Four hours later, after getting off the train in Stuttgart, the two immediately implemented the "travel style that I had always wanted to try" that Puisam proposed.
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"What should we do now? Should we just randomly find a guesthouse and knock on the door?"
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"Of course not. First, we need to find a suitable guesthouse; that's the first step." She naturally held Tinjau's hand and pulled him along as they walked briskly through the European-style square in front of the train station. "Follow me."
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Puisam was using the information she had obtained from the local tourist center, personally visiting each guesthouse to make selections. However, her criteria for selection left Tinjau completely puzzled. She seemed to care little about the location or facilities of the guesthouses, focusing instead on the demeanour of the person at the reception desk. Sometimes, she would only take a glance and decide that guesthouse was not qualified.
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When Puisam encountered an owner whom she found appealing, she would link her arm with Tinjau's and enter, greeting the owner with a few phrases in German that she obviously recited, and then switching back to talking in English. Sometimes she would ask for directions, and other times inquire about local restaurants, never directly mentioning the need for a room, and would say goodbye and leave after a brief chat.
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By the time they reached the fifth guesthouse, Puisam seemed to hit it off immediately with the proprietress who had a very "auntie" vibe. "Are you both backpacking enthusiasts? How wonderful! You two met during traveling? So, you're intentionally retracing the route where you first met on your honeymoon? How romantic... it reminds me of my youth."
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Mrs. Schmitt, the proprietress, began to share her own travel experiences from her youth, including encounters with handsome men and having passionate romances.
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"When I see Puisam, I can’t help but recall myself back then... Kiddo, what are you laughing at? Back in my day, my figure was very slim, I am not inferior to your wife at all!"
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"Uh, sorry. I... I have no doubt about what Mrs. Schmitt is saying... ahem..."
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"You two are not allowed to leave! Stay here tonight! I’ll go find some old photos from my youth to show you later." She patted her chest and said, "By the way! To celebrate you two as s newlywed, let’s have a little party tonight! All expenses will be borne by me, and the accommodation fee will be waived. It’s rare to getting on with new friends like a house on fire, so why worry about money..."
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"Mrs. Schmitt...but…"
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"No worries, okay?" she held Puisam's hand and said, "I haven’t met such compatible travelers in a long time, and you remind me so much of my younger self. Let me relive those good old days tonight."
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So that evening, this small B&B’s common living room became the wedding banquet venue for Puisam and Tinjau. The Schmitt family, a few other travelers who were also staying there, and several neighbours' families were invited to join.
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Driven by Mrs. Schmitt's enthusiasm, the guests quickly became familiar with one another. The men were held the shoulder of each others, drank beers and ate barbecue, while the women gathered on the sofas, chattering away and occasionally bursting into sharp laughter.
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Puisam naturally became the centre of attention among the women. She skillfully redirected the conversation to avoid more discussions about their "newlywed" status.
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She would occasionally use a phrase or two of clumsy German, genuinely expressing interest in the daily lives of others. Puisam quickly became the perfect listener, several German ladies share their troubles with her in broken English, mostly complaints about their husbands being unromantic and how they had changed after years of marriage...
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Tinjau was full of thoughts, but drank moderately, while the big husband of B&B proprietress insisted on toasting many times on his behalf (perhaps his wife usually didn’t allow him to drink too much), which relieved Tinjau.
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Although he couldn’t fully devote himself to the party, Tinjau still cherished this evening. After more than two months of backpacking, this was the first time he felt so integrated into the everyday life of ordinary people in a foreign country, experiencing the warmth of "living together in a global village, like one big family."
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However, this warmth did not quell Tinjau's anxious heart.
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His unease and concerns primarily revolved around one question: (Tonight, will I really share a same room with Puisam?)
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And the answer was affirmative.
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The banquet continued late into the night, and everyone dispersed. After taking a shower, Tinjau found himself struggling with the question of "Should I put my clothes back on? How much should I wear?" in the bathroom. Ultimately, he returned to the room dressed in comfortable sleepwear.
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"...I think I’ll just sleep on the floor."
