Chapter 421 - 267: The Eaves Where We Sheltered from the Rain Together

Chapter 421: Chapter 267: The Eaves Where We Sheltered from the Rain Together

"Oh, is that so..."

She stuck her hand in the dog’s mouth, teasing it with a wide grin. She couldn’t help but glance at Lin Chu, and it struck her that this guy was actually quite handsome. Though his hair was a mess, he was clean and fair-skinned, exuding a certain steady aura.

"You here on vacation?"

The rain hadn’t stopped; in fact, it was coming down even harder. She made casual conversation.

"Yeah... You’re not?"

When chatting with girls, Lin Chu rarely asked for personal information. If she was interested, she’d bring it up herself.

"I’m a local. I run a homestay by the sea. It’s that one up ahead, Suxin Homestay."

Sigh.

’What a turn-off.’

’So she’s a homestay owner.’

Lin Chu sighed inwardly, pursed his lips, and nodded with a smile. "That’s nice."

She seemed to sense his sudden shift in attitude. Glancing at him, she figured he was probably worried she was about to give him a sales pitch. Feeling a little exasperated, she handed the dog back. "Here, he’s yours."

Lin Chu reached out, took the dog, and nodded with a smile.

A bit of self-reflection sparked within him. ’Why was I so turned off the second I heard she was a homestay owner?’

’Probably because, subconsciously, I felt there was nothing special about it.’

Tsk.

’This is just me being judgmental.’

’If An Yunzhi were here, he’d probably see a halo around her and his interest would be maxed out.’

’Dammit.’

’Some toxic ideas really are ingrained to the bone.’

"What’s it like running a homestay by the sea? Must be awesome, right? The scenery here is gorgeous."

With that thought, Lin Chu lowered the high wall around his heart a few notches and took the initiative to start a conversation.

"It’s all right. I’ve been looking at it since I was a kid, so it doesn’t feel like anything special anymore. For you, it’s the thrill of a new sight. For us, it’s like an old married couple..."

Just then.

Lin Chu suddenly saw a shuttle cart driving toward them through the curtain of rain. Its hazard lights were flashing. A middle-aged woman was driving, and she pulled over near them.

"Oh, that’s my mom, here to pick me up! Where are you staying? Want a ride? It looks like this rain is going to last a while."

She stomped her feet and grinned, waving at the middle-aged woman in the driver’s seat.

"I’m staying at the place up ahead, Mountain and Sea Homestay. I’d appreciate a ride, thanks."

Hearing that, she looked slightly surprised, then couldn’t help but let out a cheerful laugh.

"Let’s go, guest!"

"That one’s mine too!"

Lin Chu: ?

"Did your family buy up all the property around Erhai?"

She rolled her eyes at Lin Chu and joked back, "Yup, you got it. This whole Erhai used to be the pond in my family’s backyard..."

"Whoa, I couldn’t tell. A young miss from a wealthy family..."

"Hey, watch it, no insults. Don’t think I don’t know that old comedy routine. Let’s go!"

The shuttle cart was open on three sides, with only a roof overhead, but it was better than nothing. Lin Chu got in, and she brought over two umbrellas to shield the sides. The small electric cart whirred forward, feeling like they were street racing in the rain.

"How many days are you staying?"

They arrived quickly.

Seeing the sign for Mountain and Sea Homestay up ahead, she asked with a smile.

"Not sure yet. Until the 5th, maybe?"

"Alright, go on then. Mention my name, they’ll give you a killer discount."

She added one last cheeky comment as she watched Lin Chu get out of the cart.

Lin Chu: ?

’What the fuck?’

’Is this how everyone in your service industry acts?’

’Unbelievable.’

’But, she’s probably the owner, so she can be willful.’

’And besides, she’s just naturally cheeky.’

"What’s your name!"

Lin Chu shouted at the departing cart.

"Bai Weiwei!"

Her clear voice rang out through the rain.

Watching the shuttle cart disappear into the heavy rain, Lin Chu couldn’t help but shake his head and smile. ’This is... actually pretty interesting.’

...

「In the homestay’s lobby.」

The young woman at the front desk was sitting there watching the rain. She was the only one in the lobby.

Lin Chu walked in, soaking wet and holding his dog.

As he entered, she gave him a look of disbelief, her eyes scanning him up and down. After a moment, she asked in a slightly complicated tone, "You know our Weiwei?"

"Whoa, you’re not here looking for her, are you?"

"Huh? Huh? Huh?"

Her tone was practically overflowing with gossip.

Lin Chu: ...

He was momentarily speechless.

Ever since leaving his home province, the thing he’d had the hardest time adjusting to was the attitude in the service industry elsewhere. People weren’t reserved at all, acting chummy right off the bat. The discomfort was minor, though, and still within his range of tolerance, especially since he’d grown up in a small village.

