The alarm on the phone atop the bedside table went off right on time, its buzzing vibration especially clear in the quiet bedroom.
Zhang Yanyan reached over and picked up her phone, lit up the screen, and swiped a finger across it to turn off the alarm.
She sat up and blinked a few times, the fog gradually clearing from her eyes.
Su Yuan had dragged her into playing games until well past midnight the night before. Fortunately, Zhang Yanyan used the spirit spring water from her personal space to nourish her body every day, and she had also been practicing the Soul Refining Art for quite some time.
Forget getting only four or five hours of sleep—even if she stayed up all night, she would still be full of energy the next day without so much as a hint of dark circles under her eyes.
She threw back the covers, got out of bed, and slipped into the bathroom in her cotton slippers.
Warm water splashed over her face, waking her up even more. As she applied her skincare products in front of the mirror, she casually smoothed the wispy strands over her forehead. Her skin was in excellent condition, without even a trace of the redness that usually came from staying up late.
She changed into a loose cream-colored hoodie and gray jogger pants. After roughly gathering her hair and tying it into a low bun, she went downstairs bare-faced. She looked fresh, relaxed, and comfortable.
By the time she finished getting ready and walked down the stairs, the dining room was already filled with the enticing aroma of breakfast.
Auntie Chen was carrying out a steamer basket of freshly made soup dumplings from the kitchen. The moment she saw Zhang Yanyan come down, she greeted her with a smile.
“Good morning, Young Miss! You’re awake? Come sit, come sit. Breakfast is freshly made, and it’s all your favorites. It’s still nice and hot.”
The solid wood dining table was already laden with food: millet and pumpkin porridge simmered until thick and silky, plump soup dumplings stuffed with fresh meat, peeled hard-boiled eggs, a dish of crisp pickled radish, and two small plates of refreshing cold appetizers. Steam rose from everything, making it look incredibly appetizing.
“Morning, Auntie Chen.” Zhang Yanyan pulled out a chair and sat down. She scooped up a spoonful of porridge. The warm porridge slid into her stomach, spreading a comforting heat throughout her body.
“If you like it, have some more. I simmered it over low heat for nearly two hours. The pumpkin practically melted into the rice.”
Auntie Chen’s eyes curved with delight at the compliment. She handed Zhang Yanyan a pair of serving chopsticks.
“The soup dumplings just came out of the steamer, so be careful not to burn your mouth. They’re full of broth.”
Zhang Yanyan nodded and took a bite of a dumpling. Its savory juices burst in her mouth, rich and delicious.
She had always been a quick eater and never dragged out a meal. Before long, she had eaten nearly everything on the table.
Just then, a series of sluggish footsteps came from the staircase, accompanied by the sleepy mumbling of a young girl.
Zhang Yanyan looked up and saw Su Yuan descending with a head of wildly tangled bedhead. Her eyes were barely open, and she was feeling her way down with one hand on the banister. She was still wearing yesterday’s cartoon pajamas, and her entire person looked limp and listless, like a kitten that had not yet woken up.
“Oh my gosh… Sis, why are you up so early?”
Su Yuan rubbed her eyes as she reached the dining table and dropped heavily into the chair across from Zhang Yanyan. She rested her head on the table, looking utterly exhausted.
“We went to bed so late last night, didn’t we? How come you don’t have any dark circles under your eyes? You’re so full of energy, too! My head is still spinning, and my eyes feel like they’re glued shut.”
Zhang Yanyan raised an eyebrow, reached over, and poked Su Yuan’s messy hair. She teased her with a laugh.
“Who was it that lost three games in a row last night, then tearfully begged me to play one more so she could make a comeback? And after winning the last round, who was it that jumped around my room in excitement and shouted that she was going to practice the new hero all night? Wasn’t that you, Miss Su? Feeling sleepy now?”
Su Yuan immediately lifted her head, her face turning slightly red. She reached over and smacked Zhang Yanyan lightly on the arm, grumbling under her breath.
“Oh, Sis! Why are you bringing that up? I was just too excited because we won! Who knew I’d be this tired after sleeping? My eyelids feel so heavy I can barely lift them.”
Just then, Auntie Chen came out of the kitchen with breakfast. As soon as she saw that Su Yuan was awake, she smiled and set the tray in front of her.
“Yuanyuan, you’re awake! Hurry and eat while it’s hot. I’ve kept your breakfast warm in the pot, so it hasn’t gone cold at all.”
Auntie Chen arranged everything on the table and pointed them out one by one.
