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墨書 Inktalez
They learned that it was just a minor conflict and nothing serious. They comforted Zhou Yao for a bit, while Zhou Yao and the others remained tight-lipped about the cause of the incident. After the three boys left, the girls began to discuss.
At this point, the earlier incident involving Summer Melody could no longer be hidden from Sulianlin and Tang Shangri-La Duo. However, the three of them felt that to avoid embarrassing Summer Melody, it was better to act as if they knew nothing.
Zhou Yao rubbed Sulianlin's head and asked, "Are you still angry?"
Sulianlin shook her head and replied, "Not anymore. Thank you, Yao Yao."
Zhou Yao smiled helplessly and said, "I just hope for world peace."
Tang Shangri-La Duo poked her forehead and teased, "You’re quite something; you called Sulianlin before hitting her."
"If Sulianlin wasn’t watching, it would have been pointless to hit her."
"So I didn’t even blink."
"What about Boss Luo? Why did he call you over? Did he scold you?"
"Yeah," Zhou Yao rolled her eyes.
Earlier, after she had calmed down, Luo Yi warned her, "Next time you encounter something like this, don’t act impulsively."
But Zhou Yao still felt unresolved: "She is just too despicable."
"She’s a rogue," Luo Yi said. "So when you take her on seriously, have you considered that they might retaliate against you in a sneaky way? If it comes to mutual destruction, she has nothing to lose; what about you?"
Tang Shangri-La Duo and Sulianlin were taken aback, realizing the gravity of the situation. "So what now—"
"He said he would handle the matters later."
Sulianlin sighed in relief and remarked, "This trip made me realize how little social experience we have. Just look at Boss Luo, he's so deep-minded and patient."
Zhou Yao shook his head. "No, his level of patience is above ours."
Boss Luo was not the type to smooth things over. He originally planned to let things be for a few days and then deduct the 1,400 deposit from Sulianlin when that group checked out. If they disagreed, he would have Sulianlin slap them for the 1,400. He didn't expect Zhou Yao to mess up his plan.
"What?!" Sulianlin and Tang Shangri-La Duo exclaimed in unison, "1,400?!"
Zhou Yao spread his hands. "But I already hit them; the 1,400 is gone—"
Sulianlin: "..."
Tang Shangri-La Duo: "..."
After a moment, Sulianlin said, "Still, thank you, Yao Yao."
Zhou Yao chuckled twice and replied, "Don't mention it; I regret it quite a bit."
Luo Yi was right; there were many ways to seek revenge, and she chose the cheapest one.
Tang Shangri-La Duo sighed and shook his head. "Experience still matters; Boss Luo is—"
Zhou Yao interrupted, "What?"
"You little arrogance and swagger, in front of him, heh heh, Zhou Yao, if you really end up with him in the future, you'll be completely devoured by him."
...
Back in the room, Summer Melody was curled up under the covers, seemingly asleep. The three of them tiptoed to prepare for washing up, but then they heard sobbing.
They exchanged glances and approached Summer Melody's bedside: "Summer Melody?"
Summer Melody buried her head and didn't come out, sobbing, "I'm sorry."
Well, no need to hide it anymore.
"What are you sorry for?" Sulianlin said, "We just vented our frustrations."
"Linlin, thank you for standing up for me. I shouldn't have lied about going for a walk that day; I feel too ashamed to admit it. I just feel so stupid and embarrassed."
"Summer Melody," Zhou Yao sat on the edge of the bed and patted her shoulder, "Even though the four of us are very close, everyone has their own boundaries. If you don't want to share, that's your choice. However, if you want to talk but are afraid of being embarrassed, just remember one thing: we won't laugh at you; we'll only help you."
Summer Melody cried softly, "I'm sorry; I'm just so stupid."
"Everyone has their foolish moments," Tang Shangri-La Duo comforted her. "Look at Sulianlin; she's always making mistakes."
"Pfft." The atmosphere suddenly shifted to a mix of laughter and tears.
"Alright, hurry up and wash up so we can sleep; we have to get up early tomorrow."
At dawn, Zhou Yao and the others set off.
The Yading National Nature Reserve is located in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Historically, it was once a vast ocean, undergoing tremendous changes from sea to land to plateau since the end of the Triassic period.
The reserve features complex geological landscapes with significant elevation differences, including high mountain valleys, lakes, and forests, as well as glacial snow peaks and waterfall grasslands. The continuous mountain ranges and numerous geological fault lines make it a paradise for researchers.
The autumn scenery is particularly enchanting.
Zhou Yao's group traveled by car and on foot, with the landscape changing dramatically along the way, as if traversing thousands of mountains and rivers: horses grazed leisurely on the lush meadows—Tibetan temples nestled among the green hills, colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind—azaleas blooming abundantly across the mountains—pine forests towering towards the sky—glaciers sparkling in the sunlight like massive diamonds—deep blue lakes resembling the depths of the ocean—strange rock formations standing tall in Hell Valley—and near Snake Head Spring, colorful ponds resembling pearls scattered across the ground.
