Chapter 90: One Cup of Freedom, One Cup of Moonlight

Lin Shenlu’s fondness for this Yunman Hotel kept growing.

The butler’s service was impeccable. Aside from offering the necessary hints and assistance at the crucial moments, he was almost entirely invisible throughout, and that made the experience all the better.

As Du Ruo led the way into her small cabin, Lin Shenlu’s gaze was drawn at once.

Before her eyes lay curtains of white cloth patterned with red flowers, with a matching sofa beside them. A faint woody fragrance rose from the furnishings with the lightest breath.

Rumor had it that every cabin suite had been lavishly crafted, embodying the aesthetic sensibilities of life in the Song dynasty.

She gently pushed open the cabin’s floor-to-ceiling window.

On the balcony facing the lake, a comfortable swing chair had already been prepared.

Even in the deep night, one could still take in the beauty of clouds and lake beneath the dark sky.

By day, surely, there would be a full panorama of lush mountains and forests.

Su Bao’er followed her out onto the balcony.

After glancing at the swing chair, she sat down at once.

Lin Shenlu stood there and looked up at the starry sky.

How long had it been since she had last seen a sky thick with stars?

Here, in the lakeside cabins of Yunman Long Bridge, she could let the heavens’ countless stars become the curtain before she slept.

On this night of glittering stars and a brilliant silver river, Yunman Hotel shifted through wondrous colors in the play of light and shadow.

Beautiful.

Lin Shenlu turned to look in another direction—the direction of the long bridge.

At this hour of night, the lights upon the bridge shone like a rainbow, and this long bridge over the lake was truly a singular existence, standing apart from the world.

Yunman at night was terribly quiet, so quiet that Lin Shenlu could hear all manner of faint sounds.

Soon there was a knock at the door, and the butler, Du Ruo, delivered late-night snacks in warm blue porcelain.

A pot of tea, a sip of red bean soup, a few pieces of pastry, and the sound of the night as a pillow in the middle of this hundred-meter-deep lake—so comfortable.

Lin Shenlu, who had not been especially hungry to begin with, was completely tempted by the little snacks.

“Come on, Bao’er. Let’s go eat supper.”

Taking Su Bao’er with her, she went to the Yunman restaurant.

On the menu, Lin Shenlu was drawn to the boar tripe stewed with wild chicken.

Rare wild ingredients, delicious and nourishing.

Absolutely worth trying.

“And another serving of deep-fried cicadas...” Lin Shenlu was captivated by the plump cicadas on the menu.

It seemed only in a place like Yunhe, with its fine water and fine scenery, could cicadas grow so fat and abundant.

“Lu-wa... um... I want to eat this...” Su Bao’er pointed at a dish of stir-fried snails with chili.

These were high-mountain terraced snails from the Yunhe terraces, large in size, plump in flesh, and delicious in taste.

They, too, were a rare delicacy.

Lin Shenlu smiled to herself; likely Su Bao’er had not had enough of the salt-and-pepper snails during the day, and now, seeing a cousin of the same kind, had been tempted again.

After dinner, Lin Shenlu strolled along the wooden bridge connecting the cabins.

The stars overhead were magnificent.

Several other guests staying in the cabins were using telescopes to admire the sky.

This scenery really felt more suited to camping.

Lin Shenlu gently called Butler Du Ruo.

She ordered a few things she wanted.

Very soon, Butler Du Ruo approached from afar, carrying the fragrance of a mature woman.

“Mr. Lin, here is the wine you ordered, and the chair you wanted.” Du Ruo’s expression was always so gentle and considerate.

As the private butler of a five-star hotel, she was certainly worth the room rate; no one could perform this job without long training.

“Thank you...” Lin Shenlu took the wine.

Du Ruo, in her high heels and black stockings marked with letters, slowly left the cabin with her legs crossing gracefully from side to side, leaving behind only a back that lingered in the memory.

Enough of that...

Lin Shenlu carried the wine and chair to the lawn by the cabin entrance and set up the folding chair first.

This small patch of grass was enclosed by the cabin’s fence.

The space was not large, but it was warm and intimate.

Lin Shenlu casually switched on the string lights wound around the wooden fence.

In that instant, the feeling was complete.

String lights were made for a scene like this.

Their soft glow lit up this little world, one strand at a time.

Lin Shenlu placed the folding chair beside a small table, then set out the bottle of champagne that Du Ruo had brought earlier. Along with the wine came a black box.

Inside were a pair of champagne glasses and a corkscrew.

On such a night, Lin Shenlu sat in the low folding chair, surrounded by sparkling strings of lights, and lifted her glass with elegance.

She gently swirled the amber liquid within.

Beneath the glitter of the stars, Lin Shenlu raised her glass toward the moon and gave it a slight tap.

This cup, to the moonlight.

Thank you for remaining gentle as ever, and for keeping me company through the night.

This cup, to the stars.

Thank you for scattering yourselves across the night sky, like diamonds glittering upon a curtain.

This cup, to freedom.

Thank you for always being with me, for choosing me when I most needed to make a choice.

This cup, to my fellow readers.

Thank you for walking this road with me. May your nights be filled with brilliant stars, and may your lives be devoted only to freedom.

...

The next morning.

Lin Shenlu woke early.

With a bridge more than a thousand meters long, she could go for a morning run...

She was tempted to dash recklessly across the cable-stayed bridge stretching for over a kilometer, yet her laughter should remain gentle; she must not disturb dreams that others did not wish to have broken in the flow of memory.

She pushed the window open softly, and outside the cabin, dawn was already faintly breaking.

A light mist drifted over the lake beyond the window...

She had arranged breakfast with Butler Du Ruo for eight o’clock the previous night. Lin Shenlu checked the time; there was still an hour and a half left—just enough for a run.

Su Bao’er was still sleeping soundly in the bed in the other room. Lin Shenlu slipped out quietly without disturbing her.

She breathed deeply, savoring the fresh air mixed with the crisp scent of the lake.

Distant hills and woods, the lake near at hand, and a veil of mist...

A small boat moved in a straight line across the still water, leaving a long ripple in its wake.

With such scenery, how could one not run?

...

By the time she returned to the cabin, it was just about eight o’clock, and Butler Du Ruo had delivered breakfast to the door on time.

Su Bao’er was already up.

Her hair was still messy, with a few thin bangs hanging diagonally across her face.

“Good morning, Bao’er!”

“Mm... Lu-wa... morning...”

The two of them sat on the balcony facing the lake, looking out over the mist-wreathed, half-real surface of the water, enjoying the morning light and a delicious breakfast.

Yunman’s breakfast was not the lavish sort of buffet. Instead, a pale bamboo tray held dishes covered by lids printed with red floral patterns.

When the lids were gently lifted, breakfast served in exquisite and appetizing blue-and-white porcelain appeared before them.

There was steamed egg custard sprinkled with scallions, and bacon grilled until crisp, decorated with carrot ribbons.

Another small blue-and-white dish held sliced dragon fruit and oranges. Finally, there were boiled corn and boiled red sweet potatoes.

Beside them stood a pitcher of corn juice.

Generous, nourishing, and beautiful enough to stir the appetite.

Only... Lin Shenlu glanced at Su Bao’er...

It might not be quite enough to eat...