Ayalee: Special birthday treat: 1 full chapter unlocked from each of my translations for everyone to enjoy because it’s my birthday today! Enjoy🎉

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Chapter 36.1

The day Zhou Yao and the others left was on Saturday. Wen Yue didn’t have class, so she got up early and helped Grandma Fang pack their things. After a simple breakfast, she accompanied them to the train station.

Outside the train station, dozens of buses were parked in the lot, and many people were coming and going with luggage and backpacks, most of them looking hurried.

Zhou Yao bought tickets for the eleven o’clock train, and it was only around ten now, so they still had to wait for an hour in the waiting hall. The waiting hall was crowded, with almost all the metal benches filled with people. It was summer, and the air was thick with unpleasant and stuffy odors.

Wen Yue felt a bit dizzy. There were too many people in the waiting hall. She tilted her head to look at Zhou Yao and quietly reminded him, “Make sure to keep your things safe, okay? I’ve heard there are a lot of pickpockets on the train. You should arrive in Shencheng in the afternoon. Make sure to rest well that night and call me to let me know you’re safe the next day at noon. You must call me.”

“Mm, I will,” Zhou Yao replied, looking down at Wen Yue. He noticed her frowning and trying to endure the discomfort from the smells in the waiting hall. He softly said, “Go back. Don’t worry too much.”

Wen Yue shook her head: “I’ll leave after you get on the train.” She smiled at him.

Zhou Yao’s expression darkened. “Be obedient and go back. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease.”

Wen Yue raised an eyebrow. “What’s there to be uneasy about? Am I going to get lost or something?”

Zhou Yao: “Mm.”

Wen Yue widened her eyes: “…I’m not a child. How could I just get lost?”

But Zhou Yao was very insistent. Wen Yue couldn’t argue with him, so she reluctantly pouted and stepped onto the bus home under his escort. Zhou Yao stood outside the bus. Wen Yue opened the window and looked down, gripping the window frame with both hands: “Be careful in Shencheng.”

Zhou Yao slightly raised his chin and smiled, “I know; you’ve said it a dozen times.”

Before they could say much more, the bus slowly started moving away. Zhou Yao instinctively took a few steps forward, but when he saw Wen Yue tilting her head and waving at him with a bright smile, he stopped and smiled back, watching the bus disappear from sight.

Once the bus was gone, the smile on his face faded, his thin lips pressed tightly together as he slipped his hands into his pockets and walked back to the waiting hall.

When Ren Yeliang saw Zhou Yao’s expression, he didn’t dare approach and instead dragged Fang Shitao to wander nearby, whispering, “Brother Yao is in a bad mood. Let’s not go over and bother him, or we’ll just get scolded.”

Fang Shitao looked at him and said, “You can just remember that for yourself.” He was a straightforward person and wouldn’t go looking for trouble.

Ren Yeliang widened his eyes, “Hey, Old Fang, what you said—”

Zhou Yao’s gaze swept over, and Ren Yeliang instantly quieted down, dragging Fang Shitao a bit further away while continuously exclaiming, “The train station is really big!”

An hour later, the train arrived. Zhou Yao led Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao to line up and squeeze onto the train, finding the sleeper berths they had purchased.

Once everyone was aboard, the green train emitted a sound and began to move forward. Ren Yeliang watched the scenery outside receding, feeling very excited, but as time passed, he began to feel a bit homesick: “Why am I starting to miss home?”

“Brother Yao—”

Ren Yeliang and Zhou Yao’s beds were stacked on top of each other. He leaned over into the aisle and looked up. He saw his brother rubbing the bank card in his hand with gentle eyes, clearly lost in thoughts of his sister-in-law. It seemed best not to disturb him at that moment.

Ren Yeliang pulled back and sighed as he gazed out the window.

…

Wen Yue was also feeling a bit uncomfortable with Zhou Yao’s departure.

