Heart Flutter

Chapter 106

“Hurry and get off the train, the guesthouse already sent someone to pick us up!” Xia Zihan called to the girls behind her, taking her role as group leader seriously.

Tang Yan followed closely, careful not to stray. After such a long train ride, everyone was exhausted, each of them wishing they could magically teleport to the guesthouse and collapse into bed for three days straight.

They flowed with the crowd toward the station exit, where a woman holding a large welcome sign stood out. The sign had a cheerful greeting and the name of the guesthouse printed in big, bold letters.

“Over there! Let’s go!”

Dragging their suitcases and bags, they hurried over. The woman introduced herself politely, “Hello, I’m the owner of the guesthouse. My last name is Zhou. You all look pretty young—just call me Aunt Zhou.”

Xia Zihan flashed a sweet smile. “Sister Zhou is better. You don’t look much older than us anyway!”

Ms. Zhou chuckled, clearly pleased. “Let me help you with your bags. The car’s parked just outside, I’ll take you over.”

“Thank you, Sister Zhou!”

“Wow, this place looks huge!”

“Yeah, I can’t wait to see what the rooms look like.”

The three girls chatted excitedly on the way, while Tang Yan stayed a bit more composed. As they exited the station, she quietly observed her surroundings, already soaking in the heat and spirit of this western city.

Ms. Zhou’s car was a gleaming white SUV with a “New A” license plate—spotless and well-maintained, just like her—neat and put together.

The others instinctively climbed into the back seats, leaving Tang Yan to take the front passenger seat. As soon as she got in, Ms. Zhou reminded her to buckle up. The comment instantly reminded Tang Yan of Aunt Ji—she used to do the same, always patiently reminding her. As the car started moving, Tang Yan looked out the window and smiled. No matter where she was or what happened, something always reminded her of Aunt Ji. She must’ve really left a permanent place in her heart.

“So, where are you all from? Judging by your accents, I’d say Huadu?” Ms. Zhou asked while driving.

The girls in the back all chimed in, laughing, “We are from Huadu! Sister Zhou, you’re so good at guessing.”

Ms. Zhou smiled. “Oh, that’s nothing. I’m from Huadu too—easy to recognize a fellow hometown voice.”

“You’re from Huadu too? No wonder you look…” Xia Zihan trailed off.

“You were going to say I don’t look like a local, right? That’s true—the women around here are all stunning.”

“No, no, I didn’t mean that! You’re beautiful too! Just… you have more of a European look—high nose bridge, deep-set eyes.”

Noticing Tang Yan hadn’t said a word, Ms. Zhou spoke to her directly. “You don’t sound like you’re from Huadu.”

“I’m not,” Tang Yan replied. “I’m from the southwest, just studying in Huadu.”

“Sister Zhou, how come you ended up running a guesthouse out here?” Han Shuang asked curiously.

Usually so talkative, Ms. Zhou hesitated. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened a little. “I wanted to get away from a city, so I came here to settle down. I really like it—the natural scenery, the local culture, it’s all very beautiful.”

“Don’t tell me… you were running away from someone?” Xia Zihan teased. “In movies, when people move like that, it’s usually over heartbreak.”

Ms. Zhou laughed in the rearview mirror. “You kids these days—so nosy and mature beyond your years.” She gracefully dodged the question.

After a 35-minute drive, they arrived at the guesthouse. It looked exactly like the pictures online—like a vacation villa beside Lugu Lake. The wood tones and cozy design made it feel special. By now it was evening, and the warm glow of yellow lights filled the interior and exterior. At the entrance, a wooden chalkboard displayed the room packages in colorful chalk.

The moment they got out of the car, the girls pulled out their phones to snap pictures, eager to post on social media.

Tang Yan stood silently by the trunk, helping unload the luggage one by one. Ms. Zhou came over. “Let me help you.”

“No need, I’ve almost got it.” Tang Yan smoothly lifted two suitcases out with ease.

Ms. Zhou was stunned. The girl looked just like any other, yet her strength was impressive.

After everyone finished taking pictures, they gathered their bags and followed Ms. Zhou into the guesthouse.

As they marveled at the beautifully decorated living room, a man emerged from the back.

“Sorry I didn’t come out to greet you earlier—there was something going on in the kitchen,” he said.

