I turned my gaze back to Taozi, hoping her resolve would waver. I understood that her biggest worry now stemmed from the fact that after giving up everything in Shanghai, she would no longer be able to maintain her previous income, and she had become accustomed to this high-cost lifestyle, which might even cause her to neglect her struggling family.

After a moment, under everyone's gaze, Taozi finally replied, "I am very grateful for everyone's kindness, but these really cannot be a reason for me to stay in Dali, so I still cannot make this decision."

After Taozi said that, everyone looked somewhat disappointed, especially Tienan. However, since everyone had already tried to persuade her, Taozi was still unwilling to change, so it was really not good to continue to force her.

After that, no one mentioned the matter again. Everyone tacitly focused their attention on drinking and having fun. But I had a little something on my mind. I was the only one here who knew what Taozi did, so I longed for her to escape that environment and live a dignified life more than anyone else.

Currently, we don't have the ability to ensure that she can maintain the same income level she had in Shanghai while living in Dali, and that's the fundamental reason why Taozi doesn't want to stay here.

I thought about it again: instead of trying so hard to persuade her now, I should try to make the inn better and bigger, and then welcome Taozi to join us when it is profitable. At that time, Taozi will not have such a heavy mental burden.

...

After dinner, Ye Zhi returned to Ma Jiuyi alone, but left her car with me so I could take Taozi around for the next few days. This was definitely a good friend's gesture, but what puzzled me was her refusal to offer any helpful advice as a friend regarding the inn. She seemed pessimistic about our inn's prospects. But the truth is, if we can reopen as soon as possible, we'll definitely become a highly popular, trendy seaside inn.

It must have this market position, because we have all given everything for this inn.

Back at the inn, Coach Ma had already spent the afternoon removing the original "Fragrant Flowers and Clouds" sign. Although this made the inn look even more deserted, it was a very important start for us, as it marked the official launch of our "Romantic Journey" today.

...

After entering the inn, everyone washed up and rested, but Peach and I remained sitting on the second-floor platform overlooking Erhai Lake...

Peach lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said to me with a sigh, "We've been friends in Shanghai for so many years, and I never felt you changed. But now that we're meeting in another city, you seem like a completely different person."

"How come you look like a completely different person?"

Do you remember how busy you were when you were in Shanghai?

I thought for a moment and replied, "Seven days a week, five of which I had to work overtime. Sometimes I really felt like I was carrying a lead weight on my back, and I always felt like I was about to collapse! But now it's much more relaxed."

"That's right! Back then, it was so difficult for Wang Lei and me to ask you out for a meal! ... Not to mention us, even Lu Jia probably couldn't get you to agree to a meal, right?"

I nodded and replied, "Yes, in the months before we broke up, Lu Jia would complain every time she called. She felt that my presence or absence made no difference to her life... But looking back now, it was truly a waste of time and energy."

Peach smiled, then lowered her voice and asked me, "After Lu Jia left, did she contact you again?"

No, not even once.

Peach sighed, "That woman is so heartless! You two were together for three whole years, and she just left like that."

I lit a cigarette, remaining silent, but my mind was filled with thoughts of the past three years...

Do you hate her?

I exhaled the smoke from my mouth and replied softly, "There will be some resentment, but I hope she can find a man who is more suitable for her than me... Peach, you know what? It's precisely because we loved each other so deeply that we can't remain friends after breaking up, because that would only cause us more pain!"

"Don't talk about love with people like us... I don't understand."

I tapped my forehead with my finger, then fell silent again...

Just then, Peach suddenly took a file folder out of her handbag and handed it to me, saying, "I withdrew 100,000 yuan in cash from the bank this afternoon. You can take it..."

I looked up at her...

"Take it. Tie Nan told me that your inn is doing very well right now, but you're a little short on funds... I happen to have some spare cash here."

"I can't take this money. You've already had it tough enough!"

"Oh my... stop being so dramatic. I didn't give you this money entirely because I wanted to... I can't just watch Leilei's dream only get halfway through and then give up... Besides, I'm not giving you this money for nothing. I'm much more realistic than Leilei. Once your inn really starts making money, you have to give me shares, or else you'll have to pay me back with interest."

I joked back, "If you hadn't said anything, I would have really thought you gave it to me for free!"

Peach slapped me on the back and scolded, "You sneaky little thing, keep dreaming!"

After a moment of silence, Peach said to me again, "It's getting late, I need to get some rest. There are still so many places I want to visit tomorrow."

"Okay... I'll definitely make time to be with you tomorrow."

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