Chapter Nine, Love is a Journey through Xitang

"Am I being cute?" After downing a bottle of wine, Sang Youyou felt a certain indescribable heaviness in her head. Looking at Huangfu Hao's handsome face, she began to feel a bit dazed, as if it were not quite real.

Although Huangfu Hao's tone was not very friendly, Sang Youyou did not mind and asked, "Is Xitang fun?"

"Hello!" Huangfu Hao smiled gracefully, his brows and eyes curving gently, his beautiful star-like eyes clean and clear, carrying a hint of childlike innocence. He gazed at Sang Youyou, causing her heart to tremble involuntarily, as if a string deep within her heart had been plucked, sending ripples of emotion cascading outward.

Who can bless whom

You can just paddle slowly like this!" Huangfu Hao slightly turned his body, helping Sang Youyou adjust the game rod. Together, they slowly rocked it a few times, and his warm breath sprayed against Sang Youyou's sensitive ear, causing her to instantly blush with shyness: "I... I don't want to learn anymore!" She anxiously pushed Huangfu Hao away, then quickly walked to the other side of the boat, lowering her head to look at the river surface, where the shimmering waves sparkled with a glistening sheen, stirring up ripples in her heart.

"I am not drinking, I ordered it for you." Huangfu Hao blinked his dark eyes and looked at Sang Youyou, "Do you think one dozen is not enough? No problem, I can order more for you!"

May love never perish

Sang Youyou looked at those distinctive small shops, passing by one after another, yet not entering any of them, her heart already itching as if a little cat's paw was scratching at it. Her eyes darted around, and after a few hurried steps, she mustered her courage and suddenly grabbed Huangfu Hao's arm.

Huangfu Hao followed Sang Youyou's gaze and looked at the adorable little bear wooden clogs on her feet, unable to help but slightly curl his lips: "Sang Youyou, I didn't expect you to be so childlike!"

Under the dim glow of the neon lights, Huangfu Hao's handsome face appeared somewhat blurred, yet it exuded an unusual allure that compelled Sang Youyou to widen her eyes with great effort, staring at him in a daze

The timbre of this person's voice, carrying a husky depth, interprets this song with a particularly profound emotion, captivating Sang Youyou without her even realizing it.

The uncle hurriedly packed everything that Sang Youyou pointed to into a bag, and finally said with a smile: "A total of one hundred sixty-eight pieces"

Sang Youyou blinked her dark eyes and extended a finger; she actually only wanted a bottle, coming to this bar merely to experience something new

A person is sleepwalking

Huangfu Hao brought Sang Youyou inside, chose a seat next to the corner, and asked her: "What would you like to drink?"

Seeing Sang Youyou's startled expression, Huangfu Hao wiped his face with a tissue and softened his tone a bit: "I know you didn't do it on purpose! If it were intentional, I would definitely make you eat everything you threw up again!"

Sang Youyou actively hooked her arm around Huangfu Hao's, dragging the bewildered him to a stall marked "Xitang Specialty: Qianshi Cake." She pointed at the colorful pastries and looked at Huangfu Hao. Before she could speak, Huangfu Hao, already smiling, asked, "Do you want to eat?"

Aren't you using Baidu?" Huangfu Hao turned his face, calmly tossing out a remark.

Upon reaching the shore, a row of brightly lit signs in red and green immediately caught the eye. This was unlike the old neighborhoods seen in the afternoon; it resembled a bustling and prosperous commercial street, filled with a constant flow of people and the sounds of laughter and song.

Sang Youyou covered her cheeks with both hands, her pretty face suddenly flushed bright red, and she said with a hint of grievance: "Huangfu Hao, it's all your fault, I haven't even changed my shoes..."

Sang Youyou pouted and glared at Huangfu Hao with resentment, saying, "I haven't been there, is it wrong to be curious?"

Sang Youyou was taken aback by Huangfu Hao's unexpected jest, blinking in astonishment. Subsequently, one of them focused on driving while the other gazed joyfully at the scenery, refraining from further idle chatter. Before long, they arrived at Xitang Ancient Town.

2

Huangfu Hao touched his nose, relieved that there was a security door in between; otherwise, with the way Sang Youyou had just slammed the door, it would surely have knocked his nose askew. With a smile at the corner of his mouth, he pressed the doorbell of the Sang family again, as he had little patience to stand at the door waiting for Sang Youyou to dawdle while getting ready.

