Song Wenwei smiled shyly at the compliment, a touch of bashfulness in her expression.
Lu Nan wailed inwardly: Stop smiling! Really, if you smile any more, I won’t be able to walk straight.
To ensure she could still walk later, she tilted her head slightly, not daring to look at her anymore.
“Ding ding ding~ Your flower crown, one of a kind.” The girl’s voice rang in her ear, and she turned back.
Song Wenwei held up the freshly woven flower crown and offered it to Lu Nan like a treasure.
She wanted to tiptoe to place it on her head, but her height barely reached Lu Nan as it was, and Lu Nan was standing on a step.
Just as she was about to call out for Lu Nan to lower her head, the person in front of her seemed to anticipate it and bent down slightly.
The flower crown settled effortlessly onto Lu Nan’s head, a circle of vibrant little flowers mixed with tender green grass. Song Wenwei hadn’t chosen large blooms—those would be too big, too fussy.
Large flowers didn’t suit Lu Nan. Her face already held its own allure; one beautiful thing was enough.
Her taste was spot on, softening the naturally heroic edge of Lu Nan’s features.
No wonder Flower Town had blown up online and become a hot tourist spot lately. The flower theme alone drew in most visitors.
Lu Nan, wearing the flower crown, glanced at her reflection in the mirror with her narrow eyes. The flowers swayed gently in the wind, while Song Wenwei appraised her from behind.
Sunlight filtered perfectly through the vine-covered wood, scattering star-like sparkles in a dreamlike, breathtaking scene that blurred the line between reality and fantasy.
Lu Nan wanted to freeze this moment forever—a beautiful, free instant.
She raised her phone, carefully opened the camera, and pressed the shutter. At the exact click, she turned her head.
Song Wenwei had been about to remove the crown for a photo when she heard the sound and looked up abruptly, locking eyes with Lu Nan.
Caught off guard, Song Wenwei felt something was different.
“You…”
Lu Nan turned away after just one glance. How could she hold Song Wenwei’s gaze? She feared her eyes would betray her heart.
But she already had the phone out, so she crouched slightly to center the girl on the screen and said, trying to cover her tracks—
“Don’t move. Let me take one of you.”
She pressed the shutter, capturing the girl in that moment.
Lu Nan stared dazedly at the person on the screen, snapping out of it in an instant.
Song Wenwei leaned in close, tugging at her hand. “Is it good? Let me see… Oh, it’s pretty nice.”
The proof was right there. Though Lu Nan’s fashion sense left much to be desired, her photography skills were solid.
“Come on, let’s take one together!” Song Wenwei held up her phone high, flashing a peace sign and beckoning her over.
As Lu Nan leaned in close, Song Wenwei threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her nearer.
“Three, two, one, cheese~”
She hit the button with a click.
Lu Nan hadn’t recovered from the physical contact yet. In the photo, she showed no reaction—her face blank, as if nursing a deep grudge.
Her eyes always carried a sharp, imposing glint when relaxed, like an eagle soaring over the grasslands with a snake in its talons.
The shot fit her initial icy demeanor but not the vibe of a day out having fun.
“Aw, Lu Nan, don’t look so cold.” Song Wenwei lowered her phone and flashed a perfect smile. “See, smile like me—happy and bright.”
Lu Nan couldn’t help but laugh helplessly. Fair enough; she couldn’t stay stone-faced.
Song Wenwei nodded. “Yes, just like that! Hold it—I’m taking the shot!”
The girl smiled softly against the evening sunset, her hair tips curling up in the breeze.
With a press of the shutter, the two were captured in that instant.
—
They wandered more shops, the array of jewelry dazzling and overwhelming.
At dusk, they returned to the inn for dinner. Song Wenwei had specifically chosen one that only accommodated girls.
The innkeeper looked to be in her early thirties and always greeted her with a smile.
After dinner, as night fell, she gathered everyone in the garden for games.
The courtyard wall, which stretched on endlessly, had iron racks embedded in it, displaying the owner’s favorite liquors. Lu Nan glanced over but recognized none.
The table was a massive rectangular stone slab—big enough to suspect the owner loved hosting drinking parties.
The table was crowded with people. Lu Nan and Song Wenwei picked a corner spot and sat close together.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of flowers, and the stone table was already set with drinks and other beverages.
Once everyone was there, the inn owner grinned. “Little game time. Whoever the bottle points to has to solve a riddle or answer a question. Get it wrong, and it’s a drink or truth or dare.”
“Oh, right!” the inn owner added. “If you can’t handle alcohol, don’t drink. I can only carry one person.”
Everyone nodded.
Someone even shouted, “Carry me, boss—no one else!”
The inn owner tapped that person’s forehead playfully. “Naughty.”
The crowd burst into laughter.
Lu Nan sat to the side, smiling politely but feeling detached as she watched the strangers.
She didn’t know anyone… What now?
She wanted to bolt! What was Song Wenwei doing—why wasn’t she talking to her?!
A girl nearby approached cautiously.
She pointed at Lu Nan’s silver accessories, asking apologetically, “Hi, sorry to bother you. I love your jewelry—could you share the link?”
Lu Nan nodded, handed over her QR code, and quickly sent the link.
The girl looked up shyly. “Hi, I’m Lin Xiaoxiao. What name should I save you as?”
“Lu Nan.”
After noting it, Lin Xiaoxiao tapped into Lu Nan’s Moments. It was mostly empty—just three posts. One of feeding cats, another a blank image from the day before yesterday that meant nothing, and the latest from that afternoon: a somewhat blurry group photo. Actually, a duo shot, and she could tell the other person was the girl next to Lu Nan.
She sensed something off. With years of intuition, Lin Xiaoxiao felt Lu Nan and her friend were more than that!
The game began.
The inn owner spun the bottle hard, and it whirled wildly before slowing to point straight at Song Wenwei.
Song Wenwei was surprised—she hadn’t expected to be first right after sitting down.
The inn owner drew a random question card and read, “Good, this friend, please say a stone-related xiehouyu within thirty seconds!”
Piece of cake for Song Wenwei; she’d loved these since elementary school.
After a moment’s thought, she said, “Catching a softshell turtle in a stone crack—ten out of ten steady.”
“Correct! Next round!”
The bottle spun to the person opposite, who racked her brain but couldn’t get it and took a penalty drink.
Round after round it went, until finally, it pointed at Lu Nan.
She was so bored she nearly dozed off on the table. No one dared chat her up with her cold face, and even if they did, she’d reply with curt two-word answers.
“Please guess…”
Sleepiness hit Lu Nan hard; she had no will to think and hadn’t even caught the question.
With a resigned sigh, she said, “Can’t get it.”
Song Wenwei watched her quietly, curious about her choice.
Lu Nan rarely drank and knew her limits well.
A few glasses and she’d be flat on the floor, troubling Song Wenwei—who, with her slender arms and legs, couldn’t possibly carry her.
No choice left but truth or dare. She’d dodged this game through all her school years, only to run into it here.
She pursed her lips, hesitating, terrified a dare might lead to something ridiculous.
Finally, she said, “I choose truth.”
“Great! Whoever it lands on next asks the question!”
The bottle spun again, landing on Lin Xiaoxiao beside her.
Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at Lu Nan, then at the intently listening Song Wenwei next to her. Deciding to fan the flames and play matchmaker, she cleared her throat and asked the most classic truth question—
“Do you have someone you like?”
