Chapter 250: Mountain Whispers and Hidden Desires

Lin Zheng Ran got up and left, with Han Wenwen watching him go, her eyes full of reluctance.

Alone now, she slumped onto the toilet seat, utterly exhausted.

After a moment of quiet,

she pulled out the unopened pack of tissues she’d taken from the hotel, her slender fingers gently tearing the seal.

Biting her lip,

she used the tissue to carefully wipe up the water stains on the floor.

Once that was done, she wiped it again, still not satisfied, then wrapped the used tissues in fresh ones.

Finally, she tossed them into the bathroom trash bin.

She lifted the toilet lid and let out a long sigh.

With a seductive glint in her eyes fixed on the floor, her voice soft and drifting, “It’s not enough. I need to have Brother Zheng Ran completely. He’s mine, Wenwen’s.”

Meanwhile, Heqing left the restroom and returned to the hotel room, peeking in with a cute, curious face at Lily curled up on the bed, scrolling through her phone.

“Lily, has Lin Zheng Ran come back yet?”

Lily replied, “Not yet. How’s Han Wenwen? Was her stomach hurting badly?”

Heqing opened the door and called out, “She said it’s nothing serious, just taking some medicine for now. If it doesn’t help, we’ll go to the hospital. I’m heading downstairs to find Lin Zheng Ran—he’s taking forever.”

Hearing Heqing mention going after Lin Zheng Ran, Lily jumped up instinctively, her curiosity piqued about what that guy was up to. “Wait for me! I’m coming too!”

But as soon as she stood, her phone rang.

Lily saw it was Wang Lan from Zheng Shi Music calling and answered, puzzled, “Hey, Zhang Jie?”

Wang Lan said over the phone, “Hey, Lily? Got a minute? There’s something at the company that needs your input—I just sent it over.”

Lily responded, “I’m not busy. What is it?”

“Remember how you won that New Star award and got qualified for the Magic Capital music candidate program? They’ve reached out recently, and once you fill out this form, you’re in for this year’s competition.”

Lily lit up with excitement: “Really?! I can join the music candidate competition?”

The music candidate event was the biggest national music competition, where countless stars launched their careers and skyrocketed to fame. Though Lily had some buzz in the music world, she wasn’t a household name yet.

This was her golden chance to break through.

“Great! I’ll fill it out right now!”

Heqing, standing in the doorway, saw Lily’s thrilled expression and whispered, “What’s going on?”

Lily hung up and bounced off the bed in joy, her golden twin tails swinging wildly: “Heqing, I get to enter the music candidate competition! I need to fill out the form fast and tell Zheng Ran the good news!”

Heqing had watched the music candidate show before and knew how hugely popular it was in the country.

She shared the excitement: “Really? You’ll be a star for sure!”

Lily blushed, one hand rubbing the back of her head with a shy grin: “We haven’t even competed yet, so who knows if I’ll make it big? Hehe.”

Heqing encouraged her: “You will! Especially if Lin Zheng Ran gives you some tips. Congrats! So… are you still coming with me to find him downstairs?”

Lily glanced at the form on her phone: “I have to fill this entry form first. You go ahead, Heqing—I’ll catch up once I’m done.”

Heqing watched her eagerly tapping away on the bed like an excited duck.

She was genuinely happy for her.

So, without interrupting, she quietly closed the door and headed downstairs to find Lin Zheng Ran.

Muttering to herself, “The music candidate— that’s huge. I need to step up too, join some competitions and earn my own money. Can’t just spend Lin Zheng Ran’s cash; I want him to spend mine someday. Once I’m in university, I’ll start practicing.”

Heqing stepped into the first floor hall and spotted Lin Zheng Ran on the sofa, flipping through what looked like a shopping guide magazine.

He seemed to have been there a while, though he’d only just arrived.

Seeing him, she hurried over with a smile: “Lin Zheng Ran!”

Lin Zheng Ran looked up at Heqing: “What brings you here?”

Heqing stopped beside him: “You’ve been out for ages and haven’t come back. What are you up to?”

“Just checking out tourist spots.”

“So many on this mountain? It’ll take forever. I didn’t think Lin Mountain was that famous.”

Lin Zheng Ran gestured for Heqing to sit, and she glanced at the front desk before settling in next to him.

Lin Zheng Ran pointed to the first spot in the book, something he’d just found.

“We’re timing this trip perfectly. Apparently, in a few days, you can see a stunning meteor shower from the mountaintop. Lots of people come for that.”

“A meteor shower?!”

Heqing grabbed the book and stared at the promotional image of stars streaking across the sky.

Surprised, she said, “It’s real! So pretty. And it’s in three days—that means we can catch it!”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded and continued,

“I asked the front desk about good picnic spots too. They told me some places for barbecues once the rain stops.”

“Sounds fun!”

As she flipped through the guide with delight, she spotted the indoor hot springs and asked Lin Zheng Ran softly, “By the way, where are the hotel’s hot springs? When can we go soak?”

“I haven’t asked about that.” He turned and called out to the clerk nearby: “Excuse me, where are the hot springs in this hotel?”

The clerk at the front desk answered, “The hot springs are one of our highlights, located in the backyard. We have two types: public ones that are separated by gender and cheaper, but crowded; and private ones that are quiet and undisturbed.”

Heqing’s face flushed at the mention of private hot springs.

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t hesitate: “How many can the private hot spring hold?”

The clerk said, “Five or six people easily. I recall you two are in a four-person room?”

The clerk remembered handsome guys like Lin Zheng Ran well, especially with three beautiful girls in tow.

She added, “If price isn’t an issue, I’d recommend the private one—it’s way more relaxing.”

Lin Zheng Ran decided: “We’ll go with private.”

Heqing glanced at him, her cheeks red, staying silent.

The clerk checked the computer: “Okay, today’s slots are full. I can book you for tomorrow evening. Please pay here.”

Lin Zheng Ran stood to handle the payment, while Heqing thought about the private hot spring…

That meant no separation between guys and girls.

How embarrassing.

The rain in the mountains had eased to just a light sprinkle.

Lin Zheng Ran and Heqing didn’t linger on the sofa, as they found a better spot to watch the rain.

It was near the hotel entrance by a small floor-to-ceiling window with steps to sit on and a vending machine nearby.

Though pricey and with water available at the front desk, no one bothered with it.

Heqing had discovered this spot while Lin Zheng Ran was paying; she noticed the machine and wandered over, then realized it offered a perfect view of the undeveloped, rain-soaked forests and distant mountains.

She called Lin Zheng Ran to join her.

He arrived and was amazed; they stood by the window together, gazing into the distance.

Heqing leaned against the window, her voice soft and adorable: “It’s so beautiful.”

By chance, a small roll of white silk stockings slipped from her jacket pocket.