Time passed quickly. When Du Yunyan learned that Gu Wenxi had sent another letter, he realized that the other party had left over a month ago. This period was also the busiest time for the inn.

One morning in late July, after Du Yunyan finished preparing breakfast, he checked the reservation records and found that the latest room bookings were scheduled until the end of next month. He furrowed his brows slightly and called Du Hong, who often helped him answer the phone.

“What’s the matter, boss?”

“Du Hong,” Du Yunyan handed him the records, “let’s arrange the previous bookings like this, but we won’t take any reservations before September 5th. I want to free up a week.”

“September is still peak season,” Du Hong scratched his head in confusion, “free up a week… Is there any other activity in the inn?”

“No, I’m leaving for a few days. You guys take a break, and I’ll pay the wages.”

“You’re leaving?” After the surprise, he asked with a puzzled tone, “Are you going to… see Gu ge?”

“Yes, I’m going to S City,” Du Yunyuan glanced at him quickly. Du Hong lowered his head guiltily. “Do you know about us?”

“Uh, boss,” Du Hong, caught red-handed, stammered, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I don’t have any opinion.”

“Why are you nervous?” Du Yunyuan laughed. Since Yun Liang’s big fuss last time, he didn’t think he could keep his relationship a secret anymore. However, there weren’t many gossipers in the village, so he didn’t mind, especially since Du Hong and Du Yi had some personal connections with him before becoming employees, “do you know about us?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, blushing, “ahem, I don’t understand, but I won’t talk nonsense, you can be assured.”

Du Yunyuan felt grateful: “I trust you.”

“Uh, did you tell Gu ge about your visit?”

“No… I’ll tell him when I get there.”

“Are you going to launch a surprise attack again?” Du Hong joked.

Du Yunyan turned his head with a smile, “Just make sure you do what I told you.”

“Alright, you can count on me for that!”

Most of the morning passed, and the staff were mostly cleaning. Du Yunyan stayed at the front desk waiting for the scheduled guests. Since summer began, the inn’s doors were no longer closed during the day, and the arrival of people didn’t stir much commotion. Du Yunyan only raised his head when he heard the sound of leather shoes tapping on the floor.

“Hello, are you the one with the reservation?”

There were only two people, both men in suits. One was older, probably over fifty, and the other, younger, carried a briefcase. Besides that, they didn’t bring any luggage, which didn’t fit the environment here, and didn’t look like they were here to stay.

“We’re not here to stay.” The older man replied.

“Are you here for a meal?” Du Yunyan informed them, “Lunch won’t be served until eleven at the earliest.”

“No.”

The man denied again and then silently stared at Du Yunyan. Du Yunyan felt uncomfortable being stared at by this stranger but didn’t want to get angry before understanding the reason.

“So what exactly do you—”

“Are you the owner here?”

The condescending tone of the question made Du Yunyan even more displeased. He replied coldly, “Yes.”

“Hmm,” he nodded, “I can tell by your appearance that I’ve found the right person.”

“What do you mean by that?” Du Yunyan almost stopped hiding his irritation, “You’re looking for me?”

“Don’t be hasty,” the man’s previously stern expression softened into a faint smile. He gestured to the younger man beside him, who stepped forward and handed Du Yunyan a business card, “Does this name ring a bell?”

Du Yunyan glanced at it lightly, “No.”

“It’s okay,” the older man asked patiently, “Do you have a private room here?”

“Sorry, we don’t.”

The man wasn’t disappointed, “Just find a place where there’s no one and we can talk.”

“You want to talk to me?” Du Yunyan finally understood.

“Exactly,” he didn’t wait for Du Yunyan’s consent, then instructed the young man next to him, “You wait for me here,” he then turned his head and continued, “or in your room, if you prefer.”

“No need,” Du Yunyan frowned deeply, “come with me to the terrace.”

Seeing the name on the man’s business card, Du Yunyan recognized him as a CEO of a large company, someone with a substantial presence, likely wanting to use the guesthouse for some purpose. In recent years, he had encountered people with special requests, but they were always very polite and respectful of his wishes, like the director introduced by Cen Fei and the village chief. Du Yunyan had no objections to dealing with them as long as he made things clear. However, this man was clearly different from anyone he had met before.

Du Yunyan asked the staff to keep an eye on things and led the man to the second-floor terrace, making some tea in the process.

“Thank you.” The man sat in a wicker chair, his eyes never leaving Du Yunyan as he poured the tea. “You’re quite diligent.”

Du Yunyan remained expressionless: “I have a lot of work. If you have something to say, please make it quick.”

The man glanced at the cup on the table but didn’t rush to drink, saying leisurely, “As the boss, do you still need to do the work yourself? Can’t you just hire more people?”

Du Yunyan sat down in a chair nearby: “I don’t make a lot of money here, and I like doing things myself.”

“In your current situation… you won’t make big money,” the man played with the cup in his hand, finally taking a sip, “Quite an investment, isn’t it?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Hahaha…” The man laughed instead of getting angry, “Whether it’s my business or not is hard to say.”

“What exactly do you want to say to me?”

Looking down from the terrace, he vaguely saw the sign obscured by the greenery: “Yaning… you must love your mother very much.”

Du Yunyan raised his head in disbelief, his whole body felt like it had been plunged into cold water, frozen stiff, unable to move, standing up woodenly from his seat. In nearly thirty years of life, he had never felt as embarrassed as he did at that moment.

Lu Changming didn’t need to ask about Du Yunyan’s identity; that face was a replica of Du Yaning’s from back then, whereas he bore only a vague resemblance to himself.

Du Yaning was beautiful, ethereal, and Lu Changming was deeply attracted to her the first time they met. Now, in this child, he saw the familiar features that had once captivated him. There was no doubt they were mother and son.

Watching the stunned Du Yunyan, he smiled playfully: “Du Yunyan, that’s your name, right?”

Du Yunyan couldn’t speak, his lips parted slightly. His mother had never mentioned his father, and this matter was a taboo between them. He never imagined he would meet the man who was as much a stranger as any other.

“The name ‘Yunyan’ was given by your mother, she told me herself,” a trace of indistinguishable tenderness flashed in his eyes, followed by an oppressive gaze directed at Du Yunyan, “But your real name isn’t Du Yunyan, it’s—Lu Yunyan.”