Chapter Nineteen: Sunrise in the East

Watching the sunrise out on the lake was a traditional tourist activity in the area. When the two of them returned to the inn, the owner went through the usual introduction, and they finally noticed a whiteboard at the front desk displaying prices and routes, which seemed quite reasonable, though as expected, there was a significant price difference between the two options.

True to form, Liu Zichen chose the closer route. From her experience, no matter which path was taken, the end result was always the same; offering multiple options was just a business tactic to maximize profits. Tourists often harbored the curious belief that the more expensive or the longer the route, the better the experience—a misconception, perhaps.

The proprietress naturally recommended, “The farther route lets you watch the sunrise from the lake itself, while the nearer one only lets you see it from the mountain’s edge. Why don’t you reconsider?”

Liu Zichen shook her head, indifferent. Chen Tianyu said nothing at all. Seeing this, the proprietress had to let it go.

Back in their room, the two of them almost collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep instantly. The day had been exhausting—interesting, perhaps, but weariness was irresistible. It wasn’t until four or five in the morning that their door was suddenly rapped upon.

Chen Tianyu, bleary-eyed, got up to answer, only then recalling their sunrise booking from the previous day.

“Uh, you’re up pretty early?” he remarked offhandedly.

The staff member smiled politely. “We have to set out early to take the boat onto the lake.”

“Oh, I see,” Chen Tianyu replied, picturing the small fishing boats moored by the shore. So those weren’t for fishing after all, but specially provided for tourists to cross Lugu Lake and watch the sunrise. There truly was no limit to the ingenuity of business owners, only the imagination of their customers.

Chen Tianyu grinned. “Our route’s the closer one—surely we don’t need to get up this early?”

The staff member was already leaving, but called back without turning, “No matter the route, everyone boards at this hour.”

Chen Tianyu could only laugh. He woke Liu Zichen, and after a quick wash, the two hurried to the lakefront. The sky was still deep with night, not a single streetlamp lit the entire scenic area. Tourists, flashlights in hand, streamed in from all directions, a bustling and rather grand scene.

Most people still seemed dazed, not quite awake. The staff wasted no time, calling everyone to board. After a brief confirmation of routes, each group set off in their own little boat. At first, several boats traveled side by side, uncomfortably close, the rumble of engines filling their ears while the chilly morning wind slapped awake even the sleepiest faces. A few, less robust against the cold, hunched over and shivered.

From a distance, Chen Tianyu spotted a red dot flickering on the shore. The boats began to split up, some heading far across the water, while theirs approached the glowing point. As they drew nearer, he could make out wisps of smoke—just a bonfire someone had lit by the shore.

The boat landed. The sun was nowhere to be seen, and the bonfire became the center of attention, with tourists flocking to warm themselves, jostling in a way both amusing and endearing.

A middle-aged woman stood by the fire, a scarf draped around her shoulders, her forehead marked with deep lines, her age somewhere between forty and fifty. She watched everything with a cool, steady gaze, barely glancing at anyone unless by accident.

Chen Tianyu thought, That fire must be her doing.

Liu Zichen didn’t rush over but hugged her arms and muttered, “It’s really a bit cold.”

The middle-aged woman, not far away, seemed to have sharp ears. She glanced at Liu Zichen, her expression softening unexpectedly, a hint of warmth flickering in her eyes.

Chen Tianyu, noticing this, quietly withdrew the arm he’d been about to wrap around Zichen.

—

When they disembarked, it was not yet five o’clock, but after a full hour, the sun still had not appeared. Many tourists, growing restless, began to ask questions, but the woman by the fire said nothing, merely adding wood in silence. The others took this for a lack of Mandarin and gave up, though they continued to mutter among themselves.

The shore was wide, and only a dozen or so people had chosen this spot for the sunrise. Apart from those pressed tight around the fire, everyone else kept their distance. Liu Zichen joined those by the fire; Chen Tianyu strolled over at a leisurely pace, intentionally positioning himself closer to the woman.

As expected, she looked up at him.

He seized the moment. “Auntie, we probably have to wait another hour or so before the sun comes up, right?”

She didn’t reply.

He continued, “It seems the other viewpoint is much farther, otherwise there’d be no need to leave so early. Maybe right now, the other boats haven’t even landed yet.”

“It won’t be that long. Light will break soon,” she finally said, her Mandarin unexpectedly clear and precise.

Chen Tianyu looked out toward the distant island, its mountains still looming high in the dimness.

“I think by the time we see the sun here, the sky will be fully bright.”

The woman seemed to smile. “You’re quite sharp, young man.”

He said nothing. She went on, “How did you figure that out?”

“I can more or less calculate it,” Chen Tianyu replied coolly.

She chuckled. “You’ve come all the way to Lugu Lake. Don’t you want to find a pretty Mosuo girl? It’d be a pity to miss out.”

Chen Tianyu was taken aback, but answered honestly, “I have a girlfriend, as you can see.”

“That’s no obstacle. Here in the Mosuo community, we practice walking marriage—no strings attached.” She looked utterly unconcerned. “Don’t let a beautiful time and place slip by, young man.”

He hesitated. The woman offered him a business card.

She smiled. “If there’s anyone you like, just call me. I’ll make sure you get your wish.”

Chen Tianyu accepted it, slipping it straight into his shirt pocket without a glance.

“Um…” he ventured. “Last night, at your bonfire party, I had a lot of fun. There was one girl who left quite an impression…”

“You mean Yiruo Jieke’er?” The woman arched her brow. “Plenty of people are after her—you’d have to queue up.”

“Jieke’er?” Chen Tianyu repeated, surprised. “Never heard of that. Is she a foreigner?”

The woman laughed. “Not at all. Jieke’er is her family name; it means ‘people by the water.’ In our lake communities, except in a few villages, we rarely use Han surnames.”

Chen Tianyu understood. “I see. For now, I’m only interested in that Yiruo girl—didn’t really pay attention to anyone else. If there’s no chance, then so be it.”

“Not necessarily,” the woman replied, troubled. “There may be many who pursue her, but she’s always kept everyone at arm’s length. Perhaps… she’s been waiting for you, who knows?”

Chen Tianyu couldn’t help but laugh. “That seems unlikely.”

She shook her head. “Young man, you must believe in fate.”

Before he could respond, she said decisively, “I’ll ask for you. Don’t give up hope. Call me before tonight, and I’ll give you a definite answer.”

Chen Tianyu was stunned. An unexpected nervousness fluttered in his chest, but he forced it down. His curiosity soon won out.

“All right,” he said at last.