someone isn’t easy. Who knows if it was an accident or a coincidence? We finally got lucky and found a witness to a car accident… or maybe a survivor."
Hippo said regretfully to Bayunye, "If only you hadn’t stopped me when I tried to talk to him."
Bayunye replied, "Talking takes time. It’s not like you can just go up and ask—Zhang Chenguang, can you tell me exactly how that car flipped over back then?"
"Then tell me, how were you planning to strike up a conversation with him?"
She thought for a moment and said seriously, "Start with poetry and literature."
Hippo knew her all too well. "The great roc rises with the wind one day—next line?"
"..."
"Pitiful bones by the Wuding River—next line?"
"..."
"Bright moonlight before the bed—next line?"
Bayunye excitedly answered, "Suspected to be frost on the ground!"
Hippo gave her a thumbs-down gesture.
"What a pity…" Brother Long said regretfully. "I thought this time you might be able to find out some details about your eldest sister’s accidental passing."
Bayunye’s eldest sister, Ba Xiye, was originally the most accomplished person in the orphanage. She studied while helping Director Ba take care of the younger children. Bayunye’s childhood wish was simple—to get into university just like her eldest sister. Thinking of this, she took a deep breath. "Back then, the internet wasn’t developed, and there were no vehicle dashcams. There were far too few witnesses and people who knew anything. But I absolutely refuse to believe that nonsense from that Song Whatever Fan—that my eldest sister was some mistress or homewrecker, causing internal conflicts and harming other colleagues."
Hippo said, "But didn’t you look for her former classmates? They said she did mention… having a crush on a man who had a wife and kids."
Brother Long kicked Hippo under the table, the movement too loud to pretend not to hear.Bayunye raised her hand to indicate she didn't mind. "Having a crush doesn't necessarily mean you're interfering in someone's relationship. Don't you have a crush on Dilraba? Does that mean you're involved with her? Dream on."
"My liking for her isn't a secret crush—it's out in the open!" Hippo corrected.
She ignored him, lost in her own thoughts, always remembering that winter in her first year of middle school when she returned to the orphanage after school. Director Ba was wiping away tears while telling everyone that this year during the break, their eldest sister Xi Ye wouldn't be coming back.
"Now that our orphanage has been taken back by the government for reconstruction and unified management, Director Ba's last wish has been fulfilled. Whether it's an accident or a story, if there are people who know, we'll learn more. If there really aren't any, then forget it. Anyway, I don't believe she would interfere in someone's marriage."
Seeing her like that, Brother Long cast a dark glance at Hippo, who didn't notice his gaze and asked curiously, "Didn't your sister say goodbye to the old director before each expedition? Besides the three photos she showed us, did she leave behind any words, messages, or diaries?"
Bayunye rested her chin on her hand, seemingly deep in thought. Apart from the location and year written on the back of a black-and-white photo, there wasn't much useful information. After a moment, she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Besides the photos, I really can't think of anything else. Besides, if my memory were that good, I would've damn well gotten into university."
"Captain Diao Zhuo, whom Hippo was just praising so highly, is said to be in geology. In that case, he's in the same field as your eldest sister," Brother Long said.
Bayunye was slightly surprised and laughed carelessly and heartlessly. "If my eldest sister were still here, she could be his teacher. Since my eldest sister is of his teacher's generation, wouldn't he have to call me something like 'shishu' or... aunt?"
"Aunt?" Hippo shot her a disdainful look. "You think you're Little Dragon Girl? I think you're more like Yin Zhiping!"
A checkpoint appeared ahead, where an armed police officer signaled them to stop and check their IDs. Bayunye snapped out of her memories and handed over her and Hippo's IDs.
"They don't know you're a woman?" Hippo looked incredulous, stunned for a moment before scratching the back of his head. "Come to think of it... they only know you as 'Master Ba.'"
"Fun," Bayunye said, curling one corner of her lips into a mischievous smile.
Hippo snorted dismissively. "You won't be able to hide it for long. The moment you speak, you'll give yourself away."
"Then I just won't speak for now," Bayunye said cheerfully, whistling along to the radio song. She began imagining their stunned expressions when they discovered she was a woman and thought she should add something even more shocking.
"Alright, go for it," Hippo said, sweating with embarrassment. "Whether you bend first or Captain Diao bends first, we'll see."
Bayunye smiled without saying a word.
"By the way, Captain Diao... seems like a decent person," Hippo said.
"Hey, wasn't it you who was pushing me to pay attention to him like you were recommending a top performer?"
"I was just dazzled by his looks."
Bayunye snorted coldly in mockery. After leaving the military, she had roamed north and south for several years, with a strong sense of playfulness, never thinking about anything long-term.
