Fantasy Novel:

Paradise Hotel  7

【Six】The Gentle Trap

18

Night quietly descended. At the entrance to the Forgotten Forest, hidden within a patch of shadow, Wilson was dressed in a hotel attendant’s uniform and holding a wooden sign. He planted the sign in the grass. Written on it in German, French, and Italian were the words: “The hotel is undergoing interior renovations. Accommodation services are temporarily suspended.” Wilson then unfolded an old spring bed and placed it across the road like a barrier. He reclined diagonally on the bed, holding a can of ice-cold beer in his hand and leisurely sipping it, his eyes half-closed as he enjoyed the tranquility.

Not far away, the Dragon Knight led a small squad of the Imperial Guards out of the mural in Room 504. The Dragon Knight had disguised himself as Robert, while the members of the Imperial Guards had all changed into hotel attendants’ uniforms. They immediately dispersed and began their operation to hunt down the evil spirits.

One of the attendants headed toward the fourth floor, only to come face-to-face with another attendant who looked exactly like him. He froze, unable to understand what was happening before his eyes. The other man, however, moved as swiftly as the wind, circled around behind him, and struck the back of his head with one hand. The attendant instantly lost his balance and collapsed to the floor, while the other figure quickly dragged him into the room and hid him without mercy.

The Dragon Knight, disguised as Robert, walked to the door of his room and narrowed his eyes, using his penetrating vision to scan the situation inside. He discovered that the real Robert was taking a shower in the bathroom. The fake Robert immediately used his teleportation technique to silently enter the room and hide behind the full-length mirror. The real Robert came out wearing a bathrobe and stood before the mirror shaving. There was still a trace of relaxation in his eyes, but when he saw his own reflection standing in the mirror with his arms crossed and a cold smile on his face, he was startled. He quickly stepped backward several paces and asked tremblingly, “Who... who are you? Why are you doing this to me?”

The double in the mirror sneered, pointed a finger at him, and said coldly, “I am your conscience! Robert, you have joined forces with the Andre Group to harm innocent human beings, and you still refuse to confess?”

The moment Robert heard the words “Andre Group,” he immediately understood that the person before him had to be one of the experts serving Princess Maria. His heart began to race, and he decided to strike back immediately. Robert suddenly threw a punch, intending to shatter the double in the mirror. Strangely, however, the mirror did not break. Instead, half of his right hand entered the mirror, where the double seized the pressure point at his elbow. His arm instantly went numb and became completely immobile.

The double in the mirror glared at him with eyes as sharp as knives and shouted coldly, “You monster! Your time to die has come, and you’re still trying to play tricks?”

“Please, please spare me!” Robert begged desperately for mercy, his voice filled with overwhelming fear.

The double’s expression remained stern, and his tone did not change. “Crushing you would be as easy as crushing an ant. If you want to stay alive, you must abandon the darkness and turn to the light!”

A huge turmoil surged through Robert’s heart. He knew that if he refused now, he would probably die on the spot. He gritted his teeth and nodded, his voice filled with helplessness and fear. “Yes, yes! I’ll change! I’ll serve the Princess!”

A trace of satisfaction appeared on the face of the double in the mirror. He extended one hand and passed a blood-red pill through the surface of the mirror, saying firmly, “Good. You know what’s good for you! Swallow this Dragon Blood Pill and come with me to see the Princess.”

Robert helplessly took the pill and swallowed it without hesitation. His entire body trembled, and he felt a strange force flowing into him. The vitality within his body seemed almost completely controlled by the pill.

“May I ask who you are...?” Robert asked cautiously, his voice trembling slightly.

The double in the mirror smiled faintly, raised a hand, and gently wiped across his own face. His true appearance was then revealed. His body was as tall as a dragon, with a pair of arms covered in scales and the head of a dragon upon a human body. Robert instantly understood that the person before him was none other than the legendary Dragon Knight.

A mixture of awe and fear surged through Robert’s heart, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: “This conspiracy has only just begun.”

