A natural attraction

"They are all my friends," he told me.

I was amazed by that he has so many friends here whom he can quickly recognize even when their faces are covered by ski masks and eye protectors.

Later, as we took the cable car to climb the mountain, I asked about his ideal university.

Sichuan University of Media and Communications, he answered.

Working in the media is part of his future plan. And he is going to sit the national college entrance examination, or gaokao, next year, a prospect that does not seem to worry him or make him apprehensive.

He told me that he does OK in examinations and his parents highly support him to pursue his hobbies. Apart from being a snowboarding lover, he is also a member of the high school's basketball team.

"I'm not an ambitious, hard-working student who wanted to enter the country's top universities. My life goal is just staying happy," he said in a carefree tone.

Both of the adolescents remind me of my study-centered junior year in high school.

I had to deal with countless worksheets and never thought about travelling to other places for fun during holidays.

Going to see Jay Chou's concert when the iconic singer-songwriter played my city, Hefei, Anhui province was the most rebellious thing I'd done during the junior year.