《天堂旅館》長篇奇幻愛情小說

【六】溫柔的陷阱

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夜幕悄然降臨，忘卻森林的入口處，一片陰影中，威爾森身穿服務生的制服，手裡拿著一塊木製標語牌。他將牌子插入草地中，標語上用德語、法語和義大利語分別寫著：「旅館整修內部，暫停住宿服務」。威爾森隨即摊開一張老舊的彈簧臥床，將床橫擋在路面上，像是設下了一道障礙。他斜躺在床上，手中捧著一罐冰啤酒，悠哉地啜飲著，眼睛半眯，享受著這份寧靜。
不遠處，龍騎士帶領著一小隊禁衛軍從504號房的壁畫中走了出來。龍騎士易容成羅伯特，而禁衛軍的成員則都換上了服務生的服裝，隨即分散開來，開始了追捕惡鬼的行動。
一名服務生走向四樓，迎面碰到了一個和他長得一模一樣的服務生，他愣住了，無法理解眼前的情況。對方卻如風一般迅速移動，繞到他的身後，一手拍向他的後腦勺。服務生瞬間失去平衡，癱倒在地，而那個身影則迅速將他拖進了房間，毫不留情地將他藏匿起來。
龍騎士化身的羅伯特走到了他的房間門口，眯起眼睛，使用透視眼掃視著房間內的情況。他發現原本的羅伯特正在浴室裡沐浴。冒牌的羅伯特立即運用穿越術悄然進入房間，躲藏在長鏡背後。原本的羅伯特穿著浴袍走了出來，站在鏡子前刮鬍子，眼中還帶著一絲放鬆，但當他看到鏡中那個抱胸冷笑的自己時，心中一驚，迅速後退了幾步，顫抖著問道：「你、你是誰？為什麼要這樣捉弄我？」鏡中的分身冷笑著，伸出手指指向他，語氣冰冷：「我是你的良心！羅伯特，你和安德烈集團聯手殘害無辜人類，還不認罪？」羅伯特聽到「安德烈集團」，瞬間明白，眼前的人必定是瑪莉亞公主身邊的高手。他的心跳加速，決定立刻動手反擊。羅伯特猛地出拳，想要打碎鏡中的分身。然而，奇怪的是，鏡子並未破裂，反而他的右手半截進入鏡中，被分身掐住了手肘穴道。瞬間，他的手臂麻木，無法動彈。
鏡中的分身目光如刀，冷聲喝道：「妖孽！你死期已到，還想耍花招？」
「大哥饒命！饒命啊！」羅伯特驚慌失措地求饒，語氣中帶著濃重的恐懼。
分身的表情依然冷峻，語氣未曾改變：「捏死你，像捏死一隻螞蟻一樣輕而易舉。想活命，就得棄暗投明！」
羅伯特心中掀起巨浪，知道此時若不從，恐怕命喪當場。他咬牙點頭，語氣中帶著無奈和恐懼：「是！是！我願意棄暗投明，投效公主！」
鏡中分身的臉上露出了些許的滿意，伸出一隻手，從鏡面外遞來一顆血紅色的丹丸，語氣堅定：「算你識相！服下這顆龍血丹，跟我回去見公主。」
羅伯特無奈地接過丹丸，毫不猶豫地吞了下去。全身一震，感覺到一股奇異的力量流入體內，生命的氣息幾乎被那丹藥所主宰。
「敢問大哥是…」 羅伯特小心翼翼地問，聲音中帶著幾分顫抖。
鏡中的分身微微一笑，舉手輕輕抹過自己的臉，隨即顯露出真正的面貌。他的身形猶如龍般高大，擁有一對鱗片覆蓋的手臂，龍頭人身，讓羅伯特瞬間明白，眼前這人正是傳說中的龍騎士。
羅伯特的心中湧上一股既敬畏又驚懼的情緒，腦海中猛地閃過一個念頭：「這場陰謀，才剛剛開始。」