And she didn't dare to.
By the time they entered Shigatse city, meal time had already passed. Bayunye was long accustomed to the feeling of being overly hungry and didn't find it uncomfortable. She found a Sichuan restaurant she often took guests to and went ahead to order.Many Sichuanese do business in Tibet, so restaurants and hotels run by Sichuan people are everywhere in cities big and small. Bayunye ordered half spicy and half non-spicy dishes from the menu. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Diao Zhuo and a team member who seemed to be called Xiang An heading toward the restroom while lighting cigarettes. She exchanged a glance with Hippo and, maintaining her cap and sunglasses look, confidently followed them to the toilet.
The two men ahead showed no reaction at all. Since there was only one stall inside, Xiang An, who had the clean-cut look of a fresh-faced young man, even kindly let her go first. Bayunye felt certain in her heart—they really thought she was a man.
She couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Standing with her hands on her hips next to Diao Zhuo, this straight-as-an-arrow man held a cigarette in his mouth, efficiently going through all the motions men do when using the toilet. Ash drifted down, some landing on his sleeve before sliding to the ground due to the smooth fabric.
Bayunye tilted her head, blinking behind her sunglasses, her gaze following the ash all the way down, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Diao Zhuo finally sensed something off and glanced at her. His already stern face grew even more serious. In his eyes, this "Master Ba" had always seemed a bit odd—not speaking a word since they met, refusing to remove sunglasses and cap indoors, and now taking her sweet time even when peeing.
Diao Zhuo fastened his belt, the buckle and zipper clinking with a crisp metallic sound. He pulled out a dark blue cigarette case, shook it, expertly tapped the bottom, and a few cigarettes popped out, offering them to her. Bayunye shook her head. He sized her up once more before turning to leave. Hearing no movement from her, he looked back.
This Master Ba was even slimmer than the average man—a retired special forces soldier? A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
"Something wrong?" he asked, his voice deep and rough.
Bayunye raised an eyebrow and grinned, revealing a set of small white teeth. "How can I take off my pants if you don’t leave?"
Her tone rose at the end, crisp and unmistakably feminine.
Sure enough, Diao Zhuo was stunned.
Stunned that Master Ba was actually a woman.
Stunned that she, being a woman, had followed him inside.
Stunned that she had silently watched the whole time and only now decided to speak up.
Xiang An saw Diao Zhuo storm out of the restroom with a foul expression and was about to go in when Diao Zhuo stopped him. "What?"
"Don’t want you to become the next pervert."
In other words, the previous pervert was still inside.
Xiang An, utterly confused, was led back by Diao Zhuo. After a while, Bayunye walked over while wiping her hands, took off her sunglasses and cap, tossed them on the table, and called over a waitress with the swagger of an old hand. "Hey, don’t just stand there, pour some water."
"Master Ba!" The waitress clearly recognized her, her eyes lighting up with delight, and her service attitude instantly became twice as enthusiastic.
Everyone except Hippo was stunned—
Master Ba was a woman, and quite a pretty one at that.
Bayunye was pleased with their reactions, grinning like a sly fox. Suddenly remembering something, she glanced at Diao Zhuo. He wasn’t looking at her at all, appearing exceptionally calm—almost cold—amid the stunned crowd.
Xiang An finally understood why Diao Zhuo had looked so strange when he came out of the restroom—he’d fallen right into her trap. He looked Bayunye up and down in surprise, a mix of curiosity and disbelief.Ye Xun, who claimed to be suffering from an altitude reaction so severe he was on the verge of death, struggled to sit up straight. He even put on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, scrutinizing the scene with great effort. Xiao Zi had originally thought she would be the only woman on this trip, so she was pleasantly surprised and moved to the seat next to Bayunye.
"How is it?" Hippo asked the same question again after she settled in.
Diao Zhuo looked at Bayunye. She sat across from him in a masculine posture that seemed completely at odds with her appearance, smiling faintly. "Pretty good."
What's good?!
Scoundrel! No... female scoundrel!
Diao Zhuo's brows furrowed tightly, like an unbreakable knot.
Hippo grinned and reintroduced her: "Bayunye, known as Master Ba, the top sister of our club. Do you know why she's called the top sister? Because she's the only female driver in the club! Hahaha!"
The previously dull atmosphere was instantly broken, and everyone began chattering and asking her questions.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"So you're a genuine female driver after all!"
"How strange, now that I know you're a woman, I suddenly think you're especially tall, hahaha!"
"Why is a woman called 'Master Ba'?"
Bayunye was willing to answer this time and retorted, "If I'm not called Master Ba, what should I be called? Give me a suggestion."
"Big Sister Ba."
"Zhu Bajie?"
