The staff at the resort entrance saw them from afar and came to greet them with umbrellas, but they only walked a few steps out and only brought one extra umbrella.
Yan Sui took the umbrella, wrapped his arm around Meng Ting, and pulled Li Lan by the arm, leading them through the pouring rain all the way to the lobby. Only then did he let go of the person.
He put the umbrella aside and the staff brought two towels. Yan Sui tossed one to Li Lan and immediately covered Meng Ting’s head with the other one, saying, “Have you forgotten? You can’t get sick either.”
Yan Sui’s tone was somewhat anxious. He still had a vivid memory of the last time Meng Ting got sick after being caught in the rain. The pain and worry he felt then were something he didn’t want to experience again. Meng Ting’s gesture of offering the towel to Yan Sui also came to a halt.
He obediently stood there to let Yan Sui wipe him down, but he also spoke to the person over there, “I need another towel.”
Clearly, there are three people, but they only sent two. Are they bullying Li Lan just because he’s short and pretending not to see him? Meng Ting was anxious and a bit angry at the same time.
Another towel was brought over, and Meng Ting immediately draped it over Yan Sui.
From the moment Meng Ting covered him with Yan Sui’s suit, Li Lan felt a bit dazed. Later, he was dragged away, and now being brought to the lobby, he still felt dazed—not from the rain, but because his heart suddenly felt blocked and dazed.
He was a bit inclined to leave, but it was still raining outside, and he still hadn’t gotten the answers he wanted from Yan Sui and Meng Ting.
Yan Sui let Meng Ting sit on the sofa while he went over there to book a room. Since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, he naturally did not make a reservation in advance. However, he had been here before, and the lobby manager was stunned for just a moment before recognizing Yan Sui. After that, all the procedures were easy to handle.
On this side, Meng Ting pulled down the towel covering his head. Seeing Li Lan silent and not speaking, he reached out and gently patted his shoulder, “It’s okay, even though it’s raining, it’s okay.”
The answer he wants, Yan Sui would still be willing to tell him, Meng Ting was very sure of this.
Li Lan lowered his head and rubbed his eyes thoroughly before looking up at the person. His gaze was somewhat fierce, but Meng Ting’s eyes were too clear and too clean, without any mockery or sympathy. He couldn’t lose his temper even if he wanted to, not to mention that he didn’t have much temper to lose. He couldn’t just be rude to someone who was good to him for no reason, could he?
He stammered and couldn’t say much, then Meng Ting pulled him over, and they sat together waiting for Yan Sui.
“Wipe yourself, don’t get sick.”
Li Lan nodded. He really didn’t dare to get sick. If he got sick, his grandfather would worry and the family would have to spend money. Meng Ting was right. But Meng Ting seemed to be a completely different kind of person from him, so how could he understand his thoughts so well?
Li Lan was wiping his hair carelessly while thinking about it. Meng Ting also wiped his hair obediently. His coat was completely wet, so he didn’t put it back on. As he looked around, he could only see Yan Sui’s back.
Yan Sui grabbed the towel draped over him, but in fact, his hair and shirt were both soaked, and the outline of his body could still be faintly seen through the water stains. Yan Sui’s physique was undoubtedly very good, with slight hint of color that was quite appealing.
Meng Ting’s gaze suddenly swept around, and sure enough, he saw quite a few staff members blushing and staring in amazement at Yan Sui. Some of the tourists who were originally sitting in the lobby also turned their eyes towards Yan Sui. Meng Ting’s eyes widened slightly; it was hard to say whether he was happy or not, but he definitely felt uncomfortable.
Li Lan also followed Meng Ting’s gaze and looked around before returning his attention to Meng Ting. He was much calmer than Meng Ting, “You’re much better looking than them. Only a blind person would look at someone else.”
He could tell that Yan Sui and Meng Ting had a very good relationship; they weren’t the kind of couple or married couple who appeared to be together but were actually distant, or who would cheat on each other at will.
Meng Ting’s expression of concern did not fade upon hearing this; he firmly stated, “Yan Sui is mine, I don’t want to show him to anyone else.”
He glanced at Li Lan and said, “You haven’t liked anyone yet, you wouldn’t understand.”
“It’s always played on TV, why don’t I understand it?” Li Lan muttered softly. He turned his head to look outside; the lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and the rain was still pouring heavily. He wanted to leave but couldn’t for the time being, so he sat back a bit further inside and settled down to wait for the rain to stop.
“Kid, didn’t I tell you before that we don’t hire child laborers here? Why are you back again?” A man in a suit and work clothes, who was originally just passing by them, suddenly stopped, turned around, widened his eyes, and put on a stern face.
Li Lan snorted and didn’t respond. If it weren’t for the rain, if it weren’t for being dragged in by Yan Sui earlier, he actually didn’t want to come in.
That man, seeing Li Lan’s still arrogant attitude, was about to come over and drag him out. However, Meng Ting, who was standing beside Li Lan, lifted his foot and directly kicked him back two steps. His hand once again rested on Li Lan’s shoulder, and his gaze sharpened by two degrees.
“I brought him here, so what?”
The man wasn’t actually injured, but he was startled. Meng Ting’s move was too sudden and seemed to be very skillful. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Which room are you staying in?”
“What which room…” Meng Ting returned this question. Yan Sui was still handling things over there, so who knew which room it was?