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深夜的寧靜中，林曉陽正沉浸在深邃的夢境裡，感覺自己像漂浮在無邊的雲海中，四周彷彿漾著模糊的光影。突然，夢中的一個身影悄然出現，映入他的眼帘。那是一位中年男子，穿著典雅的西裝，眼神溫和卻深邃，正站在床前微笑著看著他。林曉陽心頭一震，眼前的那人竟然是黃立華。黃立華的身影在昏暗的光線中，仿佛帶著一層神秘的光環，讓林曉陽感到些許的不安。
「謝謝你幫我成立一個基金會，嘉惠許多學子。」黃立華的聲音低沉而有力，彷彿穿透了夢境的薄霧，直達林曉陽的心底。「我的孫女黃敏華會來申請基金會的獎學金，明年春天三月，她就會來到琉森湖畔寫生，住進天堂旅館。」
林曉陽微微皺眉，睜開了眼睛，迷迷糊糊地問：「我懂了，你是要我回去帶妳孫女離開旅館？」他感覺整個夢境已經開始顯得越來越不尋常，自己似乎被拉進了一場不明的陰謀。
黃立華輕輕搖頭，臉上浮現一抹意味深長的微笑：「不！我要請你回去琉森湖畔，幫我經營那家天堂旅館。」
林曉陽不禁瞪大了眼睛，愣住了，隨即語氣帶著驚訝問道：「不會吧？你要我當一票吸血鬼的老闆？」
黃立華的笑容依舊溫和，但眼中卻閃過一絲堅定，「當然不是！你把旅館裝修過，招募新員工重新開業，同樣提供給旅行的藝術工作者住宿。而更重要的是，你必須幫忙照顧我孫女黃敏華。」
黃立華話語間的沉穩讓林曉陽有些不知所措，他微微後退一步，瞪大了眼睛，似乎在對這一切進行快速的消化，黃立華接著將一份包裹精美的信封遞到他手中，裡面傳來硬物碰撞的聲音，「這裡有一本儲金帳戶和一本旅行支票，以後你就是旅館的老闆，我孫女敏華的先生。」
「可是我從來沒見過你的孫女黃敏華，我怎能輕率地做此承諾呢？」林曉陽的聲音帶著一絲不解與疑惑，手中的信封似乎愈發沉重。
黃立華微微一笑，眼中充滿神秘的光芒，語氣中卻帶著一絲莫名的指引：「你和敏華的姻緣金生今世注定好的，其實你之前應該見過敏華的，你不妨再仔細想一想。你無意中幫了我，也算是幫了你自己。我會施法術讓你具有我的一些繪畫本事，等你睡醒後，憑這些本事，你就能夠吸引敏華的注意。」
隨後，黃立華將一張照片輕輕放在林曉陽的手中，那是一張女孩的生活照，女孩的長髮如瀑布般垂落，清麗動人，眼神中有一股難以言喻的氣質，彷彿能夠撼動人心。「這裡有一張敏華的生活照，你找時間幫她畫一張炭筆素描，等旅館重新開業後，把這張素描裱框起來，擺在門口，她就會好奇地進來旅館投宿。」黃立華語氣平靜，卻充滿深意。
林曉陽下意識地摸了摸照片上的女孩，心中隱隱感到一股熟悉的情感湧上心頭，仿佛自己早已見過這位女孩。然後，他猛然想起了黃立華最後的一句話，眉頭緊鎖，難掩內心的困惑：「還有，你就住504號房，牆上那幅壁畫，不要去動它，那是我的出入口，白天我會出來散散心。」
黃立華的身影開始模糊，他低聲念著咒語，整個房間瞬間弥漫著一層薄薄的光霧。林曉陽尚未反應過來，黃立華已經消失無蹤，只剩下一片詭異的安靜。
隨著晨光透過落地窗灑進房間，林曉陽悠悠醒來，伸了個懶腰，眼皮沉重。當他步下床時，視線無意間瞥向書桌上的那個牛皮紙信封，心中不禁一顫。走過去，信封裡面是他剛剛在夢中見過的所有物品：一串鑰匙、一份法文的所有權狀、一個儲金帳戶和一本旅行支票。最引人注意的是那張黃敏華的照片，照片中的她長髮飄逸，眼中流露出一種難以言喻的吸引力，林曉陽的心跳不由自主地加快，這種既熟悉又陌生的感覺讓他微微頓住。
他反覆端詳著照片，輕聲自語：「這女孩，就是我未來的妻子嗎？」他感覺到心底深處似乎有某個未知的力量在牽動，讓他無法移開目光。
片刻後，林曉陽將照片輕輕放下，深吸了一口氣，然後走向浴室準備洗漱。他的腦海中仍然浮現出黃立華那神秘的語氣，心裡暗暗發誓，這一切，無論如何，他都會親自揭開。