The beauty of Xitang carries a touch of simplicity; it does not possess the splendor of Zhouzhuang, nor the opulence of Nanzhen. The atmosphere of commercialization is not strong, yet it seems to be filled with a romantic, bohemian charm

Are you going with the flow

Ah! Sang Youyou, realizing what Huangfu Hao meant only after a moment, let out a piercing scream, then abruptly slammed the door shut, covering her face as she rushed back into her room. She wished she could dig a hole in the ground and bury herself alive!

"Good!" Huangfu Hao said, waving to call the waiter, "Bring a dozen beers and another serving of your bar snacks."

Sang Youyou, feeling somewhat embarrassed, unnaturally averted her gaze and stared at her toes, deliberately maintaining a calm tone as she said: "Didn’t I tell you last night? I won’t be going to the office to work overtime today, so you don’t need to come pick me up!" At this moment, only she knew that her heart was inexplicably racing.

I have no money, and I do not sing for a living!" Sang Youyou glared with wide eyes, bit her lip, and said this angrily. Then, she tilted her head back and finished the remaining beer in one go.

Look at the sign! Huangfu Hao's deep eyes sparkled brightly, with a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth

"I am not here to take you to work." Huangfu Hao smiled elegantly and charmingly, his brows carrying a myriad of allure.

Sang Youyou gazed into the distance at the river's surface, where lanterns dotted the scene beneath the deep blue sky, casting a soft and hazy beauty.

A dream is a hydrogen balloon

Huangfu Hao cast a sidelong glance at Sang Youyou, who was pouting and fuming, and couldn't help but deepen the smile at the corners of his mouth

Huangfu Hao elegantly and lazily rested his arm on the railing at the stern of the boat, quietly taking a nap

Sang Youyou found the answer on her phone, one of the six ancient towns in Jiangnan. Xitang Ancient Town is located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, in Jiashan County, Zhejiang Province, formerly known as Xietang. It is a flat area, situated 10 kilometers from the urban area of Jiashan. The total area of Xitang Town is 83.61 square kilometers, of which the ancient town area covers 1.04 square kilometers, with a population of nearly 86,000. Xitang is a living ancient town with a history of a thousand years. It has been included in the World Heritage Site tentative list, recognized as one of China's first historical and cultural towns, and designated as a national AAAA-level scenic area. The total area of Xitang Town is 83.61 square kilometers, of which the ancient town area covers 1.04 square kilometers, with a population of nearly 86,000. Xitang is a living ancient town with a history of a thousand years. It has been included in the World Heritage Site tentative list, recognized as one of China's first historical and cultural towns, and designated as a national AAAA-level scenic area

1

Sang Youyou, with a face full of black lines like Xiaowanzi, knew that Huangfu Hao was very handsome. However, could he not always smile at her so brightly? It made Sang Youyou's heart race wildly.

Beer bar

"What is Xitang for?" Sang Youyou changed the question again, looking at Huangfu Hao's handsome profile as she asked.

I... I will definitely finish it! After getting drunk, I will act foolishly one moment and throw a tantrum the next. In any case, Huangfu Hao has to take care of me. Sang Youyou felt calm inside; if Huangfu Hao did not take good care of her, Sang Mama would surely be the first to deal with him

Sang Youyou could only grit her teeth and shake her head: "Alright, I'll drink again!"

Sang Youyou nodded eagerly, looking at him with eyes full of hope, I want to eat—

Sang Youyou nodded eagerly: "I am not going anywhere, I will wait for you!" With no money to her name, where could she possibly go?

What can I use to save

Unable to resolve the recent sorrows

I won't tell you!" Huangfu Hao mysteriously kept it a secret, raised his elegant eyebrows, blinked, and said with a smile, "However, I will take you out to have some fun later!"

Having just exited a handicraft shop, Sang Youyou had already become accustomed to linking arms with Huangfu Hao and said, "I am a bit hungry, could we find something to eat?"

Hearing her response, Huangfu Hao smiled with satisfaction, and thoughtfully pushed the snacks in front of her, saying, "Drinking without food can easily lead to intoxication; you should eat some snacks first"

I am lurking in your wound

Beside the thin horse of the west wind, there is also a sign that reads, "I am waiting for you in Xitang," with an additional phrase below the shop sign: "If it is not original, then it is in the corner..."

