Chapter 1497: 1497: Isn't it Very Melodramatic?

Chapter 1497: Chapter 1497: Isn’t it Very Melodramatic?

A group of people had a great time playing together, even the originally reserved Wang Qing and Ye Xiaoli became less restrained under the influence of Ouyang Feifei.

In fact, when Yang Xiaodong and Wang Zhenjun separately asked them to take photos together, they didn’t refuse and even linked arms with them.

“Looks like I’ll be the lonely one tonight,” Luo Yuqing said pitifully as she clung to Luo Ziling’s arm, complaining, and warning him, “I’m warning you, don’t do anything to hurt this single dog here.”

“At least, the one holding my arm now is you, not someone else.”

This earned Luo Ziling a pinch from Luo Yuqing.

“Then tonight, I’ll take over completely and not let any other woman hold your hand,” she said smugly with a little hum.

Luo Ziling didn’t argue with her.

The group stayed at Tang Paradise until 10:30 PM before leaving.

At 10:00 PM, fireworks lit up the skies over Tang Paradise and the surrounding areas for quite a long time.

The night became even more beautiful, adding a touch of brilliance to everyone’s special Lantern Festival memories.

Luo Yuqing really followed through on her word, clinging to Luo Ziling’s arm the entire time.

With her linking arms with Luo Ziling, neither Yang Qingyin nor Ouyang Feifei dared to approach and join the fun.

The two women, however, maintained a mutual understanding, which gave Luo Ziling a sigh of relief.

After leaving Tang Paradise, Luo Yuqing suggested going for a late-night snack, “Let’s find a place to have some porridge. We’ve been walking all day; I’m getting hungry.”

Yang Qingyin and Ouyang Feifei weren’t too keen on late-night snacking; they rarely ate supper to maintain their figures.

But seeing Luo Yuqing so enthusiastic, the two eventually didn’t refuse.

“When are you all planning to return to Yanjing?” During the late snack, Luo Yuqing asked the others, “Tomorrow is the first day of school registration. I think Sister Feifei might have things to deal with too. Should we head back tomorrow?”

“How about returning tomorrow,” Luo Ziling softly suggested to Yang Qingyin, “To see everything we’ve planned to visit would take longer than a day or two. We can come back another time if we miss spots. Visiting everything now might make us less keen to revisit next time.”

“Next time we come, we can climb Mount Hua and visit Hukou Waterfall,” Luo Yuqing said excitedly.

“Alright, we’ll take the noon flight tomorrow,” Yang Qingyin didn’t object, “But tomorrow morning, I’d like to take a stroll around the Stele Forest before leaving!”

“I’ll have Wang Qing book the tickets then,” Ouyang Feifei agreed and instructed Wang Qing to arrange tickets for everyone.

The group got lucky; the noon flight still had available tickets, though most were in business class.

Wang Qing booked business-class tickets for Luo Ziling, Yang Qingyin, Ouyang Feifei, Luo Yuqing, and Ye Xiaoli, while the others got economy-class tickets.

After Wang Qing shared the booking confirmation, no one raised any issues.

“You all owe me a favor tonight,” Yang Qingyin said with a smile as she pointed a finger at Ouyang Feifei and Luo Yuqing during their late snack. She had won earlier in their contest to recite the most poems about the Lantern Festival.

Before the game, they agreed: if anyone won, the other two had to grant the winner one request.

“Just ask whatever you want,” Ouyang Feifei said straightforwardly.

Luo Yuqing also agreed cheerfully.

“I’ll hold off on deciding,” Yang Qingyin replied, not raising her request immediately.

They finished their late snack around midnight.

“Let’s walk back to digest; better than gaining weight,” Luo Yuqing suggested, “Since the streets are lit and the scenery’s beautiful. We probably won’t indulge like this often anymore. Once we return to Yanjing, everyone will be busy again. Why not go all-out tonight? Skipping sleep won’t hurt.”

“If you don’t sleep, you’ll probably all have dark panda eyes tomorrow,” Luo Ziling teased. “But walking back sounds fine. It’ll take at most an hour, and we can sleep a little later tomorrow morning. That way, we can go straight from the Stele Forest to the airport. One hour is plenty; the flight’s at 12:30. If we leave around 11, that’s sufficient. Even getting up at 9 gives us over an hour to explore. We aren’t studying calligraphy, after all, and an hour is enough to appreciate those famous inscriptions.”

Everyone agreed with Luo Ziling’s suggestion.

Yang Xiaodong walked ahead, with Luo Ziling and Luo Yuqing following behind him, while Yang Qingyin and Ouyang Feifei kept some distance, walking further back. The others lagged at the tail. Luo Yuqing remained attached to Luo Ziling, arm in arm.

After walking a short distance, Luo Yuqing quietly asked Luo Ziling, “I want to ask you something. Do you wish Yang Qingyin and Ouyang Feifei could get along peacefully and not argue because of you?”

“Of course,” Luo Ziling answered without hesitation, nodding. “Who would want them to fight?”

“But do you also wish for them to both be close to you like this?”

“What do you mean?” Luo Ziling immediately grew cautious.

“I mean, have you ever thought about making them both your women?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Luo Ziling said angrily, tapping Luo Yuqing on the head, “What kind of ridiculous idea is that?”

“Annoying! Stop tapping my head,” Luo Yuqing pouted, “I’m seriously asking you something.”

Luo Ziling ignored her.

“Yesterday, I came across someone else’s story,” Luo Yuqing said softly, “You know the famous romance novelist from Taiwan, Mrs. Qiong, right? The author of *My Fair Princess*. She had a complex relationship with a female director named Liu, who became as famous for her love story as Mrs. Qiong’s novels. Liu Miss—well, Granny Liu—had an affair with a handsome man named Sir Dong and persisted as the third party for an entire lifetime. She was labeled as a homewrecker but… eventually earned recognition from the primary wife. Can you believe it? Granny Liu and Madam Wang ended up becoming best friends, supporting each other and living together with Sir Dong for fifty years. Liu chose not to have children to avoid awkwardness, raising Madam Wang’s kids as her own. When Liu was gravely ill, it was Madam Wang and her children who cared for her. A few years back, Madam Wang officially divorced Sir Dong, allowing Liu to marry him and finally gain her recognition.”

“Wow, is there really a story like that?” Luo Ziling, who never paid attention to celebrity gossip, was genuinely surprised.

“Reality is always more dramatic than novels or movies,” Luo Yuqing said, tilting her head to look at Luo Ziling. “Just look at the people and situations around us. Isn’t it similar? I fell for you and wanted to pursue you, only to suddenly turn into your sister. Your ex-fiancée, whom you went to break off an engagement with, has started actively chasing you. And the girl you fell in love with at first sight—her parents had a deep-seated enmity with yours, leaving an almost insurmountable divide between you two. Isn’t it all just ridiculously melodramatic?”

Luo Ziling remained silent, merely glancing back briefly at Ouyang Feifei and Yang Qingyin, who were quietly following behind, before finally sighing.

“That’s why you should study Sir Dong, Madam Wang, and Granny Liu’s story. You might learn something useful from them.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Luo Ziling said irritably. “If you dare bring up such ideas, see how I’ll deal with you.”

In truth, what he wanted to say was that his love life was even more complicated than that trio’s lifelong saga.