Traveling around Dali is actually quite straightforward: just loop around Erhai.

Cai Village is right at the southern edge of the Ancient city, bordering Erhai. Usually, people choose to stay there for one night; even the sea-view rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows or balconies aren't expensive. Clockwise from Cai Village around Erhai, you'll pass Xi Province, Twin Hall, Wase, Haidong, and Dali City District in turn, before circling back to the Ancient city.

This whole loop is about 130 kilometers.

As for the attractions around the Ancient city, like the 'Demigods and Semi-Devils' film studio—anyone who visits doesn't leave without feeling ripped off.

It's more convenient to travel now than before. You can rent long-range electric bikes in the Ancient city, which you can use to loop around Erhai, though it's a bit tiring. Twin Hall also has Qingju shared electric bicycles available—many of them, in fact. Riding along the coast is quite comfortable.

Zhou Li and the others first spent a day exploring the stretch from the Ancient city to Xi Province, tasting a Xi Province crispy rice cake.

Recently, roadwork had been going on in this section, kicking up a lot of dust and making it difficult to pass through. However, riding an electric bike into the fields was quite pleasant.

Then they went to Twin Hall.

The scenery there was a bit more exquisite.

Later, they rented two electric bikes: Zhu Shuang rode with Zhu Bing, while Brother Nan took Zhou Li and Tuanzi. They circled Erhai, and with that, this leg of the journey was complete.

All in all, it was quite beautiful.

Especially for Zhou Li—

When they went out for a walk in the evening, he was holding Brother Nan's hand.

They finally made others envious of them for once.

The siblings also had a great time. After all, they hadn't been here before, and Zhou Li and Brother Nan were accompanying them, ensuring they didn't need to worry about a thing. Zhou Li and Brother Nan had arranged everything efficiently and planned it all out meticulously. All the siblings needed to do was enjoy themselves to their hearts' content.

Except... they kept encountering all sorts of strange men and women, young and old, trying to sell them various things.

One time, Zhu Shuang was standing on Romantic Island taking pictures when he noticed a stunningly beautiful woman next to him, also taking photos. She seemed to sense his gaze, turned her head, smiled charmingly, and nodded at him—a look of such seductive grace it could captivate anyone.

Zhu Shuang was almost smitten.

Then the beauty asked him, "Free facial masks, want one?"

...

On the road to Lijiang, Zhu Shuang still couldn't wrap his head around it. "What's with the people here? Why does it feel like scammers are everywhere?"

Zhou Li, petting Tuanzi's tail, replied, "It's just how it is—tourists are easier to deceive."

"Did you encounter this last time too?"

"Emmm…" Zhou Li thought carefully. "Not too many. Probably because we were riding bicycles, we just looked broke."

"You rode bicycles?!"

"All the way from Chunming."

"All the way from Chunming?!"

"Yes."

Zhu Shuang expressed his amazement, as well as his envy.

The topic was finally, successfully, changed.

Zhou Li continued to pet Tuanzi as he played tour guide. "Lijiang was once called Dayan. Its reputation isn't great, and it is indeed very commercialized. But if you ignore the shops and dense bars inside, and just look at its appearance, this ancient city is still quite stunning. Today, we'll go have a look around and climb Lion Mountain. From there, you can see the full panorama of the Ancient city—an almost endless expanse of tiled rooftops. It's very beautiful."

"Oh, okay."

"Tomorrow we'll go up Yulong Snow Mountain for a look," Zhou Li paused, then added, "Yulong Snow Mountain is the only snow mountain in the country that ordinary people can ascend without needing special gear or extensive mountaineering preparations."

"Oh, okay."

"We're having cured pork ribs for dinner tonight…"

The inflammation in Zhou Li's tooth had subsided over the past two days, and he could eat normally again, at least until it flared up next.

「In the evening.」

Zhou Li and Brother Nan walked hand-in-hand through the Ancient city. The two sensible siblings, saying they wanted to take night photos from Lion Mountain, soon went off on their own. Tuanzi had also been left in the hotel room by Zhou Li.