Before Meng Ting could finish speaking, the fake smile on the person’s face vanished, no longer hiding his true expression. He was so angry that he laughed, “You’re not our guest, and you even brought in a little thief. How dare you lay a hand on this young master!”
“I didn’t steal your stuff!” Li Lan’s face also turned ugly upon hearing this. If Meng Ting’s hand wasn’t still pressing on his shoulder, he would have probably rushed forward to fight him. He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with fierce hostility.
“Dong Fei, I’ll say it again, that thing was given to me by an old man, I didn’t steal it!”
Lijia Village is so close to this resort, and Li Lan is determined to earn money to pay for his grandfather’s medical treatment, so he definitely won’t forget this place. Originally, it was fine; the resort staff were unwilling to take him in, but occasionally, when he came with others, they were willing to let him in.
But it was this person in front of him, who, one day before leaving, wanted to search him. Once, twice, he endured it for the sake of finding a way to make money. He helped an old man along the way, and that old man gave him a box of cookies that someone else had given him.
At the door, he was stopped again. Li Lan tried to explain, but this Dong Fei still insisted that he had stolen something. He didn’t even bother to verify with that old man, confiscated the box of cookies, and instructed the guard at the door not to allow him to come again.
Li Lan was also quite hot-tempered; if he hadn’t been dazed just now, he wouldn’t have come in even if it was raining.
That Dong Fei had a face full of malicious smiles, but he also knew to lower his voice a bit, “If I say you are, then you are.”
He straightened up and said, “Please leave, this is a resort that operates for business, not a charity.”
“Dong Fei!” A stern shout came from behind him, startling Dong Fei again. He turned around and the first person he saw was a tall, stern-looking man he didn’t recognize, and then the lobby manager he was familiar with.
The lobby manager was almost driven to death by the director’s son; he was so angry that his voice trembled slightly, “Still, still not apologizing to the esteemed guest!”
How could the person who came with the patriarch of the Yan family be a simple person? Even he was simple, Dong Fei’s words angered the person beside him. Not just Dong Fei, but the entire resort’s management would be implicated.
Yan Sui looked at Dong Fei, but his eyes only briefly glanced at him before he continued walking towards Meng Ting.
The lobby manager immediately called for someone, covering Dong Fei’s mouth who was about to say something in his defense, and then took him away.
“Wait,” Meng Ting held Yan Sui’s hand, but his gaze remained fixed on Dong Fei. He spoke simply, “Apologize.”
However, this Dong Fei had long been spoiled, and upon hearing those words, his face showed even more shame and anger, and he started to struggle with his hands and feet. The lobby manager quickly leaned in and whispered in his ear, then gave his hand a hard tug. Only then did Dong Fei gradually come to his senses, and his face began to turn pale.
He bullied a little brat he didn’t like, but didn’t expect to kick an iron plate, and the kind that could cost him his life at that.
“Yes, I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”
Meng Ting, upon hearing this, patted Li Lan on the shoulder, “And him, he didn’t steal your things.”
Li Lan stood up, his gaze still somewhat fierce, but his legs were slightly trembling. He was still a bit scared; the shadow of Dong Fei, who had left him speechless, lingered in his heart until this moment.
But at this moment, Yan Sui and Meng Ting were both behind him, clearly supporting him. He straightened his back a little more and emphasized, “Apologize.”
“I’m sorry, it’s me… who got it wrong.” Li Lan spoke with some difficulty, but under Yan Sui’s gaze, he couldn’t help but speak.
After he finished speaking, he slightly raised his gaze to look at Yan Sui, pleading for forgiveness. However, Yan Sui only gave him one word, “Get lost.”
“Please rest your anger, esteemed guests. Dong Fei… I will definitely report this to the chairman and make sure he doesn’t get in your way.”
Yan Sui did not react to the lobby manager’s words. He stood up, then pulled Meng Ting up, and grabbed Li Lan’s arm again, heading towards the elevator in the lobby.
The lobby manager hurriedly followed, and until he escorted them to the suite door. He was arrogant at first but respectful later, drenched in cold sweat, a mix of reverence and fear, which truly opened Li Lan’s eyes.
[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 057.1″]
貌合神離 (mào hé shén lí): the appearance of unity, but divided at heart (idiom); seeming harmony belies underlying disagreement; to appear united or intimate but in reality have different thoughts; (of two persons or parties) be seemingly in harmony, but actually of two minds; be apparently of one accord but divided in heart; be seemingly in agreement, but actually at odds.一口咬定 (yī kǒu yǎo dìng): to assert resolutely and stick to one’s statement; to arbitrarily assert; to allege; to cling to one’s view; assert categorically; accuse definitely; to hold on to something and not let it go. It is a metaphor for sticking to one’s opinion and not changing it.
前倨後恭 (qián jù hòu gōng): to change from arrogance to humility (describing behaviour of snobbish people); to switch from arrogance to deference (idiom); being arrogant first and then servile; from haughty to humble; from disdainful to deferential; from proud to obsequious; Quoted from Su Qin, where he was ridiculng his sister-in-law for her attitude after he became famous: 蘇秦笑謂其嫂曰：「何前倨而後恭也？」, Su Qin smiled and said to his sister-in-law, “Why were you so arrogant in the past but so respectful to me now?”
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