four

Do not blame me for not reminding you, it is not a good thing to be inquired about by me, your senior brother. He is merely a friend of women, having encountered countless individuals, and the number of women he has known is likely more than the total of those you and I have met combined

"What are you doing, Ah San?" Xi Rongrong expressed her frustration, "You are always so unserious. Don't tell me you have some aversion to love? It's just a Yang Yue, is it really worth being so upset about it?"

A pair of polished leather shoes lingered in her peripheral vision, remaining still for a long time

Beifei hesitated for a moment, unsure if she was qualified to participate in the decision-making of these matters. After a brief contemplation, she asked: "Transitioning from the internet to reality, are we considering publishing a magazine? In this regard, there are already publications like 'China National Geography' and 'Hua Xia Tourism' that are thriving. If we were to enter the market at this time, the initial investment and risks would likely be substantial, wouldn't they?"

Ran away? You—are you going to ask someone else if they can accompany you on the new Tibetan route again

Beifei was so excited that she almost felt her heart leap out of her chest. The freedom this job offered was already quite rare, and she never expected to have such an opportunity to explore the San Zang Line again, which instantly invigorated her. Ling Qianfan found a few documents for her to review first. She squinted and noticed that there was an English book on Ling Qianfan's desk, which was the original version of "Crossing the Andes." Her eyes suddenly lit up. Ling Qianfan looked up and, seeing her eyes shining, smiled and said, "Do you really like Lawrence Miller? This book is a signed copy he sent over; you can take a look when you have time."

Is this Miss Beifibei?

However, in the realm of comprehensive tourism service websites in the country, Fangyuan Tiandi can only be considered as striving for the bare minimum. When PL Travel Press throws out such a tempting opportunity, which website would not be tempted? Beifei's puzzled gaze met Ling Qianfan's confident smile, and she instantly understood the underlying reason: the primary factor in choosing a partner is naturally strength. When the gap in strength is not too significant, the role of connections becomes crucial. With someone like Ling Qianfan behind the scenes, the development of Fangyuan Tiandi under Lingli Industry is boundless. This is a logic that Beifei can comprehend, so how could Lawrence Miller not understand it?

Wu Yuping was wearing a light brown jacket, and he appeared neat and clean. Bei Fei was contemplating what topic to discuss when unexpectedly, Wu Yuping abruptly asked, "You graduated from × × University, right?"

She does not want to cry; she simply remembers the person who once was willing to accompany her to the Xinjiang-Tibet line.

Fang Feijin said: "Ah San, I was just about to describe your great achievements to my senior brother, but I was worried that it might be too much for him to handle. It seems that Senior Brother Ling is already psychologically prepared for it now."

Choosing to collaborate with already successful enterprises to develop local businesses may reduce autonomy, but it significantly lowers risks. PL Travel Press stands out globally in the field of self-guided travel guides and is regarded as a prestigious brand. Becoming the sole partner of PL Travel Press in the domestic market would undoubtedly be a lucrative and risk-free venture

She has always been punctual, and in fear of encountering traffic during peak hours, she deliberately reserved an extra fifteen minutes. When she arrived at the café, she was still a little early. She chose a seat by the terrace and sent a text message to Mr. Wu, informing him of the exact table number. After waiting for another fifteen minutes, there was still no sign of him. The reply to her message indicated that he was stuck in traffic. Feeling helpless, Beifei could only idly stir her spoon in the lemon water, drawing circles.

As her gaze slowly ascended, she noticed a pair of familiar pure wool straight-leg trousers, and Beifei silently thought it was not good. A further glance revealed a neatly stacked handkerchief on the edge of the table, with a light brown checkered border and a pure white center. Nowadays, everyone uses disposable tissues, and it is indeed rare to find a man still using a handkerchief.

Ling Qianfan opened the door and invited her into the office. It was only then that Beifei noticed Fang Feijin was also present, lounging on the sofa and smiling at Ling Qianfan behind her, saying: "I knew you would eventually seek out Ah San, and I hadn't had the chance to recommend him to you yet. You are really quick on your feet."

The high notes of the resident singer are clear and ethereal, in no way inferior to the original artist, intertwining delicately with the drifting aroma of coffee.

Ling Qianfan, feeling somewhat helpless, cleared his throat twice and returned to the main topic, saying: "Speaking of which... Beifi, you are also a different kind of gold medal... the butcher's hand."