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"Why?" Puisam asked in surprised. "This bed can fit three people; is it not big enough?"
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"No..."
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"If you’re too tired, you can sleep first; you don’t have to wait for me. Hubby." Puisam said, then she walked into the bathroom calmly.
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Listening to the sound of water cascading in the bathroom and the alluring sounds of scrubbing the body, Tinjau felt his heart, coated in honey, being nibbled by countless ants, making it itchy and painful.
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How could he possibly sleep?
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Ah, he wished the bathroom door was transparent. Even semi-transparent would do. He wanted to know in advance whether she would come out naked or would put on some clothes. Or perhaps... just wrap herself in a small towel, with nothing underneath?
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The bathroom door opened silently. It turn out that Puisam emerged wearing an oversized men’s plaid shirt as a nightgown, just long enough to cover her backside, revealing a pair of long, snow-white, and athletic legs.
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It seemed she was deliberately teasing Tinjau, as she didn’t go around to the other side of the bed but instead crawled over him to get to her side. This movement made the neckline and her lower half precariously exposed, with only a shadow of her key parts faintly visible, leaving Tinjau unsure if it was just the lighting or if it was really...
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After lying down beside him, Puisam neatly covered herself with the duvet, her hands moving behind her back to do something. Finally, she stretched one hand out of the duvet, her index finger hooking a white lace bra.
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As Tinjau watched the bra was put beside her pillow, his heart was jumping out of his chest.
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Puisam suddenly turned her head to meet Tinjau's gaze. "…Can’t sleep?"
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"Uh, no..."
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"Are you troubled? What are you thinking about?"
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Seeing Tinjau slightly panting, Puisam lower her head and immediately pulled the duvet tighter around her neckline, revealing only a small portion of her neck, and pull the distance between two of them a little further. The sweet scent from her body after bathing seemed to vanish, leaving Tinjau extreme disappointment.
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This self-defensive action finally made Tinjau grasp Puisam's intentions. He sighed and smiled bitterly, "Is it too reckless to trust a stranger you’ve known for less than twenty-four hours enough to share a bed with him?"
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"Are you saying you’re a pervert who’s going to rape me right now?"
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"Uh... well..."
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"If something goes wrong, everyone in this house would rush in to help me. What could you do? Leave your luggage and jump out the window naked? Or would you wait till me sleep soundly and then cover my face with a pillow silently, and then...?"
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"That’s also a possibility. How do you know I’m not a psychopathic killer?"
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"Just based on the 'LV' membership card you showed me earlier. You’re that kind of typical urbanite who carefully navigates through life, cherishing your future so much that you need to rely on an organization like 'LV' to fulfill your backpacking dreams. Such a personality is not suited for being a criminal. Your mind will not allow you to gamble the rest of your life in exchange for a moment of pleasure."
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"…Perhaps you underestimate your own charm."
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"Or perhaps you overestimate my reserve? If I don’t resist, how can you claim it’s rape?" she teased. "Don’t forget, you’ve never askd, and I’ve never explicitly rejected you."
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"You..." Tinjau was genuinely a bit angry at her teasing. He indeed had the impulse to push Puisam down to prove that she was taking things too far. But for some reason, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Perhaps he hadn’t drunk enough tonight.
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He dimly felt that tonight wasn’t the best time. He was more looking forward to the journey ahead. From the moment they met in the train, Tinjau's attitude toward Puisam had remained consistent: he didn’t want to possess this woman by any means; rather, he hoped to conquer her with his own abilities.
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He sighed and retracted his hand that was about to touch her body. "I understand that playing the role of newlyweds does make it easier to enter the lives of strangers. A single man raises suspicion, while a single woman feels unsafe. But... there’s no need to act to this extent, even sharing a bed after closing the door."
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"But clearly, you are not going to get out of bed and sleep on the cold, hard floor. Right?"
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"...I hate women like you who are too understanding."
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Puisam suddenly propped herself up, leaning over Tinjau, and turned off the bedside lamp on his side. Whether intentional or not, her chest stopped right in front of Tinjau. The half-open collar of her shirt swept across the tips of Tinjau’s nose, and the faint feminine scent rushed into his nostrils, hitting him straight in the brain.
