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‘Everyone, wake up! We’ve reached
Dali!’
Zhen Zhen was jolted awake by the
loud voice. She saw Linda standing in front of the bus near the driver with a
loudspeaker.
She could have slept longer, the nap had been very comfortable and peaceful. She smiled softly as
she looked at Xiao Tu, who had also fallen asleep. There was a lot of drool on
her face. Zhen Zhen shook her head and got some tissues to wipe Xiao Tu’s face.
This girl was like a dead pig once
she was asleep. Zhen Zhen had to shake her awake.
‘Oh…’ she stretched looking around
unhappily that she had been woken up, but when she saw the scenery outside the
window, she smiled like a blooming flower. She immediately leaned across Zhen
Zhen to press her face at the window.
‘Zhen Zhen, look; isn’t it
beautiful?!’
Zhen Zhen looked out; it didn’t
look much different from any other ancient city. But Xiao Tu’s happiness was
infectious, she thought it did look pretty.
When they finally arrived at the
hotel, the groups tiredly made their way to the hotel lobby where a lovely lady
with noble temperament was waiting for their group.
‘Hello everyone, my name is Zhao
Tian, I will be your tour guide for your trip. I’m not really a professional
tour guide, so I won’t be taking you shopping, but I am an archaeologist and
historian who has worked in Yunnan for a few years, so I am very familiar with
the area. Your great director hired me to take you around the sights.
So, you must repay me well,
director Lang.’ She finished with a wink at Lang Lang.
‘Alright everyone, your rooms have
been arranged in advance, so just check in at the counter. After you’ve dropped
your bags and freshened up, you may wish to have dinner at the hotel buffet
service or outside – the night view is rather nice.
I will see you all in the morning.’
Zhao Tian waved and walked away.
Everyone looked at each other, Xiao
Tu wanted to see Lang Lang’s expression but he was surrounded by women. The
thing with Linda is still unknown and now he adds another one?!
Zhen Zhen patted her head while
admiring Lang Lang’s strategy inwardly; Lang Lang, you must have studied Sun
Tzu’s art of war! His tactics were really high. First, making it seem like he
was close with Linda, and now adding an ambiguous friend.
His arrangements were seamless.
If their country were at war, he
would definitely be a great tactician.
Xiao Tu and Zhen Zhen were in the
same room, but it seemed that luckily – she was on the same floor as Lang Lang.
However, she couldn’t be happy because Miss Tour Guide gave her too much shock.
She tried to comfort herself; it’s
alright Tutu, that woman only looks a little prettier than you. Let’s think
about it this way; dealing with one woman is the same as dealing with two. Just
like having a child, having a litter is also comforting, right…? Right?!
Zhen Zhen saw Xiao Tu looking dazed
and depressed, so she resorted to temptation, ‘I heard the buffet in this hotel
is excellent, they have lots of Yunnan specialty dishes and sweets, like
Crossing the bridge noodles, lemongrass grilled fish, broad flat noodles in spicy sauce, yao baba, erkuai, pebble fish soup, fried bee larva, steam pot chicken, steamed pig
with scent leaves.’
Xiao Tu couldn’t take it anymore,
she jumped up and out of her doldrums, wiping her mouth and pulled Zhen Zhen to
the door, ‘It looks like it’s time for dinner, let’s hurry and not keep the
others waiting.’
Ah, this girl, when it comes to
food, she can forget her ancestors of eighteen generations. This was a tried
and tested method. (Zuben: I don’t blame her; I don’t know what half of all
that was but my mouth was watering)
Sure enough, the others were at the
buffet hall and had started eating except for Lang Lang and Li. Zhen Zhen and
Xiao Tu got their food and sat at a table to eat. If it weren’t for Zhen Zhen
managing her place, she would have brought back half the food in the buffet
stand.
But as soon as she sat down, they
were privy to their colleagues’ gossip, ‘Did you hear who that woman is?’
‘I asked Assistant Li, and she’s the
second daughter of Tianma Group. She and Lang Lang grew up together. I heard
they are having dinner together.’
