Xu Xiuwen turned to Tang Weiwei, smiled, and said, "Weiwei, you should go back. You still have to take the bus tonight and endure an overnight trip, so try to get some sleep during the day."
Tang Weiwei nodded and slowly walked back to the dormitory building.
The group then headed to the bus stop near the school to wait for the bus.
After waiting for ten minutes, the bus slowly approached from a distance and stopped in front of the platform.
Once the bus stopped, Xu Xiuwen let Shi Xiangming get on first, followed by the two girls in the middle, and then he got on last.
Upon boarding, they found the bus quite crowded, with many passengers carrying bags and luggage, making it very cramped.
Xu Xiuwen couldn't even find a strap to hold onto and had to grab the horizontal handrail above.
Shi Xiangming faced the same problem—there were no free straps, and he was too short to reach the horizontal handrail.
Seeing this, Shi Xiangming squeezed to the side of a seat and grabbed the backrest to keep his balance.
Xu Xiuwen suddenly felt a weight on his arm and turned to see Shen Minyao holding his arm as a handrail.
Bai Yue'er followed suit, also grabbing his arm.
In this state, the bus started and slowly moved forward.
The bus ride lasted for more than half an hour before they finally arrived at Jinling Railway Station.
The crowded bus, the complex smells, and the frequent stops and sudden brakes made for an unpleasant experience.
All four of them looked uncomfortable, but no one complained.
This was just the norm of the times.
Even ten years later, people still suffer during rush hours.
In the present, it's just normal.
Getting off the bus and breathing the fresh air outside, they felt instantly refreshed.
Xu Xiuwen regretted his decision.
He should have insisted on taking a taxi; after all, it wasn't about the money.
In 2006, Jinling Railway Station was bustling with passengers. The large station was packed with people from all directions, each carrying various bags and luggage, ready to board their trains.
Amid the noise, one could hear accents from all over the country and occasionally even the clucking of chickens and quacking of ducks.
In a word, it was chaotic!
After entering the station and standing in the hall, Xu Xiuwen took the initiative to say, "Let's split up here. I'll accompany Shen Minyao to find her train, and you two can find yours."
"Okay," Shi Xiangming responded.
Bai Yue'er walked up to Shen Minyao and said, "Sister Minyao, I have to go."
"Safe travels, Yue'er."
Then she walked up to Xu Xiuwen and whispered, "Xu Xiuwen, I'm leaving."
"Alright, safe travels," Xu Xiuwen replied, saying the same thing as Shen Minyao.
Bai Yue'er looked at him and softly asked, "Don't you have anything else to say to me?"
Xu Xiuwen met her gaze, then silently looked away, and gently said, "Take care."
Hearing this, Bai Yue'er stared at him for a few seconds, then reluctantly bit her lip, took her luggage, and walked away with Shi Xiangming.
Watching Bai Yue'er and Shi Xiangming walk farther and farther away, Xu Xiuwen felt a bit emotional.
Only when they were out of sight did he turn to Shen Minyao and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to your train."
Xu Xiuwen successfully found Shen Minyao's train.
He boarded with her, found her seat, and stowed her luggage.
Shen Minyao's train was scheduled to depart at 8:20, and it was only 8:00, leaving twenty minutes before departure.
Xu Xiuwen noticed various vendors on the platform and, after a thought, said to Shen Minyao, "Wait here for me."
Xu Xiuwen got off the train and bought two pounds of apples from a fruit vendor.
In his previous life, Shen Minyao's favorite fruit was apples.
Returning to the carriage, Xu Xiuwen handed the apples to Shen Minyao. "I bought some apples. Take them and eat on the way."
Shen Minyao accepted the apples without refusal and thanked him.
Xu Xiuwen checked the time and said to her, "The train is about to depart. I'll get off now. Text me when you get home to let me know you're safe."
Shen Minyao nodded calmly, "I know."
Xu Xiuwen, unsure of what else to say, simply said, "I'll be going then. See you next year!"
Xu Xiuwen got off the train and stood on the platform.
Through the glass, he waved to Shen Minyao in the carriage and shouted again, "See you next year!"
Shen Minyao smiled at him and said, "Alright, you should head back."
Xu Xiuwen waved goodbye once more and then turned to leave.
Shen Minyao didn't look away until she could no longer see Xu Xiuwen.
She turned her head to look at the bag of apples on the table in front of her, her expression a little lost...
Leaving the train station, Xu Xiuwen took a taxi back to Jiaotong University to find Cheng Lu.
Since he hadn't eaten breakfast, as soon as he saw Cheng Lu, he dragged her straight to the cafeteria.
After breakfast, they strolled around the Jiaotong University campus.
Cheng Lu repeatedly reminded him to call her every day after he got home, at least once a day.
Xu Xiuwen promised over and over again, finally putting her mind at ease.
Unconsciously, they walked to the small garden behind the Humanities Building where they often came.
Today, there were no couples around, and the garden's snow was undisturbed.
Xu Xiuwen decided to build a snowman for Cheng Lu.
The snow had started falling again, changing from light flurries to heavy flakes.
Xu Xiuwen, amidst the swirling snow, worked for a long time and finally built a snowman.
His hands were red from the cold.
Cheng Lu held his hands tightly, warming them with her body heat.
Both of them were covered in snowflakes.
Cheng Lu looked at the snowman and asked, "What should we name this snowman?"
Xu Xiuwen thought for a moment and said, "Since it's a snowman, let's call it Iceberg."
Cheng Lu immediately asked, "Then who's the beauty?"
Xu Xiuwen chuckled, "Of course, it's you."
Cheng Lu smiled, satisfied.
Suddenly, Xu Xiuwen grabbed a handful of snow and, without forming it into a ball, sprinkled it on Cheng Lu.
He ran away immediately after.
Cheng Lu, covered in white spots, didn't get angry; instead, she laughed.
After a while, she started chasing Xu Xiuwen.
Unfortunately, the snow on the ground was too slippery, and Cheng Lu accidentally fell.
Xu Xiuwen quickly ran back and helped her up.
Cheng Lu suddenly grabbed a handful of snow from the ground and threw it at him.
Xu Xiuwen, caught off guard, got a face full of snowflakes.
Cheng Lu's melodious laughter rang out.
Not to be outdone, Xu Xiuwen grabbed some snow and retaliated.
The two of them ended up having a snowball fight.
After a few minutes, they stopped at the same time as if by mutual understanding.
Xu Xiuwen took Cheng Lu's hands, which were red from the cold.
Though his own hands were equally cold, he wrapped her hands in his to warm them with his own body heat.