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墨書 Inktalez
Luo Yi watched Zhou Yao go upstairs, then withdrew his gaze and cleaned the cocktail tools he had just used.
He remained silent for a while.
Yan Lin lowered her eyes, swaying the empty glass in her hand, the rose gold chain on her wrist gently swaying along with it. A slight smile curved her red lips:
"Just now, were you waiting for that little girl in the room?"
Luo Yi seemed not to hear her, tightening the vodka bottle and placing it back on the shelf.
Yan Lin chose not to ask further.
She had her own pride and methods; she disliked prying into men's affairs or throwing tantrums. However, recalling the scene she saw in his room this morning—a trash can overflowing with tissues and an ashtray filled with cigarette butts—she couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern.
But then she thought, men need to vent after being single for so long. Besides, with his looks and figure, he exuded masculinity. Even when she was around, others kept hinting at him. It was only natural for him to have flings with female guests. Trying something new wouldn't be serious.
After all, someone accustomed to Deep Water Bomb wouldn’t crave milk.
Unfortunately, that little girl wore such a flamboyant red dress, completely unaware that it didn’t suit her at all.
A little bunny trying to act like a fox?
The real fox could see through it at a glance; Yan Lin was one, and so was Luo Yi.
Yan Lin fiddled with her glass and said, "That red dress would give me an aura if I wore it."
Unexpectedly, Luo Yi replied, "That style is too youthful; it doesn't suit you."
"Are you saying I'm not youthful anymore?" Yan Lin was not at all offended. She tucked her fingers into her hair, leaning forward slightly with her soft body and whispered, "You know best where I'm youthful or not."
Luo Yi glanced at her disinterestedly, snatched the cup from her hand, and tossed it into the sink. He turned on the faucet to wash the cup.
Behind him, Yan Lin lit a cigarette and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, that girl is Luo Yu's classmate, the daughter of that professor."
They had once been deeply involved with each other, having interacted with each other's families. Luo Yi would take Luo Yu out for a break or to see a psychologist, and Yan Lin would accompany them; Yan Lin helped his naive younger sister take care of her son from a single-parent family, and Luo Yi was also involved.
The two were evenly matched, both psychologically and physically; they were perfect opponents in every aspect, yet they did not end up together.
"You have a good memory," Luo Yi said, then asked after a moment, "Is Tao Tao in kindergarten now?"
"He's in the middle class. His mother doesn't pay much attention to him; he's quite mischievous," Yan Lin replied briefly before continuing the previous topic. "The police said that Luo Yu couldn't handle the pressure because of you... but I heard different rumors."
"Oh?" Luo Yi faced away from her while washing the cup, so she couldn't see his expression.
"I have a friend who teaches at A University, and he said that Professor Zhou Qidao wanted to claim some of Luo Yu's research as his own. But it should just be jealousy and rumors; it's just research after all."
"Things without solid evidence are not worth believing," Luo Yi replied expressionlessly as he dried the cup with a towel.
Once the water droplets were wiped off, he placed the cup back in its original spot and turned to look at her, already losing patience. "What are you here for, Yan Lin?"
"For you," she said, biting her lip and smiling lightly.
Luo Yi smiled back briefly, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "Let me make it clear: I'm not interested in sleeping with you."
Stung by his words, Yan Lin retorted sarcastically, "Oh? Who are you interested in sleeping with? A little bunny?"
Luo Yi's gaze sharpened as he leaned slightly forward against the bar with his arms spread wide. The light seemed to dim as he pressed closer to her, lowering his head to whisper in her ear. His breath sent shivers down one side of her body, making her heart race. He looked toward the stairs and said:
"Who I sleep with has nothing to do with you."
Feeling awakened yet again, Yan Lin regained her composure. He straightened up, looking down at her coolly without a hint of politeness before turning and walking away.
Yan Lin also knew she had misspoken. This teasing way of summoning him only to dismiss him at will was already irritating to him, and now she was being jealous, which naturally made him more competitive.
She quickly took a puff of smoke, calming herself before getting to the point: "I'm here to ask you to come out of retirement."
Luo Yi stopped by the bar.
"My company needs a chief appraiser and procurement manager. You name your price." Smoke slowly escaped from her lips. "Yi Ge, with your abilities, don't you think it's a waste to be doing what you're doing now?"
"A seventy million contract, and I misjudged it. Do you dare to hire me?"
"Everyone makes mistakes. I believe in your capabilities."
"You didn't say that back then."
Yan Lin paused. Back then, she thought he would never rise again and decisively withdrew.
Luo Yi walked away. There was still work to do at the inn, and he wasn't in the mood for small talk with her.
During the Golden Week, there were many guests. Just a few days ago, a group of Wandering Band checked in and applied to hold a Rock Concert in the inn's Common Area. Luo Yi approved it; the inn could make some money from drinks.