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巴黎的羅浮宮一如既往地散發著迷人的魅力，悠長的白色走廊中迴響著輕柔的腳步聲，四周懸掛著一幅幅名貴的藝術品，吸引著來自世界各地的遊客。林曉陽站在一幅印象派油畫前，聚精會神地欣賞著畫布上色彩交織的世界。他的目光在色彩斑斕的畫作間游走，但耳邊的喧鬧聲漸漸被一股熟悉的香水味打斷，讓他微微皺眉。
香水的味道清新而甜美，帶著一絲微妙的花香，他不由自主地回頭望去。只見不遠處，一位金髮披肩的女子正漫步在展覽廳中，穿著一件精緻的米白色連衣裙，儘管人群中來來往往的遊客不少，但她那股自信與高雅的氣質，卻讓她在人群中格外引人注目。
林曉陽愣住了，心中升起一股難以言喻的熟悉感，這股熟悉感不僅來自她的香氣，還來自她那略帶東方韻味的側臉。他的目光在那金色的髮絲和纖細的輪廓上停留了片刻，心中不禁浮現出一個名字：「慧君？」
他下意識地朝那女子走近，腳步在地板上發出輕微的回聲，逐漸靠近她的正面，仔細端詳她的五官，內心不由自主地加速跳動。「不會吧…那五官真的很神似…」他心裡暗自思索，臉上也不自覺地浮現出一絲期待。
林曉陽鼓起勇氣，深吸一口氣，微微張口，用英語問道：「Excuse me, Are you come from Taiwan？」
那女子聽到聲音，微微轉身，眉眼間帶著淡然的微笑，語氣冷靜且自信，帶著一點玩味：「我聽得懂華語，先生。」
聽到這個回答，林曉陽的心中一陣錯愕。他原本期待的熟悉感在那一刻被打破了，心裡不禁感到一陣迷惑。「先生？她的聲音怎麼跟慧君一模一樣？怎麼可能？難道真的是慧君嗎？」林曉陽的腦海中一片混亂，他忍不住想著，「她怎麼會對我完全陌生？」
他微微皺眉，試圖釐清心中的疑惑，低聲道：「小姐，對不起，我把你錯認成我的一位老朋友…」
女子聽後，似乎並不生氣，反而露出一個含蓄的微笑，那笑容像極了某種熟悉的記憶。「先生，用這種方式來搭訕，我常遇到。」她語氣輕快，帶著一絲戲謔，眼中有些許的好奇。
林曉陽頓時有些尷尬，手不自覺地摸了摸頭髮，臉頰微微泛紅。他勉強笑了笑，急忙道歉：「對不起，我認錯人了。」他心裡還在暗自懊悔，感覺自己有些失態。
他離開了幾步，回過頭來看著那女子的背影。她的步伐輕盈，穿過人群，彷彿沒有察覺到林曉陽的視線正緊緊跟隨著她的每一個動作。林曉陽的心中雖然還有些疑惑，但他覺得自己無論如何無法再繼續追問下去。儘管心底的那股熟悉感依舊揮之不去，但他深知自己已經無法再打破這份陌生的距離。
他慢慢地移動腳步，依然忍不住偶爾偷瞄著她的身影，然而他知道，或許這場邂逅，終究只是兩個陌生人交錯的瞬間，遺留在這座古老博物館中的短暫回憶。

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繁華的商店街上，熙熙攘攘的行人來來往往，街道兩旁琳瑯滿目的商店燈光閃爍。安妮輕盈地走在人行步道上，身著一襲優雅的白色洋裝，手腕上掛著一只奢華的名牌皮包，步伐從容不迫。她的金色長髮隨風輕拂，吸引著路人不經意地目光。
林曉陽悄悄跟在她身後，低著頭，鴨舌帽微微壓低，試圖不讓自己太引人注目。他的目光時不時掃過安妮，心中充滿了不安的疑問，卻又不敢直接開口打擾她。每當安妮停下來看窗戶的展示品時，他的步伐也不自覺放慢，保持著一定的距離。
就在這時，安妮的注意力被一道突然出現的身影吸引。那是一名身材高大的黑人青年，他快速從她身邊經過，眼中閃過一抹狡猾的光芒。隨即，他猛然出手，一把扯住安妮的皮包，瞬間將她拉倒在地。安妮驚慌地驚呼，雙手撐地想要站起，但那青年已經開始朝林曉陽所在的方向衝來。
林曉陽的心跳加速，本能地踏出一個紮馬步，腳步穩如磐石。他的目光緊緊鎖定著那名瘋狂衝來的青年，肌肉微微緊繃，準備迎擊。青年以迅雷不及掩耳的速度撞向他，但在即將接觸的瞬間，林曉陽猶如鋼鐵般堅不可摧。他毫不畏懼地迎上，強壯的身體如同一座磐石，青年猝不及防地撞了上去，瞬間失去了平衡，重重摔倒在地。
林曉陽毫不猶豫，隨即一個箭步跨前，彎腰單手抓住青年的衣領，猛然一用力，他竟然輕鬆地把那名大漢提了起來。青年如同紙人般被舉起，雙腳懸空，眼中透露出驚恐與無力。路人們驚訝地停下腳步，目光緊緊盯著這一幕，低聲交頭接耳，對林曉陽的力氣感到震驚與佩服。
曉陽一只手牢牢抓住皮包，快速將它奪回。隨後，他冷靜地把那名青年往後一推。青年被用力推開，身體向後仰倒，翻滾了兩圈後重重撞上地面，眼睛一翻便失去了意識。
周圍的路人驚呼連連，紛紛鼓掌，為林曉陽的英勇行為喝彩。安妮的眼中閃過一絲驚訝與欽佩，她仔細打量著林曉陽那雙強而有力的手臂，嘴角勾起一抹微笑，心中不禁暗道：「沒錯，就是你了。」
林曉陽走向安妮，將皮包輕輕遞還給她。他的動作輕盈又有節奏，仿佛所有的事情都在他掌握之中。
安妮接過皮包，臉上滿是感激的神情，眼中閃過一抹柔和的光芒。「先生，我該如何向你表達謝意呢？」她微微低頭，語氣誠懇而柔和，目光與曉陽對視。
曉陽輕描淡寫地一笑，故作瀟灑地揮揮手。「小事一樁！小姐，妳沒怎樣吧？」他的聲音帶著一絲輕鬆，似乎剛才的一切都不過是日常的一小段插曲。
安妮拍了拍洋裝上的灰塵，露出一個溫暖的微笑，眼中帶著一點調皮。「我沒事，倒是你救了我，不知道是否能讓我請你喝杯咖啡，表示感謝呢？」她的語氣輕柔，帶著幾分輕快，語中也透露出一絲邀請的意味。
林曉陽愣了一下，隨後勾起嘴角，臉上露出一絲淡淡的笑意。他環顧四周，輕輕一笑，低頭說道：「那就不客氣了。」他的聲音低沉而平靜，隨即，他們一起走向街角的咖啡店，氛圍中多了一份默契與不言而喻的輕鬆。

