Chapter 17 [VIP]

The moment the landlord opened the door, Han Shu could hardly believe his eyes.

"Come in and take a look." The short, thin landlord, slipping on his slippers and smoking a cigarette, said, "This place is great, right on the main road, convenient for everything, and easy to get to the city by bus."

Han Shu gave an awkward laugh, covering his mouth and nose, but still couldn't block out the pungent smell. He didn't know if it was the smell of construction adhesive or something else, but it smelled like a rag that had been soaking in the rainy season for a week.

A narrow hallway, a cramped living room, mottled walls, a toilet in the bathroom with stale yellow stains from someone's eating, and an old-fashioned wooden bed with peeling paint...

That picture looks like it has eighteen layers of filters on it!!!

"It hasn't been rented out in a while, so a quick clean is all it takes. Look at this view; you won't find another place like this in the whole village. You must have fallen for this terrace, right?"

"Um……"

Han Shu responded, went forward to take a look, and was utterly devastated.

Where's the Instagram-worthy viewing platform? It turns out to be a muddy roof with a rickety railing and a balcony protruding from the upper floor. If you hang clothes to dry, water will drip right onto your head.

"It's a bit dirty since the typhoon just passed." The landlord leaned against the door frame, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and asked between puffs of smoke, "How's it going? 1200 a month, one month's rent as deposit, utilities not included."

"1200?" Han Shu frowned. "Didn't you ask for 1000 before?"

The landlord waved his hand, showing no shame at raising the price, "That was the price from a couple of days ago. If you want to come and see the apartment these days, with this phone—you can't even scroll to the bottom of two pages—I still believe in first come, first served."

Han Shu clenched his hands, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

Putting aside the issues of hygiene and facilities, the landlord's attitude is problematic. If you were to rent it, who knows how many problems would arise.

Seeing her hesitation, the landlord looked displeased. "Are you going to book today or not? If not, then forget it!"

Upon hearing this, Han Shu made up his mind and immediately walked out, saying, "Sorry, I don't plan to rent it."

"Hey you idiot!" the landlord cursed as he followed, slamming the door shut. "You think you can't find a place to rent in Houhai? This is already pretty good. Do you think this is Beijing or Shanghai?"

The landlord kept muttering in different ways, occasionally throwing in a few words of dialect that Han Shu couldn't understand. She didn't say a word, taking two steps at a time down the narrow staircase, dragging her suitcase and merging into the flow of electric bikes and people without looking back, the sharp, piercing curses still echoing in her ears.

The imagined travel experience while sitting at my desk is beautiful and romantic, full of romance and beauty. However, from the very first step, reality shatters that bubble.

Han Shu was in a terrible mood and wandered aimlessly through the winding alleys.

Three hours after leaving Mr. Problem's guesthouse, she was starting to feel like going back.

Stop thinking! Stop thinking!

Focus on the present and solve the problem first!

Han Shu moved her suitcase to the side of the road and browsed nearby guesthouses on a travel app. With summer vacation approaching, accommodation prices were soaring; even the decent-looking ones were between four and five hundred yuan a night. She gritted her teeth, chose the nearest one, and paid.

That evening, Han Shu, who had spent the entire 35-degree Celsius heat searching for a house but returned empty-handed, didn't even eat dinner. He took a shower and went straight to sleep. When he woke up again, it was already broad daylight.

She dawdled for a while, still unable to muster the motivation to get out of bed. She rolled over, her naked arms rubbing against the blanket, feeling a little rough.

The bedding at Mr. Problem's B&B is so comfortable!

Sure enough, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. She launched into a deep self-reproach, then picked up her phone and arranged a time to view the apartment with the real estate agent.

As soon as I opened WeChat, two red dots caught my eye.

【Have you found a place to stay yet?】

The previous message was a voice message from Han Shu asking for medicine.

Wenzhiyu?

That's strange.

This person is only interested in her; he's definitely up to no good. She won't reply until she figures out what he's up to.

Han Shu closed the chat interface and swiped down—

[To the owner of the car whose car was hit by a falling tree: Hello, I have arrived in Hainan Island. If it's convenient, I would like to invite you to a meal to express my gratitude.]

Han Shu's fingers flew across the screen.

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: I appreciate the gesture, but you don't need to eat.]

I sent it out and got a reply instantly.