In fact, in just over twenty short years, she has experienced far more than most of her peers—life and death, love and hate, trust and betrayal

Beifi smiled and said, "I don't have many strengths left, but honesty is one that I can still showcase."

Beifei's mouth twitched slightly as she obediently listened to Ling Qianfan's teachings: "In order to make a significant impact, the first target chosen by PL is the Sanzo Line. In particular, the New Sanzo Line is of utmost importance; in the hearts of outdoor adventure enthusiasts, it is a life-and-death line that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Without traversing it, one's life is incomplete"

Beifei made a sound of acknowledgment, pondering whether he had friends at the same school. Before he could speak, Wu Yuping nodded and said, "Undergraduate, well... the education level is a bit low, but it doesn't matter. You can still pursue a part-time degree in the future, and that would be acceptable."

However, this statement held a fatal attraction for her

Someone once said that every experience is a form of wealth, but Beifei feels that if this were truly the case, she would rather be a complete pauper

After returning to the office, she carefully placed the books into her canvas shoulder bag. Meanwhile, Xi Rongrong had already arranged her evening appointment and handed her a note with the address: Wu Yuping, No. 11, Xia Jin Road, Orchid Grass Café

Beifei shrugged her shoulders, lowered her head, and began to fiddle with two cups of charcoal-roasted coffee. The steam rose, and her eyes unexpectedly became a bit moist. She rubbed her eyes, trying to convince herself that it was nothing, nothing at all, after all, she had never really expected to find someone willing to accompany her to the New Tibet Line through blind dates.

Beifei was at a loss, not knowing what the two were talking about. Ling Qianfan walked to the back of the rosewood desk, slightly inclined his body to sit down, and gestured for Beifei to take a seat: "I have reviewed the archived data of 'A Love Story in a City' over the past few years. Currently, the profits mainly come from hotel distribution and flight booking driven by this column. However, the market is limited, and there are three or four companies in the country engaged in this business, leading to a saturation of the entire industry. Therefore, I am considering shifting from online to offline, leveraging the previous performance of this column to develop some new profit points. Do you have any ideas?"

Every time I see this sentence, a deep longing arises in my heart, and I cannot help but repeatedly ponder what kind of feeling it would be like

Wu Yuping fled in a panic, and while descending the stairs, he knocked over the tray of a waiter, angrily scolding, "Do you not have eyes while walking?" In an instant, all eyes in the café were drawn to this scene. Beifei buried her face on the table, fearing that everyone would realize that this gentleman had an appointment with her today. When she finally perked up her ears and heard no more commotion, she prepared to lift her head, only to see the two cups of coffee that the waiter had brought over, and she was reminded of another tragedy—she would have to pay for both cups of coffee!

I will eventually be driven to my death by you

Beifei suddenly realized, her eyes brightening: "Are you referring to the self-guided travel expert Lawrence Miller's publishing house that started from scratch? I know they have published books like 'Crossing the Andes' and 'Rio de Janeiro for Two,' which are travelogues about South America. The main text is a travel narrative, and each chapter includes notes on travel and accommodation prices—serving both as a collection of essays for leisurely reading and as a travel guide. Could it be... are you suggesting that we do it like they do, or... are you implying that we collaborate with them?"

Beifei was overjoyed, holding the document with both hands, more reverently than when receiving her paycheck. Fang Fei, who was beside her, remarked, "Ah San, why not fast and bathe for three days to show your respect?" Beifei chuckled twice; since she became a travel journalist, her greatest admiration had been for the great Lawrence Miller. It is said that he set out alone from the Panama Canal with thousands of dollars, crossed the Andes, and met his future wife amidst the endless mountains, registered their marriage in Brazil, and published his first travelogue, "Crossing the Andes." It is said that he set out alone from the Panama Canal with thousands of dollars, crossed the Andes, and met his future wife amidst the endless mountains, registered their marriage in Brazil, and published his first travelogue, "Crossing the Andes."

Ling Qianfan's tone suddenly lowered, speaking very slowly, as if immersed in some profound emotion. His demeanor was somewhat peculiar—like the yearning of a young man in pursuit of dreams. That extremely soft voice and cherished expression seemed to suggest that he was not describing the New Tibet Line, but rather painting a magnificent youthful dream. Bei Fei was momentarily distracted by his description when Fang Fei suddenly poked his head out from the sofa: "Brother Ling, how come I remember you also wanted to go to the San Zang Line? You haven't been to a single line until now, right? Tsk tsk tsk, look at our Ah San, he is much better than you..." That extremely soft voice and cherished expression seemed to suggest that he was not describing the New Tibet Line, but rather painting a magnificent youthful dream. Bei Fei was momentarily distracted by his description when Fang Fei suddenly poked his head out from the sofa: "Brother Ling, how come I remember you also wanted to go to the San Zang Line? You haven't been to a single line until now, right? Tsk tsk tsk, look at our Ah San, he is much better than you..."