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咖啡廳的角落，柔和的燈光映照著桌上的咖啡杯，空氣中彌漫著濃郁的咖啡香。桌子中央擺著一對淡雅的瓷杯，白色的杯身在燈光下微微反射，安妮和曉陽坐在窗邊的座位，彼此相對而坐。安妮輕輕捧起杯子，微微低頭，細細品味著她的拿鐵，而曉陽則隨意地撥動著杯中的黑咖啡，偶爾抬頭與她對視。
安妮微笑著，輕輕放下咖啡杯，語氣真誠卻帶著幾分輕鬆：「謝謝你剛才幫我解圍，真是太突然了，我叫安妮。」
曉陽聽後微微一笑，放下手中的杯子，輕鬆地回答道：「不客氣，剛好遇上。你叫安妮，真好聽，我叫林曉陽。」
安妮聽著曉陽的名字，嘴角微微上揚，心裡對他這個陌生又熟悉的名字產生了一絲興趣。她心知肚明曉陽一路尾隨著自己，只是這場街頭的搶包事件，卻意外地成了兩人交情的起點。她輕輕翹起了眉毛，帶著好奇問道：「看你剛才的身手，似乎有練過一些中國功夫？」
曉陽的眼中閃過一絲開心，他調皮地挑了挑眉，似乎對這個問題有些自豪：「被妳看出來了，小時候跟我外公學過一些少林武術。那時候我可沒少吃苦頭。」他微微一笑，語氣中帶著回憶的溫暖。
安妮嘴角勾起了一抹笑意，輕輕點頭，似乎對這段往事產生了興趣：「少林武術？那一定很厲害吧。」
曉陽隨即微微一頓，換了個話題：「安妮，妳來巴黎旅行嗎？」
安妮輕輕地撫摸著手中的咖啡杯，眸子輕輕低垂，思考片刻後，她輕鬆地回應道：「是的，我來巴黎旅行。這裡的藝術氛圍讓我心曠神怡。」
曉陽點點頭，眼神閃過一絲思索，隨後他開口說道：「安妮，妳真的跟我一個老朋友長得很像。」說著，他從皮夾裡取出一張照片，照片上是一位溫柔的女孩，曉陽將照片遞給了安妮。
安妮接過照片，指尖輕輕拂過那張照片的邊緣。她凝視著照片中的女孩，突然，一些零散的畫面在她的腦海中閃過，但那些記憶如同雲霧般撲朔迷離，無法拼湊出完整的順序。她微微皺起眉頭，心中不禁生疑：「這怎麼可能…」
曉陽見安妮的表情變得有些古怪，疑惑地問道：「安妮，妳真的沒去過台灣嗎？」
安妮搖了搖頭，嘴角微微拉起一絲淡淡的笑容。曉陽的眼中閃過一絲失望，默默低下了頭。
安妮輕輕將照片遞還給曉陽，神情變得柔和，她的聲音低沉而平穩：「照片上的這女孩，的確很像我；請問，她是你的女友嗎？」
曉陽聽後，微微一愣，隨後眼中閃過一絲懷念與痛苦，他深吸了一口氣，緩緩地開口：「是的，她叫謝慧君，跟我一樣來自台灣。我們是大學同學，後來我們交往了四年多，但有一天我們吵了一架，她負氣離開台灣，說要來歐洲散心，從此就失去了聯繫。我來歐洲，其實就是為了找到她。」曉陽的語氣中帶著一絲無奈，眼神中充滿了期盼。
安妮聽著他的故事，心中不禁生起一股同情與感動。她低下頭，輕聲安慰道：「原來如此，曉陽，我相信命運之神一定會幫助你的，畢竟你這麼真誠。」

曉陽聽後，眼中露出感激的神色，他抬起頭，認真地望著安妮：「安妮，我可以常來找妳嗎？」
安妮輕輕地笑了，眼中有著一抹俏皮，她不動聲色地將那張照片重新遞給他，接著輕描淡寫地說道：「當然可以啊！不過我經常四處旅行，居無定所。如果你想找我，撥我手機吧。」她從包包中取出一張印著中英文的名片，遞給曉陽，語氣溫柔且自在。
曉陽接過名片，感覺到手指間傳來一絲柔軟的觸感，他抬頭看著安妮，眼中閃過一絲興奮：「安妮，妳來自上海啊？離台北不算太遠。」
安妮笑了笑，點點頭：「是啊。」
曉陽輕輕放下手中的名片，深吸一口氣，語氣略帶期待：「等我這邊事情忙完，肯定會去找妳的。」
安妮嘴角微微上揚，眼中帶著一絲挑戰的意味：「好啊，我等著你。」
隨著語言的碰撞和默契的流動，兩人之間似乎突然拉近了距離，咖啡廳的燈光映照著他們的對話，也映照著這段不期而遇的緣分。

[Six] The Gentle Trap

### 18

Night quietly descended. At the entrance to the Forgotten Forest, hidden in a patch of shadow, Wilson was wearing a server’s uniform and holding a wooden sign. He planted the sign in the grass. Written on it in German, French, and Italian was: “The hotel is undergoing interior renovations. Accommodation services are temporarily suspended.”

