Chapter 13: Good Morning, Mo Ning; Good Night, Nair

“Don’t overthink it. I’m just worried you’ll catch a cold from the rain, get a fever… end up quarantined… I really don’t want you affecting me,” An Muxi said with a soft, dismissive hum.

From this angle, An Muxi’s beauty was almost suffocating.

It was just as Lin Shenlu had thought to himself: he’d seen his fair share of beautiful women. Even the sultry singer he’d met that afternoon, Smoked Perch, paled in comparison to An Muxi—at most, a seven out of ten. The innkeeper earlier was also beautiful, maybe a seven and a half.

But only An Muxi, standing before him now, possessed an allure in every gesture, every glance. The closeness between them made it hard to breathe deeply.

Even with her makeup wiped away, her bare face still shone with a radiance that pierced the heart. The sense of cool detachment in her features was carried to its pinnacle.

It was difficult to describe how one person’s aura could blend such chill reserve and deep temptation so perfectly. In an age dominated by fresh-faced beauties, when gorgeous women flourished online as far as the eye could see, An Muxi was a kind of cool elegance Lin Shenlu had never encountered before—utterly unique.

There was always a trace of serene detachment about her, as if she desired nothing at all. In an era when everyone seemed to share the same popular features, An Muxi was unparalleled in Lin Shenlu’s eyes.

Nine out of ten.

That’s right.

A solid nine.

She was the most captivating woman Lin Shenlu had ever met, both in temperament and appearance.

An Muxi.

“Don’t worry, I won’t catch a cold. I’ve been healthy since I was a kid. A man can bleed, sweat, break a bone, or even be paralyzed, but he must never get a cold, run a fever, or have a runny nose…” Lin Shenlu declared with conviction.

“Catch a cold? Who’s sick? I’ve got medicine here—last time, I bought plenty. The regulations are strict now; it’s hard to buy cold medicine in many places,” said the innkeeper, appearing from the side with beers in hand.

Lin Shenlu hurriedly stood to thank her and took the beer.

Well, he’d just sobered up, and here he was, about to drink again.

“Kidding, no one’s sick,” Lin Shenlu replied with a laugh.

He turned his head to An Muxi and smiled, “Want a drink?”

“Sure,” An Muxi agreed readily.

“Alright, you two sit tight. I’ll bring out some snacks to go with the drinks,” the innkeeper continued.

“She’s incredibly hospitable,” Lin Shenlu remarked.

“This place is highly rated online. They say a renowned traveler opened this inn, but it seems they’re not here anymore,” An Muxi explained.

“A renowned traveler? Well, I’m a renowned traveler myself,” Lin Shenlu joked.

“You?” An Muxi chose not to respond further.

Soon the innkeeper returned, carrying four small plates of appetizers.

The dishes were beautifully prepared.

“These are our local specialties—crispy fried buckwheat shreds, fried rose petals, fresh Erhai river shrimp, and aged smoked pork,” she introduced each one.

Each plate was small in quantity, but the flavors were exquisite.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Lin Shenlu said, picking up the beer to open it.

Fortunately, it wasn’t craft beer this time.

The beer, named “Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon,” was a local specialty, as famous as “Love on the Water”… Lin Shenlu was aware of this.

The people of Dali mostly drank Dali V8 or Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon. The latter, however, carried a hint of romance.

To experience Yunnan, one must savor Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon.

That saying truly resonated with him.

Glancing at his lighter, Lin Shenlu remembered how Smoked Perch had opened a beer with her lighter earlier that afternoon… He thought better of trying it himself.

It looked far too difficult.

“How should we address you?” An Muxi asked the woman as Lin Shenlu opened the beer.

“Me? My surname is Gu—Gu Moning. But I’m not the owner; I’m just watching the place for them, haha…” Gu Moning laughed.

She took the beer Lin Shenlu handed her and continued, “This inn was originally opened by my cousin and her husband, but after a little over a year, they went traveling and left their child with me. So, I’m just helping out here…”

“Chen Xuxu! Come here, stop playing with the plates!” Gu Moning called to a little boy.

“By the way, I heard the owner’s a renowned traveler?” Lin Shenlu asked, curious.

“Sort of, I guess. I heard they’ve been to many places and are quite popular online. She used to be an outdoor influencer, and now she’s apparently started a magazine…” Gu Moning wasn’t entirely sure.

She paused, then continued, “But it doesn’t matter. I’m happy living here. They come back a few times a year to see the child. Come on, let’s drink!”

“The child is so young… doesn’t he miss his parents?” An Muxi asked with interest.

“Oh, this kid—he’s carefree. When his parents come back, he’s affectionate, and when they leave, he doesn’t seem to mind at all… He’s quite sensible. But my cousin said the main thing is he’s too little to travel yet—cries too much on planes, such a hassle… They’ll take him traveling once he’s older.”

Gu Moning seemed able to hold her liquor, downing a bottle of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon in just two or three swigs.

Lin Shenlu drank slowly, his attention gradually drawn to the appetizers on the table.

If nothing else, the fried rose petals were a first for him.

Fresh rose petals were coated in flour and deep-fried in oil.

The result was truly impressive.

Yunnan was abundant in roses, and the ones that bloomed here were especially good, both in taste and aroma.

So the dishes were made from fresh rose petals.

He picked up a petal delicately and placed it in his mouth—the crispiness exploded across his palate.

The frying was done to perfection.

As he chewed through to the center, the fresh fragrance of rose filled his mouth.

That unique aroma spread instantly through his senses.

The dish was truly delicious.

It was as if, in an instant, it opened a new path for his appreciation of fine drink.

Lin Shenlu finished his beer in one go.

He pulled out a small pink notebook and began recording:

Dali Story: 5. Fried rose petals—absolutely delicious.

…

“Moning, can I ask—you know anywhere nearby where I can pick matsutake mushrooms? I want to go foraging tomorrow, then maybe borrow your kitchen when I get back,” Lin Shenlu asked with a smile.

An Muxi perked up at this, too.

It was one of the few topics at the table that caught her interest.

The thought of tasting the legendary, delicious matsutake drew her gaze to Gu Moning as well.

“Foraging for matsutake? Is it really necessary just for something to eat?” Gu Moning looked at the two of them, her expression amused.

“It is,” they both insisted.

“There are plenty at the market—fresh, dried, processed, all kinds. Do you really need to pick them yourselves?” Gu Moning asked, bemused.

She paused, then added, “Tell you what—since it’s rare to meet guests who want to cook, get a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow afternoon I’ll take you shopping. I’ll join you for dinner, too—not just matsutake, but any other ingredients you want. Whatever you want to make, go ahead!”

Lin Shenlu felt a bit awkward…

Why hadn’t he thought of that?

Fresh matsutake were indeed available for purchase.

In this prime mushroom-picking season, of course there would be plenty of fresh matsutake for sale.