He wore a white shirt, black trousers, and glasses, hair neatly combed. Average-looking, but polite. The girls whispered to each other.

“He must be the owner.”

Ms. Zhou smiled. “I forgot to introduce him—this is my husband. You can call him uncle or brother, whichever you like.”

“I’ll carry your luggage to your rooms,” the man offered. “Anyone can stay behind to help my wife with check-in.”

“I’ll do it!” Xia Zihan volunteered, gathering everyone’s ID cards and heading to the front desk.

“Sister Zhou, you and the owner are so sweet—it’s enviable, really! The way you call each other ‘husband’ and ‘wife’… you’re killing me with the couple vibes.” She leaned on the desk dramatically.

Ms. Zhou chuckled lightly as she typed on the computer. “It’s alright,” she said quietly.

It caught Xia Zihan off guard.

She didn’t know how to respond, so she just went quiet. When it came time to register Tang Yan’s information, Ms. Zhou noticed her address—it stood out. But she didn’t ask anything, just finished the registration and handed back the IDs.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. There’s a landline in the room too,” she said with a smile.

Xia Zihan nodded. “I’ll head upstairs now.”

On the stairs, she ran into the owner heading down.

“If you need anything, just let us know. There’s a landline in the room that connects to the front desk,” he told her.

She gave a slightly awkward smile. “Your wife already told me that—thanks!” Then she hurried upstairs.

Their room was a standard twin but spacious, with two double beds more than enough for four girls. It was tastefully decorated, and the window opened to a view of the garden below. At 369 a night, it wasn’t too expensive for such a central location.

When Xia Zihan got back, everyone was still unpacking. The floor was a mess of open suitcases.

“Hey, did you guys notice something weird? I feel like the guesthouse owners don’t really get along.”

Han Shuang looked up from her suitcase. “Come on, group leader, you’re being too nosy. Whether they get along or not is their business.”

Lu Wan added, “I think they seem fine. Calling each other ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ like that is kinda sweet.”

“I thought so too at first, but then something happened downstairs that just didn’t sit right. I don’t even know how to explain it,” Xia Zihan said, clearly eager to spill the tea.

Before she could go on, Tang Yan quietly appeared, gently patted her shoulder, and said calmly, “We’ve all had a long ride. Want me to help you unpack so you can rest earlier?”

Xia Zihan pouted, sighed, and muttered, “Fine. I guess no one cares about this stuff. Maybe I am too nosy.”

Tang Yan gave a helpless smile and stretched her tired arms. After two restless days on the train, she needed a good night’s sleep.

“Isn’t there still one guest who hasn’t arrived yet?” the owner asked.

Standing at the computer, Ms. Zhou glanced at the booking info. “There’s one more—booked the premium room. I tried calling yesterday, but they declined the pickup.”

“It’s getting late. What if they’re not coming? Should I go lock the main door?” the man asked.

Without even looking at him, Ms. Zhou replied, “If you’re tired, go sleep. I’ll stay here and wait.”

The man hesitated, wanted to say something, but kept it in. He looked at the floor and said, “Alright. Take care, call me if anything happens.”

From the moment he started packing to when he left the guesthouse, Ms. Zhou didn’t look up once. She kept her eyes on the computer screen, though there was nothing pressing to do. With all but one guest checked in, there wasn’t much left to manage. She just didn’t know how to face him. Even after all these years, she still hadn’t figured it out.

Avoidance had become second nature to her.

Ji Yuqing didn’t go straight to the guesthouse after leaving the station. Instead, she wandered into the city and had a quiet dinner alone, killing time until late at night. She didn’t want to run into Yan Yan right away, not on the first day. So she intentionally stayed out late, hoping the girls would all be asleep by the time she got back.

Looking back, her behavior was downright childish. Why was she acting in ways so unlike herself?

Dragging her suitcase along the road, Ji Yuqing saw the guesthouse about a hundred meters ahead. She smiled to herself, amused by her own ridiculousness, and yet—oddly excited.

The guesthouse had a European-style iron gate, left slightly ajar. She gave it a gentle push and walked in. The lobby lights were still on. She made her way to the front desk, where someone was slumped over asleep.

“Sorry I’m late. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting so long.”

Startled awake, Zhou Qiluo looked up—and the moment she saw who it was, her breath caught in her throat. She was speechless. For a few seconds, she completely forgot how to talk.