Chapter 14, "Fulfilling the Wish".

The next day, the weather was quite nice.

Zhu Xu got up late.

She's a woman of action; she stayed up too late researching last night and ordered a whole series of necessities online.

It was exactly midnight when she turned off the lights to go to sleep. She was excited about the new turning point that was about to happen in her life, so she tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep until after 2 a.m.

With fifteen minutes to go before the appointed time, and no time for breakfast, Zhu Xu made himself a cup of coffee to perk himself up, grabbed a tote bag, and headed out to wait for the others at the hotel entrance.

There was no wind today, and the weather was sunny.

The sea in the distance was calm and still.

Crowds and vehicles picking up guests were constantly emerging in front of the hotel.

Zhu Xu stepped aside a few paces, and seeing that he still had some time, he stood by the Roman column and smoked a cigarette.

He Yanzhou parked his car in the parking space below the steps. He wasn't in the habit of being late, especially since the other party was a lady, so he came down ten minutes early to wait for her.

Perhaps it was her unique aura that made him always spot her immediately in a bustling crowd. This was true at that class reunion, and later in the office building and at the late-night hot pot restaurant.

He Yanzhou rolled down the car window and saw her light a cigarette. He raised an eyebrow slightly, paused for a few seconds, and hesitated to press the horn button on the steering wheel.

I should temporarily abandon the idea of ​​disturbing her. It's a rare opportunity to have some time to clear my head, and I shouldn't be disturbed.

At this moment, she looked relaxed and stood casually. She didn't smoke frequently. She would take a puff, quietly gazing at the noisy street and the distant sea, and only took a second puff after a long time.

She wasted a cigarette like that. He Yanzhou chuckled to himself, feeling a bit craving a cigarette himself, so he took out a cigarette case from the storage compartment.

She kept smoking while watching from a distance until she came to her senses and looked around for a trash can.

He Yanzhou honked the horn, casually stubbed out his cigarette, and seeing her looking in his direction, he waved to indicate her exact location.

The parking spaces on the roadside were actually not far apart, but Zhu Xu did not notice him.

She walked down the steps and waved to the people inside the car window.

Still sitting in the passenger seat, Zhu Xu smiled and said, "Sorry, I didn't see you."

"I just arrived too." He Yanzhou casually handed her a paper cup.

Zhu Xu took the cup and saw that there were several cigarette butts and a little ash in it, so it must have been used as a temporary ashtray.

She paused for a few seconds, then put the cigarette butt she hadn't thrown away into a paper cup: "Does it smell bad? If you mind, I'll open the window..."

"I don't mind, I just finished smoking too." He Yanzhou glanced at the rearview mirror, turned the steering wheel, and drove out of the parking space, jokingly adding, "You should complain to the hotel that there's no trash can at the entrance."

Zhu Xu smiled unconsciously: "I thought I was early, but it turns out I'm late."

He Yanzhou had one hand on the steering wheel and wasn't driving fast. He turned to look at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment.

Zhu Xu was puzzled. "What's wrong?"

He Yanzhou said, "You're a quiet person, not like someone who smokes."

“Then Mr. He’s assessment is inaccurate,” Zhu Xu said with a smile. “I was planning to quit for a while, but I found it a bit painful, so I decided not to make things difficult for myself for the time being.”

She did intend to quit smoking after being discharged from the hospital. It was originally a tool to relieve her emotions during those difficult days. Now that she was out of the sea of ​​suffering, she wanted to live a more positive life and get rid of her bad habit.

But finding the process of quitting smoking a bit difficult, he immediately gave up the idea.

She didn't want to deliberately make things difficult for herself anymore; she just wanted to be happy and let things take their natural course.

He Yanzhou remained silent for a while, admiring her current state. However, she was like a wounded bird, always on guard, and would not hesitate to turn and fly away if she encountered danger again, ensuring her safe escape.

This is both good and bad.

He Yanzhou turned the steering wheel, made a U-turn at the intersection, and headed towards the dock.

"Should we talk about something else?" Zhu Xu pinched her earlobe and suddenly remembered that she had a box of chewing gum in her bag. She took it out; it was a delicate little round box containing fruit hard candies coated with white frost.

She offered him some candy: "Want some?"

He Yanzhou asked, "What does it taste like?"

"Lemon, sweet orange, green apple."

He Yanzhou gazed ahead: "Green apple, perhaps."

Zhu Xu's hand was still raised, but he hesitated.

