Long Fantasy Romance Novel

〈The Reissued Youth〉14

61. Different Dreams on the Same Bed

At night, Xiaoliuqiu was gently brushed by the sea breeze as it passed through the guesthouse courtyard. From far away came the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Under the cover of night, the Cai familys Japanese-style guesthouse appeared especially peaceful.

After dinner, Shi Meilin finished soaking in the womens hot spring bath, changed into a soft bathrobe, and walked back to the room with a towel draped around her. Her cheeks carried a faint blush from the warmth, and her long hair was still slightly damp. Compared with her capable appearance at work during the day, she now seemed much softer, more like a girl next door.

Cai Shifen was tidying up the room. When she saw Meilin come out, she warmly walked over to greet her.

"Big Sister, sleep with me tonight. My bed is big enough for two people."

She had originally said it only out of kindness.

Unexpectedly, Meilin simply smiled naturally and replied in a calm voice,

"No need, little sister."

She paused for a moment, as if she were stating something completely natural.

"Im used to sleeping with your brother."

The moment those words fell, the air suddenly became silent for several seconds.

Cai Shifens eyes widened. The clothes in her hands nearly slipped onto the floor.

"Ah?"

She looked at Meilin, then glanced toward her brothers room nearby. Her face was filled with surprise.

"Oh... I see. All right then."

Although she agreed verbally, the curiosity and confusion in her eyes were impossible to hide.

Standing nearby, Qiu Xiuduan was even more stunned.

Her mouth was slightly open, and her expression looked as if she had just heard something completely beyond her expectations.

She had originally thought that her son had simply suddenly gotten a girlfriend. She never imagined that their relationship had already become this intimate.

However, as a mother, she quickly regained her composure.

She only secretly glanced at her son.

This child... just how many things has he not told his mother?

she wondered silently.

Shi Meilin carried her luggage into Cai Shinans room.

After the door closed, Cai Shinan stood inside the room, suddenly unsure what to say.

He had originally thought that tonight Meilin would simply stay at his home.

He never expected that she would announce without hesitation that she was going to share a room with him.

"Meilin..."

he finally spoke.

Meilin turned back to look at him, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"Dont worry. Im only doing this so tomorrows performance will seem more natural."

She deliberately blinked.

"If people even discover that where we sleep doesnt make sense, wouldnt it be easy for us to be exposed?"

Shinan opened his mouth, but he did not know how to respond.

"But..."

He could not help laughing bitterly inside.

Isnt this moving a little too fast?

While he was still struggling with his thoughts, Meilin had already picked up her pajamas and turned around.

"Turn around. Im changing clothes."

As if receiving an order, Shinan immediately turned toward the window.

Outside was a peaceful ocean view. In the distance, several fishing lights flickered in the darkness.

However, through the reflection on the window glass, he could still vaguely see Meilins graceful silhouette.

At that moment, his breathing unconsciously stopped for a beat.

During their time together by the seaside that day, he had only thought that Meilin was beautiful and charming.

But now, in this small and quiet room, he truly felt how close the distance between them had become.

A faint fragrance from her hair drifted through the air, causing his heartbeat to inexplicably quicken.

"Done."

Meilin said after changing into her pajamas.

Only then did Shinan turn around.

The two of them got into bed one after another.

Only a dim bedside lamp remained lit in the room, while the sound of the waves outside came and went softly.

Suddenly, Meilin reached out her hand and drew an invisible boundary between the two of them.

"Let me make this clear first."

She looked at Shinan seriously.

"This is the Chu River–Han Border. You are not allowed to cross the line."

Shinan could not help laughing.

"Dont worry. I have excellent gentlemanly manners."

Although he pretended to be relaxed, his heart was already in complete chaos.

Because the girl beside him was simply too close.

Her faint body fragrance and her steady breathing made his heart unable to calm down for a long time.

He closed his eyes and desperately reminded himself—

"She is only staying here for one night. She only needs a fake boyfriend. Dont think too much..."

But the more he reminded himself, the more the scenes of the two of them talking by the seaside that day appeared in his mind.

She held his hand.

She asked him for help.

She suddenly kissed him.

Those fragments played endlessly like scenes from a movie.

He did not know how much time had passed before Meilin had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Her breathing became steady, and occasionally she made a faint snoring sound. She slept peacefully.

Meanwhile, Cai Shinan remained wide awake, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

In the middle of the night, the room was completely dark.

Just as Shinan was finally about to fall asleep, he was suddenly awakened by the sound beside him.

"Mm... no..."

Meilin seemed to be dreaming, murmuring in her sleep.

