Chapter 113/114: My eyelid keeps twitching, as if something is about to happen.
Gu Qichen had already left. Xia Yangyang stared blankly at her bowl of noodles. She’d almost told him she was going away with Chen Yu for a few days, but hadn't. Inner conflict and discomfort filled her; she didn't understand why. After finishing, she grabbed her ID and returned to school.
Lu Yao, a local, had gone home for the holidays, leaving Xia Yangyang alone in the dormitory. She had been avoiding thinking about Gu Qichen and Shen Manbing, but finally forced herself to confront it. Was it just their past? She felt she had lost, overcome by her growing attachment to Gu Qichen. She decided to tell him everything the next time he returned.
Early the next morning, Chen Yu's insistent calls woke Xia Yangyang. His car was downstairs; she needed to hurry with her luggage. Looking out the window at the still-dark sky, she realized they needed to leave before dawn to avoid being seen. After a quick wash, she grabbed her suitcase and hurried down. Chen Yu's car was waiting, as promised.
As soon as she got in, he frowned. “What are you doing? This is a vacation, not a kidnapping. Why are you dressed like this?” Xia Yangyang was in all black, wearing a mask and baseball cap, almost completely concealing herself.
“This way, I won't be recognized,” she explained. “Even if paparazzi get pictures, they won't see my face.”
Chen Yu was speechless. They reached the airport and used the VIP channel without incident, enjoying the privacy of business class. Despite Xia Yangyang's apprehension, they arrived safely at Lake Bay Resort.
Lake Bay International Resort, the most luxurious holiday resort in China, is known as the “Maldives of China.” Built on a man-made island in a vast lake, its grand palace hotel is as opulent as its name suggests. The island boasts high-end golf, horse riding, natural volcanic hot springs, and, most famously, Moonlight Beach. Its uniquely clear sand glows under the moonlight, creating a romantic atmosphere.
The resort reportedly accepts only one hundred VIP guests per season, requiring reservations three months in advance, except for VIP cardholders (whose annual fee is rumored to be ten million). Xia Yangyang considered those with such cards fools with too much money—a category Chen Yu clearly fell into. The limited guest number and exclusion of media ensure privacy, making it a haven for celebrities. China's biggest stars reportedly vacation there.
Chen Yu booked a presidential suite—over ten bedrooms spread across three levels, complete with a private swimming pool and gym. The scenery was paradise. But from the moment Xia Yangyang stepped onto the island, her eyelid continued to twitch, as if something were about to happen.