‘I knew their relationship was
extraordinary and there was some ambiguity, but that they were childhood
sweethearts…ah we’re completely out of our league.’
‘Ah Forget it. I am happy to lose
to her. She has a good family background and is beautiful. She’s better than
Linda. Come on, sister, let’s drink a toast to commemorate our lost love!’
Xiao Tu’s nearly choked on her
noodles before she struggled to swallow. Suddenly, the food tasted like ash.
He was abominable: Eating alone
with the beauty?!
‘Zhen Zhen, let’s go out to eat.’
Xiao Tu said immediately getting up and pulling Zhen Zhen along with her.
Xiao Qi, who was coming in, and
just recovered from airsickness and car-sickness, and had not regained his nosy
abilities, wanted to come along,
‘Sister Tutu, I want to go too!’
though his words were aimed at Xiao Tu, his eyes were shining at Zhen Zhen.
Xiao Tu was about to agree, but
Zhen Zhen interjected, ‘Sorry, we’re going to talk about our periods over ox
blood soup. Do you want to come along?’
Though he wanted so desperately to
come along, he was sent back by Zhen Zhen’s glare. Xiao Qi was calm, upon
careful consideration, he suddenly realised, Zhen Zhen was willing to let him hear such a private matter, coupled with the fierce glares – she was really
impressive. Zhen Zhen, you are really tough. Really worthy of the person he
liked.
Zhen Zhen, I love you! (Zuben
*falls off her chair: What? When did this happen?)
Oh, where’d they go?!
Zhen Zhen dragged Xiao Tu off while
Xiao Qi had been reminiscing. After they had walked a bit, she checked that
Xiao Qi wasn’t following them and turned to Xiao Tu,
‘What is wrong with you now?
Weren’t you looking forward to eating those foods? Why did you dump them and
come out? Are you smoking something crazy?’
Xiao Tu folded her arms and her
cheeks puffed up, ‘Hmph, he must have gone with his childhood sweetheart to eat
more delicious food. I don’t want to lose either. We must eat somewhere nice
too!’
‘Childhood sweetheart? The
archaeologist?’ Realisation dawned on Zhen Zhen, ‘She did seem like someone
with extraordinary temperament. I guess she’s someone with status.’
At Zhen Zhen’s comment, Xiao Tu
deflated, ‘Do you think she’s beautiful too? More beautiful than I?’
Zhen Zhen wanted to say yes, but
she would not dare at this moment, ‘No your temperament is also good, very
unique. She cannot have it in this life.’
Your exceedingly foolish
temperament, I am sure there is no second in this world, Zhen Zhen bemoaned
inwardly.
Xiao Tu nodded on hearing this, she
immediately smiled, ‘Zhen Zhen is the best to me. You can see essence through
phenomena and discover my uniqueness. You have a good eye. Let’s go, I will
treat you tonight!’ (Zuben: Essence through phenomena?)
She strode off, Zhen Zhen sighed
inwardly, you silly fool, I am afraid you will forever be dancing in Lang
Lang’s palm for the rest of your life…
It is said that the path of enemies
was a narrow one. While Tu Tu and Zhen Zhen strolled the streets, they came
across a road side rice noodle stall, and met Lang Lang having dinner with Zhao
Tian.
The pair seemed to be having an
enthusiastic chat.
Xiao Tu watched the two, thinking about
what to do, when Zhen Zhen dragged her into the tent.
‘Director Lang, Dr Zhao, what a
coincidence. We heard our colleagues say you came out to eat but I didn’t
expect to find you at such a stall.’ Zhen Zhen said with a laugh.
