Lin Mo and Yingzi were in no rush to get down the mountain. They took their time and after their descent, they found a hotel to rest for the night. The next day, they headed to Shusheng Airport to catch a flight. However, there were no direct flights to Hong Kong Island, so they had to fly to Shenzhen first and then take the water route to Hong Kong Island.
After about two days of travel, they finally arrived at Hong Kong Island. But in order to go there, it was necessary to apply for a visa. Thus, Lin Mo sought the help of a travel agency, got the permits sorted out, and joined a tourist group headed to Hong Kong Island.
Upon arrival, he split up from Yingzi and went straight to look for Lu Xing.
Early the next morning, Lin Mo and Yingzi met up with the tour group at Luohu to cross the border, which consisted of around twenty-three people.
"Um, you are Yingzi, right?"
Suddenly, a voice full of surprise rang out. A girl's eyes widened as she looked at Yingzi, a look of joy appeared on her face.
Yingzi, seeing the other party, also showed a bit of confusion, but then she recognized her, "You're Xiao Lan?"
"I thought you wouldn't remember me," the girl said with a laugh.
"You've become even more beautiful, and I saw you just now, but I wasn't sure at first, so I came over to say hi," Luo Lan said.
"You've always been beautiful. I haven't seen you for so long. Are you also going to play on Hong Kong Island?" As Luo Lan spoke, her gaze fell on Lin Mo, and she was visibly surprised, teasingly saying, "This is your boyfriend, isn't he? You didn't introduce him; when did you find such a handsome boyfriend?"
Yingzi's face reddened slightly, "He's a friend, not a boyfriend."
"Develop a bit more, and he'll become your boyfriend," Luo Lan said with a smile, extending her hand, "Hello, I'm Luo Lan, a friend of Yingzi. How should I address you?"
Lin Mo shook her hand, "I am Lin Mo."
"Your name sounds familiar, but I can't recall where I've heard it," Luo Lan said cheerfully.
"Right, our school is on summer vacation, so I've made plans with a few friends to visit Hong Kong Island together. You two should join us," Luo Lan suggested.
Lin Mo didn't mind; after all, once they were on Hong Kong Island, he had to find Lu Xing.
Soon, under the guide's leadership, everyone crossed the border and boarded a cruise ship. Apart from Luo Lan, there were five other friends with her, three guys and two girls, who seemed to be her university classmates.
This trip was a free and easy tour. Essentially, everyone did their own thing upon arrival, and they were all to regroup at Tongluo Bay three days later to return together.
"Xiao Lan, are these your friends? You didn't introduce us," a girl came over and said on the cruise ship.
The girl's name was Huang Rui, also a good friend of Luo Lan's from university.
Luo Lan introduced Yingzi and Lin Mo, then everyone sat together and chatted. Perhaps because Lin Mo was particularly handsome, several girls couldn't take their eyes off him, which made the other three guys somewhat jealous.
"Xiao Lan, are these two also your friends?" Suddenly, a guy about 1.8 meters tall with a straight posture and glasses, who looked quite handsome, approached. One could tell from his demeanor, clothing, and speech that he wasn't just an ordinary person's child.
Seeing him approach, Luo Lan frowned slightly, "Yes, they're my friends, what's it to you?"
The guy wasn't angered by Luo Lan's words. Instead, his gaze lingered a little longer on Yingzi's face—among the women present, Yingzi's beauty stood out as the most exquisite and ethereal.
Turning to look at Lin Mo, dressed in ordinary attire and without even a watch, he seemed quite average aside from his handsome features. This guy was Huang Jian, whose family had some money, a wealthy second-generation in the school, and also quite a playboy, loving each new girl he met. Luo Lan didn't really want to go out with him, but since there were more people coming out this time, she endured his company for the sake of the trip, although she still disliked his arrogant demeanor.
"I just want to make a couple more friends," Huang Jian said with a smile, extending his hand and looking at Yingzi, "Hello, I'm Huang Jian from the Southern University of Technology."
Yingzi glanced at him and nodded but didn't shake his hand or speak. It seemed like Luo Lan didn't have the best relationship with him.
Huang Jian didn't seem to mind though. He was used to women who were beautiful and proud.
Sitting down, he chatted familiarly. It appeared his family was in the real estate business, worth several billion yuan.
The girls who were initially gazing intently at Lin Mo turned their attention to Huang Jian upon hearing him speak. After all, handsome men are rare, but they don't provide sustenance; women favored men with economic strength over just handsome looks.
"Our family also has businesses on Hong Kong Island. I've been to play there a few times. This time I'll take you to Victoria Harbor to see the night view, and we'll visit Madam Tussauds Wax Museum, Disneyland, and Tai Ping Mountain," Huang Jian spoke fluently, and his commentary seemed to captivate a few of the girls.
After saying this, Huang Jian glanced over at Lin Mo, who was calmly drinking his tea, and sneered silently.
In his view, Lin Mo was just feigning composure. Any man would feel ashamed when faced with another man displaying remarkable strength.
Huang Jian looked at Yingzi with a slight smile. He knew well how to attract girls—by flaunting his economic status and considerable family wealth, along with his not-too-shabby looks, about eighty percent of women would fall for him.