After a while, she began gently grinding her teeth.

"Click... click..."

Shinan opened his eyes and helplessly stared at the ceiling.

He had originally thought that the greatest challenge would be sleeping in the same room with this beautiful girl.

He never expected that the real challenge would be her sleeping habits.

He turned over and closed his eyes again.

But before long, Meilins sleep talking came once more.

The entire night, Cai Shinan spent his time drifting between half-sleep and wakefulness.

The next morning, when he woke up with a pair of exhausted panda eyes, he could not help but laugh bitterly.

"Being a fake boyfriend isnt easy..."

What he failed to notice was that—

this performance, which had originally only been arranged to deal with his family, was quietly changing the hearts of the two people little by little.

62. The Trial of a Fake Romance Turning into True Feelings

The morning sunlight fell upon the entrance of Haban Bay Resort. The sea breeze gently brushed the green trees lining both sides of the road, and the air carried a faint scent of the ocean.

Cai Shinan rode his heavy motorcycle and slowly stopped at the entrance of the resort.

The sound of the engine gradually faded away. He removed his helmet and turned back to look at Shi Meilin sitting behind him.

Along the way, Meilin had leaned closely against his back, feeling the freedom of the sea breeze blowing toward them.

To Shinan, this short journey felt like an unreal dream.

He had originally only agreed to play the role of a "fake boyfriend" for a period of time. He never expected that the distance between them would quietly grow closer without either of them realizing it.

Shi Meilin stepped off the motorcycle, removed her helmet, and fixed her long hair that had been tousled by the wind.

She looked at this slightly shy man in front of her, a man who carried a somewhat simple and honest charm, and suddenly revealed a playful smile.

The next second, she opened her arms and gently hugged Shinan, leaving a kiss on his cheek.

Shinan froze completely.

His body stiffened for a moment, and he did not even know where to place his hands.

"Meilin..."

His voice became slightly hesitant, and an expression of being caught completely off guard appeared on his face.

But Shi Meilin acted as if nothing had happened.

She took out her phone, moved closer beside Shinan, and framed both of their figures together in the camera.

"Come on, smile."

"Click!"

The shutter sound rang out, capturing the first photo of the two of them together like a real couple.

Meilin lowered her head and looked at the picture on her phone. A satisfied smile appeared at the corners of her lips.

"You did very well last night."

She deliberately raised her eyebrows, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"I slept beside you, and you didnt take advantage of me while I was asleep. As a candidate for my boyfriend, you passed your first test."

After hearing this, Shinan could not help scratching his forehead, revealing an embarrassed yet helpless smile.

"What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Im just testing your character!"

Meilin said with a smile.

Looking at her bright smile, Shinans heart was filled with a complicated emotion.

Was she just acting?

Or had she truly begun to see him as someone special?

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Meilin took a cassette tape out of her bag and placed it in his hand.

"Shinan, remember to listen to this when you get back."

Shinan accepted the cassette tape and looked at her with confusion.

"What is this?"

"A secret."

Meilin blinked.

"Listen to it when youre alone."

After saying that, she turned and prepared to leave.

After walking a few steps, Meilin suddenly stopped and turned back.

The sunlight reflected on her face, making her look like a warm beam of light by the seaside.

"Oh, right!"

"Hmm?"

"Wait for my call."

She revealed a smile that carried both a commanding tone and a hint of playful affection.

"You still have to accompany me to Sun Moon Lake to meet my family!"

Shinan stood there, watching her gradually disappearing figure.

Only after she vanished into the crowd did he slowly withdraw his gaze.

He lowered his head and looked at the cassette tape in his hand.

Suddenly, he felt an indescribable emotion.

On the way back, the heavy motorcycle traveled along the island-circling highway.

The sea breeze roared past his ears. The scenery along the road remained as beautiful as ever, but Cai Shinans thoughts were completely elsewhere.

His hands gripped the handlebars as his eyes looked ahead.

Yet his mind repeatedly replayed Meilins smile, that embrace, and the warmth she had left on his cheek.

He could not help laughing bitterly.

"What am I even thinking about?"

The sound of the wind covered his muttering.

"Good grief... does this even count as being in love?"

He frowned, his heart filled with confusion.

"Or... is this just a ridiculous performance staged by two people together?"

But if it was only acting, why did his heartbeat feel so real?

If it was only fake, why did he feel a sense of emptiness after she left?

Cai Shinan tightened his grip on the throttle and accelerated.

The distant ocean shimmered under the sunlight.

And the story between him and Shi Meilin—the story of a "fake romance becoming true feelings"—had only just quietly begun.