Huangfu Hao hurriedly turned down the music, turned his handsome face, and glanced at Sang Youyou with concern: "What happened?"

Sang Youyou, with an indescribable emotion, let out a soft sigh, and then, all the way, she intertwined her arm with Huangfu Hao's, wandering along the river in a meandering manner...

This woman has the courage to drink, but lacks the capacity for it; it remains to be seen whether her behavior will be acceptable after a while

Sang Youyou casually sat in the small boat, basking in the sun and playing with her phone, occasionally stealing glances at the handsome "prince" Huangfu Hao, who was soundly asleep. His striking features resembled those of an infant, with his eyes closed and eyelashes gently curled like a fan. His sensual lips curved slightly in a smile, as if he were dreaming a beautiful dream. Unconsciously, Sang Youyou's lips curled into a faint smile as she opened her arms, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply and freely, savoring this moment, this ancient town, which brought her a feeling akin to a paradise beyond the world.

Sang Youyou could no longer endure the noise. With her disheveled hair and yawning, she hurriedly ran to the door and sleepily opened it, asking, "Who is it?"

"I can't drink anymore!" Sang Youyou shook her head, furrowing her brows as she looked at the beer bubbling with a milky white foam. If she finished this bottle, she would really collapse onto the table.

"Then why did you come to pick me up?" Sang Youyou raised her face in confusion, once again captivated by Huangfu Hao's elegant smile, her heart racing uncontrollably. This guy had a stunningly beautiful and enchanting face, paired with those clear, clean eyes; when he smiled, it was as if he could bring a city to its knees, and with another smile, he could conquer a nation. As a result, Sang Youyou's little heart was pounding like a startled deer, her cheeks slightly flushed and feeling quite unnatural. Anxiously, Sang Youyou averted her gaze and continued to stare at her own toes.

Sang Youyou was momentarily taken aback, but soon understood the situation. She quickly took a few steps back, positioning herself beside Huangfu Hao. Gritting her teeth, she hooked her arm around his, feeling an indescribable surge of excitement within her. Glancing sideways at Huangfu Hao, she noticed that he appeared completely unfazed, and he calmly said, "What do you want to see? What do you want to buy? Just stop and say it directly"

"Are you trying to be cute?" Huangfu Hao followed Sang Youyou's topic, "Being cute is good, it's much better than selling laughter, singing, or selling oneself!" After saying this, a charming smile appeared at the corner of his mouth

In the afternoon, Xitang, under the gentle sunlight, is warmly accompanied by a light breeze, and the pace of life slows down. The various calls of vendors echo in the narrow alleys, resonating in a distant and lingering manner; the quiet river, with a hint of ripples, gently sways; in the alleys, the grandparents of the residents, no longer busy, move their chairs together to gather and engage in lively conversation; even the "pets" kept at the entrances of various shops are slightly squinting their eyes, dozing off.

Close, really close

For Sang Youyou, who relies on others for food and drink and is completely broke, she originally had little say in the matter. Furthermore, with Huangfu Hao's meticulous arrangements, she had no objections whatsoever, only the option to nod in agreement.

"One drink?" Sang Youyou frowned, "Huangfu Hao, you are driving, you cannot drink."

Sang Youyou shook her head vigorously, "No need!" She was not greedy, taking just a little of everything, merely to have a taste! Watching Huangfu Hao actively serve her, she felt delighted and bounced around; it was truly wonderful to have someone paying and someone else carrying the goods.

Sang Youyou took a deep breath, too lazy to waste words with Huangfu Hao. She opened another bottle of wine, then frowned and tilted her head back, gulping down more than half the bottle in one go, letting out a loud belch. She hurriedly covered her mouth, but could not help but suddenly spray it out towards the opposite side.

Fly away to the heavens

"Choose a place you like to sit for a while!" Huangfu Hao said, holding onto Sang Youyou, a faint smile on his lips

What can I use to save

Huangfu Hao's lips twitched slightly, and he impatiently said, "Sang Youyou, you don't even know what Xitang is for, are you a pig or what!"

"Sang Youyou, you really know how to surprise me!" Huangfu Hao said with a gentle smile, slightly pulling at the corner of his mouth, "However, you always seem to turn surprises into scares!"

