Chapter 95: Second Puberty

Time flew by, and the holiday arrived in the blink of an eye. The colleagues in the Human Resources Management Office had long since finished their work, their desks cleared, and their minds already on the upcoming festivities.

“Are we leaving together or meeting up at Qingli Mountain?” Yu Shui asked, his voice breaking the office’s expectant silence.

Zhu Shiliang paused for a moment. “Let’s go together,” he decided. “We can look out for each other on the road.”

While Qin Yiren worked tirelessly as the trip organizer, Zhu Shiliang, the director, felt a responsibility to ensure a smooth journey. “How many cars will we need?” he asked. “Does anyone require a ride?”

Ye Xiaoxiao and Xia Ran shared a glance. “We never drive when we go out to play,” Ye Xiaoxiao confessed sheepishly. “Is there anyone who could give us a lift?”

“You two can come with me,” Qin Yiren offered warmly. “I’ll have plenty of room in the car. That leaves one more seat.” She looked at Mi Xue’er. “Would you like to join us?”

Mi Xue’er’s face brightened with relief. “Yes, thank you, Yiren!” she exclaimed. “I was just trying to figure out how to get there.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll pick you up downstairs at your building early tomorrow morning,” Qin Yiren confirmed.

As twilight descended, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an retreated to their bedroom, their thoughts preoccupied with packing for their upcoming journey. With the recent dip in temperature to a comfortable 30 degrees Celsius, they had selected their outfits accordingly. The core of their luggage consisted of short-sleeved shirts and long pants, along with a few sun-protective tops and light jackets for cooler moments.

Comfort was key for their travels, so sneakers were essential, while trusty slippers promised relaxation at the end of the day. Bi Qiao’an meticulously added an array of travel-sized toiletries to their bags.

A large bottle of sunscreen occupied a prominent spot in the suitcase, accompanied by a selection of essential medicines. Always the meticulous packer, Bi Qiao’an tucked away two sets of pajamas, fresh undergarments, a lightweight summer quilt, and a crisp set of sheets and covers.

By the time she was finished, two suitcases stood at attention, their zippers straining against the weight of their contents. These, of course, were merely for show, a facade to maintain in front of their colleagues. Should the need arise, they could directly take items from their space.

Seized by a sudden inspiration, Bi Qiao’an retrieved two storage boxes from her space. She meticulously arranged a colorful medley of freshly washed fruits—peaches, mangoes, melons, and apples—in one box, adding a gleaming fruit knife, a small cutting board, and five sets of tableware.

In the second box, two watermelons found their home. As a final touch, Bi Qiao’an added a few ice packs to each container, ensuring their delectable cargo would stay refreshingly cool for the trip.

Shen Yanming carefully placed these two storage boxes into the space, ready to retrieve them tomorrow for their departure.

Dawn arrived, bringing a flurry of activity. Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an rose early, their movements efficient as they went about their morning ablutions. Bi Qiao’an set to work making breakfast while Shen Yanming carried their luggage down to the car.

Breakfast was a hearty affair: fluffy egg pancakes and steaming bowls of dumpling soup. Bi Qiao’an, with practiced ease, whipped up the delicious spread in just half an hour.

By 7:30, breakfast was finished, and Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an returned to their bedroom to change clothes and prepare to leave.

Since they were going out, they both changed into new clothes today. Shen Yanming reached for a pair of blue jeans and a white short-sleeved shirt, while Bi Qiao’an opted for a matching ensemble. These were all washed by her when the rain had just stopped, prepared for wearing in the second half of the year.

As Bi Qiao’an finished changing, she found Shen Yanming frowning in front of the mirror.

“Dear, what’s wrong? You look quite handsome!” Bi Qiao’an walked over and waved her hand in front of Shen Yanming’s eyes.

Only then did Shen Yanming come back to his senses. “Honey, I’m sorry. The clothes we bought in France aren’t of good quality. Look, they’ve shrunk.”

Bi Qiao’an followed Shen Yanming’s gaze downward, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of his exposed ankles.

“That’s impossible!” she exclaimed, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Those clothes weren’t cheap!” She reached out, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his jeans. “Take them off and let me see!”

After Shen Yanming removed his pants, Bi Qiao’an retrieved a pair of his suit pants from the wardrobe. Comparing the two, she found they were the same length!