Wilson then unfolded an old spring bed and placed it across the road like a barrier. He reclined on the bed, holding a can of ice-cold beer in his hand and leisurely sipping it, his eyes half-closed as he enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Not far away, the Dragon Knight led a small group of Imperial Guards out of the mural in Room 504. The Dragon Knight had disguised himself as Robert, while the Imperial Guards had all changed into server uniforms. They immediately dispersed and began hunting down the evil spirits.

A server walked toward the fourth floor and came face-to-face with another server who looked exactly like him. He froze, unable to understand what was happening before his eyes. But the other man moved as swiftly as the wind, circled behind him, and struck the back of his head with one hand. The server instantly lost his balance and collapsed to the floor, while the other figure quickly dragged him into a room and hid him there without mercy.

The Dragon Knight, disguised as Robert, walked to the door of his room. Narrowing his eyes, he used his X-ray vision to scan the situation inside. He discovered that the real Robert was taking a shower in the bathroom.

The fake Robert immediately used his teleportation technique to silently enter the room and hide behind the full-length mirror.

The real Robert came out wearing a bathrobe and stood in front of the mirror to shave. There was still a trace of relaxation in his eyes. But when he saw his own reflection in the mirror standing with its arms crossed and wearing a cold smile, his heart jolted. He quickly backed away several steps and asked tremblingly, “Who—who are you? Why are you playing this kind of trick on me?”

The reflection in the mirror sneered and pointed a finger at him, his voice cold. “I am your conscience! Robert, you joined forces with the André Group to harm innocent human beings. Aren’t you going to confess?”

The moment Robert heard “the André Group,” he immediately understood that the person before him must be a powerful figure serving Princess Maria. His heartbeat quickened, and he decided to strike back immediately.

Robert suddenly threw a punch, intending to smash the reflection in the mirror. Strangely, however, the mirror did not break. Instead, half of his right hand entered the mirror, where the reflection seized the pressure point at his elbow.

His arm instantly went numb and became completely immobile.

The reflection in the mirror had eyes like blades and shouted coldly, “Monster! Your time has come. And you still want to play tricks?”

“Big Brother, please spare me! Please spare me!” Robert begged in panic, his voice filled with overwhelming fear.

The reflection remained stern, his tone unchanged. “Crushing you to death would be as easy as crushing an ant. If you want to live, you must turn away from the darkness and come over to the light!”

A huge turmoil rose in Robert’s heart. He knew that if he refused now, he would probably die on the spot. He gritted his teeth and nodded, his voice filled with helplessness and fear. “Yes! Yes! I’m willing to turn away from the darkness and come over to the light. I will serve the Princess!”

A trace of satisfaction appeared on the reflection’s face. He extended one hand through the surface of the mirror and offered Robert a blood-red pill, his tone firm. “At least you know what’s good for you! Swallow this Dragon Blood Pill and come back with me to see the Princess.”

Robert reluctantly accepted the pill and swallowed it without hesitation. His entire body shook as he felt a strange force flow into him. The vitality within his body seemed almost completely controlled by the pill.

“May I ask who you are, Big Brother…?” Robert asked cautiously, his voice trembling slightly.

The reflection in the mirror smiled faintly. He raised a hand and gently wiped across his own face, revealing his true appearance.

His body was as tall as a dragon, with a pair of arms covered in scales. He had the head of a dragon and the body of a man.

Robert immediately understood that the person standing before him was none other than the legendary Dragon Knight.

A mixture of awe and fear surged through Robert’s heart. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind:

“This conspiracy has only just begun.”

### 19

In the quiet of the late night, Lin Xiaoyang was immersed in a deep dream. He felt as though he were floating above an endless sea of clouds, with hazy lights and shadows rippling all around him.

Suddenly, a figure quietly appeared in the dream and entered his field of vision.

It was a middle-aged man wearing an elegant suit. His eyes were gentle yet deep, and he stood beside the bed, smiling at Lin Xiaoyang.

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart jolted. The man before him was none other than Huang Lihua.

Huang Lihua’s figure in the dim light seemed to be surrounded by a mysterious halo, making Lin Xiaoyang feel somewhat uneasy.

“Thank you for helping me establish a foundation that will benefit many students.” Huang Lihua’s voice was deep and powerful, seeming to penetrate the thin mist of the dream and reach directly into Lin Xiaoyang’s heart.

“My granddaughter, Huang Minhua, will apply for a scholarship from the foundation. Next March, in the spring of next year, she will come to the shores of Lake Lucerne to paint from life and stay at Paradise Inn.”