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"Don’t you think maintaining this tension that’s on the verge of collapse is one of the joys of traveling together?" After saying this, Puisam lay back down in her position, turning her back to Tinjau.
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A few minutes later, her breathing became slow and deep.
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That night, Tinjau hardly slept at all.
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**Day 60**
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Tinjau and Puisam stayed in this B&B on the outskirts Stuttgart for three nights. Thanks to Puisam's affability, they became very good friends with the Schmitt family.
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Every morning, they took the Schmitt's five-year-old daughter to school. They accompanied Mrs. Schmitt to the market for shopping, asked her how to select the best German sausages.
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The love and respect shown by Puisam for all aspects of Germany, her envy of the life of the locals, and her eagerness to immerse herself in their life, all made Mrs. Schmitt feel very proud, and Mrs. Schmitt became increasingly reluctant to let them go.
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Puisam revealed to Mrs. Schmitt that she and Tinjau planned to travel north along the Rhine River. Mrs. Schmitt clearly had a deep affection for the Rhine River, and felt proud to hear that foreign travelers were drawn to it. She enthusiastically recommended various famous scenic spots along the riverbank. She insisted that when they go to the Wiesbaden that alongside the middle reaches of the Rhine River, they must visit her sister who had married there.
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Her sister and sister-in-law were also travel enthusiasts when they were young. Although they were not currently running B&B, they often invited like-minded backpackers to stay for a few days to share their travel experiences.
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Puisam was naturally very eager and quickly asked Mrs. Schmitt to give her sister a heads-up, promising that they would visit.
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When it was time to say goodbye, Mrs. Schmitt tearfully expressed her reluctance, saying that Puisam and Tinjau were the most favorable travelers she had met in years. She even said her impression of Chinese people and China as a whole had greatly changed because of them. Her little daughter clung to Puisam's clothes, refusing to let go, even threatening not to go to school anymore.
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After they politely decline for a while, Tinjau and Puisam finally left with a large bag of local product as the gift, almost breaking free as they departed. Anticipating the future developments, Puisam didn’t head straight to the train station but instead found a corner table in a café in front of the station to hide.
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As she expected, not long after they sat down, they saw Mrs. Schmitt anxiously searching for something with an envelope in her hand. Tinjau knew exactly who she was looking for because he knew what was in that envelope.
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Before checking out, Puisam had quietly put an envelope with three hundred euros under the pillow and wrote in German: "You are the kindest Germans we have ever met. These brief and joyful days will become one of our most cherished memories. May the Lord bless you."
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"Puisam, are you a Catholic?"
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"...I saw a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary in the corner of the lobby of the B&B," she replied. "Respecting others' beliefs is the key to winning the favor of the strangers."
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**Day 62**
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After arriving in Wiesbaden, they visited Mrs. Schmitt's sister as they agreed. As expected, she and her husband, Mr. Kaufmann, warmly invited them to stay as guests.
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The Kaufmanns were very devout Catholics, and Puisam responded with great enthusiasm by accepted their invitation to join them for Sunday worship.
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Her phrase "May the Lord bless you," spoken in German, was becoming increasingly fluent. This opening line earning her a warm welcome from the church community. She forced Tinjau along to pray and awkwardly sing German hymns according to the international phonetic alphabet.
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Puisam later even entered the confessional to confess to the priest on duty. Tinjau would rather die than go in. Although he considered himself an open-minded traveler, the act of confession was something he found difficult to do as a Chinese man, as it is difficult for him to put down his dignity to do it.
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"What did you confess to the priest just now?" Tinjau asked Puisam.
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"Secret," she teased, sticking out her tongue at him. Tinjau, momentarily captivated by her expression, thought to himself: (Your greatest sin is that you often make my heart beating wildly...)
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The interpersonal network of the church was incredibly strong, and with the Kaufmanns' circle of friends, many of whom once were travel enthusiasts, or still are travel enthusiasts, they all enjoyed gathering together.
