Of course I'm under pressure, because the money we invested was only enough to take over the guesthouse, and we didn't have the money for a second investment yet. We not only had to replace the original bedding, but also buy a decent sewage treatment system, which is quite an investment.

Fortunately, we still have some time.

...

As evening fell, I returned to the shore of Erhai Lake in "Majiuyi". I sat on the flattest rock again, but my mood was no longer as calm as before. Today, I spent the 190,000 yuan that Wang Lei left me, and I can say that I have fulfilled half of her dream... So, I really wanted to have a chat with her at this moment.

I believe that if we can still communicate, Erhai Lake will definitely be a bridge between us, because it is a place we both yearn for.

I lit a cigarette, my heart heavy with sorrow, but suddenly I didn't know what to say. All I knew was that I missed her terribly, missed the memories of our time together, of her unwavering support and companionship. Until she sat down beside me…

Yes, because we live close by, Ye Zhi and I met here again. The time was similar to when we last bumped into each other. She probably has a habit of taking a walk around this time.

I stubbed out my cigarette and then politely asked her, "Aren't you busy today?"

"I'm still quite busy. I just got back from Shimonoseki."

I nodded, and after a moment I said to her, "Yang Sisi messed things up the other day, so I couldn't get your contact information. Is it convenient for us to add each other on WeChat now?"

"We run into each other here every day, so there doesn't seem to be any need to add each other."

I joked, "Are you implying that if I need to contact you urgently, I should just barge into your inn again?"

She glanced at me and said, "My friend has already installed a protective net on the courtyard wall. If you want to break in, go ahead."

I gave an awkward laugh and replied, "This friend of mine is pretty efficient!"

This time, Ye Zhi ignored me and turned her gaze to the distant center of the sea, where the setting sun had painted it a golden hue. Seabirds were active there, a sense of loneliness mixed with a hint of life.

I also enjoyed this time, so I didn't intend to speak to her again. There seemed to be a strange aura between us; when our loneliness and solitude collided, an unprecedented tranquility arose, and we were able to enjoy this tranquility separately without disturbing each other.

Thinking about it, with this feeling in mind, whether or not you have the other person's contact information isn't so important anymore.

But then she took out her phone from her handbag and said to me, "Add me on WeChat."

I was taken aback for a moment, then quickly took out my phone and scanned her QR code. After she accepted my friend request, she put her phone back in her handbag and continued to gaze silently into the shimmering distance...

But I couldn't resist and looked at her profile and social media posts.

She was different from other women. She was so beautiful, yet she didn't use her own photo as her profile picture; her profile picture was just a leaf falling from a tree. She also didn't share much on her social media.

I couldn't help but wonder, didn't she need to share her feelings and life? Then, just how heavy was her loneliness and solitude?