Lin Xiaoyang frowned slightly and opened his eyes, asking groggily, “I understand. You want me to go back and take your granddaughter away from the hotel?”

He felt that the entire dream was becoming increasingly strange, as though he were being drawn into some unknown conspiracy.

Huang Lihua gently shook his head, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. “No! I want to ask you to return to the shores of Lake Lucerne and help me run Paradise Inn.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s eyes widened in astonishment. He froze, then asked in surprise, “No way? You want me to be the boss of a bunch of vampires?”

Huang Lihua’s smile remained gentle, but a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. “Of course not! You will renovate the hotel, recruit new employees, and reopen it, continuing to provide accommodation for traveling artists. More importantly, you must help take care of my granddaughter, Huang Minhua.”

The calmness in Huang Lihua’s words left Lin Xiaoyang somewhat at a loss. He took a small step backward and widened his eyes, seemingly trying to process everything as quickly as possible.

Huang Lihua then handed him an exquisitely wrapped envelope. The sound of hard objects knocking against one another came from inside.

“Inside are a savings account and a traveler’s checkbook. From now on, you will be the owner of the hotel and my granddaughter Minhua’s husband.”

“But I have never even met your granddaughter, Huang Minhua. How can I make such a promise so casually?” Lin Xiaoyang’s voice carried a trace of confusion and doubt, while the envelope in his hand seemed to grow heavier.

Huang Lihua smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a mysterious light. Yet his tone carried a strange sense of guidance.

“The marriage between you and Minhua was destined in this life and the life before it. In fact, you should have met Minhua before. Why don’t you think about it more carefully? You helped me unintentionally, and in doing so, you also helped yourself.

“I will use magic to give you some of my painting abilities. Once you wake up, with these abilities, you will be able to attract Minhua’s attention.”

Then Huang Lihua gently placed a photograph in Lin Xiaoyang’s hand. It was a candid photograph of a girl. Her long hair fell like a waterfall, and she was beautiful and graceful. There was an indescribable quality in her eyes, as though it could move the heart.

“Here is a photograph of Minhua in everyday life. Find some time to draw a charcoal portrait of her. After the hotel reopens, have the drawing framed and put it at the entrance. She will become curious and come into the hotel to stay.”

Huang Lihua’s tone was calm, yet filled with deeper meaning.

Lin Xiaoyang instinctively touched the girl in the photograph. A familiar feeling quietly rose within him, as though he had seen this girl long ago.

Then he suddenly remembered Huang Lihua’s final words. His brows tightened, unable to conceal his confusion.

“And one more thing. You will stay in Room 504. Don’t touch the mural on the wall. That is my entrance and exit. During the day, I will come out to get some fresh air.”

Huang Lihua’s figure began to blur. He murmured a spell, and the entire room was instantly filled with a thin mist of light.

Before Lin Xiaoyang could react, Huang Lihua had already disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only an eerie silence.

As the morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the room, Lin Xiaoyang slowly woke up and stretched, his eyelids heavy.

When he stepped down from the bed, his eyes accidentally fell on the kraft-paper envelope on the desk, and his heart gave a sudden jolt.

He walked over. Inside the envelope were all the items he had just seen in his dream: a set of keys, a French-language property deed, a savings account, and a traveler’s checkbook.

Most striking of all was the photograph of Huang Minhua.

Her long hair flowed freely, and her eyes revealed an indescribable attraction. Lin Xiaoyang’s heartbeat involuntarily quickened. This feeling of being both familiar and unfamiliar made him pause for a moment.

He studied the photograph again and again and murmured softly, “Is this girl my future wife?”

He felt as though some unknown force deep within his heart were pulling at him, making it impossible for him to look away.

After a moment, Lin Xiaoyang gently set the photograph down, took a deep breath, and walked toward the bathroom to wash up.

Huang Lihua’s mysterious voice still lingered in his mind. Deep inside, he secretly vowed that no matter what, he would uncover the truth himself.

### 20

The Louvre in Paris was as captivating as ever. Soft footsteps echoed through the long white corridors, while priceless works of art hung all around, attracting visitors from every corner of the world.

Lin Xiaoyang stood before an Impressionist oil painting, completely absorbed in the colorful world on the canvas. His eyes moved across the vivid artwork, but the bustle around him was gradually interrupted by a familiar scent of perfume, making him frown slightly.

The perfume smelled fresh and sweet, with a subtle floral fragrance. He instinctively turned around.

Not far away, a blonde woman with shoulder-length hair was strolling through the exhibition hall. She wore an elegant ivory-colored dress. Although many visitors were moving through the crowd, her confident and graceful presence made her particularly noticeable.

Lin Xiaoyang froze. An indescribable sense of familiarity rose within him. It came not only from her scent but also from the slightly Oriental quality of her profile.

His eyes lingered for a moment on her golden hair and delicate features, and a name involuntarily surfaced in his mind:

“Hui-jun?”

He instinctively walked toward the woman. His footsteps made faint echoes against the floor as he gradually approached her from the front and carefully examined her features.

His heart began beating faster on its own.

