We are doing well, very happy!” Lin Lan’s face was full of sweetness. Whenever Luo Xuan was mentioned, she would unconsciously straighten her back and arm herself, especially in front of Chu Yue. In fact, ever since the car accident, Luo Xuan had been truly good to her, attentive, gentle, and caring. Whenever he had time, he would accompany her with many caring words, showing a deeply affectionate couple’s appearance. Everyone praised their good relationship, and even the Zhong family elders were pleased with Luo Xuan’s behavior, only hoping that Lin Lan would soon have a child and continue the family line. Only Lin Lan herself knew clearly that everything Luo Xuan did was because he had promised Chu Yue, and she was merely benefiting from Chu Yue’s favor. Therefore, the more Luo Xuan was good to her, the more bitter she felt.
Lin Lan had her own pride and would not give up so easily. One day, she would make Luo Xuan truly fall in love with her and unable to leave her!
The two women, each with their own thoughts, had no common topics, and the atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Chu Yue felt somewhat sad. Once upon a time, they were so close, but now, they could only look at each other in silence.
Lin Lan’s sharp, penetrating words made Chu Yue fall into deep thought. This was the first time she had directly examined her feelings with Gu Yunzhi, and the first time she felt uncertain about their future.
Someone in the reader group suggested going to the countryside for the weekend to breathe fresh air, relax, and try some farmhouse cuisine. This proposal was approved by most group members, and the group owner “Love Fool” quickly finalized the list and invited Chu Yue to join.
Chu Yue had been troubled by Lin Lan’s words and wanted to go out and relax, so she agreed. She didn’t like lively scenes and rarely met her readers. Her book covers never printed her photo, and she never held book signings. In the group, she rarely spoke, so many people only knew her writing but had never seen her. When they heard she was coming, the group became noisy.
A reader called “Baby Voice” said: “They say beautiful women lack talent, and talented women lack looks. I wonder if Chu Yue will surprise us this time?”
Chu Yue was speechless and laughed, staring at the computer screen, unsure how to respond. She sent a sweating emoji, “Baby Voice, your curiosity almost made me back out, haha!”
Some people in the group laughed.
Chu Yue also laughed: “How should I put it? I’m someone with a bit of talent but no great looks. Walking on the street, I neither turn heads nor affect the city’s appearance! I hope everyone is mentally prepared.”
The group burst into laughter. Someone shouted: “Shen Chuyue, I love you!” Many people echoed. The group owner “Love Fool” intervened: “Everyone, save your admiration for the weekend when we meet in person. Now, let’s plan the activity details…”
Chu Yue stopped talking, just watching them enthusiastically discuss the plan, a subtle smile appearing on her lips. Having such a group of loyal and passionate readers made her feel warm and touched!
“Love Fool’s” profile picture flickered in her friend list, and Chu Yue quickly opened it: “You won’t stand us up, right? Our comrades are full of passion and enthusiasm!”
Chu Yue couldn’t help but laugh. “Love Fool” was a girl named Du Moli, two years younger than her, a white-collar worker in a high-end office building who loved Chu Yue’s novels and created this group. Chu Yue had many reader groups, but she preferred this one because they discussed her works more deeply, offering fair evaluations of the strengths and weaknesses without blind worship, providing her with insights.
Du Moli had sent Chu Yue her photo – a girl with big eyes and a pointed chin, not stunningly beautiful but charming, especially her eyes.
The weekend was a beautiful day, with temperatures around twenty-five degrees, neither cold nor hot, clear skies and gentle autumn breezes.
Early in the morning, Chu Yue left home, took three subway transfers, then took a taxi, and finally arrived at the designated location within the agreed time. There was actually a direct bus, but Beijing’s traffic was terrible, with buses constantly stuck in traffic, so the subway was faster. Therefore, Chu Yue always preferred taking the subway when going out. In recent years, she had spent all her savings on buying a house and had no extra money to buy a car.
The gathering place was a manor called “Peach Blossom Spring” built against a mountain, with walls and gates constructed from thick bamboo and wood, exuding a rustic, original wooden charm. The buildings inside were antique, with pavilions, bridges, flowing water, rockeries, and strange stones, giving a strong sense of imitation of ancient style.
As soon as she got out of the taxi, someone approached and asked, “Are you Miss Shen Chu Yue?”
She nodded, and before she could respond, the young girl exclaimed and turned around, shouting, “Everyone, Miss Shen is here!”
With a whoosh, a large group of people surrounded her, with smiling faces, enthusiastic greetings, and self-introductions. The scene was somewhat like welcoming a star, which made Chu Yue very uncomfortable. Overwhelmed and unable to keep up, she could only keep smiling and let them come forward to shake hands and chat.
After finally getting through the “audience”, Chu Yue was sweating. Du Moli had been standing nearby, smiling, and only approached after everyone had finished introducing themselves, giving Chu Yue a warm hug: “Sister Chu Yue, you’re much more beautiful than I imagined!”
“Hehe,” Chu Yue laughed, “That’s the effect I was going for, otherwise, wouldn’t the preventive shot be in vain?”
Du Moli also laughed.
“Sister Chu Yue, let me introduce you to a friend—” she said, pulling over a tall girl beside her, “Song Lian Yan, my colleague. When she heard we were coming here, she wanted to join!”
Song Lian Yan was a girl about the same age as Chu Yue, tall with a round face. Chu Yue extended her hand friendly: “Hello!”
“Miss Shen Chu Yue, I’ve heard so much about you!” Song Lian Yan’s mouth curved with a meaningful smile, and she suddenly increased her grip while shaking hands. Chu Yue was stunned and somewhat displeased.
The readers had met Chu Yue, chatted about her new book “Red Makeup”, got her autograph, and then scattered to enjoy themselves. They were excited to find there was a natural hot spring in this small manor. In the dim light, water flowing from the mountain continuously poured into the pool, with white mist swirling, like a fairyland. Chu Yue couldn’t help but sigh: “How wonderful! Spring’s cold bestows bathing at Huaqing Pool, hot spring water smoothly washing away dust.”
Everyone excitedly went to enjoy the hot spring, leaving only Chu Yue, Du Moli, and Song Lian Yan standing in place.
Du Moli seemed eager, “Sister Chu Yue, Lian Yan, shall we go soak too?”
Chu Yue shook her head, “I’ll pass. I’m not comfortable soaking with so many people. You go ahead.”
“
Song Lian Yan looked at Chu Yue with a half-smile, “I’m not comfortable either. Moli, you go. I want to chat with Miss Shen.”
“Okay then!” Du Moli happily went to change.
After she left, Chu Yue smiled slightly at Song Lian Yan, “Miss Song, what would you like to chat about?”
Sitting across from Chu Yue, Song Lian Yan sipped tea while examining her with a scrutinizing gaze, clearly showing a hostile attitude.
Chu Yue ignored her examination and simply smiled, “Miss Song doesn’t seem to be my reader?”
Song Lian Yan raised her eyebrows, “Of course not. I only read sophisticated novels.” Chu Yue couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Such a roundabout way of insulting her suggested her intentions were not simply for leisure. She didn’t want to play guessing games and directly said, “Miss Song, let’s get to the point.”