19

In the quiet of the late night, Lin Xiaoyang was immersed in a deep dream. He felt as though he were floating above an endless sea of clouds, with vague light and shadows seemingly rippling all around him. Suddenly, a figure quietly appeared in the dream and entered his field of vision. It was a middle-aged man wearing an elegant suit, with gentle yet profound eyes. He stood beside the bed, smiling at him. Lin Xiaoyang’s heart jolted when he realized that the man before him was Huang Lihua. In the dim light, Huang Lihua’s figure seemed to be surrounded by a mysterious halo, making Lin Xiaoyang feel somewhat uneasy.

“Thank you for helping me establish a foundation that will benefit so many students.” Huang Lihua’s voice was low and powerful, as though it pierced through the thin mist of the dream and reached directly into Lin Xiaoyang’s heart. “My granddaughter, Huang Minhua, will apply for a scholarship from the foundation. Next March, in the spring, she will come to the shore of Lake Lucerne to paint landscapes and stay at the Paradise Hotel.”

Lin Xiaoyang frowned slightly and opened his eyes, asking hazily, “I understand. You want me to go back and take your granddaughter away from the hotel?” He felt that the entire dream was becoming increasingly unusual, as though he were being drawn into some unknown conspiracy.

Huang Lihua gently shook his head, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. “No! I want to ask you to return to Lake Lucerne and help me run the Paradise Hotel.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s eyes widened in disbelief. He froze for a moment before asking in surprise, “You’ve got to be kidding. You want me to be the boss of a bunch of vampires?”

Huang Lihua’s smile remained gentle, but a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. “Of course not! Renovate the hotel, recruit new employees, and reopen it. It should continue to provide lodging for traveling artists. More importantly, you must help take care of my granddaughter, Huang Minhua.”

The calm certainty in Huang Lihua’s words left Lin Xiaoyang somewhat at a loss. He took a slight step backward and widened his eyes, as though trying to process everything as quickly as possible. Huang Lihua then handed him a beautifully wrapped envelope. The sound of hard objects knocking against one another came from inside. “There is a savings account book and a book of traveler’s checks in here. From now on, you will be the owner of the hotel, and the husband of my granddaughter, Minhua.”

“But I’ve never even met your granddaughter, Huang Minhua. How can I rashly make such a promise?” Lin Xiaoyang’s voice carried a trace of confusion and doubt, while the envelope in his hand seemed to grow heavier and heavier.

Huang Lihua smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a mysterious light, while his tone carried an inexplicable sense of guidance. “Your marriage with Minhua is destined in this life and the one before it. In fact, you should have met Minhua before. Why don’t you think about it more carefully? You helped me unintentionally, and in doing so, you also helped yourself. I will use magic to give you some of my artistic abilities. Once you wake up, with these abilities, you will be able to attract Minhua’s attention.”

Then Huang Lihua gently placed a photograph into Lin Xiaoyang’s hand. It was a candid photograph of a young woman. Her long hair fell like a waterfall, and her features were beautiful and refined. There was an indescribable quality in her eyes, as though she possessed the power to move people’s hearts. “Here is a photograph of Minhua. Find some time to draw a charcoal portrait of her. Once the hotel reopens, have the portrait framed and place it at the entrance. She will become curious and come into the hotel to stay.”

Huang Lihua’s tone was calm but filled with meaning.

Lin Xiaoyang instinctively touched the girl in the photograph. Deep within his heart, he faintly sensed a familiar emotion rising within him, as though he had already met this girl before. Then he suddenly remembered Huang Lihua’s final words. His brows tightened, unable to conceal his confusion. “And one more thing: you will stay in Room 504. Don’t touch the mural on the wall. That is my entrance and exit. During the daytime, I will come out to get some fresh air.”

Huang Lihua’s figure began to blur. He quietly recited an incantation, and the entire room instantly filled with a thin mist of light. Before Lin Xiaoyang could react, Huang Lihua had already disappeared, leaving behind nothing but an eerie silence.

As morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and filled the room, Lin Xiaoyang slowly awoke and stretched, his eyelids heavy. When he stepped down from the bed, his eyes inadvertently fell upon the kraft-paper envelope on the desk, and his heart suddenly trembled. He walked over and opened it. Inside were all the items he had just seen in his dream: a set of keys, a French-language deed of ownership, a savings account book, and a book of traveler’s checks. Most striking of all was the photograph of Huang Minhua. Her long hair flowed freely, and her eyes held an indescribable allure. Lin Xiaoyang’s heartbeat involuntarily quickened, and the feeling of familiarity mixed with unfamiliarity made him pause.

He examined the photograph repeatedly and murmured, “Is this girl... my future wife?” He felt as though some unknown force deep within his heart were pulling at him, making it impossible for him to look away.

After a moment, Lin Xiaoyang gently put down the photograph, took a deep breath, and walked toward the bathroom to wash up. Huang Lihua’s mysterious tone still lingered in his mind, and he secretly vowed that, no matter what, he would uncover the truth himself.

20

The Louvre in Paris radiated its enchanting charm as always. Soft footsteps echoed through the long white corridors, while priceless works of art hung all around, attracting visitors from every corner of the world. Lin Xiaoyang stood before an Impressionist oil painting, completely absorbed in the world of intertwined colors across the canvas. His gaze moved among the colorful paintings, but the bustle around him was gradually interrupted by a familiar scent of perfume, causing him to frown slightly.

The fragrance was fresh and sweet, with a subtle floral scent. He could not help turning around. Not far away, a woman with shoulder-length blonde hair was strolling through the exhibition hall. She wore an exquisite off-white dress. Although numerous visitors were coming and going around her, her confidence and elegant bearing made her particularly conspicuous among the crowd.

Lin Xiaoyang froze, and an indescribable sense of familiarity rose within him. That familiarity came not only from her fragrance but also from the slightly Eastern quality of her profile. His gaze lingered for a moment on her golden hair and delicate features, and a name involuntarily surfaced in his mind: “Huijun?”

He instinctively walked toward the woman. His footsteps produced faint echoes on the floor as he gradually approached her from the front, carefully studying her features. His heart began to beat faster involuntarily. “It can’t be... Those features really do look so much alike...” he thought to himself, a trace of anticipation unconsciously appearing on his face.

Lin Xiaoyang summoned his courage, took a deep breath, and asked in English, “Excuse me, are you from Taiwan?”

The woman turned slightly at the sound of his voice. A calm smile appeared around her eyes, and she replied in a composed, confident tone with a hint of playfulness, “I understand Mandarin, sir.”

Hearing this answer, Lin Xiaoyang was stunned. The sense of familiarity he had originally expected was shattered at that moment, leaving him confused. “Sir? How can her voice sound exactly like Huijun’s? How is that possible? Could she really be Huijun?” His mind was in complete turmoil. He could not help wondering, “How could she have absolutely no idea who I am?”

He frowned slightly, trying to sort through the doubts in his mind, and said softly, “Miss, I’m sorry. I mistook you for an old friend of mine...”

The woman did not seem angry. Instead, she gave him a reserved smile, a smile that closely resembled something from a familiar memory. “Sir, I get approached this way all the time.” Her tone was light and carried a hint of teasing, while a trace of curiosity appeared in her eyes.

Lin Xiaoyang immediately felt embarrassed. He unconsciously touched his hair, and his cheeks flushed slightly. He forced a smile and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I mistook you for someone else.” He was still regretting his behavior inwardly, feeling that he had made a fool of himself.

He walked away several steps, then turned back to look at the woman’s retreating figure. Her steps were light as she moved through the crowd, seemingly unaware that Lin Xiaoyang’s gaze was closely following her every movement. Although Lin Xiaoyang still felt puzzled, he knew that he could not continue questioning her. Even though that sense of familiarity deep within him remained impossible to shake, he knew that he could no longer break through the unfamiliar distance between them.

He slowly moved away, still unable to resist stealing occasional glances at her figure. Yet he knew that perhaps this encounter would ultimately be nothing more than a fleeting moment when two strangers crossed paths, leaving behind only a brief memory in this ancient museum.

