Clang clang
Outside the train window, tall buildings gradually shrunk, and then the dazzling golden harvested rice fields appeared.
Li Haochen's gaze was drawn by the expanse of golden yellow, stirring up thoughts of leaving home.
"Ah, leaving one's hometown does indeed stir up worries and affections."
"Hello, is anyone sitting here?"
Li Haochen's thoughts were interrupted by a voice like a warbler. He turned to see a tall girl wearing a baseball cap and a mask, with a long ponytail and big, watery eyes looking at him.
Although her face was hidden, Li Haochen's intuition told him, "She must be a beauty!"
"Ah, no one!" Li Haochen said a bit shyly, standing up to let the girl pass.
For Li Haochen's polite gesture, Murong Yanran smiled and sat in the inner seat.
"Gulp~"
Murong Yanran turned her head towards the window with some embarrassment. Li Haochen took out a small bag of steamed buns from his bag. He glanced at Murong Yanran beside him, hesitated for a moment, then took a clean white bag, packed a few buns, and handed them over.
"If you don't mind, please have some. They're homemade, not dirty."
Murong Yanran was startled by Li Haochen's action. Looking at his clear eyes, she pursed her lips, hesitant.
"Gulp~ Gulp~"
Murong Yanran's fair face turned completely red. The rumbling of her stomach finally overcame her inner hesitation. She reached out her fair, jade-like hand and accepted the buns Li Haochen offered.
"Thank you!"
The moment Murong Yanran removed her mask, Li Haochen's heart trembled as if struck by an electric current. It felt as though he had known her for a long time, and a pounding of affection spread through his entire body.
Perhaps too hungry, Murong Yanran didn't notice Li Haochen's gaze.
"Cough cough cough!"
Murong Yanran ate too quickly and was choked by a bun. As she was patting her chest with difficulty, emitting a slight cough, Li Haochen unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it to her.
"The water hasn't been opened, don't rush, you'll choke."
This time, Murong Yanran didn't hesitate. She quickly took the water and drank it down with gulps. After drinking, she felt much better and gave Li Haochen a slight smile, "Thank you!"
Her smile was captivating, making Li Haochen's heart ripple, and he dared not look directly at her.
"Hello, my name is Murong Yanran, and you are?" Murong Yanran extended her jade-like hand, smiling at Li Haochen.
Li Haochen quickly rubbed his hands on himself and, with a mixture of joy and shyness, reached out and gently shook her hand.
"Hello, my name is Li Haochen."
Murong Yanran looked at the somewhat shy and cute Li Haochen, then at his attire, and said, "Haochen, are you coming to school?"
"Yes, Binhai University!"
"Really? Then we'll be classmates from now on, hehe!" Murong Yanran was surprised that Li Haochen was also a student at Binhai University, and she felt a slight fondness for this shy and considerate boy.
"I'm in the Business Administration department, how about you?"
"I'm in the Marine Biology department," Li Haochen replied.
With this question-and-answer style conversation, the two gradually became familiar with each other, with Murong Yanran doing most of the talking and Li Haochen acting as a listener.
In this short hour, all of Li Haochen's information was guided out by Murong Yanran, while Li Haochen knew nothing about her except that she was a local of Binhai.
"You're heading this way, I'll go check up front."
Suddenly, a conversation among several men in matching suits echoed in the carriage, drawing the attention of many passengers.
Li Haochen felt a soft presence on his arm. He turned to see Murong Yanran had put on her mask and pulled her baseball cap down low. She was holding Li Haochen's arm and hiding behind him.
"Could these people be looking for Yanran?" Li Haochen wondered.
The men passed by in a hurry, quickly disappearing from the carriage.
Murong Yanran poked her little head out, her big eyes darting around the carriage.
"Phew, luckily they didn't find me." Murong Yanran patted her chest and stuck out her tongue, a mischievous and triumphant expression on her face.
Murong Yanran looked at her hand still linked with Li Haochen's, her face instantly blushing to her ears. She quickly withdrew her hand, and they looked at each other, falling into a moment of silence.
"Were they... looking for you?" After a while, Li Haochen asked curiously.
"Ah, who were they looking for?" Murong Yanran's eyes darted around, pretending not to understand what Li Haochen was talking about.
Seeing Murong Yanran's silence, Li Haochen didn't pry further.
"What's your WeChat ID? Let me add you!" Murong Yanran's voice suddenly rang out.
Li Haochen took out his old phone. The device slowly operated and opened WeChat. Murong Yanran didn't laugh at Li Haochen's worn-out phone but patiently waited.
It took over ten minutes to successfully add a WeChat contact, which made Li Haochen extremely embarrassed. He resolved in his heart, "After I get settled at university, I must buy a better phone, or I can't even chat properly."
"Cough cough~!"
Their pleasant conversation was interrupted by a cough from the side.
"It's over!"
Murong Yanran showed a helpless, bitter expression, removed her mask and hat, and said to the middle-aged man, "Uncle Jian, you have a nose like a bloodhound, finding me like this."
Chen Jian smiled and said, "Miss, you can't blame me. It's just that Miss is too stunning; your noble aura can't be hidden no matter what. You're easy to find, hehe!"
"My father is really something. I just wanted to go to school by myself, why is he so worried?" Murong Yanran pouted, sounding a little annoyed.
"Miss, the master is worried about you. After all, people's hearts are unfathomable," Chen Jian said, his eyes glancing at Li Haochen sitting beside them, implying something.
Li Haochen was also a little displeased with Chen Jian's insinuation but ignored it, sighing inwardly.
"It seems Yanran is from a wealthy family."
"Young man, here is 1000 yuan. Can I switch seats with you?" Chen Jian took out money and offered it to Li Haochen, deliberately waving it, looking at Li Haochen with a somewhat disdainful smile.
Li Haochen looked at the thousand yuan, then glanced up at Chen Jian, smiled slightly, and ignored him, closing his eyes as if to rest.
Seeing Li Haochen unmoved, Chen Jian increased the amount again, "How about 2000?"
Li Haochen opened his eyes, and Chen Jian thought he had achieved his goal, mocking him inwardly.
"You're so annoying! Can you not disturb my rest?"
"You you~!"
"Uncle Jian, go to your seats and don't bother us." Although Murong Yanran still respectfully called him Uncle Jian, her tone was now icy.
"Then... alright, Miss, remember not to sneak away later, or the master will not forgive us!" Chen Jian pleaded respectfully.
Murong Yanran poked Li Haochen beside her, "Are you angry?"
"What am I angry about?"
Seeing Li Haochen still looking displeased, Murong Yanran pouted and muttered, "Stingy!"
......
The train arrived at the station. Murong Yanran stood up, looked at Li Haochen, and gave him a playful expression, saying, "See you at school."
Watching her retreating figure, Li Haochen clenched his fists. "A wealthy family, huh...!"