Chapter 66:

Marriage, though a joyous occasion, can also be incredibly exhausting. Lin Qiao was so drained from the wedding that she couldn’t recover for several days. It might also have been due to her pregnancy, making her more prone to fatigue, as she constantly felt drowsy. She rested at home for three or four days before finally joining Shen Qingzhou on their honeymoon.

The idea of a honeymoon initially caused some disagreement between Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou. Previously, Shen had a client named Xu Boqin, who was searching for an auspicious burial site. During Shen’s last visit to inspect the site for Xu, he had fallen into a hole due to an incident involving Lin Qiao, and the matter was ultimately dropped. Du Xinling merely informed Xu that the site was unsuitable, but to this day, no definite answer had been provided.

Xu Boqin clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with this apparent delay in service, especially since he had already paid a deposit. Naturally, no one could feel at ease when Shen kept postponing the work.

Lin Qiao believed that despite Xu’s frustration, he had still generously gifted them with a substantial wedding gift, so they shouldn’t be impolite or indifferent. She suggested they simply go check out the burial site and combine it with a short honeymoon. Since her health wouldn’t allow for long-distance travel, this arrangement would be perfect.

Shen Qingzhou, however, held a completely opposing view. He would rather charter a private jet and take her somewhere unforgettable for their once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon than spend it hastily inspecting gravesites.

After a few days of disagreement, they compromised and decided to go on a road trip in an RV, letting the journey take them wherever it may.

The RV wasn’t bought on the spot. Lin Qiao had always known that Shen Qingzhou was wealthy, though she had never had a clear grasp of the extent of his fortune. He owned many cars, and this RV, although not brand new, was clearly expensive and had just been released this year.

“Why did you buy an RV for no reason?” Lin Qiao asked curiously, glancing around the interior.

The weather was getting colder as the year drew to a close. Shen Qingzhou wouldn’t have felt hot even if he wore a suit and tie on the streets, but today he was unusually dressed down—wearing a casual camel-colored coat over a white shirt, which matched the color of Lin Qiao’s jacket.

“Just in case of emergencies,” Shen Qingzhou replied without looking up, busying himself with organizing some items. “Go lie down for a while. I’ll wake you up when we get there.”

Lin Qiao, holding a tablet computer in her arms, glanced outside the window. “Alright then.”

It was five in the evening. They had departed from Beijing and were heading toward Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province, a coastal city in China made up of islands—their destination for this trip.

Zhoushan City, composed of 1,390 islands, is known as the “Fishery Capital of the East Sea” and “China’s Fishing Paradise.” The coastal location was precisely why Lin Qiao had chosen it. She loved the sea, but disliked the murky waters near Beijing, and since Shen Qingzhou had no interest in going to Sanya or Qingdao, Zhoushan became their choice.

It wasn’t that Shen Qingzhou disliked coastal cities like Sanya or Qingdao; he had chosen Zhoushan mainly because something he needed was here. Although he often dismissed his clients openly, he wasn’t entirely indifferent to responsibility. Since everything was already handled, and they were going out anyway, it made sense to finish the job along the way.

Lin Qiao lay down on the bed for a while, dozing off for about half an hour before getting up out of boredom and walking over to the driver’s seat. She grabbed two canned drinks from the fridge and handed one to Shen Qingzhou, who was driving, making sure to open it for him before passing it over.

Shen Qingzhou took a sip and casually placed it aside, politely saying, “Thanks.”

Lin Qiao smiled. “Why so formal with me?”

He glanced at her, his eyes soft. The evening light illuminated his face, casting a gentle glow over his features. His refined, classically handsome face resembled an ancient painting lit by candlelight, exuding a quiet elegance.

“How long will it take us to get to Zhoushan?” Lin Qiao lazily asked, leaning against the passenger seat.

Without hesitation, Shen Qingzhou replied, “From Beijing to Zhoushan is about 1,500 kilometers. At our current speed, it should take around fifteen hours. If my calculations are correct, the toll fees along the way should total approximately 730 yuan.”

Lin Qiao listened in astonishment, half-surprised yet not really, since he always planned everything meticulously, leaving her free of worry. She loved this feeling of complete peace of mind.

“Honey, you’re amazing,” she praised him wholeheartedly, admiration in her eyes.

Shen Qingzhou gave her a peculiar look and said, “Is that impressive? You could do the same with just one app.”

“…Never mind what I said,” she muttered. What a man with no sense of romance.

The journey to Zhoushan was filled with stops and sightseeing. Only Shen Qingzhou could drive, and he needed rest too, so they couldn’t drive nonstop for fifteen hours. They intentionally took their time, enjoying the trip. As a result, they arrived in Zhoushan on the third afternoon.

They parked near Putuo Mountain. Shen Qingzhou went to wash up and brush his teeth. He looked tired, even holding his lower back as he walked.

