A girl's luggage naturally takes up more space.
Xia Nuannuan had brought two full suitcases and several large bags, completely filling the trunk.
"It's a good thing we bought this car. Otherwise, if you took the train, Xiao Qin, you would be very tired," Su Xia said with a gentle smile.
"Yes!" Qin Tian nodded with a smile.
"Mom, if we didn't have the car, I wouldn't have brought so much stuff," Xia Nuannuan said, blushing and defending herself.
Su Xia couldn't help but glance at her daughter and said, "Then get in the car. It's getting late. Find your Father Lao Xia when you arrive, and he'll host a welcome meal for you!"
"Okay, please say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa for me!" Qin Tian asked with a smile.
The two elders had originally wanted to come down to see their granddaughter off, but Xia Nuannuan felt it was unnecessary and asked them to stay home.
"Mhm mhm!" Su Xia replied with a beaming smile.
"And for my mother, please visit her often, go shopping, get beauty treatments, and so on. I'm worried she's too focused on the clothing store business and might overwork herself."
"No problem, Xiao Qin, don't worry. We'll take good care of Nuannuan too!"
"Mhm!" Qin Tian nodded slightly, looking at Xia Nuannuan beside him with a bright smile.
Xia Nuannuan stepped forward and hugged her mother goodbye. Su Xia gently patted her daughter's back with a tender, doting smile, not saying much. Jiangcheng wasn't too far, her husband was already there, and with Qin Tian taking care of her, she wasn't too worried about her daughter.
Afterward, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan got into the car.
"Auntie, we're leaving!"
"Mom, goodbye, we'll come back often."
The two waved a final farewell to Su Xia through the car window.
"Okay, go, go, have a safe trip!" Su Xia waved with a bright smile.
Qin Tian skillfully started the car and headed towards Jiangcheng.
...
...
A black BMW 5 Series sedan drove steadily along the national highway, with over a dozen high-end speakers playing current popular music. Her father-in-law had been very generous; this car was the top trim level of the previous year's new 5 Series, costing around 700,000 yuan when new. The driving experience was excellent.
To Qin Tian's surprise, Xia Nuannuan, in the passenger seat, took out bags of snacks and drinks from her backpack on the floor.
"You always come so well-prepared for every outing!" Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Of course," Xia Nuannuan smiled and opened a bag of beef jerky. "It's over two hours, so having some snacks makes it easier to pass the time!"
"Okay, give me one to eat, ah—" Qin Tian said, opening his mouth with a grin and asking to be fed.
Xia Nuannuan rolled her eyes and put a peeled piece of beef jerky into his mouth. As Qin Tian opened his mouth to eat it, his tongue brushed against her fingertips, whether intentionally or not.
"Ah!" Xia Nuannuan's face flushed red. She retracted her hand as if she had been shocked and glared at him, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance on her face.
Qin Tian pretended nothing had happened, kept his eyes on the road ahead, chewed the beef jerky in his mouth, and then nodded in approval.
"Mhm, delicious!"
"You did that on purpose!"
"What?"
"Still pretending. Why are you so naughty!" Xia Nuannuan wore an expression of disdain.
"Alright, alright, I admit it, it was on purpose. I was afraid you'd be in a low mood, just trying to cheer you up!" Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Why would I be in a low mood!" Xia Nuannuan pouted, then peeled another piece for herself. Feeling the lingering sensation on her fingertips, her pretty face seemed to turn even redder.
"You probably never left your mother growing up, right? Are you not feeling anxious about going so far away to study?"
"It's okay, aren't you the same?"
"That's different. I'm a boy, and I'm older than you!"
"Just by a year!" Xia Nuannuan said somewhat indignantly.
"But I'm still your older brother!" Qin Tian turned his head and smiled brilliantly at her.
Xia Nuannuan glanced at him shyly, her face flushed, and looked out the window at the rapidly receding scenery, softly saying, "It's really fine. Lao Xia is always in Jiangcheng, and it's not that far, so I don't feel much like leaving home."
"That's good!" Qin Tian nodded.
"But..."
"What?"
"I've never lived in a dormitory before. I'm actually a bit worried about not getting along with my roommates, and it would be awkward to live in the same dorm." Xia Nuannuan replied.
Qin Tian looked at her and said with a comforting smile, "Don't overthink it. You're not the Xia Nuannuan from a few months ago. Be confident and generous, just interact with them normally. I guarantee that as long as they aren't blind, they'll like you."
"Pfft!" Xia Nuannuan was amused by his words.
"Besides, I'm here for you. Don't be afraid, Brother Tian will protect you!"
"Hee hee..." Hearing this, Xia Nuannuan laughed even more happily. She took out a can of Wangzai milk from her backpack, opened it, found a straw, and solicitously handed it to Qin Tian's mouth.
"Then I'll be counting on you!"
"No problem, no problem!" Qin Tian took a big sip, nodding with a bright smile.
Xia Nuannuan reached out and turned up the music volume. In a cheerful mood, they ate snacks and hummed along to the songs playing from the speakers. The more than two-hour journey didn't feel boring at all; instead, it felt like a scenic drive, and time passed quickly.
As the car entered the Jiangcheng urban area, Xia Nuannuan took out her phone and called Lao Xia. Lao Xia sent her an address, and after hanging up, Xia Nuannuan set up the navigation. Qin Tian drove to the destination according to the navigation address. It was a shopping mall, and Qin Tian drove the car into the underground parking lot and parked.
The two took the elevator to the first floor of the mall. Xia Nuannuan called Lao Xia again to tell him their location, and then they stood there waiting. A few minutes later, Qin Tian saw Lao Xia coming down the escalator.
"Uncle Xia!" Qin Tian called out, waving. Lao Xia looked in his direction and nodded in response with a smile.
"Dad!" Xia Nuannuan also greeted him with a sweet smile.
Lao Xia quickly came up to them and said with a smile, "You guys got here pretty fast. I thought you'd be a bit later. It's usually quite congested on school opening days!"
"We couldn't take the highway, and there were fewer cars on the national road, so it was smooth sailing. It wasn't that slow, actually!" Qin Tian said with a smile.
"That's true. How's the car? Is it easy to drive?" Lao Xia asked with a smile.
Qin Tian nodded, "It handles very smoothly, and the driving experience is excellent. It's actually my dream car. Thank you so much!"
"Then be good to my daughter!" Lao Xia's smile vanished instantly, and he said with a serious expression.
Qin Tian's expression became serious, and he nodded heavily.
"Dad!" Xia Nuannuan whispered shyly.
Lao Xia's expression changed like a mask, and he resumed his bright smile.
"You must be hungry. Let's go up to my new shop for lunch!"