Seeing that she hadn't moved for a while, He Yanzhou took the opportunity to turn his head and look at her while creating some distance between himself and the car in front of him. He found it a bit funny: "Could you please help me? I'm driving, so it's not very convenient for me."

"……good."

Zhu Xu picked up a green candy from the box; for some reason, her palm was slightly damp. She held it to his lips, but at the same time, he suddenly opened his palm towards her.

Zhu Xu paused, realizing that he simply couldn't choose the flavor from the box, not that he wanted her to feed him.

Realizing she had misunderstood, she felt a moment of desperate embarrassment.

He Yanzhou laughed, his voice low and slow, very pleasant to the ear.

Zhu Xu's heart was pounding. Suddenly, she realized why she had acted so out of line. In fact, she had been in an atmosphere that had been artificially created, which made her behavior somewhat ambiguous.

She didn't feel offended.

Zhu Xu took a breath and relaxed, then slowly asked, "So, do you still want it?"

"Yes." He Yanzhou's laughter subsided slightly, and he flicked his outstretched palm twice.

Zhu Xu placed the candy in his palm. The moment his fingertips touched it, his palm felt hard and dry, with a slightly rough texture.

Fortunately, the journey was short, and before the unspeakable atmosphere could fully develop, we arrived at the dock.

The two boarded the ship and stood on the deck above the steps for a while.

The propeller at the stern sliced ​​through the sea, splashing water and sending a strong, salty smell directly into our nostrils.

Zhu Xu leaned against the railing and found the smell surprisingly pleasant.

Staff selling special sausages would come by from time to time, and it was mostly the children who were interested. They would break the sausages into small pieces, toss them high into the air, and feed the seagulls flying alongside the boat.

He Yanzhou leaned closer and asked, "Do you want some?"

Zhu Xu smiled and shook his head.

She still had half a candy left in her mouth, a sweet orange flavor. She suddenly remembered her little niece's saying that "candy should be eaten while it's in your mouth," and without realizing it, the candy box had become an essential snack for her.

The sea breeze was cold, and my hair was flying everywhere.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the person next to me was tall and quiet, and they weren't talking; the atmosphere was surprisingly natural and harmonious.

Twenty minutes later, they docked and disembarked with the crowd.

Jidao is a small fishing village. Apart from a few representative sculptures built along the seaside on the ring road, the rest of the area has not been overdeveloped.

The temple is on a mountain, and the road is winding and circuitous.

Zhu Xu still can't understand why his father and stepmother came here to visit.

She followed He Yanzhou a step behind, the scenery along the way was unfamiliar, until she saw the red buildings on the mountaintop.

"We're here, aren't we?" Zhu Xu paused briefly.

He Yanzhou turned around and saw that her cheeks were flushed and she was slightly out of breath, so he stopped as well: "It's just ahead."

Zhu Xu said, "Let's go."

"Come and rest for a while, I'm a little tired."

Zhu Xu's gaze inadvertently fell on him. He stood straight, looking refreshed, without a trace of fatigue.

He sat down on a stone by the roadside. Occasionally, villagers on motorcycles would speed by, their wheels kicking up dirt. In no time, his shoes were covered in dust.

In his field of vision, the cuffs of his trousers twitched slightly with his movement, the straight crease extending upwards, and Zhu Xu promptly looked away.

She looked up into the distance, and her heart suddenly pounded twice. Strangely enough, all she saw was a pair of black leather shoes covered in dust and dusty trouser cuffs.

After a short rest, we reached the summit in one go.

There weren't many worshippers at the temple. The moment I stepped through the threshold, I felt as if the whole world had fallen silent. I could hear the sound of bells and the dense chanting of sutras. Even the sound of the wind blowing could wash away the noise.

Zhu Xu rummaged through his bag for some change to add to the incense offerings. He turned around and saw He Yanzhou directly scan the QR code to transfer the money.

Just as he was about to say something, an elderly monk came over and greeted He Yanzhou.

He Yanzhou stepped forward and helped the other person up, his back slightly bent, his words gentle and kind, indicating that they were very familiar with each other.

He introduced her as a friend.

The monk smiled kindly at Zhu Xu and greeted him with his palms together.

Zhu Xu immediately returned the greeting respectfully.

The monks invited them to the inner courtyard for a cup of tea.

He Yanzhou looked over, his eyes questioning.

Zhu Xu nodded slightly to him, indicating that he was fine.

Go to the right and go through the two doors.

The inner courtyard is not large, and the rooms are simply furnished.