Lin Qiao asked with concern, “Is your back sore from driving too long?”

“A little,” he replied wearily. “I just don’t usually drive for such long stretches.”

Lin Qiao glanced at her belly. “Actually, I could drive for a bit too, if you just tell me the way.”

Shen Qingzhou turned to look at her sharply, his tone serious. “Don’t be reckless.”

She pouted. “You think I’m too fragile. Pregnant women aren’t that delicate.”

He had already walked away, but his voice drifted back. “I know pregnant women aren’t fragile, but *you* are.” As if anticipating her objection, he added from a distance, “At least in my opinion.”

Lin Qiao sighed, deciding not to argue further. After all, he was the head of the household, and she should just go along with him.

After a short rest, Shen Qingzhou prepared dinner. They ate on the RV and then stepped out under the night sky.

The sea breeze near Putuo Mountain was chilly at night. When Lin Qiao stepped out, Shen Qingzhou wrapped a thick coat around her shoulders. It was a long, black men’s coat, clearly not hers.

Looking at Shen in his thin windbreaker, she asked with concern, “Aren’t you cold? It’s November already. Coming to the seaside this late in the year is kind of crazy.”

He gave her a sidelong glance. He didn’t say anything, but she could tell he was silently mocking her, probably thinking, *You were the one who insisted on coming to the coast.*

Feeling a little annoyed—pregnant women were often moody—Lin Qiao was about to retort when Shen Qingzhou, well aware of this tendency, quickly changed the subject. “Do you want to go up the mountain and pay respects?”

Lin Qiao squinted at the faintly visible statue of Guanyin in the distance and shook her head. “It gets dark so early now. We can go tomorrow. Tonight, let’s focus on your work.”

Shen Qingzhou nodded, hesitating slightly before adding, “The path is rough. You’re pregnant. It’s better if you wait here.”

Lin Qiao looked at the trail he intended to take. It was indeed uneven and forested, with the cold sea wind and dim lighting making it hard to see clearly. Although Shen carried a tool bag with his compass and flashlight, she still hesitated.

“Alright,” she conceded. “I’ll wait in the RV. Come back early. Don’t go too far once it gets dark.”

The horizon still held a deep blue hue, not yet fully dark. Shen Qingzhou wanted to finish his business quickly so he could fully focus on spending time with her, which was why he was going out at night.

“I know. Go back now,” he said gently, turning her around.

Lin Qiao didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she took off the black coat and handed it to him. “You wear this. Give me your windbreaker. You look cold.”

Shen Qingzhou didn’t refuse. He obediently swapped coats with her, pulling on the thick coat.

Lin Qiao adjusted his collar. He looked down at her as the sea breeze tousled her hair. Suddenly, he bent down and kissed the top of her head, murmuring, “This is really nice.”

What did he mean by “this is nice”? No need to spell it out; they both understood.

Lin Qiao smiled warmly and waved at him. “Bye. I’ll wait for you.”

Shen Qingzhou patted her head, slung his tool bag over one shoulder, and walked off. His tall, slender figure quickly disappeared into the darkness. The sky was growing darker by the minute—it wouldn’t be long before night fully arrived.

She blew into her hands to warm them and, wrapping herself in Shen Qingzhou’s windbreaker, made her way back to the RV, supporting her lower back as she walked. Just as she sat down on the bed and was about to lie back and read, her phone buzzed with a text message.

Her first thought was that it might be from her father, but she quickly dismissed that—she had already messaged him when they arrived in Zhoushan. So who was it?

Curious, she picked up her phone. The message came from an unfamiliar number. It read: “Welcome to Zhoushan City.” It looked like a message from a telecom company, but the sender’s name chilled her.

It was from Zhao Chunjun, and he had even added a smiley face at the end of the message: )

What did he mean by that? “Welcome to Zhoushan City”? Did that mean he was here too? How did he even know they were here?

This guy really was like a ghost—always appearing when least expected!

Lin Qiao was puzzled, but she didn’t want to disturb Shen Qingzhou while he was working. It was already late, and the longer she delayed him, the harder it would be for him to finish, which could be dangerous.

To be safe, Lin Qiao locked the RV doors and didn’t reply to Zhao Chunjun’s message. She placed her phone on the table and resumed reading, waiting for Shen Qingzhou to return as planned.

Shen Qingzhou didn’t stay out long. Whether or not a location contained what he was looking for could be determined with a careful inspection—it didn’t take much time. Locating the site could be complicated, but once he was there, confirming its suitability wasn’t difficult.

He was gone for about an hour, and with travel time included, he was back in about an hour and a half.

When he returned, he found Lin Qiao holding her phone with a troubled expression. As he approached, she handed it to him and said, “Zhao Chunjun is in Zhoushan. He wants to meet us.”