Chapter 22: The Land of Dreams, Santorini

In Lin Shenlu’s original plan, the journey ahead was still meant to be taken together. Whether admiring the scenery of Dali or immersing in its customs and culture, there remained many moments in the first issue of Lin Shenlu’s “Lonely Planet” dedicated to Yunnan, where An Muxi needed to appear. After all, this tone had been set from the very beginning. An Muxi had practically become his personal model.

But now, An Muxi had suddenly vanished. This forced Lin Shenlu to reconsider how to proceed. He closed his eyes gently, and his mind began to race, thoughts swirling rapidly. On both the paths of career and emotion, Lin Shenlu’s considerations intersected again and again...

Wait—a thought struck him. Could this be a special solution? To merge the search for An Muxi with the story of the Yunnan journey. Not merely to record the landscape, but to weave in genuine human warmth. At this realization, Lin Shenlu’s plan became clear. Under the current circumstances, the encounter, companionship, separation, and pursuit of An Muxi would form a complete travelogue. Who knows—if it truly gained attention, it might become a story of searching for An Muxi across the internet.

Looking back, after circling Erhai yesterday and savoring the matsutake he’d longed for, Lin Shenlu felt that his time by the lake had reached a satisfying conclusion. Even had An Muxi not left today, perhaps it was time for him to move forward. Of course, with An Muxi gone, he could not stop. Now that his path was clear, Lin Shenlu decided to bid farewell to Gu Moran.

He carefully folded An Muxi’s letter and tucked it into his chest, then rose and entered the house. Noon had arrived. Gu Moran had gotten up early and now sat at the front desk, speaking on the phone. Xu Xu sat quietly beside her, watching an animated battle between Bald Qiang and Gray Wolf on the computer.

“Yes, I know. Xu Xu is in good health, don’t worry,” Gu Moran spoke into the phone. “I’m very comfortable here, so don’t worry, I’m looking after everything. Xu Xu is very obedient...” “When are you coming back?” “Oh, really? Next month?” Gu Moran sounded a little excited. “All right, I’ll wait for you. Yes, remember to bring gifts for Xu Xu when you return.” “Goodbye, Sister Nai’er...” Gu Moran hung up.

She turned to look at Xu Xu, the quiet boy with big eyes fixed on the animation. This child had always been so obedient and mature since young, so gentle it made one’s heart ache.

Within Xu Xu’s large eyes, his gaze shimmered like a flowing galaxy, sparkling and endearing. Truly, boys resemble their mothers—those eyes were just as beautiful. “Good morning, Mr. Lin!” Gu Moran noticed Lin Shenlu approaching. “Morning, Boss Gu.”

Half an hour later, Lin Shenlu shouldered his pack and left the Erduo Inn. Gu Moran personally came out to see him off. Partings are commonplace—who can be exempt? Lin Shenlu waved, his solitary figure moving toward his car with a trace of melancholy. Gu Moran sighed; she had witnessed this scene countless times. Familiarity breeds acceptance.

Driving along the Erhai highway, Lin Shenlu pondered his next destination. There were so many beautiful places in Dali. Now, his heart brimmed with stories to write. He needed somewhere beautiful and quiet. The ancient towns of Xizhou or Shuanglang, which he passed yesterday on his journey around the lake, were breathtaking, but not enough to settle his heart. If he sought a place that truly matched his current mood, he had just the spot in mind—a place that had become wildly popular in recent years: Dali Ideal Land...Santorini.

A place where one need not leave the country to experience the exotic charm of Greece’s Santorini. The ultimate white aesthetic, vast cave pools, rainbow stairs, zigzag gardens, a piano floating on water... That was it.

Lin Shenlu sighed, feeling an urge to call An Muxi, or at least send a message—even if it would not be answered. It would serve as a spiritual comfort.

The journey wasn’t far. On Dali’s East Erhai Road, Lin Shenlu parked his car, donned his backpack, and stepped into this world of pure white—Dali Ideal Land. From afar, the Moroccan-style architecture filled his view. Every hotel was Mediterranean in style, with flowing, graceful lines, and exteriors in minimalist white, truly creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

On the lakeshore, this Santorini-like cloud city, with its extraordinary hotels, instantly lifted Lin Shenlu’s mood. Where should he spend his time ahead? He decided to explore, to walk and experience, and find the one most suited to him.

The styles of these hotels were indeed astonishing. With daily rates averaging over a thousand, many travelers stopped and hesitated, so Ideal Land was not crowded. Amidst the many inns around Erhai, charging only two or three hundred, this place stood apart. But staying here was worth every penny.

None of the hotels resembled traditional hotels. All the buildings rose tall and extended upwards. There were no right angles—everything in sight was rounded and smooth. For a moment, Lin Shenlu felt as if he’d wandered abroad.

He’d encountered many hotels on this journey. Not to mention, the scenic stretch reminiscent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, where the Dali Songyun Cliff Hotel often caught his eye. He remembered stories about this hotel in previously reviewed manuscripts. There was also the famed Dali Santorini Cloud Melody Seaview Resort, the flagship here... And the Santorini Guyu·Xianlai Resort... So many names crowded Lin Shenlu’s mind, leaving him unsure which to choose. Each place was stunningly beautiful.

Those blue-and-white buildings, that tropical Moroccan style, all beckoned to him. What was that colorful sea of flowers ahead? Lin Shenlu paused, then hurried toward it. As he ascended, a rainbow staircase appeared, flanked by clusters of hydrangeas—white, green, and pink—tens of thousands blooming amidst lush leaves, lifting his spirits immeasurably. It was the most hydrangeas he had ever seen in his life.

Continuing upwards, Lin Shenlu found himself surrounded by exotic tropical plants. Atop the white buildings, a landscape of even whiter pebbles was planted with towering cacti, globe cactus, palm leaves, and sago palms...