I feel guilty, but it's all in the past now.
The atmosphere was a bit tense. Cao Xue finally spoke up, saying, "People live such fucking fake lives... so fucking fake, haha!"
I didn't say anything. Cao Xue reached for the waiter and asked for another bottle of the same strong liquor we had drunk that day... But I no longer had the time or the energy to drink with him, because another guest was asking me about booking a room, and I had to stay sober.
I went to the restroom, intending to settle the bill there. When I came out, the cashier told me that Cao Xue had already paid; perhaps, because of some shared experience, he had already considered me a friend.
...
Back at Jiulongju, I was busy again until midnight before I finally had a moment to relax... While washing up, I received a WeChat message from Yang Sisi. She asked, "Have you resolved things over there? It's almost Chinese New Year, we can't just sit here and wait to die!"
Some possibilities crossed my mind, but I remained calm and replied, "Last night, Cao Xiaobei brought me the key to the lock that had been changed."
"What's going on?"
"I don't know what's going on either, do you know?"
After a moment, Yang Sisi replied, "Maybe he had a change of heart... His father did something really unethical!... I think Cao Xiaobei, although he's a bit of a scoundrel, still has a sense of justice."
Before I could reply, Yang Sisi sent another message: "I've been abroad for a while now. Why don't you ask how I'm doing over there?"
"With Little Leopard by my side, things can't get too bad, right?"
“But I felt even lonelier than when I was in Dali… everywhere I looked there were foreigners with big noses and big eyes. I still think that Chinese people with flat faces are more attractive and have a more approachable feel.”
"Do you know what loneliness is? This word isn't something you can just use carelessly."
"Get lost, stop pretending to be profound with me."
I retorted, "Study hard, improve every day, remember what you're here to do, and stop having so many crooked ideas."
Are you lonely?
After Yang Sisi asked that question so abruptly, I subconsciously looked around. Jiulongju was still as deserted and quiet as ever, with hardly any human presence... If we're talking about loneliness, I doubt many people could understand it more deeply than I do... I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and experienced this loneliness, which was even more profound than the night itself, up close. It was self-torture, but also strangely exhilarating!
I feel that I have become very good friends with loneliness. We are enemies at the same time, yet we also possess each other with overwhelming force.
I finally replied, "If I said that loneliness is my friend, would you think it's pretentious?"
"Isn't this how all single people are? I'm used to it."
"Can we still have a proper conversation?"
"No, I don't want to talk to you anymore... I'm going to the beach with Xiao Bao later, he borrowed a yacht from a friend... Haha, red wine, sea breeze, and seafood... It sounds wonderful!"
I smiled helplessly. She switched between comfort and loneliness so easily... Unlike me, once I feel lonely, let alone a yacht, even if you gave me a luxury cruise ship, I wouldn't get excited... And that's Yang Sisi, as carefree and easily satisfied as ever!
...
I was too busy to think about those trivial things I couldn't understand, and time flew by in my busy life... Five days later, I finally welcomed the first couple of guests after the temporary inn opened... Coincidentally, they were a couple from Shanghai who booked a room with me for a week. I gave them a discount, but still charged them 9,000 yuan for the room.
This is a good sign. Besides them, two more groups of guests will arrive this afternoon. In other words, from now on, the inn and I have entered the peak season mode for the Chinese New Year... This is five days earlier than I expected, which means I will earn money for five more days, which adds up to a considerable amount.
I have mixed feelings. After so many twists and turns, I have finally achieved a stage of success!
...
That night, I was busy until midnight again before I could finally relax. My WeChat Moments were filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year. Some people were documenting their shopping for New Year's goods, others were taking their children to buy new clothes, and my friends in the countryside were already slaughtering pigs and sheep and writing couplets...
I inexplicably thought of Ye Zhi. I guess she's been quite busy lately, so we haven't been in touch. This time, I took the initiative to send her a message, wanting to ask her what her plans are for the Chinese New Year.
Actually, I'm quite curious. Ye Zhi always seems to be a loner, so I don't know if she has family members with her during the Lunar New Year, a time for family reunion.
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