Time ticked by minute by minute, second by second. He Xiyan blushed furiously and soon, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She spent more than an hour feeling very conflicted before she finally came to a decision.

She took out a new set of clothes from her closet that she had bought recently, a red and blue skirt and a navy sweater. She took off her old clothes and changed into this set of clothes which was her favorite set of clothes. It was extremely cold outside, so she threw on a black down coat and wrapped a gray scarf around her neck.

She took a deep breath before she sat next to her desk and took out a mirror and several value-for-money makeup products that she had purchased recently. She didnt really know how to do make-up and so she hardly wore make-up but today, she spent 20 minutes on her make-up routine. After she dolled herself up, her eyes seemed even brighter than before and her long eyelashes looked like small fans. Her button nose and cherry-red lips were even more attractive than before.

She took her small tote bag and left the house after she was finished with her make-up.

She arrived at a hotel by the Namu River 20 minutes later.

She looked up the room prices listed on the electronic board.

A standard single room cost 298 dollars.

A luxury single room cost 328 dollars.

A standard double room cost 318 dollars.

A luxury double room cost 368 dollars.

The prices of the suites were listed after the single and double rooms but she stopped looking at the price list. A room for these prices was considered reasonable in Ye City.

This was not a five-star hotel and naturally, she wouldnt be able to afford such an expensive hotel.

She took out her wallet from her bag and pulled out several hundred dollars and her identity card.

Hello, Id like to book a luxury double room, she said in a small voice and sounded a little shy. She didnt take off her cap even after she walked into her hotel and used her scarf to cover half her face.

There was a young girl at the concierge who smiled apologetically at He Xiyan after she heard her request.

Im really sorry but as part of the new regulations, you will need to present two identity cards if youd like to book a double room. We wouldnt be able to let you book a double room if youre alone, she said.

He Xiyan frowned. It had been awhile since she last stayed at a hotel, so she wasnt aware of the tightened regulations.

She thought for a moment before she finally said, Ill book the luxury single room then.

The concierge said, Sure.

He Xiyan went to the eighth floor of the hotel and opened the door to room 803.

She felt as though a hand had wrapped itself around her heart the moment she walked through the door.

She bit her lips and she clenched and unclenched her fists several times and it wasnt long before her palms felt clammy with sweat.

She smacked her head in an effort to calm herself down but she couldnt calm herself down no matter how hard she tried and her heart even raced faster than before.

She immediately closed the door and turned the lock after she entered.

Her heart seemed to click along with the click of the lock.

She took large gulps of air and felt as though checking into a hotel room was like completing an 800-meter race.

She took out her phone, tapped on the screen, and searched for the message he had sent her two hours earlier.

She read his text message twice and bit her lips so hard that it seemed like it was about to bleed.

Helan Hotel, Room 803, she typed with shaking hands.