I sang a song to Yang Sisi, expressing my feelings at that moment. I didn't think it was romantic; it was just an expression from the depths of my heart. A little while later, Yang Sisi replied, saying, "It's beautiful. I didn't know you could sing!"

"Just saying... You have no idea how beautiful Erhai Lake is right now... After staying in Dali for so long, I really don't want to go anywhere else. If I can grow old and die here, it would be a blessing from my past life!"

"How beautiful is it? Take a picture and send it to me."

In order to capture the most authentic view of Erhai Lake at this time, I went back inside to get Nicole's DSLR camera. After taking the photos, I sent them to Yang Sisi via WeChat.

This time, Yang Sisi didn't reply for a long time, and I stared at the direction of Erhai Lake for a while before immersing myself in the twilight, unable to extricate myself... It wasn't until I saw the floating hotel standing at Longkan Wharf that I came back to my senses.

This is the most important project of "Binjiang Group" in Dali. After three years, it has finally been completed. It is a culmination of modern civilization; it is also a microcosm of Ye Zhi's entire life. Isn't this what she has been busy with day and night?

In a daze, my phone vibrated. I picked it up and saw it was a message from Yang Sisi. She said, "Dali is like a dream, a dream with you and me, and with our most beautiful time... If our guesthouse hadn't been demolished, I don't know what it would be like now... At least, Tie Nan wouldn't have gone astray, and Coach Ma wouldn't have become a monk at Jizu Mountain... Our group has really drifted apart!"

Yang Sisi's sudden sadness made me feel uneasy too. I lit a cigarette and glanced at the floating hotel again. It was because of its existence that our inn was reduced to ruins. I guess that's fate...

Dali, a group of people, countless grudges and affections!

Yang Sisi sent another message: "I'm so glad that after all these years, we can still keep in touch like this... This is probably the longest thing I've ever persisted in my life!"

"I'm sorry, I've caused you a lot of grievances over the years."

"Don't say that... The way you say it makes it sound like a story is about to end... Everyone in the story has finally realized something, and you finally understand how hard it has been for me all these years."

"Heh...a story?...If it really is a story, I hope it has a comedic ending."

Yes, it will.

I squinted, took a deep drag of my cigarette, and texted Yang Sisi, asking, "Will you choose to live in Dali again in the future?"

"It depends on you. If you come to Shanghai and take me with you, I'll go wherever you want."

Because of what Yang Sisi said, I thought about many things, and then asked her, "Do you remember the beginning of the story?"

"I remember, the first time we met, I automatically assumed you and my Uncle Huang were of the same generation, so I called you Uncle too... Then, we met again at that viewing platform..."

I met Ye Zhi online, and that was the beginning of your relationship with her… These past few days back in Shanghai, I've come to understand many things… I can't do any better, and the future is full of uncertainties; I don't even know if you came to Shanghai because I 'forced' you? For two people to be together, willingness is the foundation… Based on guilt, or one-sided admiration, it's the beginning of tragedy… Love isn't like that! …What I'm saying is a bit 'chaotic,' and I don't know if you can understand…”

"I see."

“I’ll wait for you… If you’re still hesitant by then, I’ll let go… I won’t argue with you anymore… My mom keeps telling me: Sisi, next year is your birth year in the Chinese zodiac. Either you have higher aspirations for your career, or you settle down and find someone to settle down with. If you can’t do either of those, then you’ve really wasted the best years of your life. You can’t keep acting like a child. You need to mature… At the very least, you need to be more realistic!”

Following this message, Yang Sisi sent another message, asking, "What exactly is reality?... Do you know, Michael?"

"This is a very broad question, and everyone's understanding is different... So, I think if one day you care about a house, care about whose surname the child takes, and care about my income and social status, then you have really become realistic."

"No, this isn't the reality I understand... Never mind, it's a bit early to talk about this... Take another picture of Erhai Lake for me."

I looked up and saw that in the short time we were chatting, the sky had already darkened, and Erhai Lake seemed to have lost its luster, no longer as stunning as before. But I still listened to Yang Sisi and took another picture of her. In the whole picture, the most dazzling thing was the Binjiang Group's water hotel. All the hotel lights were on, and these intersecting lights looked like the starry sky reflected in Erhai Lake.

I'm in a daze again, just like I always am...

What is it that I really want?

What exactly is this so-called "waiting"?

At this moment, I felt a particularly delicate balance in my heart. Yang Sisi and Ye Zhi each stood on one side, both of them women I cared about.

This is the biggest reality for me: I haven't completely forgotten Ye Zhi, nor have I completely fallen in love with Yang Sisi!

If our story truly is a tale of romance and fleeting beauty, then I implore the writer to give us an ending as soon as possible… I don’t want anyone else in this story to be hurt!

...

After sitting in the yard for a while, I put the cash Nicole had given me back into the closet in my room. Not long after, I received a call from an unknown number. I answered it with some doubt, and after a moment of silence, the person on the other end said to me, "Are you Michael?"

That sound!

Although I was a little hesitant to admit it, I still tentatively asked, "You...you're Peach?"

"Hmm...long time no see."

In my excitement, I exclaimed, "Really!"

Long time no see... It's been almost two years since I heard from you! ...Where are you now?

"The place where we used to run an inn... Could you come over?... I want to see you."

"Wait here, I'm coming right now."

...

After hanging up the phone, I quickly walked to the outside of the ancient city and took a taxi to Longkan. Taozi was already waiting there. She was wearing a black coat, her hair was draped over her shoulders, and her profile looked melancholy, probably because the scene had touched her heart.

I walked over to her, leaning on my crutches. She looked at me with some surprise and then asked, "What happened to your leg?"

I was hit by a car a while ago, but it's nothing serious.

Peach nodded, then turned around to look behind her and said to me, "I booked a room at this hotel and they gave me two drink vouchers. Let's go to the restaurant for a drink."

(End of this chapter)

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