Today she wore a Red Butterfly Hairclip on her black hair, loose around her shoulders, dressed in a bright Red Cotton Jacket. She looked sweet, pretty, and festive.
“I’m about a hundred meters ahead of you. Stay where you are; I’ll come get you.”
Peng Kai’s voice came from the phone. Lan Hui looked where he pointed and saw him walking briskly toward her in a black cotton jacket.
His handsome face wore a smile, and he had on the new shoes she gave him. Tall, lean, and upright, his cool aura made him stand out in the busy bus station.
It had been nearly half a month since Lan Hui last saw Peng Kai. Now suddenly seeing him, her longing poured out like a spring.
Her eyes curved into a smile, her expression sweet. She pulled her suitcase and ran toward him.
Peng Kai, excited to see the girl he’d been thinking of, quickened his steps.
Moments later, they met. Peng Kai reached out to take her suitcase.
But Lan Hui didn’t give it to him. Instead, to his confused look, she threw herself into his arms.
It was an instinctive action.
She didn’t even think about it.
Having lived two lives, Lan Hui felt there was nothing strange about hugging at the station. If she wanted to do it, she would do it.
In front of Peng Kai, she didn’t want to hide herself. She wanted to show him all her passion, to prove that love was a sweet thing.
She wanted to dispel Peng Kai’s distrust of love.
“Kai-ge, finally seeing you. I missed you so much.”
The soft, fragrant girl in his arms made Peng Kai freeze. His handsome face blushed scarlet. His girlfriend was too forward, too passionate. He was hurting but happy.
“So much…” He felt a bit overwhelmed.
“Fu Fu, there are so many people here. We can find a place where we can talk and hug properly!”
Lan Hui saw Peng Kai’s embarrassment and smiled, letting go. “Okay, then let’s find a place to eat first?”
Peng Kai took her suitcase with one hand and held her other hand, leading her out. “What do you want to eat?”
Lan Hui smiled, “We must eat hotpot when we’re in the city. The city’s hotpot is really authentic.”
“Then I’ll follow your lead.”
Peng Kai’s expression was gentle, eyes full of adoration.
“Let’s take a taxi to Chunfeng Road, then. It’s already past eight, and it takes more than twenty minutes to get there. After hotpot, it’ll be after eleven.”
“Okay.” Peng Kai hailed a taxi at the bus station entrance.
In the cab, Lan Hui snuggled into Peng Kai’s arms. Though silent, her clingy demeanor made him very pleased. His smile never faded.
Over twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped in the busiest part of Chunfeng Road. The driver cheerfully pointed the way.
“This street is the famous snack street of Chunfeng Road. Any restaurant you choose will be good.”
Lan Hui nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome.” The driver smiled.
The two got out, and Lan Hui picked a Yao Wazi Hotpot.
From a distance, she could smell the numbing spicy aroma. The place was packed and lively, clearly very popular and undoubtedly delicious.
Peng Kai had no particular preference. As long as his girlfriend liked it, he was fine.
The two were extremely attractive — a handsome guy and a beautiful girl. Upon entering, they immediately attracted many gazes.
Lan Hui was used to being stared at and kept her sweet smile while talking to Peng Kai.
Peng Kai’s cold aura made him indifferent to others, except for the adoring look he reserved for Lan Hui.
A waiter showed them to a vacant seat and handed them a menu.
Lan Hui was not shy and checked off all her favorite dishes, then handed the menu to Peng Kai. “Kai-ge, you pick what you like.”
Peng Kai looked at the marked dishes and furrowed his brow.
Pig Brain, Pig Kidney Slices, Pig Intestine…
She looked so gentle but liked such strong flavors.
Lan Hui noticed his thoughts and smiled. “Kai-ge, don’t be fooled by my choices. These heavy flavors are especially delicious in hotpot. The pig brain is tender, like tofu…”
Peng Kai nodded. “If Fu Fu likes them, then I’ll eat more later.”
