Chapter 106
When it came to this matter, Long Aotian's eyes flickered slightly. It was undoubtedly the words Hu Yuying had said to him just before he fell asleep last night that had led him to dream such a dream...
In reality, Hu Yuying was already quite bold, but in his dream, she was utterly shameless...
Though those might have been mere figments of his imagination, it didn’t stop Long Aotian from arguing his point.
Hu Yuying was busy on her phone, chatting with Li Qingxue about who knows what, but the smile on her face radiated warmth and ease.
Before long, she placed her phone in front of Long Aotian. “Look, Long Ge, this is the A University campus.”
The screen displayed photos of the entrance to A University, sent by Li Qingxue.
Next came images of the campus roads, various buildings, and even banks, hospitals, and a fruit market...
Long Aotian, a bit of a country bumpkin, was taken aback. He had thought A University was just a temple of learning, but it turned out to be a vibrant hub of life.
There were beach volleyball courts, archery ranges, athletic fields, and even roller skating rinks...
Just from the photos, it was clear how vast A University was; calling it a small county wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
“Is this what a university looks like? It’s nothing like I imagined,” Long Aotian mused. Having never attended college, his understanding of it was entirely shaped by scenes from TV dramas.
But the photos Li Qingxue had sent completely shattered his preconceived notions about university.
He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement about his upcoming college life.
Both A University and T University were located in the Haidian District, so it made sense that the differences wouldn’t be too stark.
With dreams in his heart, the train soon arrived at its final destination: Kyoto.
Long Aotian slung his backpack over his shoulder, grabbed the suitcases belonging to himself and Hu Yuying, and followed the crowd outside.
The moment he stepped off the train, every cell in his body trembled slightly with excitement.
Beside him, Hu Yuying felt the same thrill.
“Stay close,” he said, leading Hu Yuying with their luggage as they made their way outside.
Experiencing Kyoto for the first time, Long Aotian found it to be vast and magnificent.
Kyoto Station was as large as eight bay stations combined.
There were so many people—really, an overwhelming number—and the traffic on the streets flowed continuously.
The city was bustling; the surrounding buildings weren’t particularly tall, yet they exuded an extraordinary vibrancy.
“So this is the city where we’ll be living for the next four years?” he wondered aloud.
As he marveled, a voice rang out, bright and cheerful like a silver bell. “Long Aotian, Hu Yuying!”
It was Li Qingxue.
Every time he saw her, he felt invigorated by her energy and liveliness. She seemed untouched by sadness, forever youthful, and simply delightful...
Chapter 128: Long Ge is the Best in the World
The moment Hu Yuying spotted Li Qingxue, she waved excitedly. “Qingxue!”
Thanks to Long Aotian’s earlier words, she had already mentally prepared to consider Qingxue her best friend and partner for the next four years.
“You finally made it!” Li Qingxue exclaimed, joining Long Aotian and Hu Yuying with an equally excited smile.
Being in the heart of a strange city could be nerve-wracking and uncomfortable.
Especially since Li Qingxue’s parents had left just yesterday, her feelings of reluctance had peaked.
Unlike Hu Yuying, who had gradually moved further from home through elementary, middle, and high school, Li Qingxue had always lived in Haidian City. This was, in fact, her first time being so far from home and her parents...
But at least now, she had two good friends by her side in this unfamiliar city.
“I’ll take you to Haidian District first,” she said, leading the way. Having arrived a few days earlier, Li Qingxue had learned a lot, including how to navigate the subway.
Haidian City was relatively small and didn’t have a subway system.
In Kyoto, however, eighty percent of the population relied on the subway for transportation.
Long Aotian was somewhat accustomed to it, as he had often taken the subway in his previous world before he had to worry about car loans.
But Hu Yuying was wide-eyed, thinking the crowd above ground was already overwhelming. Upon reaching the subway entrance and seeing the throng of people inside, her eyes sparkled with astonishment.