Lin Jinyan designated a research point, and everyone dispersed to carry out their tasks.
Zhou Yao was using a small hammer to tap on a rock about the size of a shoebox, trying to chip off a piece from the edge.
"Zhou Yao?" Sulianlin called her softly from under a nearby broken wall.
"Yes?"
"Can you help me take a look here? Is this structural deformation?" Sulianlin pointed at the curled folds on the rock surface.
"No, this is just normal folding. It looks like a landslide accumulation on the surface. But look here—" Zhou Yao showed her, "Although the wrinkling is intense, the layers remain continuous and do not involve adjacent layers. This is caused by sediment liquefaction and lateral flow." After finishing her explanation, she turned sternly and said, "I tell you, Sulianlin, this is basic knowledge that even first- and second-year students know. What are you doing? Are you regressing in your studies?"
Sulianlin stuck out her tongue and scratched her head awkwardly: "I forgot."
Zhou Yao frowned without hesitation: "If this happens again next time, I'll deduct one hundred yuan."
"I promise!" Sulianlin replied with a fist pump.
Zhou Yao was about to leave when she turned back and squatted down to ask, "Sulynn, why did you study geology in the first place?"
"Low scores, I couldn't get into other majors."
Zhou Yao couldn't help but laugh, "Yeah, that sounds very Sulianlin."
Sulianlin shot her a glance and replied, "But later I found it quite interesting, so I decided to pursue a master's degree. What about you?"
"As for me, I think the Earth is beautiful; I really like it. Rocks, metals, mountain faults—they all look so shiny and beautiful to me."
"You color-loving girl, you really are a visual person; there's no saving you," Sulianlin teased.
Zhou Yao laughed heartily.
Sulianlin then asked, "Will you continue doing research in the future? Will you keep going after the land project is completed?"
"I probably will."
"What about your mom's company?"
Zhou Yao's father is a professor, but her mother is a strong woman running the country's top jewelry and gemstone company. However, Professor Zhou is deeply engrossed in research and is rather unkempt; Zhou Yao doesn't have any of the airs of a rich heiress. The three roommates initially had no idea until one Mid-Autumn Festival when they were brought back by Zhou Yao to celebrate. They were stunned upon seeing the large villa with a swimming pool in the courtyard. It was then that Zhou Yao remembered to mention, "Oh, I forgot to say, Oya Jewelry is run by my mom."
Later on, the three friends took Zhou Yao out to dinner and treated her lavishly, and that incident was soon forgotten.
"I haven't thought about it," Zhou Yao said. "I'm not interested in managing the company; besides, it's her company, not mine."
Sulianlin thought for a moment and foolishly replied, "That's true."
A group of people was busy until the afternoon, packing various samples, instruments, and equipment, preparing to set off back when it started to rain.
Zhou Yao, after a long day of work, finally thought of Luo Yi. Seeing that it was indeed raining as he had said, she felt a hint of secret joy.
It was as if a quiet promise had finally been fulfilled.
The seven of them donned blue raincoats and wore blue plastic rain boots as they walked back in the rain. They naturally formed a line, like a string of blue beads, slowly and steadily weaving through the mountains.
When climbing slopes or walking along cliffs, they would remind each other to be careful and help one another; otherwise, they walked silently in the rain.
No one talked about ideals, nor did anyone discuss the future; each person was quiet and at peace.
...
At night, the rain intensified.
Luo Yi held an umbrella as she walked through the courtyard to close the inn's main door. Coincidentally, Lin Jinyan and the others returned, their faces pale, their boots and raincoats covered in mud.
Zhou Yao was at the back, carrying a plastic bag that had gotten wet from the rain.
Luo Yi asked, "What do you have there?"
Zhou Yao replied, "I picked up some trash on the way." She slowly walked in and weakly said, "I collected it all the way; some people lack civic sense—do they not know that wild animals can die from eating trash or getting entangled in it?"
Zhou Yao threw the plastic bag into the trash can at the entrance. Luo Yi closed the door and turned to look at her: "You're not wearing enough clothes."
"I'm not," Zhou Yao said, puzzled, shaking her head. "I don't feel cold."
Luo Yi said, "Your lips are white."
"Really?" Zhou Yao reflexively touched her mouth.
Luo Yi reached out to stop her, but it was too late. He chuckled and said, "Didn't you just pick up some trash with your hands?"
Zhou Yao spat, "Pfft—"
After dinner, Zhou Yao went to the bar as usual, sat on a bar stool, and ordered a cup of hot milk. He still took his time to prepare the warm milk for her, while she ended up getting milk on her lips again. Yet, just like every other day, he pretended not to notice.