[The car owner whose car was hit by a falling tree: I feel so bad for troubling you during this typhoon; I'd feel bad if I didn't spend some of my money.]

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: I've already left that area; it's quite far.]

[The car owner whose car was hit by a falling tree: Distance doesn't matter, I'll come over. If it's inconvenient for you to eat there, a delivery address would be fine. I'll send some local specialties from Nancheng as a token of my appreciation.]

[The car owner whose car was hit by a falling tree: Regardless, I still want to say thank you.]

Han Shu clicked her tongue in amazement; he truly was a kind and grateful man. She typed, "Haven't found a place to stay yet, so I haven't received an address," then deleted it. After hesitating for a moment, she replied with an "OK."

We'll need to keep in touch after sending the local specialties, but having a meal today will resolve the current situation.

After setting a time at a famous restaurant in Houhai Village, Han Shu got up, quickly got ready, and headed out.

she

A new WeChat name, a new mood, new, heading to a new place.

"What if she doesn't reply?" Wen Zhiyu held his phone, feeling extremely frustrated.

"Wait a little longer, I might be carrying a parasol." "I'll go take care of the car; you go and eat breakfast."

Zhiyu was still holding her phone.

Qin Jianling returned from the accident scene, covered in a light sweat, and slumped onto the sofa to rest. He said weakly, "Sleeping in?"

What if she still doesn't come back?

Qin Jianling had already showered and finished grooming, while someone else was still curled up in the same spot, repeating himself like a broken record. He buttoned his shirt with one hand, "I'm going to treat my benefactor to dinner, do you want to come along?"

Wen Zhiyu asked suspiciously, "Benefactor?"

"Hmm." Qin Jianling glanced at him. "Since you wouldn't answer the phone, I had to ask someone else for help. Aren't you a benefactor?"

“I’m not going.” Wen Zhiyu held his phone up to eye level. “She’s my only research topic, and I need to focus on that.”

"..." Qin Jianling was speechless.

Why did you refuse to be a customer service representative before, but now you're determined to take back the customer service number, just to be left helpless?

Before leaving, he couldn't help but remind her, "If she doesn't reply, it means she doesn't want to."

Wen Zhiyu looked as if struck by lightning, his eyebrow jumping up and down before slowly lowering. "Yes, you're right. She doesn't want to talk to me."

"..." For the 10086th time since meeting Wen Zhiyu, Qin Jianling wondered how this person had survived in a society based on personal connections. She reminded him again, "Don't ask about where she lives. Find a topic that she cares about and can't refuse to start with."

Topics that you care about and can't refuse.

Money? No, that's the trump card.

Those three cats? That works!

Han Shu kept nagging about adoption and sterilization. Adoption? Wen Zhiyu couldn't stand it. Sterilization? It seemed like a possibility?

He exited WeChat and went to his browser to look up countless articles about cat neutering and also learned about pet hospitals in the South Bay area.

Half an hour later, Wen Zhiyu put down his phone.

Great, he's now a qualified cat neutering theorist. Next, he needs to catch the mother cat, humanitarianly rescue the two kittens, and then take them to the vet to pay by card.

Without hesitation, Wen Zhiyu changed into sportswear and sneakers, then went home to find his sunglasses and embarked on a journey to find the cat.

My eyes aren't used to sunlight after being away for so long.

Wen Zhiyu followed the path taken by the kayak to the crooked little banyan tree. Without needing to tiptoe, his gaze easily passed over the branches.

There was no sign of a cat.

He shook the tree trunk and looked higher through the dense foliage. There was nothing there.

Where else can we go?

Under the blazing sun, Wen Zhiyu walked around the villa area again and again, searching the bushes with his face to the yellow earth and his back to the sky, bending over to look under the cars, and even checking other people's yards—his voyeuristic posture of peeping into the walls was so convincing that he would have no way to defend himself if caught by the police.

He tried his best, really tried his best, but he still couldn't find it.

Han Shu didn't take the cat away, did he?

"Boss, a cup of herbal tea, please." Qin Jianling said with a warm smile, "It's hot, have some to cool down first."

Han Shu gulped down almost half the pot of liquor, her cheeks still flushed. She fanned herself with her hand and smiled sheepishly, "Thank you."

The man refilled her tea, his every move graceful and charming, thoughtful yet tactful, his refined appearance as gentle as his voice.