“Kai-ge, you should try some too,” Lan Hui grinned. “I guarantee you’ll love it.”
“Okay.” If Yue Fu liked it, he was willing to try.
C City’s hotpot was famous nationwide. They ate until after eleven.
At first, Peng Kai hesitated to try pig brain but ended up ordering two more servings. He also added three more of the kidney slices.
Lan Hui was stunned.
Peng Kai laughed, “These pig kidney slices are spicy, fresh, and crunchy — really good.”
Lan Hui silently mourned herself for underestimating his appetite. How strong must his kidneys be? She dared not imagine.
After paying, Peng Kai suggested finding a hotel to stay.
“Fu Fu, do you have a preferred hotel?”
Lan Hui shook her head. “No, anywhere nearby is fine. Just something cheap.”
Being in the bustling Chunfeng Road, hotels weren’t cheap. Even ordinary ones cost over two hundred yuan a night.
“Let’s stay at Weinado. It’s an international chain hotel with guaranteed cleanliness.” Peng Kai said.
Lan Hui felt a little sorry. “Kai-ge, that hotel must be expensive.”
“I work hard to earn money for you. When we go out, we should stay comfortably.”
Peng Kai could endure hardship himself but would never let his girlfriend suffer.
Lan Hui nodded. Her main worry was that Peng Kai’s hard-earned money came from sweat and toil, even if he made tens of thousands a month.
“Kai-ge, let’s just get one room.” Lan Hui expressed her idea.
Peng Kai was shocked, his heart skipping a beat. “Fu Fu, are you sure about just one room?”
He thought he heard wrong and asked again.
Lan Hui blushed, realizing his misunderstanding. “I mean a Standard Room with two beds. We’ll still sleep separately. One room saves a lot…”
Peng Kai nodded. “Got it.”
They entered Weinado. Two staff members, a man and a woman, greeted them at the front desk.
Peng Kai approached, “Hello, a Standard Room with two beds, please.”
The male clerk scanned them and apologized, “Sir, sorry, we don’t have any Standard Rooms now. Only King Rooms are available. Would you like to book one?”
Peng Kai froze, then looked at Lan Hui. “Fu Fu, should I book two King Rooms?”
Lan Hui felt bad about the money but also knew one room wasn’t appropriate — they hadn’t reached that stage yet.
Her face flushed as she nodded.
Peng Kai continued negotiating. “Hello, I’d like two King Rooms.”
The clerk apologized again. “Sir, sorry, you arrived too late. The hotel only has one King Room left. Would you like to book it?”
Peng Kai awkwardly looked at Lan Hui. “Fu Fu, what do you think? Should we find another hotel?”
Before Lan Hui could speak, the clerk said, “Sir and madam, you’re tourists from out of town, right? You might not know that Chunfeng Road is very lively during the New Year. Hotels are mostly full at this hour. Weinado only has one room left because it’s more expensive than others.”
“Sir and madam, if you don’t book now, that last room will probably be taken. Changing hotels this late might mean no vacancy elsewhere. Please consider carefully.”
Peng Kai looked at Lan Hui again.
Lan Hui had no other choice. If they hesitated, they might end up sleeping on the street.
“Let’s book it.”
The clerk smiled, “Great, I’ll check you in now.”
Peng Kai heard the words “check in” and felt his ears flush. Lan Hui’s face was completely red, looking very shy.
“Please give me your IDs and stand here for a photo,” the clerk gestured near a camera.
Peng Kai went first, then Lan Hui.
Moments later, the clerk handed Peng Kai a card. “Sir, your room is 1888. The elevator is on the right. Please take it upstairs.”
“Thank you.”
Peng Kai took the room card, held Lan Hui’s hand, and pulled the suitcase toward the right.
***
Once upstairs, the female clerk said, “Boss, our hotel clearly has more rooms. Why say there’s only one? We’re losing income.”