Beifei let out a dry laugh, and Fang Feijin, whenever he praised her, would say that she was worth three livestock—only when praising her would Fang Feijin use such sharp words. Fang Feijin then laughed and said: "We were just talking about you, and Senior Brother Ling was asking me why you are called A San. It seems I heard someone mention it before, but I forgot after two years..."

Although every time she returns from a business trip, he advises her to find a less exhausting job, he still tenderly applies medicine for her and quietly prepares a small first aid kit for her the next time she packs her bags

Why, why, why? Beifi tightly clutched her wallet and cried silently, all of this is hard-earned money! That so-called little white-collar worker is just what the saying goes, earning a salary but still being a white-collar worker!

Beifei Cat began to secretly grumble a few words, you didn't come at the agreed time, I was just listening to music and you suddenly jumped out to scare me. I thought this in my heart, but still put on a smiling face: "Hmm, you... Wu Yuping?"

With a snap, the phone was hung up by Xi Rongrong

Ling Qianfan nodded in approval and said, "So what I am considering is not to create a magazine. Have you heard of the publisher PL Travel Press?"

Ling Qianfan looked at the two from across the desk, merely suppressing a smile, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Beifei, seemingly quite intrigued. Fang Feijin cast a glance at Ling Qianfan and suddenly, with a sly grin, whispered to Beifei:

No, I just told him that my last relationship lasted seven or eight years and almost led to marriage. Before I could say anything further, he was already scared off

Seeing that she had not spoken for a long time, Ling Qianfan smiled and asked, "Do you understand this principle?"

I think I understand now; you are just playing with me. Can't you be a little less sincere every time we go on a blind date

The cover features an unnamed mountain, lush and green at its base, yet capped with a blanket of snow at the summit—this was personally photographed by Lawrence Miller. It is said that he chose this image for the cover because he and his wife confessed their love here. It also bears the widely circulated words of the great master: Have you ever experienced the feeling of hearing someone say I love you at an altitude of 4,100 meters?

Beifidun was momentarily taken aback, and then she heard Wu Yuping inquiring about her age, work experience, and so on, much like a household registration review. Finally, as if summarizing his remarks, he clasped his hands under his chin, his expression unusually serious: "The nature of the work is not very good; achieving success in a career is all superficial. A woman should primarily focus on supporting her husband and raising children; you are a bit older, um... have you had a boyfriend before?"

The sound of the zither intoxicates with the essence of the drunken poet, camellias and cherry blossoms bloom abundantly on the mountains, azaleas and kapok trees are planted along the streets, who remembers the time when there was a pot of orchids... Give me a guitar and I will sing, give me a pencil and I will draw, give me a pair of wings and I will fly, give me a space and I will spin around... Until that day when I fall in love with him, until that day when my tears flow down... Until that day when I fall in love with him, until that day when my tears flow down...

Beifei felt her heart racing inexplicably, and Ling Qianfan also wanted to ride along the Sanzo Line. Her face inexplicably flushed, and when she stole a glance at Ling Qianfan, she found his expression slightly somber. After a moment, he returned to his perfectly timed smile: "If our collaboration with PL is finalized, we expect to officially select individuals with rich outdoor adventure experience to assess the accommodations and attractions along the Sanzo Line after the New Year. Before that, PL would like to review the travel features we have previously produced to determine whether our staff's experience in tourism meets their standards." After a moment, he returned to his perfectly timed smile: "If our collaboration with PL is finalized, we expect to officially select individuals with rich outdoor adventure experience to assess the accommodations and attractions along the Sanzo Line after the New Year. Before that, PL would like to review the travel features we have previously produced to determine whether our staff's experience in tourism meets their standards."

Let Fang Feijin know why, which is equivalent to broadcasting it to the whole world. Anyway, there is no need to be polite with a boss like Fang Feijin. Beifei directly rolled her eyes and said: "I don't remember."

