Chapter 10: Lingering Thoughts

Fortunately, the Gossip System had always been monitoring Gao Shaolin’s every move. Through the system, Jiang Pan Yu learned that since that day, Gao Shaolin had been frequently visiting the department store, even retracing the path that Tan Yanlu and Jiang Pan Yu had taken, hoping to find any trace of Tan Yanlu.

However, Tan Yanlu had been staying indoors, so Gao Shaolin naturally couldn’t find her, which made him feel extremely uneasy.

He was deeply confused, feeling that things shouldn’t have turned out this way. Before coming to Hongcheng, he had always had a sense that this trip would be highly rewarding.

But now, what was going on?

Why hadn’t that beautiful girl appeared again?

This shouldn’t be the case!

Gao Shaolin was utterly perplexed and could only frequent the area around the department store more often, hoping to find Tan Yanlu, who had appeared briefly and then vanished.

Meanwhile, Jiang Pan Yu became even more dedicated to teaching Tan Yanlu how to knit sweaters, and the two of them grew increasingly familiar during this period.

For some reason, Tan Yanlu felt an inexplicable fondness for Jiang Pan Yu, believing that Jiang Pan Yu would never harm her. Even though she had lost patience and enthusiasm for knitting, she was still willing to stay indoors and cooperate with Jiang Pan Yu.

As Jiang Pan Yu spent more time with Tan Yanlu, Tan Yanlu learned that Jiang Pan Yu was an Educated Youth about to be sent to the countryside. After discovering the reason behind Jiang Pan Yu’s assignment, Tan Yanlu even went so far as to scold the Chen Family Three Brothers without caring about her image.

“What? You signed up to go to the countryside, and it’s in the northern province?” Jiang Pan Yu was shocked when she heard Tan Yanlu reveal this news during one of their usual knitting sessions.

Although Jiang Pan Yu had long known about the Psychological Suggestion planted in Tan Yanlu, ensuring that she would go to the countryside, she had been subtly discouraging Tan Yanlu by emphasizing how difficult it would be to be far from home and regretting not choosing a location closer to Hongcheng.

Jiang Pan Yu hoped that Tan Yanlu would consider her family and avoid signing up for such a distant place. If successful, Tan Yanlu and Gao Shaolin would be separated, and this ill-fated relationship would naturally come to an end.

This wasn’t meddling in Tan Yanlu and Gao Shaolin’s relationship; it was Tan Yanlu’s own choice, wasn’t it? But clearly, her previous efforts had been in vain.

Tan Yanlu ultimately chose to go to the northern province: “Why did you sign up for such a faraway place? I was just confused at the time. Don’t you miss your parents? It’s not easy to come back from such a distant place.”

Tan Yanlu, however, seemed lost: “I… I don’t know either. It was just an impulse. This morning, I accompanied my grandmother to the hospital for a blood pressure check. Then, I met a doctor who came to Hongcheng for training. He said his name was Gao Shaolin and that he was from the northern province.

For some reason, I felt incredibly happy and excited when I saw him, even to the point of wanting to cry. It’s hard to describe, but it felt like I owed him something.

After talking to him for a while, I inexplicably felt that his hometown was particularly wonderful and wanted to see it for myself.”

After leaving the hospital, I impulsively went to sign up, specifically requesting to go to the northern province. Do you think I was possessed or something?”

“What? You signed up to go to the countryside?” As soon as Tan Yanlu finished speaking, a surprised voice came from the doorway.

The two turned around to see Tan’s Mother standing at the door, her face dark as if she had heard everything Tan Yanlu had just said.

Then, chaos erupted in the Tan household. Jiang Pan Yu didn’t stay long and had to leave early.

“Host, I told you there was nothing,” the Gossip System chimed in Jiang Pan Yu’s mind.

Jiang Pan Yu shrugged indifferently, “How would I know if it would work without trying? If it succeeds, my mission is complete. If not, I’ll just find another opportunity.”

Essentially, Jiang Pan Yu was testing how deeply Tan Yanlu was affected by the psychological suggestion. With a rough idea, she could better plan her next steps.

The next day, Tan Yanlu came to the welfare home to find Jiang Pan Yu, looking listless, and asked her to accompany her to the department store to buy items for the countryside.

Through Tan Yanlu’s account, Jiang Pan Yu learned that Tan Yanlu’s unauthorized decision to sign up for the countryside had infuriated the Tan Family. They had rushed to the Educated Youth Office overnight to try and remove her name.

But clearly, the Tan Family’s influence wasn’t enough, and Tan Yanlu’s name was already on the list of Educated Youth heading to the countryside, set in stone.

The Tan Family wanted to know what Tan Yanlu was thinking, but Tan Yanlu simply insisted she was going to the countryside. Tan’s Mother was so angry that she decided to wash her hands of the matter.

Tan Yanlu now had no good solution. She came to her senses with some regret, but for some reason, a voice in her heart was excited, constantly encouraging her to go to the countryside.

Her rational mind and the voice in her heart were in a tug-of-war, leaving Tan Yanlu mentally exhausted and distracted as she picked out items for the countryside.

Jiang Pan Yu asked Tan Yanlu if the location for the countryside had been decided.

Tan Yanlu named a place, and Jiang Pan Yu realized it was the same as hers.

Tan Yanlu was delighted, finding some comfort in her previously anxious state. She took Jiang Pan Yu’s hand and said, “That’s great! I won’t be so nervous in the countryside then.”

So, the two agreed to go to the train station together when the time came. In the following days, Tan Yanlu was busy packing, occasionally recalling the strange feeling Gao Shaolin had given her.

But the time to leave for the countryside was approaching, and with time pressing, Tan Yanlu had no time to dwell on it.

Gao Shaolin waited anxiously in the hospital, but Tan Yanlu never reappeared, leaving him disappointed.

When he had seen Tan Yanlu in the hospital, he had been ecstatic. If it weren’t for Tan Yanlu’s grandmother watching closely, Gao Shaolin would have done more than just exchange a few words with her.

At the very least, he wanted to know her full name. And if he could have her by his side, that would be even better. Such a beautiful girl was hard to come by!

Gao Shaolin was brimming with confidence. He had a feeling that Tan Yanlu was destined to be his woman. As long as he wanted her, she would surely be his. Although this feeling came inexplicably and without any basis, Gao Shaolin was utterly convinced of it.

He had expected Tan Yanlu to reappear, but things kept exceeding his expectations, making him doubt whether his feeling was real or just a figment of his imagination.

If Jiang Pan Yu knew what Gao Shaolin was thinking, she would probably offer this assessment: “Man, you are so ordinary, yet so confident.”

Tan Yanlu, unaware that someone was thinking about her, had been busy for several days, finally packing everything she needed for her trip to the countryside.

No matter how angry the Tan Family was, facing their daughter who was about to embark on a long journey, they couldn’t stay mad forever. Instead, they began to worry about the hardships Tan Yanlu would face in the countryside. Upon learning that Jiang Pan Yu was going to the same place, the Tan Family invited her over for a meal.

During the meal, they repeatedly emphasized that the two girls should support each other. If anything happened, they should call home, and so on.