The male clerk smiled, “Those two look like a couple who just started dating, not living together yet. I’m just helping the guy out. He’ll surely leave us a five-star review tomorrow.”
“Have you noticed our hotel’s great reviews? People say the boss has high EQ. Actually, I’m just helping a lot of guys along.”
“With more good reviews, more bookings come in. Believe me, couples traveling long distances for the first time pick us first.”
“Those who have stayed here before have fond memories and come back again.”
“That’s marketing — it’s worth far more than the price of one room.”
The female clerk gave a thumbs-up. “Boss is boss. No wonder you make good money.”
The elevator ascended continuously, soon reaching the eighteenth floor.
Lan Hui’s heart was racing. Peng Kai was just as nervous, clutching the suitcase awkwardly.
He had lived twenty-seven years and this was the first time bringing a girl to book a hotel room.
Inside the room, Peng Kai closed the door and placed the suitcase by the wardrobe. “Fu Fu, don’t worry. I won’t do anything weird. You sleep on the bed, I’ll take the little sofa.”
Indeed, the 666-yuan room came with a small sofa; otherwise, Peng Kai might have had to sleep on a chair.
Lan Hui looked at the small sofa, unsure if it was even one and a half meters long. Peng Kai was so tall—how could he sleep curled up on it?
She glanced at the big bed, which was huge—about two meters wide—with crisp white sheets, looking clean and comfortable.
“Kai-ge, the little sofa can’t be for sleeping. The bed’s big; you should sleep there.”
Although shy, Lan Hui felt it wouldn’t be right to make him sleep on the sofa. After all, he was her boyfriend, and she needed to look out for him.
Peng Kai shook his head. “No need. The little sofa is fine. Fu Fu, it’s almost midnight. Go wash up and sleep. You’ve been on the road all day and must be tired.”
Her boyfriend insisted on the sofa with firm resolve. Lan Hui didn’t know what to say but secretly thought she’d let him have the bed if he couldn’t sleep later. He wouldn’t refuse then.
“All right, I’ll go wash now.” Lan Hui turned toward the bathroom but blushed fiercely when she saw the glass door.
The bathroom door was frosted glass, offering a vague, teasing glimpse inside.
Peng Kai noticed too, embarrassed. When he came in, he’d only been focused on sleeping arrangements and hadn’t realized the glass was like that.
“Fu Fu, you go wash first. I’ll step outside for a smoke. When you’re done, open the door for me.” Peng Kai was about to leave.
Lan Hui nodded, “Kai-ge, I’ll be quick.”
“No rush,” Peng Kai said and escaped.
Once the door closed, Lan Hui took her change of clothes into the bathroom and quickly showered.
Afraid Peng Kai would be impatient, she finished in under twenty minutes.
Without drying her hair, she hurried to open the door.
Peng Kai immediately smelled the scent of shower gel and saw wisps of steam drifting out, filling the room with a romantic atmosphere.
“Why not dry your hair? It’s dripping.”
Peng Kai saw her sitting on a chair watching TV, flipping channels with the remote, hair still wet.
“My hair’s too long. I don’t want to blow dry it now. There’s air conditioning in the room. I’ll dry it later when the water mostly drips off. It’ll dry faster that way.”
Lan Hui didn’t want to move. She was too tired.
Peng Kai frowned. “If you wait for it to drip dry naturally, how long will that take? Come on, I’ll help you blow dry.”
Lan Hui’s eyes lit up and she smiled brightly. “That’s great. Kai-ge, you’re so good.”
Peng Kai laughed in exasperation.
They went into the bathroom. Peng Kai took the hairdryer from the cabinet and plugged it in. “Stand still.”
Lan Hui faced him, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying herself in his embrace, sticky and clingy.
Peng Kai froze completely, his breath coming fast.
The girl was soft and warm against him.
She seemed to be… not wearing anything underneath!
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