“Fresh shrimp wontons, custard buns, and the little milk-flavored steamed buns you like. I warmed up some milk for you, too. See if there’s anything else you want. Just tell Auntie Chen, and I’ll make it for you.”
The food on the tray was still steaming, and its fragrant aroma immediately filled the room.
Su Yuan’s eyes lit up. She gave Auntie Chen a sweet smile.
“Thank you, Auntie Chen! No, this is plenty, really! I’m not very hungry in the morning anyway. I won’t be able to finish all this as it is.”
“If it isn’t enough, just let me know,” Auntie Chen said with a smile as she poured her a cup of warm water and placed it beside her hand. Only then did she turn and head back into the kitchen.
Su Yuan picked up her chopsticks and lowered her head to dig into the wontons, eating with obvious enjoyment. She did not say another word.
Zhang Yanyan had already finished eating. She picked up a tissue to wipe her mouth, then got up and went to sit on the sofa in the living room. Taking out her phone, she began scrolling through short videos.
She kept the volume very low and did not urge Su Yuan along, simply sitting there quietly and waiting. Every now and then, she glanced toward the young girl in the dining room.
Su Yuan was a slow eater, taking her time and occasionally looking up at Zhang Yanyan in the living room while she ate.
By the time she finally finished and put down her chopsticks, nearly half an hour had passed.
Auntie Chen came over to clear away the dishes. Su Yuan stretched dramatically, then wandered into the living room and collapsed onto the sofa beside Zhang Yanyan, letting out a long sigh.
“Ah—back among the living! Nothing feels better than being full.”
Zhang Yanyan set down her phone and turned to look at her.
“Feeling better now? Tell me, where do you want to go today? I’ll go with you.”
“You’re starting your final year of high school once school begins, so you won’t have many chances to go out and have fun anymore. Today, I’ll let you enjoy yourself to the fullest.”
Su Yuan’s eyes lit up at once. She sprang up from the sofa and leaned toward Zhang Yanyan, her eyes sparkling.
“Really, Sis? I can go anywhere I want?”
“As long as it’s somewhere respectable. Don’t even think about coming up with any crooked ideas,” Zhang Yanyan said with a smile, reaching out to flick her on the forehead.
“Hey, I wouldn’t!” Su Yuan covered her forehead and giggled twice. Then she wrapped both arms around Zhang Yanyan’s and gave it a shake. Tilting her head, she thought for a long time, muttering to herself as she considered the options.
“We just went shopping yesterday, and my legs nearly fell off. That’s no fun. There aren’t any good movies out right now. Going to karaoke with just the two of us wouldn’t be very exciting. We’re tired of escape rooms, and we don’t have enough people for a murder mystery game…”
After thinking for a while, her eyes suddenly lit up. She slapped her thigh.
“I’ve got it! Sis, I just remembered! Your family owns that leisure resort outside the city, right? Doesn’t it have a professional equestrian center and an archery range?”
“I saw lots of people recommending it online before. They said the setting was amazing and the facilities were really professional, but the membership requirements are incredibly strict. Ordinary people can’t get in at all! I’ve wanted to go for ages, but my mom wouldn’t let me. She said horseback riding was too dangerous and was afraid I’d fall!”
Zhang Yanyan raised an eyebrow. The original owner’s memories contained no mention of this, but Su Yuan was very close to the female protagonist. If she said it existed, then it almost certainly did.
Qinglan Resort was a high-end leisure property under the Zhang Group. It occupied nearly half a mountain and offered everything from an equestrian center and archery range to a golf course and private restaurants. It was open only to elite members and internal personnel. Its security and privacy measures were top-notch, making it especially famous among Rongcheng’s upper-class circles.
“Sure, Qinglan it is.” Zhang Yanyan nodded and agreed at once. “That place belongs to my family anyway. I’ll just make a call and arrange everything. I guarantee you’ll have a great time.”
“Oh my gosh! Sis, you’re amazing!” Su Yuan shrieked excitedly, hugging Zhang Yanyan’s arm and shaking it back and forth. “I knew you loved me best!”
“All right, stop shaking me. Hurry upstairs, change your clothes, and freshen up. You can’t go dressed in pajamas, can you?” Zhang Yanyan said with a laugh as she gently pushed her away. “You have forty minutes. Be ready, and then we’ll set off.”
“No problem! Mission accomplished!” Su Yuan gave a rather crooked salute, then turned and dashed upstairs. Her footsteps were noticeably lighter, as if all her earlier listlessness had vanished.