How do dramas portray these situations? Even if he didn't personally wipe the milk off the corner of her mouth, he should at least remind her so she could lean in and ask him: "Where?"
Why does real life never follow the script?
In the following weeks, Zhou Yao and her group left early and returned late every day. In the evenings at the common area, they would sit in a corner on the sofa or carpet, gathered around a table discussing, taking notes, recording information, researching, calculating, and analyzing data; promptly relaying their findings to the senior students back at school.
Other guests were curious and would come over to ask what they were doing. Upon hearing about the Geological Survey, they would inquire if they were there to mine for treasures, leaving them both amused and exasperated.
By mid-September, the inn was fully booked, and the common area was crowded.
The previous seven men and women had long finished their holidays and returned to their respective big cities. New guests came and went at the inn; one group arrived while another departed.
Zhou Yao also encountered various guests—white-collar workers hiking, students traveling in pairs, pilgrims visiting sacred mountains, tour groups, middle-aged couples, lonely wanderers...
Yet her encounters with Luo Yi were limited to just the time it took to drink a cup of milk.
In this small inn nestled in a quiet mountain, the people and events changed daily; only his quiet profile remained unchanged as he stirred warm milk with a wooden spoon.
There is always a cup of hot milk placed on the bar, becoming the only constant in the Mobile Inn.
Time passes slowly yet quickly, changing yet stable day by day.
A week has gone by, two weeks have passed.
Sometimes, Zhou Yao wonders in the busy moments if Luo Yi would occasionally glance at her corner while she is deeply focused.
Perhaps not.
As this thought arises again, Zhou Yao tilts her head while drinking milk. A couple is sitting by the bar, chatting with Luo Yi.
The male customer asks, "Boss, how long has this inn been open?"
"About a year or two."
The female customer asks dreamily, "Isn't it very pleasant to live here?"
"It's alright."
The female customer, clearly more romantic, says, "It should be great! This place is so beautiful; you can see the snow-capped mountains from the window. I would love to stay here for a year."
The male customer laughs at her foolishness: "The locals living here have it easy, but for us from big cities, staying too long would be unbearable; it gets stuffy."
The female customer disagrees: "How could that be?"
The male customer turns to Luo Yi for help: "Boss Luo, do you think I'm right?"
Luo Yi smiled lightly and said, "People inherently feel close to those they are accustomed to. When things don't match, it can easily spark excitement, but often it's just a momentary novelty and surprise; over time, it becomes unbearable."
Zhou Yao heard this and felt that Luo Yi seemed to glance in her direction, but when she looked over, she didn't catch him looking at her.
The female customer still didn't believe it and asked for confirmation, "Boss Luo, do you get bored staying in the shop?"
Luo Yi replied, "I don't often stay in the shop."
Zhou Yao finished her drink but never had the chance to speak with him. She slid off the bar stool, turned her back, and irritably wiped the milk residue from her lips with the back of her hand. After thinking for a moment, she turned back and shot him a glare while he wasn't paying attention before walking away.
Behind her, where she couldn't see, he glanced at the direction she left in and faintly curved his lips.
...
By late September, Zhou Yao and their team’s exploration activities were nearing completion.
Before leaving Luo Ke Line, Lin Jinyan thought it would be safer to find a guide and asked the inn's staff if they could recommend a good local guide.
Amin said, "Our boss! He often goes into the mountains alone. He's very familiar with the routes and weather conditions, but—"
"But what?"
"It depends on his mood. If he's in a good mood, he'll take you around; if not, no amount of money will persuade him."
Having stayed there for several days, Lin Jinyan sensed that this boss had a unique temperament but still approached it with a try-it-out attitude. To her surprise, Luo Yi agreed quickly, and they soon settled on a price along with other details.
When Zhou Yao learned about this, she happily ran to ask Luo Yi, "Are you going to be our guide?"
"Mm." Luo Yi was squatting in the yard, weeding the flowerbed without looking up.
"Why?" Zhou Yao asked, squatting beside her.
"To make money," Luo Yi glanced at her. "What else do you think?"
Zhou Yao smiled ambiguously to herself, about to say something when suddenly four or five burly men barged in through the yard's front gate.
"Where's Wu Di?! How dare he scam us with fake stones? Get that kid out here!"
Zhou Yao was taken aback, only then remembering the fake stone from Wu's Jade Shop that had actually been sold last month.
"Where's that kid Wu Di?!"
Wu Di was just stepping out of the inn. As soon as he saw the people in the yard, he turned and ran back inside. The men chased after him, and immediately there were sounds of tables and chairs crashing in the common area, along with screams from the guests and sounds of scuffling.
Luo Yi seemed unfazed and even had time to dust off her hands.
She stood up and walked inside but paused as if remembering something. Turning back, she saw Zhou Yao closely following her. Luo Yi looked at her clearly and said, "You stay outside and don't move."
Zhou Yao immediately stood still, nodding vigorously. "Don't worry."
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