And this became one of the original novel's major sources of heartbreak, drawing tears from countless readers.
Yet in the end, they could not fully suppress their feelings. After several chance encounters, they could not resist meeting in secret again. Each time they parted, they agreed never to see each other again, only for their resolve to crumble at their next encounter.
Paper could not wrap up fire forever, and their romance was discovered when Yan Xuelan unexpectedly doubled back.
Naturally, Yan Xuelan could not accept being betrayed by the two people closest to her. She said many harsh things to them and, determined that neither of them would have an easy time if she could not, refused to break up with Chu Xiao and let them be together.
After all this turmoil, the readers completely abandoned what little sympathy they had for Yan Xuelan and came to regard her as a thoroughly vicious supporting female character.
If the plot continued along these lines, Yan Xuelan would presumably wear away all their affection for her, after which the two would break through every obstacle and get together.
Yet after Yan Xuelan had tormented them for more than half a year, following another argument that ended on bitter terms, she drove out in a daze, got into a car accident, and died on the spot.
The two, who had planned to break through every obstacle and be together regardless of the cost, could only retreat once again. Grief-stricken, Yan Yulan chose to study abroad, while Chu Xiao remained in the country to atone.
And after Yan Xuelan died, Yan Xuelan seemed to have had her divine and governing meridians opened, throwing herself into striving for success and becoming the design world's most renowned rising star.
Three years later, Yan Yulan graduated and returned home.
Time finally dissolved all the conflicts. Seeing that both their children were still single with no prospects, the parents of both families softened, and after enduring hardship upon hardship, the two finally got together.
After reading the entire story, Ye Jin was left speechless. She could not help looking toward the sisters beside her, where Yan Xuelan was gently asking Yan Yulan whether she wanted some water.
Yan Yulan had always been sensitive. Naturally, she sensed everyone's disappointment that she fell short of her older sister, and so she unconsciously vented her resentment on her sister.
She irritably swatted the water away and pouted. "I already said I'm not thirsty. Can you stop fussing over me?"
Yan Xuelan could only withdraw the hand holding out the water, her helplessness tinged with indulgence. "All right, I'm just worried you're hot. If you want some water later, just tell me."
Watching this, Ye Jin could no longer suppress her inward complaints.
[Sure enough, an ungrateful little white-eyed wolf isn't made overnight! Your sister offered you water, and you actually turned your nose up at her!]
[If Yan Xuelan knew her dear little sister would hook up with her boyfriend and cause her to die in a car accident, I wonder whether she'd regret treating this little white-eyed wolf so well.]
[If it were me, I'd disown that sister outright, then sever all ties with that scumbag.]
They had not arrived particularly early to begin with, so once the guests finished introducing themselves, everyone began checking in and checking their luggage.
Thus, Ye Jin did not have long to lose herself in thought before Huo Yun took her along to check their luggage. As a result, she failed to notice that after her string of inward exclamations, Yan Xuelan stood frozen nearby, only coming back to her senses when a staff member reminded her to check her luggage.
Yan Xuelan's heart surged. What had she just heard? Her younger sister had hooked up with her boyfriend? How could that be possible? Although they were a little close, they had always called each other brother and sister!
She turned her head and could not help looking toward Yan Yulan. At that moment, Yan Yulan looked as though the world had nothing to do with her, her head lowered as she played on her phone, tapping away at the screen and occasionally revealing a shy smile.
She could not help wondering who her sister was chatting with. Could it be Chu Xiao?
But now was not the time to dwell on these matters. Yan Xuelan had always put work first, and seeing that everyone had gone to check in and check their luggage, she planned to follow.
She turned her head and reached out to pat Yan Yulan's shoulder. "Xiaoyu, let's go check our luggage. See if there's anything you need to take out..."
It was only a light pat, but Yan Yulan reacted like a bird startled by a bowstring, quickly putting her phone away and crying, "Sis, what are you doing?"
Yan Xuelan was startled too. She had merely patted Yulan. Why was she so alarmed?
Chapter 25
Yan Yulan probably realized she had overreacted and hurriedly explained, "I was absorbed in a ghost story just now. When you startled me like that, Sis, I thought a ghost had come out of my phone."
With that, she took her luggage off the trolley and headed toward the check-in counter. "Come on, Sis, let's go check in."
As she watched Yan Yulan walking ahead with her luggage, her heart could not help sinking.
Yan Yulan had clearly been smiling just now. How could she have been reading a ghost story? Would reading a ghost story require her to put her phone away in such a hurry? Would she suddenly become so docile and obedient after being interrupted?
She was definitely trying to hide something from her!
Once a seed of suspicion was planted, it would take root and sprout in the mind, and that was exactly what happened to Yan Xuelan.
After a three-hour flight, their group arrived at the first destination for "Let's Travel Together"-a picturesque island in Southeast Asia.
Although it could not compare to those internationally renowned islands, its scenery was quite lovely, and its infrastructure was essentially complete.
At each stop, the production team gave the guests a set amount of money and left them to arrange their own itinerary and accommodations.
For the sake of the show, the production team naturally could not give them too generous a budget, but fortunately, they were not so twisted as to actually make them travel on a shoestring.
So this time, they booked a guesthouse, a small detached house with six rooms in total.
The production team expected that, aside from the special case of Ke Yu and his daughter, the other three pairs of guests should all be able to share a room, leaving more than enough space in the guesthouse for the eight of them.
Yet when they were assigning rooms, Yan Yulan, who had remained quiet all this time, spoke softly to Yan Xuelan. "Sis, you know I've never been used to sharing a room with anyone since I was little. There happens to be a spare room now, so could you tell the production team to let us stay separately?"