After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

After the exhilarating derby match between Zhejiang University and Zhejiang University.

Lin's parents were extremely satisfied with Yan Yuan, their "future son-in-law."

Lin's mother has now also become a football fan.

For several days in a row, Lin's father walked with a brisk pace, casually mentioning the grand occasion of the competition to everyone he met.

In particular, the fact that he brought in a "nuclear weapon" level foreign aid and played with a Premier League superstar on the field made teachers from other departments extremely envious.

Old Lin, you're showing off way too obviously.

After the excitement subsided, Yan Yuan and Lin Jianwei finally enjoyed their long-awaited time alone together.

Yan Yuan has more than ten days left on his vacation.

Lin Jianwei had long planned a domestic travel route, determined to let her boyfriend, who was away from home for many years, experience the magnificent landscapes and modern vitality of their motherland.

Having lived this long, Yan Yuan has never really explored the country thoroughly.

The young couple's first stop was naturally West Lake, which was nearby.

June is the most poetic and picturesque time of year for West Lake, with pleasant temperatures and stunning scenery.

The lake surface is like a mirror, reflecting the weeping willows on the shore.

In the distance, there are Baochu Pagoda and Leifeng Pagoda, and the Su Causeway and Bai Causeway are shaded by green trees.

In June, although the lotus flowers were not yet in full bloom, the lotus leaves had already covered part of the water surface.

Lin Jianwei was the tour guide today. She took Yan Yuan's arm and they strolled slowly along the Su Causeway.

Pointing to the distant scenery, she recounted the legend of Lady White Snake and Xu Xian, as well as the stories about West Lake told by Su Shi and Bai Juyi, as if they were her own treasures.

Yan Yuan listened intently, gazing at the classical Eastern beauty before him, so different from London's Hyde Park or Regent's Park, and exclaimed in admiration.

"Tsk tsk, I've only ever seen West Lake in postcards and poems before, and it always felt a bit unreal."

Seeing it with my own eyes now, I finally understand what it means to say, "The West Lake is like Xi Shi, beautiful whether lightly or heavily adorned." It's truly breathtaking.

"Oh, the big star can even recite poetry?" Lin Jian joked with a smile.

Yan Yuan said with a smile.

"Absolutely. Even though I grew up in England, I didn't miss out on any traditional Chinese cultural education. My dad taught me all of that when I was little, and he really did write good poems."

Then, the two rented a small boat and went boating on the lake.

The boatman slowly rowed the boat at the stern, and the small boat cut through the blue waves, swaying between the lake and the mountains.

Yan Yuan leaned back against the side of the boat, feeling the gentle breeze on his face. Looking at Xiao Lin, who was smiling sweetly beside him, he felt that the busyness and the smoke of the competition had faded away, leaving only the tranquility and beauty of the moment.

"It's so comfortable here..." he said sincerely. "The weather in Hangzhou is so much better than in London, and the pace of life is so slow. It's such a great place to live."

It is through comparison that we feel hurt.

Hangzhou's livability ranks highly not only domestically but also globally.

In terms of livability, London takes a slight backseat.

"Can we come back to stay often from now on?" Lin Jianwei leaned on his shoulder and asked softly.

"Sure, we'll go back to China to live after each season. Let's do it next year, then I'll buy an apartment in Hangzhou." Yan Yuan squeezed her hand.

"Hehe, okay, I'll do whatever you say." Lin Jianwei hugged Yan Yuan's arm and rubbed against him.

After we finished boating on the lake, it was already noon, and we were getting hungry.

Lin Jianwei's eyes darted around, a sly glint in them, and a "bad idea" popped into his head.

"Goodness, are you hungry? I know a time-honored restaurant by the lake that serves authentic Hangzhou cuisine, especially a famous dish that you must try when you come to Hangzhou!" Lin Jianwei said mysteriously.

"Oh? What famous dish?" Yan Yuan asked curiously.

"You'll see when we get there! I guarantee you'll be 'impressed'!" Lin Jian smiled like a little fox.

She led Yan Yuan towards a restaurant with antique-style decor, built by the lake.

Lou Wai Lou.

After taking their seats, Lin Jianwei skillfully ordered several dishes:

Longjing Shrimp, Dongpo Pork, Song Sao Fish Soup, Beggar's Chicken...

These dishes were all quite good, although they were a bit pricey, each one had its own unique characteristics.

Yan Yuan ate with great relish.

"It's delicious. It tastes a little different from what you make at home, but it's still very good."

