The next afternoon, as expected, Xiao Hongwei arrived at the East Gate in his car.
Chen Hansheng deliberately went down a few minutes late. He waited until Xiao Rongyu called to rush him before grabbing a pack of Su cigarettes and heading out.
This pack of Su cigarettes was a reward from Zhong Jiancheng to Chen Hansheng.
Wang Zibo looked puzzled.
Chen Hansheng explained, "If we go down too early, Xiao Yuer might notice that we don't have our luggage and change her mind about leaving. It's better to wait until she's in the car."
"As for the cigarettes,"
Chen Hansheng smiled and said, "They're for Uncle Xiao. I'm breaking a promise today, so Xiao Yuer will definitely be upset."
"Xiao Yuer is easy to appease; Uncle Xiao is not so easy to fool. I'll start with a gift of cigarettes as a gesture."
Wang Zibo nodded and muttered to himself, "Smart move."
Sure enough, when Xiao Rongyu saw that Chen Hansheng hadn't brought his luggage, she asked in surprise, "Where are your and Zibo's bags?"
Chen Hansheng didn't answer but walked over to the driver's side and handed the pack of cigarettes to Xiao Hongwei with a cheeky smile: "Uncle Xiao, a small token of respect for you."
Xiao Hongwei took it, glanced at it, and joked, "Xiao Yuer said you've been doing some entrepreneurial work at university. Have you made any money?"
Chen Hansheng responded modestly, "Just some small business on the side, nothing much. I'm just following others' lead."
If someone else had given him cigarettes, Xiao Hongwei might have refused, but Chen Hansheng was a bit different in his eyes. He accepted them without hesitation and placed them next to his seat, adding, "Don't forget about your dad, or old Chen will get jealous. Where's your luggage?"
Only then did Chen Hansheng turn to Xiao Rongyu to explain, "There's some urgent work at the entrepreneurial base. I can't leave today."
"What?"
Xiao Rongyu's eyebrows shot up, and she said impulsively, "Then I'm not leaving either."
"Don't be stubborn. Uncle Xiao came all this way to pick you up,"
Chen Hansheng coaxed her gently. "Besides, Auntie Lu is probably at home making lots of delicious food. If you don't go, she'll be very disappointed."
Xiao Rongyu's luggage was already in the trunk, and the car engine was running with the heater on. Chen Hansheng's last-minute change left her with no time to react.
"Also, Wanqiu and Xiaomeng are going back too, right? Jia Liang is there as well. They're all waiting for you."
Chen Hansheng continued to persuade her.
Xiao Rongyu had no choice. She stomped her foot and got into the car heavily.
Gao Jialiang, who saw Chen Hansheng staying behind, was secretly pleased, "Xiao Yuer, let's sit in the second row. There's an empty seat here."
Xiao Rongyu snorted and went straight to the front passenger seat, slamming the door shut without looking at Chen Hansheng.
Chen Hansheng didn't feel embarrassed at all. He walked over and said to Xiao Hongwei, "Uncle Xiao, have a safe trip."
Xiao Hongwei smiled and gave Chen Hansheng a few words of caution. As the head of the criminal investigation team at the police department, he could tell from subtle signs that Chen Hansheng wasn't telling the whole truth, but he didn't know why.
He glanced at his daughter, who was pouting angrily.
Old Xiao sighed, thinking, "I only know of two fights, and Xiao Yuer always ends up the one suffering."
"This kid Chen Hansheng, I need to find a chance to talk to him and figure out what's going on in his mind."
…
After sending Xiao Rongyu off, Chen Hansheng felt a slight sense of relief. He glanced at the time—if Xiao Rongyu didn't text to complain within 20 minutes, it meant she was really mad.
Twenty minutes later, the phone remained silent.
Chen Hansheng took the initiative to send a message: "I'm sorry, the end-of-year work at the entrepreneurial base is really busy."
No reply from Xiao Rongyu.
