Chapter 66:

Getting married is undoubtedly a joyful occasion, but it can also be exhausting. Lin Qiao was so worn out from the wedding preparations that she couldn’t recover for several days. It might also have been due to her pregnancy, which made her more prone to fatigue. She felt drowsy all the time and rested at home for three or four days before finally joining Shen Qingzhou on their honeymoon.

At first, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou had differing opinions about where to go for their honeymoon. Previously, Shen had a client named Xu Boqin, who wanted to find a favorable burial site. The last time Shen went to inspect the site for Xu, he fell into a hole due to an unexpected incident involving Lin Qiao, and the matter was eventually dropped. Du Xinling simply informed Xu that the location wasn’t suitable, but even now, no definitive answer had been given.

This apparent delay frustrated Xu Boqin, who expressed his dissatisfaction—after all, he had already paid a deposit. It was only natural that no one could feel at ease with Shen Qingzhou dragging his feet on the matter.

Lin Qiao felt that since Mr. Xu had still sent a generous wedding gift despite his frustration, they shouldn’t act irresponsibly. She suggested they go check out the burial site and make it part of their honeymoon. Since her health wouldn’t allow for long-distance travel, this seemed like a perfect solution.

Shen Qingzhou, however, held the opposite view. He would rather charter a private jet and take her somewhere unforgettable rather than spend their once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon on a grave inspection.

After a few days of disagreement, they compromised: they would go on a road trip in an RV, going wherever the road took them.

The RV they used wasn’t bought on a whim. Lin Qiao had always known Shen Qingzhou was wealthy, though she never really grasped the extent of his wealth. He owned many cars, and this RV, though not brand new, was a high-end model recently released this year.

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

As the weather grew colder and the year drew to a close, Shen Qingzhou wouldn’t feel hot walking the streets in a suit anymore. However, 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,” Shen Qingzhou replied without looking up, busying himself with organizing things. “Go lie down for a bit. I’ll wake you when we get there.”

Although marriage is a joyous occasion, it can also be incredibly exhausting. Lin Qiao was worn out by the wedding preparations and took several days to recover—perhaps because she was pregnant and more prone to fatigue. In any case, she felt constantly drowsy and rested at home for three or four days before setting off on her honeymoon with Shen Qingzhou.

The honeymoon itself initially became a point of disagreement between them. Shen Qingzhou had a client named Xu Boqin who had asked him to locate an auspicious burial site. During his last visit to survey the site, Shen had fallen into a pit because of Lin Qiao, and the matter had been left unresolved ever since. Du Xinling had merely informed Xu Boqin that the site was unsuitable and had yet to provide a definitive answer.

Understandably, Xu Boqin was dissatisfied with this拖延的办事效率 (delayed efficiency). After all, he had already paid a deposit, and Shen’s procrastination left him uneasy.

Lin Qiao felt that since Mr. Xu had still generously gifted them a substantial amount of money for their wedding, it wouldn’t be right to treat him poorly. She suggested they simply visit the site and combine it with their honeymoon. Given that her physical condition wasn’t suited for long trips, this arrangement seemed perfect.

Shen Qingzhou, however, disagreed entirely. He would rather charter a plane and take her to an unforgettable destination for their honeymoon than hastily combine it with work.

They were deadlocked for a few days due to their differing opinions, but eventually compromised by deciding to go on a road trip in a RV, letting the journey take them wherever it may.

The RV they used wasn’t purchased specifically for this trip. Lin Qiao had always known Shen Qingzhou was wealthy, but she never had a clear idea of the extent of his assets. He owned many vehicles, and although this luxurious RV wasn’t brand new, it was a recently released model and clearly expensive.

“Why did you buy an RV?” Lin Qiao asked, looking around the interior curiously.

The weather was growing colder, and the end of the year was approaching. Though Shen Qingzhou could still wear a suit without feeling too warm, he had recently opted for a more casual style—a white shirt paired with a beige trench coat that complemented the color of Lin Qiao’s jacket.