21

On the bustling shopping street, pedestrians streamed back and forth, while the dazzling lights of the stores on both sides of the street flickered brightly. Annie walked gracefully along the sidewalk, dressed in an elegant white dress, with a luxurious designer handbag hanging from her wrist. Her pace was calm and unhurried. Her long blond hair gently brushed in the breeze, drawing the occasional glances of passersby.

Lin Xiaoyang quietly followed behind her, keeping his head lowered and his baseball cap pulled slightly down, trying not to attract too much attention. His eyes occasionally swept toward Annie. His heart was filled with uneasy questions, yet he did not dare speak to her directly and disturb her. Whenever Annie stopped to look at something displayed in a shop window, his pace would unconsciously slow as well, maintaining a certain distance from her.

Just then, Annies attention was drawn to a figure that suddenly appeared. It was a tall Black young man who quickly passed by her, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. The next moment, he suddenly reached out, grabbed Annies handbag, and yanked her to the ground. Annie cried out in alarm and tried to push herself up with both hands, but the young man had already begun running toward Lin Xiaoyang.

Lin Xiaoyangs heartbeat quickened. Instinctively, he dropped into a low martial-arts stance, his footing as steady as a rock. His eyes locked firmly onto the young man charging toward him, his muscles tensing slightly as he prepared to strike. The young man slammed into him with lightning speed, but at the moment of impact, Lin Xiaoyang stood firm as steel, seemingly immovable. He fearlessly met the charge, his powerful body like an unshakable boulder. Caught off guard, the young man crashed into him, instantly losing his balance and falling heavily to the ground.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiaoyang stepped forward, bent down, and grabbed the young man by the collar with one hand. With a sudden burst of strength, he effortlessly lifted the large man off the ground. The young man dangled in the air like a paper figure, his eyes filled with terror and helplessness. The pedestrians stopped in astonishment, staring intently at the scene and whispering among themselves, shocked and impressed by Lin Xiaoyangs strength.

Xiaoyang firmly grabbed the handbag with one hand and quickly took it back. He then calmly shoved the young man backward. The young man was forcefully pushed away, his body falling backward. After rolling twice, he slammed heavily onto the ground and, with his eyes rolling upward, lost consciousness.

The surrounding pedestrians cried out in surprise and began applauding, cheering Lin Xiaoyang for his brave actions. A look of surprise and admiration flashed through Annies eyes. She carefully studied Lin Xiaoyangs strong, powerful arms, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her lips as she thought to herself, Thats right. Its you.

Lin Xiaoyang walked over to Annie and gently handed her the handbag. His movements were light and controlled, as if everything that had just happened had been completely within his grasp.

Annie took the handbag back, her face filled with gratitude and a gentle light flashing in her eyes. "Sir, how can I ever thank you?" she asked, lowering her head slightly. Her tone was sincere and gentle as her eyes met Xiaoyangs.

Xiaoyang gave a casual smile and waved his hand, pretending to be carefree. "Its nothing! Miss, are you all right?" His voice carried a relaxed tone, as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a minor interruption in his ordinary day.

Annie brushed the dust from her dress and gave him a warm smile, a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "Im fine. You were the one who saved me, though. Would you let me buy you a cup of coffee to thank you?" Her voice was soft and light, carrying a subtle hint of invitation.

Lin Xiaoyang paused for a moment, then curled the corners of his lips into a faint smile. He glanced around, smiled lightly, lowered his head, and said, "Then I wont refuse." His voice was low and calm. The two of them then walked together toward a café on the corner, and an unspoken sense of understanding and ease seemed to settle between them.

22

In a corner of the café, soft lighting illuminated the coffee cups on the table, while the rich aroma of coffee filled the air. At the center of the table sat a pair of elegant porcelain cups, their white surfaces reflecting the light faintly. Annie and Xiaoyang sat facing each other by the window. Annie gently lifted her cup, lowered her head slightly, and slowly savored her latte, while Xiaoyang casually stirred his black coffee, occasionally looking up to meet her gaze.

Annie smiled and gently set down her coffee cup. Her tone was sincere yet relaxed. "Thank you for helping me out just now. It all happened so suddenly. My name is Annie."