Han Shu stole a few glances and thought he was handsome, but not handsome enough to be breathtaking, not handsome enough to be refreshing, not handsome enough to be aloof, and not handsome enough to be funny.

Still no Wen Zhiyu is handsome.

"Are there any dietary restrictions? Like raw seafood, or seasonings like scallions, ginger, and garlic?"

"No, anything is fine." Han Shu unconsciously picked at the edge of the table with his fingers, feeling a little embarrassed.

Qin Jianling observed this, took a sip of tea, and asked, "Are you here for vacation?"

"I guess so." Han Shu paused. "And you?"

Qin Jianling didn't press for details, but instead talked about his own situation, "I have a friend here who also has some work. Of course, the main reason I came here is to deal with my car. I bought it less than a year ago, and this morning when I took it to the repair shop, they said it's most likely to be totaled."

Han Shu looked distressed. "This is such a waste. Why was it parked on the side of the road?"

"Well, that's a long story. In short, I lent my car to my friend, and he had a brain fart."

Han Shu frowned, feeling even more sorry for the car owner.

Amused by her expression, Qin Jianling said gently, "If he really has to scrap it, he has to provide me with a new one. It's not a big problem."

Well, they're all rich, just like Wen Zhiyu. Han Shu, no longer wanting to humiliate himself, smiled and greeted them.

The phone on the table vibrated twice at an inopportune moment.

Han Shu looked up and saw it was Wen Zhiyu again.

【: Did you take the three cats with you?】

What does that mean? What's wrong with the cat?

Han Shu's expression suddenly changed. He smiled sheepishly at Qin Jianling and pointed to his phone.

"Do as you please." Qin Jianling also took out his phone to look through it, giving her enough space.

Han Shu was relieved and focused on outputting his output.

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: What happened?! The cat is gone!]

【。：Unable to find.】

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: What do you mean! And why are you looking for a cat when you're not going to keep one!]

【。：Sterilization。】

Bullshit!

Han Shu sneered. They were completely unresponsive when this was brought up before, and now they're saying the cat was released and neutered? Who believes that?!

He asked her out of the blue if she had found a place to stay, and now he's out of the blue taking the cat to be neutered... What is he trying to do? Does he want to play with her? Didn't he say he wasn't going to play with her the night before last?!

She slammed her phone down, saying, "Sorry, I was just replying to a message."

"It doesn't matter."

Cats rarely leave familiar places; nine times out of ten, they've found a shady spot to escape the heat. The thought of not being able to take them in filled her with guilt.

The man before him still wore a gentle smile. A thought flashed through Han Shu's mind, and he tentatively asked, "Um...does your friend live near the Yaju Villa area?"

"Yes," Qin Jianling said frankly. "What's wrong?"

"There are three stray cats in the villa area, a mother cat and two kittens. I'd like to find them homes. Perhaps your friend..."

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. My friend is a bit picky; he hates all breathing creatures." Qin Jianling tapped the table. "But I can help you post it online. More people, more help, right?"

Han Shu felt comforted to find someone as picky as Wen Zhiyu and nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'll send you the cat's picture."

"Okay, I'll send it right away."

There are still more good people than bad in the world!

Han Shu felt that Qin Jianling's figure suddenly became more imposing, and his appearance also improved several levels.

Wenzhiyu?

What's the use of being handsome if you're cold-blooded?

After posting, Qin Jianling also showed the thread to Han Shu. It was logically clear, concise, and contained all the key information, ending with a moving explanation.

Han Shu looked on with admiration, "Are you a writer? You write so well."

"I suppose so. You flatter me, young lady."

Because the cat broke the ice, both of them relaxed a bit, and the conversation during the meal was quite pleasant.

—Both phones were vibrating non-stop.

Qin Jianling sighed, “How could I not respond to topics that concern me? You need to pinpoint the pain points precisely.”

Han Shu types with one hand in a whirlwind.

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: I was perfectly fine when I released it yesterday! How could it possibly be dead?! Don't jinx it!!!]

Qin Jianling gulped down a mouthful of herbal tea but still felt hot and bothered. "What you need is calm and peaceful communication, communication that the other party is willing to engage in, not communication that makes you angry!"

Han Shu was suspicious.

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: You're really that kind? Why didn't you mention this before? What exactly are you trying to do?]