“For unexpected needs,” Shen Qingzhou replied without turning around, organizing his belongings. “Go lie down for a while. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Lin Qiao, holding a tablet, glanced at the sky outside the window and agreed. “Alright.”

It was 5:00 in the evening. They had set off from Beijing and were heading toward Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province—a prefecture-level city built across islands, and their destination.

Zhoushan is composed of 1,390 islands and is renowned as the “Fish Reservoir of the East Sea” and the “Fishing Capital of China.” Its proximity to the coast was the main reason Lin Qiao had chosen it. She loved the ocean but disliked the murky waters near Beijing. Since Shen Qingzhou had no interest in going to Sanya or Qingdao, they settled on Zhoushan.

It wasn’t that Shen Qingzhou disliked Sanya, Qingdao, or other coastal cities—he chose Zhoushan largely because it held what he was looking for. He had taken Lin Qiao’s words to heart. Though he often spoke dismissively of clients, he wasn’t entirely irresponsible. Since they were already traveling, he figured he might as well get the work done.

Lin Qiao lay down for about half an hour but eventually grew restless and made her way to the driver’s seat. She grabbed two canned drinks from the fridge and handed one to Shen Qingzhou after opening it for him.

Shen Qingzhou took a sip and placed it aside, saying politely, “Thank you.”

Lin Qiao smiled. “No need to be so formal with me.”

Shen Qingzhou glanced at her, his expression soft. The evening light cast a gentle glow on his features, making him resemble an ancient painting illuminated by candlelight—his Eastern classical beauty exceptionally refined.

“How long until we reach Zhoushan?” Lin Qiao asked lazily from the passenger seat.

Shen Qingzhou answered without hesitation, “It’s about 1,500 kilometers from Beijing to Zhoushan. At our current speed, it’ll take around 15 hours. If my calculations are correct, the toll fees along the way should amount to 730 yuan.”

Lin Qiao was momentarily stunned by his detailed response but then felt it was typical of him. He always had everything planned out, leaving her with nothing to worry about. She loved this feeling of ease.

“You’re amazing, honey,” she praised, looking at him with admiration.

Shen Qingzhou gave her a peculiar look and said dryly, “Is that really so impressive? You could’ve just downloaded an app.”

“…Never mind,” Lin Qiao muttered. *So unromantic.*

Their journey to Zhoushan was leisurely, with stops along the way. Since Shen Qingzhou was the only one driving, he needed breaks—it was impossible to drive for 15 hours straight. They arrived in Zhoushan on the afternoon of the third day.

Parking near Putuo Mountain, Shen Qingzhou turned off the engine and went to freshen up. He looked tired and occasionally massaged his lower back as he walked.

“Is your back sore from driving for so long?” Lin Qiao asked worriedly.

“A little,” he admitted without turning around. “I rarely drive such long distances myself.”

Lin Qiao glanced at her belly. “I could actually help drive part of the way, but you’d have to give me directions.”

Shen Qingzhou immediately turned to her, his tone stern. “Don’t be reckless.”

Lin Qiao pouted. “You’re overestimating how fragile I am. Pregnant women aren’t that delicate.”

“I know pregnant women aren’t that fragile,” he replied, his voice fading as he walked away, “but you, as a pregnant woman, are.” Perhaps anticipating her反驳 (retort), he added from a distance, “That’s how I see it.”

Lin Qiao sighed and didn’t argue further. As the head of the household, he had the final say. She would listen to him.

After a short rest, Shen Qingzhou prepared dinner. They ate in the RV and then stepped out to enjoy the night.

Near Putuo Mountain, the sea breeze was chilly. Shen Qingzhou had draped a thick black overcoat—clearly his—over Lin Qiao’s shoulders before they exited.

Seeing Shen Qingzhou in his thin trench coat, Lin Qiao asked concernedly, “Aren’t you cold? It’s already November, and we’re at the seaside. Isn’t that a bit silly?”

