最佳契合 (Perfect Match) – 十九瑶
Chapter 60
Yan Ning was an especially intriguing guest.
According to He An, the majority of the guests who stay at Olive Inn are like busy bees, arriving with a bucketload of plans and beginning to move around the moment they walk through the door. Those that arrive in the morning tend to leave before noon. They have to wait till they have returned from the bars in the evening, having had a good time, before they get to see them again.
Those who are more sophisticated will change into Luotan Town’s cultural attire before leaving, pairing it with a wide-brimmed sun hat, sunglasses, and a canvas bag, and then grab a stack of discount coupons from the small promotional shelf at the front desk.
He An has eventually gotten used to such “travel rules,” though he always thinks something is off.
Yan Ning isn’t like this.
When He An checked him in, he pointed out the row of colorful tourist pamphlets in front of him and said, “You’re here alone. Is there anything specific you’ve decided to do?”
Yan Ning replied with a smile, “Not yet.”
“Then…would you like me to suggest some beautiful places to you?” He An blinked quickly, as if to reveal a fascinating little secret, “There are a few excellent spots in Luotan Town. Not a lot of people know about them. They are authentic and don’t charge you anything.”
“Sure.”
He An leaned over and pulled a few pamphlets from the corner of the display shelf, then said while he was looking, “We’re close to the water here, and on the east coast there is a coral reef that is absolutely stunning. Since every coral in any other sea has lost its color over the years, the remaining corals in Luotan Town are all the more valuable for their relative rarity.”
“After that, on Luotan Mountain, you’ll find a little waterfall. It can be found in the woods north of the Buddhist Temple. In the area, you might spot some wild deer. Humans don’t scare them, so it’s a good place to visit.”
“A flower garden that has been open for many years can also be found in the south of town. It’s known as Little Jo’s. They offer classes on flower gardening every Wednesday, and all you have to pay for are the supplies. I often go there myself.”
As he spoke, Yan Ning maintained a gentle gaze and occasionally nodded in agreement.
He An organized the pamphlet, placed the room key on it, and handed it to Yan Ning with both hands, “Room 207, walk up the courtyard stairs, then turn right to the second room. If you have anything to ask, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time.”
“Thank you.”
Yan Ning took the key but didn’t instantly drag the suitcase away. Instead, he lowered his head, looked at his pants, and asked sweetly, “Tiny friend, would you like to go with me?”
“Linglan?!”
Hurriedly making his way around the counter, He An found the little girl playfully rushing over to grab Yan Ning’s pants. She was circling around, jumping up and down, and her excitement was obvious.
“Oh, sorry!” He quickly picked up Linglan and said, “She wasn’t always like this. She’s scared to be around people. I suppose it’s because you’re being so kind today, so…”
This answer made Yan Ning happy, so he quickly replied, “No need to say sorry. I’m happy that such a charming little girl walked up to me.”
Linglan bit her little finger and twisted it timidly.
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He An thought that it was just a minor thing that happened. Who knows, Linglan may actually be “evil” to Yan Ning.
After lunch, he spent some quiet time in the living room by himself, organizing the guest room check-in list for this week and the expense sheets. Linglan had fun by playing on the carpet while wrapping her arms around Liubailiu’s fat little waist.
After finishing up with the documents, he looked up to see the living room deserted except for Liubailiu, who was soundly asleep.
The child once again snuck off to play in the courtyard without saying anything.
He An put down his paper and pen, got up, and went outside to find Linglan. When he stepped out, the first thing he saw was a warm and inviting scene:
Under the bougainvillea flower stand rested an old rattan chair. Yan Ning sat down on it with a book and a cup of tea in his hand. But his eyes aren’t in the book; instead, he’s watching lovingly across the hydrangea bush at Linglan, who’s crouched down, yanking up a cluster of white flowers, and then holding it high as she walks toward Yan Ning.
“Here, for you.”
Linglan waddled forward on her toes and reached out her arms to give Yan Ning the flowers.
Yan Ning happily accepted them and beamed with joy.
Linglan thought that if he accepted her flowers, he would be her person from now on, so she took it a step further and charmingly asked Yan Ning for a hug. Of course, Yan Ning is more than happy to oblige. He happened to see He An coming out and asked, “Can I hold her?”