The tea we were drinking wasn't famous; there were even tea leaves floating on the rim of the cup, yet the taste was surprisingly refreshing and sweet.

Zhu Xu was not very familiar with Buddhist etiquette and was afraid of being impolite by talking too much, so he sat quietly next to He Yanzhou and drank tea in peace.

He chatted idly, his slender fingers slowly turning the hexagonal cup. He would lightly tap the cup's side twice with his index finger, pause for a moment, exchange a few words, and then continue turning the cup.

He had taken off his coat, revealing a pearly white shirt of excellent quality, with several natural creases at the elbows and half of a mechanical watch face peeking out from the cuffs.

The monk said, "You look radiant; something good must be happening to you soon?"

He Yanzhou smiled faintly, thought for a moment, and replied, "I suppose so."

"Successful career?"

"It's been good all along. This isn't a good thing."

The monk didn't press further. He added some water to the teapot, but his hand trembled, and the water overflowed. "Look," he said, "I got impatient. I need to take it slow."

He Yanzhou glanced at the water, then looked up at the old monk with his wrinkled face. The room was quiet. The teacup next to him was gently placed on the table. He turned his head and looked at Zhu Xu again.

Their eyes met, but they looked away after a few seconds.

Later, when the conversation turned to other topics, Zhu Xu listened silently.

It took a long time for him to understand that the old monk had watched He Yanzhou grow up and that He Yanzhou had funded the renovation of the temple last year.

He politely declined the monks' offer to stay for a vegetarian meal, said goodbye to them, and left his room to wander around.

Zhu Xu said, "I was 15 years old that year. My dad and stepmother had just gotten married and went on a trip. My dad didn't want to take me with him, but my stepmother insisted that I come along."

At that time, they were newly married and their love was at its peak. Zhu Xu should never have been an eyesore in front of them. However, in order to show her loyalty to Zhu Zhen and to be a good stepmother, Shen Jun insisted that Zhu Xu accompany them.

He Yanzhou asked, "Does this place have special significance for you?"

Zhu Xu shook her head. "No." She thought back carefully for a moment: "I was probably not very happy at the time, because he remarried less than two years after my mother passed away."

He has his own choices.

“Yes,” Zhu Xu said.

"What I mean is to lower your expectations of everyone and not be too hard on yourself."

Zhu Xu nodded: "I just didn't understand it then."

As they spoke, they walked to the east wall of the temple. The mottled marks on the wall over the years had been smoothed out and painted with thick red paint, but the height remained the same. Looking up, one could still only see the short treetops and a sliver of sunlight.

Zhu Xu stood on tiptoe and peered around: "In autumn, do a lot of hawthorns grow here?"

He Yanzhou paused, then looked at her: "Yes."

"I think I even asked someone for a few of them."

Who is it?

"Hmm?" Zhu Xuhua understood his question in two seconds, wondering if this was a very important matter?

She replied, "I don't remember."

He Yanzhou bit his lip slightly, put his hands behind his back, and suddenly bent down, leaning closer to her. At almost equal height, his eyes were deep and he stared at her intently, as if trying to catch any trace of her lying.

However, her eyes turned completely white.

The area is sheltered from the wind, making the surroundings even quieter.

Zhu Xu sensed the strange atmosphere and instinctively moved his head back, but his feet seemed to be sucked in by a suction cup and did not move an inch.

Feeling her body about to fall backward, he released his hands from behind her back and caught her back just in time.

There was still a distance between them, but Zhu Xu's heart was pounding wildly.

He Yanzhou withdrew his hand only after she had regained her footing.

He straightened up, a slight smile returning to his face: "You didn't thank them."

Before she could answer, he walked ahead.

It was a trivial matter from many years ago, so it's normal not to remember it.

But he remembered it vividly...

It was the summer before He Yanzhou entered high school. He was about to leave Jidao Island to study in Lincheng.

He had been staying at Grandma Yuan's house. Grandma Yuan had a grandson named Wei Zan, who was a year younger than him, and the two were very close.

In late summer and early autumn, hawthorns ripen, with the ones near the temple being the reddest and plumpest.

Wei was craving the hawthorn preserves his grandmother made and wanted to pick some, but unfortunately he twisted his ankle while catching crabs at the beach the day before yesterday, so he asked He Yanzhou to do it for him.

He Yanzhou climbed over the high wall, picked a fruit to taste, and found it to be a pure, natural, additive-free fruit with thick flesh. It was extremely sour at first, but had a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste.

He Yanzhou didn't like it much, so he put the rest aside and didn't touch it.