She often subconsciously forgot that Zhou Yao was not around, frequently calling his name while doing something, only to realize the vast courtyard was empty with no one responding. Then she would remember that Zhou Yao was on the train to Shencheng.

Having grown accustomed to Zhou Yao being by her side, his sudden absence felt a little strange.

That evening, she boiled water and carried the bucket to the compartment. Seeing the red marks left on her hands, Wen Yue stood there for a while in a daze, feeling increasingly nostalgic for the time when Zhou Yao was around. She pursed her lips and sighed, then took a shower, returned to her room, turned off the lights, and went to bed.

Wen Yue couldn’t help but wonder where Zhou Yao and the others were now.

Without Zhou Yao, the bed felt so big. She could roll around without fear of falling off. Wen Yue turned the electric fan on the bench beside her to the highest setting, hugged a thin blanket, closed her eyes, and drifted into sleep.

Wen Yue had a dream.

She dreamed that Zhou Yao had brought Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao to Shencheng, but since it was their first time in such a big city, they felt lost and unfamiliar with their surroundings. Soon enough, they got into trouble with the local ruffians and found themselves surrounded and beaten up.

Zhou Yao, being the stubborn and competitive type, immediately fought back, but they were outnumbered and the other party had weapons. He was sneak-attacked and struck on the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground with a gash, blood pouring out uncontrollably.

In an instant, a large pool of blood gathered beneath him, and Zhou Yao lay in the pool of blood, his life in doubt.

Wen Yue was jolted awake, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

Looking out at the still-dark sky, she let out a slow breath. Thankfully, it was just a dream.

It must have been her overthinking; her worries had seeped into her dreams. Zhou Yao might be a bit hot-tempered and stubborn, but he was smart enough to avoid such situations.

“Yueyue, why do I feel like you’re a bit distracted today?” After finishing her early self-study, during the break, Li Nianqiu put down her textbook and looked at her friend beside her, who seemed out of sorts since morning. “Are you feeling unwell?”

After asking twice without a response, Li Nianqiu grew more puzzled. She reached out to pat Wen Yue’s shoulder: “Yueyue?”

Only then did Wen Yue snap back to reality, responding blankly, “What’s up?”

Li Nianqiu raised an eyebrow: “What are you daydreaming about? I’ve been talking to you, and you didn’t even react.”

“It’s nothing; I was just thinking that Zhou Yao and the others should be arriving in Shencheng this afternoon,” Wen Yue blinked, speaking slowly, her eyes reflecting clear concern.

Li Nianqiu instantly understood and smiled, “Worried?”

Wen Yue nodded, “A little.”

“Didn’t they say they were just going to Shencheng to take a look around? Nothing should happen. Don’t worry,” Li Nianqiu reassured her. “Your guy is smart.”

Wen Yue frowned. “But he has a bad temper. I’m worried he’ll get into a conflict with someone.”

Li Nianqiu chuckled, “Wait for him to call back. You can remind him a few things then.”

Wen Yue nodded. “That’s what I was thinking.”

Seeing Wen Yue still looking anxious, Li Nianqiu shook her head slightly and smiled. “You and your guy have such a good relationship. It’s only been a few days apart, and you’re missing him this much. What will you do when you get into college?”

Wen Yue blurted out, “I could apply to Shencheng University.”

Li Nianqiu raised an eyebrow. “You two really have a strong bond, huh? Do you really like him that much? But it’s normal since Zhou Yao treats you so well.”

Wen Yue’s face turned red, stammering, “What liking? I’m just worried.”

“If you didn’t like him, why would you be worried?” Li Nianqiu retorted, noticing Wen Yue’s awkward expression. She raised an eyebrow and smirked, thinking it was interesting if Wen Yue hadn’t realized her feelings for Zhou Yao yet.

She slowly changed the topic, “Aren’t you going back to the village this week?”

Wen Yue replied in confusion, “Huh?”

Li Nianqiu: “Isn’t it almost the anniversary of your parents’ passing?”