"Where shall we go to have fun?" Sang Youyou hurriedly turned her face to look at Huangfu Hao, who was seated in the driver's seat. Seeing that he did not respond and merely turned on the music, Wang Fei's "Legend" softly and coolly filled the air: "It was just because I glanced at you more than once in the crowd, that I could never forget your face. I dream of the day we might meet again by chance, and from then on, I began to miss you in solitude. When I think of you, you are far away; when I think of you, you are right before my eyes; when I think of you, you are in my mind; when I think of you, you are in my heart. I would rather believe that we had a promise in our past lives, and that the love story of this life will not change. I would rather spend this life waiting for you to discover that I have always been by your side, never far away..."

In the end, everything turns to nothingness

The mind, scorched by alcohol, was momentarily startled into clarity.

3

"Why are you just standing there like a fool?" Huangfu Hao waved his hand in front of Sang Youyou, "Hurry up and pick a seat to sit down, we need to head back soon!"

Sang Youyou looked at Huangfu Hao's radiant smile, her eyes flickering for a moment, her heart racing once again. To conceal her unusual feelings, she hurriedly turned her face away and pointed at each of the delicious-looking pastries sold by the vendor, saying, "I want this, this, this, and this, this..."

Huangfu Hao moved his arm and looked at Sang Youyou: "If you drop it, I won't come looking for you!"

Huangfu Hao furrowed his sword-like brows, glanced down at Sang Youyou, hesitated for a moment, then bent down and suddenly lifted her up by the waist, calmly leaving the scene under the watchful eyes of the crowd

Drinking so much alcohol, no matter how many vegetables one eats, one will still get drunk! Sang Youyou's face was filled with a desire to cry but no tears came. Since Huangfu Hao insisted on getting her drunk tonight, then let her be drunk just this once!

Huangfu Hao calmly walked towards the restroom under the guidance of the waiter. Sang Youyou, the child who had caused trouble, stared blankly at the three remaining bottles of wine on the table. After a moment of hesitation, she suddenly opened one and drank it down as if it were plain water. However, when Sang Youyou set the wine bottle down, everything around her appeared to be in double or triple vision through her hazy, drunken eyes. She rubbed her eyes, and in an instant, it seemed to multiply into countless images, prompting her to suddenly lean over the table, and she immediately lost consciousness.

For a long time, Sang Youyou did not make a move, her gaze blankly fixed on the stage ahead. Huangfu Hao followed Sang Youyou's line of sight and saw a man wearing a baseball cap singing "Rescue" in a frenzied manner.

In the stillness of the deep night

"I can't tell, your alcohol tolerance is quite good!" Huangfu Hao glanced at the wine bottle and then shifted his gaze to Sang Youyou. Noticing that her attention was still fixed on the stage, he couldn't help but tease, "Sang Youyou, do you want to go up and sing a song too?"

Distant Tenderness

"You are so foolish, you might as well not learn!" Huangfu Hao said with a slight smirk at the corner of his mouth, unreservedly criticizing Sang Youyou.

"I am drinking!" Under Huangfu Hao's urging, Sang Youyou steeled herself, took a deep breath, and downed more than half a bottle of beer in one go. The bitter taste instantly made her unconsciously furrow her delicate brows and grimace.

Love, if it requires companionship

Huangfu Hao turned his face slightly and glanced at Sang Youyou, patiently engaging in this unproductive topic: "You may not know, but there are also people known as pig farmers who live with pigs. I am the one who specifically feeds you, this pig!"

Sang Youyou followed Huangfu Hao's steps as they passed through an alley called Shipi Nong. This is an open alley nestled between two residential buildings, paved with bluestone slabs. The alley is deep and narrow, with stones as thin as skin, filled with an antique charm. Sang Youyou thought that if it were morning or at sunset, wearing a floor-length dress, her swaying figure would gracefully tread on the bluestone slabs, producing crisp footsteps, surely evoking a sense of returning to an ancient alley, where the courtyard is deeply locked in the clear autumn.

"Alright, come here, I will teach you!" Huangfu Hao waved at her, and seeing her hurriedly put away her pouting expression of grievance, she joyfully ran over, causing him to smile and shake his head.

