90: Chapter 90 The End of the Holiday

Today was May fifth, the last day of the holiday.

Without an alarm clock, Qiao Yichen woke up past eight o'clock.

He reached for his phone, took a look, gently pulled his arm out from under Liu Yanran's weight, threw off the covers, and sat up.

He turned back to look at her—she was still asleep, breathing evenly, her eyelashes casting a small shadow on her eyelids.

After washing up, he quietly tiptoed downstairs.

Downstairs on the bed, Su Qing and Lin Wei were still sleeping soundly.

Lin Wei had one leg stretched out from under the blanket, and Su Qing was lying on her side with one hand resting on the pillow.

He didn't disturb them and quietly slipped out.

The restaurant had packed up four servings of breakfast—buns, milk, and tea eggs.

Returning with the bags, he gently placed two servings on the nightstands by Su Qing and Lin Wei's beds, then quietly went back upstairs.

Liu Yanran was already awake, leaning against the headboard watching him, her eyes still a bit hazy.

"Where did you go?" Her voice carried the languor of just waking up, soft, with a slight upward inflection at the end.

Qiao Yichen pulled open the curtains and held up the bag in his hand: "Getting breakfast."

The sky outside was dim and gray; he casually added, "It's overcast today, no sun."

He sat back on the edge of the bed, placed the bag between the two of them, took a bite of a bun, and offered it toward her mouth: "Want some? It's still warm."

Liu Yanran shrank back into the covers, revealing only her eyes, her voice muffled: "I haven't brushed my teeth yet..."

"It's fine, I don't mind you."

She made an 'eh' sound, wrinkled her nose, but still opened her mouth and took a small bite.

She chewed and mumbled: "...It's actually quite fragrant."

The two of them ate like that, taking turns with each bite.

After finishing one bun, Qiao Yichen reached into the covers and gently tickled her waist: "If you don't get up soon, breakfast will get cold."

Liu Yanran twisted her body to dodge, laughing until she crumpled into a ball.

Finally unable to bear it, she threw off the covers and sat up: "Okay, okay, I'm up! I'll get up, alright!"

She threw on the coat from the headboard, stepped off the bed barefoot, and walked toward the bathroom on the floor.

Qiao Yichen took the opportunity to grab his phone—the person from the digital car window account had sent a message last night; the deposit had already been transferred.

He had been too busy playing yesterday to notice. After checking the backend data, the exposure and clicks were within the normal range.

He took a screenshot and replied: "Received, data is normal. Conversion results will be synced tomorrow. Don't worry."

Just as he put down his phone, the bathroom door opened.

Liu Yanran walked out, wearing a tight short T-shirt, with only underwear on her lower half.

Her long, slender legs were particularly eye-catching as she moved around the room.

She dove back into the covers, bringing a wave of coolness with her, and imitating him, she leaned against the headboard and started eating her portion of breakfast.

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Qiao Yichen turned his head to look at her.

She took a bite of the bun, her cheeks slightly puffed out, her eyelashes drooping, her gaze fixed on the bag in her hand.

Occasionally, she would glance up at him, then quickly look away.

After she finished eating, Qiao Yichen reached out and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.

He lowered his head and leaned close to her ear, his voice kept very low: "Dressed like that, do you know what you're doing?"

Liu Yanran looked up at him, hooked his chin with her fingertip, her eyes holding a teasing smile: "Doing what? You don't like it?"

Qiao Yichen stared at her, his Adam's apple bobbing: "Woman, you are playing with fire."

Liu Yanran didn't speak, tilted her head, and kissed his cheek.

Then she pulled back slightly, the smile in her eyes growing stronger: "Do you like it?"

Qiao Yichen's breathing deepened slightly, and he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Don't push it three times—once last night, once this morning."

Liu Yanran burst out laughing, reached out, and gently stroked his chest, as if grooming him: "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore."

She suppressed her laughter and suddenly became serious: "Are the two downstairs still asleep?"

Qiao Yichen shook his head.

Liu Yanran picked up her phone, tapped into Lin Wei's WeChat, and directly made a video call.

The first time, no one answered.

The second time, it rang for a long time before finally connecting.

As soon as the screen lit up, a roar came from downstairs: "Liu Yanran—! I'm going to kill you—!"

The voice was sharp and piercing; you could feel the morning temper even through the screen.

Liu Yanran held the phone a bit further away.

After the roar subsided, she said calmly: "Time to get up. Breakfast is on the nightstand."

After hanging up, she turned to look at Qiao Yichen.

Muffled cursing could faintly be heard from downstairs: "What time is it... Liu Yanran, just wait... We're not done yet..."

There was also Su Qing's vague grumbling after being woken up: "...What time is it... Keep your voice down... So noisy..."

Qiao Yichen looked down at her; she was nestled in his arms, shaking with silent laughter.

Time flew by, and it was nine-thirty.

Everyone was dressed, and Qiao Yichen and Liu Yanran came downstairs.