“Umm, yes…”
He An was so surprised that he was almost speechless.
Linglan had too many frightening experiences before she was born. She has a natural sense of sensitivity and can detect even the slightest malice. She is naturally suspicious of people she doesn’t know. Besides her three fathers, she never went out of her way to get close to anyone else. Zheng Feiluan spoiled her for over half a year without even getting an embrace in return.
But, today…
First, she goes around and grabs the person’s pant leg. Then, she gives him flowers that she picked herself and asks for a hug. She felt very connected to him.
⋮
With the child’s biological father’s consent in hand, Yan Ning closed the book, delicately laid the white hydrangea on top, set it aside, and then, using both hands, carried Linglan onto the rattan chair.
After that, He An pulled an extra rattan chair and sat into it under the flower shade.
The small courtyard is neat and tidy, and there are birds whistling and flowers falling from time to time.
Liubailiu woke up, hopped out of the living room, walked to the hallway, stretched his muscles and waist, and then rolled over again. He was going to rub up against the pillar, but he rolled down the steps instead, making Linglan giggle.
Yan Ning was already wearing a casual shirt with an open collar, looking happy and at ease. Sitting next to him, He An caught a faint scent of pheromones—a fine, delicate smell that was both calming and peculiar——
He gave it some thought.
It’s an antiquated and rare book that has been smoked with sandalwood and has been left in a corner of the house for a long time. When you open it, the scent of the ink and paper is all that you can smell.
⋮
“Why don’t you go for a walk?” He An asked with curiosity.
Yan Ning leaned back in his rattan chair and said, “I like your small yard better than going to the scenic spots. Taking it easy is perfectly acceptable when on vacation. Coming across a nice place to stay can be relaxing, right?”
“Do you consider this a stay-at-home tour?”
This made Yan Ning laugh and said, “Yes.”
A curious expression crossed his face as he reached out to shake the swing cradle by his side. The cradle was piled high with cream-yellow pillows and blankets, as well as a plush chick that resembled a pom-pom.
Yan Ning was fascinated and wanted to know, “Did you make all these accessories?”
He An nodded, then shook his head before saying, “Yes, but Linglan’s alpha dad built the cradle.”
“Alpha dad?”
“Mm-hmm.” He pointed his hand toward the northern part of town and said, “He’s taking a lot of jobs to make milk money1“Milk money” is any small amount of money that a parent gives to a child to use for different things, like buying snacks or paying for minor expenses.. He left for the film and television city today to work as a part-time photographer, so he won’t be back for dinner until late in the afternoon.”
It turns out… it wasn’t Zheng Feiluan.
Yan Ning lowered his head and smiled, a hint of regret in his eyes.
He admired the young omega. In direct sunlight, his naturally light-colored, curly hair seems slightly brighter. His slender body and quiet personality make him seem like he’s not connected to the world, just like in the picture. He was, in fact, just as smart and reserved as he imagined.
A child with such good character shouldn’t have to do badly in life.
It’s not easy for him.
He An could feel Yan Ning’s gaze fixed on his face. In an effort to hide his embarrassment, he reached out and touched his cheek. Yan Ning smiled at him and said, “You are absolutely lovely.”
“Th-thank you.”
He An’s ears flushed because it was an elder’s direct compliment, which he had never gotten before.
⋮
Few casual conversations are all it takes for two people to get to know each other quickly if they get along well.
Just as the sun began to set and the sky turned dark, He An got a text message from Dai Xiao, informing him that he had finished work and was prepared to head home for dinner. Hearing this, Yan Ning stood up and firmly said, “You wait with Linglan, I’ll cook.”
As a result, Dai Xiao and Cheng Xiu both collapsed that night.
After working all day in the film and television city, Dai Xiao was so hungry that his stomach hurt. When he walked in the evening, he was greeted by an enticing smell of meat simmered in lotus leaves, followed by a table of delicious, green home-cooked dishes. He grabbed the bowl and ate the food right away. When he was done, he put down the bowl and chopsticks and offered Yan Ning a 50% discount on the room rate.