“No way… Her features really do look so much alike…”

He thought to himself, and a trace of anticipation appeared unconsciously on his face.

Lin Xiaoyang gathered his courage, took a deep breath, and asked in English, “Excuse me, are you from Taiwan?”

The woman heard him and slowly turned around. A calm smile rested between her eyes and brows, and her voice was composed and confident, with a hint of playfulness.

“I understand Chinese, sir.”

Hearing that answer, Lin Xiaoyang was stunned.

The familiar feeling he had been expecting was shattered at that moment, leaving him confused.

“Sir? Why does her voice sound exactly like Hui-jun’s? How is that possible? Could she really be Hui-jun?”

His mind was in chaos.

“How could she act as if she doesn’t know me at all?”

He frowned slightly, trying to sort out the confusion in his mind, and said quietly, “Miss, I’m sorry. I mistook you for an old friend of mine…”

The woman did not seem angry. Instead, she gave him a reserved smile, and that smile was strikingly similar to a familiar memory.

“Sir, I get approached this way all the time.”

Her tone was light and teasing, with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Lin Xiaoyang suddenly felt embarrassed. He instinctively touched his hair, his cheeks turning slightly red.

He forced a smile and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I mistook you for someone else.”

He secretly regretted his behavior, feeling that he had made a fool of himself.

He walked away a few steps, then turned back to look at the woman’s back.

Her steps were light as she moved through the crowd, seemingly unaware that Lin Xiaoyang’s gaze was closely following her every movement.

Although Lin Xiaoyang was still somewhat puzzled, he felt that no matter what, he could not continue questioning her.

Even though the sense of familiarity deep inside him still refused to disappear, he knew that he could no longer break through this distance between two strangers.

He slowly moved away, still unable to resist stealing occasional glances at her figure.

Yet he knew that perhaps this encounter was destined to be nothing more than a fleeting moment when two strangers crossed paths, leaving behind a brief memory in this ancient museum.

### 21

On a bustling shopping street, pedestrians streamed back and forth, while the dazzling array of shops on both sides of the street glittered with lights. Annie walked lightly along the sidewalk, dressed in an elegant white dress, a luxurious designer handbag hanging from her wrist, her pace calm and unhurried. Her long blond hair fluttered gently in the breeze, drawing the inadvertent attention of passersby.

Lin Xiaoyang quietly followed behind her, keeping his head down and pulling his baseball cap slightly lower, trying not to draw too much attention to himself. His eyes occasionally swept over Annie, his heart filled with uneasy questions, yet he did not dare speak directly and disturb her. Whenever Annie stopped to look at the displays in a shop window, his pace unconsciously slowed as well, maintaining a certain distance from her.

Just then, Annie's attention was drawn to a figure that suddenly appeared. It was a tall young Black man who quickly passed by her, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. Then, he suddenly reached out, grabbed Annie's handbag, and yanked her to the ground. Annie cried out in alarm and tried to push herself up with both hands, but the young man had already started running in Lin Xiaoyang's direction.

Lin Xiaoyang's heartbeat quickened. Instinctively, he stepped into a low, grounded stance, his feet steady as rocks. His eyes locked firmly onto the young man charging toward him, his muscles slightly tensed as he prepared to strike. The young man rushed at him with lightning speed, but at the instant before they made contact, Lin Xiaoyang stood as unyielding as steel. Without the slightest fear, he met the charge head-on. His strong body was like an immovable rock, and the young man, caught off guard, slammed into him, instantly losing his balance and crashing heavily to the ground.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiaoyang immediately took a step forward, bent down, grabbed the young man by the collar with one hand, and suddenly exerted his strength. To everyone's surprise, he easily lifted the large man off the ground. The young man was raised like a paper figure, his feet dangling in the air, terror and helplessness visible in his eyes. The passersby stopped in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the scene as they whispered among themselves, shocked and impressed by Lin Xiaoyang's strength.

With one hand, Xiaoyang firmly held onto the handbag and quickly took it back. Then, calmly, he pushed the young man backward. The young man was thrown back by the force of the push, his body falling backward. After rolling twice, he slammed heavily onto the ground, rolled his eyes upward, and lost consciousness.

The surrounding pedestrians cried out in surprise and broke into applause, cheering for Lin Xiaoyang's brave act. A look of surprise and admiration flashed in Annie's eyes. She carefully studied Lin Xiaoyang's strong, powerful arms, a smile curling at the corners of her lips as she thought to herself, **That's right. It's you.**

Lin Xiaoyang walked over to Annie and gently handed her the handbag. His movements were light and rhythmic, as though everything that had happened was completely under his control.

Annie took the handbag, her face filled with gratitude, a gentle light flashing in her eyes. “Sir, how can I possibly thank you?” She lowered her head slightly, her voice sincere and gentle as she met Xiaoyang's gaze.

Xiaoyang gave a casual smile and waved his hand, pretending to be carefree. “It's nothing! Miss, are you all right?” His voice carried a hint of ease, as if everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a small interruption in his everyday life.