Xiaoyang smiled slightly, set down his cup, and answered casually, "Youre welcome. I just happened to be there. Annie is a beautiful name. My name is Lin Xiaoyang."

Hearing Xiaoyangs name, the corners of Annies lips lifted slightly. The name, unfamiliar yet somehow familiar, sparked a faint sense of interest in her. She knew perfectly well that Xiaoyang had followed her all the way there, but the purse-snatching incident on the street had unexpectedly become the starting point of their acquaintance. She raised an eyebrow slightly and asked curiously, "Judging by what you did just now, it looks like youve practiced some Chinese martial arts?"

A trace of happiness flashed in Xiaoyangs eyes. He playfully raised an eyebrow, seemingly a little proud of the question. "You noticed. When I was a kid, I learned some Shaolin martial arts from my grandfather. I went through quite a bit of hardship back then." He smiled faintly, his voice carrying the warmth of the memory.

A smile appeared at the corners of Annies lips, and she nodded gently, apparently intrigued by the story. "Shaolin martial arts? It must have been pretty impressive."

Xiaoyang paused briefly, then changed the subject. "Annie, are you traveling in Paris?"

Annie gently stroked the coffee cup in her hands, her eyes lowering slightly. After thinking for a moment, she replied casually, "Yes, Im traveling in Paris. The artistic atmosphere here makes me feel completely refreshed."

Xiaoyang nodded, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. Then he said, "Annie, you really look a lot like an old friend of mine." As he spoke, he took a photograph from his wallet. It showed a gentle-looking young woman, and Xiaoyang handed the photograph to Annie.

Annie took the photograph, her fingertips gently brushing the edge of it. She stared at the girl in the photograph, and suddenly, scattered images flashed through her mind. Yet those memories were as indistinct as mist, impossible to piece together into any coherent sequence. She frowned slightly and could not help wondering, How could this be...?

Seeing Annies strange expression, Xiaoyang asked in confusion, "Annie, are you sure youve never been to Taiwan?"

Annie shook her head, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile. A trace of disappointment flashed through Xiaoyangs eyes, and he silently lowered his head.

Annie gently handed the photograph back to Xiaoyang, her expression softening. Her voice was low and steady. "The girl in the photograph really does look a lot like me. May I ask, is she your girlfriend?"

Xiaoyang was slightly stunned. A mixture of longing and pain flashed through his eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly began, "Yes. Her name is Xie Huijun, and shes from Taiwan, just like me. We were college classmates, and later we dated for more than four years. But one day, we had an argument, and she left Taiwan in anger, saying that she wanted to come to Europe to clear her mind. After that, I lost contact with her. The truth is, I came to Europe to find her." His voice carried a trace of helplessness, while his eyes were filled with longing.

As Annie listened to his story, a feeling of sympathy and emotion arose in her heart. She lowered her head and softly comforted him, "I see. Xiaoyang, I believe the god of fate will help you. After all, youre so sincere."

Xiaoyangs eyes filled with gratitude. He raised his head and looked seriously at Annie. "Annie, may I come see you often?"

Annie smiled gently, a playful glimmer in her eyes. Without revealing her thoughts, she handed the photograph back to him and then said casually, "Of course! But I travel around quite often and dont have a fixed place to live. If you want to find me, just call my cell phone." She took a business card printed in both Chinese and English from her bag and handed it to Xiaoyang, her tone warm and relaxed.

Xiaoyang took the business card, feeling a soft touch between his fingers. He looked up at Annie, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Annie, youre from Shanghai? Thats not too far from Taipei."

Annie smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Xiaoyang gently set the business card down, took a deep breath, and spoke with a hint of anticipation. "Once I finish taking care of things on my end, Ill definitely come find you."

The corners of Annies lips lifted slightly, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "All right. Ill be waiting for you."

As their words crossed and an unspoken understanding flowed between them, the distance between the two seemed to suddenly grow smaller. The cafés soft lighting illuminated their conversation, as well as this unexpected encounter that fate had brought into their lives.

