Chapter 18 Bathing with a Beautiful Woman
On Saturday noon, in a private room of the Jixianghai Hotel in Qingrenba, Jifeng and seven or eight male and female classmates sat around a table, chatting about their respective situations after graduation.
Hua Ailing looked Ji Feng up and down and said, "I haven't seen you for a few months. Why do you look like a charcoal seller?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter.
Ji Feng laughed and said, "I'm not selling charcoal, I'm clearly selling misery."
Xin Xiao interrupted and said, "Don't be fooled by his smoky appearance, he is a very thoughtful person." After saying that, he glanced at Hua Ailing, which caused everyone to laugh again.
Hua Ailing continued, "Although he's a little darker, he looks stronger. It seems he's experienced enough."
"Oh, did you hear that? There is heartache in his words." Another female classmate laughed.
"That's true. I feel like the theme of this party is already clear." Yong Xiangdong said with a smile.
Xin Xiao raised his glass and said, "Dear classmates, welcome to Lan Valley. Today we gather at Lover's Dam to toast to all the lovers in the world who finally get married!" As soon as he finished speaking, everyone laughed and stood up to clink glasses.
Yong Xiangdong joked, "Xin Xiao, this is so unkind of you. The host hasn't even spoken yet, but you've already spoken, making it seem like you're the one treating."
"Even you know that Jifeng is treating, so who wouldn't know that? The reason I spoke first was to set the main theme of today's party so that we wouldn't be distracted by others and we need to stay focused on this topic."
"Haha, kid, you've made great progress following Jifeng. You're full of clever ideas."
"Jifeng, what Yong Xiangdong said sounds like you are Guiguzi, haha." Before Xin Xiao finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter again.
"I don't dare to be one, far from it." Ji Feng laughed and said, "Hey, Xin Xiao, why didn't Lu Chenzhou come? Didn't you notify him?"
"I haven't been notified. I called several times, but the number is no longer in service. Maybe they have changed their number." Xin Xiao replied.
"I remember that Xiangdong seemed to be close to Lu Chenzhou during school. Can you contact him?" Ji Feng turned to Yong Xiangdong and asked.
"During school, Chen Zhou and I were indeed very close. We lived in the same dormitory and were both from Mo Island. But..." Yong Xiangdong's face became noticeably heavy.
"What's wrong? Can't you contact him?" Ji Feng saw that Yong Xiangdong seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"Chen Zhou, he..." Yong Xiangdong's expression became even more solemn.
"What happened to him?"
"What happened?" Everyone turned their eyes to Yong Xiangdong.
"He's gone from a terminal illness." Yong Xiangdong said heavily.
"Ah!" Everyone screamed in unison.
"What's going on?" Everyone opened their eyes wide and asked anxiously.
"It's been many years. I was by his side when he passed away, but his parents couldn't..."
As he spoke, Yong Xiangdong could no longer control his emotions and his eyes filled with tears.
The atmosphere suddenly became silent, and everyone had serious expressions and dull eyes.
"I'm sorry everyone, I ruined such a good atmosphere. Shen Zhou's fate is too miserable..." Yong Xiangdong said, tears couldn't stop falling.
Ji Feng said, "It's okay. This isn't your fault. We all know that you and Chen Zhou have a deep bond as brothers, and we understand your feelings perfectly."
"Chen Zhou is an introvert, but he is very kind and righteous. He would rather suffer a lot than trouble others. He is the kind of person who would rather the world let him down than let the world down." Yong Xiangdong said with a sob.
"When did it happen?" Ji Feng asked.
"It's been ten years." Yong Xiangdong couldn't help sobbing.
"Ten years? He's only thirty years old? What a pity." Ji Feng couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, too young." Everyone sighed.
"Whenever I think of the sinking ship, I..." Yong Xiangdong was already sobbing.
After finally stopping his tears, Yong Xiangdong picked up a full glass of white wine and said, "I'm sorry for spoiling everyone's fun today. I have some things to do, so I'd like to offer you a drink in advance to apologize. I'll leave after we finish drinking. You guys have fun and we'll get together again in Mo Island when we have the chance." After saying that, he pushed away Ji Feng's hand that blocked his way, raised his head, and drank the glass of white wine in one gulp.