Shen Qingzhou shot her a look that, though wordless, clearly conveyed his disdain—as if to say, *This was your idea.*

Feeling slightly irritated—a common occurrence during her pregnancy, something Shen Qingzhou was well aware of—Lin Qiao was about to react when he quickly changed the subject. “Do you want to go up the mountain and pay respects?”

Lin Qiao squinted at the faint outline of the Guanyin statue in the distance and shook her head. “It’s getting dark early. Let’s go tomorrow. You should take care of your work today.”

Shen Qingzhou nodded but after a moment of thought said, “The path is rough. You’re pregnant—better wait for me here.”

Lin Qiao looked at the path he intended to take. It was indeed uneven, densely wooded, and poorly lit. Though Shen Qingzhou carried a toolkit with a compass and flashlight, she felt apprehensive.

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

The sky still held a deep blue hue, not completely dark yet. Shen Qingzhou wanted to finish his task quickly so he could focus on accompanying her.

“I know. Go back inside,” he said softly, turning her around.

Lin Qiao didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she took off the black overcoat and handed it to him. “Wear this. Give me your trench coat—it looks cold.”

Shen Qingzhou didn’t refuse. He took off his trench coat, handed it to her, and put on the heavier overcoat.

Lin Qiao straightened his collar for him. Shen Qingzhou looked down at her, the sea breeze tousling the hair at her temples. Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, murmuring, “This is nice.”

*This is nice?* What did he mean? There was no need to explain—both of them understood.

Lin Qiao smiled gently, waved, and said softly, “Bye. I’ll be waiting.”

Shen Qingzhou patted her head, slung his toolkit over his shoulder, and left. His tall figure soon disappeared into the growing darkness. Night was falling rapidly.

Exhaling to warm her hands, Lin Qiao put on Shen Qingzhou’s trench coat and returned to the RV, supporting her lower back. She had just settled onto the bed and picked up a book when her phone buzzed with a text.

Her first thought was that it was from her father, but they had already informed him of their arrival in Zhoushan. So who could it be?

Picking up her phone, she saw an unfamiliar number. The message read: “Welcome to Zhoushan.” It seemed like something a mobile company might send, but the signature at the end sent a chill down her spine.

The message was from Zhao Chunjun, and it ended with a smiley face. 🙂

What did he mean? *Welcome to Zhoushan?* Was he here too? How did he know they were here?

This man was like a ghost, always haunting them!

Though filled with questions, Lin Qiao didn’t want to disturb Shen Qingzhou’s work. It was getting late, and any delay would only make him rush, which could be dangerous.

To ensure everything was secure, she locked all the doors of the RV. She didn’t reply to Zhao Chunjun’s message, leaving her phone on the table untouched. She continued reading her book as planned, waiting for Shen Qingzhou’s return.

Shen Qingzhou didn’t stay out long. Determining whether a site had what he needed didn’t take much time—the challenge was finding the location itself. He returned to the RV after about an hour and a half, including travel time.

When he came back, he found Lin Qiao looking pale and holding her phone. She handed it to him and said, “Zhao Chunjun is in Zhoushan. He wants to meet us.”

It was five in the evening. They had just left Beijing and were heading toward Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province—their destination, one of only two Chinese prefecture-level cities established on a group of islands.

Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province consists of 1,390 islands, known as the “East China Sea Fishery Granary” and the “Chinese Fishing Capital.” The fact that it was close to the coast was the main reason Lin Qiao had chosen it—she loved the sea but disliked the murky waters near Beijing. Since Shen Qingzhou had no interest in going to Sanya or Qingdao either, they had settled on Zhoushan.

It wasn’t that Shen Qingzhou disliked coastal cities like Sanya or Qingdao. He had chosen Zhoushan mostly because there was something here he needed to find. Although he often spoke with disdain for his clients, he had actually listened to Lin Qiao’s suggestion. Deep down, he wasn’t entirely irresponsible. Since they were already heading out, he might as well take care of business along the way.

After lying down for about half an hour, Lin Qiao got up feeling bored and wandered 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, then placed it aside politely. “Thanks.”

