Chapter 83. Epilogue: The mountains have been crossed...
Nine months later, in Qingshui Town.
Early August, it's the height of summer again.
The deafening sound of firecrackers shattered the tranquility of the alley, crackling and popping, stirring up the surrounding air with excitement, accompanied by the applause and cheers of countless people.
The loudspeaker in front of the door played the cheerful song "Auspicious Start," and various opening flower baskets and red carpets stretched from the courtyard all the way to the alley. The young female boss lifted the red silk covering the sign in front of the courtyard, which aroused a lot of cheers from the crowd.
A plump woman in her forties or fifties, wearing a red cheongsam, was enthusiastically making arrangements at the door, her face beaming with smiles.
"Come on in! Grand opening specials! Today is the first day of the hotel's opening, all rooms are on sale, and there's an all-you-can-eat buffet. Everyone, neighbors, folks, brothers and sisters, come and support us! Make yourself at home!"
A banquet had already been set up in the courtyard, and people were filing in one after another, creating a lively atmosphere.
Children were chasing each other through the alley, laughing and giggling, clutching pieces of candy in their hands.
Neighbors from the surrounding area frequently came forward to offer their congratulations, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere.
The courtyard was almost full of people, and neighbors chatted among themselves. "This family is quite generous! It seems like there won't be any problems with their neighborly relations in the future. The owner and his wife seem to be honest people. They're very lucky!"
“That’s not the boss’s wife.” Another neighbor pointed to a tall, thin, and unassuming young woman at the door. “That’s her! But I heard that the couple has a very good relationship with the boss, like family, so they’ve been running around helping him since the renovation started.”
"Wow, so young and already a boss? This young lady is amazing..."
This is a place called "Xiaofeng Alley", located in the western part of Qingshui Town.
The nearby Xishan Mountain is now a thriving tourist attraction in Qingshui Town, attracting huge crowds during peak season.
The courtyard, located at number 41 in the alley, has been converted into a guesthouse.
The boss is a young woman who is very beautiful.
About eight months ago, she and a few others went to Xiaofeng Lane to look at houses. She fell in love with this courtyard at first sight and immediately signed a contract with the real estate agent and paid a deposit, claiming that she would transform this abandoned courtyard into a homestay.
The hotel is called "Watari".
The hotel's overall decor wasn't flashy, but it was quite cozy. It felt more like home, exuding a sense of tranquility reminiscent of "picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence," with fluttering snow willow blossoms planted in front of the door.
When she first suggested turning the place into a guesthouse, the neighbors advised her against it.
One is that the tourism industry in Qingshui has become somewhat saturated after years of development, and various homestays and alleys near Xishan have sprung up one after another, so there is nothing new to discover.
Another issue is that Qingshui Town isn't very large, and hotels from various brands have all moved in. Most tourists will definitely choose reputable hotels first, which means guesthouses will be squeezed even further – a thankless and difficult task indeed.
But for some reason, this girl was determined to open a bed and breakfast.
Surprisingly, business is booming today with our grand opening promotion. We've had quite a few tourists coming in to inquire, and the rooms for the next few days are already fully booked.
The banquet lasted from morning until almost 1 p.m. before the crowd gradually thinned out. Aunt Chao stood at the door waving goodbye, saying, "Come again when you have time!"
"Hey!" Two neighboring aunties waved their hands and left together.
"Aunt Chao, have some water." Xia Chan handed her a cup of chrysanthemum tea from behind. "You've been busy all morning, aren't you tired? I just wanted to take over for you for a while."
"Oh, not tired at all!" Aunt Chao took the tea and gulped it down, then wiped her sweat. The blazing sun shone on her face, but she smiled broadly, looking at the whole courtyard with a hearty laugh. "I'm happy, really happy! Although it's not the same, at least I'm back..."
That evening, Xia Chan, Huang Mao, La La, Aunt Chao, and the others counted the gift money and checked the bill. Huang Mao scratched his head and pouted, "This...it was such a lively day, how come we didn't make much money! It's just a small fraction of the drinks, and even with the gas money for my car, it's not enough..."
Xia Chan couldn't help but laugh as she pressed the calculator to do the math for him, "Look."
"Today is our grand opening special! All guests who check in will receive a 30% discount on room rates. Bookings made through the platform with coupons will get an additional discount, meaning we're basically just making a small profit and generating buzz."
"Most of the guests ate for free at today's banquet. The neighbors just came to join in the fun, and they've already done more than enough by helping us post marriage certificates and updates on social media. We didn't really give any money as gifts anyway."
"Most of the others are friends from afar and former neighbors from Shanfeng Lane. None of them are rich, so how much money can they give you? If they can earn a small amount for drinks, they've already made a killing."
Huang Mao sighed listlessly, lamenting how difficult business really was. Xia Chan warned him that the first few years of doing business are usually unprofitable, and he shouldn't expect to make a fortune overnight.
While counting the flower baskets sent by her friends for the opening ceremony, Xia Chan spotted a pot of fresh flowers among them.
