Chapter 24: You Can Contact Me Anytime Part 2

The layout was roughly the same as Sheng Xingran’s, with a small terrace just big enough for a double bed. Miao Zhu leaned her cello against the wall and noticed a pair of clean women’s leather shoes under the shoe stool by the door when she looked down.

“This is my room, but the cleaning lady will tidy it up right away,” Flora said straightforwardly. “Temporary arrangement, Mia. I hope you don’t mind.”

Seeing this, Miao Zhu said, “Are there other empty rooms? Flora, I can stay in another one.”

Flora looked puzzled. “Why? This is more convenient for you and Xingran to look after each other.”

Miao Zhu glanced at Sheng Xingran, who not only failed to pick up on her signal but also smiled and thanked Flora. And so, the room arrangements were settled.

The sea breeze drew back the curtain of night, and Miao Zhu accompanied Sheng Xingran downstairs to the party. She had eaten three full meals on the plane, plus various small desserts, all to her taste, so she wasn’t hungry now and had no intention of socializing with Sheng Xingran. Instead, she sat in an inconspicuous corner, messaging Emma.

A familiar figure approached. “Hi Mia, I heard Flora gave you her own room?”

It was Li Zi, who was also participating in the trip.

Miao Zhu wasn’t interested in the topic that might follow, but seeing Li Zi in this foreign land among strangers brought a touch of familiarity, so she went along. “Yeah, Flora is very thoughtful.”

Li Zi was stumped. “…Not every room has a sea-view terrace, and Flora doesn’t personally pick up every member.”

Miao Zhu: “Then she’s really taking good care of Xingran.”

Li Zi was utterly speechless. Subtle hints weren’t working, so she threw up her hands in surrender. “Mia, Flora is pursuing Xingran.”

Under the gorgeous crystal chandelier, Flora—in a sexy evening gown—lightly patted Sheng Xingran’s back with her left hand and introduced her to a senior curator.

Miao Zhu watched for a bit before turning to Li Zi with a smile. “Really?”

“I’m just reminding you. Flora is super popular in our circle—lots of people like her.” Li Zi patted Miao Zhu’s shoulder and walked away.

Chatting sporadically with Emma, Sheng Xingran came back to find Miao Zhu. “I’m exhausted. I’m about done here. Want to head back to the room together?”

Miao Zhu smiled at her too. “Sure.”

The first week of the trip focused on various museums and artists’ galleries, with easy access to surrounding towns. Miao Zhu joined Sheng Xingran sometimes, but only occasionally, as she preferred lounging idly by the sea.

She always slept poorly at night, so she dozed in the sea breeze on the beach during the day.

That day’s itinerary ended early. Sheng Xingran had booked a restaurant and came back to find Miao Zhu. In the garden, she heard low cello notes.

She followed the sound upstairs, slowing her steps. Miao Zhu’s door wasn’t locked and opened with a gentle push.

Miao Zhu played toward the terrace, facing the endless blue sea sparkling like diamonds.

She was barefoot on the floor, her ankles slender, heels tinged pink. Her dark hair was slightly disheveled, casually clipped with a hair clip, a few strands falling along her graceful neck.

The sea breeze lifted the gauze curtains, billowing her white nightgown and vaguely outlining the body beneath.

What met the eye was a charm no brush could capture.

“Longlong.” Sheng Xingran murmured the name as she approached.

Miao Zhu turned her face, lifting her eyes to Sheng Xingran. Sheng Xingran bent down, slowly lowering her head.

In that moment, the sea breeze blowing into the room suddenly turned sultry. Miao Zhu’s mind flashed back to the kiss with Mu Shanyi at the ice cream shop.

The bow pressed on the strings, scraping out a few discordant noises. Sheng Xingran read the panic in Miao Zhu’s eyes, trailing down her nose to her slightly parted cherry-red lips.

…

The kiss missed.

“It feels too familiar… Sorry, Xingran, I’m a bit embarrassed.” Her beautiful red lips parted and closed.

“Yeah, it is a bit embarrassing.” Sheng Xingran was the one rejected—not just embarrassed, but her pride stung too. The panic seemed to transfer to her. She straightened up, wiping her palms on her pants. “No worries, I was rushing it. We agreed to take it slow.”

Miao Zhu took Sheng Xingran’s hand and shook it gently, asking softly, “Are you done for today?”

“Just came back for a bit—still heading to the gallery.” Worried her smile would crumble, Sheng Xingran glanced at her watch. “Oh! Gotta go. I saw a painting I like. Don’t you feel burdened taking my sister’s money? I’ll negotiate the price, and we can give it to her as a gift.”

“Xing…”

Sheng Xingran didn’t want to hear more and hurried away. Miao Zhu steadied the cello, her gaze drifting outward aimlessly.

Outside, the sun shone brightly, waves rippled blue. On the beach, a young girl played bubble machines with her dog; the dog chased the bubbles, and when the giant ones burst, they turned into a mist of iridescent colors. Laughter drifted into the room—fragments of joy, blurry and distant.

Miao Zhu set down the cello, let her long hair loose, changed into an outing dress, and headed to the beach.

She chose a front-row beach chair, put on sunglasses, and lay under the parasol. Seagulls circled overhead; her ears caught sea waves mixed with languages and accents from around the world.

This environment was balm for the soul. Gradually, she emptied her mind, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

When she woke, the glow of dusk filled the sky. Amid the crowd, she spotted Lu Zheng’s figure.

She touched the wristband on her arm and strolled slowly along the coast. As twilight deepened, she turned into a seaside bar.

She had been here twice recently; the bartender remembered this stunning Eastern face and winked. “Light and refreshing, low alcohol—helps you sleep well, right?”