Lin Wei was still rubbing her eyes, her hair casually tied up in a ponytail, mumbling, "Yanran, I really admire you. You won't even let people sleep in during the holiday."

Su Qing seemed a bit more energetic, leaning on the sofa scrolling through her phone.

She glanced up at them but didn't say anything.

Qiao Yichen looked out the window—the sky was even gloomier than in the morning, the clouds pressed low, and a thin mist had risen in the mountains.

"The weather looks like it's going to rain today," he said. "Let's not go out this morning; just rest in the room."

He called the front desk and ordered a pot of tea.

The tea arrived shortly after.

Qiao Yichen took his teacup and sat in the chair on the balcony, leaning back and gazing at the distant forest.

In the overcast sky, the mountain mist swirled around, and the color of the bamboo forest was deeper than on a sunny day.

When the wind blew, the undulating green waves carried a hint of hazy charm.

"Hey, do you guys think these past few days went by too fast?" Lin Wei sighed, holding her teacup. "It feels like we just got here, and today we have to leave."

Su Qing didn't even lift her head: "You slept for two days, so of course it felt fast."

"I did not!" Lin Wei protested. "My legs are still sore from climbing the mountain yesterday."

Liu Yanran smiled but didn't join the conversation.

Lin Wei turned to Su Qing again: "You'll be busy again when you get back, right?"

"Mmm, the court session starts next week; I have a pile of materials to prepare," Su Qing turned a page of her book.

Liu Yanran said softly: "Then everyone rest well when you get back."

The group chatted, one person saying a few words, discussing the itinerary of the past few days and their plans for when they returned.

Someone started the topic, and the conversation eventually drifted to cosmetics, jewelry, and handbags.

When the tea was finished, they called for another pot to be refilled.

The morning hours drifted by slowly like this.

At half-past eleven, Qiao Yichen glanced at his phone: "Pack up, it's time to check out."

The group stood up and stuffed their spread-out belongings back into their suitcases.

Lin Wei's suitcase was the messiest, clothes folded haphazardly.

Su Qing couldn't stand it and helped her fold a couple of items.

Lin Wei chuckled beside her: "Su Qing is the best, so virtuous."

Su Qing gave her an eye-roll: "Next time, you do it yourself."

"Okay, okay, next time I'll definitely do it myself." Lin Wei agreed verbally, but her hands were still rummaging through things.

After about ten minutes of rustling and bustling, the four suitcases stood neatly by the door.

Qiao Yichen first carried the luggage downstairs to put it in the trunk.

After everyone came down, he locked the car, and they walked toward the restaurant together.

Lunch had been ordered in advance.

As soon as the four were seated, the owner led the waiter over.

Several local specialty dishes were already set on the table—braised pork with dried bamboo shoots, free-range chicken soup, stir-fried wild vegetables, and braised mixed fish, all steaming hot, their aroma drifting straight into their noses.

The owner smiled and said, "Did you enjoy your stay these past few days? If you come again next time, let me know ahead of time, and I'll reserve the best rooms for you."

Qiao Yichen stood up and shook his hand: "Thank you, Boss. We troubled you these past few days."

"No need for formalities," the owner waved his hand, called out, "Enjoy your meal, eat more," and turned to attend to other matters.

The four picked up their chopsticks, chatting as they ate.

Lin Wei picked up a piece of dried bamboo shoot and hummed: "This is delicious, you all should try it, it's well-seasoned."

Su Qing ladled a bowl of soup and nodded: "The chicken soup is fresh, drink more."

Liu Yanran ladled a bowl of soup for Qiao Yichen and handed it to him.

He glanced at her when she passed it over; she didn't say anything, just smiled.

After finishing the meal and coming out, just as they reached the edge of the parking lot, the sky changed its face—a light drizzle began to fall without any warning.

"Quick, quick, into the car!" Qiao Yichen urged.

The group scurried into the car.

Lin Wei patted the water droplets off her sleeves as she closed the door: "This rain just started falling, didn't it? It was fine a moment ago, really, not a single sign."

Qiao Yichen sat in the driver's seat, glanced out the window, and smiled somewhat helplessly: "I actually wanted to go for a walk at Jiang Gongdao, which isn't far, after lunch. You can see the bamboo forest and the stream there.

Too bad the weather isn't cooperating."

Liu Yanran fastened her seatbelt, turned to look at him: "Then forget it. It's not good to wander around in the rain anyway. We'll have another chance next time."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Wei's drawn-out voice came from the back seat: "Ooh—the couple has already planned the next trip? Already starting to plan ahead?"

Su Qing, uncharacteristically, chimed in, her tone very serious: "So, should we head back now? Or do you want to wait for the rain to stop?"

Qiao Yichen glanced at the three of them in the rearview mirror.

He didn't speak, but his gaze had already given the answer.

He looked away, started the car, and signaled.

"Then let's go home."

The white sedan slowly pulled out of the parking lot and merged onto the mountain road.

The bamboo forest outside the window grew further away, the mist grew thicker, and the mountain scenery gradually blurred into a stretch of grayish-green shadows.