Chapter 1404 - 912: Airport (Part 2)
Can it still be passed down after thousands of years?
Impossible to understand.
For now, one can only say that existence is justified. At first, Qianqian could hold back and not make a sound.
As time went on, she couldn’t hear her own voice anymore.
Only...
Swish, the rain started pouring again in the latter half of the night. In the oppressive darkness, a drizzling rain filled the steps.
Jiang Nian got up early and mopped the steps with a half-dry mop. He also emptied the water from the flower pots while he was at it.
The sky was gray and wet. The asphalt road, soaked by the rain, looked like a piece of black, dry bread.
"The floor’s being mopped over and over again." He leaned on the mop and murmured to himself, "I need to buy another one next time."
It was already bright, and Jiang Nian was working.
Breakfast was placed in the rest area, waiting for the two girls to wake up. Just a quick heat up in the microwave wouldn’t affect the taste.
Qianqian sneaked back in the latter half of the night, probably slept more soundly.
As for Jiang Nian, he didn’t need to sleep. Only after every two or three days would he take a light nap.
Otherwise, if too much time passed, his reactions would become sluggish.
After a while, Song Xiyun was the first to get up. She looked a bit listless, with a somewhat subtle expression.
Jiang Nian glanced at her and pondered for a moment.
"Caught a cold?"
"No." Song Xiyun waved her hand, "Just a bit heavy-headed, maybe because of last night’s rain."
"Want some cold medicine?" Jiang Nian asked.
"No need." Song Xiyun declined and quietly ate breakfast at the table, "Qianqian hasn’t woken up yet."
Hearing this, Jiang Nian’s mouth twitched slightly.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
....
After breakfast, the two girls left. Jiang Nian tidied up a bit and locked up to go to class.
After all, attending class was his main job.
Besides that, there was a small business over in Yuhang. Starting a business is like planting a tree; it requires utmost patience.
There’s no thrilling business war, mostly just mundane and repetitive tasks, like replying to emails and reviewing data.
Qianqian and the other two girls have already accepted the studio. After all, they stayed here before, so there’s nothing to resist.
Without class, they’d come over together. Drink tea, eat meals, or bring a laptop to handle some work.
Of course, there are times they come alone.
It’s worth mentioning that Jiang Nian spent a lot on a quality mop, buying it online.
The old mop was left outside on the steps.
Xu Shuang asked once and, upon learning of the situation, never visited the studio, not wanting to bump into Qianqian and the others.
She had her own turf, and if anything needed, she would just call Jiang Nian over.
Once, Jiang Nian went over and detected a faint smell of Chinese herbal medicine, making it somewhat unbearable.
"Are you really taking supplements?"
"Of course not." Xu Shuang waved her hand a bit speechlessly, "I’ve been sick lately, Qiuqiu prepared some medicine for me."
"Oh, I see." Jiang Nian nodded.
He recalled he hadn’t seen Zhao Yiqiu lately, unsure what she was up to, but didn’t care to ask.
Zhao Yiqiu’s always up to little things, mostly for food.
Time flew by, and half a month passed.
It was early April, and the weather was gradually warming. Yet it remained dry, resembling the early spring climate of Zhen Nan.
Speaking of Zhen Nan, Qingbao was teaching the second-year students. Next summer would be another cycle, finishing another round of third-year students.
From a newbie teacher, she became a seasoned veteran.
The moon is brighter in one’s hometown.
If he had the choice, ensuring he didn’t bring disgrace to his parents, he’d still want to visit Zhen Nan.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
During the college entrance exam, he could return for a look. The two houses in Zhen Nan were about ready too.
Next time, ask Dad about it.
For his parents’ five-bedroom suite, he didn’t want too much involvement. But for Qianqian’s place, maybe leave a bit for them.
Let them fiddle with it, adding more involvement.
People are like that; only when they’ve invested energy do they develop feelings for something, rather than seeing it just as a place to live.
"All eyes on me!"
In the dormitory, the three had gotten used to Jiang Nian’s unpredictable life. Suddenly seeing him return, they were immediately surprised.
"What the heck?"