Sang Youyou knew that Huangfu Hao was doing it on purpose, and couldn't help but grind her teeth: "Huangfu Hao, six bottles for one beer, are you trying to drink me to death!" Sang Youyou's drinking capacity was famously known to be two bottles before getting drunk, also commonly referred to as "the fool".

the brightly lit streets

After taking a few steps, Sang Youyou felt that Huangfu Hao had not followed. She couldn't help but turn around and look at him, saying, "Huangfu Hao, why aren't you leaving yet?" She intended to follow Huangfu Hao to enjoy food and drink, and if she got lost, being penniless in this unfamiliar small town would be quite miserable for her

"Are these all bars?" Although Sang Youyou felt that it resembled a bar, it was different from the noisy bars in their city. Here, the bars were small, one after another, and both sides of the street were densely packed with them. Of course, what intrigued Sang Youyou the most was that each shop's sign was particularly interesting and unique. As she paused under the sign of 'The Lean Horse of the West Wind,' looking at the words above, she couldn't help but laugh: 'This establishment only sells romance, not love arrangements'

"Sang Youyou, if you are not singing, then what are you selling?" Huangfu Hao asked with a serious expression, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth

"Sang Youyou, can you be a bit more verbose?" Huangfu Hao turned his handsome face, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness

Huangfu Hao reached out again and gently called out, "Sang Youyou, wake up!"

The travel time from their city to Xitang is shown by Baidu Maps to be approximately fifty minutes

Sang Youyou was encircled by Huangfu Hao's hands at her chest, and in an instant, her entire body stiffened, her heart racing suddenly. She could clearly feel his warm body temperature penetrating through her thin clothing, reaching her skin, the strong and powerful heartbeat seemed to be pressed against her back, thumping steadily.

This is not nonsense

"You said it!" Huangfu Hao snorted through his nose. Alright, he was intentionally testing Sang Youyou's drinking capacity, so he would have an idea in his mind and avoid being caught off guard at the wedding if someone tried to get her drunk.

When love is like spilled water, it is hard to retrieve

Upon hearing this, Sang Youyou lost her curiosity and decided to wait for the surprise. She then noticed Huangfu Hao rowing with great skill and couldn't help but lean closer with excitement: "Huangfu Hao, rowing seems really fun. Can you teach me how to do it?"

Emotions can be as sharp as a blade, capable of cutting to the quick

Xitang

"Hmm... I'm so sleepy, don't make noise..." Sang Youyou mumbled indistinctly in response. However, her body seemed to be paralyzed as if she had been hit with a pressure point, leaving her completely unable to move.

"Hmm!" Huangfu Hao replied lightly, his bright black eyes subtly scanning the surroundings, while Sang Youyou habitually hooked her arm around his, the smile at the corner of her mouth gradually deepening

"No money!" Sang Youyou said, feeling a bit embarrassed as she looked at Huangfu Hao with a pitiful expression. There was no other way; when Sang Youyou left the house, she only wore a pair of slippers and brought her phone, leaving behind her keys, wallet, and bag. If she wanted to eat anything, she could only rely on Huangfu Hao, the "God of Wealth".

Huangfu Hao was momentarily taken aback, then he stopped in his tracks and looked at Sang Youyou with a bewildered expression

I will not go!" Sang Youyou refused without hesitation

"Sang Youyou!" Huangfu Hao gritted his teeth and called out Sang Youyou's name word by word, startling her heart to tremble. She hurriedly apologized, "Huangfu Hao, I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to!" This pitiful tone, if it continued, would truly make Sang Youyou cry, of course, out of fright

Sang Youyou furrowed her delicate brows as she looked at Huangfu Hao, gently shaking her head: "I don't know! What is it?"

Huangfu Hao's harsh words startled Sang Youyou, nearly causing her to fall off her chair in excitement. She anxiously hugged her arms and stammered an apology: "Huangfu Hao, I'm sorry, I... I really didn't mean to!"

At this moment, Sang Youyou's appearance is such that she doesn't need to look in the mirror to know; her hair is a tousled mess from sleep, haphazardly tangled together. She is wearing a cute cotton pajama set, which, while not particularly sexy and somewhat revealing, lacks a bra, causing her two breasts to sway unsteadily. This image is truly quite dreadful, especially in contrast to Huangfu Hao's elegant and handsome demeanor, making Sang Youyou appear utterly unpresentable.

The next day, Sang Youyou was in a daze, vaguely hearing the doorbell ringing at home. At this time, Sang's mother should have gone to the restaurant, so Sang Youyou suddenly pulled the blanket over her head, too lazy to get up and open the door, preparing to play dead. However, the doorbell kept ringing persistently, even accompanied by a loud knocking on the door.

