Chapter 26: A Trace of Vermilion, Lingering Unfading

The young woman in the white dress gazed softly at the setting sun. Evening winds blew once more. In this shimmering scene, Lin Shenlu took a deep breath. How could beauty be manifested so concretely? Bowing his head, Lin Shenlu continued typing at his keyboard. In that moment, his mind was awash with thoughts.

"The sunset and the evening breeze, an embrace full of longing, at the crossroads where we once met, memories swirling for so long..."

"They say Dali is a place that heals and soothes, and my first encounter with her was on the road to Dali..."

"I don't know if she, too, carries scars within her that cannot be spoken of, but from the moment I met her, I felt that the woman before me was someone I could forgive, no matter what she had done."

Lin Shenlu's typing was swift. Immersed in his work, he nearly forgot the world around him. It wasn't until the figure in the white dress quietly approached and stood by his side that he noticed her presence.

She watched his screen intently, reading every word with care.

"I'm romantic by nature, craving freedom... I dislike being constrained... My only ambition is to live freely all my life..." the girl in white silently recited his words in her heart.

For reasons she could not explain, she was utterly captivated by Lin Shenlu's writing. In her own words, his words carried a trace of sorrow, the charming aura of a literary soul. From his writing, she felt as if she could glimpse many chapters of his life.

Perhaps it was the sentimentality that drew her—a woman with a penchant for the poetic—otherwise, why would she choose to run such a unique and artistic inn in a place like this?

"I admit, to meet such a girl in a place like Dali is a fate bestowed upon me by the heavens. I admit, my heart is slowly opening for her, and I wish to use my warmth to heal every sorrow within her..."

"That night, the two of us stood by the Erhai Lake, listening to the waves crashing against the rocks. That night, we gazed at the moon suspended above Erhai, its light shining right into our hearts..."

Lin Shenlu kept writing. In half an hour, a draft of about two thousand words had taken shape. It was a record of the past days—meeting An Muxi, traveling together, circling Erhai Lake, sharing meals, taking in the scenery, and experiencing all the beautiful moments together. The rest would have to wait for days yet to come as their journey unfolded.

For the first issue of "Lonely Planet: The Journey to Yunnan," he wanted to write more than a mere travelogue filled with recommendations and sights. He wanted to tell a love story. Or perhaps it wasn't love—maybe just his own unrequited longing. Yet only words steeped in feeling can truly move the heart. At least, Lin Shenlu knew he could still move himself.

"She left, vanishing just like that from my world..."

"All I can do is believe: my love is separated by mountains and seas... yet even mountains and seas can be crossed..."

With a gentle sigh, Lin Shenlu placed a period at the end of his first draft's prelude. Taking his hands off the keyboard, he stretched, feeling the ache in his back after sitting for so long.

Wait—

Lin Shenlu's nose was keen. Somewhere along the way, a special scent had appeared beside him. Perhaps he'd been too absorbed in writing to notice before. Now, as he breathed, he caught not just the faint fragrance of nearby flowers, but also a citrusy, fruity floral note—like lemons. He could tell it was the scent of perfume.

Was someone nearby?

Turning his head slightly, he saw a sweep of white behind him. The girl in the white dress who had just been playing the piano was now standing right there. She smiled gently, as if she knew he had finished writing. She stepped forward, gracefully approaching.

With delicate hands, she picked up the clear teapot on the table, inside which floated pieces of fruit and flowers. She poured him a cup of tea.

"Please," she said.

This was the third time Lin Shenlu had seen her.

The first was from a distance, watching her on a swing at the very top of Ideal Land. The second was close, seeing her in a video on his phone. The third, not so near nor so far, sunlight shining as she played the piano in her white dress—her radiance so dazzling her face blurred in the light.

This, now, was the first time he saw her face, clearly and earnestly.

She was the proprietress of the inn called Blue Whale.

Lin Shenlu had to admit, hers was a face one could not help but be drawn to. So exquisite. The videos he had seen before had not exaggerated her beauty—in fact, they had barely captured even a tenth of it.

For a fleeting moment, Lin Shenlu wondered if he was truly traveling in the real world, or if he was dreaming. As if he had descended to the ocean's depths, and in the palace of the Dragon King, encountered a princess of the deep sea.

Fantastic, magical, beautiful—it was all so incredible.

This kind of beauty was enough to take one's breath away.

"Thank you," Lin Shenlu said softly, accepting the cup she handed him. He took a sip; the tea was fragrant with flowers, but beneath it, the sweetness of fruit. This blend of floral and fruit tea was truly delightful.

"There’s hibiscus, rose, orange peel, and apple in here... When brewed, it soothes the mind. I saw you were writing just now—it’s good for your spirits," Blue Whale said lightly, her white arms waving, stirring the air with the scent of her billowing sleeves.

As she spoke, she extended her hand. Palm up, her hands were elegant and well-shaped. Lin Shenlu noticed that as her sleeve slipped down her arm, her fair skin was revealed, and most striking of all, there was a bright vermilion mark upon her forearm.

What was this?

A chastity mark? Something one only read about in wuxia novels? Did it truly exist?

Legend had it that, upon a girl’s birth, a dot of vermilion would be placed to symbolize her purity—a mark that would disappear only after she married and consummated her union. He had always thought it was a fiction, something invented by novelists. Yet here it was, before him.

But... why was she extending her hand to him? Was she seeking a handshake so soon after meeting? A friendly greeting, a handshake, and they would be friends?

As Lin Shenlu hesitated, unsure whether to take her hand, Blue Whale smiled and said, "It’s our first meeting. My name is Blue Whale. I heard your real name is Lin Shenlu... I know this is a bit forward, but may I see your ID?"

Her apologetic smile was captivating.

Lin Shenlu awkwardly rubbed his hands together, nearly reaching out to shake hers—only to realize she merely wanted to see his identification.