Chapter 23: Journey to Linchuan
TL: Etude
At the end of August, early in the morning, Jiang Qin arrived at the train station with his luggage.
Under the scorching weather, the train station was bustling with people, so crowded that one could easily lose a shoe just by trying to find a spot to stand.
This kind of scene was actually quite normal, considering it was the back-to-school season.
Standing at the entrance to the station, Jiang Qin unscrewed a bottle of mineral water and took a sip, thinking to himself how lucky it was that Mrs. Yuan Youqin and Mr. Jiang Zhenghong hadnt come to see him off. Otherwise, they surely would have been lost in the crowd, and he would have had to spend time searching for them.
Ten minutes later, Guo Zihang also arrived.
He had enrolled in Linchuan University of Science and Technology, a decent second-tier college not too far yet not too close to Linchuan University. Therefore, the two decided to travel together.
After passing through security and ticket checks, they boarded the train and found their seats.
This was Guo Zihangs first long journey; he had never even been on a train before, so he was extremely excited, looking around restlessly.
Fortunately, the train soon started moving, and as the scenery outside the window changed, Guo Zihang gradually calmed down.
Jiang, what do you think university life will be like? he asked.
University life? Its pretty good, replied Jiang Qin.
?????
Jiang Qin took off his jacket, cushioned it behind him, and leaned back, looking out the window.
The economic strength of Jizhou was not bad, but the citys investment in infrastructure was so low that every street looked run-down, worse than some of the counties under its jurisdiction.
As the train left the station, the first sights to greet them were rural towns and villages, followed by vast, golden wheat fields and the Ji River, which encircled the entire region of Jizhou.
Strangely, Jiang Qin felt an unfamiliarity with these scenes.
Could it be that I never took a train in my previous life?
Impossible, did I walk all the way here?
But soon, he remembered. Back then, he was too busy waiting for messages from Chu Siqi on his phone to pay attention to the outside world.
Love, he thought, was something not even a dog would bother with because you never know how many beautiful sights you miss for the sake of one person.
Jiang Qin lifted his clothes to block out the sunlight from the window, planning to sleep through the rest of the journey.
At eleven in the morning, the train arrived at the station. A massive crowd of passengers disembarked and swarmed towards the exit.
Jiang Qin and Guo Zihang, side by side, pulled their suitcases into the exit hall. From there, they could see the Xinmao Building across the street, topped with a huge sign for Jin Qian Gui Business KTV.
Of course, while the boys were admiring Hong Yan, the girls had their eyes on Jiang Qin.
Jiang Qin, which department are you in?
Im in the Computer Science department, majoring in Software Engineering. My friend here is too.
Jiang Qin playfully slapped Guo Zihang, signaling him to speak up. You signed up for the fucking gathering. Why am I your mouthpiece the whole time?
Guo Zihang, looking as if he had just been jolted back to reality, could only stutter in agreement.
Xu Qingqings eyes lit up, Im also studying Software Engineering. Which class were you assigned to?
Class 2.
Class 2, huh. Do you have a girlfriend?
Jiang Qin teasingly grabbed Guo Zihang: The lady is asking you, do you have a girlfriend?
Guo Zihangs face turned red, Not not at the moment.
What about you, Jiang Qin?
Me? I love studying. I cant go a day without it, so I dont plan on dating in university.
Xu Qingqing frowned slightly in dissatisfaction, You love studying yet youre at Linchuan University of Science and Technology? Shouldnt you be at Linchuan University?
Hong Yan nudged her, Qingqing, dont be sarcastic. Maybe he just didnt perform well on the exams.
Its fine. Everyone says that. Im the kind who buries himself in books.
See, I was right, Xu Qingqing said smugly.
Hong Yan frowned slightly, It also means he tried his best, so he wont have any regrets.
Hearing this, Jiang Qin was somewhat surprised. It was rare these days to find a girl who was considerate of others feelings.
AN: There was no collection, no follow-up reading
[1] Social Terrorist/Social Anxiety Sufferer (more extroverted)
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