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After Puisam expressed her admiration for life in Germany and her open attitude toward their itinerary for the next few days, the newly acquainted Church members eagerly invited them to visit and stay at their homes in turn.
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Puisam showed great enthusiasm and anticipation for all the invitations, and soon they were busy moving their backpacks from one home to another every day.
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When they stay at other people's homes, they either help in the kitchen (eagerly learning traditional German cooking), or play chess with the elderly, or take the children out to fly kites, engaging in the most ordinary of household activities, but Puisam was fully immersed in it all.
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Seeing her carefree and happy smile, Tinjau also felt very happy and tried to relax and enjoy this simple happiness.
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**Day 69**
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By the second Sunday, after finished Sunday school, they received even more invitations from church members due to the good reputation they had built over the past few days. If they stayed any longer, it would surely never end.
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Puisam understood this well. She held Tinjau's arm and said regretfully that if they didn’t set off soon, they will delay the itinerary of their honeymoon trip.
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Thus, the hospitable church members and even the clergy began to propose various invitations and suggestions that would fit into their itinerary.
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Some of them were planning to have trip were inviting them to go with them; some who were already retired and had nothing to do were volunteered to be their guides, offering to take them on a boat trip along the Rhine River. Additionally, several church members said they would contact relatives and friends in the country and even abroad to ensure they would be well taken care of upon arrival.
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Tinjau was astonished by the rapid expansion of his interpersonal network. Although he had worked as a white-collar worker in an international city for several years, he was still someone who spent his days in an office and had little experience in the art of building social connections. He often heard that successful entrepreneurs knew people all over the world, and he thought that was a distant and unimaginable thing.
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But now, Puisam, who appeared to be of a similar age to him, possessed such an incredible congeniality. She had opened up such vast possibilities in only two stops of their trip. What she did was so simple, almost effortless for anyone.
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She merely showed her respect and care for strangers at the right time and right moments, yet the rewards were so abundant...
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He looked at the phone numbers and addresses she had jotted down in her notebook and sighed inwardly; it seems they already had "acquaintances" to contact in the major towns along the Rhine River. As long as they were willing, they could even choose to fly to Birmingham in the UK to visit a young priest's elderly aunt...
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If they continued to explore and dig into their known connections in this way, perhaps it wouldn’t take long before they found friends willing to host them in every city of every country in the world, eagerly awaiting their arrival!
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Tinjau suddenly realized that compared to venturing alone into a strange city and moving freely without any interference, the travel style Puisam was pursue might indeed touch upon more possibilities, allowing them to see a deeper and more authentic world.
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**Day 72**
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After staying in Wiesbaden for three more days, Tinjau and Puisam finally decided to accept an invitation of an elderly church member, Hans Pott, to visit his manor located in the suburbs of Cologne.
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Mr. Pott was a retiree living a leisurely life. He suggested they could take a steamboat with a history of several decades to slowly travel north along the river to Cologne, enjoying the scenery of the Rhine along the way.
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This suggestion made Puisam and Tinjau very excited.
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Their voyage would almost traverse half of Germany. The riverside scenery changed continuously with the development characteristics of the cities along the way, featuring areas where the government had deliberately preserved the original ecology, as well as fully developed industrial and commercial ports.
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Both Tinjau and Puisam loved the coal ports that with strong European characteristics, the scent of charcoal in the air, which led them to weave beautiful imaginations about the Industrial Revolution era.
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As they chatted, they discovered that they both shared a fondness for the works of Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki and were fascinated by the European style depicted in the background of his movie. Surrounded by the romantic scenery and their romantic imaginations, Tinjau felt that he and Puisam's hearts seemed to have reached a closeness they had never experienced before.
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Puisam seemed to be intoxicated by the atmosphere as well; her sparkling eyes, which were originally looking directly into Tinjau’s eyes, were gradually became overwhelmed by a sense of shyness.
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She averted her gaze, lightly biting her lower lip, and a faint blush appeared on her ears and neck.
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Unfortunately, just as the atmosphere reached its peak, it was interrupted by the sound of an insensitive whistle. Otherwise, Tinjau's lips would already touch Puisam's. They were just a few centimeters or three centimeters apart.