Chen Hansheng: "I promise this is the last time."
Still no reply.
Chen Hansheng: "I'll come to see you in Hong Kong after a few days."
"Ding."
A message finally arrived. Chen Hansheng hurriedly took out his phone.
"Dear customer, your balance is below 10 yuan. Please recharge soon."
"Damn it!"
Chen Hansheng couldn't help but curse. Always at the critical moment, these messages showed up to cause trouble.
He had no choice but to send another message to Xiao Rongyu: "How about this, I'll come to your house for the New Year and visit Auntie Lu. It's been a while since I've seen her."
This time, Xiao Rongyu replied.
Xiao Rongyu: "Really?"
Chen Hansheng: "If I'm lying, I'm a dog."
Xiao Rongyu: "You've already been 'woof, woof, woof' for a while now."
…
Back at the dorm, Chen Hansheng packed up quickly and went with Wang Zibo to the girls' dormitory.
There were very few students left on campus now. The campus felt deserted, with only the occasional student heading to the cafeteria for a meal and then quickly running back to their dorm. Several convenience stores had already closed, and the "couple benches" in front of the girls' dormitory were empty.
But don't worry, once the new term begins and spring arrives, this place will be lively again.
Soon, Shen Youchu came down carrying two large bags and a small one.
Her hometown was too remote for delivery services like Shentong Express, so she had to carry everything with her. Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo only had one bag each.
"So slow,"
Chen Hansheng said impatiently.
"S-sorry,"
Shen Youchu apologized softly.
"Zibo, don't just stand there. Help with the bags."
Chen Hansheng called out to Wang Zibo.
Wang Zibo, ever the obedient one, walked over and picked up the two large bags.
Shen Youchu didn't want others to carry her things, but Wang Zibo insisted, "Xiao Chen is younger than me by a few months. You belong to him, so it's only right that we help."
Chen Hansheng couldn't help but remind him, "Zibo, stop acting cool. Don't forget the small bag."
Shen Youchu looked a bit lost and said to Chen Hansheng, "I want to carry something too."
Chen Hansheng waved dismissively, "Carry what? Let's go!"
He reached out to hold Shen Youchu's hand, but she shyly pulled away. Chen Hansheng didn't mind and kept smiling. He took out a fan he had bought at Changshou Lake during the semester and, despite the winter cold, started fanning himself while humming a song.
"You carry the load, I lead the horse. We greet the sunrise and bid farewell to the sunset. We pave the path through trials and set off after hardships…"
Wang Zibo, annoyed by the singing, turned and put the small bag on Chen Hansheng's head: "Stop trying to slack off!"
The three of them took a bus to the train station. Shen Youchu didn't know that Chen Hansheng was going to accompany her home, so at the station, she took out a paper bag.
"What's in there?"
Chen Hansheng asked.
"It's... scarves I knitted for Uncle and Auntie,"
Shen Youchu said, blushing.
Chen Hansheng opened the bag and saw two scarves, the same color as the one he had.
Shen Youchu worked part-time at 101 during the day and had to study as well, so it was clear these scarves were made by sacrificing her sleep.
Chen Hansheng sighed, "Let's go buy some instant noodles and snacks. It's a thirty-plus hour trip."
"No need, I brought steamed buns,"
Shen Youchu said softly, declining.
"From the cafeteria?"
Chen Hansheng asked.
Shen Youchu nodded and even showed him her bundle. Inside were several cold buns, some squished out of shape, along with a jar of pickled mustard greens.
"You're planning to eat buns, drink hot water, and have chili paste for the whole trip?"
Wang Zibo couldn't help interjecting.
Shen Youchu nodded without showing any sign of hardship.
"Xiao Chen, you're not a stingy person."
Wang Zibo was confused. Chen Hansheng had many faults, but being cheap wasn't one of them.
"Of course not,"
Chen Hansheng said helplessly. "I've even given her a salary, but she secretly saves it up. What can I do?"
…