Sunken Fish - Chapter 33
Back at the hotel, Benny kept making phone calls in his room, arranging things for his trip to the Kingdom of Lanna ahead of schedule.
While he was on the phone, I had to chime in: For a long time, very few Americans have entered the Kingdom of Lanna from China, but I had made all the arrangements beforehand, which is my proudest achievement of this trip.
When I last came here to investigate, I met an excellent tour guide, a handsome guy from the Lanna Kingdom Tourism Company. If I wanted to change the itinerary, he would initially say no, but then he would say, "Let me think about what to do."
When I told him I was going to bring a group of people to fly into the Kingdom of Lanna from China, he said it might require special arrangements because there seemed to be no precedent for it.
A few months before our trip began, he wrote to tell me that everything was arranged. It was indeed very complicated, but he had contacted the checkpoints, the Lanna Tourism Board headquarters, travel agencies, and customs. It was difficult to set a specific date, but everyone said Christmas was possible. He would contact me at the hotel as soon as we arrived in China. I was happy to give him a very special Christmas gift, and he was very excited to hear the news.
But Benny knew nothing of this. Now that I'm a ghost, what can I do for them?
The night is alluring
Lijiang, the night is enchanting.
After deciding to change his plans, Beryl suggested a walk "in the moonlight" with Jumarin. Although there was no moonlight that night, she accepted the romantic invitation. She assumed Esme and her dog were already asleep.
The nights in Lijiang are no longer those of a quiet ancient town. Tourists have terrified their ancestors and the tranquility of the city. Many foreigners and tourists from coastal China wander the narrow streets all night, making a lot of noise.
She and Beryl avoided the bars on the street and turned into a dark alley. Jumarin suddenly felt nervous and excited, and he put his arm around her so she could lean on it.
"Anything can be dangerous on a dark sidewalk."
The word "danger" he spoke of made her shudder.
Jumarin longed to be swept away by love, to be drowned in its river. But before she sank, she still wanted to grab onto a lifebuoy.
He didn't want to appear too assertive or too serious. Finally, he made his decision, vaguely telling her that he had fallen in love: "Marlene, darling?"
"Um?"
"I think I really like you."
Marlene tried her best to calm herself. "Like?" What does that mean? You can like flowers, you can like grass, you can like anything. What does his "like" mean?
"It would be even cuter if I could kiss you."
He spoke gently, his eyes drawing near her face.
Marlene was puzzled. Lovely? Sunsets are lovely, but sunrises—before she could even refuse, he was already kissing her.
Aside from being a little nervous, they all felt very happy, wonderful, and natural.
Soon, however, another longing arose. Liking turned into doting, growing stronger with each passing minute, and all of this happened in the alleys of Lijiang.
"Let's go back to the hotel," said Berliley with satisfaction.
On the way back, Marlene regained her senses: "I should check on Esme first. Oh God, what am I going to tell her?"