Pause.
"wish:
May your business flourish and may you overcome all obstacles!
"Sunken Boat Crossing"
The blond-haired man glanced at the greeting card in her hand and whistled leisurely, "Oh my, Chen Zhoudu! He really knows how to talk! He said he would retire after the tour... This last concert was just half a month ago, where is he? Where is he?"
"Making him wait...that's just a nice way of putting it. If you ask me, sis, don't wait for him anymore. He might have another woman out there! Just find any man and marry him. I'll send him an invitation too to make him jealous!"
Xia Chan slapped him across the face without any hesitation, saying, "You're a dog, a yellow dog."
In the following two weeks, "Du" business gradually got back on track and remained thriving.
After the opening period, the daily full occupancy of "Du" gradually decreased, and it entered a stable and peaceful period.
On this noisy day, Xia Chan and the receptionist checked the purchase order, while La La enthusiastically broadcasted the event live.
"Hello everyone! I'm Lala! Today, let's guess where I am. Look at the scenery around me, isn't it beautiful?"
"That's right! This is my hometown, Tongcheng, Qingshui Town! I'm currently staying at a hotel in Qingshui Town called 'Du'! Isn't it beautiful and quiet? It's located at No. 41 Xiaofeng Lane, Qingshan Street, Qingshui Town! Right next to our famous Xishan Mountain is Qingshui. Everyone is welcome to come to Qingshui anytime and experience it for yourself! There's also a very beautiful landlady here! Look!"
She suddenly turned the camera towards Xia Chan, whose profile was shown in the shot, with her head down, completely absorbed in her work.
Xia Chan froze for a moment and quickly covered her face, but it was too late. The barrage of comments had already started frantically spamming a name.
"Xia Chan?"
"Is that Xia Chan?"
"She looks just like Xia Chan!"
"Is the proprietress Xia Chan?"
"Didn't they say Xia Chan left Shanghai before? I remember her family is from Qingshui, Tongcheng, right? Did she go back home and open a bed and breakfast?"
"Who is Xia Chan? Is she the one who's with Chen Zhoudu?"
...
Xia Chan had always disliked having her appear on screen during Lala's live streams. Lala looked at the names that were quickly flooding the chat with comments and gave a dry laugh, not daring to say a word. She only said, "Alright! Everyone will know once they come and see for themselves, right? You're all welcome to come and play at Qingshui!"
The receptionist checked the shopping list, then rummaged through the booking system and sighed, "Sigh, Sister Xiaochan, why are there so few guests today? This is the fewest we've had recently..."
Xia Chan smiled and said, "The peak season was during the summer vacation, and with the lingering buzz from the opening promotions, there were naturally more guests than now. That's how it is with hotels; there are peak and off-peak seasons, Si—"
She turned to look at her, but the words caught in her throat. The receptionist tilted her head and winked, waiting for her to finish her sentence.
Xia Chan's eyes welled up slightly, but she finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at her, "It's okay, Xiaoyue, just keep doing well, there will be a time when you make money. When business is good, I'll give you a bonus."
The receptionist, Xiaoyue, immediately responded via text message.
Xia Chan took a light breath and looked up at the row of cicadas, puppies, chili peppers, tigers, boats... hanging from the ceiling above the front desk, which resembled wind chimes... She chuckled softly.
No sooner had she finished speaking than Xiaoyue, the receptionist, received a phone call. After hanging up, she was beaming with joy.
"Sis, we've got a customer! A guest wants to book a double room for tonight, but he doesn't know the exact directions, so we have to pick him up from the station."
Xia Chan asked, "Where's Huang Mao?"
Lala: "There's work at the carpenter's shop. Huang Mao said she's rushing to finish it these past few days and probably won't be able to come back. She wants you to fill in for her."
Xia Chan could only sigh and agree.
As evening falls, the setting sun casts a golden glow over Qingshui Railway Station, painting the entire sky in a pinkish-yellow hue. People stream out of the station hall in a continuous stream.
Since Tongcheng and Qingshui became tourist towns and high-speed rail lines opened one after another, the number of passengers at the train station has been increasing.
Xia Chan strained her eyes to look at the LED scrolling screen in the exit hall, but she couldn't make out which train the crowd coming out was from.
She had no choice but to dial the phone, but no one answered.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, lamenting that the young woman was inexperienced as she had just started working, hanging up the phone without asking the customer's name, exact time of arrival, or where to wait.
After that, I couldn't get through no matter how many times I tried to call back, so I could only wait aimlessly here.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, shielding her from the blinding heat of the setting sun. Xia Chan was slightly startled and raised her eyes.
The next second, her eyes suddenly flickered.
A figure stood quietly a few steps away from her, bathed in the dazzling sunset.
He was slender and tall, handsome, wearing a white shirt. The setting sun enveloped him like a thin veil, casting a golden glow upon him.
He had a guitar slung over his right shoulder and a suitcase on his left.
The summer breeze stirred his clothes, making them sway gently, clean and fresh as he faced the setting sun.
