Chapter 54: Four Eyes Meet, Neither Yielding

... In the hall on the first floor.

A few people sat around a white, round table.

At the center sat Hailan Jing.

After her livestream, Hailan Jing had already changed her clothes. Dressed in her everyday attire, she looked even more in line with popular tastes: long, slender legs, a slim, toned waist, perfect proportions, a gentle and pure face, and those dreamy, tender eyes that inspired affection.

Seated next to Hailan Jing was the rising internet celebrity, Xiao Ai.

After climbing out of the wishing pool, Xiao Ai had dried her hair and changed clothes with Ye Yaochen’s company, played some cards, and finally emerged to join the meal.

Ye Yaochen hadn’t initially wanted to come, but since Xiao Ai was dining with them and he wasn’t there, he worried the two men at the table might not have good intentions.

Those two men across from them were, of course, the vampire and Mengmeng, who had traveled from afar after watching the livestream.

“Old Qin, you really are something—out for fun without your wife or kids?” Hailan Jing smiled at the middle-aged man to her right.

The man looked to be in his thirties. Though he bore a few traces of middle age, fortunately he wasn’t greasy, and he carried himself with upright composure. Most importantly, his voice was rich and magnetic.

“Men, when we go out for fun, it’s to meet different people, see different sights, hear new stories. That’s what makes memories meaningful. Personally, I prefer to travel alone. Only then is it true liberation for the soul,” Old Qin said, raising his glass.

The slightly younger man next to him also lifted his glass, smiling as he clinked glasses with Old Qin.

“And you, Little Mengmeng… You come and go as you please!”

“I’ve been traveling all year anyway, going wherever I fancy. Yesterday in the livestream, Old Qin invited me here, so I came. Coincidentally, just the day before, I was in Chongqing having hotpot!” Mengmeng was a young man under thirty, tall, with a loud voice. Though he seemed a bit shy, he could hold his liquor.

Hailan Jing truly hadn’t expected that her two loyal supporters from the livestream would suddenly show up, insisting on celebrating her birthday with her. Honestly, she was deeply moved.

“We haven’t finished earlier—what exactly do you want for your birthday? Make a wish! Both of us are here; miss this chance and there won’t be another!” Old Qin said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Old Qin was dependable. Over the past two years, he had sent many gifts in Hailan Jing’s livestream. Of course, as the number one patron, he had no ulterior motives toward the female host; he simply enjoyed this lifestyle.

Otherwise, he would have flown over for a vacation long ago.

In his words, making friends was better than chasing after women.

“That’s right, our time is limited. We can’t stay long and will have to leave soon. There really won’t be another chance next time!” Mengmeng added.

“There’s no need for gifts. Having you both here is the greatest present. Honestly, I have no other wishes here in Dali...” Hailan Jing said.

At this, Xiao Ai, eating beside her, laughed, “Sister Jing, didn’t you say your biggest wish in Dali was to see snow here...?”

“Don’t be ridiculous—how could I expect these two to make it snow for me!” Hailan Jing gently patted Xiao Ai’s arm.

“That’s beyond us. Snow is a matter of fate... Since you won’t say, we won’t ask. As for gifts, we’ll decide ourselves. For now, let’s drink!” Old Qin squinted as he spoke.

...

Soon, Lin Shenlu and An Muxi quietly pushed open the main door, while Teacher Bao was still outside in the courtyard, circling the wishing pool under the night, taking photos of the scenery.

Under the countless lights, bottles of all shapes and colors sparkled in the water. Teacher Bao didn’t want to miss such a scene.

The moment the door opened, Ye Yaochen, with the sharpest eyes, instantly spotted Lin Shenlu.

“Hey, buddy, where did you go?” Ye Yaochen stood up and called out.

Following his gaze, everyone at the table glanced toward the door.

Lin Shenlu felt a bit embarrassed, nodding slightly in greeting to everyone. His gaze passed over Ye Yaochen and Xiao Ai, finally resting on Hailan Jing.

Hailan Jing’s expression shifted from happiness to stillness in an instant.

Because she saw Lin Shenlu had brought someone with him.

A woman.

He had brought a woman back.

Ha.

He’d been gone all day, and returned with a woman.

Hailan Jing’s chest tightened with pain.

...

Lin Shenlu didn’t know the other two men, but nodded to them out of courtesy.

“Miss, please get me two more rooms. I’ve brought two friends! You all go ahead and eat, I’ll help my friends with check-in first,” Lin Shenlu said to the receptionist, then to the table.

Just then, Teacher Bao finally came in, camera still in hand, clearly reluctant to leave the scene outside.

“Perfect, just perfect... Brother, are the rooms sorted? Here’s my ID,” Teacher Bao called.

Hailan Jing looked at the three newcomers with a hint of confusion.

Who were they, after all?

Where did they come from?

And... there was a man?

Was the situation really as she imagined? Could she have misunderstood?

Soon, the rooms were arranged. When An Muxi turned around, her eyes met Hailan Jing’s from across the room.

An Muxi’s look was cool and distant, and the space between them only heightened that detachment. Yet her lips carried a calm, unchanging smile.

Hailan Jing’s gaze was puzzled, but she held her own. The two watched each other in a silence that filled the air.

Their brief exchange ended as they passed by one another. An Muxi went upstairs.

Hailan Jing’s eyes lingered on Lin Shenlu.

“I’ll take them upstairs for check-in. You all sit tight,” Lin Shenlu said.

At that, Ye Yaochen stared at Lin Shenlu in embarrassment, his expression clearly saying: What on earth are you up to?

What was this supposed to mean?

After the three went upstairs, Hailan Jing finally explained, “That was the guest who helped me redesign the wishing pool. In fact, the whole wishing pool and the drift bottles project were finished with his help...”

“Hey, hey, hey, what about me? I’m still here!” Ye Yaochen coughed.

“Uh... Of course, Brother Ye did a lot too. He wrote eleven stories for us...”

...

“That’s the one fated for you, isn’t it?” An Muxi asked Lin Shenlu as they climbed the stairs.

“Fate or not, it’s just fortune-teller nonsense... I don’t think that way, you know my mind, Muxi,” Lin Shenlu replied.

He was, in fact, a bit awkward. Though he felt he’d done nothing wrong, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

“Once we’re done checking in, should we go back down and sit with them for a while?” he asked tentatively.

After all, he’d been gone for a day and a night—it was only right to go down and say something.

An Muxi, by nature reserved, probably wouldn’t want to join in, or so he thought.

“Alright,” An Muxi considered for a moment, then nodded.