Invincible Young Master in the City
Chapter 840: 836 Rowing

Chapter 840: Chapter 836 Rowing

“We can row until nine-thirty; it’s not too late to head back to Hua Hai.” Shen Yan’s curved eyelashes fluttered as she rested her delicate hands under her chin, looking at Ye Fan with full anticipation, like an adorable little cat.

Her eyes sparkled mischievously, and her cute, playful demeanor was irresistible.

Ye Fan, seeing Shen Yan like this, could only helplessly say, “Alright, let’s go then!”

Shen Yan was so delighted she almost cheered, putting on sunglasses and a hat. She waited for Ye Fan to swipe the card, then eagerly pulled him outside.

“Is there really a need to hurry?” Ye Fan asked with a smile.

“Of course! How can we waste such beautiful night scenery?” Shen Yan’s smile was as radiant as a blossom, holding onto Ye Fan’s hand as they ran toward the dock.

Ye Fan smiled wryly, having no choice but to follow.

With a “click,” this moment was captured by a paparazzi hiding in the distance with a long-focus camera.

The two arrived at Huagang Pier, rented a rowboat, and after putting on life jackets, sat side by side. The boatman was a slightly lean man in his forties. With a push of the oar, the small boat slowly left the pier.

The boat passed over Suolan Bridge and headed to Xili Lake. It was a little after eight, and there were quite a few boats on the West Lake. It was the most beautiful time for the night scenery, with brightly lit shores, reflections breaking into countless enchanting spots by the ripples.

The boatman rowed gently, and the sound of water was everywhere. After passing Jingxing Bridge, he asked, “You two aren’t locals, are you?”

Shen Yan responded with a soft hum and a slight smile, “Uncle, how did you figure that out?”

“The young man’s build, broad shoulders, tall and imposing — this place, Hangzhou, doesn’t easily nurture such a guy,” he thought for a moment, then asked, “Is the young man from the north?”

Ye Fan smiled and nodded.

“Forty-nine City?” the boatman asked.

Ye Fan was slightly taken aback, “You could even tell that?”

“By your posture, you look like you’ve been a soldier, and you have an official air about you, with a certain quality — how do I say it, I haven’t read much, and can’t quite recall the right word,” the boatman chuckled heartily.

“A regal aura?” Shen Yan suddenly chimed in.

“Uh, a regal aura — although that might be a bit much, it does fit a bit,” the boatman laughed.

Ye Fan gave a slightly exasperated look at Shen Yan, “Yanyan, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Shen Yan giggled, “If it’s not a regal aura, could it be a turtle aura?”

The two were chatting so delightfully, laughter frequently interrupting them, with the boatman occasionally joining in.

However, talking about West Lake naturally drew the topic back to the lake. Though the boatman seemed honest and simple, once he opened the floodgates of talk, it was a bit unstoppable.

He narrated the sights of the West Lake, stories from ancient times to the present happening along its shores, even legends, vividly spicing them up fittingly with the beautiful scenery of the West Lake, giving it a unique flavor.

Seeing Ye Fan and Shen Yan engrossed, the boatman was even more delighted. In the heat of the moment, he would occasionally hum a few lines, his voice floating over the water, giving an impression of drifting through the mists of time.

Eventually, he got to the story of Bai Su Zhen and Xu Xian. As the small boat reached Yuyu Bay, he recounted the part where Bai Su Zhen, Xiao Qing, and Xu Xian row across the lake in the rain, and he couldn’t help but sing.

“Ah hey hey

West Lake’s scenery

In the third month ah”

Shen Yan suddenly paused. She had watched “New Legend of White Snake” and loved the song “Du Qing.” As soon as she heard the boatman sing it, she looked left and right in excitement but couldn’t find a hat, so she took off Ye Fan’s cap and placed it on the boatman’s head.

The boatman gleefully revealed a toothy grin and continued to sing:

“Spring rain like wine

Willows like smoke ah”

Shen Yan hurriedly followed up with:

“Even if a thousand miles apart we meet by fate

With no fate, it’s hard to hold hands face to face”

She held Ye Fan’s hand.

“Ten years to share a boat

A hundred years to share a bed”

Singing to this line, as if recalling something, her cheeks blushed and ears warmed, she quickly let go of Ye Fan’s hand.

The boatman, seeing this, chuckled and continued rowing while singing:

“If a thousand ah years ah of fortune favors

Two hearts as one in old age”

“If a thousand ah years ah of fortune favors

Two hearts as one in old age

La la la la la…”

When the song ended, the boatman turned and saw Shen Yan leaning on Ye Fan’s shoulder blissfully, their hands already clasped together, fingers intertwined. Reluctant to disturb the cozy moment, he silently continued to row.

The boat passed under Junyuan Bridge, reached Xiaonan Lake, and finally crossed Yingbo Bridge, returning to Huagang.

When Ye Fan and Shen Yan disembarked, it was already nine forty.

As they got into the Maserati Quattroporte, the clock read ten at night. From here to Hua Hai City, it would take at least two hours.

Ye Fan thought for a moment and asked, “Yanyan, it’s ten o’clock. Why don’t we stay overnight in Hangzhou?”

“Ah?” Shen Yan was slightly startled, suddenly recalling the lyric she sang on West Lake, “A hundred years to share a bed,” her face flushed again, her heart pounding like a startled deer, “Does he mean to go to the hotel with me? How many rooms to book at the hotel? If only one room…”

Ye Fan, unaware of her thoughts, seeing her daydreaming, reminded, “Yanyan?”

This call snapped Shen Yan back to reality, and she quickly shook her head like a rattle drum, “No, it’s not late at all. Didn’t you agree to teach me how to drift? There’ll be fewer cars at night, making it safer to learn drifting.”

“Oh, alright then.” Ye Fan said, starting the car.

Despite their words, as they drove back to Hua Hai City, once they hit the highway and found a quiet spot, Ye Fan demonstrated a drift. But Shen Yan refused to switch to the driver’s seat.

Though drifting seemed cool, it was quite technical. Without strong fundamentals, it was easy to have an accident. Besides, Shen Yan seemed more interested in watching Ye Fan drive than learning to drift herself.

Chatting along the way, they unknowingly returned to Hua Hai City. Ye Fan dropped Shen Yan off at her home, intending to take a taxi back to Dingsheng International Hotel.

Just as he was about to leave, Shen Yan suddenly called out, “Ye Fan!”

Ye Fan turned around, “Yanyan, what is it?”

Shen Yan jogged over, stood on tiptoe, and kissed Ye Fan on the cheek, “I had a great time today, thank you.”

After saying this, Shen Yan turned around, her face flushed, and quickly left as if fleeing.

Watching her leaving silhouette, Ye Fan turned around and suddenly started to laugh, obliviously singing that song: “Ah hey hey, Ah hey hey, West Lake’s scenery, in the third month ah…”

By the time he returned to Dingsheng, it was past midnight. Ye Fan drank the herbal soup he’d asked the hotel to prepare, stood for a while in the Rising Dragon Stance to absorb the medicinal effect, and practiced for a bit with Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound.

After washing up, he went to sleep.

Half-awake in a dream, a woman called his name amidst the crowd.