“Elizabeth?”
Though the Chinese was awkward, Lu Zheng still recognised the voice.
“It’s me. George, Katherine, and I have come to China.” Elizabeth said. “We were supposed to come in the summer, but my grandmother suddenly fell ill. Then there were some issues at work, so it got delayed until now.”
“Oh, right. Got it…”
Though Lu Zheng did not particularly care what had happened to them, since she explained voluntarily, he listened.
“So you just arrived in Haicheng? Are you at the airport now? Lin Wan and I can come pick you up.”
Elizabeth said, “No need. We have already reached the hotel and are about to have dinner. We wanted to invite you and Lin to join us. Is Lin with you?”
“Yes.” Lu Zheng nodded and moved the phone closer to Lin Wan.
“Hello, Elizabeth!”
“Hello, Lin!”
“Hallo!”
“We are all here!”
Voices of Elizabeth, Katherine, and her boyfriend George came through the phone.
“Have you had dinner? Let us eat together.”
Lin Wan could not help smiling. Lu Zheng glanced at the half-eaten jianbing in front of him and Lin Wan.
“No need. We have already eaten half. You eat by yourselves. After you finish, we will take you to see Haicheng’s night scenery.”
“Alright. Then we will have something at the hotel restaurant.” Elizabeth said. “Where shall we meet tonight?”
“We will come pick you up. Which hotel are you at?” Lu Zheng asked.
Elizabeth replied, “We are at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.”
Lu Zheng paused. Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Distant memories…
Should he release the ghost child again to scare Elizabeth and her group?
“What are you thinking?”
Lin Wan sat opposite Lu Zheng and could hear the voices on the phone. Seeing him suddenly zone out, she waved her hand in front of his face.
“Oh!” Lu Zheng snapped back, then said, “That hotel is very close to the Haicheng inner river beach. Let us meet at the hotel entrance.”
“Good. Then it is settled. We are at the restaurant now. See you later!”
“See you. Bye.”
Lu Zheng hung up, looked at Lin Wan, and said helplessly, “Well, no going out for New Year’s.”
“New Year’s is only three days off. Where did you want to go? Just travel around the country.”
“But they probably will not stay just three days. Will you not accompany them?”
“I still have to work!” Lin Wan said righteously.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “Have you not noticed the key point?”
Lin Wan raised an eyebrow in return. “You mean James did not come.”
“It seems they broke up.” Lu Zheng nodded and smiled. “Are you not afraid your husband will be seduced?”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes. “Not afraid.”
Lin Wan truly was not afraid. Elizabeth was beautiful, but no longer original. Plus, she was a foreigner. Lu Zheng could never open his heart fully to her. So this foreign girl posed no threat to her position.
As for Lu Zheng seeking excitement elsewhere?
Lin Wan shrugged. If she could not drain him dry, that was her own problem.
Lu Zheng was speechless. “This makes me feel very unaccomplished…”
Lin Wan blinked, then held his hand. “Husband, I still have to work. You must restrain yourself and stay faithful for me!”
“Go away!” Lu Zheng pulled his hand back, then picked up his half-eaten jianbing.
…
The two happily finished dinner, then arrived at the entrance of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
“Lu! Lin!”
Lu Zheng shook his head. “Foreigners have this habit of calling people only by first names.”
Lin Wan smiled. “Foreigners’ names have many pronunciations. If they called full names all day, speaking efficiency would be too low.”
“Elizabeth! George! Katherine!”
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan approached, lightly hugging each in turn. Then, politely pretending not to know, they asked, “James did not come?”
George and Katherine blinked. Elizabeth was straightforward. “We broke up. I did not invite him this time.”
“Alright.” Lu Zheng nodded. “Wish you find a better one.”
“Of course!” Elizabeth smiled, then said, “This is my first time in China. I specially studied Chinese for half a year before coming.”
“What do you think of my speaking?”
This sentence was deliberately in Chinese.
“Very good. Do not say it again in the future.” Lu Zheng gave a thumbs up.
Lin Wan patted Lu Zheng, then praised, “Very good. Reaching this level in half a year is already remarkable.”
Elizabeth said, “I know my pronunciation is still a bit strange, but I will improve gradually.”
“Of course!” Lin Wan said.
Then the group walked toward the inner river scenic area.
“China is so prosperous. And the environment is better than London.” Katherine said.
George looked around. “Much safer than London too.”
Lu Zheng smiled. “You probably do not experience London’s dangers.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “But that does not mean we are unaware.”
“No politics.” Lin Wan pointed to a shop ahead. “A new trendy milk tea shop opened up front. I have always wanted to try it. Perfect for today. Let us queue.”
“So many people?”
“This is actually fewer for this time.”
…
Half an hour later, the five each held a cup of milk tea, walking along the path to the inner river bank.
“Delicious! I did not expect Chinese drinks to have so many flavours!” Katherine said in shock.
George sighed. “I think we came too late…”
Elizabeth looked around. “There are just so many people…”
“This is basically the most crowded area in Haicheng.” Lin Wan explained.
As Lin Wan spoke, the group emerged from the path. Then…
A sea of people.
Elizabeth, “…”
The crowd was so dense that the three felt like turning back immediately.
But since they were here, they might as well stroll.
The five wandered casually along the riverbank, then returned to Nandou Pedestrian Street Square. They browsed the mall and casually ate some Chinese speciality late-night snacks.
“Where do you want to go in China?” Lu Zheng asked.
George shook his head. “We do not know China well. Rather than deciding ourselves, better to ask you directly.”
Lu Zheng smiled. “You must have some preferences, like natural scenery or historical architecture.”
“Historical architecture!”
“The Great Wall!”
“The Terracotta Warriors!”
Elizabeth said, “We plan to stay in Haicheng a few days first, with you two, then travel elsewhere.”
Lin Wan smiled. “No problem. We have three days off for New Year’s anyway. We can travel together.”
“That is great. Where to?”
Lin Wan glanced amusedly at Lu Zheng. “Three days is not long. We cannot go too far. How about West Lake in Hangzhou? The snowy scenery there is also very beautiful.”
