The train moved smoothly along the tracks, and the scenery outside the window passed by like scenes from a movie, one after another.

Unknowingly, Xiu Zhu drifted into sleep, sinking into a deep slumber.

Suddenly, the train let out a long whistle and slowly pulled into Yancheng Station.

As the doors opened, a wave of hot air mixed with the chatter from the platform rushed into the carriage.

The noise made Xiu Zhu turn over in her sleep, her brows slightly furrowing as if expressing her displeasure, but she soon continued her restless slumber.

Passengers boarded one after another. Among them was a man in his twenties with a striking presence, carrying a leather suitcase as he followed the crowd inside.

Knock, knock…

The knocking on the door was gentle and polite, as if afraid to disturb those resting inside.

Yan Ming was savoring the brown sugar steamed bun that Mother Lin had prepared for him, cherishing every bite.

Reclining on the sleeper bunk with one leg crossed over the other, he basked in a sense of satisfaction and contentment.

The sudden knock shattered the tranquility. Reluctantly, he sat up and carefully placed the remaining half of the bun into a leather pouch—after all, in these times, opportunities to eat white rice flour and brown sugar buns were rare.

His brows furrowed slightly, displeased at being interrupted, but he had no reason to stop anyone from entering the compartment.

Worried about waking the delicate girl resting on the top bunk, he slowed his steps and gently opened the compartment door.

A tall and upright figure stepped in against the light, exuding a lazy yet casual air.

As the light from the doorway illuminated his face, it revealed a strikingly handsome appearance—narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes with deep, penetrating pupils, giving him a gaze that seemed to see through people. His brows carried an aura of unyielding authority.

His features were exquisitely refined, with a straight nose and thin, sensuous lips tinged with natural redness.

A faint smile played on his lips, giving off a warm and approachable impression.

“Comrade, my ticket is for this compartment as well,” he said in a lazy drawl, his voice slightly hoarse, carrying a hint of weariness.

Yan Ming was momentarily stunned before quickly responding, “Oh, alright… Comrade, come in.”

Inwardly, he thought, This guy definitely has the kind of face that lures young girls in.

Gu Yu nodded slightly and casually glanced around the compartment, quickly assessing the situation.

There were four bunks in total. The environment was relatively tidy. The upper right bunk was still unoccupied.

On the left side, both bunks were already taken. The lower bunk was occupied by that big, burly guy—strong-looking but with a somewhat dull expression.

The upper bunk belonged to someone who was lying with their back facing him. Judging by the small and slender frame, it was likely a young girl.

A faintly sweet scent lingered in the air, presumably coming from her.

Noticing the suitcase adorned with a red bow placed beside the burly man’s bed, Gu Yu deduced that they were traveling together—probably relatives.

Out of habit, he preferred to familiarize himself with his surroundings to ensure he was never caught off guard.

Just then, the compartment door was gently pushed open again. A figure quietly entered.

A woman dressed in a pastel yellow, round-necked blouse and skirt, paired with white high heels, elegantly stepped into the space.

Her complexion was fair, and she had a pure, delicate beauty that made her seem harmless and easy to get along with.

Chen Yuling’s eyes lit up with admiration and excitement as she glanced at Gu Yu’s striking profile.

She had already noticed him earlier while waiting at the station.

Chen Yuling then spoke in a gentle yet somewhat delicate voice, “Hello, comrades. My name is Chen Yuling, I’m 19 years old. My ticket is for the upper right bunk. I’m traveling to Beijing to visit relatives. Where will you two be getting off?”

As she finished speaking, her eyes shyly glanced toward Gu Yu.

“Heh, my niece and I are also heading to Beijing to visit relatives. My name is Yan Ming, I’m a soldier, and my niece, Lin Xiuzhu, is sleeping right now,” Yan Ming said, deliberately lowering his voice. “And what about this comrade here?”

Gu Yu had a faint, polite smile on his lips, but his demeanor remained distant.

He turned to look at Yan Ming. “Gu Yu. I’ll be getting off in Beijing.”

“Really? That means Comrade Gu Yu and I are quite fated to meet,” Chen Yuling responded excitedly, deliberately ignoring Yan Ming as she spoke in a bright, eager tone.

Her gaze softened as she looked at the extraordinarily handsome man.

She had noticed him back at the station and immediately sensed that his presence was not something an ordinary person could possess.

It seemed her instincts were correct—after all, not just anyone could afford a soft sleeper ticket.

Her own ticket had been difficult to obtain, requiring her to go through her aunt to pull some strings.

“Comrade, please lower your voice. My niece is still sleeping,” Yan Ming reminded her again.

“But it is quite the coincidence! The four of us are in the same compartment, and we’re all getting off in Beijing. Haha.”

Chen Yuling was speechless. She had never met someone so clueless before.

She found this dark-skinned, burly man utterly unbearable and was even starting to feel inexplicably annoyed by his supposedly delicate niece.

Still, since they, too, had soft sleeper tickets, she wasn’t sure of their background. And given how much he looked like a giant bear, he seemed intimidating enough that she dared not offend him.

Instead, she forced her displeasure down and replied warmly, “Yes, it seems we are quite fated indeed.”

Gu Yu’s thin lips curved slightly, but he completely ignored Chen Yuling’s attempt to get closer.

He turned away and calmly began tidying his bed, his deep eyes revealing a trace of mockery.

After placing his luggage in order, he saw no need for idle chatter with people of no importance. He simply lay down in his bunk to rest.

The previous night, he had been assisting local law enforcement in Yancheng with a criminal arrest, working well past midnight. Now that exhaustion was setting in, and after confirming that everything around him was safe, he decided to close his eyes for a brief nap.

Chen Yuling had wanted to ask Gu Yu for help with her luggage to create an opportunity for interaction.

But seeing that he had already lain down and closed his eyes, she hesitated and ultimately refrained from disturbing him. Unwillingly, she decided to wait for another chance.

In the end, she struggled to put her luggage away by herself before climbing into her bunk.

She had no interest in speaking to that overbearing, insufferable “big bear.”

The train roared forward, its wheels clanking rhythmically against the tracks as it continued along its predetermined path.

Xiuzhu’s sleep was restless. As she woke, her consciousness slowly emerged from her dreams, like a droplet of water rippling across the surface of a lake.

“Xiuzhu, you’re awake. Do you want to get up and have some water? Maybe eat something? I’ll go get us some food,” Yan Ming’s gruff voice stood out in the otherwise quiet compartment.

Xiuzhu sat up slowly and glanced at the watch on her wrist.

Her cherry lips parted slightly as she spoke, her voice carrying a hint of drowsiness and softness. “Sure. I slept so long—I really am a bit hungry.”

“I’ll get up now. I also want some pastries and candies.”

She had eaten breakfast at around seven in the morning, and now it was already five in the afternoon. She was starving—she felt like she could eat an entire cow.

(Note: The city names in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to real locations is purely coincidental.)