HLM -Chapter 1274 Starlight Flickers

The jet boat ride had been thrilling enough that their legs still felt a little wobbly after they got back on solid ground.

The boat’s driver and co-pilot had run into trouble: a Black man who had lost his phone angrily blocked their way, demanding compensation.

A middle-aged man, looking like a manager, walked over and said, “Sir, we’re truly sorry this happened. However, once the boat is on its course, the route and speed are all set by the computer. Our drivers are only here to assist. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

“I don’t care—I want you to pay me for my phone.”

The manager took out a contract to show him. “I’m afraid we cannot offer compensation. As you can see, you’ve signed your name here; any loss of personal property on the jet boat is not our responsibility.”

Hou Haibo wanted to look on, but Wang Bo pulled him away, saying, “It’s fine, this has nothing to do with us. They don’t need us as witnesses. Let’s just leave.”

Li Xing also warned him, “Don’t crowd around in New Zealand. That violates people’s privacy.”

That afternoon, they toured the surrounding estates, and in the evening, they stayed for dinner.

Among the vineyard estates was a refined, elegant restaurant. Like many restaurants and hotels in Sunset Town, it used ingredients produced on its own estate.

In such a case, securing a reservation was naturally difficult.

The restaurant sat in the middle of a vineyard, with a lavender field to the south. Its interior looked simple, like a small wooden cabin, but the decoration was meticulous. The floor seemed to have a fresh layer of wax, soft and gentle underfoot.

Li Xing patted Na Qingyang’s chest and said, “Not bad, kid. Impressive—you actually got a table at the Vanna Vineyard Restaurant. I hear it’s really hard to get a reservation there.”

Na Qingyang smiled proudly. “You have to know who I am. I may not have the connections Wang Bo has, but handling Sunset Town’s daily affairs gives me some contacts.”

Zhang Rui asked in surprise, “Sunset Town’s diplomacy? Who is that? That girl has a weird name.”

Na Qingyang glared at him. “Xiaohui, mind your man. You’re not even married yet, and already so flirtatious? Imagine after marriage!”

Zhao Xiaohui said, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Wang Bo looked out the window with a hint of regret. “Too bad we’re here at the wrong season. The scenery outside has already faded. Two months earlier, dining here would have been amazing.”

Compared with the boutique restaurants of Sunset Town, the food here was average. Their prized organic vegetables and free-range meat didn’t particularly appeal to the group.

But after the energy-draining jet boat ride at noon, everyone had a good appetite and finished every small, exquisite dish in the restaurant.

After dinner, they stayed to watch the stars.

Being farther south, Queenstown has some of the best stargazing locations in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, observing the southern sky was perfect.

As night deepened, the stars grew brighter.

Above them, countless colorful stars hung in the sky like a mosaic of dazzling glass, stretching from directly overhead to the horizon.

The moon was hazy, its light dim, yet the starlit sky was vivid and clear.

The speckled starlight intersected like endless crystals scattered across a chessboard, in every imaginable color.

Zhang Rui exclaimed, “Wang Bo, the stars here are even more beautiful than in Sunset Town.”

Hou Haibo was completely enchanted. “I never knew that stars weren’t just white! It’s like a rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—every color is here.”

Li Xing said, “Brother Rui, you’re mistaken. Sunset Town’s night sky is just as good, especially when viewed from the mountains. The issue was that you came in the wrong season. Now, in late autumn and early winter, is the perfect time for stargazing.”

Gibbston Valley is a stargazing sanctuary. Its unique geography makes it the best place in Queenstown to observe the night sky. That’s why Wang Bo chose to stay.

Overall, Sunset Town’s stargazing is comparable to Queenstown, but it doesn’t have a location as optimal as Gibbston Valley. Here, the atmosphere seems almost nonexistent—you can see straight into space.

The estate even had a telescope for stargazing, resembling a small cannon. Peering at the moon through it, they could clearly see its craters.

That afternoon, Na Qingyang had bought beer. They lit a bonfire, sat around it, enjoying the warmth of the flames, drinking, and watching the stars together.

The vast land beneath them, the infinite sky above—it felt as if the world had become silent, with only them and the fire.

Taking a sip of beer, Hou Haibo said, “In a setting like this, I’m reminded of a line from the martial arts dramas I used to watch: ‘I’ve come too late.’”

“I feel the same. Speaking purely about the scenery, calling New Zealand a paradise is not an exaggeration,” Zhao Xiaohui said. “But when it comes to daily life, it’s not all comfortable here.”

Wang Bo said, “You don’t have many friends around here, especially in Auckland. Who do you know? Later, when you can, move your office to Sunset Town. All your classmates will gather—then it’ll be comfortable.”

Na Qingyang nodded. “Yeah, I feel really comfortable now. I’m planning to bring my parents over; it’s so beautiful here.”

Li Xing, drinking his beer, said, “Life is really strange. Back in freshman year, we used to secretly cook hotpot with a rice cooker in the dorm, bragging as we went. No matter how much we bragged, it never got this big.”

Hou Haibo self-deprecatingly said, “Back then, I really didn’t know my limits. I just thought making money was so easy. Once you’re in society and open your wallet, the money would just jump in.”

Zhang Rui agreed. “It was tough, but thanks to connections with Wang Bo, I still made some money.”

“Then you really have to thank Wang Bo,” Hou Haibo added.

Wang Bo leaned on his arm, lazily saying, “Don’t thank me—thank heaven. I’ve come this far only with heaven’s blessing.”

“Who else is coming later?” Zhang Rui asked.

Wang Bo pointed at Na Qingyang, indicating he was in charge of the matter.

Na Qingyang said, “Su Dongdong and Fan Dong will probably have a hard time coming. One is a university teacher, the other a civil servant. Coming here might not be better. Zhou Haojie also won’t make it—his wife isn’t keen on coming, though Dong is fine. He’s handling some business matters; once done, he’ll come over.”

Wang Bo said, “Let Dong come. Send him to Lincoln University as a teacher. As long as his language skills are up to par, he can handle international student matters.”

Na Qingyang shook his head. “He might not be willing—what about his girlfriend’s work? Let’s take it slow. For now, our focus should be developing Sunset Town.”

They chatted freely, and as the night deepened, they grew tired. Eventually, they extinguished the bonfire and drove toward Queenstown.