With the help of the staff, the band created promotional posters that hung for several days, and guests eagerly awaited Rock Night.
Today was the day.
After lunch, Wu Di and Amin began setting up the Common Area. Some guests who stayed behind helped out. The band carried guitars, basses, and keyboards but had no drum set.
When Luo Yi built the inn, he had equipped it with one, but it was rarely used. Today, he moved the drum set out of storage with the guests to clean and tune it.
The band, staff, and travelers were all busy working energetically. Luo Yi hadn't seen Zhou Yao all day; several times he walked past the courtyard and looked up at her window.
The window was open, and the curtains gently fluttered in the wind, but there was no sign of her.
Until dinner time, Luo Yi walked into the restaurant and saw tables full of guests. The round tables were laden with stir-fried dishes, and small groups were eating, drinking, and chatting happily.
Only Zhou Yao sat alone, without any companions, at a large round table in the corner, bowing her head as she ate a bowl of noodles. She had changed out of her red dress and was wearing a military green jacket.
Luo Yi took a deep breath and walked over to her.
Just then, Zhou Yao finished her meal, quietly wiped her mouth with a napkin, and stood up to leave. She kept her head down, walking quickly as if trying to escape, not looking at anyone, including Luo Yi. She brushed past him without noticing.
Luo Yi grabbed her wrist.
Zhou Yao was startled, suddenly looking up to see him. She froze for a moment, and her eyes turned slightly red. Luo Yi had originally wanted to say something to her, but upon seeing her eyes, his words and smile got stuck in his throat.
He blanked for a moment and found himself speechless.
Zhou Yao quickly turned her head away and tried to pull free from his grip.
Luo Yi tightened his hold on her wrist and did not let go.
"Let go!" Zhou Yao lowered her voice and said angrily.
Luo Yi remained calm, pursing his lips and holding on.
Their hands were locked at their sides in a struggle; Zhou Yao couldn't twist free but was putting in a lot of effort. Her movements became more pronounced as nearby diners began to look over, and the staff also cast glances their way.
Zhou Yao felt embarrassed and stopped. Taking a breath, she said, "Luo Boss, please stop messing with me, okay?"
Luo Yi's expression changed slightly as he silently looked at her for half a second before slowly loosening one finger, then the second, the third...
Still teasing!
Zhou Yao felt a pang in her heart as she opened his hand and quickly walked out of the restaurant.
Zhou Yao returned to her room, feeling both angry and wronged, yet she did not want to cry.
She sat alone for a while, struggling to calm down. Eventually, she took out a book to read. As she immersed herself in the pages, her worries gradually faded from her mind. However, it wasn't long before a deafening sound erupted from downstairs, as if it would topple the entire inn.
It suddenly dawned on Zhou Yao that there was a small rock concert happening tonight. Given the noise, it seemed like nothing would get done this evening.
The sound waves created a massive surge, causing the air to ripple.
Zhou Yao felt her head pounding in the room. Rather than suffer here, she decided to go downstairs and enjoy herself.
She changed into a red dress again, undoing the carefully styled hair she had arranged that morning. Her hair fell loosely and wildly, resembling waves.
The common area was packed with people. The band was energetically performing on stage, and the lead singer was hoarsely shouting into the microphone. The audience waved their hands and cheered passionately, swaying to the rhythm. Zhou Yao quickly got swept up in the lively atmosphere, joining the crowd and raising her hands to move with the beat.
The guitarist played an increasingly urgent melody, and everyone's excitement climbed along with the rising notes, reaching for the sky. After a peak burst of energy, there was suddenly a sharp stop, like mercury spilling everywhere.
The song ended.
Everyone erupted into applause and screams.
Zhou Yao cupped her hands around her mouth and cheered, "Oh!!—Oh!!—"
She laughed and mingled with everyone around her.
After a while of revelry, Zhou Yao felt hot and thirsty. With her face flushed, she ran over to the bar and bumped into it. "Wu Di, I want a glass of whiskey."
"Sure thing."
Luo Yi opened the door and came out from behind the counter. Zhou Yao's smile faltered for a moment as she turned her head away and continued to laugh.
Wu Di poured the drink and handed it to Zhou Yao, but it was intercepted mid-air by Luo Yi.
Zhou Yao frowned.
Luo Yi calmly admonished, "You're single, drinking strong liquor alone, and if something happens, the inn won't take responsibility."
Zhou Yao looked at him with a stern face.
Wu Di sensed something was off. Seeing someone approaching the bar, he quickly stepped in to greet them, "What would you like to drink?"
"A cocktail, please. I want to send it to that girl in the red dress."
Wu Di was speechless.
