Clink clink—
The Z69 train departed from Yang'an Train Station.
"Beer, beverages, mineral water, peanuts, melon seeds, eight-treasure porridge. Come on, move your legs a bit."
The train might be delayed, but the vendor pushing the cart will never be missing.
[Current status: Starting a journey to the Western regions with a young lady in traditional Hanfu, making you eagerly anticipate the wonderful stories that will unfold during the trip, making your mood incredibly pleasant.]
[Reward: 10 Healing Points.]
...
Inside the compartment, upper bunk.
Chu Qingning was in the group chat "Whoever Gets Single First is a Dog," telling her three best friends about her second encounter with Lin Can.
Qiao Meina: [Ah (shocked), you're saying the guy who took a photo of you earlier is not only on the same train but heading to the same destination and in the same compartment? You two must be really destined to meet, huh?]
Chu Qingning: [It is quite a coincidence.]
Miao Youxi: [I remember you booked a deluxe soft sleeper for two, so are you sleeping with that guy tonight?]
Chu Qingning: [(angrily) Please mind your words. It's not "sleeping together," he's on the bottom bunk, I'm on the upper bunk. OK?]
Miao Youxi: [Well, the arrangement's correct (giggles).]
Chu Qingning: [(irritated) @Miao Youxi, everyone says you look pure and cute, the type that seems like she needs protection. But actually, you're fooling everyone with your appearance. You're the number one experienced driver in our dorm! You even dare to joke with me—do you realize how awkward it is for me to share a room with a stranger?]
Miao Youxi: [What's so awkward about it? Just remember to wear more pants when you sleep tonight, don't wear skirts, alright? (smirking).]
Chu Qingning: [(frustrated) Miao Youxi, you little bitch, just wait. Tomorrow, when I get there, you'll see how I deal with you (angry).]
Miao Youxi: [(sticking out tongue).]
Qiao Meina: [Alright, stop with these jokes. Just be careful, alright?]
Chu Qingning replied with an OK emoji. It's always good to be careful when traveling alone, though she didn't think Lin Can was a bad person. It's more about the self-respect a girl should have.
Besides, she had never shared a small room of less than ten square meters with a boy. She did feel a bit awkward, so she could only lie on the upper bunk and play on her phone.
At this moment...
From the bottom bunk came Lin Can's voice: "Chu, is your phone Android?"
Chu Qingning leaned over the edge of her bunk. As she stuck her head out, her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, swaying gently with the wind, carrying a light fragrance of shampoo.
"Yes, why?"
"I took a lot of photos for you earlier. You can only send nine photos at a time through WeChat, and the internet speed is unstable. Since your phone is Android, you can use this type-C interface to connect it to your phone and directly move the photos there."
Lin Can changed from leaning against the bed to sitting cross-legged on the bed, handing her a small object.
Chu Qingning had a good impression of Lin Can. As a beautiful woman, not to boast, a lot of boys often tried to get close by awkwardly chatting, adding her on WeChat, asking if she was single, etc.
Lin Can was different. From entering the compartment until now, they hadn't exchanged many words.
It was Chu Qingning who had started the conversation when she realized that the person in the compartment was Lin Can.
Now it was Lin Can who started talking, and the topic was just about transferring the photos.
There was no hidden agenda, no intention to get close, and no trying to be familiar. It was just pure communication, which made it feel different from other boys. It made Chu Qingning feel safe—after all, they were sharing the same compartment. If the conversation had started with awkward small talk, asking a million questions, a girl might feel uncomfortable and not want to stay in the compartment.
"I'll try it..."
Chu Qingning took the item and connected her phone. After fiddling with it for a while, she leaned over again and shook her head.
"I can't do it."
"I'll help you."
"Here."
Lin Can took the phone, and the wallpaper was a photo of Chu Qingning in traditional Hanfu: by West Lake, beneath Leifeng Pagoda, dressed in white like the legendary 'Bai Suzhen.'
Lin Can praised, "The photo looks really nice."