Outside the wall lies the sea, inside the wall, the ancient temple bells toll deep and resonant.

The wall beneath him was old and thick, its surface mottled, the red paint washed away by rain, suggesting it hadn't been renovated in a long time.

A gust of wind blew by, bringing with it a salty, fishy smell.

He sat on the wall, gazing into the distance, momentarily forgetting the purpose of his trip.

Wei Zan stood below, gazing at him intently, his patience waning: "Are you stupid?"

He Yanzhou withdrew his gaze and looked down.

Wei Zan reminded him, "What are you looking at me for? I'm picking hawthorns!" He was leaning on his cane in a comical posture. Because he was exposed to the sea breeze all year round and liked to swim and catch fish in the sea, he had dark skin, was tall, and had very strong muscles at a young age.

He Yanzhou was much more composed than him, not as wild, did well in his studies, had a healthy tan, and preferred bright and clean colors in his clothing.

He Yanzhou remained calm: "What's your attitude?"

"Are you going to pick them or not? If the old monk chases people away with his stick, you won't be able to pick any."

"I'm not eating, why are you in such a hurry?" He was about to turn over and get off the bed.

"elder brother!"

He Yanzhou stopped.

Wei Zan: "You are my brother, my good brother."

He Yanzhou then sat back down and picked hawthorns from the tree branch.

Back then, he was quite playful. He deliberately threw the items in different places, and Wei Zan, leaning on his crutch, jumped up and down, picking them up while affectionately cursing his ancestors for eighteen generations.

The dirtier he swore, the farther He Yanzhou threw the insults, neither retaliating nor getting angry, as if toying with a monkey. His thin, boyish face shone in the sunlight, his eyes filled with a smile.

Wei was still annoyed but had no choice but to turn back and call him "brother".

This trick works eight out of ten times.

He Yanzhou stopped teasing him, picked all the hawthorns nearby, turned around and moved forward for a moment, and then saw the girl sitting under the tree in the temple.

Their eyes met head-on.

He Yanzhou recognized her; she didn't seem to be from Ji Island. She had short, student-style hair, big eyes, wore a light blue sweatshirt and a large backpack, and looked to be about the same age as him.

She had been sitting there for who knows how long, her hands supporting her chin, motionless, her fair face tilted up as she silently watched him.

A dozen seconds later, she finally reacted, slowly lowered her hand, and looked away with a slightly embarrassed expression, but after a while, she couldn't help but look back at him.

He Yanzhou was at a loss for words. Her sudden intrusion had unintentionally left a special impression on him.

Autumn wind, blazing sun, ancient trees, and a lonely girl under the trees.

I still remember the first thing she said to him: "What's on the other side of the wall?"

“The sea,” he replied.

This is how He Yanzhou looked when he first met Zhu Xu: obedient, dazed, and full of worries.

...

In the side hall, one can draw lots. Devout people kneel before the Buddha statue, perform three prostrations, and then pick up the lot-drawing tube and shake it.

He Yanzhou and Zhu Xu didn't get too close. They looked at each other from a distance for a while, then he turned his head and asked inquiringly.

Zhu Xu shook his head.

The two then quietly withdrew.

As I was about to leave, I noticed a place in the corner of the courtyard where people could buy prayer beads and amulets.

He Yanzhou paused slightly, walked over, put ten yuan in the donation box, and picked out a peace charm that caught his eye.

"Here, this is for you." He handed it to Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu was taken aback. "Me?"

"Who else is next to me?" He Yanzhou chuckled.

Zhu Xu took it: "Why?"

"We can't go back empty-handed." He Yanzhou put his hands in his pockets and looked at her casually.

Zhu Xu lowered his eyes to examine the amulet in his palm. It was made of dark red silk with no decorations, only the four characters "Fulfill your wishes" embroidered from top to bottom. The outer cover was a transparent soft rubber protective sleeve, and a small bell was tied below the amulet buckle.

He flicked the bell with his finger, and it made a clear "ding-ding-ding" sound.

She actually liked it somewhat.

"The blessing is very nice, why don't you keep it with you?" She was a little embarrassed to accept it.

“‘Fulfill your wish,’ it wouldn’t be too much to give it to you.” He stepped out the door first: “Let’s go.”

Zhu Xu didn't say anything more, followed behind him, and casually hung the amulet on the shoulder strap of the tote bag.

They had originally planned to part ways there; she wanted to wander around, while he had mentioned before his arrival that he had relatives to leave.