Sometimes, he even found it a little endearing.

But only when he was in a good mood.

"Yup, that’s right. I’m here to propose. We pledged our lives to each other long ago."

Lin Chu said with a shameless grin.

"Huh? Huh? Huh?"

The front desk girl was completely stunned. She swallowed hard and took out her phone, looking like she was about to call her.

Seeing this, Lin Chu quickly reached out to stop her. "Whoa, are you for real? Can’t you tell I’m joking?"

"This is my first time in Dali. How would I know her?"

"Are you dense?"

She froze for a second before it dawned on her. "Then... how did you two come back together?"

"Oh, oh, oh, you must have just met. You even asked for her name."

"Not bad. You really are the man who’s supposed to film intimate scenes with the first, second, AND third female leads."

She’d caught on.

She realized Lin Chu was just bullshitting.

But she didn’t seem to mind much.

Instead, she teased him with a smile.

Lin Chu: ...

He just laughed. "Hey, I’m going to file a complaint. Is that any way to talk to a guest? Also, your boss—the one from just now—she told me I’d get a discount if I mentioned her name."

Hearing that, the front desk girl immediately and decisively shot him down. "Nope, can’t do that."

"She may be the owner’s daughter, but I’m the owner’s aunt. I have seniority. You do the math—what does that mean she has to call me?"

Lin Chu: ...

He gave a weak wave and got up to head upstairs.

She burst out laughing.

"Tonight, cocktail party. You coming?"

Lin Chu didn’t turn back. "Only if you’re treating!"

Her: "Our Weiwei is going to be singing! She has a beautiful voice!"

Lin Chu turned back, shot her a look, and chuckled in exasperation. "Book me a front-row seat! No! I’ll book the whole venue! Kick all the other guests out! I want to be the only one there!"

’Fucking hell...’

’Are you using this to test your guests?’

’What kind of clip joint is this!’

Her: "Then don’t come! Thanks!"

THUMP THUMP THUMP.

Lin Chu went upstairs.

...

After taking another shower and feeding Ergou, Lin Chu finally went downstairs to eat.

The sky had gradually darkened, and the rain had stopped completely, leaving a fresh scent in the air.

He ordered a steak and a cup of coffee and sat down for a casual meal in the small bar in the homestay’s courtyard.

Although it wasn’t peak season yet, there were still quite a few people around.

Behind the bar, two foreigners, a man and a woman, were frantically shaking cocktail shakers, making drinks for the guests.

To one side was a small stage decorated with flowers, with a drum set and a guitar stand in the middle.

I have to say, it had a pretty great vibe.

It was a feeling you’d be hard-pressed to find in a big city, with much more atmosphere than a hotel’s executive lounge.

A place like this was indeed perfect for picking up girls and having one-night stands.

Get drunk, and you wouldn’t even have to leave. The guest rooms were right upstairs.

...

When Bai Weiwei came in, she was wearing denim overalls, vintage-style combat boots, and a beret, giving her a rather punk look. She was carrying a guitar.

Behind her were two girls in traditional ethnic outfits, glittering from head to toe and looking quite stunning.

She scanned the crowd and spotted Lin Chu. When he looked up, she smiled, gave a little wave, and then walked toward the "stage."

"Hello everyone, and welcome to my homestay. Tonight, the most beautiful, adorable, and gentle owner will be singing for you personally. She’s a graduate of the Berkeley College of Music, a true professional. So, please, feel free to request whatever you’d like to hear. Don’t be afraid to give her a challenge. I wish every one of you a wonderful vacation."

Bai Weiwei spoke with her charisma on full display, deliberately modulating her voice to sound especially sweet and ethereal.

Hearing this, faint gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd.

Berkeley College of Music?

It could be called one of the top music schools in the entire world.

No one had expected this young woman to have such impressive credentials.

When Lin Chu heard this, he was also a little surprised. He glanced at her, then shook his head and smiled.

Tsk.

’That bit of interest I lost earlier just came right back.’

’Ha... Maybe I’m just a superficial guy.’

’But, whatever.’

"Excuse me, how about ’Secret That Cannot Be Told’ by Jay Chou."

Lin Chu was the first to raise his hand and make a request.

The line "The most beautiful part wasn’t the rainy day, but the eaves under which we hid from the rain together" came from that very song.

To be fair, an act like this truly carried a hint of flirtation.

Bai Weiwei glanced at him, a look of exasperation on her face, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. "Sorry, I don’t know that song. Next."

Lin Chu: ?

’The fuck?’

He really hadn’t expected her to reject him so bluntly.

Heh...

’Woman, you’ve captured my attention.’

...

...