Lin Jian smiled at him, secretly anticipating the main event.

Finally, the last dish was brought out by the waiter.

A whole fish lies in a blue and white porcelain plate, covered with a layer of dark brown, slightly viscous sauce, exuding a unique, sweet and sour aroma with a hint of something indescribable.

"Here it is! West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce!" Lin Jianwei immediately sat up straight, adopting the posture of a gourmet, and began to introduce it in a serious manner.

"Wow, this is Hangzhou's most famous traditional dish, it's a dish served at state banquets!"

This fish is made with grass carp from West Lake. It's starved to remove any muddy taste, then poached in boiling water and drizzled with a carefully prepared sweet and sour sauce. It even tastes like crab meat! Give it a try—it's an absolutely top-notch experience!

Lin Jianwei highly recommends it.

Yan Yuan had no suspicions.

"Is it delicious? Let me try it."

Looking at the famous dish in front of him, he picked up his chopsticks with anticipation, took a large piece of the tenderest part of the fish belly, carefully blew on it, and then put it in his mouth.

For the first second, the tip of your tongue encounters the expected sweet and sour taste.

But then, how to describe the taste?

An indescribable, strong earthy smell and a slightly pungent vinegar acid suddenly burst through the sweet and sour coating, hitting his taste buds directly.

This combination of flavors is a challenge for a professional athlete with a monotonous palate.

The impact was so violent and unexpected!

Yan Yuan's expression froze instantly.

His brows furrowed sharply, forming a deep "川" shape, his eyes widened involuntarily, and his chewing stopped completely.

Yan Yuan's cheek muscles twitched slightly, a struggle between trying hard to maintain politeness and experiencing extreme physical discomfort.

Lin Jianwei was suppressing her laughter and secretly started recording a video on her phone.

"Ugh...!" Yan Yuan let out a short, suppressed groan.

Then, almost instinctively, I quickly grabbed a napkin.

He turned his head to the side and spat out the fish meat in his mouth very quickly, then hurriedly drank a big gulp of water to rinse his mouth.

"Pfft... Hahahahahaha..." Lin Jianwei on the other side couldn't hold back any longer after seeing Yan Yuan's wonderful changes in expression, from anticipation to shock to collapse.

She covered her mouth and laughed so hard she almost fell over, her whole body trembling, and tears were about to stream down her face.

"How is it? Hahaha... Is it delicious? Doesn't it... Doesn't it taste like crab meat? Hahaha..."

Yan Yuan finally caught his breath and looked at Xiao Lin, who was laughing so hard she could hardly breathe. He was both annoyed and amused.

His expression was contorted as he commented in an extremely complex tone, masked by pain.

"This fish... is so useless... I feel like it didn't grow up in West Lake, but was soaked in a vinegar vat. The taste... is too overwhelming. Well, Weiwei, you're waiting for me here, right?"

"Hahaha... I'm sorry..." Lin Jianwei said while wiping away her tears.

"Forgive me, my goodness, I'm really curious about how people from other places eat West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce. But to be honest, there are so few chefs who can make it well these days. The old restaurants I ate at when I was a kid could really make crab-flavored fish, it was so delicious, it's a pity I can't find them now."

Yan Yuan shook his head helplessly and gently pinched her flushed cheeks.

"Alright, Lin Jianwei, you're messing with me, aren't you? Just wait, see how I deal with you when we get back to the hotel tonight!"

Lin Jianwei wasn't afraid at all. Instead, she leaned closer, winked playfully, and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Then Mommy will wait for you to come and clean up, okay..."

After their trip to West Lake, the couple's sweet domestic travel officially began.

……

For the next week, the two embarked on a true "food and shopping" spree.

Like an ordinary young couple, they carried backpacks and traveled to several fun cities in China.

Their first stop was Guangzhou, where they experienced what it truly means to "eat in Guangzhou".

Starting with morning tea, there are shrimp dumplings, siu mai, chicken feet, red rice rolls, custard buns...

The dazzling array of pastries broadened Yan Yuan's horizons.

The young couple wandered among the arcades of the old town, searching for authentic claypot rice and double-skin milk in Shangxiajiu.

At night, the dazzling lights along the Pearl River and the modern light and shadow of the Canton Tower (Guangzhou Tower) illuminate the scene.

This allowed Yan Yuan to experience the vitality and prosperity of China's southern gateway.

Immediately afterwards, they flew to Sanya, a tropical paradise.