Like a running rhinoceros

The deep and shallow alleys, the quaint and charming eateries and tea houses, the black awning boats drifting along the riverbank, the songstresses elegantly and melodiously singing folk songs, the sweet and delicate tunes of the water town, fresh and refined... Scholars and poets are drinking and composing verses in the nearby tea house, while the Jiangnan women on the bridge, dressed in blue printed cloth, walk gracefully and elegantly...

Unbiased and impartial, a handsome face directly opposite received all the sprayed wine, which slowly dripped down his handsome and resolute profile.

Huangfu Hao chuckled and said: "Take whatever you like, I will pay for it!"

Huangfu Hao flatteringly pushed another opened bottle of beer in front of Sang Youyou, saying: "I see you have a good capacity for alcohol, down another one for me to see!"

However, Sang Youyou truly did not know! ... Awkward, she had previously visited other ancient towns in Jiangnan, such as Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Nanchun, and Luzhi ... ... but Xitang, she was hearing about for the very first time, and could not help but curiously ask Huangfu Hao: "Have you been to Xitang?"

Hatred requires freedom even more

Sang Youyou was completely speechless, rolled her eyes, and glared at Huangfu Hao: "If you don't want to say it, then don't! Who cares! I'll ask Baidu!"

I..." Sang Youyou pouted in frustration, "A pig is just a pig. You marry a pig, you eat with a pig, you ride in the same car as a pig, you play together, you are also a pig..."

Sang Youyou turned her face and looked at Huangfu Hao, blinking in confusion: "Can I go up and sing?" With the accompaniment of the band, it should feel quite different, right? At least, it would be much more engaging than singing in a KTV. Sang Youyou's heart was restless, itching to perform; after all, she was a karaoke champion

Huangfu Hao nodded: "However, singing here does not earn money; instead, you have to pay to perform, one hundred yuan per song. Are you sure you want to sell your singing?"

The setting sun over Xitang is even more breathtakingly beautiful

"Take whatever you want to eat, look at you, such a pitiful sight!" Huangfu Hao looked at Sang Youyou with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "As if I have bullied you!"

Huangfu Hao slightly furrowed his handsome brows and said, "Sang Youyou, what do you mean? I ordered you a drink, yet you are not drinking it?"

"Sang Youyou, just now, you said yourself that you would drink it all!" Huangfu Haojun's face bore a serious expression, "Are you not keeping your word?"

"I see, look how scared you are," Huangfu Hao said kindly as he patted Sang Youyou's head. "I was just joking with you! I'm going to the restroom, so don't run around!"

I!" Huangfu Hao succinctly and forcefully threw out this word, then a faint smile appeared on his handsome face as he thoughtfully gazed at Sang Youyou.

Sang Youyou stared blankly at Huangfu Hao, whose face was splattered with liquid. His handsome face resembled a sculpture, frozen in expression, as he anxiously fumbled on the table, grabbing tissues haphazardly to wipe his striking face, saying: "Huangfu Hao, I am sorry, I am sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Why

Sang Youyou's heart was once again in disarray, her sensitive palms feeling the strange yet familiar warmth of Huangfu Hao. She wanted to shake it off, but was held tightly, her heart racing like a startled deer. Huangfu Hao opened the car door, settled Sang Youyou comfortably, and then flashed a bright smile, cheerfully saying: "I will take you out to have some fun"

"It is you who asked me to call you that." Huangfu Hao completely shifted the responsibility away, and then, in a nonchalant manner, added, "I have already paid the money; if you are not going to drink, please help me get my money back!"

After being sarcastically mocked by Huangfu Hao in such a lukewarm manner, Sang Youyou couldn't help but twitch her lips in silence. She turned her head to look out the window and saw Huangfu Hao maneuvering the car off the overpass, beginning to head onto the highway. She couldn't help but voice her concern: "Huangfu Hao, where exactly are you taking me?" This was embarrassing enough to happen in the nearby area, but now that they were on the highway, who knew where Huangfu Hao would go next!

Sang Youyou finally came to her senses and awkwardly forced a smile, saying, "Let's go to this place!" as she pointed to the West Wind Thin Horse.

Upon reaching the end of the alley, what comes into view is the long row of covered walkways built along the river, with a dense array of shops, each with its own unique characteristics. Although it is also a water town in Jiangnan, with the soft Wu dialect and similar scenes of small bridges and flowing water, Xitang, however, imparts a distinctly different feeling.