"...Little Sister Ba!" Tan Lin said.
"Which little sister?"
"Auntie Ba?" Xiao Zi suggested.
"Auntie Ba? I might as well be Auntie Thirteen..."
Ye Xun's altitude reaction seemed to have been cured, as he said with great enthusiasm, "How about Granny Ba?"
Bayunye slapped the table, laughing uncontrollably. "Even being a second wife is tough enough, and now I'm an eighth wife?"
Ye Xun sighed. "If that doesn't work... Brother Ba will do."
"I'm not a bird~" Bayunye chuckled, emphasizing the last word and deliberately glancing at Diao Zhuo.
Hearing the last word and noticing her mischievous gaze, Diao Zhuo recalled the shameless way she had stood beside him earlier, silently observing the scene. It felt like needles pricking his back. At least up to this point, he had never met a woman so rough. That heavily emphasized word "bird" was even coarser than many men. Honestly, everything had happened too suddenly. This woman was unlike any he had ever met before.
Completely fucking different.
The dishes were quickly served, and everyone temporarily shifted their attention away from Bayunye, focusing instead on appeasing their appetites.
The reason Sichuan cuisine has flourished across the country lies in its all-encompassing flavors. Whether you prefer spicy or sour, it can conquer your taste buds with a single dish, especially when you're in urgent need of a hearty meal. In the desolate, cold air of the plateau, the pungent aroma of Sichuan peppercorns and chili oil wafted through, pure and fragrant.
After everyone had eaten their fill, they gradually returned to the vehicle. Ye Xun's "altitude reaction" returned. He complained of shortness of breath one moment and a headache the next, asking how much longer they had to travel.
Diao Zhuo glanced at him helplessly and asked Bayunye, "Where are we staying tonight?"
Bayunye's eyes immediately turned playful. "Are you asking about us, or the whole group?"
Diao Zhuo was truly a serious person. "Our whole group."
Bayunye switched effortlessly, her tone no longer teasing as she answered seriously, "If we push it, we might make it to Lazi County by evening."
Diao Zhuo nodded. "Let's go."
"Wait a moment, I'll grab an oxygen bag for Mr. Ye." With that, Bayunye walked toward her vehicle and opened the trunk.Diao Zhuo clearly saw that inside were only fuel barrels, tents, and other equipment, with no trace of any oxygen cylinders—so where was the oxygen coming from? He lit a cigarette, held it slantwise between his lips, crossed his arms, and watched to see what kind of mischief she was up to this time. Her figure was truly slender, her movements agile, and she handled everything with efficiency, exuding a sharp, self-reliant demeanor.
The smoke was too strong. Bayunye waved a hand to disperse it, pulled out a limp blue oxygen bag, then brought out an air pump and directly filled the bag with air until it bulged as if ready to burst at any moment.
Diao Zhuo shook his head helplessly. Hmph, he should have known she’d be like this.
“You usually drive this car?” He gestured with his chin toward the Wrangler, steering the conversation toward a manly topic. “Its off-road capability is undeniable, but when you’re taking clients, you mostly stick to highways. What’s the advantage then? The comfort level isn’t great.”
“The seats have been modified.” Bayunye opened the door to show him. “Adjustable-angle seats. The back seats can be set to 115 degrees.”
“What about the shock absorbers?”
“They’ve been changed to adjustable soft-hard ones, nitrogen shocks. I don’t always stick to highways either. Some clients come to us specifically for ‘taking the road less traveled’—going to small uninhabited areas, crossing routes like Bingchacha… Heh, that’s when the advantages of this car really shine.”
Seeing her smug expression while talking about the car, devoid of any femininity and utterly unappealing, Diao Zhuo thought that once the mission was over, they’d probably never cross paths again. But if he didn’t think of her as a woman, they could actually hold a conversation. “Besides the seats, I see you’ve also modified the front and rear bumpers, side skirts, headlights, and reverse lights… At least 30 places?”
“Exactly 34, to be precise. Look at this ARB snorkel—a real gem. This car has pulled at least five other vehicles out of small rivers in uninhabited areas. Afterward, they said seeing my car from afar was like witnessing a savior descending… Hold on, let me take this to Mr. Ye.” Bayunye picked up the pillow-like oxygen bag and brought it to Ye Xun, likely feeding him some nonsense like “inhale this and your altitude reaction will disappear,” coaxing him into complete compliance. Originally worried about oxygen dependency, he actually fell for her trick when she assured him there was plenty of oxygen.
Ye Xun took a few deep breaths, as if a dying man had just consumed ginseng, and instantly felt refreshed and invigorated.
Throughout the journey, with an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, Ye Xun never complained of altitude reaction again.
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