Chapter 98: Magical Lottery (Part 2)
When Yu Ling took a fancy to a hand-woven gadget, Zhao Chen would pay for it without hesitation; when Yu Ling was bumped into by a crowded crowd, he would immediately hold her in his arms; when she tasted a particularly delicious snack, he would immediately go back and buy another one.
Yu Ling looked at the man beside her who was trying hard to blend into the "ordinary" life and was just hanging out with her happily, and the sweetness in her heart was about to overflow.
The extravagant feeling brought by the presidential suites and diamond-studded room cards seems insignificant in the face of this real, down-to-earth sweetness.
Before they knew it, it was noon. Both of them were feeling a bit hungry, so they found a clean, elegant little restaurant by the river. The restaurant was busy, and all the window seats were full. The waiter apologized and said they'd have to wait.
Zhao Chen was about to say it was okay when a middle-aged man in a restaurant manager's uniform walked over quickly. His eyes lingered on Zhao Chen's face for a moment, and then he smiled warmly.
"My two distinguished guests! I'm so sorry! One of the guests who had made a reservation just cancelled it! The best seat by the river! This way, please!" As he spoke, he personally led them to a private seat on the second floor with a great view overlooking the small bridge and flowing water.
Yu Ling: “…” Again?
Zhao Chen remained calm, his expression as if he was really lucky: "Oh? That's a coincidence! Thank you, boss!"
After we were seated, the manager personally handed us the menu and recommended several signature dishes with a friendly smile, his attitude so respectful that it was almost attentive.
After they took their order and the manager left, Yu Ling couldn't help herself. She leaned closer to Zhao Chen, lowered her voice, and said with a mischievous smile, "Hey, Mr. Zhao, what's the reason this time? Cancelled the reservation? Or did you win the prize again?"
Zhao Chen picked up the earthenware teacup on the table and took a slow sip. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked a little proud. "Lingling, you don't know this. This ancient town is all about harmony! If you are sincere, your luck will naturally improve!"
He paused and added, "Look, we just won the presidential suite this morning, and now we've got the best seat. What does this mean? It means we're... a match made in heaven! We're incredibly lucky!"
"Pfft!" Yu Ling nearly spit out her tea at his shameless "chosen match" rhetoric. She glared at him angrily, only to receive an even brighter smile from him.
The dishes arrived quickly. They were all home-style dishes, but the ingredients were fresh, the cooking was perfect, and the taste was indeed good. The steamed white water fish was especially tender and delicious, with no earthy smell at all.
"Try this fish," Zhao Chen carefully picked out the fish bones and placed the fattest part of the fish belly into Yu Ling's bowl. "It's said to be freshly caught from the river nearby. It's super fresh."
Yu Ling took a bite and found it was indeed sweet. "Hmm, delicious." She nodded, looking at Zhao Chen's profile as he carefully criticized the food, and was very moved.
At this moment, the presidential suite and the diamond-studded room card were not as real and precious as the man in front of her who was picking out fish bones for her.
After dinner, the two of them wandered around the ancient town, buying some local pastries and knickknacks. As the sun began to set, they returned to the parking lot, still unsatisfied.
As she reached the car, Yu Ling paused.
I saw that next to their "low-key" black SUV, there was a Rolls-Royce Phantom parked at some point... It was completely black, with smooth and elegant lines, and exuded a silent and noble aura!
The shiny paintwork reflected a cool luster in the setting sun, and the golden statue on the front of the car shone brightly. A driver in a neat uniform and white gloves stood respectfully beside the car.
Seeing Zhao Chen and Yu Ling approaching, the driver immediately bowed slightly and spoke in a steady and clear voice: "Mr. Zhao, Ms. Yu. The hotel arranged for me to pick you up and take you to the 'Genting' suite." He opened the car door with impeccable posture.
Yu Ling looked at the out-of-place luxury car, then at her own "low-key" SUV next to it, and was momentarily lost. Was the service at this "farmhouse" too "perfect"? A private car? Or a Rolls-Royce Phantom?
