I'll wait for you amidst the romance of nature.

Yang Sisi and I, two people with plenty of time to kill, found a shady spot and waited from six to eight. Finally, I couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Are you kidding me? We've waited all this time, where is he?"

"I'm not kidding you. Why don't you go back and take a shower? You look so weak, you're sweating all over just sitting here."

"Stop talking nonsense, where are you sweating?"

Yang Sisi, with a look of disgust, lifted the back of my shirt, letting the wind slip between my clothes and skin, bringing a chilly feeling. Suddenly, I felt exhausted. Fragments of memories from the big city kept flashing through my mind: I was standing in the most dangerous place, watching blankly as a group of people below sounded the horn of the urban offensive, then fell one after another, until all I could see were small, incongruous figures, "dead" behind the dazzling lights and decadence! Meanwhile, the large shopping malls and hotels remained brightly lit, and the wheels of luxury cars continued to crush the humble dust on the road…

The scene was so terrifying that I kept telling myself that I was in Dali... After I calmed down, I lay down on the road made of stones, feeling completely exhausted.

I closed my eyes, imagining myself on the shore of Erhai Lake, and then throwing my unbearable past and troubles into the twenty-meter-deep sea...

When I opened my eyes again, I saw the woman I had rescued on the highway. In that instant, it felt like standing on the banks of the Huangpu River, gazing at half of Shanghai...

The reason I say this is because she has a strong Shanghai vibe, representing the most elite group of people in that city, while I used to live in the opposite direction, feeling extremely insignificant. But I can't deny that after getting to know her up close, she was even more beautiful and moving than when I saw her under the sunset at the observation deck that day.

I'm really not good at describing a woman, but physical and psychological changes don't lie. The woman in front of me is someone I almost never have the chance to meet in real life, so when we met without any preparation, I didn't know how to talk to her or how to greet her.

I now understand: Yang Sisi has been in contact with her all along, and the person who is treating us to dinner tonight is her, probably to thank me for changing her car's spare tire on that rainy night on the highway.

……

She spoke first: "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Uh...it's okay, we're both free anyway."

I smiled at her after I finished speaking, then lit a cigarette to make myself feel more at ease. She returned a faint smile and said, "I left in such a hurry that night. If I hadn't exchanged contact information with Sisi, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to treat you to a meal to express my gratitude."

"It was nothing, don't worry about it too much."

She didn't seem very good at initiating conversations, so after I said that, the conversation died down. Luckily, Yang Sisi was there. She glanced at us and said, "Aren't you going to introduce yourselves first? Otherwise, you can just call each other 'that' or 'this' from now on."

I finally met her gaze, then looked away first and said, "My name is Michael, I'm from Sichuan, and I've been working in Shanghai for a few years."

She nodded and then said after me, "My name is Ye Zhi, and I'm practically a Shanghainese."

I was curious to tell her that she was half Shanghainese, but then I noticed that her features were much more defined than the average woman's, and her skin was whiter, but she didn't completely look like a person of Asian descent, so she was probably of mixed race.

Sure enough, Yang Sisi chimed in, "Ye Zhi's maternal grandmother was British. If I were to guess, she would have one-quarter British blood."

I nodded, then glanced at her again. She stood in the wind, as if she had formed her own world, while ordinary people like me were separated by many obstacles and could only look at her from afar, even though she was really close to me at that moment.

So I imagined another possibility: if Yang Sisi wasn't there, and it was just me alone with her, would I be able to bring her down from her pedestal? Then I could say a few jokes to her and show her my true self.

Actually, this idea is quite boring, because I'm really not good at dealing with this type of woman. If Yang Sisi hadn't interfered, it would have been even more awkward.

……

That night, I became an exceptionally lucky man. Yang Sisi walked beside me on my left, and Ye Zhi, whom I had just met, on my right. If I were a particularly vain person, this would definitely be the most enjoyable moment of my life, because the gazes of strangers are the most genuine. They kept looking at me with a "What have you done to deserve this?" kind of look, and after we walked away, the same gazes were cast upon me by another group of people.

I have a feeling that I'm about to be killed!

……

Finally, Ye Zhi, who had treated us to dinner, led Yang Sisi and me to a farmhouse courtyard nestled by Erhai Lake. Before knocking on the door, she turned to us and said, "This is a private restaurant run by a Taiwanese friend of mine."

Yang Sisi eagerly chimed in, "I've been starving all day just waiting for this meal. Is it good?"

"Of course, he was a Michelin-starred chef before coming to Dali."

I don't really understand what Michelin is, but Yang Sisi seems to understand it very well. She looked at Ye Zhi with an incredulous expression, but this time she didn't ask any more questions.

The person who opened the door for us was a middle-aged Taiwanese man, whom Ye Zhi called "Brother Cheng." Accompanying Brother Cheng was a middle-aged woman, whom Ye Zhi called Sister Li. They were a married couple, and Brother Cheng was the one who cooked for us.