Chu Qingning shyly smiled, "Not as good as your photos."
"Do you really like wearing Hanfu?" Lin Can casually asked while operating the phone.
"I do like traditional Hanfu... sigh..." Chu Qingning sighed. "But some people give you strange looks when they see you wearing Hanfu. They even think you're just seeking attention."
"How could it be seeking attention?" Lin Can immediately retorted, "Hanfu is our traditional clothing. Japanese people wear kimono, Koreans wear hanbok. It's perfectly normal for us to wear Hanfu. It's our culture, wear it with confidence, what's there to be afraid of? If no one wears it, the traditional Hanfu culture will disappear."
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course."
"I think so too."
Chu Qingning deeply agreed and suddenly felt very pleased, realizing she finally found someone who shared the same beliefs, that it wasn't just about wearing Hanfu but also about cultural confidence.
As their wavelengths aligned, Chu Qingning's good impression of Lin Can grew.
Just as they were chatting, a message popped up on her phone, and Lin Can accidentally clicked on it while operating her phone.
It was a message from her friend Miao Youxi.
It included a photo: a cute girl's 45-degree angled shot.
Indeed, beauties always have beautiful friends.
Lin Can quickly closed WeChat and nonchalantly handed the phone back to Chu Qingning.
"All done. These are all your photos. Pick whichever one you like and move it to your album."
He then got off the bed and sat on the sofa, looking out the window and thinking about how to find a model on the train.
Meanwhile, Chu Qingning was sitting on the upper bunk, her two long, fair legs straightened together. She moved the photos she selected into her album and then looked at Lin Can, who was lost in thought by the window.
She studied him closely. He wore a Metters Bonway T-shirt, shorts, and a pair of white sneakers, which together probably cost no more than 500 yuan. Yet, the whole outfit looked fresh and sunny, exuding confidence.
Plus, he was handsome—one of those people who grew more attractive the more you looked at him. The most important thing was his beautiful skin.
"Lin Can... Lin Can..."
She called him twice, but he didn't hear her as he was lost in thought. Chu Qingning leaned over the edge of the upper bunk, sat on the small sofa across from him, stretched out her hand, and waved her fingers in front of his eyes.
"Lin Can."
"Huh?"
Lin Can finally snapped back to reality.
Chu Qingning took out a small packet of tea leaves and placed them in two cups, starting to brew tea and enjoying the pleasant time of the journey.
The difference between a high-class soft sleeper and a regular soft sleeper was that the train attendants would offer hot water.
Once the tea was brewed, she pushed a cup toward Lin Can.
Lin Can came back to his senses and thought, Why did I focus on Chu Qingning?
He picked up the tea cup and took a sip. "This tea is good."
"It's from the provincial city."
"You went to the provincial city for a trip?"
Chu Qingning nodded, picked up her own cup, blew on the foam, took a small sip, placed the cup with her red lips down, and put her hands on her thighs, crossing one leg over the other. Her foot gently rocked her slipper under the table.
Mature women's movements always attract young men.
"By the way, I forgot to ask you earlier. Which university did you get into?"
"Ning University in our province."
"A prestigious university," Chu Qingning smiled. "You're so good at taking photos, I didn't expect you to be a straight-A student too, hehe."
Chu Qingning's voice was soft, almost like a voice actress's, that type of voice many boys find irresistible—an alluring "older sister" tone.
Lin Can smiled and replied, "And you, where are you studying?"
"Shanghai Conservatory of Music."
"That's impressive."
"Not really."
They chatted briefly, which brought them a little closer.
"You stay here, I'm going to take a walk."
"Okay."
...
Watching Lin Can leave the compartment, Chu Qingning realized she had drunk too much tea earlier and went to the bathroom, locking the door.
Hearing the "creak" of the door opening, Lin Can returned.
He was fast, wasn't he?
This is the awkwardness of sharing a room with a strange boy.
Chu Qingning took out her phone and played music, turning the volume up.