He Yanzhou invited her to go with him.

"That's not really appropriate," Zhu Xu thought, wanting to refuse.

“She’s an elderly person. Her children don’t spend much time with her. In winter, when the sea is closed, she has nothing to do and would like someone to come to visit her.” He Yanzhou rubbed his nose with his finger. “Why don’t you come with me for a while?”

"But I'm empty-handed."

“I had someone deliver some things in advance.” He was very thoughtful: “Or there’s a fruit shop near the dock, but the elderly have difficulty walking and rarely come out.”

Zhu Xu then went over and carefully selected a few items before going with him.

This is a cluster of houses built on a hillside, each with its own yard, a narrow path leading to the front, and the sea right in front of it.

Entering the courtyard, I saw Grandma Yuan preparing to kill a chicken. Knowing in advance that He Yanzhou was returning today, the old lady had been busy since early morning.

She was short and plump, and she swayed as she walked over. She grabbed He Yanzhou's arm with both hands, raised her head, and looked him up and down. The corners of her mouth were always turned up, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were all piled up.

He Yanzhou bent slightly to accommodate her, his smile gentle: "Have you seen enough?"

"No."

"Is he a handsome and talented man?"

Grandma Yuan held his hands and answered loudly, "Yes."

He burst into laughter after saying that, and only after a while did he notice the girl standing next to him.

He Yanzhou introduced, "Zhu Xu is my friend. He came to Beidao for a visit. I happened to be off today, so he accompanied me to Jidao to see you."

"Excuse me, Grandma," Zhu Xu said politely.

"Oh, okay, okay, I won't bother you, I won't bother you." The old man's gaze shifted to Zhu Xu, looking at her intently, his eyes shining brightly, and his smile growing even wider.

Suddenly no one spoke, the yard was quiet, and the released chicken paced back and forth, clucking.

Such a demanding attitude left Zhu Xu at a loss, his cheeks flushed, and he guessed that a simple matter might have been complicated. Unfortunately, it was too late to escape now.

She turned to look at He Yanzhou, and he was looking at her too.

He had his hands in his trouser pockets, looking relaxed, and showed no intention of helping her out of the predicament.

In an instant, Zhu Xu stopped making things difficult for himself.

She looked back at the old woman, smiled gently, and offered no explanation, letting her misunderstand.

After a while, He Yanzhou chuckled and finally leaned closer to the old man, saying something in a volume that only the two of them could hear.

Grandma Yuan looked regretful, but fearing she might say something that would cause trouble, she quickly invited them inside to sit down.

The room has a simple layout, with a living room, a bedroom, and a kitchen at the far end. The furniture is old but well-maintained and the room is very clean. A staircase in the corner leads to the attic, where He Yanzhou and Wei Zan used to live together. After He Yanzhou moved out, Wei Zan lived alone.

"Grandma, where's Wei Zan?" He Yanzhou asked.

The old man busied himself pouring tea and serving fruit, saying, "I've gone to Nanling to find that little girl from the Jiang family."

He Yanzhou raised an eyebrow slightly, but didn't ask any further questions. He turned his head away, while Zhu Xu looked at the old photos on the wall on the other side of the living room.

Grandma Yuan sat down and asked about his recent situation: "How's the hotel business?"

"fine."

“You’ve been more promising than Wei Zan since you were little. You’re someone who can do great things, but you also need to take care of your health. Running such a big hotel, even if I don’t understand it, I know how much energy it takes.” Grandma Yuan patted his arm: “Making money is secondary; your health is the most important thing.”

He Yanzhou replied with a smile, "No need to worry, coming here is a great way to relax."

After chatting for a while, Grandma Yuan prepared to cook dinner and asked He Yanzhou to take Zhu Xu for a stroll.

On the other side of the attic, there is another door. Pushing open the door leads to a small terrace with an unobstructed view of the sea.

It's almost evening now, the sun is about to sink below the horizon, the sky is a brilliant and rich orange, and the afterglow sprinkles down, making the seawater look like a layer of shattered gold.

Zhu Xu sighed inwardly, feeling as if he were standing inside a painting, utterly unreal.

She leaned on the railing and turned to look at He Yanzhou: "You said you lived on Ji Island before high school?"

"almost."

Zhu Xu nodded: "Being in this kind of environment, there shouldn't be any troubles, right?"

“Indeed.” He Yanzhou took out a cigarette case from his pocket and tapped it in his hand: “Back then, the sea was bluer, the moon and stars were brighter, the ship whistles every morning were our alarm clock, and fishermen returned from the sea in the evening bathed in the afterglow.”

