When they touched down in Luoyang, the two headed to a port to catch a ferry to Shi Ying Hotel and Resort. "Zhan, this is paradise!" Zhoucheng exclaimed, his gaze glued to the breathtaking island they were approaching. The sunlit white sand shimmered beautifully, and they noticed a restaurant that sat right on the edge of a steep cliff.
"Yes," Zhan whispered.
There's an island not far from our town in Luoyang, San. I dream of owning that island and bringing my soulmate there...
Your dream has come true, Xie Yun, Zhan thought. Only I wasn't the one you brought to that paradise. Tang San is the one Lan Xie Yun promised himself to. Not you, Zhan...
His heart and mind could not accept that. He was the one there and Lan Xie Yun had said those words to him. Zhan shook himself, maybe he was losing his mind.
"So, who's the lucky person you brought to the island, Xie Yun?" Zhan whispered, trying to mask the ache in his heart. Zhoucheng glanced over at him, having caught the words.
"You've been acting strange, Zhan. And most of the time, I see you staring into nothingness, looking all lost and teary. What is wrong with you? I could see so much sadness in your eyes..."
Zhan smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just ignore me, Cheng. Your priority is to get Ziyi back." He reached into his jeans pocket and took out a ring, placing it in Zhoucheng's hand. "This is for Ziyi—give her this as your engagement ring."
Zhoucheng frowned, clearly unimpressed. "You took this from your grandfather's jewelry box to give to me? I-I find this very insulting, Zhan. I may not be able to buy a ring with a stone this big, but I can surely afford to buy her a ring..."
"Seriously, Cheng, don't be ridiculous. Of course, I know you can afford to buy Ziyi a ring. But that's my gift to you. And that ring is not from grandpa Tang San. And believe me, that ring is more suited for Ziyi than me.
You really mean it?" Zhoucheng asked, still a bit hesitant.
"As sure as I'm standing here," Zhan replied.
Zhoucheng didn't respond and tucked the ring into his pants pocket as Zhan drifted back into his thoughts again.
Shaking his head, Zhoucheng scanned their surroundings again.
A little while later, the ferry bumped into the wharf, giving them a bit of a jolt. Zhoucheng quickly caught Zhan by the arm to stop him from tumbling over the railings. "Alright, time to hop off this boat, dreamer," Zhoucheng said with a grin as he grabbed their bags.
As they made their way to the hotel, Zhan saw that the other guests were equally taken by the view, mostly tourists from other countries. Even Zhoucheng couldn't stop whistling in awe at the stunning scenery. At the front desk, they decided to get single rooms next to one another on the third floor.
"I want to shower first, Chengs. Let's meet in half an hour downstairs," he told Zhoucheng as the room boy opened their doors.
"Sure." Zhoucheng replied.
Once the door was shut, Zhan tossed his stuff on the floor, flopped onto the bed, and stared up at the ceiling.
He's on Lan Xie Yun's island now. What will happen to him here? Is there any hope for Zhoucheng and Ziyi to be happy together? And what if Lan Quiren's son has feelings for Ziyi? That could happen, right? His cousin is stunning, and it's often the sweet ones that catch a guy's eye.
And him? Why is he even here, in this island?
Is he here to help Zhoucheng and Ziyi? Or is it more about his own needs? What's he aiming to prove? What's he hoping to discover? What's with this island that makes him feel so drawn to it?