Qin Jianling seemed to have lost all his strength, saying, "If you think it's okay, then it's okay. I have no objections. I won't express any opinions for the next year."

Han Shu thought about it seriously.

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: I'll trust you for now, but I can't leave for the time being. Find the cat first, and contact me anytime if you have any questions about the spaying/neutering process.]

When the two left the restaurant, they were both very full and satisfied, and at the same time felt a deep sense of guilt towards each other.

"Sorry I've been on the phone the whole time, my friend isn't quite right in the head."

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm also very embarrassed, because a certain Shenjin keeps sending me messages."

In their eye contact, there was a sense of resonance and mutual appreciation.

Out of politeness, Han Shu escorted Qin Jianling to the village entrance and continued their casual conversation.

Are you a recent graduate? Or did you just quit your job?

"Just resigned." Han Shu raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"

Qin Jianling smiled, "The largest group of women among those who travel and reside in the country can be divided into three categories: students without financial pressure, office workers who have quit their jobs to rest, and divorced people seeking respite. Judging from your young age, you must fall into the first two categories."

That seems to make sense. Han Shu gave a thumbs up. "Smart."

After getting into the taxi, Qin Jianling opened the window and said, "It's nice to meet you, kind girl."

Han Shu waved his hand, "Nice to meet you, unlucky car owner."

In the scorching sea breeze, Han Shu shuffled back.

They never exchanged names, nor did they inquire about each other's lives. Regardless of region, identity, or profession, they were just strangers who met by chance and then disappeared into the sea of ​​people.

This feeling is wonderful.

Kindness between people is like the land they tread, silently nourishing their hearts. Just a meal, just a casual chat, and she completely forgot the fatigue of her journey and the frustration of hitting walls everywhere, rekindling her hope for what was to come.

In the afternoon, Han Shu looked at two more rooms: one a large studio apartment, and the other a one-bedroom apartment. The former had good facilities and the rent of 1,100 yuan was reasonable, but it was located above two bars, so it would definitely be noisy at night. The latter was fully equipped except for a refrigerator and kitchenware, and it was located in a quiet and elegant alley next to the main road, but the rent of 1,500 yuan was a bit high.

She extended her stay at the guesthouse for another night, intending to think it over carefully before making a decision.

Ling Lin's call came at just the right time.

Han Shu sent over the photos and rent information to discuss it together, and it took a full hour to reach a preliminary conclusion.

"Let's save some money." Han Shu adjusted the position of her pillow, leaned against the headboard, and brushed her still damp hair aside with her hand.

Ling Lin immediately emphasized, "If you need money, just tell me anytime. Don't deprive yourself."

"I don't lack anything, I still have some. I just haven't figured out what to do with it in the future, so I'll be careful with my spending."

Ling Lin joked, "1100 a month, isn't that better than the free guesthouse I stayed at by answering questions before?"

Han Shu admitted, "It's definitely not comparable. Wen Zhiyu is practically losing money to run a guesthouse; if there were no limit on the number of nights a guesthouse can stay, it would probably go bankrupt."

"Why don't you talk to him about it? What if he agrees to let you rent long-term?"

"No way... I want to learn surfing, but that's too far from Houhai, and it's inconvenient. I'd have to take a taxi to get there and back. Considering the transportation costs, I'd rather rent a place."

"That's true." Ling Lin asked furtively, her voice low, "You've been living with that handsome guy for five or six days, haven't you sparked anything?"

"Living together with a spicy person? That's called living under someone else's roof." Han Shu said irritably, "No sparks flew, but a huge splash did happen."

She angrily recounted the incident of falling into the water, concluding, "He's really a genius. Spending time with him for so long makes me feel like I'm becoming stupid."

On the other end of the phone, Ling Lin burst into laughter.

Han Shu's face fell. "Schadenfreude?"

"No, no," Ling Lin cleared her throat. "But Xiaoshu, don't you think that you, who suggested playing the shipbuilding game, were also...?"

Han Shu: ...

This is truly a soul-searching question.

"Wasn't that to appease him? I ruined his solo kayaking plans and then kept three cats at his house. Shouldn't I show my gratitude with some actions?"

Ling Lin hesitated, then said, "But Bao, I believe that 99.9% of people in the world would not choose to express their gratitude by playing games with him."

Han Shu: ...

Yes.

She covered her face, her lips almost sticking together because she was too embarrassed to speak. "When I left, I left him a list of games."