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Puisam, who had always taken the lead in their interactions, skillfully navigating between ambiguity and teasing, seemed to finally show a crack in her perfect defenses.
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Hans Pott, the owner of the manor, indeed had a personality indeed a bit like the entrepreneur from the industrial revolution-era—energetic and action-oriented. This can be seen from his complicated manor business.
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Although Tinjau had only seen Puisam in casual clothes and carrying a backpack over the past few days, her decent demeanor and dignified behavior easily led him to believe that she was likely an executive in a large organization or perhaps even a business owner of a public relations company.
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However, as a woman exuded such an administrative aura, she looked incredibly harmonious as she running with her barefoot on a golden pasture. She even knew how to milk cows and climb trees, and she is not afraid of the little insects that often appeared in the fields.
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This allowed Tinjau to gain a new perspective on this mysterious woman. He now felt that Puisam was a wild child who had forced herself to dress like an office lady to adapt to contemporary society.
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Even Tinjau, who usually didn’t enjoy outdoor life, Puisam's abundant energy and happy expression was rubbed off on him, making him enjoyed the fun of working in the manor.
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Old Pott was delighted as a child to have two energetic young people accompanying him, and he joyfully led them around, showing them one by one the fruits of his lifelong labor.
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He patiently guided them through various tasks in the manor, and the three of them worked together to mow the grass, herd cattle, milk cows, collect honey (Tinjau didn’t know why those bees kept chasing him), and stomp grapes (The biggest lifelong dream of Old Pott was to win the first "Best Red Wine of the Year" award for Germany).
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Puisam’s favorite task was stomping grapes. Of course, she didn’t dare to mess around with the precious raw materials, she does it seriously and carefully, you could tell how much she likes this job by seeing the joy that naturally radiated from her.
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A few days after they arrived the manor, Old Pott was surprised to find that the entire winery was affected by Puisam's enthusiasm, and there was a harmonious atmosphere of enjoyment in work.
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Even the wine-tasting expert who came to inspect the winery was moved by Puisam's smile. "Old Pott, I’ll order two more cases of your wine this year. I have a feeling that this will be your best work your winery has ever produced."
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Old Pott realized that this harmonious and positive atmosphere was exactly the management skill he, as a cold exterior but warm interior German man, had always ignored. On Puisam, he seemed to see the potential to elevate the winery to new heights, which made him love this "enlightening teacher" even more.
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**Day 78**
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The wine-tasting expert was a retired gentleman around sixty years old, whom Old Pott referred to as "Mr. Welsh." He originally came from England, he had lived in Germany for many years, he was an old friend of the manor owner and known him for half a lifetime. It was said that he would come to stay at the manor two or three times a year.
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Mr. Welsh was a very talkative person with a sense of humor, making everyone at the dinner laugh heartily. He was so considerate that he noticed Tinjau might not understand British humor and quietly shared a few sleazy American soap opera jokes with him, causing Tinjau to laugh so hard that wine spurted out of his nose.
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This old man was naturally generous; although he always well-turned-out, he was very casual when it came to eating and didn’t adhere to any table manners. He didn’t mind if others wasted good wine and even took a napkin to wipe Tinjau's nose, making him an easy-going Englishman.
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"Don’t be fooled by his demeanor. Mr. Welsh is actually a well-known British nobleman," After old Pott revealed this little secret, and Mr. Welsh simply shrugged it off with an attitude of "so what?"
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Puisam seemed very interested in the long and glorious history of the Welsh family, and she had some knowledge of noble crests and hereditary systems. As they chatted, she had lifted Mr. Welsh's spirits, and his "British-style detachment" hidden under the mask of humor was gradually melted. And soon he began to explain to Puisam the ancient "noble knowledge" and various little-known historical anecdotes with enthusiasm and pride.
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Puisam even took notes while listening intently.
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"You don’t have to be so dramatic," Tinjau teased in Mandarin.
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"You think I am flattering him? Of course not!" she replied in Mandarin. "This kind of knowledge is very useful. Topics about nobility interest friends from any country."