Luo Yi glanced over indifferently. It was a young man who had just emerged from the crowd. He looked decent, and his gaze towards Zhou Yao was quite meaningful.
As men, they could all see through each other's intentions. Luo Yi had seen too many people hunting for casual encounters in the inn.
Luo Yi calmly withdrew his gaze and looked back at Zhou Yao. To his surprise, the girl had a look of delight on her face as she pointed at the man and exclaimed, "Hey? Aren't you the one who was dancing next to me just now?"
The music was too loud, so they had to shout: "Do you remember me?"
"Of course!" Zhou Yao shouted back, "You dance really well."
Luo Yi busily attended to his tasks nearby, maintaining an air of composure.
At the bar, the two were getting along increasingly well. After finishing one drink, Zhou Yao wanted another; she became more carefree with each sip, moving to the rhythm as she clapped her hands on the bar and swayed her shoulders and head.
Luo Yi glanced at the young man; the desire in his eyes was unmistakable. Following his gaze to Zhou Yao, he saw her cheeks flushed with excitement as she happily clapped her hands on the table, her body twisting and turning, radiating joy.
Especially in that red dress—vibrant and alluring against her snow-white skin—her expression remained pure and innocent like a child. Such a striking visual impact would stir desire in any man who saw her.
The band switched to a more exhilarating tune; she suddenly lifted her head, her eyes sparkling: "Ah! I love this song!"
The boy invited, "Let's go dancing."
"Sure." Zhou Yao downed her drink and jumped off the chair, squeezing into the crowd with him. After just a few steps, a strong force pulled her back.
Zhou Yao's scream was drowned out by the rock music.
She was dragged out of the Common Area into an empty hallway, where Luo Yi loosened his grip slightly.
Zhou Yao broke free from his hand and glared at him angrily, "What are you doing?!"
Luo Yi looked down at her, taking a breath as if holding back something, and did not answer.
Zhou Yao rolled her eyes and walked around him.
Luo Yi reached out to stop her, pulling her back in front of him. Zhou Yao shot him a resentful glare and tried to walk away again, but he reached out once more and pulled her back again.
The hallway was dimly lit, and the music was deafening.
Zhou Yao's face was flushed as she looked at him in anger and confusion.
He lowered his head, giving a humorless smile before speaking, "Do you know who those people are? Running after them like that? If you get taken advantage of, who will you turn to?"
Zhou Yao, whether high on excitement or emboldened by alcohol, retorted, "None of your business!"
Luo Yi stared at her, his brow twitching slightly.
After Zhou Yao said that, she turned to leave. Luo Yi grabbed her firmly and yanked her back in front of him, pressing her against the wall with his body. "Say that again."
With him pressing down on her, Zhou Yao dared not make a sound.
"Weren't you just so talkative?" He placed his hands on either side of her shoulders, his dark eyes locked onto hers with a dangerous intensity. "Zhou Yao, say it again."
Zhou Yao was somewhat intimidated by him, her fingers digging into the wall behind her as she gritted her teeth, "It's none of your business. Anyway, I'm not looking for you."
"Had a couple of drinks and suddenly you're brave?"
Zhou Yao retorted, shouting at him, "You can grab someone and kiss them after drinking! Why can't I find someone to dance with after I've had a drink?!"
He looked down at her for a long time before letting out a laugh, asking softly, "Who did I grab and kiss?"
Zhou Yao's face turned red.
"Come on, say it. Hmm?" Luo Yi leaned in closer, almost touching her face. The man's breath was overwhelming, and Zhou Yao felt tense all over, but with the back of her head against the wall, there was nowhere to retreat.
"Zhou Yao, who did I grab and kiss? Hmm?"
Zhou Yao held her breath and swallowed hard.
"What do you mean by 'kissing randomly'? How do you kiss so it’s not random? — Hmm?" Luo Yi's fingers tangled in her hair, gripping the back of her head. "— Like this?" He tilted his head slightly and captured her lips with his own, gently sucking and slowly licking and biting, gradually increasing the intensity as he pulled her lips and tongue into his mouth.
Zhou Yao shrank her neck and stood on tiptoe, her body involuntarily trembling. She struggled with her hands to push him away but seemed to not really want to.
She obediently opened her mouth to welcome his invasion. She lightly bit his thin lips, her heart racing; his lips were surprisingly soft and warm. There was a part of him that felt so soft and vulnerable.
He deepened the kiss, becoming more forceful.
"Mm! —" Zhou Yao felt pain at the root of her tongue from his sucking but found it an extraordinarily delightful pain.
She was lost in the moment, unwilling to wake up, only hearing their breaths growing heavier, drowning out the loud rock music.
He slightly loosened his lips from hers, kissing the corners of her mouth, then her cheek, finally landing near her ear where she had a small mole.