63. A Missed Fate and a New Beginning

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows of the guesthouse living room, casting a soft golden glow onto the wooden floor and creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

The Cai family guesthouse had only recently opened.

Although many travelers came and went every day, for Cai Shifen, there were still countless details that required her personal attention.

From preparing rooms and welcoming guests to handling all kinds of tasks inside and outside the guesthouse, she hardly had any real time to rest.

At this moment, only she and Zhang Yahui remained in the living room.

A freshly brewed pot of tea sat on the table, and the fragrance slowly drifted through the air.

Cai Shifen sat on the sofa, her brows slightly furrowed, looking at the older sister-like woman who had accompanied the Cai family for so long.

Deep down, she had always felt that Yahui had been treated unfairly.

"Sister Yahui, my brother is really too much."

She could not help speaking, her voice filled with a sense of injustice on behalf of her friend.

"Even as his younger sister, I really cant stand watching this."

Zhang Yahui lifted her teacup and gently blew away the rising steam.

Yet her expression remained unusually calm.

She neither blamed anyone nor complained.

She only smiled faintly.

"Shifen, isnt love something that requires both people to be willing?"

She put down the teacup and looked toward the courtyard outside the window.

"In the half year that your brother and I spent together, although your mother often tried to encourage us, and you always hoped that we would end up together, your brother has always only seen me as a good friend."

Yahui paused for a moment, and a bitter smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

"He never confessed his feelings to me, nor did he ever make me any promises."

She lowered her head and looked at her fingers, as if sorting through the memories of the past six months.

"Looking back now, I realize that he had already fallen in love with someone else long ago. So actually, your brother doesnt need to apologize to me."

Listening to her, Cai Shifen could not help shaking her head.

"Sister Yahui, I truly admire you."

She looked at Yahui, her voice filled with confusion.

"My brother treated you this way. Are you really not angry at all?"

Zhang Yahui remained silent for a moment, then smiled gently.

"What would being angry change?"

She looked up at Shifen.

"Your brother didnt deceive me. He simply didnt fall in love with me."

Her voice remained calm, but deep in her eyes there was still a faint trace of disappointment.

"What right do I have to demand that he must choose me?"

Cai Shifen was stunned.

The Yahui before her was far more mature and open-minded than she had imagined.

"I really admire you."

She sighed and could not help smiling.

"If it were someone else, they probably would have cried and made a scene already."

Zhang Yahui smiled as well.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she looked at Shifen.

"By the way, has You Sihai asked you out recently?"

Cai Shifen was slightly startled.

"Yes."

She picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

"He called a few times and asked me to go out with him, but I told him that we were short-handed at home. The guesthouse has just started operating, and I really cant get away."

Zhang Yahui nodded.

"If Sihai asks you out again in the future, tell me."

She smiled warmly.

"I can come over on weekends and help you cover your shift."

Cai Shifen quickly shook her head.

"Lets talk about it later!"

She looked around the living room, her eyes filled with a sense of responsibility.

"The guesthouse has only just opened. So many things still havent settled into place. Right now, I really dont have the mood to go sightseeing or have fun."

She paused, then added,

"As for relationships, well talk about them later."

Zhang Yahui looked at her, a pleased expression appearing in her eyes.

"Actually, You Sihai is a good person."

She spoke softly.

"He also helped your brother quite a lot in the past. I think your brother probably wont object to him getting close to you anymore."

Cai Shifen fell silent for a while.

She remembered how, in the past, her brother had deliberately stopped You Sihai from getting close to her in order to protect her.

At the time, she had only thought her brother was domineering and unreasonable.

But after everything that had happened recently, she seemed to have gradually begun to understand her brothers intentions.

"I used to think my brother was really annoying."

She gave a bitter smile.

"He wouldnt let Sihai get close to me, and he controlled everything I did. He was like an authoritarian parent."

She looked outside the window at the flowers and plants blooming in the courtyard.

"But now that I think about it, maybe he was just worried about me."

Cai Shifens expression gradually became determined.

"Once the guesthouse is truly stable, I want to go back to school and continue my studies."

Zhang Yahui looked surprised.

"Go back to school?"

"Yes."

Shifen nodded.

"I want to study hospitality management and hotel operations, and improve my abilities."

She smiled.

"I dont want to rely only on my family, and I dont want to hand over my life to a relationship so quickly. When I am truly ready, then I can think about dating and marriage. It wont be too late."

After hearing this, Zhang Yahui showed a relieved and happy smile.

She reached out and gently patted Shifens shoulder.

