Shang Zhitao thought: Dunhuang 108, once in a lifetime is enough. It’s too exhausting.

When she got up the next morning, her legs didn’t feel like her own anymore. This was nothing compared to the biggest challenge tonight—sleeping in tents. Sleeping in tents was quite nice; at least the stars in the desert would certainly be beautiful. But Shang Zhitao was completely dreading it now.

She woke up early to check on the breakfast buffet. At the entrance to the dining room, she saw Luan Nian, who had woken up even earlier. His eyes fell on her slowly moving legs: “You need to exercise more.”

“I don’t hike every day,” Shang Zhitao protested quietly, dissatisfied with Luan Nian’s mockery.

“Your stamina isn’t that good normally either,” Luan Nian said suggestively. Shang Zhitao always played tricks. He quite liked it when she did.

…

Her face suddenly turned red, and she lowered her head to count the meal vouchers.

Luan Nian stood there watching her count, watching as the redness on her face gradually faded and returned to normal. He called out to her: “Flora.”

“Hmm?”

“Want to have dinner together when we get back to Beijing?” Luan Nian adopted Dony’s tone, as if teasing her, yet his expression was serious.

“Sorry, I’m very busy.”

“Then stay busy all the way.” Luan Nian was vaguely worried that Shang Zhitao might agree to have dinner with Dony out of deference to his authority. He didn’t want to think about the consequences, because he simply wouldn’t allow it to happen.

Gradually, more clients arrived at the restaurant. Luan Nian went over to greet them, and Shang Zhitao also seriously focused on her work. After sitting for a while, she saw Luan Nian sitting down, chatting with two clients.

Shang Zhitao didn’t know how the strange rapport between them had developed, probably from sleeping together enough times to become familiar. For instance, at this moment, Shang Zhitao understood what Luan Nian meant—his fundamental message was: stay away from Dony.

She replied to him: “I won’t have dinner with Dony. I only have dinner with Luke, and sleep with him too.” Shang Zhitao suddenly had the urge to tease him; she wanted to see Luan Nian’s reaction when he saw such a message.

Luan Nian took out his phone to check. Shang Zhitao saw the corners of his mouth twitch slightly, smiling a little, and replied: “Good, we’ll sleep together when we get back to Beijing.” He put the phone back in his pocket.

Dog of a man.

She didn’t know why these three words came to mind. Luan Nian, that dog of a man, was protecting her, but wouldn’t say it directly.

When it came time to check equipment, the male colleague from the marketing department had been trained by Luan Nian and was helping everyone check with practiced skill. Everything became orderly. This was probably his greatest ability—no matter how chaotic a situation, he could quickly make judgments and turn things around.

On the third day, they moved slower than yesterday, but the scenery was even more stunning. Everyone started taking photos and enjoying the desert, and thus became happy again. Lu Mi deliberately walked behind with Shang Zhitao, her hand resting on Shang Zhitao’s shoulder. She glanced at Dony, who was talking to a girl from the planning department. That girl usually didn’t get along with Kitty. And Kitty? She looked at them with disdain.

“Can I see today’s room assignment sheet?”

“No need to look. I’ve already assigned them.” Lu Mi snorted, “Interesting.” The master and apprentice had become sufficiently in sync that Lu Mi could often discern Shang Zhitao’s thoughts without her having to speak.

That night, Shang Zhitao and Lu Mi sat by the window. The curtains were drawn, the room lights turned off, a video camera set up. The light in the room across turned on, shadows overlapped briefly, then the light went off. Shang Zhitao said to Lu Mi: “This is too thrilling.”

Lu Mi patted her head: “More thrilling than a blockbuster movie. Tsk, tsk.”

Shang Zhitao felt how fortunate she was to know someone like Lu Mi. The two of them took turns watching that window, seeking a glimmer of hope for the trap Shang Zhitao might have fallen into.

The day they returned to Beijing was a Sunday.

They had only been gone for a few days, but Beijing’s summer had already ended. When Shang Zhitao entered the door, Sun Yuanzhu was brushing Luke’s fur. She put her luggage by the door and experienced Luke’s earth-shattering welcome ceremony. Sun Yuanzhu sat on the sofa watching their excitement.

Shang Zhitao pushed Luke away and walked to the living room, sitting cross-legged opposite Sun Yuanzhu: “Completely better now?”

“Better.” Sun Yuanzhu transformed back into that sunny, bright young man. He leaned forward to thank Shang Zhitao: “Thank you for taking care of me that day, Ms. Shang Zhitao.”

Seeing Sun Yuanzhu’s gentle gaze, a sense of stability washed over Shang Zhitao, covering her anxiety about being harassed by Dony: “Should we celebrate then?”

“Sure. I’d like to go for a walk.”

“Let’s go.”

Shang Zhitao jumped up, Luke also jumped up, and Sun Yuanzhu leashed Luke: “Let’s take him along.”

They went out and walked through streets with occasional falling leaves. Sun Yuanzhu rarely spoke, and Shang Zhitao walked quietly beside him. She wanted to ask about that “Taotao” he’d called her, but ultimately didn’t speak up. She just slightly raised her head to look at him—he was quiet, with a touch of detachment. His story was hidden behind his glasses; if he lowered his head, you could never see it.

They passed by a newspaper stand. In those years, newspaper stands were becoming increasingly rare. People handing out newspapers in the subway had also disappeared overnight. Many people began counting on their fingers how long it would be until a brand new era arrived. Who could board that train, and who would be left behind by the times?

Shang Zhitao didn’t understand Sun Yuanzhu’s work. She imagined his job was probably writing a program to be embedded in a system, a program that could direct a driverless car to freely race along the highways of the Northwest.