“Are you amazed?” Li Qingxue laughed, recalling her own first experience on the subway.
There were so many people, all rushing about. Compared to Haidian City, the pace of life here was palpably faster.
“Uh-huh,” Hu Yuying nodded instinctively.
“Ha ha ha, we’ll be spending the next four years here, so you’d better get used to it!” As she spoke, Li Qingxue led them to the ticket machine to get their subway cards.
“Get your card here, and then you can pass through the security check to ride the subway.”
The process was simple, and Hu Yuying quickly learned how to do it after a few tries.
They passed through security, tapped their cards, and waited on the platform for the train.
When the subway arrived, the three of them squeezed into the crowded car.
It was the start of the school season, and with workers and commuters also boarding, the train was packed.
Even Long Aotian, with his tall stature, found himself squished.
He glanced down at the two smaller girls beside him, who looked delicate and a bit awkward.
Making an effort to create some space, he kicked their suitcases to the edge of the car.
“Sit on them.”
Hu Yuying obediently followed his instructions and perched herself on her suitcase.
Li Qingxue, however, glanced up at Long Aotian, chuckled softly, and sat on his suitcase as well.
Long Aotian stood in front of the two, using his arms and body to create a bit of breathing room.
The subway was already cramped, with everyone jostling for space, but no one complained about Long Aotian’s towering figure.
After all, if they really minded the crowd, they could have just taken a taxi.
The two girls were slender and didn’t take up much space, yet Long Aotian managed to create enough room for them.
Hu Yuying felt a blush creeping onto her cheeks, stealing glances at Long Aotian when she thought he wasn’t looking.
Li Qingxue felt her breath quicken; she stole a glance at Long Aotian and quickly looked away, feeling a bit guilty.
Fortunately, the situation eased when they switched subway lines.
It was nearly eleven o’clock by then.
After the transfer, they finally escaped the crowd and each found a seat.
“We have three stops until we get off. Let’s grab a bite to eat before heading to school?” Li Qingxue suggested.
“Sure,” Long Aotian replied.
As they flowed with the crowd out of the subway station, Li Qingxue led the way, and soon they arrived at a restaurant.
Seeing the prices on the menu, Hu Yuying was once again taken aback. Fried noodles cost only seven yuan in Haidian City, but here they were ten yuan, and the portions were smaller too.
Noticing Hu Yuying’s astonishment, Long Aotian lightly tapped her on the head. “Don’t be stingy. Your Long Ge is treating you, so eat up.”
“I’ll just have a fried rice, then.”
“A roast duck, three bowls of zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), a bottle of soda, and two bottles of milk,” Long Aotian ordered directly from the nearby waiter.
“Ah?” Both Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue were momentarily stunned.
Li Qingxue had her own allowance, and it was more than average, but the price of just one roast duck left her a bit dazed.
Though she could afford it, she couldn’t help but think that the money spent on roast duck could be better used for a new dress...
They waited a while, but everyone ended up feeling full.
After finishing their meal, Li Qingxue felt a bit embarrassed. She had originally wanted to suggest treating them this time since she had promised Long Aotian she would treat him when they got to Kyoto.
But as soon as she brought it up, Long Aotian’s expression turned serious.
While Long Aotian was settling the bill, Hu Yuying quietly explained to Li Qingxue, “Long Ge said a big man shouldn’t let girls pay for meals.”
Li Qingxue smiled as she looked at Long Aotian’s back. “He’s a bit of a traditionalist, isn’t he?”
But her heart warmed at the thought. He was gentle, caring, and just a touch old-fashioned—how nice.
She looked at Hu Yuying with even more envy. “Your Long Ge treats you really well.”
At the mention of this, Hu Yuying’s cheeks flushed with a smile as she lowered her gaze. “Yeah, Long Ge is the best in the world.”
“What are you mumbling about? Let’s go,” Long Aotian said, dragging the two suitcases.
“Oh, okay!”
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