"To the east!" Ji Feng couldn't help but feel excited.
"Xiangdong, it's okay, don't think too much about it." Xin Xiao agreed with a frown.
Yong Xiangdong stood up and said, "Goodbye, everyone. See you again tomorrow." Then he turned and left.
Seeing that Yong Xiangdong was determined to leave, everyone stood up and prepared to see him off. Ji Feng said, "Don't go out. I'll go see Xiangdong off."
Everyone sat back in their seats, and Ji Feng followed Yong Xiangdong out of the private room.
When they got outside, Ji Feng helped Yong Xiangdong stop a taxi, took out a hundred-yuan bill and handed it to the driver, instructing the driver to make sure to take Yong Xiangdong home safely.
Yong Xiangdong said to Ji Feng with red eyes: "Thank you. I'm sorry today. I will apologize to you alone another day." After that, he opened the door and got into the car.
Ji Feng said, "The dead cannot be resurrected. Chen Zhou's spirit in heaven will be comforted to have a good brother like you." After that, he waved goodbye to Yong Xiangdong.
The two waved goodbye. The taxi merged into the traffic flow, and Jifeng stood there for a long time, not moving.
Back in the private room, the atmosphere was still depressing. Ji Feng said, "Alas, things are unpredictable. I didn't expect that at our age, some classmates have already left us."
"During school, Yong Xiangdong and Lu Chenzhou were indeed very good friends. They were really as close as brothers and were inseparable every day, eating, attending classes, exercising... It was really hard for Yong Xiangdong to accept that Lu Chenzhou was gone." Hua Ailing said sadly.
"Just now Xiangdong mentioned that when Chen Zhou left, his parents were gone. Were they not around? Where are his parents now? How are their health? What is the status of Chen Zhou's marriage? Does he have children? Does he have any brothers or sisters? Does anyone know?" Jifeng asked a series of questions.
Everyone shook their heads, indicating they didn't know. Xin Xiao said, "I guess Xiangdong was talking about how Chen Zhou's parents didn't get to see him for the last time before he died. He seems to be an only child. I don't know anything else."
"I only remember that Lu Chenzhou was in our class during his school days. No, he was a criminal psychology expert in our school. His research was more in-depth than that of our teachers. Even Dean Lu thought highly of him. After graduation, he worked in the Modao Criminal Investigation Detachment. I don't know anything else about him." Another girl, Zheng Xiyuan, said.
"Yes, before I even graduated, I helped several municipal bureaus solve several cases." Ji Feng added.
"Alas, God is jealous of talented people!" Xin Xiao sighed.
Seeing that everyone was still upset, Ji Feng wanted to change the subject. He raised his glass and said, "It's not easy for us all to get together today. I propose a toast to our friendship!"
"Cheers!" His proposal was responded by everyone.
"I'm toasting too. Let's drink a toast to everyone's health!" Hua Ailing still maintained her erratic style, sometimes speaking Mandarin and sometimes Sichuan dialect.
"agree."
Hua Ailing's proposal also received unanimous response from the classmates.
"We are all middle-aged, with elderly parents and young children to take care of. Our bodies are not our own, but belong to the entire family. We are responsible not only for ourselves but also for our family." Hua Ailing said quietly, glancing at Ji Feng.
Xin Xiao happened to see this scene, so he said, "It's not easy for everyone to come all this way. Ji Feng and I have discussed it: everyone should have a good meal and drink at noon, and then go to the nearby beach, such as Lover's Dam. In the evening, I will take everyone to soak in the bromide salt hot springs unique to Lan Valley. The hot springs and accommodations have been arranged. Tomorrow, Sunday, I will contact my cousin and take everyone out to sea for fishing."
Everyone agreed. Only Hua Ailing hesitated: "I originally planned to go back and forth on the same day and didn't plan to stay longer."
Her subtle intention of pushing it back couldn't be hidden from everyone's eyes. Everyone knew it and smiled and advised her: "Since you are here, stay one more day."
"Of course I am. I just can't stand being persuaded." When Hua Ailing said this, everyone burst into laughter.