Brother Nan's hands, when not clenched into fists, were exceptionally soft. Her skin was delicate and pink, especially the flesh of her palms.

Zhou Li liked to squeeze the flesh of her palm, or her fingertips.

He thought it felt amazing.

Whenever they held hands, he would secretly play with her palm—a little game of his.

Brother Nan would let him, feigning ignorance, though sometimes she'd ask with playful exasperation—

"Is it fun?"

Zhou Li would usually nod, affirming it was.

Then Brother Nan would snort and pay him no more mind.

This year, Lijiang had fewer people than last year. Apart from a few streets bustling with heavy foot traffic, the rest of the roads were very quiet. The streets with bars and the secluded alleys felt like two different worlds.

Suddenly, Brother Nan called out—

"Zhou Li."

"Huh?"

"Do you want to get a drink?"

"No, thanks."

"Hm?"

"I don't drink."

"Idiot."

"You can't swear." Zhou Li frowned. "Drinking isn't good for your health. You should drink less too."

"Idiot."

"..."

Zhou Li continued to pull her forward.

The alleys leading out of the Ancient city grew quieter and quieter as they walked. Their own footsteps were clearly audible. With his good hearing, he could even hear Brother Nan's steady breathing beside him.

He stole a glance to his side.

Brother Nan was dressed casually, as always: a pair of greyish-white cotton trousers, a white T-shirt, sneakers, and a black hair tie on her fair wrist. She looked incredibly refreshing and youthful, her tall figure appearing even more striking.

Zhou Li hesitated. "The weather here seems even drier than in Chunming."

"Are your lips dry?"

"How did you know?"

"Did you forget to put on lip balm before you left?"

"..."

"I have lip balm on. Want me to put some on you?" Brother Nan shot him a sidelong glance, her face full of mock disgust. "Where did you learn such sleazy tricks? Can't people be more sincere with each other?"

"Oh." Zhou Li paused. "I want to kiss you."

"Let me check."

Brother Nan glanced around—up, down, left, and right—and once she was sure no one was watching, a mischievous, conspiratorial look appeared on her face.

Zhou Li leaned against the wall and gently embraced Brother Nan.

He could feel the warmth of her body and the gentle curves of her figure. They stood face to face, so close, gazing into each other's eyes. He could clearly feel the ticklish sensation of her breath on his face. Their hearts pounded. They didn't quite know how to start, or perhaps, there was a peculiar sense of newness before they began.

The interactions of a young couple were always tense and shy.

Gradually, they drew closer, inch by inch, until their lips met, and the sense of newness vanished without a trace.

「Three minutes later—」

SMACK!

Brother Nan slapped Zhou Li's hand away again, but this time she offered a reason, "We're outside... A little kiss is fine, but don't be greedy!"

Zhou Li quietly opened his eyes a slit.

What about next time, when we're not outside?

「Five minutes later.」

The two had parted and stood side by side, both leaning against the wall, quietly listening to faint music drifting from a distant bar.

Brother Nan smacked her lips and said, "These past couple of days, I've had this idea of sleeping while hugging you. Maybe it's because I always sleep with a stuffed doll at home, and suddenly being without it, I feel a bit out of sorts."

"Huh?"

"I want to hug you while we sleep."

"..." Zhou Li fell silent for a moment. "Why do I get the feeling you're taking advantage of me?"

"It *is* me taking advantage," Brother Nan explained. "*I* get to hug *you* when we sleep, not the other way around. If you dare move, I'll beat you to death."

"I see."

"So, what do you think?" A corner of Brother Nan's lip curled up. "I'm very democratic, you know. I absolutely won't force you. If you're not sure, we can try it out during a nap."

"Female hoodlum!"

"Heh!"

Brother Nan's smile widened until she couldn't hold back her laughter and playfully punched his chest. "Just kidding! You think something that good would happen so easily!?"

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