"What was left behind?"

"...a list of games, introducing casual games for home use."

"Pfft, hahahahahaha!"

Amidst Ling Lin's undisguised laughter, Han Shu felt increasingly like an idiot. Many things that happened in that villa made perfect sense, and doing them with Wen Zhiyu wasn't surprising at all. But outside that environment, or when he talked about it with other people, why did it all seem so stupid?!

She couldn't understand it. Ultimately, she attributed the problem to Mr. Problem being too materialistic, and she unfortunately became assimilated by him.

Therefore, after leaving that villa, she will no longer be the mentally challenged girl, but a smart and wise little girl.

After the clever and wise little girl ended the call, she received a WeChat message from Shenjin.

【. :[picture]】

Upon opening the app, I saw the familiar bathroom, the familiar food and water bowls, the familiar basic litter box, and—the familiar three cats?

Han Shu dialed the voice call without hesitation. After two dial tones, Wen Zhiyu answered.

Before Han Shu could speak, the man spoke first, his composure tinged with a hint of pride, "Yes, I found it."

Han Shu breathed a sigh of relief at first, then asked suspiciously, "Where did you find it? How did you bring it home?"

"In the yard of a house that has been uninhabited for a long time. Sterilization."

"Are you serious?"

Wen Zhiyu nodded, "I've done some research, and female cats experience a lot of pain during their heat cycle, especially if they don't mate. Pregnancy and childbirth, on the other hand, can take a toll on their health and lifespan. So spaying is a good thing."

He even spoke with great conviction. Han Shu chuckled, "Have you done your homework, Writer Wen?"

Wen Zhiyu nodded again, "I've scheduled a check-up and surgery for tomorrow. I'll send you the location."

Han Shu's upturned lips froze. "Huh? What do you mean? Do I have to go too?"

"...Aren't you going?"

Wait, what's with that tone? It sounds like—she's the one who should go?

Han Shu was about to retort, but then she became genuinely worried about Da Mi. Sterilization requires general anesthesia, and while the chances of complications are extremely small, they're certainly not zero. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "What time is the surgery? I have plans for tomorrow morning."

"This afternoon. Send me your location tomorrow morning."

Han Shu was confused again. "Huh?"

Wen Zhiyu said, "I've come to pick you up."

I'm here to pick you up.

I'm here to pick you up.

I'll pick you up.

What exactly is he trying to do?

Han Shu tossed his phone aside. The chat screen showed a three-minute and seven-second call log, along with the location of the No Surfing Club. He had his first surfing lesson tomorrow morning.

She couldn't help but pick at her hands.

I'm here to pick you up.

I'm here to pick you up.

I'll pick you up.

How could you say that so naturally! It makes you seem so close.

Han Shu, who was already excited about the surfing lesson, couldn't sleep at all.

The other party, Wen Zhiyu, put his phone in his pocket, took a bowl of water to the kitchen to get some purified water, and then came back. Under the cold white light of the bathroom, the crisscrossing bloodstains on his arm were even more shocking.

He shook his arm and muttered to himself, "Does this require a rabies vaccination?"

No, I need to search for it.

After studying the ten-day observation method and numerous case studies, Wen Zhiyu tilted his head and asked the large orange cat huddled in the corner, looking wary, "You're not sick, are you? Please don't die!"

Big Mimi bared its teeth and growled fiercely, "Meow!"

Wen Zhiyu's head was buzzing. He hated cats, hated all living things that could breathe. He really didn't understand what Han Shu liked about it. He couldn't comprehend it.

He looked away, turned on the exhaust fan, and left the bathroom.

Since opening his guesthouse, Wen Zhiyu had never stepped into this room. So he stopped, looked around, and felt a sense of familiarity mixed with strangeness.

Unlike the rest of the villa, the furniture, curtains, sofas, and even the carpets here were all in lighter, more refreshing colors: light blue, light gray, and off-white. He felt a strange emptiness about it.

When Han Shu left, Wen Zhiyu actually heard the noise, but he didn't come downstairs. He was afraid that he might be blinded by the game and ask for a long-term lease.

Living under the same roof with her long-term? The thought of two geckos, three cats, four dogs, five chickens, six geese, seven birds, eight snakes, nine pigs, and so on, gave him goosebumps.

