Chapter 35: The Whale and Deer Hotel, A Love Story

The rare beauty of life lies in striving and tossing about. Even more precious is when the object of your efforts is your own passion.

Lin Shenlu once believed that working in travel at Wayfarer.com, turning his hobby into a career, would fulfill all his dreams of wandering the world. In the end, he realized it could never satisfy his every fantasy about travel. He was not happy.

Nor was he alone in this. Even the female CEO of Wayfarer.com, the Lin he admired deeply, and Sister Qingchen, who treated him like a younger brother—none of them were truly happy either.

So while he could still escape, while choices remained open, he was determined to follow his heart. No regrets.

After several rounds of drinks and courses of seafood, the plates were nearly cleared, and the champagne was almost gone.

Ye Yaochen waved his hand lightly. Ignoring his appearance, the gesture was almost elegant. A waiter approached.

“Hello, could you bring me the bill, please?” Ye Yaochen said.

“Certainly, sir. Your total comes to 1,888 yuan.”

Ye Yaochen nodded. This amount was just as he’d budgeted. Smiling at Lin Shenlu, he said, “See? My calculations are always spot on. I brought exactly two thousand.”

“No need for change.” Ye Yaochen fished out the cash from his pocket—exactly two thousand yuan. The remainder, he considered a tip.

The two of them, bellies pleasantly full, wandered under the sun. The breeze drifted between white clouds and blue sky—everything felt just right.

“I truly love this kind of environment,” Ye Yaochen said, content. “It puts my mind at ease, makes everything feel so comfortable.”

“When your heart is quiet, everywhere is a paradise, everywhere a world of water and clouds. As long as there’s light in your heart, you can be Ultraman anywhere... My car's over there, set the navigation,” Lin Shenlu replied with a laugh.

“Man, this flashy pink... you've outdone yourself,” Ye Yaochen grinned at the convertible Audi, bubblegum pink.

Soon, the two sped down Erhai East Road towards Ye Yaochen’s place, heading in the direction of Dali Old Town.

Ye Yaochen’s lodging was close to the Old Town, making it convenient for his nightly drinking sprees. Entering the inn, he greeted the receptionist and led Lin Shenlu upstairs.

The inn was somewhat old-fashioned and rustic, but sizable. Its main advantage was proximity to the Old Town. Ye Yaochen didn’t have much luggage—just a large suitcase.

“So this is the battlefield where you conquered eleven women in a row?” Lin Shenlu asked, curious.

The room was clean, with no odd smells.

“Of course not. A true hunter’s battlefield is never his own home—the prey’s bed is the real ground, both to attack and retreat,” Ye Yaochen replied, popping open his suitcase and turning to gather scattered clothes.

Lin Shenlu’s gaze lingered on the suitcase. Half was filled with clothes—the rest, cash. He must have at least several hundred thousand yuan in there.

“You just leave your money here every day?” Lin Shenlu asked.

“Yeah, I told you, I have money. I always bring just enough when I go out. I’m afraid I’ll overspend otherwise...” Ye Yaochen tossed some clothes into the case.

“Why not deposit it? Isn’t mobile payment easier?” Lin Shenlu wondered.

“No, I always use cash. Mobile payments leave a trace... transaction records...” Ye Yaochen didn’t elaborate, and Lin Shenlu didn’t press—some things are private, best left unasked.

After tidying up, they carried their luggage downstairs.

“Leaving, Ye?” the young woman at the front desk greeted them with a smile.

“Yes, let Old Song know I’m heading out,” Ye Yaochen waved.

“I see why you’re comfortable leaving so much money here—you know the owners,” Lin Shenlu remarked.

“A friend’s inn. I stay here a few months each year—partly to support them, partly because when my mood’s off, this place helps me forget my troubles,” Ye Yaochen explained.

“You sure pay a high price for peace of mind,” Lin Shenlu nodded.

Half an hour later, they were back at Whale & Deer Hotel.

After Ye Yaochen tidied his new room and returned the money to Lin Shenlu in exchange for his ID, the two sat in the courtyard to discuss renovating the inn.

Lin Shenlu found that Ye Yaochen could not only answer all his questions but also raise even more intriguing points. He concluded—this man was as free-spirited as himself.

They lived for freedom and romance.

Lin Shenlu wanted to help everyone find their true heart in an ideal world. For Ye Yaochen, his vision was a utopia—an unreachable place, a flame that burns only in the heart.

In this, they were kindred spirits.

“So it’s settled: tomorrow we’ll renovate the Sky Mirror. Tonight, I’ll draft the copy, and you’ll write the detailed stories?” Lin Shenlu asked.

“No problem. Two planning proposals—it’s nothing,” Ye Yaochen replied confidently.

Lin Shenlu nodded. He himself had once been a 4A-rated contracted blogger at Wayfarer.com; planning and writing was second nature. Ye Yaochen, for all his casual airs, was clearly well-read.

You really can’t judge someone by their looks. Ye Yaochen had substance.

As evening fell, the sky was painted with rosy clouds—the most beautiful colors at the edge of the world. Lin Shenlu and Ye Yaochen sat in the lobby discussing plans over their laptops.

Meanwhile, Hailan Jing, dressed in a white and pale green long dress, stepped out. It was nearly time for her livestream.

She remembered Lin Shenlu had asked her to check in before she went live. But now—why were there two people? Besides Lin Shenlu, there was another man who didn’t look all that trustworthy.

“Lin Shenlu, I’m here!” Hailan Jing announced, standing by the table.

Before Lin Shenlu could respond, Ye Yaochen’s eyes grew wide.

This was a rare sight—a fairy appeared.

“Hey, who is this? Introduce us!” Ye Yaochen stammered.

“Hailan Jing, owner of this inn,” Lin Shenlu replied, still focused on the laptop.

“What... Are you two messing with me? You’re not Lin Shenlu either, right? These are couple usernames, aren’t they?” Ye Yaochen joked.

“But never mind that. So, this fairy is the one going live? Perfect! Now I’m even more confident in our ideas,” Ye Yaochen nodded approvingly.

“Hey, what are you talking about? I’m about to start the stream,” Hailan Jing tilted her head, looking at Lin Shenlu.

He finally tore his gaze from the screen.

“Just start as usual. But when the audience is at its peak, remember to say something,” Lin Shenlu instructed.

“What should I say?”

He glanced at Ye Yaochen.

“Tell them our inn has been open three, four years now. Countless people have come and gone, each leaving behind their own love story—some inspiring, some sweet, some sorrowful, some full of release. All these stories have become messages in bottles, drifting in the inn’s wishing pool. Starting the day after tomorrow, you'll draw one bottle each day and share a story with everyone—the love stories of Whale & Deer Hotel,” Lin Shenlu said earnestly.