Raindrops pattered down, tracing the tip of Duan Yiheng's high, straight nose. He opened his umbrella and grabbed Lin Xi's wrist: "It's raining, let's go." Lin Xi glanced back one last time before quickly following Duan Yiheng down the mountain.
Duan Yiheng was tall, and although the umbrella was large enough, the strong wind made the rain pelt them both. Before they were halfway down, the rain pounded against the umbrella, making their eardrums throb.
Duan Yiheng put his arm around Lin Xi's shoulder: "Let's move inside, be careful not to catch a cold."
Lin Xi practically clung to him, Duan Yiheng shielding her from most of the wind and rain. The driver anxiously got out of the car, calling out when he saw them, "Get in quickly!"
Then, holding his umbrella, he opened the back door for Duan Yiheng and Lin Xi. The rain was so heavy that half of Duan Yiheng's body was soaked.
Lin Xi glanced at him worriedly, "You'll catch a cold if this continues."
"It's alright." Duan Yiheng wasn't concerned about himself and asked the driver how long the rain would last.
The driver said, "I think it'll rain for quite a while, but it's not certain. This rain isn't even that heavy."
"Not that heavy?" Lin Xi hadn't been back for a long time and didn't know the rain in the south was so severe.
The driver wasn't exaggerating; he said floods happen every year. They returned to the hotel without incident. Lin Xi didn't get out of the car, thinking about having to work the next day. She turned to Duan Yiheng and said, "Let's pack our bags and head straight to the airport in H City."
"No," Duan Yiheng hesitated, "It's very unsafe if we get caught in a downpour on the way."
Lin Xi grabbed his arm and shook it, "I have to work tomorrow."
"I'm staying home with you, what's the rush?" Duan Yiheng said, "Just ask for a day off."
Lin Xi: "...I can't always ask for days off. Why don't you ask the driver if he can..." "Can't he take you? If he does, it means the road is still passable."
"Okay." Duan Yiheng conceded, noticing her impatience, he patted her reassuringly and turned to the driver, saying, "Will you take me to the airport? The weather's bad, I'll pay triple the price."
The driver knew this woman wasn't short of money, hesitated for a moment, but then relented: "Then you'd better hurry. Don't worry, I've been driving for 23 years and I'm a local, I'll definitely get you safely to the city airport."
Lin Xi felt a little relieved after hearing this. The two went upstairs to their respective rooms, packed their luggage in fifteen minutes, and checked out.
It was already dinnertime, but neither of them had any appetite; they'd deal with it at the airport. Their plane tickets had already been bought; Duan Yiheng had asked Sister Mei to inquire, and they bought tickets for the same flight as Lin Xi.
From the hotel to the airport, the rain intensified, washing against the car windows, obscuring the view outside. Lin Xi peered out the window, feeling a pang of regret. She was fine on her own, but the heir of the Yin Fan Group was in the car.
Lin Xi clenched her fists tightly, her anxiety growing. She didn't dare ask the driver, afraid he'd be distracted. She could clearly feel that the driver was going more than three times slower than when they were going uphill.
Suddenly, she felt a warmth on the back of her hand. Lin Xi turned to see Duan Yiheng patting her hand reassuringly: "Don't worry, we're already in the car."
Lin Xi smiled apologetically at him: "If I hadn't insisted, we wouldn't be rushing to the airport in this downpour."
Duan Yiheng moved closer to her and whispered, "I think this driver is quite steady. Didn't you notice I've relaxed?"
"Were you observing him the whole time?" Lin Xi whispered in his ear. Duan Yiheng found it amusing; how could she be so easily fooled?
On the way uphill, he had thought the driver was steady and skilled, which was why he agreed to Lin Xi's decision to rush to the airport. He was only saying this now to soothe her anxious heart.
"Yes," Duan Yiheng said, "Don't be anxious, we'll be there soon."
"Okay," Lin Xi nodded. Due to the bad weather, it took Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng a full two and a half hours to reach the airport. Their butts were aching from sitting so long.
Lin Xi rubbed her back and got out of the car with Duan Yiheng.
The airport in H City wasn't as well-equipped as in B City; there were no dedicated VIP service staff. Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng finally managed to get into the lounge, only to be told that their flight was delayed due to weather. Lin Xi was dumbfounded. What was the point of rushing here?
Duan Yiheng found it amusing and ruffled her hair: "Just wait." What else could they do? Lin Xi was on the verge of tears. Duan Yiheng sat quietly, his mind racing with various solutions, which he then rejected one by one. There was nothing anyone could do about the weather.
The VIP lounge was also packed, with people taking photos and talking, creating a chaotic and unpleasant atmosphere. Lin Xi, curious, asked a staff member and learned that H City had recently become a viral sensation online, a popular spot for internet celebrities.
H City's tourism department capitalized on this success, organizing a series of events and inviting influential figures from various industries. The three-day anime convention had also ended today, hence the large crowds.
She curiously searched online and found that the city was incredibly popular; bloggers from all over the country had flocked there. Lin Xi told Duan Yiheng about this, and after some deliberation, he was about to say something when the airport announced flight cancellations.
Lin Xi instinctively looked out the window; the sky seemed to be falling. Duan Yiheng immediately decided, "Let's go to the hotel right away." Lin Xi clearly realized that in such terrible weather, all the surrounding hotels were probably full.
She immediately checked online, but all the hotel booking apps showed "no rooms available." Even the few that managed to get a reservation were impossible to book.
"What do we do?" she asked Duan Yiheng.
The airport here was basic. Even the VIP lounges only offered nicer sofas and charging stations, providing basic food and drinks. There were no single beds or bathrooms for extended rest. She didn't even know if she could fly tomorrow; staying here all night would leave her exhausted.
She was at a loss and could only look to Duan Yiheng. Duan Yiheng said, "This rain is going to continue all night. Let's go to a hotel."
Lin Xi also said anxiously, "But there are no rooms available, unless it's somewhere very far away."
"It's okay, I have a way," Duan Yiheng said. Since he said so, Lin Xi could only trust him. Fortunately, the best hotel nearby wasn't far; money makes everything easier. Of course, this was just Lin Xi's thought. The underground passage wasn't connected, and they inevitably got wet getting in and out of the car.
Lin Xi, clutching their suitcases, waited in the hotel lobby, which was also crowded. She turned to look at Duan Yiheng, who was seemingly discussing something with the hotel receptionist.
His striking good looks drew many girls' attention, their whispers tinged with shyness. About ten minutes later, Duan Yiheng returned.
Lin Xi noticed the hesitation in his expression but wasn't disappointed. There were no rooms available anyway; they could always go to a hotel further away.
However, Duan Yiheng shook his head: "I offered ten times the price, and a couple is willing to give up their room to share with a friend, but it's a double room."
"Only one person is willing to switch?" Lin Xi thought the price was already quite good. Duan Yiheng said, "You forgot, this hotel is one of the best in the area. Those travel bloggers and influencers aren't short of money." Lin Xi was stunned. So, there was only one bed?