Chapter 113: You or Me, An Impossible Choice

“Mu Xi? What are you doing here?” Lin Shenlu said with surprise.

The woman before him was none other than An Muxi.

How did An Muxi come here?

This was the most shocking thing to Lin Shenlu.

Seeing the one you love suddenly in a place like this was like unexpectedly encountering Trump while using the restroom—it left you utterly stunned.

Now that was what you called a surprise!

“Unexpected, right? I came to visit you!” An Muxi handed Lin Shenlu a freshly bought milk tea.

“The roads here are so difficult to navigate... If I hadn’t asked for directions along the way, I might never have found this place,” she said with a cheerful smile.

An Muxi looked completely transformed today.

From her style of dress to her hairstyle, everything had changed dramatically.

No wonder Lin Shenlu hadn’t recognized her at first.

Lin Shenlu gently took hold of An Muxi’s hand. “Thank you for coming. It warms my heart more than a hundred cups of milk tea ever could,” he said with a smile.

An Muxi withdrew her hand from his and lightly tapped his forehead. “You always know how to sweet-talk; your words are even more charming than your singing. Come on, take me to see Hailan Jing. I brought her a gift.”

“Let’s go!” Lin Shenlu took An Muxi’s hand and led her into the inn.

At that moment, Hailan Jing was staring blankly at the entire courtyard full of paintings alongside Lu Chaoxi.

There were so many works.

Truly dazzling and overwhelming, making it hard to choose.

“Hailan Jing! Where are you?” Lin Shenlu called out.

“Oh! Lin Shenlu, come help me choose... which painting to pick...” Hailan Jing looked up as she spoke.

But when she saw Lin Shenlu holding another girl’s hand, her words stopped abruptly.

Who was that?

Lu Chaoxi was stunned as well.

What was going on?

Hadn’t Hailan Jing said she was working with Lin Shenlu?

Why was Lin Shenlu now openly holding another girl’s hand?

“It’s Sister An who’s come...” Hailan Jing finally recognized her.

Who exactly was this person by Lin Shenlu’s side?

But why was it An Muxi?

Wasn’t she supposed to be working in Chengdu?

In that instant, a complex, indescribable feeling settled deeply within Hailan Jing’s heart.

Upon seeing An Muxi, Hailan Jing, who shouldn’t have been happy, nonetheless forced a smile—though it was tinged with stiffness.

“Congratulations on your inn’s opening. This is a gift for you,” An Muxi said gracefully, handing Hailan Jing a present.

“Thank you, Sister An...” Hailan Jing reached out to take it. It was an old wooden carved vase, exquisite and rustic. Though she wasn’t sure of its value, the sentiment was sincere, and it matched the inn’s overall aesthetic perfectly.

“The inn is beautiful, even more distinctive than those in Dali,” An Muxi murmured, gazing at the inn.

Lin Shenlu smiled as well. “Alright, I’ll take you to eat now...”

He paused, then looked at Hailan Jing and Lu Chaoxi. “Do you two want to come along?”

“Oh... no, you go ahead. I still have to choose paintings...” Hailan Jing hesitated, unsure whether she wanted to go or even should go.

Earlier, she had heated up several portions of lunch in the microwave. Both she and Lin Shenlu hadn’t eaten yet; she had planned to eat together and pick paintings afterward. But she hadn’t expected to see such a scene when she looked up.

“Well, we’ll go first then...” Lin Shenlu said with a smile.

Watching them leave, Hailan Jing felt an overwhelming sense of loss.

Like a whale stranded on the shore.

Was even breathing becoming difficult?

“Sister Jing... you’re just going to let them leave like that?” Lu Chaoxi asked.

“What else can I do...” Hailan Jing gave a bitter smile.

What wasn’t hers would never be hers.

During the days when An Muxi was absent, she could pretend nothing was wrong, living in a world with only Lin Shenlu.

Everything felt so comfortable.

But when An Muxi arrived, all illusions shattered.

“Sister Jing, the food in the microwave is ready... do you want to eat?” Lu Chaoxi asked.

“...”

...

“Bao’er, stop drawing and come eat,” Lin Shenlu said as he approached the art wall where Su Bao’er was crouched, painting a caterpillar.

“Mm... okay,” Su Bao’er responded, adding two pairs of wings to the caterpillar before standing up.

Today was Su Bao’er’s happiest day.

So much better than wandering all over rugged mountains and valleys.

“Bao’er, look, who’s this?” Lin Shenlu asked with a smile.

Su Bao’er brushed aside her messy hair and looked at An Muxi beside Lin Shenlu.

“Mm... I know! That’s... who is she again... silly girl...” Su Bao’er pointed at An Muxi.

She had seen her twice on the phone screen and remembered well.

“Here... I’ll give you a little red flower...” Su Bao’er plucked a small red flower from her own hair and offered it to An Muxi.

For some reason, every time Su Bao’er saw An Muxi, she felt compelled to give her a flower.

That flower looked oddly familiar.

“This... I picked this from Sister Jing’s yard...”

Lin Shenlu was speechless, shaking his head. Let’s go.

Those flowers in Hailan Jing’s yard were quite delicate.

“Come on, Bao’er, let’s go eat,” Lin Shenlu said, pulling An Muxi and Su Bao’er away from Whale-Deer Inn.

...

“Muxi, what are your plans now?” Lin Shenlu was curious about An Muxi’s next steps.

Leaving work so suddenly wasn’t a good idea, was it?

“I... applied for unpaid leave,” An Muxi said indifferently.

“It’s all your fault. The recent online comments have been too stressful. If I don’t get away for a while, I’m afraid you’ll never see me again,” An Muxi said, hands in pockets, looking cool.

“What’s been happening online recently?” Lin Shenlu asked, still in the dark.

An Muxi gave him a look as if he were a fool.

“You’ll know once you get back. I’m being doxxed...” she said.

“But this is good, too. I can finally relax and enjoy myself,” An Muxi said with much relief.

“By the way, what have you decided about Su Bao’er?” An Muxi glanced at the curious little girl trailing behind.

“What else can I do? This child is quite pitiful. Meeting her must be fate. She’s been abandoned too many times. I can’t bear to leave her behind. The inn is running smoothly. Once I finish the Lishui chapter of my manuscript, I plan to send Su Bao’er to East Pole Island... then head to the next place. Muxi, I’ve been waiting for you. After you arrived, we can go to Chaka Salt Lake, the Devil’s Eye, Kunlun Fairy Mountain, the Mars Base, and East Taiji Lake...” Lin Shenlu said earnestly.

“So... Muxi, will you come with me?”