Ji Feng quickly came to her rescue and raised his glass: "First of all, thank you all for coming from far away to honor us; secondly, thank you Xin Xiao for organizing it; thirdly, it's not easy for us to get together, and we don't know when the next gathering will be, so let's have fun and get drunk." As he said that, he stood up and clinked glasses. After a series of clinking sounds, everyone drank it all in one gulp.
After lunch, they strolled in groups of three or four along Lover's Dam. Gazing at the boundless ocean, listening to the roaring waves, braving the sea breeze, and greedily breathing in the sea-scented air, their chests filled with the sea breeze, feeling a sudden sense of refreshment. The suppressed emotions of lunch vanished with each breath, as if their souls had received a thorough cleansing, becoming light and clear.
The hot springs of Lan Valley, one of the world's four largest bromide-salt hot springs, are known as "Tangshang" (the "Shang" or "Shangshang") and date back to ancient times to a renowned warm water state. Bubbling up from over 2,000 meters below the surface, these springs are rich in over ten precious minerals and elements, including salt, sulfur, bromine, and arsenic, making them a renowned hot spring destination.
As everyone stepped into the hot spring area, they felt the warm steam and their bodies and minds relaxed.
Among the numerous hot spring pools, Xin Xiao invited everyone to gather in the largest. Some closed their eyes to rest, some chatted quietly, and some played and joked. Before they knew it, Ji Feng and Hua Ailing were the only ones left in the pool—the others had quietly dispersed. Hua Ailing finally understood the deeper meaning behind Xin Xiao's "arrangement" and couldn't help but laugh.
"I only come to see you once every six months. Don't get angry!" Hua Ailing was the first to break the awkward atmosphere.
"How is that possible? I'm thankful that you didn't go and 'scout' my bed sheets." Ji Feng still looked nonchalant.
"Open the door to disgusting damn it - it's disgusting to the extreme." Hua Ailing was probably afraid that Ji Feng wouldn't understand these insulting words, so she switched back to Mandarin and scolded him.
"Then why are you so close to me?"
"I was infected by you and also became a masochist." Hua Ailing's soft and spicy Sichuan accent made Ji Feng very happy.
"Don't, I didn't teach you. You learned it by yourself."
"Look how scared you are, can I still rely on you?"
"I'm scared? Haha, what have you ever seen me afraid of?" Ji Feng looked indifferent.
"Hey, why don't you teach me how to swim?" Hua Ailing looked at Ji Feng with a sweet face.
"Are you kidding me? We, a man and a woman, naked, hugging each other in public?" After saying this, Ji Feng himself felt strange, thinking that Dean Lu's "admonition" must have taken effect on him. If it were before, he might have said something inappropriate.
"You are ugly, but you have beautiful thoughts. Who wants to hug you?" Hua Ailing had forgotten how many years it had been since she had acted so coquettishly. It was as if she had returned to her teenage years.
"I'm much more stable than before, so please don't lead me astray again."
"Hahahahaha——" When Hua Ailing heard this, she laughed as if she had heard a huge joke and was out of breath.
"You...you are so funny."
"Tsk, I've really become more stable." Ji Feng said disdainfully.
"Good, good, steady, too steady, just like an old dog, it makes me laugh to death!" Hua Ailing laughed so hard that she fell backwards by the pool.
"Hahaha! You know? This is the funniest sentence I have heard today." Her laughter was crisp and pleasant, like the sound of a mountain spring, with the unique spicy flavor of Sichuan girls, which made people feel itchy.
Ji Feng, however, looked like a fool who was left aside, looking at Hua Ailing with a puzzled expression.
"Okay, okay, sister, stop laughing." He drawled, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"Sister—can you please be careful?" he added.
"What should I pay attention to?" Hua Ailing stopped laughing and asked in confusion.
"I bet that Xin Xiao must be hiding in some corner, secretly observing us with those gossips. Do you believe it?" Ji Feng deliberately lowered his voice and pretended to be righteous.
"We haven't done anything bad, so why should we be afraid?"
