Lu Bancheng only returned to his senses when he saw her opening the door. He was afraid that she would get drenched in the rain, so he took quick steps toward the car and shut the door before it could open fully. Then, he opened the door to the driver’s seat, closed the umbrella, and entered the car hastily completely drenched.
When Xu Wennuan glimpsed at how wet his hair and shoulders were, she looked around for a towel but didn’t find one. She then handed Lu Bancheng a pack of tissues from the backseat. Lu Bancheng was stunned that she offered. He nodded slightly at her and took it. With nothing else needing to be said, the car reverted to its quiet atmosphere.
Xu Wennuan watched the raindrops that fell endlessly outside the window. As she listened to the sound of the rain, the image of Lu Bancheng getting out of the car resurfaced in her mind. She replayed this memory over in her mind until she grew so unbearably drowsy that she shut her eyes and instantly fell asleep.
……
When Xu Wennuan woke up again, they’d already arrived in Lijiang, and the rain had stopped. When she adjusted her body, Lu Bancheng sensed her movement as he was driving. He glanced at her through the rearview mirror and asked, “Are you awake?”
“Yes.” Xu Wennuan rubbed her eyes and nodded. She asked, “What time is it?”
“It’s almost two,” answered Lu Bancheng.
“Oh,” replied Xu Wennuan.
I slept for a couple of hours.
Lu Bancheng glanced at Xu Wennuan again and asked, “Which hotel are you staying at?”
When Xu Wennuan told him the name of her hotel, he looked surprised as he said, “Huh?”
Xu Wennuan, seeming to have understood his response, asked, “Don’t tell me, you’re staying at that hotel, too?”
Lu Bancheng did not reply. He merely hummed in response.
“How coincidental.” After Xu Wennuan said that, all Lu Bancheng did was smile. Then, the car was plunged into silence again. The atmosphere grew rather still, but this time Xu Wennuan tried to keep the conversation going. She asked, “Which room are you staying in?”
“0001,” replied Lu Bancheng.
He’s staying in the special villa in the backyard…
Xu Wennuan hummed but didn’t reply beyond that. Not long afterward, the car arrived at the hotel. Not in a hurry to get out of the car after parking, Lu Bancheng waited until Xu Wennuan had gotten out before he followed suit.
After entering the hotel lobby, he called out for Xu Wennuan before heading to an ATM in the corner. Xu Wennuan had asked him for a thousand, but he withdrew 5,000 and handed it to her.
I don’t need so much money because I’m going back to Beijing tomorrow…
Xu Wennuan did some mental calculations and was just about to hand the remaining amount back to Lu Bancheng when he spoke again.
“Just take it. You’re not familiar with this place so there’s nothing wrong with having more money on you.”
Xu Wennuan thought about it and realized that he was right. Moreover, she was going to repay him anyway, so she went along with his reasoning and took everything. After thanking him, she recalled that she was still embracing Lu Bancheng’s coat and hurriedly passed it back to him. “Your coat,” she said.
When Lu Bancheng reached out for it, his fingertips accidentally brushed Xu Wennuan’s palm, making both of them freeze. After a moment, Lu Bancheng grabbed his coat in one smooth movement and said amicably, “I’ll head back to my room now.”
Xu Wennuan’s response was delayed. She hummed in acknowledgment before raising her head and looking at Lu Bancheng, who wasted no time spinning around and leaving. She watched him leave the hotel lobby before making her way to the elevator.