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Tinjau exchanged glances with Old Pott, who made a face that seemed to say, "This could go on forever." He then pulled Tinjau away to see his collection of hunting rifles that he had collected over the years.
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Tinjau took the rifles from Pott’s hand and played with them one by one. Old Porter specially took the ancient guns from the wall and proudly boasted about the glorious achievements of each treasured piece.
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"Look at that wild boar head hanging above the fireplace. It was my grandfather hunted it down after chasing it three days and nights with this 'Sonorous Rose.' And the bear skin you’re standing on was from twenty years ago..."
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Tinjau once had the urge to explain to Old Pott that, from a Buddhist or mainstream humanitarian perspective, killing living creatures was not something to be proud of, but he held his tongue. He thought to himself: (This is an activity passed down through his ancestors. As a passerby in his life, why should I impose my beliefs on others?)
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Old Pott became really enthusiastic as more as he talks, and he insisted Tinjau promise to go hunting with him tomorrow if the weather was nice. "Hunt a big wild boar in front of your wife so she can see how impressive you are when you stand over a beast. That’s what a man is!" When he shouted this word to Tinjau, Tinjau seemed to see Pott in his prime thirty years ago.
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Just as Tinjau was worrying about how to decline Old Pott’s invitation, he returned to the front hall, and Mr. Welsh immediately pulled him over, asking him to help persuade Puisam to move to the castle where he lived for a few days. Mr. Welsh was eager to show his passionate student, Puisam, the long and glorious genealogy of his noble bloodline and various family heirlooms.
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"That won’t work! Tinjau and Puisam are going into the woods with me tomorrow! Young people love to hunt!"
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"They’re not wild mountain man like you. How could they enjoy such barbaric things? Besides, do you want my goddaughter to get bitten by mosquitoes or chased by wild bears?"
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"This is Germany! How could there be wild bears? I just made plans with Tinjau..."
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While the two old men were arguing, Tinjau asked Puisam in Mandarin, "Why are you suddenly going against your usual self and not just agreeing to Mr. Welsh's invitation? Do you hate European castles?"
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"How is that possible? I just feel a bit embarrassed," she said. "What should I wear to have dinner with him? I don’t have an evening gown in my backpack!"
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"We're backpackers. He knows that! Do you really think he expects you to wear an evening gown?"
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"Then you must be looking forward to putting the freshly skinned animal skin on your body? Why didn’t you discuss this with me beforehand and just make plans to go hunting with Old Pott?"
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"I didn’t! He insisted we should go with him!"
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"The two of you are doing fine; don’t argue over us two old men," Mr. Welsh said. "We’ve made arrangements! One turn each! You’ve been staying here with Old Pott for several days, right? Now it’s my turn!"
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"Just go and see! Go and see King Arthur’s Holy Grail!" Old Pott teased. "It’s cold and boring over there. I guarantee you’ll be back in a few days!"
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Tinjau and Puisam exchanged glances and then shared a smile knowingly. Since they had already made up their minds, it would save them a lot of trouble to go along with it.
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**Day 81**
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On the second evening after arriving at the castle, Mr. Welsh arranged a candlelight dinner for Tinjau and Puisam, the "young couple". He even prepared their outfits meticulously. Tinjau couldn’t help but admire the attentiveness of the British gentleman.
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Dressed in a full suit, Tinjau stood on the castle's outdoor terrace, leaning against the wall and gazing at the endless green forest in front of him.
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The sound of high heels gradually approaching from the distance. He suddenly turned around to see the beautiful woman he had been waiting for finally appear.
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Puisam had tied her long curly hair up into a noble and elegant hairstyle, and the butterfly-shaped ornament on her head reflected the dazzling golden glow of the setting sun.
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Her makeup tonight has cleared her face outlines, she looks gorgeous but not vulgar. The style tends to be the classic one, while her lips were painted in a striking contrast with the most fashionable shimmering pink, drawing attention with its beauty.
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Puisam wore a black evening gown, and the setting sun filtered through the thin fabric, casting a warm glow on her snow-white skin, revealing a slender and proportionate figure that was subtly visible.