With the "root of all evil" gone, his home has returned to its former tranquility; he should be happy.

Why can't I feel happy?! Why is this damn game so much fun?!

Wen Zhiyu suddenly felt a little scared. Qin Jianling's suggestion was good, but what if he wasn't satisfied with playing for a few hours?

Today is the second day since Han Shu moved out. In less than 48 hours, he has spent almost 40 hours thinking about her.

The moments when I was indifferent are now flashing back to me like a movie replay, with every detail vividly present.

Sometimes I think of her awkwardly standing soaking wet on the porch; sometimes I think of her scrambling into the house only to trip and snag her toe; sometimes I think of the sparks flying as the rolling pin clashed with the aluminum rod; sometimes I think of the vivid image of her being grabbed by the back of the neck and glaring at him; sometimes I think of her terror as she was pushed into the water; sometimes I think of her vulnerability when she was sick; and sometimes I think of—

Stop it, you stubborn fool!!!

He has so many things to think about, he can't think about her anymore!!!

—And her radiant joy when she wins a game, and her pouting expression of displeasure when she loses.

Wen Zhiyu fled as if escaping from the room that seemed to still bear her traces, running back to her bedroom on the second floor, where she lay down fully clothed and closed her eyes.

Sleep, go to sleep!

—And then there's her focus when she cooks, and her quirky way of judging whether the food is good or not by observing his expression while eating.

Wen Zhiyu rolled over heavily and kicked off the blanket in a fit of pique.

Sleep, go to sleep!

—And her earnestness in answering every question he asked, and her composure that, though strange, he could immediately accept.

Wen Zhiyu sat up, stuffed his ten fingers into his hair roots, and made random movements with his hands until his hair stood on end.

He couldn't sleep.

I checked the time on my phone: 10:05:11.

Wen Zhiyu sat cross-legged, placed his hands on his knees, calmed his mind, and began his meditation practice.

Inhale—exhale—inhale—exhale—

Hmm, that's good, he's not thinking about her.

I checked the time on my phone again: 10:05:40.

Wen Zhiyu: ...

The long night, the long night.

Wen Zhiyu closed his eyes and silently counted: One mushroom head, two mushroom heads, three mushroom heads, four mushroom heads...

Han Shu closed his eyes and silently counted: One cat, two cats, three cats, four cats...

The first rays of dawn pierce the darkness, and a new day begins.

Han Shu went to the bathroom to wash up. When he looked in the mirror, he was startled by the dark circles under his eyes. How was this any different from being punched twice?

She quickly washed up, picked out a waterproof powder compact to cover her face, and that was barely acceptable. But her face and lips were pale, making her look a bit tired, so she found a lip gloss that was a bit too thick and applied it.

Hmm, it gives off a fresh, natural-looking makeup vibe.

Back when Han Shu was working, washing her face and applying sunscreen was the greatest respect she could show to her job, let alone putting on makeup. In short, she didn't deserve to work, and she didn't deserve for her to get up twenty minutes earlier.

Having not worn makeup for a long time, she looked at herself in the mirror and felt quite satisfied. She was very suitable to get her cat neutered—no, very suitable to take a surfing lesson.

After finishing my makeup and tying my hair into a neat bun, I was faced with another dilemma: what to wear.

You have to wear a swimsuit to class, but what do you wear when you're not in class?

At exactly nine o'clock, Han Shu, dressed in a refreshing white short dress, arrived at the Jielang Club. She had just stepped inside when she suddenly stopped.

The shop was filled with dark-skinned, shirtless men, some soaking wet as if they had just come up from the sea. Others leaned against the bar, drinking coffee or other beverages and chatting casually with the owner.

As far as the eye could see, it was all muscle.

Just as she was digging her toes into the floor, unsure whether to go in or not, a tall, slender woman pushed through the crowd and greeted her with a smile, "Hello, are you Miss Han?"

"Yes." Han Shu clutched his bag, trying to hide his unease, but his unnatural posture and tense voice had already shattered his pretense.

"I'm Chen Chunjing, the owner of Jielang. Just call me Chunjing." The woman took Han Shu's arm without any formality. "Come on, let me introduce the club to you."

Before Han Shu could react, the beautiful boss led him through the dark-skinned crowd.

"This is the bar. You get free lemonade on the day of your class or surfboard rental. Other drinks will have to be ordered separately."