"Shifen, youve really grown up. In the past, you only thought about your feelings in the moment. Now, youve already begun planning your own future."

She looked at this girl who was gradually maturing, her voice gentle.

"Knowing how to take responsibility for your own life—that is what true growing up means."

Outside the window, the sea breeze passed by, carrying a faint salty scent.

The two women sat together in the afternoon sunlight, talking about love and also about life.

They both understood that some relationships might not develop according to expectations.

Yet every missed connection could also become the beginning of the next stage of growth.

64. An Invitation to Pursue a Dream

At dusk, the setting sun gradually sank toward the horizon.

The sea outside the window was dyed with a layer of orange-red glow. The shimmering waves rose and fell with the sea breeze. Several seabirds flew low and circled near the fishing boats, occasionally letting out long cries, adding a trace of life to the quiet evening.

Cai Shinan sat alone in his bedroom.

He leaned against the window, holding the cassette tape that Shi Meilin had given him before leaving.

His eyes remained fixed on the small plastic case, and he did not move for a long time.

It was not merely a cassette tape.

To him, it was a letter that had not been written on paper, hiding Meilin’s true thoughts and also the answer he had always been afraid to face.

Shinan took a deep breath and placed the cassette tape into the small portable recorder on the desk.

"Click!"

The play button was pressed.

After a moment, Shi Meilin’s gentle and emotional voice filled the room.

"Shinan, I came here for a vacation and unexpectedly met you. I truly treasure this friendship between us."

"Under the pressure from my elders to get married, I made this unreasonable request of you and asked you to act as my boyfriend for a while. I know you must feel wronged inside."

"But my career has only just begun to rise, and I still have many dreams that I want to achieve. I dont want to stop moving forward at this moment because of family pressure."

"People become great because they have dreams."

"I also have dreams of my own, waiting for me to accomplish them."

"If you are willing to join hands with me and build a career together, then you would not only be my work partner, but you might also become an important partner on my journey through life."

"If you are willing to return to Taipei with me, we can work hard together. Perhaps in the future, we may have the opportunity to become a real couple and support each other on the road of life."

"I hope you will seriously consider coming back to Taipei with me..."

After the voice stopped, the room fell silent once again.

Cai Shinan reached out and pressed the stop button.

He sat at the desk and remained silent for a long time.

The final rays of the sunset outside the window shone on his face, yet they could not dispel the conflict within his heart.

He lowered his head and gently rubbed the outer shell of the cassette tape with his fingers.

"Meilin..."

He murmured to himself.

"You really make my heart move."

A bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"But... why does it have to be me returning to Taipei?"

He looked out at the vast sea beyond the window.

"I finally managed to leave that busy, competitive city life that made it hard to breathe. Do I really have to go back and live those days of chasing after time again?"

To him, Xiaoliuqiu was not only his hometown.

It was also the place where he had rediscovered himself.

However, Shi Meilin’s appearance was like a sudden sea breeze, disrupting the peaceful life he had originally regained.

"Knock! Knock!"

A knocking sound came from the door.

Cai Shinan came back to his senses.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Cai Shifen poked her head into the room.

Seeing her brother sitting at the desk lost in thought, she could not help frowning slightly.

"Brother."

She walked into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Sister Yahui came here today."

Cai Shinan was startled and turned his head.

"Oh? When?"

"Right after you sent Sister Meilin away."

Shinan slightly frowned.

"Yahui came to see me?"

Cai Shifen shook her head.

"No. She just talked with me for a while about you and Sister Meilin."

Cai Shinan remained silent for a moment.

"Yahui knows about Meilin?"

"Yes."

Shifen looked at her brother, her tone becoming serious.

"Brother, you should know that Sister Yahui has always liked you."

She paused.

"But you..."

Cai Shinan let out a soft sigh and interrupted his sister.

"I know what you want to say."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"Yahui is a very good person. She is gentle, kind, and also someone I can truly talk to about my feelings."

He looked at the distant sea, his voice low.

"If Shi Meilin had never appeared, perhaps Yahui and I... really could have developed into a couple."

Hearing her brother say this, the slight dissatisfaction in Cai Shifen’s heart slowly faded.

She understood that her brother had not intentionally hurt Yahui.

It was just that matters of love had never been something that could be gained through one person’s efforts alone.

"Brother."

She spoke softly.

"You must remember how good Sister Yahui has been to you."

Cai Shinan turned around, looked at his sister, and nodded.

"I will."

He smiled.

"Just like how You Sihai has been good to you."

Cai Shifen was stunned.

"Why are you suddenly talking about Sihai?"