Lang Lang smiled, with his eyes on
Xiao Tu before turning away. Not fast enough for Zhao Tian, who
enthusiastically took Zhen Zhen’s hand, ‘Haha, this is called fate! The food
here is delicious. Since we have met, let’s eat together. Come, sit sit’
Zhen Zhen, understanding the glint
in her eye, quickly took the seat next to Zhao Tian leaving Xiao Tu standing in
place not knowing what to do. The tables and stools at the stall were simple
plastic ones. The stool next to Lang Lang was very close to him. Xiao Tu stared
at the stool, then at Lang Lang, but he made no response or expression. (Zuben:
You could always drag the chair closer to the girls if you really wanted to…)
Zhen Zhen tutted inwardly, while
Zhao Tian laughed out loud, ‘Don’t punish yourself standing up, sit down
quickly. Why are you afraid of him? Don’t worry, I know how to handle him. I
will support you, don’t be afraid, sit down.’
Xiao Tu sat stiffly, but her heart
was filled with sourness from Zhao Tian’s words. There was no need for her to
spread that their relationship was not pure. Who needed her support?! Who was
she afraid of? Jokes!
But the stool was really close to
Lang Lang, she could smell his tempting musk mixed with his shower gel. His
hair looked slightly damp; he must have had a shower before coming out. He was
dressed in his stylish sportswear making him look refreshing.
Ah, she really wanted to pounce on
him.
No, she had to snap out of it – she
pinched her thigh in a daze but…she was putting in so much effort why didn’t it
hurt? Wasn’t she pinching hard enough? Yosh! Put in more effort!
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ A
sexy male voice growled at her; Xiao Tu instantly let go. She turned but she
didn’t dare look at him,
‘Nothing, I’m not doing anything.
Hehe, just waiting to eat. I am so hungry, hehe.’
‘So why are you pinching my thigh?’
What?! Xiao Tu looked down and
found her hand on his thigh. Did that mean…it was him she had been pinching? No
wonder she didn’t feel any pain even though she tried so hard. She quickly
snatched her hand back, ‘I am so sorry, I was thinking I was pinching
myself…I’m so sorry. Is it painful?’
Thinking of the force she used, he
must be bruised.
‘Would you believe me if I tell you
it doesn’t hurt? You’re really strong but you tend to use it in the wrong
direction.’
Xiao Tu ignored his mockery. Alas,
Lang Lang was a man with delicate skin that may never have been pinched from
childhood.
She felt so guilty, she said, ‘Let
me help you rub it…’ she said before gripping the area and kneading, not
thinking that the place as close to the danger zone.
As she massaged, she looked up at
him with pitiful, innocent eyes, ‘Is it better? What about this? If it hurts,
tell me.’
Lang Lang could feel the heat
coming from below and that place was getting harder, but he really didn’t want
her to stop. He coughed lightly and his gaze fell on Zhen Zhen and Zhao Tian,
their knowing grins mirrored each other. Though Lang Lang tried to hide it,
Xiao Tu did too much – rubbing again and again, he really could not stand it
anymore. He grabbed her hand and stood up. Xiao Tu blinked up at him in
confusion. She looked so alluring, that he nearly drooled. He quickly sat down,
‘I’m fine. Let’s eat.’
But Xiao Tu thinking he was in
pain, was even more worried, ‘Why don’t you take off your trousers and let me
see.’
Two sips of tea were spat out from
the onlookers.
Xiao Tu realised how inappropriate
her words sounded. Heaven and earth! She really didn’t mean that, she just felt
guilty.
Lang Lang stood up again as he
reached for his wallet. He slammed some money on the table and told Xiao Tu,
‘You guys eat slowly.’
Zhao Tian was about to protest but
he interjected threateningly, ‘Don’t you have something to ask me? Let’s go!’
She had no choice but to say
goodbye to the ladies for the sake of her archaeological dreams.
Xiao Tu watched him leave with Zhao
Tian without a glance back at her. She was suddenly depressed; why was she
always messing up and making him angry. Though she was trying to make up, she
kept making things worse.
‘Bring me five bottles of beer!’
she shouted at the stall owner. But they were a rice noodle stall, not a bar
stall. She looked around the stall and saw customers eating with a crate at
their feet that they had bought themselves. She walked over and chatted, and
paid for five bottles of beer. She returned to their table and began to drink.
As Zhen Zhen sipped from a bottle,
she laughed to herself when she thought of Lang Lang’s appearance just now. He
had blushed!
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