Chapter 78: I Came to Lishui to Open an Inn

...
"Bao'er, why didn’t you want that painting just now?" Lin Shenlu asked Su Bao'er on their way back.

"Um... I don’t like it... the way it looks... Deer Child... I’m not silly..." Su Bao'er spoke with her head lowered.

Lin Shenlu shook her head and sighed. Just after bidding farewell to that lonely artist, Lin Shenlu happened to pass by the police station in Dagangtou Town.

So she thought about taking Su Bao'er inside to inquire.
Even without identification, they could at least register!
They could scan a photo to check the nation’s missing persons database!
They might find a missing person notice—maybe Bao'er’s family was searching for her!
They could leave fingerprints to compare in the national database and confirm her identity!

Lin Shenlu considered countless possibilities. The only thing she didn’t expect was that, at the sight of the words "police station," Su Bao'er turned and bolted...

Lin Shenlu couldn’t keep up; Su Bao'er was truly fast!
Perhaps, during her days of wandering, this girl had suffered some harm—otherwise, why would she have such a deep-seated aversion?

Of course, once Lin Shenlu promised not to go to the police station, Su Bao'er stopped running, and Lin Shenlu could only take her home for now.

Watching Su Bao'er, who kept her head lowered and seemed lost in thought, Lin Shenlu gently stroked her head.

"Bao'er, don’t be afraid. We’re going home."

"Deer Child... don’t pat my head... you look so silly..."

...

Just as Lin Shenlu entered the house, ready to lie down and rest for a bit, her phone rang again.

This time, Lin Shenlu knew the caller.
A Dali number—Hai Lanqing.

Damn, she’d forgotten that Lanqing had already boarded her flight earlier.
Now, surely, she was in Lishui?

"Hello, hello..."

"Speak," Lin Shenlu said.

"Lin Shenlu, I just got off the train. When will this place’s airport be finished? I had to switch from plane to train—it’s so troublesome..." Hai Lanqing complained.

"It should be ready in 2024... Everyone comes to Lishui like this." Lin Shenlu searched her computer as she spoke.

Sure enough, Lishui’s airport was under construction, but it really would be 2024 before it opened.

"Where did you park, what’s your license plate number? I have a lot of luggage..." Hai Lanqing continued.

"Hold on... who said I was picking you up?" Lin Shenlu was taken aback.

"Lin Shenlu! Didn’t I tell you I was flying here? And you’re not coming to meet me?" Hai Lanqing’s voice was sharp and impatient.

"But... you didn’t say when you’d land, or what time your train would arrive—how was I supposed to know? Besides, I don’t have a car..." Lin Shenlu felt wronged.

"No car? Didn’t you drive a pink convertible in Dali? Why not rent a car in Lishui?"

"It’s not easy to drive here. Look, I’ll send you my location, then you take a taxi there and I’ll pick you up." Lin Shenlu glanced at the electric tricycle sitting on the table.

It seemed she’d have to use it again.

...

Lin Shenlu rode the tricycle, with Su Bao'er sitting in the cargo bed, waiting at the entrance of the village...

After about half an hour, a taxi stopped.
Leaning against the handlebar, Lin Shenlu waved.

From the taxi stepped a striking, tall beauty—Hai Lanqing.
It had been ten days since they parted in Dali. Who would have thought they’d reunite here?

"Lin Shenlu... what are you driving to pick me up?" Hai Lanqing removed her sunglasses in surprise, gazing at the deep blue electric tricycle.

Lin Shenlu was perched on it, with a scruffy young girl in the back bed.

The girl stared at her blankly...

Who was she?

"Enough talking, Bao'er, help her with the luggage. Both of you... just stay in the cargo bed," Lin Shenlu said helplessly.

So, three people and one vehicle rattled along the village road.

Hai Lanqing had never anticipated... that this place would be like this.

Though evening was approaching, the scenery held its charm.

Hai Lanqing couldn't help but marvel.

In this fairy-tale town, everywhere she looked, there was a breathtaking beauty that made her hold her breath.

Mist wrapped around the hills, tempting one to linger among the world’s wonders.

This was how life was meant to be.

The stone paths gleamed with a bluish tint as the tricycle wandered leisurely, a cool breeze blowing.

The scenery along the way was lovely and comforting.

In her ears, the gentle wind and the whispers of the Ou River blended softly.

Yes.

The distant mountains and nearby waters filled Hai Lanqing’s gaze.

Sitting in the cargo bed, Hai Lanqing watched mist swirl.

Su Bao'er, also in the bed, stared curiously at Hai Lanqing.

Bang!

Lin Shenlu’s tricycle rolled over a stone.

Su Bao'er’s head collided with Hai Lanqing’s...

Ouch!

...

"Are you out of your mind? Why open an inn in Lishui?" Lin Shenlu asked curiously after bringing Hai Lanqing home.

Hai Lanqing was continually amazed by the small courtyard Lin Shenlu had rented.

"Why do you care? I can open an inn wherever I want!" Hai Lanqing huffed.

Meeting again—how wonderful.

Hai Lanqing wore adorable deep blue denim overalls today.

On her chest, the denim was adorned with a motif resembling a deer’s head; her long hair was tied up in a bun.

The sunglasses perched on her face made her look especially cute.

Her pant legs were rolled up, revealing delicate, fair ankles, and she wore a pair of white McQueen sneakers.

Her figure appeared very slender.

Her luggage was already carried to her room by Su Bao'er.

At that moment, Su Bao'er squatted curiously on a chair, watching the newcomer.

"Lin Shenlu... who is she?" Hai Lanqing asked, having assumed at first this was a villager’s daughter.

But it seemed she was with Lin Shenlu.

This time, Su Bao'er was not so foolish.

"Um... I’m Su Bao'er, Deer Child picked me up along the way..." Su Bao'er introduced herself.

Hai Lanqing was truly stunned.

"That’s right, I really did pick her up," Lin Shenlu shrugged helplessly.

...

Night had fallen. After dinner, the three returned to the courtyard.

Hai Lanqing couldn’t help but praise the unique flavors of Lishui’s cuisine.

"You didn’t book an inn?" Lin Shenlu frowned inquiringly.

"I came to rely on you—how was I to know you didn’t stay at an inn, but rented a courtyard?" Hai Lanqing was also helpless.

How had arriving in Lishui turned into a return to rustic life?

Where was the romantic little genius Lin Shenlu who had conjured snow for her in Dali?

And today, she was hauled by electric tricycle to a village cottage?

"Tonight, you’ll stay in Bao'er’s room—are you up for that?" Lin Shenlu asked.

She recalled there was a spare quilt in Su Bao'er’s closet.

If need be, she’d lay it beside Su Bao'er—there was plenty of space. They could make do for one night; tomorrow, she’d find Hai Lanqing a proper place.

Her only concern was whether Hai Lanqing dared share a room with Su Bao'er.

"Otherwise... I’ll stay in your room. Are you up for that?" Hai Lanqing looked seriously at Lin Shenlu in return.

"Don’t be ridiculous... I snore really loudly at night."