“Yanming, could it be that you’ve grown taller?” she said slowly, realization dawning.

“Um, not only have you developed, but I’ve also developed?” Shen Yanming was rarely dumbfounded for a moment. “I’ll get the tape measure.”

When Shen Yanming measured himself, the mirror clearly reflected his height: 189 cm. It was confirmed!

“So, do you want to wear these cropped pants?” Bi Qiao’an asked Shen Yanming, trying to hold back her laughter.

Shen Yanming hesitated for a moment, his gaze darting between the offending jeans and the wardrobe. With a sigh, he took out size 190 jeans and put them on. “These will have to do for now. The ones in the suitcase probably won’t fit anymore. We’ll figure it out when we get to the scenic area.”

When it was time, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an double-checked that the windows and gas were closed before leaving the house.

Bi Qiao’an grabbed her leather backpack and found it stuffed with snacks by Shen Yanming: lollipops, chocolates, beef jerky, pork jerky, pistachios, and almonds.

“Eat these for now,” Shen Yanming said warmly. “I’ll pack more when you’re finished.”

Bi Qiao’an smiled sweetly and nodded.

The group heading to Qingli Mountain gathered at the highway entrance. Once everyone arrived, they set off together.

Qin Yiren led the way, her car packed with the women traveling alone. The rest of the group followed, each family in their own vehicle.

Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an, along with Li Zhaozhao and Ji Kangyong, drove separately.

They could have ridden together, but the two buddies insisted they didn’t want to be third wheels. It was perfect—this gave Shen Yanming more freedom to act!

The colleagues traveling to Qingli Mountain had created a small group chat in advance. Shen Yanming added Li Zhaozhao and the others to ensure easy communication.

As the journey progressed, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an established a relaxed routine. Shen Yanming focused on the road, while Bi Qiao’an balanced her attention between the lively group chat and her tempting selection of snacks. Occasionally, she would delve into her backpack for a strip of jerky, its savory flavor breaking up the monotony of the drive.

As noon approached, a message appeared in the group chat: “Let’s stop at the next service area for a rest,” Bi Qiao’an read aloud.

Shen Yanming acknowledged and, ten minutes later, steered the car off the highway.

Lunch at the service area was a simple affair; the food, sadly, lacked appeal.

Now more than halfway to their destination, everyone felt stiff and sore from the long car ride. Following their meal, they took the opportunity to stretch their legs with a walk around the parking lot.

Shen Yanming opened the trunk and retrieved peaches and mangoes from the storage box, offering them to the group.

After a good rest, it was time to hit the road again. Miles stretched out ahead like an endless ribbon of asphalt. This time, the group chat fell silent. The travelers were content to let the steady hum of the engine and the rush of wind lull them into a gentle doze.

Bi Qiao’an, her earlier enthusiasm tempered by a full stomach and the car’s gentle rocking, found her eyelids growing heavy. She and Shen Yanming exchanged a few more whispered words before she finally succumbed to the siren call of sleep.

Hours passed, transforming the scenery outside the window into a blur of greens and browns. At last, the majestic peaks of Qingli Mountain loomed on the horizon, a welcome sight for the road-weary travelers.

With renewed energy, the convoy made its way to the scenic area’s entrance. Their spirits lifted in anticipation of the adventures that awaited them. One by one, they presented their ID cards and phones. Under the guidance of the scenic staff, they drove to the Qingli Mountain Hotel.

The reason why Qingli Mountain dared to accommodate 10,000 tourists at the same time was that it had the largest hotel in Chun City, with more than a dozen chain hotels at the foot of the mountain.

These hotels, along with holiday villas and clubhouses in the area, offered thousands of rooms. Based on historical data, the person in charge estimated they could comfortably house everyone.

After discussion, the group decided to stay directly at the Qingli Mountain Hotel. Since they hadn’t arrived early, their room selection was limited to a few dozen options.

The Qingli Mountain event didn’t have strict rooming regulations, allowing guests flexibility based on their preferences. Couples generally stayed together, as did close friends. Naturally, the front desk would also accommodate requests for individual rooms.

Qin Yiren, having just received a key card for a king-size room, was surprised to see Shen Yanming requesting the same room type for himself and Bi Qiao’an. She exclaimed, “How can you stay together?”

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