In the dim night, her ear resembled a tiny crescent moon.
He held her earlobe in his mouth, lightly teasing with his tongue.
"Ah!—" she let out a soft moan, her body trembling as if electrified. Her hand suddenly gripped his sleeve tightly, her body stiffening and becoming motionless.
Luo Yi pulled back slightly, lowering his gaze to examine her. She was flushed, refusing to look up.
He bit his lip and smiled, asking softly, "Are you reacting?"
She remained silent, still clutching his sleeve. After a moment, she kicked him lightly as a silent protest.
Luo Yi noticed her reddened ears and couldn't help but poke at them with his finger, like hot little taros. She frowned but didn't pull away from his touch. This girl always poked at him like it was nothing, yet when he kissed her, she immediately became obedient.
"Zhou Yao—" He lifted her chin, and she looked at him with those moist and clear eyes. Suddenly, he forgot what he wanted to say and lost his smile.
He looked down at her;
She looked up at him;
Suddenly, sounds of arguing and fighting came from outside, mixed with increasingly intense music.
Both of them snapped back to reality.
Luo Yi glanced toward the source of the commotion, took out his keys, and opened the door beside them calmly. "Wait for me a moment; I'll handle this and come back."
...
Zhou Yao finally had the chance to enter Luo Yi's room. She had expected it to be cozy like a home but found it still resembled a guesthouse. However, the room was exceptionally clean and tidy; the sheets, blankets, sofa cushions were all separately purchased, and one side of the wall was lined with shelves filled with various stones.
Zhou Yao leaned over his desk, fiddling with the ashtray and wondering what Luo Yi wanted her to wait for here. Could it be...
She turned to glance at the large blue bed.
Zhou Yao got up and walked to the bedside, raising her head to stare at the bed for a while. Suddenly, she smiled and jumped onto the bed. She didn't expect the mattress to be hard palm, and when Zhou Yao hit the bed, she winced in pain.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Zhou Yao was startled, thinking Luo Yi had returned. She quickly slipped off the bed but then realized that Luo Yi wouldn't knock, so she calmed down again.
As she was about to open the door, she felt it was inappropriate. If one of the staff members came looking for Luo Yi, it might lead to misunderstandings.
But the light in the room was on, making it hard to cover up.
The knocking on the door sounded again. Zhou Yao decided to simply open it.
Yan Lin was leaning against the door with a smile, and a flash of shock crossed her eyes, quickly disappearing.
Zhou Yao was taken aback for a moment and quickly asked, "Are you looking for Boss Luo? He said he would be back soon." As she spoke, she couldn't help but notice the V-neck of Yan Lin's fitted dress.
"I'll come back to find him later. Please let him know," Yan Lin replied lightly, saying no more and not lingering.
Zhou Yao closed the door and thought about the scenery on Yan Lin's body—fair and round; she felt like poking it.
She looked down at herself: "..."
Had drinking milk for so long been useless?
...
In the common area, two groups of people started a dispute over a minor collision. It wasn't a big deal; both sides were reasonable and listened to advice, so after a little mediation, everything was fine.
After Luo Yi resolved things here, his phone rang; it was Jiang Peng.
The music in the inn was deafening. Luo Yi stepped out of the room and walked towards the entrance of the inn to answer the call.
"Boss Luo, my brothers have been keeping watch in the village as you instructed for two days now. Are you playing us?"
"Don't rush," Luo Yi said. "They will come."
But the other party clearly wasn't calmed.
"I'll give you two more days. If there's nothing, then I'm leaving," Jiang Peng said impatiently. "Hang up!"
Luo Yi ended the call, sucking in his cheeks as he thought for a moment. He had unknowingly walked to the back wall of the inn and turned to head back to the front door, noticing the moonlight was beautiful, like a thin layer of milk spread over the mountains and forests.
Ah, milk.
Luo Yi smirked slightly and glanced at the quiet mountain path at night, recalling the night of Brother Tashi's wedding when Zhou Yao left a trail of footprints in front of him with her bare white feet.
Who said she wasn't alluring?
The mountains were silent in the deep night, with only the sound of music coming from inside the inn and a few locals chatting softly as they passed by the back wall: "The one in the northwest corner that's lit."
Luo Yi circled around to the front door of the inn and strode into the courtyard.
Before him stood a large castle-like inn, shrouded in darkness. Everyone was celebrating in the first-floor Common Area, with only his room lit by a quiet lamp.
He glanced toward his room, and in the next second, his expression suddenly changed.
"The northwest corner," "lit up."
The few shadowy figures that had just passed by the back wall of the inn were Wu Ming's people?! How could he have overlooked that?!
Luo Yi's heart sank; inside his room—
Zhou Yao!
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