But Yingzi's expression remained cold and detached throughout, which made Huang Jian feel a twinge of disappointment. Yet, the more elusive the woman, the more it fired up his spirit.
They had set out in the morning, and after queuing and going through customs, they finally reached the port of Hong Kong Island around noon.
Hong Kong Island is an economic special zone. Since the 1990s, its economy had grown explosively, giving rise even to the wealthiest tycoon on China's rich list, Li Chaoren.
In terms of economy and construction, it was at the forefront internationally.
Upon arriving at the port, the tour guide mentioned some precautions, then reminded everyone to meet back at Tongluo Bay in three days to return.
"Everyone must be hungry by now, let's find a place to eat first, then go have fun," Huang Jian said, clapping his hands.
"Is Mr. Huang treating us to a meal?" a female student said with a chuckle.
"Of course, I'll treat," replied Huang Jian with a smile.
"That's not necessary, we can find our own place to eat," Luo Lan said, pouting.
Huang Jian frowned slightly, it seemed Luo Lan had quite an opinion about him, but if she didn't go, Yingzi probably wouldn't either.
"Xiao Lan, let's eat together, it's no big deal, we all came out to have fun," Huang Rui said, urging Luo Lan.
Unable to resist her friend's persuasion, Luo Lan finally nodded, "Eating is fine, but no need for him to treat, I'll pay for myself."
Lin Mo and Yingzi didn't mind either, having just arrived in Hong Kong, they were in no rush.
Having been to Hong Kong several times, Huang Jian was quite familiar with the place and led everyone into a high-class Western restaurant named 'Lemserf.'
Apart from Huang Jian, who came from a somewhat wealthy family, the rest of the classmates lived comfortable lives but had never been to such a high-end restaurant, and couldn't help but show a slight look of surprise.
Huang Jian, walking in front, had a hint of arrogance on his face.
"If it weren't for Mr. Huang treating us, I probably would never have had the chance to eat at such an upscale restaurant."
"Yes, we should thank Mr. Huang for this."
Huang Jian said with a smile, "We're all classmates, what's the big deal about treating you guys to a meal, but if someone doesn't want me to pay, they can pay for themselves."
"It's just paying, what's the big deal?" Luo Lan retorted. However, when it came time to order, Luo Lan was somewhat taken aback; the price of a simple dish was over a hundred, and there were some that cost over a thousand. Huang Jian ordered two bottles of Bordeaux wine for roughly ten thousand, and the total cost of the dishes he ordered easily amounted to about twenty thousand.
For these students still in school, the price of this meal was astronomical.
Luo Lan frowned, hesitated for a long time, and in the end, ordered the cheapest set meal, which still cost a hundred and felt expensive.
"Yingzi, what will you and Lin Mo have?" Luo Lan asked them.
"I'll have a set meal too," Yingzi said.
Huang Jian looked at Lin Mo smugly, expecting any normal guy who cared about his pride to order a lot to compete with him. However, to his disappointment, Lin Mo shook his head, "I don't want to eat, you guys go ahead."
In truth, Lin Mo's current level of cultivation meant he no longer needed to eat; consuming food only added impurities to his body.
But the others didn't know this, and seeing that Lin Mo wouldn't even eat the cheapest set meal, the two guys following Huang Jian showed disdain on their faces.
Huang Jian hummed softly, showing a look of scorn.
Just as he suspected, Lin Mo was just a pauper. Inviting him to such an expensive restaurant must have made him terribly uncomfortable.
After all, the poorer someone is, the more they care about their pitiful pride. Once Yingzi saw how cruel reality was and how embarrassing it was to be with such a man, she would surely leave him of her own accord.
Huang Jian had played this trick countless times before, and it never failed. Now, he imagined Lin Mo wished for a crack to open in the ground so he could crawl inside.
Luo Lan glanced at Lin Mo and pursed her lips, her gaze becoming complicated. Lin Mo was dressed very plainly, none of his clothes were branded; perhaps his family was not well-off.
"Look, just order whatever you want, I'm treating Yingzi, how could I not invite you too?" Luo Lan said with a smile, trying to ease Lin Mo's 'embarrassment.'
Huang Rui and another female student sighed internally when they looked at Lin Mo. Although Lin Mo was more handsome than Huang Jian, he seemed to be a bit poor. In face of reality, they couldn't possibly choose a man like that.
Regardless of everyone's complex thoughts, Lin Mo was unaware. But he truly didn't want to eat anything, especially since he now had assets worth several billion. Not to mention a meal, even buying the entire restaurant was just a drop in the ocean for him.
"No need, Xiao Lan, he rarely eats anyway," Yingzi said frankly, not understanding the others' thoughts.
However, her words elicited a touch of sympathy in Luo Lan's eyes. He must be extremely poor to often skip meals, and she guessed that this trip was probably funded by scrimping and saving for a long time, planning for a shoestring adventure.
After the meal, the group left the restaurant. Lin Mo and Yingzi went their separate ways from Luo Lan and the others, as Lin Mo had other matters to attend to.
Huang Jian clenched his fists, feeling resentful. He had asked Yingzi for her phone number but had been rejected, which was unexpected.
"What good comes from following such a pauper?" Huang Jian muttered bitterly, his teeth clenched.
(The story continues tomorrow with more excitement.)