Cai Shinan deliberately showed a brother’s concerned expression.

"Didnt he ask you out before?"

Cai Shifen walked over to the desk, sat down, and picked up a book from the table, flipping through it.

"The shop is too busy."

She paused, then revealed a determined look.

"And I want to go back to school."

"Go back to school?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"I want to study hospitality management and hotel operations, and improve my abilities."

She looked up at her brother.

"I dont want to fall in love too early, and I dont want to simply let other people arrange my life for me."

After hearing this, Cai Shinan smiled with relief.

He reached out and gently rubbed his sister’s hair.

"That’s good. You’re still young. You should read more books and learn more skills."

Cai Shifen smiled.

The brother and sister stood side by side by the window.

Outside, the sunset gradually disappeared, and the light on the surface of the sea slowly faded.

Yet neither of them knew that in the ocean of life, everyone was facing their own choices.

Some people pursued love.

Some people pursued dreams.

And the "fake romance" between Cai Shinan and Shi Meilin, which had originally begun only to resolve pressure from family, was also gradually moving step by step toward an unknown future.

65. A Life Without Memories

Inside the women’s dormitory of the homeless shelter, the afternoon sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains, leaving mottled patterns of light and shadow on the floor.

The room was simply furnished. Several beds were neatly arranged in rows, and a few green plants stood in the corner, adding a little warmth to this temporary place of stay.

Lin Daihua sat by the bedside, holding a translated novel, The Thorn Birds, in her hands.

She lowered her head and quietly read the words on the pages.

The characters in the novel continuously pursued love and destiny. Even while enduring pain, they still struggled to search for the meaning of life.

As Daihua continued reading, her eyes gradually became distant.

She could not help thinking about her own situation.

She was also someone who could not find her past.

No name.

No family.

No memories of childhood.

Several groups of people had once come to the shelter, claiming that she was their long-lost family member.

However, each time, they were unable to provide enough evidence to prove her identity.

Those hopes eventually turned into disappointment.

And she could only continue waiting.

"Knock! Knock!"

A knocking sound came from the door.

Daihua raised her head.

"Come in."

The door opened, and her roommate Lu Xiuying walked into the room carrying a bag of fruit.

A cheerful smile was on her face as she placed the bag of fruit on the table.

"109, come eat some fruit."

Daihua put down the book in her hand and stood up, walking over.

"Thank you, Xiuying."

She took a pear from the bag and held it in her hand.

Lu Xiuying sat down on the chair beside her and looked at Daihua silently for a while before finally speaking.

"109, besides putting an announcement in the newspaper, is there really no other way?"

Daihua was peeling the pear.

Her movements paused for a moment.

She lowered her head and looked at the fruit in her hand, revealing a faint smile.

"Let things take their natural course."

She spoke softly.

"Perhaps this is the life that Heaven has arranged for me."

"Perhaps... He wants me to be like a blank sheet of paper and begin again."

Hearing this, Lu Xiuying could not help sighing.

She looked at this girl who always maintained a smile on her face, feeling both admiration and sympathy.

"Sigh..."

She leaned back against the chair.

"But you cant continue like this forever."

"The groups of people who came looking for you before, although their stories all sounded very convincing, none of them could provide evidence in the end."

She paused, her tone becoming even more concerned.

"You cant spend your entire life like a ghost person, without a true identity and without knowing your own past."

Daihua fell silent.

The sound of vehicles passing in the distance came from outside the window.

She looked at the sky outside.

There was no fear in her eyes.

Instead, there was a rare sense of peace.

After a while, she turned to Xiuying.

"Xiuying, thank you."

Her voice was soft, yet filled with sincerity.

"Actually... I have thought about this matter many times too."

She sat back down on the edge of the bed, gently running her fingers over the cover of the novel.

"If one day, I truly recover my memories..."

She paused for a moment.

"Perhaps I might not necessarily be more satisfied or happier than I am now."

Lu Xiuying was startled.

"Why?"

Daihua lowered her head and smiled.

"Because the current me, although I have lost my past, at least I know that I am working hard to live."

She looked at the changing light and shadows outside the window.

"Some people possess complete memories, yet they do not know what they truly want."

"And I, instead, can choose my own life again."

Lu Xiuying looked at her and remained silent for a long time.

For the first time, she felt that this girl who had lost her past might not be someone waiting to be rescued.

She was using her own way to rebuild a future that belonged to herself.

The room became quiet again.

The The Thorn Birds on the table lay there silently.

That novel about love and destiny seemed also to be waiting for the next unknown chapter in Lin Daihua’s life.