Although Yan Yuan has visited many coastal cities.

But the white sand and blue sea of ​​Yalong Bay still amazed him.

The two of them dived into the clear waters of Wuzhizhou Island and took many beautiful underwater photos.

Xiao Yan also tried surfing. Although he plays soccer, his excellent sense of balance allowed him to quickly master the skills and have a great time.

In the evening, the two selected fresh seafood at the seafood market and had it cooked into delicious dishes at the processing shop next door. They enjoyed their meal while feeling the sea breeze.

After spending two days in Guangzhou, they moved from the tropical coast to the inland areas.

In Changsha, they climbed Yuelu Mountain and experienced the cultural atmosphere at Aiwan Pavilion;

At Orange Isle, the young couple also took a photo with the sculpture of their teacher.

Of course, food is also very important.

Yan Yuan was deeply impressed by the retro decor and bustling atmosphere of the lobster restaurant, especially the spicy crayfish, stinky tofu, and sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes...

The spiciness of Hunan cuisine completely won over Yan Yuan's taste buds. Although he was sweating profusely from the spiciness, he never stopped drinking iced beverages.

Yan Yuan's face turned red from eating, and he hissed as he stubbornly continued.

"I...I've never eaten such delicious food in my entire life...wow...it's not spicy..."

"You said it wasn't spicy, but look at you, you're sweating. Let me wipe it for you." Lin Jianwei wiped Yan Yuan's sweat and told him to eat slowly.

"I can handle Shaanxi's chili oil, but the spiciness of Hunan cuisine... it's seriously spicy..."

They then arrived in Chengdu, the food capital.

At the giant panda base, watching the chubby national treasures munching on bamboo, Yan Yuan's heart was almost melted by their cuteness, and he kept taking pictures with his phone.

He rarely sees pandas in Europe.

Top zoos in many countries dream of "renting" a panda, but it is extremely difficult.

Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli Ancient Street are full of the lively atmosphere of everyday life and a leisurely pace of life.

For Xiao Yan, Chengdu's hot pot was another taste experience.

At the hot pot restaurant, under Lin Jianwei's guidance, Yan Yuan carefully cooked tripe, beef aorta, and duck intestines, dipping them in a sesame oil and garlic sauce, experiencing the explosive sensation of numbing spiciness and freshness in his mouth, and praising it repeatedly.

"This is delicious, this is really delicious. Chengdu's spiciness... I can handle it quite well. Although my mouth felt like it had been electrocuted after eating it, it was so satisfying."

During this week-long trip.

Yan Yuan not only tasted delicacies from various places, but also admired the magnificent landscape.

They also deeply appreciated the convenience and efficiency of life in China.

"Weiwei, is it really okay to go out without a wallet in China now?"

Yan Yuan watched as Lin Jianwei easily completed all the payments using only a mobile phone.

I was amazed to find that you can scan a code to buy a bottle of water at tourist attractions, from street stalls to high-end shopping malls.

"Yeah, mobile payment has been fully implemented in China for a long time. How about that? You've broadened your horizons, haven't you?" Lin Jianwei often teased him like this.

In addition to mobile payments.

There are also food delivery robots in restaurants, a super vibrant nightlife, a high-speed rail network that can reach almost anywhere, a clean and punctual subway network, and fast and stable internet speeds...

All of this made Yan Yuan feel that the level of modernization and convenience of life in China's major cities far surpassed that of London, where he usually lived.

Yan Yuan sighed sincerely.

"London's subway system is very extensive, but many facilities are really old, and many places are not very safe at night, especially with a lot of teenagers."

in the country, I feel perfectly safe going out for late-night snacks in the early hours of the morning; the streets are still quite lively.

Hearing her boyfriend's praise, Lin Jianwei felt a little proud.

"Of course. In terms of daily convenience alone, life in China is among the best in the world. Come back and visit more often in the future, and you'll discover even more fun and advanced things."

After returning to the hotel.

Lin Jianwei nestled in Yan Yuan's arms.

The two looked through countless photos and videos they had taken over the past few days on their phones, each one capturing their smiles and sweetness.

Yan Yuan flipped through the photo album while making sarcastic remarks.

"Oh my god, Weiwei... we went on a trip together, and you kept all my embarrassing photos...?"

"What business is it of yours if I take pictures of my boyfriend? Go ahead and take pictures... Ouch..."

After their sweet moment, the two drifted off to sleep.

Their next stop was Xi'an, Yan Yuan's hometown.