I finally spoke up to everyone and said, "I think we should call it 'Waiting for You Amidst the Romantic Scenery'."
Among those present, Coach Ma and Tie Nan were both seasoned veterans of Dali, and Bai Lu was a local. So, when I mentioned the name of the inn, "Waiting for You Amidst Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon," they immediately understood.
In fact, Dali today is no longer simply a tourist city in Yunnan in the eyes of many outsiders. Its freedom and laid-back lifestyle offer a kind of alternative compensation to many disillusioned young people, giving them the motivation and space to willingly squander their time waiting for those they may never meet.
And I am one of them, because I have had two women in my life, Lu Jia and Wang Lei. One of them is no longer with me in life, and the other is gone forever. But I am still waiting for them in this lost city. They will eventually teach me to adapt to and accept this world full of regrets.
A moment later, Tie Nan first held up a beer can to me, then nodded and said, "Okay, that's good, let's call it that."
Coach Ma and Bai Lu also expressed their opinions afterward, both feeling that the name would evoke deeper imaginations and speculations from guests about the inn. Furthermore, we've unified our operating philosophy: the inn we want to run is not just about providing accommodation; it should be a source of spiritual enrichment, ultimately guiding us to integrate into this world where both regret and beauty coexist.
Some might call this a display of sentimentality, but we're not targeting everyone in this world, nor do we bear the responsibility of changing it. All we want are the guests we encounter, who, in their own little corner of the world, embrace hope, wait, and even feel regret…
In reality, no one can be happy every moment. An excessive pursuit of happiness can become a burden. It's better to accept the inevitable sadness in life with equanimity.
...
After the discussion, everyone quieted down, but I suddenly felt something was missing. Looking back, I realized that Yang Sisi, who couldn't hold her liquor, had fallen asleep on the table. No wonder she hadn't participated in our discussion about renaming the inn. That's fine, because I never considered her one of the people in this inn. Just before dinner, I was thinking about how to kick her out of the inn.
Despite it being summer, the temperature by Erhai Lake was still quite low. Seeing that Yang Sisi was dressed lightly, I said to everyone, "Let's stop drinking here for today. Bai Lu, could you please take this burden to her room?"
"Our inn doesn't have an elevator; I don't have the strength to carry her up to the third floor!"
Coach Ma rolled up his sleeves and replied, "Then I'll do it."
"Get out of here, I'd rather do it myself than have you do it."
As I spoke, I pushed Coach Ma aside, then helped Yang Sisi up, and with Bai Lu's help, I carried her on my back. I walked very fast, afraid she would vomit on me, but I felt exhausted as soon as I reached the second floor. Although Yang Sisi looked thin, she was nearly 1.7 meters tall, so carrying her was actually quite heavy, especially while climbing stairs.
I gritted my teeth and carried her up to the third floor, then opened the door for her. But when I saw the tiny wire bed, I changed my mind. I took her to my ocean-view suite and slept in her room myself.
I didn't mean anything by it, I just thought that she had drunk too much and it would be inconvenient for her to get up to use the bathroom at night, while my room has a private bathroom.
...
I guess I'm just not destined for a life of luxury. I actually found staying in Yang Sisi's room more comfortable than in that ocean-view suite. I seemed to find an unprecedented sense of security in this small space. I liked being surrounded like this, without having to face the concrete jungle of the big city...
I lit a cigarette, then opened the small window and looked at Erhai Lake, which was so close at hand…
The moon is exceptionally round tonight, its reflection shimmering in Erhai Lake. Some withered trees in the lake stand beside it, as if trying to please it. I think I hear their whispers, but when I come to my senses, everything is so quiet.
I feel a strange mix of wanting to die in this quiet, and a strange longing for immortality in this moment. I don't think I'm conflicted; it's just that living like this now makes the presence or absence of a woman seem less important. I can truly find a kind of pleasure, based on tranquility, outside this small window. This pleasure prevents me from thinking about things like buying a house, which is a very important matter, and marriage and children, which can be temporarily set aside.
I am like a blank sheet of paper, unpolluted by the prevailing social trends.
At this moment, I feel good about myself. I feel independent and have a strong sense of existence. I am not an appendage of this society. I am a person who can exist independently!
...
After a moment of silence, I picked up my phone again and sent Ye Zhi a message, asking, "How many days are you planning to stay in Shanghai this time?"
"I'm going back this weekend, is something wrong?"
"I forgot to tell you at noon that a friend of mine is coming to visit tomorrow, and I need to pick her up from the airport... If it's convenient, I'd like to borrow your car for a bit."
"Yes, I left my car keys in the bedside table in the room."
A little annoyed, I replied, "Then how am I supposed to get into your room?"
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