Chapter 27: Qingchuan
Qingchuan was a beautiful city, the changing seasons leaving distinct marks upon it. Su Yu had longed to visit, but… tied down by work, he had never found the time. Now, walking through this unfamiliar city, he felt strangely at ease.
Su Yu dragged his heavy luggage, his figure looking somewhat thin and solitary in the bustling train station. As soon as he exited the station, he spotted a taxi parked by the roadside.
“Driver, can you take me to Qingchuan University?”
“Of course, hop in.” The driver, seeing a potential fare, quickly got out and helped Su Yu load his luggage into the trunk.
Through the rearview mirror, the driver looked at the delicate-featured young man in the back seat. “Young man, are you a freshman?”
“Yes, I’m here for enrollment.”
“Oh, Qingchuan University is tough to get into. My son didn’t quite make the cut, so he went to another university. It would have been great if he could have stayed in Qingchuan.”
A hint of envy flickered in the driver’s eyes. “Your parents must be very proud. You’re handsome and have good grades.”
“Haha, you’re making me blush.”
Su Yu felt a bit awkward with the driver’s friendliness and could only respond with an embarrassed laugh.
“Have you been to Qingchuan before?”
“I’ve heard of it, but never been here. It’s pretty much what I imagined.”
“Qingchuan is a great place. This isn’t even the best part. Qingchuan University is in the city center, there are plenty of fun places to visit.”
The driver’s enthusiasm ignited when talking about Qingchuan, chatting with Su Yu about various attractions, as if introducing his own home.
The traffic in Qingchuan was much better than in Su Yu’s hometown. The journey from the outskirts to the city center only took about an hour.
“Young man, see that? Qingchuan University is right ahead. Good thing you came early. Any later, and you’d be stuck in traffic for hours.”
The driver pointed ahead. Su Yu followed his gaze and saw a large stone monument in the square, engraved with bold characters: Qingchuan University. His destination.
The taxi slowly pulled over. The driver got out and helped Su Yu unload his luggage, bidding him a warm farewell.
“Here’s my number. Call me when you’re going home for winter break. I’ll give you a ride, and I’ll give you a discount.”
“Okay, thank you.” Su Yu smiled and took his luggage.
Su Yu looked up at the bright sunlight, feeling its warmth on his skin. He couldn’t help but feel a bit narcissistic, thinking that this good weather was specially prepared to welcome him. After all, he had already been blessed once… a little extra favoritism wouldn’t hurt.
He, Su Yu… his life, it was time for a new beginning.
…
The driver frowned at the traffic jam ahead, impatience etched on his face. He honked his horn, a sharp, piercing sound, which seemed to start a chain reaction, nearby cars joining in the cacophony. The more impatient people became, the worse the traffic jam got.
He lit a cigarette, the smoke filling his lungs before he exhaled, leaving a strong smell in the car. He glanced up, looking at the pretty girl in the back seat through the rearview mirror. She was a sight for sore eyes, and he suddenly felt less irritated. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and casually started a conversation.
“Miss, is this your first time here?”
Xia Qian Ge didn’t answer, seemingly not hearing him. Her eyes, hidden beneath her bangs, were dark and distant. She stared blankly out the window, her black pupils almost eclipsing the whites of her eyes, a hazy mist within them, like the heavy, dark clouds of a rainy day.
She didn’t like this city. It was too big, too crowded, the roads always seemed to be jammed. But she had a reason to be here. She suddenly smiled, as if thinking of something amusing.
The girl’s silence made the driver uneasy. He nervously adjusted the rearview mirror, avoiding her gaze, and focused on driving after they left the congested highway. The girl, who had just been so pleasant to look at, now made him feel uneasy.
He saw the girl’s sullen expression as she stared at her reflection in the window, a creepy smile playing on her lips. A shiver ran down his spine. The sight was unsettling and strange.
The driver stepped on the gas pedal, speeding up, wanting to drop her off as quickly as possible.
“Here we are.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Xia Qian Ge nodded slightly and opened the door, but she heard the driver mutter under his breath.
“What bad luck. She must be crazy, with those creepy eyes.”
It was rude to judge people behind their backs. She suppressed the sudden surge of anger in her chest and slammed the car door shut.
…
The first day of university was always lively. The sun was bright and intense, mirroring the students’ enthusiasm. The influx of new blood invigorated the atmosphere.
Almost everyone here was a top student from various parts of the country, each entering the university gates with pride. Although they were strangers, a subtle sense of competition already permeated the air.
The school gate was bustling with students dragging heavy luggage in and out of the campus. Zhou Yang had just helped a freshman girl to her dorm, sweating profusely in the summer heat. He twisted open a bottle of water and took large gulps, soaking his shirt.
He looked at the freshmen passing by, when suddenly a faint fragrance drifted past his nose, the scent of gardenias.
He threw away his water bottle and turned around, spotting a slender figure. The girl was dragging a heavy white suitcase, but even more eye-catching were her long, slender legs and elegant, swan-like neck.
Zhou Yang’s eyes lit up. He quickly caught up to her and called out, “Hey, freshman, right? Which dorm are you in? I can help you with your luggage.”
Xia Qian Ge turned around to look at the boy behind her, but Zhou Yang froze, his heart pounding, his breath catching in his throat.
The girl smiled, her delicate features stunningly beautiful, like a woman stepping out of a painting.
He might have fallen in love at first sight, Zhou Yang thought to himself. He had been at the university for a year and hadn’t seen a girl more beautiful than this one.
“I don’t have much luggage. There are many other students who need help. Thank you for the offer, but I’ll be fine.”
Xia Qian Ge politely declined. Zhou Yang couldn’t feel the slightest bit annoyed. He watched her walk away, then turned back to the other freshmen with their luggage, but he couldn’t muster any interest.
He hadn’t even asked for her contact information. Zhou Yang cursed himself for being useless, feeling like he had missed something, and walked away dejectedly.
