Chapter 36.2

As soon as Li Nianqiu said this, memories and information flashed in Wen Yue’s mind. Indeed, the anniversary of the original owner’s parents was this week. She nodded in response, “I need to go back.”

Having inherited the original owner’s identity, these matters naturally fell on her.

“Then come with me on Friday, and when you go back, ask Grandma Fang if she wants to join us.” Li Nianqiu said.

Wen Yue agreed and made an effort to shift her focus away from wondering if Zhou Yao and the others had arrived in Shencheng, trying to concentrate on her studies.

After three days of travel, the train finally arrived at Shencheng Railway Station. Passengers grabbed their luggage and streamed out, some even jumping directly from the windows. The crowd was dense, with heads bobbing everywhere.

Ren Yeliang had been excited since morning, and now he was practically bouncing with excitement, tightly sticking to Zhou Yao’s side: “Brother! We’re really in Shencheng! So many people!”

“Shut up and keep an eye on your things,” Zhou Yao said, frowning. His face was cold and unreadable as his sharp gaze swept around, not letting a single suspicious figure escape his notice.

It was easy to have things stolen at times like this. Under Zhou Yao’s imposing presence, a few people shuffled awkwardly to the side, not daring to make a move.

The train station in Shencheng was several times larger than in their hometown, and even the waiting hall was very clean and tidy, with metal benches that seemed to look a bit more upscale. As they exited the train station, a swarm of people immediately surrounded them, shouting incessantly.

“Hey, handsome, where are you going? I know this area well; I can take you!”

“Hey, handsome, my cab is cheaper!”

“Hey, handsome…”

These people spoke Mandarin with accents, but it was still barely understandable. Shencheng was a key city supported by the government for development, attracting a large number of immigrants from various regions.

Zhou Yao ignored them and walked straight ahead.

At nearly 1.9 meters tall, he exuded a strong sense of pressure. A glance from his dark eyes made those people hesitate to approach, and they quickly turned to others to continue their sales pitches. They even noticed that after someone rejected them, several people quickly surrounded the person, threateningly asking if they wanted a ride.

“Wow, is this forced selling?” Ren Yeliang exclaimed, his eyes wide. He thought to himself that it was good that Zhou Yao was with them; ordinary people wouldn’t dare provoke him.

Zhou Yao cast a glance before retracting his gaze, reminding the two to keep up.

With their luggage in hand, they quickly exited the train station. Outside, there were buses and taxis, with the bright red taxis particularly eye-catching. Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao, two country bumpkins, stood there with their mouths agape, astonished by the scene before them.

“Let’s find a hotel in the city to stay at,” Zhou Yao said. “Call home tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay, Brother Yao!”

They boarded the bus. Zhou Yao was fairly familiar with Shencheng and knew where to go. After paying, he found a random seat and sat down.

The train station was a bit off, close to the outskirts, and for a stretch of road, there weren’t even any buildings on either side—only trees and weeds. After a while, houses began to appear more densely on both sides, with many shops visible, and faint words on the billboards could be seen.

Barber shops, restaurants, tailor shops, lodgings, etc.

As they got closer to the city center, the high-rises became more numerous and the atmosphere livelier. They spotted the tall buildings Chen Wuming had mentioned before, which indeed were very tall, about ten stories high. On the streets, fashionable young men and women walked by, with the girls sporting big curly hair, wearing lipstick, and beautiful dresses, while the boys wore sunglasses, had their hair styled in a side part, and sported loose shirts tucked into their belts.

The sense of fashion hit them like a wave.

“People in Shencheng are really trendy,” Ren Yeliang remarked.

Fang Shitao nodded in agreement.

Zhou Yao didn’t say anything. After getting off the bus, he randomly chose a hotel to check in and then went to a small restaurant nearby to grab a bite to eat.

The three days on the train had been exhausting; even though they had sleeping berths, the odors in the train car were hard to bear. Plus, they were worried about getting their things stolen, so the three of them had been taking turns sleeping, which left them very fatigued. After finishing their meal, they returned to the hotel to shower and rest.

By the evening, they felt a bit more refreshed, and Zhou Yao took them out for a stroll.

The night was even livelier than the day. The street next to where they stayed was a night market filled with various food stalls and other vendors. The female workers from nearby factories liked to come out to the night market after their shifts, and groups of young, cheerful girls chatted and laughed, catching everyone’s attention.

Zhou Yao wasn’t too interested in the night market and followed Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao around with a lackluster attitude.

“Bro, look at that stall! Those necklaces and hairpins look exactly like what my sister-in-law makes!” Ren Yeliang suddenly exclaimed, excitedly nudging Zhou Yao’s arm and pointing at a stall nearby.

Zhou Yao followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow; it really was the same.

Ren Yeliang clicked his tongue, observing the crowd gathered around the stall. “Sister-in-law is really impressive; her stuff is popular even in Shencheng!”

Zhou Yao’s lips curled into a smirk as he proudly said, “Of course.”

After strolling around the night market for a couple of rounds and trying out some snacks, they returned to the hotel to rest.

The next day, Zhou Yao found a small shop with a landline phone early on. He stared at the clock on the wall, timing himself as he dialed a number.

“Beep, beep, beep—”

“Hello? Who are you looking for?” A strange woman’s voice came through the receiver.

Zhou Yao replied succinctly, “Please help me connect to the phone at Hu Tong 398.”

“Oh, got it. Hold on a moment.” The woman responded and didn’t leave; instead, she shouted out, “Little girl, the phone you were waiting for is coming through…”

“Okay, thank you, shopkeeper.” A familiar voice came through, slightly distorted since it was a bit far away, but Zhou Yao could hear it clearly.

His heart raced a little, and his lips pressed into a tight line.

After a few seconds, he heard some static on the line, and then Wen Yue’s voice came through, clear and distinct: “Zhou Yao?”