"Wow!" Zhu Xu exclaimed dramatically.

He Yanzhou smiled and handed over the cigarette case: "Want some?"

It's a soft-pack Zhonghua cigarette. Half of the cigarette is already sticking out.

"Thank you." Zhu Xu took out the cigarette, then casually took out a lighter from his pocket. After lighting it, He Yanzhou knocked out another one and put it to his lips. Just as he was about to reach for his lighter, Zhu Xu crossed his arms and lit it: "Use mine."

He Yanzhou leaned closer and subconsciously raised his hand to gently grasp her wrist so that he could aim.

Zhu Xu felt the force from his wrist. He glanced up inadvertently, his eyelids lowered and his brows slightly furrowed as he lit a cigarette. Since it wasn't work time, he hadn't bothered to style his hair, and he was in a more relaxed state, appearing less aloof and more approachable than usual.

He Yanzhou suddenly looked up.

Zhu Xu was taken aback.

"What are you thinking about? The fire's out." A slight smile still lingered at the corner of his mouth, which was still holding a cigarette.

Zhu Xu then realized that he had been seriously distracted and that the lighter had been blown out by the wind at some point.

She quickly slid the grinding wheel, and flames shot up, finally igniting the fire.

He Yanzhou tapped the back of her hand twice with his fingers, indicating that it was okay.

Returning to their previous positions, the two fell silent, puffing on their cigarettes.

In the distance, a small boat, no bigger than a sesame seed, swayed gently, drawing a straight line across the sea.

Zhu Xu watched the boat slowly fade from view, then turned his head and said, "You and Grandma Yuan seem to have a very good relationship."

He Yanzhou flicked his cigarette ash: "To put it simply, I haven't spent as much time with my own grandmother as I have with her."

"She cares about you a lot."

"When you get to a certain age, you will always have many concerns, including your health, work and marriage."

Zhu Xu took a drag of her cigarette. The flavor was rich, the taste pure and smooth yet harmonious, with a clean aftertaste. It's said that Soft Zhonghua cigarettes are more suitable for women, and this was her first time trying it.

Zhu Xu blew away the smoke in front of his eyes and suddenly asked, "So how did you explain it to Grandma Yuan just now?"

He Yanzhou turned his head and stared at her for a long time.

When Zhu Xu thought he would never get an answer, he said softly, "Not yet."

Zhu Xu belatedly realized that the word "still" made her heart race. Fearing that she was making a far-fetched interpretation, she kept quiet and avoided his gaze, looking straight ahead.

As the sun slowly set, only a sliver of orange-red remained on the horizon.

He Yanzhou finished his cigarette before her and stubbed it out in the withered flowerpot next to him.

He put his hands in his pockets and felt something gently brush against his calves.

The sea breeze in winter is always unrestrained.

Her long skirt was pulled wildly, forming an exaggerated arc that lightly tapped his calf.

As the light grew dimmer and blurrier, such a twilight stirred a restless feeling within.

I didn't stay long.

He Yanzhou and Zhu Xu went downstairs one after the other to help. Dinner was a balanced meal with a mix of meat and vegetables.

Grandma Yuan took out her homemade mulberry wine and poured half a glass for each of them.

The meal ended pleasantly.

It was getting late, so the elderly couple asked the neighbor to take them to the pier in his electric tricycle so they could catch the only ferry to the North Island. Once ashore, they realized they had both been drinking and couldn't drive back to their hotel.

While I was trying to flag down a car on the roadside, someone honked their horn a few times from the opposite side.

In the dim light, Zhu Xu recognized the driver, Mr. Zhao, whom he had met a few times before.

She waved to greet him.

Master Zhao turned around.

"Young lady, where are you going?"

Zhu Xu: "Back to the hotel."

"Come on up, I'll see you off."

Zhu Xuxian turned to look at He Yanzhou.

He Yanzhou's gaze was naturally fixed on her, and he took his hand out of his pocket: "Let's go." He stepped forward and opened the back door for her, then walked around to the other side and got in.

Knowing the destination, Mr. Zhao turned around immediately: "Miss, we really are destined to meet. As soon as I turned my head, I saw you standing by the roadside."

"Yes, what a coincidence." Zhu Xu asked, "Are you here to see someone off?"

"They're also tourists visiting the area, heading to the night market in front."

"Is there a night market around here?" Zhu Xu asked.

"Yes," Master Zhao drawled, "it's quite lively."

