The girl stopped tapping Lin Yi's leg and leaned against the train window, quietly listening to her music.
"Next stop: Songshan Station. Passengers, please prepare to disembark. This stop will last fifteen minutes."
The train's announcement brought Lin Yi back to reality. He began gathering his belongings, getting ready to leave the train. Surprisingly, the girl beside him started packing her things too. Clearly, she was also getting off at Songshan Station.
As the girl stood, Lin Yi estimated her height—about 165 centimeters, just as he had guessed.
Stepping off the train, Lin Yi was amazed by the grandeur of the station's architecture. Though he had visited Songshan ten years ago, the city had transformed completely.
"Wait a moment!"
A sweet voice called out behind him. Lin Yi stopped and instinctively turned around.
It was the girl who had been sitting next to him on the train. She was waving and running toward him.
"Can I help you?" Lin Yi asked, knowing it wasn't likely she had fallen for him at first sight. Though he considered himself fairly handsome, his outfit screamed "country laborer": a pair of dirt-yellow trousers and a plain white tank top.
"You're not planning to cash that prize, are you?" the girl asked, a trace of frustration in her voice. She was clearly upset that Lin Yi had ignored her earlier warnings on the train.
"Oh, you mean this?" Lin Yi took the pull tab out of his pocket and casually tossed it onto the side of the road.
"Huh?!"
The girl was stunned. She hadn't expected such a dramatic reaction.
"You... you just threw it away?" she exclaimed, pointing at Lin Yi with her mouth wide open.
"Yeah, threw it away," Lin Yi replied calmly. "It's fake. What's the point of keeping it?"
"You knew it was fake?"
The girl stared at him in disbelief. Why on earth would someone knowingly spend money on a fake prize?
"Of course. Even if I didn't know, you warned me on the train," Lin Yi said with a smile.
"Then why did you give them money?" she asked, her frustration rising again.
Lin Yi chuckled. He took off his backpack, unzipped it, and held it open in front of her.
The girl glanced at him skeptically, then leaned in to look inside the bag. Her eyes widened in shock.
It was filled with bundles of cash—seven or eight stacks at least.
"You're rich? Even so, you can't just throw money away!" she blurted, her tone now tinged with confusion. She assumed Lin Yi was trying to flaunt his wealth, though his rustic appearance suggested otherwise.
"That's the money from earlier," Lin Yi said nonchalantly.
"The money from earlier? What do you mean?" the girl asked, puzzled. "Didn't you only have 49,000 yuan? This is at least 70,000 or 80,000!"
"I also took the 30,000 from the man with glasses," Lin Yi said with a shrug, as if it were nothing.
"What?!"
The girl was speechless. Not only had Lin Yi retrieved his money, but he had also managed to take the con artist's stash.
"Why that look? You're not planning to report me for theft, are you? You do seem like a justice-driven type," Lin Yi teased, smiling at her surprised expression.
"Of course not," she said, her face turning red as she shook her head.
"Anyway, thanks for trying to warn me earlier. There aren't many girls like you these days," Lin Yi said sincerely. "How about I treat you to a meal?"
"No, thanks." The girl hesitated and shook her head. "My family is waiting for me at the station exit."
Lin Yi nodded, not pushing the matter. Pursuing someone required finesse, and forcing the issue could backfire. "Alright then. I won't keep you."
As Lin Yi walked away, Wang Xinyan—still standing there—shook her head. What a strange person, she thought. If her mother weren't waiting for her, she wouldn't have minded spending a little more time with him—not because she was particularly interested, but because Lin Yi was undeniably unique.
Carrying a backpack stuffed with cash yet dressed like a rural laborer, he had a certain inexplicable charm.
"Sir, need a place to stay? Cheap rooms available…"
The moment Lin Yi stepped out of the station, a group of touts surrounded him. His attire had made him a prime target for budget accommodations.
Waving them off, Lin Yi squeezed through the crowd and headed toward the taxi stand. In his hand was a piece of paper with an address scrawled on it—the one the old man had given him before his journey.
As he climbed into a taxi, the driver greeted him warmly. "Where to, young man?"
"This address," Lin Yi said, handing over the paper.
The driver, who specialized in overcharging unsuspecting newcomers, scanned Lin Yi with a practiced eye. Clearly, he thought Lin Yi was a migrant worker unfamiliar with the city.
Taking the paper, the driver glanced at the address. His expression immediately darkened.
It read: 36 Guangming Avenue, Pengzhan Tower. Distance from the station: 11.2 kilometers via the New Second Ring Bridge.
Even the route was specified, leaving no room for trickery.
Resigned, the driver sighed and tossed the paper aside. He started the meter and drove off without any funny business.
The journey was smooth, with Songshan's well-planned roads and bridges making short work of the trip. After paying 24 yuan for the ride, Lin Yi stepped out of the cab.
He craned his neck to take in the towering Pengzhan Tower. It felt even taller than the mountains back home.
"So my employer is loaded," Lin Yi muttered. Maybe the old man wasn't lying—this really could be a one-time job that would set him up for life.
Confirming the address and building name, Lin Yi adjusted his backpack and confidently strode toward the entrance.