It was as if the twilight reflected the frost and snow on the distant mountains.
Xia Chan was stunned, staring at him for a long time without snapping back to reality.
He looked at her, his lips and eyes full of smiles.
His cell phone was still ringing in his pocket, revealing a simple little boat pendant.
Xia Chan was still dialing the phone in her hand, staring intently at him, yet it was as if nothing else existed. The world stood still, the wind stilled... The hurried crowds passed by, and only time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
After a long while, Xia Chan smiled and raised an eyebrow at him, asking, "Are you from Shanghai?"
"Mm." Shen Zhoudu nodded with a smile, his eyes slightly reddening.
Her eyes reddened slightly, and she clicked her tongue softly, "All the precautions are just as mentioned online. Hot water and Wi-Fi are available 24 hours a day. Meals aren't included in the room rate, but you can share meals."
"Long-term rentals include private bathrooms, while shared rooms and hourly rooms do not."
"For long-term stays, you can pay for meals monthly or per meal, and you can say what you want to eat, but it's not guaranteed; the dishes are all ordinary home-style cooking, no fancy meals. Can you accept these conditions?"
"Yes, I can." Chen Zhoudu nodded with a smile, "The only question is... can the proprietress protect me?"
She burst into laughter through her tears, a single tear rolling down her cheek, but she nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, God."
Chen Zhoudu smiled, his eyes red, and suddenly stepped forward to pull her into his arms.
She rested her head on his shoulder, able to hear the pounding of his heart in her chest, his pulse and body temperature burning hot, and suddenly reached out to hug him tightly.
The setting sun shone brightly overhead. She glanced at his suitcase and gave it a light kick, looking at the smooth wheels, and said, "It's not broken."
Chen Zhoudu laughed, "Then give me a kick."
She refused, saying, "My feet hurt."
His smile deepened, and he gently nestled his cheek into the hair on her shoulder and neck. The summer evening breeze swept through the mountains and seas, finally reaching the returning boat at this moment.
"Welcome home, Zhoudu."
-End of "Crossing Summer"-
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Author's Note: Thank you all for your support! [Sprinkling flowers] The main text of "Crossing Summer" ends today. The epilogue will begin next week. Although not many people are reading this book, I still want to thank the few readers who subscribe every day. I hope you enjoy reading it! [Sprinkling flowers]
My next novel will be a contemporary romance called "If Time Doesn't Remember," a modern fairy tale set in the city, featuring arranged marriage/reunion after a long separation/reconciliation after a broken relationship/chasing after the husband. The synopsis will probably be revised before I start writing, as it seems a bit angsty now, but the actual story is fine. It's still the warm style that I prefer. I hope any interested readers will add it to their pre-orders. I also hope we can meet again in the next book. See you next time!
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Synopsis of "If Time Doesn't Remember":
Everyone in Beijiang City's social circles says that Shi Sheng, the young lady of the Shi family, is so infatuated with Lu Huaiyu that she's willing to be a substitute for him.
Lu Huaiyu, the second young master of the Lu family in Beijiang, is a promising young man with a cool and aloof demeanor. As the most promising young talent in the industry, his only regret is that there is always a white moonlight in his heart.
It is said that Miss Yao, his beloved, was his benefactor when he was young, and had almost risked her life to save him many years ago.
Lu Huaiyu had been devoted to her for many years, until she got engaged to someone else, at which point he chose to marry Shi Sheng.
After Shi Sheng and Lu Huaiyu got married, they were once very fond of each other and had a sweet relationship, but in the end they still fell apart.
On the day they broke up, Lu Huaiyu asked her, "Where do you plan to go from now on?"
Shi Sheng said, "I'm going to forget about you."
The man pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time before finally leaving with a sullen face, his expression as cold as ever. "Then so be it."
...
After Shi Sheng left, Lu Huaiyu learned that Shi Sheng suffered from neurogenic retrograde amnesia.
She would gradually forget this illness unless she deliberately tried to recall it. Every now and then, she would forget her previous memories.
She had forgotten the color of the parrot her family had when she was seven years old;
She had forgotten the name of the puppy that had been with her when she was ten years old;
She had also forgotten that when she was twelve, she had almost risked her life to save a boy named Lu Huaiyu.
...
On the day Lu Huaiyu learned the truth, he came to the Shi family's door alone.
That day, the sun shone brightly and the wind was warm. The girl stood in the breeze and smiled at him, just like when they first met.
Who are you?
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The female lead was the one who saved the male lead, but she forgot because of her illness, so she also thought that the person who saved the male lead was the female supporting character.
The male lead has no exes or "white moonlight" in his heart and soul; he only loves the female lead. Don't worry about whether he loves the female lead or the "person who saved him"—the synopsis can only provide so much information. You'll find out when you read the story!
*The author is the female lead's biological mother, and can't write female leads who are too love-obsessed, nor can she write male leads who are too scummy. The synopsis will be revised again before starting the story. The main text will not be "angsty". Actually, this is an urban fairy tale.
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