My conversation with Lu Jia continued. I asked her if she had found a place for her parents to stay. If not, I could help her arrange it. This wasn't just a polite remark.
Recently, while doing business, I met the owner of a boutique inn in the ancient city. We got along very well and became friends. If I help her book a room, I can save a lot of money.
I wanted to help out of old friendship; it was just a small favor, and besides, I owed Lu Jia a favor before, so having this opportunity to repay it was the best thing to do.
Lu Jia replied, "It's so late, they must have already found an inn for them to rest."
"Then you can stay here for one night. After you check out tomorrow, I'll find you a very nice boutique inn in the old town. The owner is a friend of mine, so he'll definitely take good care of you."
"The inns inside the old town, they won't be too noisy, will they?"
"The inn is not on the main street, so it's very quiet. It's decorated in a Chinese style, and there's a big banyan tree and a well in the courtyard, making it very suitable for older people to stay."
"What's the name of the inn? I'll check online to see what its reputation is like."
Lu Jia hasn't changed. She pays great attention to details, which gives people a very real feeling. For example, she looks for discounted products online, waits for special airfares, and makes sure to check relevant travel guides before going to a certain place.
This is something most ordinary women would do, unlike Ye Zhi, who has an assistant to arrange everything and wouldn't waste time on such trivial matters as money.
This is probably a major reason why I feel that Ye Zhi is aloof and superior, but there's nothing wrong with Lu Jia being like this... because she's more like someone living among us.
After having these thoughts, I replied to Lu Jia: "Gu Rong Inn has an excellent reputation; it's a top-rated business in the ancient city."
Five minutes later, Lu Jia replied to my message: "The reputation is really good, but the price is too expensive. Even the most basic double room costs 600 yuan a night!"
“I’ll handle this; you don’t need to worry about the money.”
"It's better to be clear... It's not easy for them to come out and have fun, so they don't mind spending this money. Please help arrange it for tomorrow. We need two rooms. I'll stay in a regular double room, and for my parents, please arrange a deluxe double room. They'll stay for a total of four days."
After I received this message, Lu Jia transferred another 6,400 yuan to me at the original price.
I didn't accept it; I just replied to her message saying that I would pick her and her parents up at the guesthouse where she was staying at nine o'clock the next morning.
...
After ending the call with Lu Jia, I sent a message to "Sanbao," the owner of the Ancient Banyan Inn, to ask if he had any rooms available. Sanbao is not his real name, and in Dali, it's not customary to use one's real name. So I don't know his real name or why he's called Sanbao. It's just his WeChat name, and that's what everyone else calls him.
Since it wasn't peak season yet, there were two rooms available, but not the standard double room Lu Jia wanted; both were deluxe rooms.
I chatted with Sanbao about the price, and since Sanbao treats me like a friend, he gave me a 50% discount on both rooms. In total, it only cost four thousand yuan for four days, which is cheaper per person than a regular double room.
...
The next day, I got up early. I first washed my hair, which I hadn't styled for two days, and then found the most professional-looking outfit in the closet to put on. Only after making sure I didn't look too disheveled did I go to the studio.
I asked Chen Jin for the car keys. He was quite surprised, thinking my parents had arrived so early. When I told him that I was going to pick up Lu Jia's parents, he stared at me incredulously for a long time... and then said meaningfully, "That's good."
Ten minutes before the agreed time, I arrived at the inn where Lu Jia and her parents were staying. I parked the car at the entrance, and when Lu Jia waved to me from the second-floor corridor, I went upstairs to help her parents with their luggage.
At the door of the guest room, I saw her parents again after a year and a half...
This scene makes me feel like I'm living in a dream... Not to mention them, even Lu Jia, after that breakup, I thought I would never have the chance to see her again in this lifetime!
I remember the time when Lu Jia and I had the worst fight because of them, I thought: unless I really end up marrying Lu Jia, I won't see them again, because the pressure they put on me was too much. I had to have a house and a car in Shanghai, otherwise I would lose their daughter... In fact, I did lose her.
I don't want to blame them entirely for the breakup, but during my time with Lu Jia, their many demands were indeed the root of my unhappiness, and I even felt inferior and doubted my own abilities.
With a soft sigh, I stopped thinking about those old stories, smiled at them, and called out "Uncle" and "Auntie".
...
I put their suitcases in the trunk, and Lu Jia's mother took the opportunity to ask me, "You bought a car?"
I smiled and replied, "It's a company car, not my personal one."
"You're really something, aren't you? This car must have been expensive..."
I laughed, not knowing what to say.
Lu Jia quickly interrupted them and opened the car door for them, telling them not to take up too much of her time because she was very busy, while she herself sat down in the passenger seat.
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