25: Starry Sky

Hearing this, Liu Zhuoyun felt a little lost. She habitually looked toward the still-sober Zhang Xueya beside her, her eyes filled with confusion and inquiry.

"Then thank you, Brother Jiang! You've gone to so much trouble!"

Zhang Xueya immediately understood, smiling generously, "But you don't need to spend extra money booking another villa. The two of us can just squeeze into one room; at least we have somewhere to sleep!"

Although she said they would "squeeze in," when Zhang Xueya helped Song Qinghan and stood at the doorway of one of the bedrooms, her eyes widened in surprise.

Inside the room, the large 2.2m x 2.3m bed didn't feel crowded at all; instead, it was exceptionally spacious and comfortable. Facilities such as a walk-in closet and a separate wet/dry bathroom were all available, making its luxury comparable to a five-star hotel's master suite.

"I'll be staying in the master bedroom at the end of the hall. If anything happens, call me directly or give me a phone call."

Jiang Yuan pointed to the room at the end of the corridor and specifically instructed Liu Zhuoyun, his tone carrying clear concern and consideration.

"Mm."

Liu Zhuoyun nodded lightly, her cheeks still faintly flushed.

Afterward, she helped the slightly unsteady Shen Lingke into the room on the left.

Zhang Xueya, meanwhile, put an arm around Song Qinghan, who was muttering and rambling about "fighting three hundred more rounds," and smilingly helped her into the room on the right.

Seeing Song Qinghan's adorable, drunken yet defiant appearance, Jiang Yuan couldn't help but smile internally. He had to admit, this lively young girl from the South was truly an interesting person.

The villa gradually quieted down, leaving only him standing in the corridor, savoring the brief tranquility.

Lying on the bed, Jiang Yuan felt no drowsiness. The afterglow of the party and the day's experiences kept him mentally aroused.

He simply got up, walked onto the balcony, and casually opened a bottle of iced beer.

He sat on a rattan chair, gazing up at the vast and bright night sky. It had to be said that away from the city's light pollution, the stars at night became exceptionally dense, seeming almost within reach.

Perhaps due to good environmental management over the years, he could clearly see the Milky Way stretching across the sky.

The clusters of stars shimmered with mysterious light, filling his heart with an indescribable sense of shock and emotion. This was a sight he had only witnessed in his childhood.

He quickly picked up his phone and started recording the magnificent starry sky, capturing this rare sight on camera.

Afterward, he added the caption he had prepared and posted it on WeChat Moments.

The caption read: "Before, I was surviving. Now, I am living."

He also carefully selected several group photos taken with his friends during the day, along with scenic pictures of Changbai Mountain, arranged them into a nine-picture grid, and sent them out together.

Before long, a red dot lit up on his phone screen.

He tapped it open and saw that both Liu Zhuoyun and Zhang Xueya had liked his post. It seemed these two girls weren't asleep yet and were currently lying in bed scrolling through WeChat Moments.

"Oh, Brother Jiang is so poetic! Looks like you haven't had enough to drink yet!"

Zhang Xueya's comment quickly popped up, filled with her usual liveliness and teasing.

"I'm on the balcony. If you're still awake, come have another drink. I'll get you something good."

Jiang Yuan quickly typed a reply, inviting Zhang Xueya.

At the same time, he contacted the hotel reception to ask if they had any good red wine. The hotel staff said they had some in storage, but the best was only around ten thousand yuan a bottle.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan immediately ordered two bottles without hesitation.

"Brother Jiang, what good stuff do you have?!"

Zhang Xueya's footsteps gradually approached, and she suddenly darted next to Jiang Yuan like a gust of wind, asking curiously, her eyes full of anticipation.

She had actually intended to scare Jiang Yuan, but his keen senses had already detected her.

"You'll know in a minute. Here, drink this bottle first."

Jiang Yuan smiled and handed her a bottle of iced beer.

"Alright."

Zhang Xueya accepted the beer with a hint of confusion, then opened it and took a large, hearty gulp.

The two chatted softly.

Therefore, other subtle movements inside the villa could be clearly heard by them.

Another set of soft, almost inaudible footsteps approached.

Jiang Yuan and Zhang Xueya looked back simultaneously and saw Liu Zhuoyun, dressed in the simple, elegant pajamas provided by the hotel, silently appearing behind them, just standing there quietly.

Her silent appearance in the quiet night was indeed a little startling.

"Sister Yun, you really are... Are you a ghost? Standing there without making a sound, you scared me!"

Zhang Xueya's heart skipped a beat from the fright, and she couldn't help but complain.

"I couldn't sleep well. I heard your voices, so I came out to see."

Liu Zhuoyun's voice was still soft, carrying a unique sweetness.

"Perfect timing. Come sit and look at the starry sky with us. The stars here are much clearer and more beautiful than where I live."

Jiang Yuan pointed to an empty chair on the balcony and invited her with a smile.

Liu Zhuoyun nodded lightly, took a few steps forward and sat down. She didn't speak, simply tilting her head back, gazing at the myriad stars, seemingly lost in her own world, staring blankly.

She didn't seem to enjoy playing on her phone, often spacing out quietly by herself, her eyes holding a purity that suggested she was content with the world.

Jiang Yuan had been observing her carefully all evening and realized there were many things about her that attracted him.

Just then, the hotel attendant delivered the red wine Jiang Yuan had ordered.

"Holy cow, Brother Jiang, you're awesome! This is what you called 'good stuff'?! Eighteen thousand a bottle, and you ordered two?!"

Zhang Xueya's eyes instantly widened in shock when she saw the red wine Jiang Yuan had just received from the attendant downstairs and heard the price quoted by the staff.

"Yes, this is the most expensive one they could find here. Otherwise, I would have wanted you to drink something even better."

Jiang Yuan explained with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of casual extravagance.

He didn't ask the attendant to serve the wine for them; instead, he personally took out the decanter and stemware and set them up for Liu Zhuoyun.

As for the rest of the red wine, he and Zhang Xueya each poured themselves about half a glass first.

"Come on, it's fine to have a little. Try it."

Jiang Yuan raised his glass to Liu Zhuoyun, his eyes filled with an encouraging smile.

"Cheers!"

Zhang Xueya said softly, raising her glass.

The three clinked their glasses together, making a crisp sound.

The red wine was slightly tart upon entry, but the aftertaste had a hint of sweetness, mixed with a touch of fruitiness.

Overall, however, Jiang Yuan felt it wasn't refreshing or satisfying enough to drink.

He could drink it, but he wasn't used to such an overly complex taste. It seemed that even the best red wine wasn't significantly better than the cheap red wine he usually drank, at least in terms of pure enjoyment.

Zhang Xueya across from him was even more unrestrained; she took a large gulp, like Zhu Bajie eating a Ginseng Fruit.

Although she also found it slightly sour, bitter, and astringent, her expression remained unchanged, and she drank it down in one go, as if it were plain water.

Only Liu Zhuoyun beside them was more elegant; she just took a small sip, then quietly savored it, enjoying the taste of the red wine.