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Tinjau finally regained his composure. He walked up to her gracefully, performed a gentlemanly bow, and presented her with a bouquet of red roses glistening with golden dew, then offered her his hand.
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Puisam smiled and curtsied, accepting the bouquet, then gently placed her hand softly in Tinjau's palm.
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Tinjau led Puisam to her seat, adjusting the chair for her and carefully arranging her long skirt. Every movement was executed with such skill and elegance, thanks to Mr. Welsh's excellent guidance beforehand.
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The dining table was set on the castle's outdoor terrace. The straight-backed, white-haired butler poured them glasses of red wine made by Old Pott. The aroma of the wine floats in the breeze, accompanied by the fading sunlight of the setting sun and the shadows of tired birds returning to their nests, making the two feels half intoxicated even they not yet touch a drop of wine.
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"Cheers." With a resounding clink of glasses, although it was merely the sound of glass meeting glass, the moment of contact made Tinjau's entire body tremble slightly.
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It felt as if they had just lightly touched two fragile and exposed hearts.
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Did she feel the same way? He looked into her eyes, and she tilted her head playfully, as if knowingly asking, "What are you thinking?"
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"...I was thinking, facing such a charming and perfect woman, traveling together, even sleeping beside her every night, yet I know nothing about her..."
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"Don’t you think that tonight, as a mysterious woman, I fit the atmosphere better?"
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"I can’t deny that. It’s true." As the butler brought them the appetizer, Tinjau smoothly changed the subject.
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Two urban Chinese of similar ages always found common topics to talk. They talked about childhood toys, popular songs from their school days, touching movies, weddings and funerals they had attended, and friends who had passed away or were still alive...
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The broader the topics became, the more passionate their conversation is, yet Tinjau always felt their conversation were carefully circling around a central theme.
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They both understood what is in the center of that circle.
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But there’s no way to get close.
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Dinner ended in an atmosphere that was both warm and empty, both joyful and lonely.
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"Cheers." Leaning against the castle wall, Puisam clinked glasses with Tinjau again. The hollow sound once again shook the heart of Tinjau.
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Tinjau looked at the reflection in his glass, where a blood-red circle surrounded a full moon. Puisam was like that reflection—real yet blurred, seemingly within reach but unable to touch.
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He shared this thought with Puisam.
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She said nothing, quietly taking Tinjau's glass and downing it in one go, then gently kissing the lip print left on the rim of the glass against Tinjau's lips.
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"The reflection is just an illusion. What truly makes people drunk is the wine in the glass," she said. "In fact, I’m just an ordinary, simple woman. You’ve been enchanted by the reflection in front of you, fixated on grasping the moon in the water and the ethereal fragrance, without realizing that if the glass is empty, nothing will exist."
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"Puisam..."
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"Don’t break the glass." She handed her wine glass to Tinjau, deftly avoiding his embrace. Tinjau turned his head, carefully placing the two glasses back on the table. When he looked back, only to find that Puisam had vanished.
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As he looked around, he suddenly noticed a rose slowly falling from above. He reached out to catch it and looked up to see Puisam leaning down from a small window on the second floor of the watchtower, gazing at him.
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"If you can catch me tonight, I can grant you any wish you desire." After saying this, the sound of high heels echoed from within the watchtower.
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Tinjau rushed into the watchtower, sprinting up the spiral stone staircase, eager to catch Puisam but also hoping that this chase of love could last forever.
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Along the way, he discovered that Puisam had deliberately dropped roses at intervals to guide him. This was an invitation, a tease. Tinjau picked up these roses, gradually collecting them into a bouquet, as if he were gathering her elusive heart.
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Upon reaching the top of the watchtower, he found it was the guest room that Mr. Welsh had arranged for them. Tinjau pushed open the half-closed door, only to find the room empty, falling into Puisam's trap of her empty city.
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There was a wisp of fragrance behind him, and Tinjau suddenly turned around to find Puisam tightly embracing his neck, her soft lips pressing heavily against his.
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In this dark and eerie corner of the watchtower, the two passionately kissed for a long, long time, while the moonlight streaming in from the window remained pure, cold, and flawless...
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