Yan Ning chuckled, then waved his hand, saying, “I appreciate your offer, but young people have it tough when it comes to business. Please just enjoy your meal.”
He also thoughtfully asked them about their eating habits and tastes, and he decided to add two new dishes tomorrow.
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Despite his claim to be on a “stay-at-home tour,” Yan Ning is actually anything but a stay-at-home tourist.
He enjoys taking strolls around town, particularly very early in the morning when he can look at the produce at the farmers market. Every one of the vegetable leaves is soaked to the core. Not long after they were picked, you can still smell the mountain breeze; there are seven or eight live fish of different kinds in the plastic basin, each freshly caught from the mountain stream; the mushrooms are covered in wet mud; and even the tips of the cucumbers have little yellow flowers blooming on them.
Whenever He An had some spare time, like when Cranberry Pastry House was slow and Cheng Xiu could help run the inn, he’d take Linglan and go shopping with Yan Ning.
Yan Ning has been here for four or five days and still hasn’t left Luotan Town.
He An asked him why he didn’t take a look around the surrounding area. He smiled and said it was because Luotan Town was intriguing enough on its own. There are stories everywhere there are people. There are stories that can be heard about a dye jar, a flower basket, a stone mill, a shovel, and so on.
When Yan Ning saw that He An was confused, he began to fill him in on some details, such as where the inscription on the stone bridge came from, some old texts about natural grass dyeing material, and the practice of grinding rice cakes with water before winter begins… All of it was very interesting, and he knew more than He An who lives in Luotan Town.
After asking again, it turned out that he had received a pot of warm tea and a plate of peanuts as a thank you for talking to the town’s elderly residents.
He An became excited, “You’re acting as your own tour guide. No matter where you go, you will never be bored.”
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Halfway through summer, a pond in the town’s southern area becomes a bed of black water chestnuts.
Before the season was over, Yan Ning took He An on a trip after hearing the news from the elderly residents. Ripples cut through the water chestnut flowers as the wooden basin floated like a boat. They got a sack filled with damp water chestnuts. After returning home, they started to peel off the hard shells, revealing an area of delicate chunks that resembled lotus roots. People with a sweet tooth can whip up a snack, while those with a more crisp palate can enjoy it raw.
Still, the original flavor smells like lotus flowers.
It’s only recently that Linglan has learned to eat with adults. She has uneven teeth and a very particular palate. But when she plopped on Yan Ning’s lap and he fed her a single bite at a time, she was extremely well-behaved.
After dinner, Yan Ning carried Linglan with him to play in the small courtyard.
Instantly after he left, two sets of chopsticks reached out and snatched the last water chestnut at the same time. After creating more than a dozen white lines of sauce on the plate, Cheng Xiu hurriedly poked the water chestnut with a chopstick and devoured it, winning the match.
Dai Xiao: “….”
He An chuckled and quietly put the dishes away, thinking about asking Yan Ning for the recipe later.
⋮
After spending a few days with He An, Yan Ning made an almost flawless impression.
While omegas often exude an air of fragility and modesty, Yan Ning exudes an overpowering presence despite his lack of thorns. He will not back down or use subtle methods of oppression, even when confronted by a strong alpha. If you had to pick any words to describe it, “to have an in-depth knowledge of the world” might be it.
Everything is fine, but Uncle Yan appears to be having problems of his own.
On weekdays, greeting calls are occasionally received. He An saw that even Yan Ning, who is normally very nice, would freeze up when he saw the name on the screen. He would politely answer the phone, but his mood was indifferent, and he would only talk for a short time before hanging up.
Who could that be on the other line?
After giving it some thought, He An slowly realized that he would have felt the same way if Zheng Feiluan had called him to say hello six months earlier.
But how’s that even possible?
Wouldn’t Yan Ning’s marriage be perfect for someone as perfect as him?
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Hello, everyone! I just want to make it clear that I won’t be dropping this novel any time soon, even if I don’t have specific dates for updates. Your patience would be really appreciated because I love this story and enjoy working on it so that I can share it with you. Thanks for understanding! <3
Translated and edited by janemoyu (04/27/24)
