Chapter 9

Renting an RV for Travel

“Lin Senmu, it’s already 10 in the morning, are you still not awake? I’ve already joined a tour group for a trip!”

Waking up naturally from sleep.

When Lin Senmu opened his phone, he received a message from a girl he met during his journey.

He didn’t reply immediately, his eyes fixed on the screen in a daze.

After a while, a warm smile appeared on his face, “So nice.”

It feels so good to wake up every day and have someone to chat with, this feeling of being remembered is truly wonderful!

“I’m awake!”

The moment Lin Senmu clicked to send the message, Jiang Yuan’s charming face involuntarily appeared in his mind.

“[Pig]”

Jiang Yuan sent a system-provided emoji.

“Is this how you look today?”

Lin Senmu countered with a mischievous smile.

“???”

After realizing, Jiang Yuan got annoyed, “You’re the pig! [Pig]”

“I’m not!”

“You are!”

“It’s you!”

“It’s not me!”

“It is you!”

The nonsense literature begins!

After bickering through the phone screen for a while, Jiang Yuan said she had arrived at the next scenic spot and was going to take some landscape photos, reminding Lin Senmu: “You better get up soon!”

“Alright.”

Lin Senmu replied.

“Remember to have breakfast!”

Jiang Yuan said.

“Received!”

Lin Senmu pulled open the curtains to let in some fresh air, then shuffled to the bathroom in his slippers to wash up.

In the summer, the daylight hours in Anxi City, the capital of the Western Region, are the same as in the mainland.

The days are particularly long, with the sun setting only at 11 PM.

After checking the room for any forgotten items, Lin Senmu took the room key and went to the lobby to check out of the hotel.

He had his own plans for traveling in the Western Region. Today, he intended to explore the urban area of Anxi City and enjoy the night view in the evening.

The next day, he planned to visit the legendary mysterious canyon, followed by the endless grasslands, and the Tianchi area with its combination of glaciers and snow-capped mountains, all famous sights of the region.

“Princess Yuan Yuan, I’m at a snack alley in Anxi, what did you have for breakfast?”

Since the Pat-pat last night, Lin Senmu liked to call her “Princess” according to Jiang Yuan’s Pat-pat settings when he wanted to get closer.

If they were face to face, Lin Senmu wouldn’t be able to call her such a cheesy nickname.

“Hey, yogurt shaved ice and meat naan.”

Jiang Yuan, with her swan-like neck adorned with her DSLR camera, replied to the message and continued capturing the beauty of the Western Region.

She was currently in a scenic area with mountains, water, and forests, and only during breaks did she glance at Lin Senmu’s messages, her cheeks gradually turning a shade of red, as she shyly scolded, “Lin Senmu, why did you have the exact same breakfast as me?”

In the chat history, Lin Senmu had previously sent a photo of a cup of yogurt shaved ice and a piece of naan.

“I thought whatever you recommend must be delicious! [Cute]”

Lin Senmu was quite good with words.

Jiang Yuan couldn’t be bothered to deal with the shameless Lin Senmu. She lifted the DSLR camera hanging around her neck and aimed it at the sky of the Western Region, capturing the blue sky and white clouds, but the corners of her mouth curled up in a happy arc.

After being unilaterally ended the chat by Jiang Yuan, Lin Senmu didn’t mind. For the girl he met during his travels, he decided to let things take their natural course.

Besides, they had two ways to stay in touch, there was plenty of time ahead!

After having the same breakfast as Jiang Yuan, Lin Senmu also tried some local delicacies like figs, handmade ice cream, and grilled lamb skewers at the snack street.

Then he prepared to head to the next destination.

When traveling to an ancient city, a visit to the museum is a must to appreciate the local history and culture.

The museum in Anxi City is filled with modern technology, bustling with visitors. The most famous attraction is the preserved body of a Loulan beauty from three thousand years ago.

By the afternoon, after exploring the city, Lin Senmu took a ride-hailing service to the car rental center.

He chose not to join a tour group because he could drive himself. During the winter and summer vacations of his second and third years of high school, after turning eighteen, he felt overwhelmed by studying and preparing for exams. To balance work and leisure, he took the time to get a driver’s license.

Although not an experienced driver, he had no problem driving.

Therefore, for the remaining scenic spots, Lin Senmu planned to travel by self-driving.

The benefit of traveling alone, it is said, is the exploration and discovery of one’s inner world, as well as a form of self-redemption.

After careful consideration, Lin Senmu rented a mid-range RV for 500 yuan a day.

Then, following the ‘Outside Anxi City’ marked in his phone’s memo, he began his checklist. Guided by the navigation, he drove towards the rural forest farm outside the city.

“Lin Senmu, I went to the rural forest farm this morning. Would you like to follow our tour bus and take the same route?”

Arriving at the rural forest farm, admiring the lush green trees, Lin Senmu chatted with Jiang Yuan using Green Bubble while taking photos.

Receiving the girl’s message, his heart stirred, “Sure, where are you heading next?”

Jiang Yuan replied instantly, “Tianshan Nightless City!”

“Then I’m coming over!”

Lin Senmu returned to his car and headed towards the Nightless City, deviating from his original planned route just to see that girl.

“Great, hurry up.”

Jiang Yuan smiled on the tour bus, inexplicably looking forward to meeting the boy.

Lin Senmu stepped on the accelerator to speed up. It was sunset, and he had no time to enjoy the scenery along the way, rushing towards his destination.

“I’m here.”

Upon arrival, the sky gradually turned to night. Lin Senmu parked the RV and sent a message to the girl.

“Lin Senmu, I’m near the performance stage. There are many young people from the Western Regions performing here. Come find me quickly!”

Lin Senmu stepped into the bustling Nightless City, greeted by rows of brightly lit palace-style buildings.

The style exuded the ancient charm of the Han and Tang periods, along with exotic cultural elements, preserving the essence of both the ancient Han and Western Regions ethnic groups.

In the sea of people, after some searching, Lin Senmu suddenly turned around and, in the dim light, met a pair of almond-shaped eyes.

“Lin Senmu!”

Jiang Yuan stood on tiptoe, her beautiful eyes looking around, also searching in the crowd. Upon seeing a somewhat familiar figure, she waved at the boy.

“Jiang Yuan, you look so beautiful today!”

Lin Senmu walked over, his eyes filled with admiration.

Today, the girl had her hair tied up with a jade hairpin, her face adorned with exquisite makeup, wearing a traditional ancient-style long dress with scattered flowers and misty gauze, resembling a peerless beauty from a classical Chinese painting.

Jiang Yuan fanned herself with a painted fan, giggling, “Hehe, it’s so hot, but it’s worth it for beautiful photos.”

“Are you still posting on your space?”

Lin Senmu had checked Jiang Yuan’s Penguin space last night. There were no toxic motivational quotes, and her posts were quite normal for a young girl.

Besides, there were many personal selfies of Jiang Yuan.

“Yes, yes.”

When Jiang Yuan replied, she met the boy’s unwavering gaze. Her delicate face gradually flushed, and she lowered her head with a shy expression, saying, “Don’t keep staring at me like that!”

“Oh, Jiang Yuan, let’s watch the performance. This new female internet celebrity who just came on stage, I’ve seen her in short videos. She specializes in cosplaying the Dunhuang Feitian attire!”

Lin Senmu couldn’t understand how Jiang Yuan, who was beside him, could be so incredibly beautiful.

Her eyebrows, her eyes, her nose, her lips, her face—all of them were etched deeply in his heart.