Chapter 120: Joining the Fun
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Zhou Chao chauffeured them to the nearby Oriental Hotel. He had pre-booked a lavish room online. As for the arrangement – well, only those who know, truly know.
Zhou Chao had set up a ten-day reservation for them. Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian went through the check-in process and, accompanied by a hotel staff member, made their way upstairs with their luggage. Meanwhile, Zhou Chao remained in the lobby, awaiting their return.
It didn’t take long – about ten minutes – for them to come back down. Seeing Zhou Qian’s blushing face, Zhou Chao could guess that the two of them had been intimate in the room just now.
“Brother Chao!” Noticing the knowing expression in Zhou Chao’s gaze, Lei Mingtang felt a sudden pang in his waist, almost causing him to let out a yelp.
“Yeah, let’s go. I’ll take you to explore the Bund. You can also visit the Bund at night – it offers a different kind of scenery,” Zhou Chao said as he led them out of the Oriental Hotel.
Zhou Chao retraced the route he took when he first explored the Bund with the two of them. They walked along the route, and Zhou Chao captured the moments with his camera. He also witnessed plenty of their lovey-dovey moments together.
He guided Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian through the International Architecture Group along the Bund. At every interesting spot they came across, they paused to take photos. Zhou Chao could only suppress his own feelings of longing as he witnessed their joyful interactions.
“Brother Chao, the Oriental Pearl Tower on the opposite side is really tall. I really want to go up and take a look.” Lei Mingtang pointed at the Oriental Pearl Tower across the way.
“Sure, let’s go. I’ll take you there.” Zhou Chao said and then led them to the sightseeing tunnel on the Bund. Soon after, the three of them took the tunnel and arrived directly at Lujiazui in Pudong.
As they emerged from the tunnel, Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian saw the towering Oriental Pearl Tower, their eyes lighting up.
“Come on, let’s go see!” Zhou Chao took the lead and walked towards the Oriental Pearl Tower. The tunnel wasn’t far from the tower, and after a few minutes, they were right beneath it.
The Oriental Pearl Tower had three spheres in total. Zhou Chao purchased three tickets for the two upper spheres, and with Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian, they took the elevator directly to the second sphere.
“Brother Chao, this is so high!” Lei Mingtang, a burly figure, had a slight fear of heights. However, when Zhou Qian held his hand, his nervousness eased.
“Mingtang, take a look at this.” Zhou Qian led Lei Mingtang to a glass window, where they watched the sun setting, painting the entire sky in shades of orange.
“It’s truly beautiful!” Zhou Chao stood behind them, observing Lei Mingtang holding Zhou Qian’s hand and gazing at the picturesque sunset. Right now, all Zhou Chao wished for was to have Jiang Li by his side, enjoying the sight of the beautiful sunset together.
“Brother Chao, can you take a photo for the two of us?” Zhou Chao’s lips twitched at the request, but he still took the phone and snapped a few shots for them.
“Take a look!” Zhou Chao handed the phone to Zhou Qian, and the two of them immediately looked at the photos. Seeing their happy expressions, Zhou Chao knew his photography skills were still up to par.
“Hey, Brother Chao, is that where you live?” Lei Mingtang looked up and saw The Palms Residence in the distance through the window. He turned to Zhou Chao for confirmation.
“Yeah, that’s right. The building complex over there is where I live,” Zhou Chao pointed to his residence in The Palms Residence.
After that, Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian continued their spree of photography. After completing their exploration of the second sphere, the three of them proceeded to the first sphere.
The first sphere was the Exhibition Hall, which showcased the development of Modu through six exhibition halls – Chengxiang Style, Opening Scenes, Ten-Mile Foreign Enclaves, Maritime Traces, Architectural Expo, and Carriage Era. There were over 80 different landmarks, hundreds of precious historical artifacts, and meticulously crafted miniature buildings displayed in proportion to the originals.
Zhou Chao and the others spent over an hour at the Oriental Pearl Tower, taking countless photos. They finally left as the sky dimmed slightly.
Come on, I’ll show you around the Cheng Huang Temple. Tomorrow, you can explore it during the day. There are plenty of old shops from Modu there, making it a perfect spot to wander after admiring the Bund’s nighttime view and grabbing some late-night snacks.
Zhou Chao retraced his steps with Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian, riding the sightseeing tunnel back to the Bund. The Cheng Huang Temple wasn’t far from the Bund. By now, the night had fallen, and the lights around the Bund had been turned on. Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian felt as if they had explored a fake Bund in the afternoon.
They strolled along the Bund, admiring the International Architecture Group illuminated by the night. It had a unique charm. After about half an hour, they reached the Cheng Huang Temple. The temple was bustling with people even at night. As they explored, they also enjoyed various street foods. By the time they finished, their stomachs were pleasantly full.
“I’m ready to head back.” Zhou Chao checked the time – it was almost 9 PM.
“Yeah, we’re planning to return to the hotel too. We’ve been on the move all day, and we’re looking forward to a relaxing bath.”
“Bathing while enjoying a beautiful view.” Zhou Chao’s words made Lei Mingtang and Zhou Qian blush.
“Leizhi, the keys are yours.” Zhou Chao tossed the Bentley’s elegant key to Lei Mingtang.
“I won’t say anything overly sentimental; I’m afraid you’ll call me cheesy. Thanks!” Lei Mingtang shook the keys in his hand and addressed Zhou Chao.
“As long as you understand. Well, you two can head back now. I’ll just catch a ride back.”
“Sure, I won’t send you off!”
“Brother Chao, take care!” Zhou Qian, who had been standing silently, greeted Zhou Chao as he left.
Zhou Chao nodded and bid his farewell before turning to leave.
“Let’s go back to the hotel too!” Lei Mingtang watched as Zhou Chao got into a taxi before lowering his head to speak to Zhou Qian, who was in his arms.
“Mingtang, what does Brother Chao do? He’s so wealthy. This Bentley is also a luxury car worth millions. He just allows you to drive it so readily!” Zhou Qian had always been curious but didn’t dare to ask in Zhou Chao’s presence.
“Well, let’s just say he’s very wealthy. I grew up with him, like two peas in a pod. Our relationship is extraordinary, so feel free to enjoy the ride without any worries.” Lei Mingtang hugged Zhou Qian and gave a light chuckle. Perhaps the cool breeze from the Huangpu River had chilled them both slightly.
“Hmph, look at how proud you are. It’s not like you’re the wealthy one.” Zhou Qian pinched Lei Mingtang’s waist, causing him to wince and cry out in pain.
“Hehe, I’m just happy, you know? Alright, let’s head back too. We’ll rest up tonight and have a good time tomorrow.”
“Hmph, 1 want to go to Disneyland tomorrow to see the evening fireworks show. I’ve been looking forward to it for a while!”
“Yeah, we’ll go see it tomorrow.” As they walked further away, the sounds of their laughter and conversation carried on the evening breeze.
Back at The Palms Residence, Zhou Chao was already lying in bed, listening to the faint sound of breathing. He had slipped into slumber, clearly exhausted from the day’s activities..