21

On the bustling shopping street, pedestrians streamed back and forth, while the dazzling array of shops lining both sides of the street glowed with flickering lights. Annie walked lightly along the sidewalk, dressed in an elegant white dress, with a luxurious designer handbag hanging from her wrist. Her pace was calm and unhurried. Her long golden hair fluttered gently in the breeze, drawing the casual attention of passersby.

Lin Xiaoyang quietly followed behind her, keeping his head lowered and pulling his baseball cap slightly down, trying not to attract too much attention. His eyes occasionally swept over Annie, his mind filled with uneasy questions, yet he did not dare speak to her directly and disturb her. Whenever Annie stopped to look at a display in a shop window, his pace would unconsciously slow as well, maintaining a certain distance from her.

Just then, Annies attention was drawn to a figure that suddenly appeared. It was a tall Black young man who quickly passed by her, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. Then, he suddenly reached out, grabbed Annies handbag, and yanked her to the ground. Annie cried out in alarm and tried to push herself up with both hands, but the young man had already begun rushing in the direction of Lin Xiaoyang.

Lin Xiaoyangs heartbeat quickened. Instinctively, he stepped into a solid martial arts stance, his feet planted as firmly as rocks. His eyes locked tightly onto the young man charging toward him, his muscles tensing slightly as he prepared to strike. The young man rushed at him with lightning speed, but just as they were about to collide, Lin Xiaoyang stood firm as steel, seemingly unbreakable. He met the attack without fear, his powerful body like an immovable boulder. Caught completely off guard, the young man slammed into him, immediately losing his balance and crashing heavily to the ground.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiaoyang took a quick step forward, bent down, grabbed the young mans collar with one hand, and suddenly exerted his strength. To his surprise, he easily lifted the large man off the ground. The young man dangled in the air like a paper figure, his feet suspended above the ground, terror and helplessness visible in his eyes. The pedestrians stopped in astonishment, staring intently at the scene and whispering among themselves, amazed and impressed by Lin Xiaoyangs strength.

With one hand, Xiaoyang firmly held onto the handbag and quickly reclaimed it. Then he calmly shoved the young man backward. The young mans body tilted backward under the force of the push. After rolling twice, he slammed heavily onto the ground, rolled his eyes upward, and lost consciousness.

The surrounding pedestrians cried out in surprise and then began applauding, cheering Lin Xiaoyang for his bravery. A look of surprise and admiration flashed through Annies eyes. She carefully studied Lin Xiaoyangs strong, powerful arms, then a faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips as she thought to herself, "Thats right. Its you."

Lin Xiaoyang walked over to Annie and gently handed her handbag back to her. His movements were light and composed, as if everything that had happened had been completely under his control.

Annie accepted the handbag, her face filled with gratitude, a gentle light flashing in her eyes. "Sir, how can I possibly thank you?" She lowered her head slightly, her tone sincere and gentle as she met Xiaoyangs gaze.

Xiaoyang smiled casually and waved his hand with deliberate nonchalance. "Its no big deal! Miss, are you all right?" His voice was relaxed, as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a small everyday interruption.

Annie brushed the dust from her dress and gave him a warm smile, a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "Im fine. You were the one who saved me, though. Would you let me buy you a cup of coffee to thank you?" Her voice was soft and light, carrying a subtle invitation.

Lin Xiaoyang paused for a moment, then the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile. He glanced around, smiled lightly, and lowered his head. "Then I wont turn you down." His voice was low and calm. The two of them then walked together toward a café on the corner, and an unspoken sense of understanding and ease seemed to settle between them.

22

In a corner of the café, soft lighting illuminated the coffee cups on the table, while the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee. A pair of elegant porcelain cups sat in the center of the table, their white surfaces reflecting the light faintly. Annie and Xiaoyang sat facing each other by the window. Annie gently lifted her cup, lowered her head slightly, and savored her latte, while Xiaoyang casually stirred his black coffee, occasionally looking up to meet her eyes.

Annie smiled and gently set down her coffee cup, her tone sincere yet relaxed. "Thank you for helping me out just now. It all happened so suddenly. My name is Annie."