"Maybe he's filming us secretly with his phone. He's definitely capable of doing that," Ji Feng said seriously. "Just think about it, the two of us, shirtless and alone, smiling happily, with these words on top of it." Ji Feng pointed to the name of the hot spring pool, "Yuanyang Spring," and "they'd make up a short essay about it. Just imagine, that scene..."
"But I really can't help it!" Hua Ailing still couldn't stop smiling and couldn't close her mouth at all.
"So, at least we should be serious and stop laughing. Otherwise, if the photos are sent to the classmates, you can imagine it yourself..." Ji Feng said expressionlessly.
"Oh, why do you care so much? Aren't you tired?" Hua Ailing suddenly regained the feeling of being a spoiled child in her girlhood, her tone light and a little willful.
"Hey..." Ji Feng shook his head helplessly, "Is this considered prudent?"
"What's so stable about you? You're not stable when you should be, and you pretend to be serious when you shouldn't be." Hua Ailing was harsh in her words, but there was a smile in her tone.
"So, when do you think we should kiss?" Ji Feng tilted his head to look at her, a wicked smile on his lips.
"It's time to be stable now."
"What?"
"It's time to be stable now." Hua Ailing repeated it loudly, not knowing it was a trap.
"I didn't hear clearly. What should we do now?" Ji Feng asked with a sinister smile.
"Steady..." Hua Ailing said halfway before she realized that she had been tricked by Ji Feng.
"Hahaha, when did you become so proactive?" Ji Feng laughed.
"You...you call this being steady? You're not serious yourself and you still complain that I'm laughing?" She glared at him and couldn't help pursing her lips.
"Okay, okay, let's stop making fun of each other and be serious." As he said this, he immediately tightened his face and put on a businesslike look, but he couldn't hold it back for two seconds. The corners of his mouth twitched and his face was almost twisted into a ball.
This scene made Hua Ailing laugh so hard that she was shaking with laughter.
"Come on, if I wanted to take the photo, I would have finished it a long time ago. Stop pretending." She shook her wet hair, and water droplets dripped down the ends of her hair.
"Okay, if that brat Xin Xiao dares to post on social media, I'll show you how I'll deal with him."
"You are not only self-deprecating, but also narcissistic. Maybe they are already enjoying themselves, who would stare at you?"
"Then why don't you go eat something?"
"Then what?"
"Then... go back to your room and rest." Ji Feng looked calm.
"Oh, go back to your room and rest?" Hua Ailing repeated it, and also asked a rhetorical question. Her tone was gentle and sweet, full of tenderness and charm.
"No..." He suddenly paused, his eyes moved, as if he understood.
"Nothing?" She immediately put on a serious look, raised her eyebrows, and the hot temper of a Sichuan girl was fully revealed.
Ji Feng reacted very quickly and immediately put on a nonchalant smile: "I don't know if Xin Xiao is sensible. He booked a standard room with a king-size bed for us?" After saying that, he deliberately winked at her.
"How about a standard room? How about a king-size bed room?" She approached step by step, a smile on her lips, but a sly glint in her eyes, three parts shyness and seven parts teasing.
"A soft big bed, a bathtub full of foam, fluttering gauze curtains, dim lights, and, oh, there's also red wine..." He closed his eyes, took an exaggerated breath, and pretended to be intoxicated.
"You are quite experienced, man." She glared at him in mock anger.
"You don't have much experience, how do you know that I do?" He immediately turned the tables and spoke very fluently.
"I... stop it!" She was stunned and realized that she had said something wrong. Her face turned red like a ripe apple.
"Oh, my great professor, you are still blushing because of the alcohol you drank at noon?" He was sharp-eyed and quick-tongued, and he didn't forget to add a stab.
"Hateful!" She scooped up the water in the pool and splashed it at Jifeng.
"Oh, I see. It must be because the water is too hot, scalding, right?" He gave her a way out, but he was very happy in his heart.
"Look at your hypocritical attitude, you rascal."
"Haha, since it's so hot, let's go and eat something." Ji Feng finally let her go, and the two walked side by side towards the buffet restaurant. The blush on Hua Ailing's face slowly faded away.
Compared to Hua Ailing who has been devoted to teaching for many years, Ji Feng at this moment looks like a scoundrel.
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