Chapter 1: The Inn

“It’s all your fault! You promised to plan everything ahead of time, but no—you just had to go on about spontaneity and how surprises come when you least expect them! Well, are you happy now? I’d say all we got were disasters, not surprises! It’s been days—days—and the rain hasn’t stopped once! I used my hard-earned compensatory leave just for this trip to relax, and now it’s completely ruined by this terrible weather! We’re stuck in the inn every single day, can’t go anywhere!” A girl stormed out of the room angrily, striding along the inn’s corridor through the courtyard and heading straight outside.

“Alright, alright! Don’t be mad! How about I take you out for a stroll? Imagine this: a couple sharing an umbrella, wandering through the misty rain in an ancient town—how romantic~” The boy followed closely behind her, trying to comfort her, flashing his brightest smile.

“Romantic, my foot!” The girl shot him an angry glare, but in the next second, the warmth in his sunny smile and bright eyes melted her anger. All her irritation dissipated in an instant, smoothed over by his easygoing manner. She kept up her pouty act, but deep down, her frustration had already vanished like mist.

In a small pavilion within the courtyard, a graceful woman was quietly brewing tea, her movements calm and focused. The peace was broken by the couple’s sudden quarrel. The woman, however, didn’t seem bothered. She simply lowered her head and continued her work in silence. When she heard the argument stop, a gentle smile curved her lips.

“Would you like to have a cup of tea?” Her voice was soft, serene, and pleasant. Only then did the quarreling couple realize someone else had been there all along. Embarrassed, both of them flushed red.

“Oh no! You’re the innkeeper—I’m so sorry! We didn’t mean to disturb you with our bickering,” the boy said, scratching his head sheepishly. His bright smile now carried a hint of apology.

The woman smiled at them. “It’s quite alright. This inn only becomes lively and interesting because of guests like you. Since it’s the rainy season, the rain won’t be stopping any time soon, and the roads outside are too slippery to walk safely. Why not come sit for a while, have some tea, and chat?”

The woman in the pavilion was dressed in a pale green qipao that perfectly outlined her slender figure. Her hair was styled into a delicate bun, with a few loose strands framing her fair neck, adding to her gentle elegance. Against the backdrop of the light drizzle, she looked like a figure from a Jiangnan ink painting. The couple, who hadn’t noticed her before, now found it impossible to look away, completely captivated by her quiet beauty.

The boy turned to the girl for her opinion. After she gave a nod, they walked into the pavilion hand in hand.

The air, damp with rain, carried the fresh scent of earth and wet grass. Combined with the subtle fragrance of tea in the pavilion, it instantly soothed their nerves. All they wanted now was to enjoy the tranquility before them. On the tea table sat a set of rustic teaware. With long, elegant fingers moving like a dancer, the woman gracefully opened the tea canister, took a pinch of vibrant green leaves, and placed them into a warm purple clay teapot. She then lifted a steaming kettle and poured water from its spout in a smooth, arched stream, landing perfectly in the teapot. Instantly, a rich aroma of tea filled the air. She closed her eyes slightly, inhaling the rising fragrance, her expression calm and serene. After a short wait, she poured the brewed tea into delicate porcelain cups. The golden tea glowed like amber, clear and inviting. The entire process flowed like water—elegant, practiced, and mesmerizing.

“Miss Innkeeper, is the rainy season always like this here?” the girl asked curiously.

“During the rainy season, it’s often cloudy and drizzly like this, but it doesn’t last forever. The rain always stops eventually. When it does, the sky becomes a crystal-clear blue, like it’s been washed clean. A rainbow appears along the horizon, and everything around seems refreshed and beautiful. The warm sunlight pours over your body—it’s such a comfortable feeling.”

“Are there always this many tourists here?” the boy followed up.

“This is the off-season, so not many tourists now. But during peak season, the inn gets fully booked well in advance. Some who can’t get a room even pitch temporary tents near the town square,” the woman explained with a warm smile.

“What?!” The couple stared at her in disbelief.

“This tranquil ancient town sees all kinds of visitors every day. Some come for business opportunities tied to tourism, some for leisure and vacation, others for cultural exploration. And some…” her voice softened slightly, “come here to heal…”

“To heal?”

“Mm, this place is known as a haven for healing. I once had a guest stay here for almost a month. Every day, she’d just wander aimlessly around the old town—or more often, she wouldn’t go anywhere at all. She stayed in the inn by herself, basked in the sun, drank tea, petted the cat… Sometimes we’d chat a little. She told me she had just broken up with her boyfriend and work wasn’t going well either. But even without going anywhere, just being here helped her rediscover a long-lost inner peace.”

“See that guest in the room next to yours? She’s here specifically to gather inspiration. That couple over there? They just met last night in town. And the pair in that room arrived a bit before you—they’re getting married soon and came here for their pre-wedding photoshoot. This little town embraces everyone. Because most people don’t know each other and probably won’t cross paths again in the future, people feel free to open up here, to speak their hearts, to let themselves go. And once they leave, they return to their own lives, carrying with them their own private memories and secrets from this place, locked quietly away in their hearts.”

As the innkeeper spoke calmly, the couple listened with wide eyes—filled with disbelief and barely concealed wonder. It was as if, in their eyes, this small town had suddenly become cloaked in mystery and brimming with untold stories.

“Innkeeper, how long have you been here? Were you born and raised in this town? Don’t you ever get bored staying in the inn all day? I mean, the world is so big—have you never thought about going out and seeing more of it?” the boy asked curiously.

“I’m not a local,” the woman replied with a soft smile. “I came here later on. I originally planned to stay just one week on a trip, but that week became a month, then a year… and eventually, I decided to settle down and open this inn. Watching the guests come and go, experiencing the unique flavors of their lives, sipping tea and sunbathing in my spare time—it never feels boring. I still remember the first time I came here: I had just stepped out of the airport, and the moment I breathed in the air of this land, I felt instantly lighter, as if a weight had been lifted.”

“Mhm, the air here really is different,” the girl agreed with a nod. “There’s water everywhere, flowers in every home—compared to cities choked by industrial pollution, this place is truly relaxing.”

“It’s just a shame our vacation is so short,” the girl added with a sigh, spreading her hands. “It started raining on the very first day we got here, and we’ve missed out on so many beautiful sights.”

The boy gently patted her shoulder in comfort. “We’ll come back again someday. And look—we’re sipping tea and chatting with the innkeeper. Isn’t that its own kind of experience? I’d say we’ve dipped our toes into something a bit more refined.”

The girl pouted playfully but couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Seeing the sweet couple before her, the innkeeper smiled and quietly refilled their cups.

After thanking her, the two raised their cups for a sip. Instantly, the delicate fragrance of tea spread through their mouths, lingering on their lips and tongues.

“It’s delicious! Fragrant, with a lingering sweetness,” the girl exclaimed without thinking.

“Innkeeper, you must have seen so many people come and go. I bet you’ve heard all kinds of stories, right? Any that really stood out to you? Like… a whirlwind romance? Star-crossed lovers?” the boy asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. The girl nudged him with her elbow. “What are you saying? That’s people’s private business—we shouldn’t be so nosy.” Embarrassed, the boy scratched his head, realizing he might have been out of line.

The innkeeper looked at them with her usual calm smile. “It’s alright. We’ve all come from different corners of the world—meeting here is fate. There’s no harm in sharing a story or two.”

She paused to think for a moment. A flicker of unspoken sorrow passed through her eyes before she began softly,

“The story starts in a small town in the northwest…”