“Oh,” Zhu Xu said.

She clearly didn't want to speak again. The previous two times she had chatted happily with this driver, but now He Yanzhou was sitting next to her. Although he didn't participate, he sat very quietly, even looking out the car window, not disturbing her.

But she still felt a little reserved.

After a brief moment of silence, Master Zhao glanced around in the endoscope and asked, "Are we heading to Ji Island?"

"Yes."

"Ji Island is a great place, a pristine fishing village with exceptional seafood..."

Master Zhao was very talkative, chatting about all sorts of things along the way.

Unfortunately, Zhu Xu was not idle either.

The hotel gradually came into view, and this time we entered through the south gate.

Master Zhao looked out the window and said, "I heard there's a fireworks display here tomorrow night. They've been advertising it for a long time, saying the hotel has rooms where you can watch the fireworks." He added, "Look at this boss, he really knows how to manipulate young people."

Zhu Xu did not respond.

"Do you think this will break even? As far as I know, the investment in large-scale fireworks displays is not low either." Driver Zhao slowed down and said, "Hey, why am I worrying about this? Like you said, the bosses here are busy as dogs, exhausted as dogs, and their lives are not necessarily comfortable."

"..." Zhu Xu was startled; she had never said such a thing.

Subconsciously turning her head, she noticed that He Yanzhou had stopped looking out the window and was now staring at her with interest, his eyes hidden in the dim light, making them appear even deeper and more like a pool.

Zhu Xu pursed his lips.

The car was parked on the side facing the sea. The driver said, "Get off on the right side. It's dangerous with cars coming and going on the other side."

Zhu Xu thanked him, scanned the code to pay, and was told he could only get off the bus from He Yanzhou's side, but he didn't move an inch.

Zhu Xu was filled with apprehension.

He Yanzhou was still looking at her, his eyes smiling, his long legs pressed against the back of the seat in front of him, leaving no gap, and the space above his head seemed limited as well.

His tall, imposing figure blocked the car door, intensifying the feeling of oppression.

Zhu Xu had no choice but to remind him, "You can go down now."

He Yanzhou didn't respond. The alcohol content of that mulberry wine was negligible, but it did give him a slightly tipsy feeling. He wanted to tease her and see how nervous and helpless she was.

He didn't move until she gently nudged him.

The car has been parked here for a while now; any longer and Mr. Zhao might start to get suspicious.

Zhu Xu was a little flustered, but he waited calmly, as if he were demanding an explanation for "she called him a dog," deliberately using this childish method to block her from getting out of the car.

Zhu Xu felt a little lightheaded. Ignoring the burning gaze, she tried to push him again in a moment of panic, but accidentally pressed against his side.

He Yanzhou straightened up, hissed very softly, and instinctively reached for that hand.

Zhu Xu, unaware that he was ticklish, exclaimed in surprise, "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer, feeling her hand trying to pull away from his grasp. He loosened his grip slightly, and she didn't succeed. He Yanzhou looked at her calmly, never knowing whose eyes could stir such emotions within him.

Finally, He Yanzhou let go and opened the car door.

The two walked side by side toward the hotel entrance.

The temperature dropped sharply at night, and the sea breeze was fierce.

"I didn't expect you to be so talkative," He Yanzhou asked. "Does it vary from person to person?"

"What do you mean by 'different people'?"

“You’ve been very quiet all day.” He Yanzhou turned to look at her, his steps large but slow: “That makes me feel a little unbalanced.”

His voice, mingled with the sound of the wind, drifted into her ears.

Zhu Xu felt that this statement was extremely ambiguous.

She pulled her coat tighter, pretending not to understand: "The locals are very warm and friendly. They can chat for ages about anything, big or small. Talking to them makes you feel better. They're very down-to-earth."

"Is that so?" He Yanzhou smiled faintly and first opened the front door for her. "It's really cold."

Zhu Xu slipped in from the side of his arm, and the warm air hit him.

He Yanzhou: "How do we get back?"

"I want to take a walk."

"Here, take it. I ate a bit too much for dinner."

When uniformed staff members passed by, they stopped to greet him.

He Yanzhou nodded slightly and said to Zhu Xu, "I am indeed exhausted, having worked non-stop for months. Today is a rare day off."

Zhu Xu said, "I'm sorry to trouble you to come with me to Ji Island."

"At least you kept me company."

Zhu Xu felt he should explain, "The driver was joking; I never said anything like that."

"You found out?"

Zhu Xu nodded.

