Chapter 121: Remember to bring your own snacks when vacationing.

Chapter 121: Remember to bring your own snacks when vacationing.

"Knock, knock, knock."

As their gaze turned to the shadowy door, the knocking sounded once more, now clearly audible to even Zhong Yi.

Then, a voice from outside rang, "Hello, I am a hotel staff member, delivering local specialties from Dongshan. Is anyone in?"

The knock repeated, and the polite voice reiterated the message.

The tension in Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu eased slightly, realizing that the knocking came from the corridor-facing door, not the mysterious one leading to the hot spring pool as written in the notes.

Zhong Yi switched on the foyer lights and opened the door. A middle-aged man in hotel attire, pushing a cart, stood there, smiling. He offered a box from the cart, "These are Dongshan's local specialties. Our oranges and osmanthus wine are popular among tourists. Please, try some."

The man looked amiable with smile lines around his eyes. After a brief assessment, Zhong Yi accepted the box with gratitude.

The staff moved to the neighboring room, repeating his polite introduction. Soon after, the sound of a door being opened echoed from next door.

Apparently, he was just an ordinary staff member delivering local treats.

Neither Zhong Yi nor Zhong Jingzhu gave immediate attention to the gifted products. Exhausted, both searched the room thoroughly once more before collapsing on the bed to rest.

Out of curiosity, Zhong Jingzhu opened the beautifully packaged box, revealing several oranges, a small bottle of osmanthus wine, and various promotional pamphlets.

After examining an orange and sniffing the wine, Zhong Jingzhu found nothing unusual. Simultaneously, Zhong Yi went through the stack of promotional material.

Knowing that any clue left behind by the previous occupants would be inside the room rather than brought in, they hoped to maybe find something amidst the mundane ads.

The top pamphlet promoted Dongshan's specialty products, detailing the cultivation and sale of Dongshan oranges. A QR code at the bottom beckoned for purchases.

The next pamphlet advertised the osmanthus wine. Zhong Yi attempted to scan the QR code but gave up upon realizing his phone had no signal.

Subsequent leaflets showcased Dongshan town and its renowned hot springs.

The vast collection signified Dongshan's determination to thrive as a tourist destination. Zhong Yi perused each pamphlet meticulously.

As Zhong Yi remained engrossed in the promotional material, Zhong Jingzhu examined the enticing, glossy oranges, inhaling their aroma. Without tasting, he stowed them away and fetched water and biscuits from his luggage.

—For precaution, they'd brought enough provisions for three days during their stay at Dongshan hot springs. Based on previous incidents, they suspected an unidentified parasitic infection, transmitted mainly through food and water. Bringing their supplies seemed the best prevention.

Interestingly, Chi Shen, usually an eccentric figure, had followed suit, buying ample provisions from the supermarket for his Dongshan trip, saving both Zhongs the effort of persuading him.

Next door, Chi Shen had already emerged from the hot spring. Donning the hotel's bathrobe, he lounged beside the bed, eagerly unpacking the Dongshan specialties gifted by the hotel.

Ji Xingchen has already returned. He's methodically removing items from the bag he brought from Chi Shen, placing each onto the small table by the window.

Chi Shen's carry bag was brimming with items. Without exception, they were all edibles—specifically, snacks.

Being on vacation, one must be prepared with snacks. The Dongshan Hot Springs is quite secluded, so the variety of snacks available would surely be limited. While Chi Shen isn't particularly fond of snacks, there's a certain ritual to traveling, and he was confident that his friends would appreciate them.

"Could you call Bai Wan and the others? They should be rested by now," Chi Shen glanced at the oranges and osmanthus wine, remarking with delight, "I originally thought it might be troublesome to cook for you all in the hotel. Yet, they've been so accommodating, it feels like home here."

Gui Lian, upon peeking into the box, lit up with joy upon hearing Chi Shen's words, exclaiming enthusiastically, "Alright! I'll go fetch them!"

Soon after, Bai Wan and the red-dressed ghost lady arrived. The ghost lady, brimming with excitement, lunged towards the snack-filled table only to be blocked by Gui Lian, who loudly proclaimed, "No hogging! We wait for Chi Shen to divide them!"

Chi Shen responded with a chuckle, "It's fine. Feast away. Just remember, once they're gone for today, they're gone. But that's alright."

The red-dressed ghost lady halted her snack-grabbing hand, glancing over at the smiling Chi Shen. She seemed deep in thought for a few moments before her demeanor abruptly shifted, and she settled down gracefully next to the snack table. Trying her best to muster a smile with her terrifying face, she declared, "Let's all eat together!"

