Chapter 37

Early the next morning, the three of them packed up and set off again. They checked in at the Grand Waterfall and Black Mountain Valley, soaked in hot springs, and visited the Natural History Museum. Later, they stopped by an observation deck to enjoy the night views in different locations.

For over ten days, they explored nearly every attraction and tried all the famous local dishes. Wen Jiunian even recommended some off-the-beaten-path places with beautiful scenery and, most importantly, delicious food.

By the end of the trip, Lin Nanzhi had filled several memory cards on her camera. Apart from scenic shots, there were countless photos of the three of them together.

In such a short time, the three had grown significantly closer and were now good friends.

“Are there no more places left to visit?” Lin Nanzhi asked while sitting on a popular light rail train, snapping pictures of the scenery outside.

“Mm… we’ve covered everything we could think of. I’d say we’re pretty much done,” replied Wen Jiunian.

Lin Nanzhi nodded without saying more, but internally, she was calculating expenses.

Except for the costs on the first day, all expenses—including accommodation, food, transportation, and entrance fees—were covered by Yu Ze and Wen Jiunian. She had just enjoyed the trip. Though guides also charge fees, she was sure that what Yu Ze and Wen Jiunian had spent over the past days far exceeded that amount.

Before coming, she had researched the attractions and their costs. The only unknown was the lodging fee, as food was already included in it.

Getting off the light rail, Lin Nanzhi decided to be direct. “So, how much did we spend in total over these days?”

“What expenses? We’re friends. Just think of it as my treat,” Yu Ze said.

“That won’t do. Clear accounts make for lasting friendships.”

“I mean…” Yu Ze was about to refuse when Wen Jiunian spoke first, “At market rate, it’s 2,800 yuan.”

“You’re not lying, are you? That cheap?”

Wen Jiunian smiled and shook his head. “Nope, you can ask around. That’s the standard price. You visited many places, or it wouldn’t even have cost this much.”

“But there are two of you, so I’ll send each of you 2,800. I won’t haggle over a little more or less. I’ll be staying a few more days—take me to try some more good food.”

“Deal.” Wen Jiunian didn’t hesitate at all and immediately sent his account number to Lin Nanzhi. Seeing this, Yu Ze had no choice but to do the same.

“Let’s have hot pot tomorrow. I noticed you really liked it the other day,” Wen Jiunian suggested.

“Sounds great!”

With that plan set, Lin Nanzhi happily returned to her hotel. Wanting to eat more, she even skipped breakfast the next morning. When it was time, she took a taxi straight to the hot pot restaurant.

The place was just as crowded as before. The moment she stepped in, the rich aroma of hot pot filled her nose, making her take a deep breath in anticipation.

She pushed open the door and looked around, quickly spotting Wen Jiunian. He noticed her too and waved enthusiastically. She ran over and sat down—only to realize Wen Jiunian was alone.

“Where’s Yu Ze?”

“Ah, that guy is never on time. I’ll step outside to call and hurry him up. Look at the menu and order whatever you like.”

“Alright.”

Wen Jiunian left with his phone, and Lin Nanzhi finally picked up the menu. She noticed that the broth had already been ordered—a yin-yang pot, probably to accommodate her tastes.

For ingredients, they had ordered pea sprouts, potato slices, duck intestines, duck blood, tofu, and two portions of beef tripe. Knowing that portion sizes in hot pot places were usually small, she wasn’t shy about adding more. She ordered another serving of duck intestines, two more portions of beef tripe, two portions of marbled beef, a serving of pork belly, some skewers, and a plate of crispy fried meat.

Just as she put down the menu, she suddenly noticed two more people sitting across from her. They looked like a married couple, and both were gazing at her with an odd sparkle in their eyes.

Lin Nanzhi: “…”

Wait… could they be human traffickers?!

“Young lady, where are you from?” the man asked.

Lin Nanzhi: “…”

Seriously? Are traffickers this brazen nowadays?

Noticing her wary expression, the woman nudged the man with her elbow before smiling gently. “Miss, do you understand Chinese?”

Lin Nanzhi didn’t dare respond.

“Don’t be scared, we’re not bad people. We’re Wen Jiunian’s parents.”

Wen Jiunian’s… parents?

They knew his name and even looked a lot like him—his father had his eyes, and his mother had his mouth. It was unmistakable.

So, this was just a misunderstanding.

“Oh, Uncle, Auntie, nice to meet you! I’m Lin Nanzhi, Wen Jiunian’s friend. You can just call me Zhizhi. I’m from China and understand Chinese.”

“Not a foreigner, huh? Zhizhi, judging by your accent, you’re not from the capital, are you?”

“No, I’m from the southern province.”

“A southern province, I see. Are you here for sightseeing?”

“Yeah.”

Hearing this, Wen’s mother exchanged a knowing look with Wen’s father, as if silently communicating something.

“How long are you planning to stay? Let me tell you, our son Jiunian has loved exploring since he was a kid. He knows every nook and cranny of the capital. If you want to travel around, he’s the perfect guide—you’ll have way more fun with him than with any tour group.”

That was true. Not only was the service great, but he was also handsome. Having a handsome guy as company made the trip enjoyable, even if the scenery wasn’t perfect. And in this case, the scenery was stunning.

“I’ve been here for over ten days already and have seen almost everything. I’m just planning to eat some more delicious food before heading home.”

“Ah, food! Now, Jiunian knows all the best spots for that…” Wen’s mother enthusiastically continued the conversation. But every few sentences, she’d bring up Wen Jiunian again, leaving Lin Nanzhi feeling a little confused. This woman was definitely a doting mother.

Faced with such warmth, Lin Nanzhi felt a little overwhelmed. She chatted while secretly wondering why Wen Jiunian was taking so long to come back.

“Oh, by the way, how old are you, Zhizhi? Are you still in school?”

“I’m twelve.”

“Twelve, huh… Twelve?!” Wen’s mother’s expression changed instantly. She exchanged another glance with Wen’s father, both of their eyes burning with fury. But when they looked back at Lin Nanzhi, they tried to suppress their emotions. “Did you say… twelve?”

“Yeah.” What’s wrong?

Wen’s mother was completely livid.

She had assumed Lin Nanzhi just looked young—after all, she was tall and traveling alone. A kid this young wouldn’t be allowed to travel by themselves! But no—she was really just twelve!

She slammed the table and stood up. Wen’s father flinched, and Lin Nanzhi was equally startled. Other diners turned to look.

“Twelve… Good heavens, TWELVE?!”

“Calm down, maybe it’s just a misunderstanding?”

“Misunderstanding my foot! That brat must have lost his mind!” Wen’s mother fumed.

Right then, Wen Jiunian returned from his call and was surprised to see his parents. Scratching his head, he asked, “Dad? Mom? What are you doing here?”

Hearing the culprit’s voice, Wen’s mother spun around and glared at him, eyes practically shooting sparks. Wen Jiunian instantly felt something was off. He had no idea what he had done wrong, but his gut told him—RUN.

He took a step back, but Wen’s mother grabbed a soup ladle from the table and chased after him.

“You brat! I’m gonna beat you to death!”

Lin Nanzhi: (＝Д＝)

Wen Jiunian: (＿ ＿)