Behind the bar, a two-meter-long black walnut wood sideboard had a shelf full of various base spirits on the first floor and a variety of coffee beans and cute cups on the second floor. Several men in front of the bar, hearing the commotion, turned around and nodded to Han Shu.

Chun Jing waved to the boy with the buzz cut on the far right, "Xiao Yu, class starts in ten minutes."

Xiaoyu gave an OK sign.

Chun Jing led her to the left and outside. "This is the changing room, men on the left and women on the right. The outdoor swimming pool is for practicing paddling and turning. Coach Xiao Yu will explain all this in detail..."

Han Shu walked around in a daze, and in a daze, changed into a swimsuit and picked up a surfboard.

After five minutes of theoretical instruction and ten minutes of practice, Coach Xiaoyu clapped his hands and said, "Let's go, let's go to the sea."

Han Shu's face stiffened. "Ah, ah?"

Xiaoyu was amused by her, "How can you practice standing on a board if you don't go into the sea? Don't worry, we won't go to the deep places today, it's very simple."

Han Shu, with one hand in front of the other, wobbled the heavy surfboard from the club to the beach and then from the beach to the seaside, his arms already trembling.

Is this correct? Is this simple?

However, this was just the beginning. Braving the resistance of the waves, Han Shu, dragging his heavy board, finally reached the right spot. He laboriously climbed onto the board, barely warming it up, when he heard Xiao Yu call out from behind, "You're here!"

"What what what—"

"Remember your posture from before. Stand still when we count to one. Three—"

Han Shu's voice trembled, "Stand...stand?"

"two--"

The waves rise, bringing a slight feeling of weightlessness.

"one!"

Xiaoyu seized the opportunity and pushed hard, propelling the surfboard forward at high speed with the help of the waves.

Han Shu braced himself on the board with both hands, attempting a burpee move by using his core to drag his legs. However, before he could even finish the burpee, he felt dizzy and disoriented, losing all sense of direction. With a thud, the world went from bustling to distant.

In the salty seawater, she closed her eyes tightly, laboriously feeling for the rocks on the seabed, and struggled to stand up. Then she froze, completely stunned.

Is this what you call simple?

Xiaoyu waved from a distance, "Come on! Come on! Next time you'll be able to stand up!"

The naive Han Shu believed it.

The typhoon had just ended, so there were few trainees, and the few remaining were all seasoned veterans. As a result, amidst encouragement like "Try again," "Get up next time," and "You can do it," a group of veterans watched a novice perform a series of fancy water dives. Four legs in the air, a side somersault, a face down…

When Han Shu finished showering, changed his clothes, and sat down at the bar, he was completely disoriented and didn't know what the world was like, let alone feel embarrassed by a group of unfamiliar muscular men.

Is this surfing? Is this really surfing? It looks more like water wrestling practice!

A coffee cup decorated with ocean waves came into view.

Chunjing rested her hands on the table, saying, "I'll have some coffee to clear my head."

Han Shu slowly rolled his eyes. "I'll pay by scanning the code."

Springtime chuckled, "Please, soothe your wounded heart."

"Thank you." Han Shu hung his head, still sullen. "I feel like I'll never learn this in my entire life."

"That's normal. I was like that at first too, even worse than you."

Han Shu asked doubtfully, "Really?"

Looking at the spring scenery, he sincerely said, "Really. Less than half an hour later, I told my coach that I couldn't go on and I wanted to go home."

"Then what?"

"The coach said, 'What, you want to go back to your mom?' That one sentence really enraged me. I thought to myself, 'If I can't learn this, I'm not a Chen!'" Chunjing pointed to the photo wall on the left and said proudly, "As a result, I not only learned it, but I also fell in love with the sport. I spent several years surfing and living in various surfing communities in the Philippines, Australia, and the United States. After returning to China, I opened this surfing club."

Han Shu looked over and was drawn to one of the photos. In the photo, Chun Jing was wearing a bright blue bikini, slightly bent over, and the muscle lines of her legs and arms were clearly visible. She had a slender and fit figure, and her wet, medium-length hair was stuck behind her ears. Her smile was as bright as the clear blue sea and the golden sunlight.

Besides vitality, she couldn't find a second word to describe how she felt at that moment.

“Of course, everyone’s situation is different. It’s normal for some people to try something and not like it, and then give up,” Chunjing said. “You can think about the long-term course some more; there’s no rush to make a decision.”