Bai Wan, holding a box of Dongshan local specialties that were delivered to her room, began distributing oranges to everyone. As for the osmanthus wine, she handed it all to Chi Shen.

The red-dressed ghost lady cast several longing glances at the wine. Bai Wan gently whispered, "You can't drink."

With Bai Wan having spoken, the ghost lady dejectedly turned her gaze to the table full of snacks, her expression suggesting they suddenly seemed a lot less appealing.

Bai Wan, watching the ghost lady's expression, burst into laughter. With a flick of her pale wrist, she conjured a blue flame and offered it to the ghost lady, "Try this."

The red-dressed ghost lady hesitated at the sight of the blue flame but, encouraged by Bai Wan, she gingerly accepted it. Closing her eyes, she consumed the flame in one go, seemingly wanting more as she wiped her lips afterward.

"Is this what they call 'fortune favors the fool'?" Gui Lian, sprawled amidst a pile of snacks, gazed at the ghost lady with an indescribable expression.

"Would you like some?" Bai Wan, veiling her face, turned to Gui Lian.

Gui Lian clutched the snack bag tightly, replying, "It may be nourishing, but I'm not that foolish!"

As everyone continued to eat, Gui Lian found the oranges quite delicious. After indulging a bit more, he pondered aloud, "Shouldn't we have also invited Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu?"

"There's no need to call them," Ji Xingchen remarked from the side.

Gui Lian then looked to Chi Shen, who simply smiled and said, "Inviting them could harm them."

Ji Xingchen poured himself a cup of osmanthus wine, took a sip, and calmly stated, "They would question everything here, even their own food. Bringing them here would only increase their psychological burden, perhaps even leading them to doubt themselves. In this place, staying composed is crucial."

Ghostly, with a semblance of understanding, he contorted his face twice, which might as well have been a nod.

Bai Wan listened to their conversation from the side without interjecting. At that moment, she pulled the last orange from the box. Her hand hesitated momentarily, and with her other hand, she felt the piece of paper lining the bottom of the box.

"Odd..." Bai Wan murmured softly, extracting the paper from the bottom.

It was a thick, pristine white card, yet, despite the cleanliness of the box's contents, this paper bore some grayish-black marks.

Turning the card over, Bai Wan paused briefly before saying, “Brother, come take a look at this.”

In the adjacent room,

Zhong Yi had already gone through a stack of brochures. He felt a mental fatigue settling in. Yawning, he placed the brochure back in the box and took a sip of water. His fatigue made him grip the water loosely, causing some to spill inside the box. Hastily, he grabbed a tissue to wipe it off. Halfway through, he noticed the ink on the paper at the bottom had smudged.

“Uncle, something's off,” Zhong Yi remarked, lifting the paper and looking up at Zhong Jingzhu.

Zhong Jingzhu turned his attention to it as well.

On the back of the white card in Zhong Yi's hand, clear lines of writing could be seen.

The fact that the ink on the paper smudged when met with water, and the lingering scent of fresh ink, indicated the writing was recent and done by hand.

Flipping the card, Zhong Yi revealed beautifully penned lines:

“Welcome to Dongshan Hot Springs.

Rest assured, all our hot springs are natural and unpolluted. Feel safe to enjoy them. However, please limit your soaking time to half an hour per session. Overindulging can be harmful rather than beneficial.

If you happen to overstay, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

All our towels and bed linens undergo strict sanitation procedures, ensuring your safety. Trust in our commitment.

Dongshan Hot Springs is located in a remote area with lush greenery. At night, you might encounter mosquitoes, or even snakes and wild animals. Please refrain from venturing outside the hotel building after sunset.

If you find yourself outside as the sun sets and encounter wild animals or snakes, head to the sauna or the red hot spring pool. The medicinal scent of the red pool and the aroma in the sauna deter these creatures.

While we strive to provide impeccable service, our staff may be exhausted post-dusk. If they seem unresponsive or inattentive, please be understanding. Leave your requests on the room phone, and we'll address them promptly.

If any staff member behaves inappropriately, report them immediately, and we will address the situation at once.”

If you have any concerns about our facilities, please feel free to lodge a complaint. You are our esteemed guest, and we encourage open communication.

Lastly, we wish you a joyful vacation. We sincerely hope you enjoy your stay at Dongshan Hot Springs.