Compared to the way we came, entering the courtyard revealed a completely different scene. Cheng Ge's private restaurant is a converted old Bai ethnic house, so most of it is made of earth and wood. With the addition of many flowers and plants, and the lighting, it instantly evokes a feeling of returning to a primitive way of life. Many of the furnishings inside also showed me a kind of craftsmanship, a craftsmanship that arouses one's desire, making one unconsciously want to sit here a little longer and have some tea.

After exchanging greetings, Sister Li led us to the second-floor balcony, where a long Western-style table was set with many desserts and appetizers. This was tempting to my taste buds, while the quietly flowing Erhai Lake in the distance was a visual treat.

I have to admit, the place that Sister Li and Brother Cheng chose, although out of touch with the market, was extremely cost-effective. Anyway, if I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come back here as a repeat customer. At this moment, Yang Sisi and Ye Zhi also stood by the balcony railing, looking at Erhai Lake, which was very close to us, and the line of lights on the opposite shore.

Watching their retreating figures, I felt a comfortable tranquility. Finally, after Sister Li left, I took the initiative to speak to Ye Zhi, saying, "Staying in Shanghai for too long fills me with an inescapable restlessness. This place is quite nice, like another world."

Ye Zhi turned to look at me, smiled, and replied, "Really? I just thought the night view of Dali was beautiful..." She paused for a moment, then added, "Actually, Shanghai has its advantages too, at least there are more opportunities. However, if you approach this city with an escapist mentality, you'll likely find yourself in a very passive position."

I'm not stupid; I could tell she seemed to be targeting something. Thinking about it further, Yang Sisi still had her contact information, so I'd probably already told her about my resignation and move to Dali. Therefore, she wanted to offer me some advice.

This was meant well, but I really can't go back to Shanghai, because my heart has died there along with Wang Lei's.

The atmosphere was a bit heavy. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Yang Sisi changed the subject and asked Ye Zhi, "Sister, did Brother Cheng also design this courtyard?"

"It's Sister Li. Sister Li used to be an architectural designer."

"Wow... No wonder so many friends say Dali is a place where hidden talents abound. You can meet so many amazing people just by having a meal... But... why did they give up such good jobs to come to Dali? And what about their children? Don't they need to worry about them?"

Ye Zhi tidied her wind-blown hair and replied softly, "I haven't inquired about it, and they haven't talked to me about it either."

"Do they enjoy life in Dali?"

As soon as Yang Sisi finished speaking, I subconsciously glanced at Sister Li and Brother Cheng, who were busy in the kitchen. But this time, my keen senses failed me. From the moment I arrived, all I could feel was their warmth and hospitality; whether they were truly happy, I couldn't discern. However, they were like a mirror reflected in front of me. If they could live well in Dali after abandoning everything, why couldn't I?

Conversely, it would also affect my confidence. Because I know nothing about Dali, the only people I can refer to are like Brother Cheng and Sister Li, who are similar to me.

Just as Ye Zhi was about to answer Yang Sisi, Sister Li brought up a plate of matsutake mushrooms from downstairs, abruptly ending the conversation. Thus, whether she and Cheng were merely making do or genuinely enjoying their relationship remained a mystery.

……

When dinner began, Brother Cheng solemnly opened a glass of champagne for us, and then said, "Thank you all for coming to my and Sister Li's private restaurant... The dishes today were all bought from the Xiaguan market early this morning, they are very fresh... I just don't know if they will suit your taste, so please try them first."

The three of us picked up our chopsticks together. Cheng Ge's cooking skills were truly top-notch. At least in all my years in Shanghai, I've never had Western or Taiwanese food that tasted so good. I suppose Ye Zhi had thought things through before inviting us to dinner, which is why she brought us here.

If fairness is the ultimate goal in interpersonal relationships, then I think this meal is enough for her to repay my small debt of gratitude.

After finishing a steamed river shrimp, I gave Cheng Ge a thumbs-up and said, "The environment here is great, and the food tastes even better!"

Cheng and I exchanged a smile, then Cheng teased, "Hey, don't just keep praising the food and scenery, you need to keep an eye on the two beauties next to you too. I think even the most beautiful scenery in Dali can't compare to them!"

Sister Li echoed Brother Cheng's praise of Yang Sisi and Ye Zhi, then asked me, "Would you like some more of Dali's local specialty beer: 'Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon'?"

I was a little confused: "Romance and poetry?"

"That's right, Dali has two towns, Shangguan and Xiaguan, and the most famous Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake... These four places each have their own unique characteristics, hence the saying 'Xiaguan wind, Shangguan flowers, Cangshan snow, Erhai moon.' Nowadays, many outsiders compare Dali to 'wind, flowers, snow, and moon,' which I think is quite fitting... However, to truly experience its atmosphere, you have to go and experience it for yourself!"

I looked at Sister Li and nodded, then took a can of "Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon" beer from her. I felt a strange sense of disorientation, and gradually I felt as if I had transformed into a wisp of air, and then attached myself to every possible scenario that "Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon" might present in the future with an extremely eager attitude.