Xiaoyang smiled slightly after hearing this and put down his cup. "Youre welcome. I just happened to be there. Annie is a beautiful name. Im Lin Xiaoyang."

As Annie listened to Xiaoyangs name, the corners of her lips lifted slightly. She felt a faint curiosity about this name that seemed both unfamiliar and strangely familiar. She knew perfectly well that Xiaoyang had followed her all the way, but the handbag-snatching incident on the street had unexpectedly become the starting point of their acquaintance. She raised an eyebrow slightly and asked curiously, "Judging from what you did just now, it seems youve practiced some Chinese martial arts?"

A happy glint flashed through Xiaoyangs eyes. He playfully raised an eyebrow, seemingly rather proud of the question. "You noticed. When I was little, I learned some Shaolin martial arts from my grandfather. I went through quite a bit of hardship back then." He smiled faintly, his tone carrying the warmth of memory.

A smile appeared at the corners of Annies lips. She nodded gently, seemingly intrigued by his story. "Shaolin martial arts? They must be pretty impressive."

Xiaoyang paused slightly, then changed the subject. "Annie, are you traveling in Paris?"

Annie gently stroked the coffee cup in her hands, her eyes lowering slightly as she thought for a moment before answering casually, "Yes, Im traveling in Paris. The artistic atmosphere here makes me feel completely relaxed and refreshed."

Xiaoyang nodded, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. Then he said, "Annie, you really look like an old friend of mine." As he spoke, he took a photograph from his wallet. It showed a gentle-looking young woman, and Xiaoyang handed the photograph to Annie.

Annie accepted the photograph, her fingertips gently brushing along its edge. She stared at the girl in the picture, and suddenly, scattered images flashed through her mind. Yet those memories were as hazy as mist, impossible to piece together in any coherent order. She frowned slightly, unable to suppress her suspicion. "How is this possible...?"

Seeing Annies expression become somewhat strange, Xiaoyang asked in confusion, "Annie, are you sure youve never been to Taiwan?"

Annie shook her head, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile. A look of disappointment flashed through Xiaoyangs eyes, and he silently lowered his head.

Annie gently returned the photograph to Xiaoyang, her expression becoming softer. Her voice was low and steady. "The girl in the photograph really does look like me. May I ask, is she your girlfriend?"

Xiaoyang was slightly taken aback. A mixture of nostalgia and pain flashed through his eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Yes. Her name is Xie Huijun, and she is from Taiwan, just like me. We were college classmates, and later we dated for more than four years. But one day, we had an argument. She left Taiwan in anger, saying she wanted to come to Europe to clear her mind. After that, we lost contact. The truth is, I came to Europe to find her." His voice carried a hint of helplessness, and his eyes were filled with hope.

As Annie listened to his story, a sense of sympathy and emotion arose within her. She lowered her head and softly comforted him. "I see. Xiaoyang, I believe the god of fate will help you. After all, you are so sincere."

Xiaoyang looked grateful. He raised his head and gazed earnestly at Annie. "Annie, may I come see you often?"

Annie smiled softly, a playful glint in her eyes. Without making a fuss, she handed the photograph back to him and then said casually, "Of course! But I travel around quite often and dont have a fixed place to stay. If you want to find me, just call my cell phone." She took a business card printed in both Chinese and English from her bag and handed it to Xiaoyang, her tone gentle and relaxed.

Xiaoyang accepted the business card, feeling a soft touch between his fingers. He looked up at Annie, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Annie, youre from Shanghai? Thats not too far from Taipei."

Annie smiled and nodded. "Thats right."

Xiaoyang gently set the business card down, took a deep breath, and spoke with a hint of anticipation. "Once Ive finished taking care of things here, Ill definitely come find you."

The corners of Annies lips curved upward slightly, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "All right. Ill be waiting for you."

As their words crossed and an unspoken understanding flowed between them, the distance between the two seemed to suddenly grow smaller. The cafés lights illuminated their conversation, as well as this unexpected encounter between two people whose paths had crossed by chance.