Yesterday evening I arrived, and went straight to bed at the hotel, so only now can everyone finally get to appreciate the charm of Mountain City.
This is a city full of allure, with both modern architecture and facilities, as well as remnants of bygone eras. Multiple historical periods harmoniously rge here. Coupled with its varied topography, it creates a unique charm exclusive to Mountain City.
Li Zhiyuan felt that there wasn’t even a need to deliberately visit tourist spots; simply sitting in a car and driving through the city was a subli enjoynt.
The new hotel was of a much greater standard. Xue Liangliang showed his credentials and recomndation letter to check in; he expense claid one room and paid out of pocket for another.
The hotel was on the eighth floor, accessible by an elevator. Run Sheng, taking the elevator for the first ti, appeared sowhat awkward and constrained with his large fra.
After entering the room, Xue Liangliang ntioned he’d first go report to his new unit and take care of so formalities. Tomorrow he’d take everyone to tour the scenic spots in detail. Tan Wenbin and Run Sheng planned to stroll around the hotel area.
Li Zhiyuan made a call from the hotel to the number Liu Yui had given him. A male voice answered, asked for his hotel address, then asked Li Zhiyuan to co downstairs as the car was already waiting.
This surprised Li Zhiyuan quite a bit. So fast?
Upon arriving at the hotel lobby, indeed, he saw a brand new black sedan parked there. The driver, wearing white gloves, got out and approached:
"Excuse , are you Mr. Li Zhiyuan?"
"I am Li Zhiyuan, but not ’Mr.’"
"Please, get in the car."
The driver courteously opened the car door and, after Li Zhiyuan was seated, turned to see a fashionably dressed woman with orange wavy curls, clutching her purse, hurrying out, her high heels tapping urgently on the ground.
"What’s the rush, why the hurry? Weren’t we just supposed to go for dinner, why suddenly must I co down?"
Then, the woman saw the boy sitting in the back seat and asked irritably:
"Also, who is he? Why is he in my car?"
The driver replied respectfully but firmly, "Mr. Li is an honored guest of the master, ma’am. The master has instructed to leave for Spring Garden now. If you do not wish to go, you have the option."
"You..."
The woman was very angry but managed to hold it back.
The driver opened the passenger door for her, and she, with a disgruntled pout, eventually got in.
Only then did Li Zhiyuan realize that the car was originally prepared for this woman, but because of his phone call, it was temporarily redirected to pick him up.
Spring Garden was located on a mountain, which one, Li Zhiyuan wasn’t sure, since Mountain City was full of them.
After passing the security booth and driving in, Li Zhiyuan surveyed the environnt—it appeared to be a Chinese-style high-class private club, usually only used by the owner’s family or for entertaining distinguished guests, not open to the public for business.
After getting out of the car, an elegantly dressed middle-aged woman ca to lead the way.
The woman from the passenger seat got out first, nervously fixing her hair and collar, and shed all her previous arrogance, very reservedly calling out:
"Sister-in-law."
The middle-aged woman ignored her, and only when she saw Li Zhiyuan get out of the car did she show a smile, ca over, and took Li Zhiyuan’s hand:
"Young Master Zhuiyuan, please follow ."
Li Zhiyuan nodded; he couldn’t be bothered to correct the title again.
The woman followed a few steps before the middle-aged lady turned back and glared at her.
"Ah, sister-in-law, can’t I co too?" the woman asked, pointing at her own face.
The middle-aged lady shook her head, then continued to lead the boy inside with a calm and pleasant deanor.
Leaving the younger woman stamping her feet in frustration on her own.
After passing through a corridor and weaving around a lotus pond, Li Zhiyuan finally saw familiar faces in a pavilion at the deepest part of the garden.
Liu Yui was sitting on a stone bench, and beside her stood an elder with white hair making tea.
In another corner of the pavilion, a girl whom he hadn’t seen for days sat alone, staring at the lotus flowers.
Then, amid the lotus leaves, he saw the person he was longing for.
The girl approached him. The distinguished lady, seeming to understand the girl’s habit, let go of the boy’s hand and quietly stepped back.
Li Zhiyuan took Alii’s hand, and Alii looked at the boy, furrowing her brows and pouting.
Liu Yui, who had been nonchalant earlier, only gave the boy a slight glance before her expression turned serious. She raised her voice:
"You little rascal, you’ve been wrecking your own body again, huh? Do you want to go blind?!"
The white-haired elder, having finished brewing the tea, sat down, looking intrigued as the girl showed closeness to soone and even displayed emotions.
"Slap!"
Liu Yui spilled the freshly poured tea onto the ground.
The elder understood the cue, stood up respectfully, nodded, and then exited the pavilion.
Liu Yui glared at the boy again, demanding: "Speak, what have you been up to? Look at the state of you now, all depleted, and you’ve got our Alii all worried."
Li Zhiyuan responded: "Got bad luck on the road, ran into so village bandits."
"And then?"
"I called the police."
Liu Yui frowned slightly, knowing the boy was omitting key details, but she also didn’t feel it appropriate to pry further, as she would be staying at Li Sanjiang’s house again, and the boy would return there too. As long as the two of them had to go back, the sparring would continue.
Li Zhiyuan whispered into Alii’s ear: "Those bandits wanted to harm us, I dealt with them all that night."
Alii, holding the boy’s hand, joyfully shook it and smiled, revealing two dimples.
———
I started writing this Chapter from noon, took a long ti, and revised several versions. Mainly, without handling it this way, I might not be able to release the Chapter. This material tends to trigger sensitive words; you often see the posting ti is before midnight, but when you read the Chapter, it’s half an hour past midnight, because after I post, the Chapter gets blocked and only after editing can it be released. After all, real-life plots can be quite sensitive, please understand.
User Comments
0 comments from readers