At seven in the morning, people from the island came knocking at the door, saying they’d come to register their information.

Bai Youwei’s face was gloomy enough to rain.

With Shen Mo blocking for her, she at least didn’t lose her temper. But after the information registration was complete and the people left, she couldn’t endure another second and immediately went back to bed to catch up on sleep.

During this time, she hazily heard Shen Mo say to her, “We’re going out to look around. You stay in the room alone and don’t wander around.”

She thought she was dreaming, her brain not very clear from sleep. Buried in the blankets, she mumbled groggily, “Can I even run around? You’re overestimating these two legs of mine.”

She vaguely heard him laugh.

Then footsteps receded and the door closed with a soft “click.”

…

Very strange—she’d been dead tired before, but after hearing that “click,” her mind grew clearer and clearer.

She discovered she couldn’t sleep anymore.

Taking out her phone to check the time, it was only seven-thirty.

Last night they’d taken the boat, landed on the island, and then settled into the hotel rooms again. They didn’t sleep until the latter half of the night, seriously sleep-deprived!

But now she couldn’t sleep!

Bai Youwei got up with a gloomy expression, sat dazed for a moment, then began washing up and changing clothes… then wheeled herself outside.

The resort hotel was built by the mountains and beside the water. Naturally the surrounding environment was excellent—secluded orchids in empty valleys, verdant pines and cypresses, endless green mountains and clear waters.

Teacher Cheng wore an old cadre-style white shirt and sat in the garden outside the hotel chatting with someone.

The other person wore a linen shirt and a straw hat, half his face hidden by the brim. Only when Bai Youwei drew near and heard the voice did she recognize it was Uncle Zhao who had invited them aboard yesterday.

Seeing Bai Youwei come out, Teacher Cheng smiled and said, “Weiwei’s up? Why didn’t you sleep more? I just brought breakfast back, but it’s still hot. The air is nice here—walk around nearby for a bit, and you can eat when it cools down.”

Soy milk and steamed buns sat on the stone bench. She didn’t know what filling the buns had.

Bai Youwei gave a bland “oh” and didn’t go far, casually finding a patch of shade to stay in.

The early morning was very quiet, with the sounds of daily life in that quietness. From time to time people walked past the garden—young men walking together pulling fishing nets, women with vegetable baskets chatting and laughing as they walked, and aunties going in and out hanging bedding and clothes to dry.

Farther away, the cafeteria’s freshly steamed buns released steam, that white vapor floating far away, carrying the sweet fragrance of rice and flour in their original flavor.

How marvelous. Outside was the tightrope tension between life and death, but here it was peaceful and content, making people feel it wasn’t real.

Cheng Weicai was still chatting with Uncle Zhao.

Perhaps because they were similar in age, they were conversing happily.

Uncle Zhao complimented Cheng Weicai on being learned and cultured; Cheng Weicai sincerely praised Uncle Zhao as a person with great aspirations.

Cheng Weicai gave Uncle Zhao a thumbs up and sighed with feeling, “I’ve taught all my life but was confined to a single classroom. You’re different—you’re someone with broad ambitions. That’s why you can regulate this island’s food, clothing, shelter, and daily life so orderly. Everyone on the island lives in seclusion from the world in peace and contentment. Your place isn’t much different from the Peach Blossom Spring!”

Getting excited, he even recited a poem: “The path to Wuling Stream leads to deep seclusion, where chickens and dogs belong to families from the Qin! Who were those seen before? The source waters now flow as peach blossoms bloom again!”

Uncle Zhao laughed heartily and said, “It’s nothing much—it’s all the result of everyone’s joint efforts. However, we just planted a batch of corn in July. If we can get a good harvest in October and plant another batch of wheat, we might actually be able to build a Peach Blossom Spring.”

Teacher Cheng smiled. “Not far off, not far off at all!”

Bai Youwei narrowed her eyes, lazily watching the two old men.

The sun gradually rose and the tree shade shifted bit by bit.

Bai Youwei’s wheelchair moved along with the shade.

Around eleven o’clock, Shen Mo and Tan Xiao finally returned. Seeing Bai Youwei relaxing in the shade, they walked over.

“Don’t talk yet.” Bai Youwei looked at them with a smile. “Let me guess… you didn’t see any transport ships, right?”