The café environment is quite pleasant, featuring a three-story wooden and stone villa. The semi-extended outdoor balcony offers a perfect view of the sign embedded in the shop door, with five elegant and antique characters. This place was brought to her by Su Wan before—back when it did not have this name. Xia Jin Road leads to the riverside, and in the early winter dusk, a slight chill from the river breeze brushes by. There are not many people on the balcony, likely due to the cold, but she is accustomed to it. She has traversed through yellow sand deserts and boundless glaciers, so this river breeze merely adds a touch of vitality. Occasionally, the creaking of the wooden stairs can be heard, signaling the arrival of a waiter upstairs. From Beifei's perspective, she can just see the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, its dim yellow light swaying, obscuring the face of the singer performing in the corner on the first floor. There is no raucousness of a bar, nor the seriousness of a business café—the atmosphere is rather pleasant, which is why, despite waiting for nearly half an hour, she does not feel impatient.

She lowered her head and secretly cursed that Wu Yuping had stepped into a sewer while walking, and had eaten a drugged meal. Before she could finish her incantation, Xi Rongrong's call came in—naturally, it was the emergency call they had originally arranged. Bei Fei answered the phone with an awkward smile and said: "No need for an emergency, the person has already run away"

Ling Qianfan was just lifting his cup to drink water when he almost choked upon hearing this. He turned his head and smiled at Fang Fei, saying: "What I told you is absolutely correct; she could completely change her career to become a crosstalk performer!"

Ling Qianfan nodded and smiled, saying: "The Eastern lands always carry a sense of mystery for Westerners. PL has recently set its sights on Asia. As you know, the differences between Eastern and Western civilizations are significant, so they are also looking for a local partner. We would provide some materials, combined with their branding, to jointly develop the business of publishing travel guides for self-guided tours in Asia. They hope to publish the travel books they previously released on South America in China as well. There had been contact between a publishing company and them before, but Lawrence Miller was concerned about the quality. Coincidentally, these two matters have come together, and they are looking for a partner to work on this project together."

Never experienced it

Listening quietly to this song, the original singer passed away in a car accident many years ago. The reason she still remembers is entirely due to the orchid plant at home. By this calculation, it has been quite some time. Memories are truly a terrifying thing; sometimes, you may not remember an event for a long time, but that does not mean you have truly forgotten it. It often resurfaces at certain specific times or in places you never anticipated, suddenly and without warning, knocking a few times in your mind, causing your heart to race and your breath to momentarily halt. Memories are truly a terrifying thing; sometimes, you may not remember an event for a long time, but that does not mean you have truly forgotten it. It often resurfaces at certain specific times or in places you never anticipated, suddenly and without warning, knocking a few times in your mind, causing your heart to race and your breath to momentarily halt.

In the past, I heard from a colleague that the quick success formula for blind dates is that the man has a car and a house, while the woman has no romantic history. Previously, during a few blind dates, before we could even touch upon these main topics, the other party would often be scared away by the requirements of taking the new Tibetan route. This time, Beifei finally had a breakthrough.

Although the volume was lowered, it was still controlled to a level that Ling Qianfan could hear, especially the word "read," which was pronounced with particular emphasis. Bei Fei stole a glance and, as expected, noticed a slight change in Ling Qianfan's expression. Bei Fei felt embarrassed; this ancestor really was something. Why make such a joke with your senior brother and drag me into it? When we go out later, just bump into the wall a couple of times and pretend to have amnesia.

Beifei was taken aback, but fortunately, her mind was quick—following the line of questioning from Wu Yuping's earlier inquiries, she immediately understood the implication behind the last question, which was essentially asking whether the woman was still a virgin. Thus, with a charming smile, she replied: "Yes, not only do I have a boyfriend, but we have been together for seven or eight years; not only have we been together for seven or eight years, but we have also lived together for three years, just one step away from marriage..."

Beifei nodded like a chick pecking at rice, and Ling Qianfan smiled and said, "Do you really understand? Then tell me about it." Without hesitation, Beifei replied, "I understand, I understand. It's just like how I used to be a professional pig farmer, and now I want to switch to pig slaughtering. The pigs won't just obediently line up for slaughter because they are familiar with me; I need to find a master pig butcher to teach me how to wield the knife. Then, with the endorsement of this master butcher, I can sell my pork at a good price. That's the idea, right?"

Indeed, Wu Yuping's expression changed drastically, and he stood there with his mouth agape for a long time without saying a word. When he finally regained his composure, he stood up and said, "Miss Bei, I believe we are not quite suitable for each other." Bei Fei directly pointed to the stairs and smiled, "The way out is this way."