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

He glanced at her, his gaze soft. The last rays of the sun illuminated his face, casting a gentle glow over his features. His refined, classical Eastern beauty resembled an ancient painting lit by candlelight.

“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, it’s 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 be around 730 yuan.”

Lin Qiao stared at him in astonishment. She found it both surprising and somehow expected. He always took care of everything, never leaving anything to chance. All she had to do was follow him. She loved this feeling of complete peace of mind.

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

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

“…Never mind what I said,” she muttered. What an unromantic man.

On their way to Zhoushan, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou took their time, stopping whenever they wanted to explore. Since Shen was the only one who could drive, and he also needed rest, they didn’t rush. As a result, they didn’t arrive in Zhoushan until the afternoon of the third day.

They parked the RV near Putuo Mountain. Shen Qingzhou went to wash up and brush his teeth. He looked tired, occasionally pressing on his waist as he walked.

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

Without turning around, Shen Qingzhou replied, a hint of fatigue in his voice, “A little. I haven’t driven this long by myself in a while.”

Lin Qiao looked at her belly and said, “Actually, I could help drive for a bit, but you’d have to tell me the way.”

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

Lin Qiao pouted. “You think I’m too fragile. Pregnant women aren’t that delicate, you know.”

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

Lin Qiao sighed and didn’t argue further. After all, he was the head of the household, and she should just listen to him.

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

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

Looking at Shen Qingzhou, who was only wearing a thin coat, she asked with concern, “Aren’t you cold? It’s November already. Coming to the seaside this late feels kind of reckless.”

He gave her a sidelong glance. He didn’t say anything, but she could tell he was mocking her. The message was clear: It was her idea to come to the seaside in the first place.

Feeling a bit resentful, Lin Qiao said, “I was just asking. Do you want to go up the mountain and pay respects?”

Lin Qiao squinted at the distant silhouette of the Guanyin statue and shook her head. “It’s getting dark too early. Let’s go tomorrow during the day. Tonight, let’s focus on your work.”

Shen Qingzhou nodded, then hesitated before saying, “The path is rough. You’re pregnant. Maybe it’s better if you wait here.”

Lin Qiao looked at the path he intended to take. It was indeed uneven, with dense trees and cold sea wind. The dim light made visibility difficult. Although Shen Qingzhou carried a tool bag with his compass and flashlight, Lin Qiao still hesitated.

“Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll wait in the RV. Come back early. Don’t wander far once it gets dark.”

The sky still had a deep blue hue at the horizon, not fully dark yet. Shen Qingzhou wanted to finish his business quickly so he could fully enjoy the trip with her.

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

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

Shen Qingzhou didn’t refuse. He obediently took off his coat and handed it to her, then put on the thicker coat.

Lin Qiao adjusted his collar. Shen Qingzhou looked down at her as the sea wind blew strands of her hair across her face. Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, his voice low. “This is really nice.”

What did he mean by “this is really nice”? The meaning was left unspoken, but both understood.

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

Shen Qingzhou patted her head, then walked away with his tool bag slung over one shoulder. His tall, slender figure quickly disappeared into the shadows as the night deepened.

Lin Qiao exhaled into her hands to warm them before wrapping Shen Qingzhou’s coat around herself and heading back to the RV. She had just sat down on the bed, intending to read a book, when her phone suddenly 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 could it be?

Curious, Lin Qiao picked up her phone. The message was from an unfamiliar number. It read: “Welcome to Zhoushan City.” At first glance, it looked like a message from the mobile company, but the sender’s name made her blood run cold.

It was from Zhao Chunjun. At the end of the message, he added a smiley face:)

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

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

Lin Qiao was deeply puzzled but didn’t want to disturb Shen Qingzhou’s work. It was already getting late, and the longer she delayed him, the more behind he would be, which could be dangerous.

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

Shen Qingzhou didn’t stay out long. Whether a location contained what he was looking for could usually be determined quickly. It took more time to find the right location than to confirm whether it had what he needed.

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

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