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Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: The Journey of Youth 

It had been over two hours since they boarded the train. 

As night began to fall, the scenery outside the window slowly faded into darkness. 

Suddenly, Luke seemed to remember something. With a grin, he reached into his backpack and unzipped it. 

"What did you bring?" Yuffie asked curiously. 

Luke pulled out two U-shaped travel pillows. While inflating one, he said playfully, "Ding-dong! Neck protection service for your trip." 

The blue one was clearly for himself; the red one, for her. 

"I want the blue one," Yuffie said with a teasing smile. "You can have the red one." 

"Sure, I don't mind using red," Luke replied easily. 

Seeing that he wasn't going to argue, Yuffie lost interest in the little game, snatched the red pillow back, placed it around her neck, and leaned lazily against her seat. 

Watching her settle in like that, Luke chuckled, then took out two bottles of cola from his bag. "Want some Coke?" 

"I want Pepsi!" she said, pointing at the blue bottle. 

Luke shook his head with mock seriousness. "The best way to drink cola is to mix red and blue together." 

He pulled out a large thermos, poured both bottles inside, shook it a little, and poured her a glass. 

That single move was enough to offend die-hard fans of both Coca-Cola and Pepsi at the same time. 

"You heretic!" 

Yuffie pouted, pretending to be angry, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. 

Luke always had a way of surprising her. 

"Let's do a psychology quiz!" she suggested, sipping her "Frankenstein cola" and pulling a small book out of her bag. 

"Sure!" Luke agreed. 

She flipped through a few pages, found a question, and read aloud: 

"At dinner, there's a beef burger, fried chicken wings, roast turkey, and cheesy lobster. On which bite would you start eating the turkey?" 

Luke rolled his eyes. "This is obviously written by some American. I'd go for unlimited lobster. Turkey? Not a single bite!" 

"Pfft!" Yuffie burst out laughing and playfully hit his arm. "No skipping! Eat one bite for me." 

Luke pretended to frown and groan. "Fine, first bite. If I have to eat it, might as well get the pain over with first." 

Yuffie laughed and read the "result" from the book: 

"You're a strong-willed person who faces challenges head-on. You strive for a colorful, meaningful life. In love, you're never content with loneliness. You're the dream of many girls—someone who knows how to comfort hearts with ease." 

"Sound accurate?" she asked, grinning. 

At that, Luke's internal alarm bells went off. 

"Not accurate at all! I've never even been in a relationship, much less 'comforted many girls'!" he quickly deflected, dodging the incoming "trap." 

"I think it fits you," Yuffie teased. "You're definitely strong-willed and fearless." 

"Those tests are half true, half nonsense," Luke countered, smirking. "You answer one and see how it feels." 

"Fine. You ask me." She handed him the book. 

Luke flipped through a few pages and began reading: 

"You're walking down a dark, empty path with the person you're closest to. How would you want to make physical contact?" 

Hold hands, fingers interlocked. Let them put their arm around your shoulder. Let them hold you by the waist. Whatever they want, you're fine with it. 

After reading, Luke raised a brow and asked, "Can you pick number four?" 

Blushing, Yuffie swatted him lightly. "Isn't the closest person supposed to be your dad? That question's weird." 

"Come on," Luke said, shaking his head. "Obviously, it doesn't mean family. Pick one." 

"Then… number three," she said after a pause. "Let him hold me by the waist." 

He read her result aloud: 

"You're someone with principles but not rigid. You stick to your values without letting modesty hold you back. You know how to keep things interesting while still respecting yourself. You stir men's hearts and leave a lasting impression—someone unforgettable." 

The book actually used the word seductress, but Luke decided to change it to "unforgettable" or "the one that got away"—something more fitting for a girl her age. 

"Sound accurate?" Luke asked with a playful grin. 

Actually, it was spot-on—and she knew it. 

But Yuffie, feeling too shy to admit it, just shrugged and repeated his earlier line: "Those tests are half true, half nonsense." 

Whether it was embarrassment or modesty, she let it slide. 

Luke closed the book and handed it back. They'd both had their fun, and one or two rounds were enough. 

The answers weren't really the point—it was about reading each other, testing feelings, and confirming what neither dared to say aloud. 

Mission accomplished. 

As she slipped the book back into her bag, Yuffie whispered, "That girl over there has been staring at you for a while." 

Luke followed her gaze and saw a blonde girl sitting in the soft-seat section ahead. She had bright blue eyes, delicate features, and golden hair that made her look like a porcelain doll. 

When she noticed Luke looking back, she didn't shy away. Instead, she smiled boldly and met his gaze. 

Luke was sure he didn't know her. 

He had no idea why she was staring, but a few glances didn't bother him. 

"You really are a heartbreaker," Yuffie teased. "Even girls can't resist you." 

"What's strange about that? You're a girl too, aren't you?" 

"Don't change the subject. Do you know her or not?" 

"Nope. Never seen her before," he said—though something about the girl's face did feel oddly familiar. 

"Forget her then. Want to listen to some music?" Yuffie asked, pulling out her silver Sony Walkman and handing him one earbud. 

Listen? Of course he wanted to listen. 

Even if it were a terrible song, Luke would've plugged in instantly. 

To avoid tugging on the cord, they leaned closer together, shoulder to shoulder. 

Watching her like this, Luke suddenly remembered a marketing study from his previous life: when headphone cables were made too long, sales among couples went down. 

Made sense—some things are better close. 

And right now, nothing could compare to the sound in his ears: 

🎵 "My world's been torn apart by a storm... Woo, love came too fast—like a tornado…" 🎵 

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