After they arrived at the parking lot below the relic pagoda, the three of them immediately thought about going straight to Qinglong Lake instead.
The parking lot was full, let alone how many people were above; there were hundreds of cars.
"This is ridiculous. People always call it a broken pagoda and never come, so why are there so many people today?"
With nowhere to park, they planned to leave when they saw a small white car pulling out.
Just in time, a spot opened up, and the driver waved at them from the car window.
"Thanks!" Qin Yunhe shouted, and the driver stopped for a moment upon seeing them.
"You're welcome. Who knew a lottery winner would attract a crowd? I'm off now."
After saying this, the driver drove away, and they parked in the spot. Su Qingwan searched online and said,
"Wow, it really is because of the lottery."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone came here last Sunday, wished for wealth, and wrote a plaque hoping the lottery ticket they just bought would win."
"And then it won?" Qin Yunhe and Xu Lin asked in unison.
"Yeah, so now lots of people are coming this Sunday."
"That's just a coincidence."
"Coincidence or not, people like to believe in miracles. Maybe they'll be the next lucky one, though many are just following the trend for fun."
"True. So, should we fulfill our vows and wish for wealth too?"
"No need, I'm not short of money. I just need my husband to be rich." Qin Yunhe laughed, holding Xu Lin's hand.
"Ugh!"
"Su Qingwan, what are you doing?"
"Qin Yunhe, you look so disgusting like that."
"Wanwan, women in love are like this."
"Hmph, I'm not talking to you! As a single person, I'll wander by myself."
With that, Su Qingwan opened the car door and got out, followed by Xu Lin and Qin Yunhe. Although they wanted some couple time, Su Qingwan, despite her mature appearance, was still an emotionally driven girl. They couldn't leave her alone, just in case something happened.
The relic pagoda was on the top of a small hill, about 200 meters high. To make it seem taller, the path up was a confusing, winding staircase, designed to make people feel their 20 yuan ticket was worth it. A straight path would get you to the top in three minutes, making the ticket seem overpriced.
"Tickets here, today's special price, 15 yuan each, 5 yuan for children under 1.2 meters."
There weren't many people in line, as most had already headed up the hill. Xu Lin bought three tickets and returned to see Qin Yunhe and Su Qingwan eating some cut cake, nibbling like hamsters.
This cut cake wasn't the special snack from Xinjiang but a simple northern treat made from glutinous rice and red dates. You could think of it as a big rice dumpling; the "cut" part meant cutting a piece from a large block and putting it in a bag to eat.
"We didn't buy any for you because you don't like sweets."
"Is it sweetened?"
"Mine isn't. You can take a bite of the rice."
Qin Yunhe extended her arm, and Xu Lin leaned in to take a bite. Watching them, Su Qingwan looked at the cut cake in her hand, sprinkled with white sugar, and suddenly lost her appetite.
"Let me try the sweetened one too."
But before Su Qingwan could feel disappointed, Xu Lin bit into the piece she had just bitten!
Su Qingwan blinked rapidly in surprise.
"No, it's too sweet." Xu Lin waved his hand and walked ahead, leaving a stunned Su Qingwan and Qin Yunhe behind.
"Hey, you're upset just because he took a bite of my cake?"
"No..."
Su Qingwan shook her head, looking at Xu Lin's back, her spirits lifted, and she smiled, linking arms with her best friend.
"Let's catch up."
"Alright, but don't pull me, don't get sugar on me!"
They had their tickets checked and passed through an archway, starting up the dense and steep steps. Looking up, all they saw were people's backs.
"Looks like we can't get up quickly."
"Yeah, we'll get there in 15-20 minutes if we take it slow."
"I want to soak in the hot spring!"
Su Qingwan sighed, stretched, and suddenly slipped, falling backward!
"Ah!"
Panicking, she instinctively reached for Xu Lin but, fearing she'd pull him down, chose to fall on her own. However, she didn't feel any pain as two hands caught her and pulled her up.
"Wanwan, be careful!" Qin Yunhe and Xu Lin both looked at her with concern, and she nodded. Xu Lin on her left and Qin Yunhe on her right, each held one of her arms, making her feel secure.
"Sister Qin, if you were a guy, I might not need to find a boyfriend."
"Haha, Qin Yunhe said the same thing. But you're both mine! Ow! Qin Yunhe, stop pinching me, it hurts."
"Let's go, Wanwan, hold on to us."
"Okay, but why are you treating me like a child?"
"You're not much better than one," Qin Yunhe teased.
Feeling the warmth of their company, Su Qingwan thought this wasn't so bad.
I have a husband and a best friend. We don't need to be separated and can be together for the rest of our lives.
No, no, even if Xu Lin is happy, Qin Yunhe...may be happy too? But it's definitely impossible for the parents!
Oh! It was just a thought, but if it was really because of Xu Lin, she and Sister Qin could not be best friends anymore.
There is no way to laugh at each other, chat together, and experience everything in the future together forever.
She felt that she would definitely regret it, but if she gave Xu Lin to Sister Qin, would her relationship with her still be the same as before?
Women are selfish in love, not allowing a third person. She felt like she was stuck between Xu Lin and Qin Yunhe, wanting to hold onto both.
She actually began to feel unfaithful, a word she had originally thought would never be used on herself.
She also somewhat understood Xu Lin's feelings... Why would she understand him? A little playboy, entangled with so many girls!
I like a man and a woman, unlike him!
Xu Lin and Qin Yunhe chatted, oblivious to Su Qingwan's thoughts.
After ten minutes, they reached the top, and a breeze blew away the heat, leaving a chilly feeling.
"It's really winter now."
"Yeah."
"Hey, wasn't there a celebrity yesterday? Why didn't you bring her today and came with me instead?"
Xu Lin suddenly stopped talking, then answered.
"You mean Liu Qinnuan? I left her with Ji Yun."
"Why the long pause?"
"Over there." Xu Lin pointed, leading her and the distracted Su Qingwan into the crowd.
Qin Yunhe glanced in the direction and saw Ji Yun, Bai Xiaoxiao, and a masked Liu Qinnuan.
"Should we say hi?"
"No, adding more people would ruin the day."
"True, we're already dragging one along."
"Who are you calling a drag?!" Su Qingwan glared at Qin Yunhe dissatisfaction.
Qin Yunhe, I was just thinking about keeping you as a secondary wife if we the three of us were all together.
But now forget it!