Zhao Chen's expression froze for a rare moment. Clearly, the grandeur of this "special car" had exceeded his expectations in the "lottery" scenario. But he reacted quickly, immediately putting on a "surprised" expression and turning to Ling, saying:
"Lingling, look! This service is so thoughtful! Winning the prize even includes a special car for pick-up and drop-off! It's really... cough, this car looks quite spacious, huh?" He almost let the cat out of the bag.
Yu Ling looked at his embarrassed expression as he tried to cover up his lie, then looked at the Phantom that exuded an air of "I'm very expensive," then at the driver next to him with a serious face, as if he were carrying out a mission to transport a head of state... She couldn't help but burst into laughter! "Hahaha!" She laughed so hard that tears almost came out!
"Zhao Chen...hahaha...you...your 'lottery'...isn't it too...too outrageous? Hahaha..." She laughed so hard she couldn't straighten her back, pointing at the Rolls-Royce. "And it 'looks quite spacious'? This car...does it recognize me? Is it worthy of 'lucky tourists' like us?"
Zhao Chen's handsome face flushed red at her laughter, and his ears were even redder than blood. He took a step forward, hugged Yu Ling in his arms, and rubbed his chin against the top of her head, trying to stop her laughter. His voice was filled with a hint of irritation and anger:
"...Don't laugh! Isn't it enough to be lucky?! Get in the car quickly! Don't keep the driver waiting for too long!" He almost half-carried Yu Ling and "stuffed" her into the spacious and comfortable back seat of the Rolls-Royce.
The doors closed, shutting out the outside world. The cabin was filled with the delicate aroma of premium leather and cedarwood, a tranquil and luxurious experience. The seats were spacious and comfortable, like sinking into a cloud.
Yu Ling finally stopped laughing, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and looked at Zhao Chen, whose ears were still red. She deliberately moved closer to him, lowered her voice, and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear:
"Hey, Zhao Dajinli, tell me the truth... this special car ride isn't just an internal benefit arranged by your 'college classmate's cousin's neighbor', is it?"
Zhao Chen's body stiffened, and he turned his head and glared at her fiercely. But there was no intimidation in his eyes, only shame and frustration at being exposed. He reached out and pinched Yu Ling's cheek punitively, whispering through gritted teeth:
"Comrade Yu Ling! Please correct your attitude! We won this award based on our own merit! It's only natural that we receive service! Do you understand?"
"Pfft..." Yu Ling looked at his cute "hard-mouthed" look and lost her composure again. She leaned on his shoulder and laughed, her shoulders shaking.
Zhao Chen couldn't do anything about her, so he could only hold her tighter in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head. Listening to her muffled laughter and feeling the slight tremors of her body, he couldn't help but smile. Never mind, let her laugh if she wanted to. As long as she was happy, it didn't matter if he lost this little bit of "face."
The Rolls-Royce drove smoothly on the way back to the resort. Outside the window, dusk fell and the distant mountains were as dark as ink.
Yu Ling laughed enough and leaned lazily in Zhao Chen's arms, playing with his slender fingers. Suddenly she thought of something, raised her head, and looked at him with sparkling eyes:
"By the way, Zhao Dajinli, since we're so lucky to have won the presidential suite... then, does it have one of those giant jacuzzi tubs with a starry sky ceiling?"
Zhao Chen looked down at the sly smile in her eyes, knowing she was teasing him again. He raised his eyebrows, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes behind his lenses. He leaned down, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice low and ambiguous:
"Whether... you can go and 'inspect' it yourself tonight and you'll know, right?" He deliberately emphasized the word "inspect", dragging out the ending tone with a strong hint.
Yu Ling's cheeks flushed instantly, and she punched him in the chest in anger: "You're not serious!"
Zhao Chen chuckled softly, the vibration of his chest clearly conveyed to her. He grabbed her restless hand, interlocked their fingers, and looked at her flushed cheeks with burning eyes. His voice was gentle but firm:
"Whether it's a presidential suite or a farm stay...as long as you're here, everywhere is the best view."
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