Han Shu nodded. "Then I'll think about it some more."

She picked up the cute little cup, took a sip, and exclaimed in amazement, "Delicious!"

"Is it good?" Chun Jing dragged over a bar stool and sat down opposite her. "Five years of hard work to hone your skills."

Han Shu, being a dutiful servant, feeds himself on weekdays and also loves coffee. The two chatted about their shared hobbies and quickly became acquainted.

"Chunjing, the job posting is printed out. Should we put it up at the door?" A boy walked over carrying tape and scissors.

Spring scenery refers to the door frame; "stick one on each side, to make it more eye-catching."

Han Shu asked curiously, "Hiring?"

"A little higher, that's it!" Chun Jing directed. "Hmm, the previous volunteer girl went abroad to study, we need to recruit another one."

What kind of volunteer work do you do?

"Photography. Most people who come to try surfing lessons are just doing it for the first time and don't know how to learn systematically. They all want to take some photos to remember the experience."

A bold idea popped into Han Shu's mind. He asked, "Do you provide room and board for volunteers?"

“Provide it,” Chun Jing raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that you—”

Han Shu's eyes lit up, and he patted his chest, "Me. When I used to work, I took care of photography for all kinds of events, big and small. I may not be an expert in portrait photography, but I definitely have experience."

Chun Jing crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly to scrutinize her, seemingly appraising her, but her smiling eyes and brows conveyed no displeasure. After a while, she clapped her hands, "Congratulations, I passed this round. The final interview will be when my boyfriend comes back."

Han Shu blinked, "This...this is it?"

"hold head high!"

"……Why?"

Chun Jing thought for a moment and said frankly, "Who wouldn't like a pretty and kind-hearted little sister? I like her, anyway."

Han Shu scratched his head, blushing slightly.

"Hey, are you single?"

Chun Jing possesses a natural air of chivalry and approachability, so when Han Shu was asked this question, he naturally answered, "Single."

Chun Jing blinked her right eye and said half-jokingly, "There are a lot of handsome guys who can surf around here. Who knows, you might even meet your love around the corner."

Han Shu cautiously looked around, unsure of how to respond, so he gave an awkward smile.

What? You don't like dark skin?

"Hmm... I can't say I like it, and I can't say I dislike it. Let's just leave it at that," Han Shu said.

After all, having been bombarded with Wen Zhiyu's good looks, her appreciation for handsome men has reached a new level.

Seeing this, Chun Jing patted her shoulder and said solemnly, "Great minds think alike. I like fair-skinned handsome guys, the refined and elegant type is the best."

This time, Han Shu had no choice but to nod in agreement.

It was past eleven o'clock, and Wen Zhiyu still hadn't contacted her, nor did she know what that meant. She finished the last sip of her coffee and was about to get up to say goodbye when she noticed that Chun Jing's already bright and beautiful eyes had suddenly turned into two 300-watt light bulbs, shining brightly.

Han Shu, unaware of what was going on, followed her gaze—

Amidst the roar of the motorcycle engine, a man wearing a full-face black helmet, a white shirt, and black casual trousers easily stepped off the motorcycle. His long legs casually brushed away the wrinkles on his cuffs from riding, then he took off his helmet and smoothed his slightly upturned short hair.

The man turned around, tilted his head slightly, and his dark eyes swept over the signboard. His jaw and neck were sharp and smooth, and his tall and elegant figure exuded a lazy and casual air.

Chun Jing, though trying to keep her voice down, couldn't hide her excitement, "Holy crap, this handsome guy is practically glowing white!!"

However, Han Shu was completely deaf to reason.

She was giving a full-on performance of what it means to be utterly dumbfounded. Because—

Wen Zhiyu saw her.

Wen Zhiyu walked over.

Wen Zhiyu stopped in front of her.

Wen Zhiyu spoke.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Han Shu's mouth wouldn't obey him, "You, you, you—"

What do you mean? She didn't know either.

Wen Zhiyu frowned. "You've changed your mind?"

No, it's not—

Suddenly everything went black.

Wen Zhiyu stuffed the mushroom head into the helmet, fastened the buckle, and then tapped it with his index finger knuckle.

Amidst the crisp sound of hitting a watermelon, Han Shu heard him say—

"Then come with me."