"You jerk, you remember the dormitory exists?" Da Chao removed his headphones, "How long has it been since we’ve seen you here?"
"Just about half a month." Jiang Nian walked in, distributing drinks, "Here, one for each of you."
"Da Chao, here’s your malt juice."
"That’s some BS malt juice." Da Chao was somewhat speechless, "I don’t like alcohol, yet you guys always make me drink."
"If you don’t drink it, give it to the dog." Brother Bao Song swiveled in his chair, "Last time you got drunk, you puked everywhere."
"Hard to hold back, and you wanted to call the senior sister."
Yang Jingfan chuckled, asking for a bottle of iced red tea. As he twisted open the cap, he casually asked Jiang Nian.
"Brother Nian, the spring sports meet is coming up."
"You participating?"
"Sports meet?" Jiang Nian tactically leaned back, reflecting on what he did last spring.
Ah, dealing with a chaotic scene.
No wonder he didn’t join.
"No, what’s a sophomore doing at a sports meet?" Jiang Nian shook his head, "Isn’t running on campus enough?"
Let’s be real, even Qinghua University has swimming events.
"You going?"
"No." Yang Jingfan also shook his head, "But the class secretary keeps urging, thinking maybe it’s worth trying."
"Brother Yi?" Jiang Nian was surprised, looking at his three roommates, "Really? Why didn’t I hear about it?"
The three roommates turned, looking at him with a speechless face.
"..."
"Jerk!"
"Not even human anymore."
"Indeed."
....
Jiang Nian did have certain conveniences, so he took a weekend flight to Yuhang alone, not bringing anyone along.
Anyway, he won’t have fun, so why bother farming?
Though he had plenty of money, could always date two new girlfriends, his greatest quality was being devoted.
With a sea of people, he only sought Zhen Nan.
The reason was straightforward, eating according to one’s limits. Despite having double the stamina, his life was finite.
In life, with about 30,000 days.
If he messed around, he’d be a scumbag. If he only grazed nearby, he’d be seen as emotionally attached.
At most, a bit promiscuous, but still with principles.
Maybe years later, he could even earn the nickname of the Southern Guardian, deeply loving the land.
Spending a lifetime on a single thing, isn’t that a craftsman? Forget what a craftsman is, just say if it is or not.
Friday afternoon, he landed in Yuhang.
Unexpectedly, right after disembarking, he received a message from Qingbao, pausing in surprise for several seconds.
"It really is Qingbao?"
Upon clicking it open, it turned out Qingbao arrived in Yuhang today. Taking advantage of the weekend, she took a day off to travel.
Remembering Jiang Nian had an experience store in Yuhang, she asked if she could get a reservation to take a tour.
"Teacher, are you alone?"
"Of course not." Qingbao seemed a bit hesitant, responding after a while, "With another female teacher."
"Who?" Jiang Nian instinctively wanted to ask.
But after thinking, he deleted it. He’d find out when they met; Qingbao seemed reluctant to say.
Could it be Qianbao?
No, though they were colleagues, they had no private friendship, unlikely to travel together.
"There’s a reservation, I’ll ask someone." Jiang Nian replied, "Teacher, when are you visiting?"
Qingbao: "Around two or three in the afternoon (embarrassed)."
Jiang Nian: "(OK)."
He swiped the screen, feeling that Qingbao was cute. Still using an embarrassed emoji, what’s to feel embarrassed about?
He could more or less guess Qingbao’s travel plan.
Walking around till early morning, then back to the hotel to sleep till 11 a.m. the next day, have lunch, and continue.
He reckoned tonight, they’d likely be at West Lake.
What’s there to see at lousy West Lake?
Elsewhere.
Qi Xue came out of the terminal restroom, glanced around, and found Qingbao in a corner, asking.
"Are we going to West Lake tonight?"
"Yeah." Qingbao felt somewhat embarrassed, pocketing her phone, "Let’s go, first head to the hotel."
"Alright." Qi Xue nodded.
"Teacher Qi."
"Hmm?"
"Thanks for coming with me on this trip."
"It’s nothing."