After visiting the set, Zhou You headed to the hotel. His main purpose was to have fun. Through the crew, he found a tour guide and arranged a car. Shi Wenxiu initially wanted to accompany him, but Zhou You thought it over and declined. First, it would be inconvenient to bring her along, as he wanted a variety of experiences—many activities are more enjoyable when done solo. Second, he had no romantic interest in her and needed to maintain some distance. Most importantly, Zhou You didn’t want the hassle. Since the crew had filed reports and applications for filming locally, they had a decent relationship with the area. Zhou You, wanting to explore, found a young, attractive tour guide who, according to her own introduction, was one-third Chinese. Zhou You was quite satisfied—her Mandarin was fluent.
“Mr. Zhou, do you have any plans for this trip?” the guide, He Mei, asked. “No plans—just eat, drink, and have fun. You can recommend everything. I’ll follow your lead these few days,” Zhou You replied. He truly had no itinerary and hadn’t prepared any攻略 in advance; he was much lazier now than before. This time, Zhou You specifically requested a male driver. After all, traveling abroad, basic personal safety had to be considered. He Mei, hearing Zhou You’s answer, understood the situation. In fact, clients like this were the easiest to handle—wealthy, free, with ample time and money. There were indeed plenty of places to explore.
First stop: Doi Suthep Temple. Doi Suthep Temple sits on Doi Suthep Mountain, funded by local devotees. The temple is resplendent and magnificent, with incense and candles burning continuously. It’s a legendary temple chosen by a white elephant and built by royalty. The temple gets its name from the two long dragons lying on the steps on either side. The golden pagoda still enshrines relics of the Buddha, attracting pilgrims from around the world every year. A secluded mountain hides an ancient temple. Heroes match beauties. This season wasn’t yet Thailand’s peak tourist period, but it was already bustling with visitors. Zhou You and He Mei walked ahead, with the driver following behind. As they walked, He Mei explained, “When visiting temples, go clockwise, entering from the left, because in Thailand, funerals are conducted counterclockwise around the temple. At Doi Suthep, there’s no swirling smoke, only peace and tranquility. It’s cool and comfortable on the mountain. From the observation deck at the back, you can see the entire panorama of Chiang Mai. At night, you can even see a sky full of stars—it’s breathtaking!” The mountain wasn’t high; in less than half an hour, they reached the summit. The temples were all similar. At the rear observation deck, Chiang Mai was indeed laid out before them. The city wasn’t large, nor was its population. The urban population was just over 300,000, with a city area of 40 square kilometers—essentially the size of a small county town.
Descending the mountain, they found a Thai restaurant. During the meal, they saw a group taking a Thai cooking class. Everyone was given a straw hat—partly for sun protection, partly to keep the group together, and partly to avoid getting lost. Many onlookers took photos as the group, wearing straw hats, went to the market to buy ingredients, drawing attention wherever they went. They became part of the scenery themselves. Zhou You couldn’t help but find it amusing—every experience truly was different. Whether from the flight or the morning hike, Zhou You felt tired in the afternoon. Seeing this, He Mei took him for a Thai massage. Thai massage shops were everywhere, a must-try experience for foreign tourists. But Zhou You didn’t want to go to places targeting tourists. He told He Mei, “Find one with good decor and service, not too crowded.” He Mei, knowing from the job that this client had money to spend, took him to a massage shop that catered more to Western customers. It offered Thai massage and Indian yoga, with skilled masseuses—unlike the tourist-oriented places that just skimmed the surface. This was an upscale spot. The masseuses were stunningly beautiful, and there were even special services, like ladyboy massages. Zhou You took a look but found it hard to accept. Looking was fine, but touching was a no-go. Zhou You opted for an oil massage. He stripped down, took a quick rinse, and wrapped himself in a towel. Lying on the bed. The staff closed the door, played some light music, and lit incense. The masseuse wore a short massage uniform. Starting from his toes, she worked all the way up to his head, completing one full sequence, massaging from the feet toward the heart. The techniques covered almost everything: pressing, stroking, pulling, tugging, kneading, and pinching. Thai massage was done in a kneeling position, alternating left and right hands with gentle, even pressure, moderate speed, and a systematic flow. Zhou You unknowingly fell asleep. Seeing this, the masseuse continued gently. He Mei and the driver rested nearby while Zhou You got his massage. They earned commissions for bringing clients like this. Zhou You had planned to enjoy a thorough massage and try a few different types today. Who knew he’d be massaged to sleep? The technique was indeed excellent. When he woke up, the masseuse was still waiting nearby. The masseuses here all knew some basic Mandarin: “Sir, would you like to continue the massage?” “Yes, continue. It’s very comfortable.” Zhou You stayed lying down, not yet satisfied. After another full session, the masseuse asked, “Sir, we have other services here. Would you like to try them?” “What services?” “Catching the dragon’s sinew.” Zhou You paused for a moment, then realized—a happy ending massage? He thought, since he was already here, and the masseuse seemed nice, he might as well give it a try. Before starting, Zhou You felt uneasy and took out 1,000 Thai baht: “This is a tip, given in advance. It’s not part of the massage fee, so do your best.” Given the nature of the service, Zhou You was still cautious. Hearing this and seeing the tip, the masseuse couldn’t hide her delight: “Sir, rest assured, I’ll be careful.” At that time, wages in Thailand weren’t high—3,000–4,000 baht a month was normal. Working in a high-end salon might pay a bit more. But a 1,000-baht tip was still a substantial amount for them. The largest Thai baht denomination was only 1,000. Then Zhou You lay back, ready to be taken care of. An afternoon passed, and Zhou You emerged feeling refreshed and revitalized. When the massage ended, he couldn’t help but give another 1,000 baht as a tip. The masseuse’s eyes lit up with surprise. She hugged Zhou You and wouldn’t let go, insisting on offering him other services. At that moment, Zhou You restrained himself with great willpower.
In the evening, He Mei took Zhou You to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. The entire street was packed with people, bustling and nonstop—a mix of a pedestrian street and a rural market. Most of the diners were locals, but tourists came from all over. Surprisingly, there were more Europeans and Americans than Chinese. The goods were affordable and high-quality, the noise was lively, and the lights were bright. If any seasoned experts have tried “catching the dragon’s sinew,” they could describe that exhilarating sensation in detail.