That must be very romantic.

Human imagination is inherently romantic.

They walked along the streets of North Fifth Ring Road, not knowing how long they had walked. Shang Zhitao finally couldn’t suppress her anxiety and told Sun Yuanzhu about Dony. She said: “You know what? I’m very scared. I will reject him, but I don’t know if he’ll be furious with embarrassment.”

“I see…” Sun Yuanzhu thought for a moment: “Let me think about it. Do you think he’s a habitual offender?”

“I think he is.” Shang Zhitao was certain Dony was a habitual offender; he carried out such actions with ease, making it impossible to catch him in the act.

Sun Yuanzhu nodded: “If he’s a habitual offender, he’ll eventually slip up. Let me think if there’s any way to handle this.”

Shang Zhitao smiled at him: “I don’t know why, but I feel you’ll have a solution. And it will be the best solution in the world.”

“That’s not necessarily true. It might be a solution that can’t be openly discussed.”

The autumn wind began to blow—it was a good season in the human world. At this moment, Luan Nian’s car was parked across the road, watching Sun Yuanzhu walk Luke with Shang Zhitao by his side. As ordinary as a family of three, with simple happiness.

He finally understood why Shang Zhitao always wanted to leave on Saturdays. She was eager to escape from his home because she wanted to return to ordinary reality and happiness. The look in her eyes when she gazed at Sun Yuanzhu was filled with love that she didn’t even notice.

Luan Nian started the car.

He suddenly thought of going to the bar to mix drinks. The bartending equipment had arrived but hadn’t been used yet. He had never actively sought her out before; this was the first time, because that day he had spontaneously said he would let her taste the first drink he mixed at the bar. He drove up toward the mountain. At the bar, staff were already preparing for the official opening. Seeing Luan Nian, they greeted him, and he nodded.

He was too idle today.

A Sunday with nothing to do, work days and life completely separated, free time but boring.

Standing at the bar counter, behind him was a complete set of bartending equipment. After thinking for a moment, he began mixing a “White Lady.” Brushing sugar syrup on the rim of the glass, rolling it in crushed rose petals, like a woman’s body in formal dress. Luan Nian had studied bartending for some time; changing the base liquor was the core of different cocktails.

He mixed drinks according to his mood, not following strict rules. As long as it tasted good, it was fine.

The first drink was originally promised to Shang Zhitao, but he drank it himself. Tan Mian’s phone call came at the right time, asking where he was. He said he was up on the mountain.

“Can we drink today?”

“Yes.”

Luan Nian felt he had chosen this place well. Sitting in front of the bar’s large floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see the early autumn in the mountains. There were always a scattered few people willing to drive dozens of kilometers to chase this autumn scenery.

When Tan Mian arrived, Luan Nian was taking photos. The green tea leaves had expanded in the glass on the table by the window. Next to it lay a book, aesthetically perfect.

He crouched on the ground looking for angles; the lens needed to have layers. Click—one shot, and he was satisfied with the result.

“You’re quite free today.”

Luan Nian looked at him: “Aren’t you?”

Tan Mian leaned back on the sofa: “If I weren’t free, who would drive to your place? It’s so hard to find.” Looking around, he acknowledged Luan Nian’s fine taste: “Nice decoration.”

“You flatter me.”

“As it happens, our company is planning an exchange activity soon. Let’s hold it here.”

“Thanks for the business.”

Luan Nian’s short, staccato sentences were quite unusual; he wasn’t typically so taciturn with friends.

Tan Mian saw him only focused on taking photos and asked: “Bad mood?”

?

“I’m asking if you’re in a bad mood?”

“No.”

“Then want to go out for a few drinks?”

“I own a bar, and you want me to go out to drink?”

“Then let’s drink here.”

“I’m not treating.”

“I’ll treat, okay?” Tan Mian now saw that Luan Nian was truly in a bad mood, accommodating him at every turn. What else could he do but accommodate him? His words could be harsh!

“I’ll call a few people to come drink, support your new business.” As he spoke, he glanced at Luan Nian, who didn’t even look up.

Tan Mian made phone calls one by one: “Come for drinks.” In less than two hours, seven or eight men and women had gathered. There were two women Luan Nian hadn’t met before. Tan Mian pointed to one of them and said to Luan Nian: She teaches Western literature at the university, her parents are also abroad, she comes from a good family. Most importantly, look at the girl—eyes full of tenderness, delicate hands, in her leisure she grows flowers and appreciates the moon, when busy she reads and writes. Isn’t she a good match for an artistic person like you?

Luan Nian didn’t even look up, just said faintly: “Quite nice.”

“Since she’s quite nice, why not go over and have a drink together?”

“Then will you mix it?”

“I don’t know how. You mix it and then come over.”

Several people sat drinking by the window, occasionally glancing at Luan Nian. As time went on, Luan Nian became somewhat casual with the mixing—anyway, Tan Mian was paying. Finally, he mixed a “Black Russian” for himself, easy to drink, but the vodka was damn spicy.

Holding the glass, he sat down among them. They chatted casually about various things until it was completely dark.

Before leaving, Tan Mian stopped that woman and Luan Nian: “Exchange contact information. Gong Yue’s side often organizes student activities. I think this place is quite suitable.”

The matchmaking intention was very obvious.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Luan Nian took out his phone and exchanged contact information with Gong Yue. Only then did he see that his phone had exploded with various messages. After seeing them off, he checked the messages one by one. Among them were two from Shang Zhitao; she said, “Luke, I’ve sent the budget plan to your email.”

There was another message: “If you’re not on a business trip next week, could you help me take care of Luke?”

Luan Nian replied: “No.”