A sudden cold wave has arrived

"How is it? This concept of a small bar here, you haven't seen it before, have you?" Huangfu Hao asked with a smile, following Sang Youyou.

Just follow me!" Huangfu Hao reached out, grabbing her hand and mysteriously leading her out of the house, casually slamming the door behind them

Huangfu Hao emerged from the restroom and, from a distance, spotted Sang Youyou slumped over the table. His handsome brows furrowed slightly as he quickly walked over and nudged her, "Sang Youyou, wake up..." His peripheral vision swept over the six empty bottles of liquor on the table, and the corner of his mouth twitched. If she hadn't already collapsed, Huangfu Hao had no doubt that Sang Youyou would have downed all six bottles in one go.

"Sang Youyou, if you don't return the money, then you'll just have to drink it!" Huangfu Hao said with a serious expression, "Wasting is shameful. If you intend to waste it, I won't let this go!"

At this moment, Sang Youyou could no longer distinguish whether she was in the dreamlike Ming and Qing dynasties or in the picturesque ancient town of Xitang

As she walked along the long corridor by the river, Sang Youyou noticed that Huangfu Hao was not interested in the handicrafts and small accessories, so he did not stop to patiently browse even a single shop. However, this does not mean that she was not interested herself

Where is Xitang? Sang Youyou humbly asks for guidance

Not giving up until the very end

Huangfu Hao, accompanied by Sang Youyou, ordered a variety of specialty dishes from Xitang at a restaurant called "Ming and Qing Dynasty." After finishing their lunch, Huangfu Hao suggested, "In the afternoon, let's rent a small boat and drift along the river!"

At this moment, Xitang is very quiet, so quiet that one feels reluctant to break the silence, as if having traversed a time tunnel and returned to a thousand years ago

Inside Huangfu Hao's nose was filled with the faint scent of jasmine emanating from Sang Youyou, causing his heartbeat to unconsciously quicken. Looking at Sang Youyou, illuminated by the brilliant lights, sitting at the bow of the boat, her face flushed with shyness, her head lowered, there was an indescribable charm about her...

The urgent sound of the doorbell made Sang Youyou feel restless. She quickly changed her clothes, then went to the bathroom, brushed her teeth in a hurry, splashed some water on her face, and ran a comb through her hair before rushing to open the door. Looking at Huangfu Hao, she asked irritably, "What are you doing here?"

Who can bless whom

Listening to music, Sang Youyou glanced out the window. After a while, she lowered her head to look at her toes. "Ah!" When she saw the slippers on her feet, she couldn't help but scream uncontrollably.

Sang Youyou had a look of exasperation on her face as she watched the waiter bring over a dozen beers, some opened and some not, along with some snacks. The waiter politely said, "That will be a total of 198, I will charge you 200, and give you 2 back!" After finishing, he placed the beers down and turned to leave.

Love and hate are inextricably intertwined

Sang Youyou pouted in frustration and shot a glare at Huangfu Hao

Sang Youyou stared blankly through the security door at the exceptionally handsome Huangfu Hao, who was dressed in a fitted beige knitted casual shirt paired with light blue jeans. His features were striking, and his eyes were clear, as he gazed at her with intense focus.

For whom does the wish wait

Huangfu Haojun slightly raised his eyebrows and asked, "How much do you need?"

Huangfu Hao had long since awakened, exuding his usual elegance as he gently rowed the small boat. On the shimmering surface of the lake, ripples arose in waves. A brilliant smile graced his lips as he pointed to the opposite bank of the river: "Sang Youyou, do you know what is over there?"

Under the lingering glow of the dusky yellow sunset, the sapphire blue sky resembles satin, while warm yellow lights emanate from the taverns, inns, and a myriad of small shops with white walls and dark tiles across the way. The long corridor by the river is adorned with rows of bright red lanterns, hanging high, half remaining on the shore and half reflecting in the water, creating a dazzling interplay of lights.

Sang Youyou took a deep breath, tilted her head back, and downed an entire bottle of beer once again. When she set the bottle down, she felt a loud thud in her brain, a warmth spreading through her. This was because Huangfu Hao was gently and considerately wiping the beer stains from the corner of her mouth with a tissue, while softly saying, "Sang Youyou, drink slowly, I won't compete with you for the beer!"

Huangfu Hao finished paying, took the bag from the uncle's hand, and asked Sang Youyou: "Is there anything else you want to eat?"