Annie patted the dust from her dress and gave him a warm smile, a touch of playfulness in her eyes. “I'm fine. You were the one who saved me. I wonder if you'd let me buy you a cup of coffee to thank you?” Her voice was soft and light, carrying a subtle hint of invitation.

Lin Xiaoyang paused for a moment, then the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile. He glanced around, smiled lightly, lowered his head, and said, “I wouldn't say no.” His voice was low and calm. Then, together, they walked toward a coffee shop on the street corner, and an unspoken sense of understanding and ease seemed to settle between them.

### 22

In a corner of the café, soft lighting illuminated the coffee cups on the table, while the rich aroma of coffee filled the air. At the center of the table sat a pair of delicate porcelain cups, their white surfaces reflecting the light faintly. Annie and Xiaoyang sat by the window, facing each other. Annie gently lifted her cup, lowered her head slightly, and savored her latte, while Xiaoyang casually stirred his black coffee, occasionally looking up to meet her gaze.

Annie smiled, gently set down her coffee cup, and said sincerely yet casually, “Thank you for helping me out just now. It happened so suddenly. My name is Annie.”

Xiaoyang smiled slightly, set down his cup, and replied casually, “You're welcome. I just happened to be there. Annie is a beautiful name. My name is Lin Xiaoyang.”

As Annie listened to Xiaoyang's name, the corners of her lips lifted slightly. She felt a flicker of interest in this name that was both unfamiliar and strangely familiar to her. She knew perfectly well that Xiaoyang had followed her all the way, yet this handbag-snatching incident on the street had unexpectedly become the starting point of their friendship. She raised an eyebrow slightly and asked curiously, “Judging by what you did just now, it seems you've had some training in Chinese martial arts?”

A flash of happiness appeared in Xiaoyang's eyes. He playfully raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat proud of the question. “You noticed. When I was a kid, I learned some Shaolin martial arts from my grandfather. I went through quite a bit of hardship back then.” He smiled slightly, his voice carrying the warmth of the memory.

A smile appeared at the corners of Annie's lips. She nodded gently, seemingly interested in this part of his past. “Shaolin martial arts? That must have been pretty impressive.”

Xiaoyang paused for a moment, then changed the subject. “Annie, are you traveling in Paris?”

Annie gently stroked the coffee cup in her hand, her eyes lowering slightly. After thinking for a moment, she replied casually, “Yes, I'm traveling in Paris. The artistic atmosphere here makes me feel completely relaxed.”

Xiaoyang nodded, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. Then he said, “Annie, you really look a lot like an old friend of mine.” As he spoke, he took a photograph from his wallet. The photograph showed a gentle-looking young woman, and Xiaoyang handed it to Annie.

Annie took the photograph, her fingertips gently brushing along its edge. She stared at the girl in the photograph, and suddenly, scattered images flashed through her mind. But those memories were as hazy as clouds and mist, impossible to piece together into a complete sequence. She frowned slightly, unable to keep herself from wondering, **How is this possible...?**

Seeing that Annie's expression had become somewhat strange, Xiaoyang asked in confusion, “Annie, are you sure you've never been to Taiwan?”

Annie shook her head, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile. A trace of disappointment flashed through Xiaoyang's eyes, and he silently lowered his head.

Annie gently handed the photograph back to Xiaoyang, her expression softening. Her voice was low and steady. “The girl in the photograph really does look a lot like me. May I ask, is she your girlfriend?”

Xiaoyang was slightly stunned. Then a mixture of longing and pain flashed through his eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly said, “Yes. Her name is Xie Hui-jun, and she is from Taiwan, just like me. We were college classmates, and later we dated for more than four years. But one day, we had an argument, and she left Taiwan in anger, saying she wanted to come to Europe to clear her mind. From then on, we lost contact. The truth is, I came to Europe to find her.” His voice carried a trace of helplessness, and his eyes were filled with hope.

As Annie listened to his story, a feeling of sympathy and emotion arose in her heart. She lowered her head and softly comforted him, “I see. Xiaoyang, I believe the god of fate will surely help you. After all, you are so sincere.”

Xiaoyang's eyes showed gratitude. He raised his head and looked at Annie seriously. “Annie, may I come and see you often?”

Annie smiled gently, a playful glint in her eyes. Without saying anything, she handed the photograph back to him, then said casually, “Of course! But I travel around a lot and don't have a fixed place to live. If you want to find me, call my cell phone.” She took a business card printed in both English and Chinese from her handbag and handed it to Xiaoyang, her voice gentle and relaxed.

Xiaoyang took the business card, feeling a slight softness as their fingers touched. He looked up at Annie, a flash of excitement in his eyes. “Annie, you're from Shanghai? That's not too far from Taipei.”

Annie smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

Xiaoyang gently set down the business card in his hand, took a deep breath, and said with a hint of anticipation, “Once I finish taking care of things here, I'll definitely come find you.”

The corners of Annie's lips lifted slightly, a hint of challenge in her eyes. “All right. I'll be waiting for you.”

As their words met and an unspoken understanding passed between them, the distance between the two seemed to suddenly grow shorter. The café's soft lights illuminated their conversation, as well as this unexpected encounter between two people brought together by fate.