In the afternoon, I heard Grandma Yuan asking him about the hotel's business situation; half a year ago, my classmate Yang Xiaotong also approached him to try to facilitate a collaboration on the hotel's interior design.

I only knew that he came to Beidao on a long business trip, and I didn't think much of it.

She should have guessed it sooner.

Zhu Xu unbuttoned his coat and unconsciously looked up at the intricately carved European-style dome: "This hotel has a great style; it must have taken a lot of effort."

"Sometimes I feel lost, not knowing what I'm doing it all for."

"Besides money, there should also be a sense of accomplishment. Seeing this place bustling and prosperous... that's probably the meaning of hard work."

He Yanzhou smiled enigmatically: "'Exhausted like a dog' sounds more like the truth."

Zhu Xu: “....”

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the connecting corridor.

The number of tourists has gradually increased over the past two days, and all the shops on both sides are open for business, with the pubs packed with customers. Around the corner, there's a children's play area where clown-like staff are twisting balloons for the kids.

Zhu Xu suddenly thought of something and stopped: "I..."

"What?" He Yanzhou stopped and turned around to ask.

Zhu Xu bit his lip: "I'd like to invite you to visit my shop."

He Yanzhou's expression didn't change much; he only asked, "Yours?"

“I rented it,” she corrected.

He Yanzhou nodded knowingly.

Zhu Xu reached into the bottom of her bag and pulled out a bunch of keys: "I just got them not long ago, I only glanced at them briefly before." She laughed: "I should have asked you for a discount."

He Yanzhou looked at her and said, "It's not too late now."

"No way, I was just kidding."

Zhu Xu stepped forward, unlocked the door, and pushed it open. A pungent smell of stale smoke wafted out.

She raised her hand and waved it, reaching for the light switch on the wall.

The room suddenly lit up, and as two people entered, a faint, empty echo appeared.

The shop is fairly square, with the one facing the street being about thirty square meters, and there is some space inside the door on the left.

When Zhu Xu first saw it, he was pleasantly surprised. The inner room could hold a materials rack and a refrigerator, and there should still be enough space to squeeze in a single bed.

It provides a temporary place to stay and also solves the problem of preservation.

He Yanzhou walked towards the door facing the sea, then turned around: "What do you plan to use it for?"

"flower shop."

He Yanzhou told the truth: "The rent isn't cheap."

Zhu Xu walked over and opened the window to let in some fresh air, smiling nonchalantly: "Making money is better, if I lose money I'll just pack my things and go back to Lincheng."

He Yanzhou turned to look at her. Her vulnerability and brokenness evoked his pity, but her decisiveness and carefree attitude were another side of her.

He was extremely surprised to see her sitting in the sun-drenched small reception room through the glass that day. He was even more surprised by her decision after learning why she had come.

Not everyone has the resolve to abandon everything; leaving one's hometown and starting from scratch is no easy feat, especially for women.

He Yanzhou was suddenly shocked to find that he had to pay more attention to her, as if he had underestimated her and overestimated himself in some matter.

After a moment, he looked away and said frankly, "The surrounding resources are quite good, so opening a flower shop would be quite suitable for the current environment and needs."

“Right?” Zhu Xu’s eyes lit up, but she was a little embarrassed to show off her limited knowledge in front of the host, so she said roughly, “I’ve looked into it, and only the first four floors of Building B have fairytale rooms and family rooms, so the proportion of families traveling together is probably relatively small. Besides business travelers and others…” She paused, “I’ve been observing carefully these past few days, and there are quite a few young men and women coming and going. They must have a need for flowers.”

He Yanzhou smiled: "Looks like you've done your homework."

Zhu Xu's decision was not made on a whim. The shop is surrounded by bars, cafes, and Western restaurants, making it a popular spot for young people to meet and relax. These kinds of places are bound to have plenty of stories to tell, and "adding flowers to the cake" perfectly encapsulates the role of a flower shop.

In addition, there is a church behind the hotel and a beach in front. Mr. Zhao once said that every spring, people come here to propose and hold weddings.

"The timing, location, and people are all favorable." Zhu Xu said, "I hope the outcome will be good as well."

He Yanzhou pointed to her bag, "May your wish be fulfilled."

Zhu Xu was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and turned the amulet tied to his backpack over.

She raised her hand to straighten it, her fingertips gently tracing the four characters, then flicking the small bell hanging below, the "ding-ding" sound particularly melodious.

Zhu Xu smiled, feeling for the first time the power that words gave her.