On the way, Lin Zhengran asked her, "Where are you now? Didn't you say you'd already gotten on the bus a long time ago? Report your location to me."
Xiao Heqing, who had just managed to hail a taxi, stammered, "I... um... well..."
Realizing something, Lin Zhengran's eyes filled with exasperation. "Why are you stuttering? Don't tell me you lied to me earlier and haven't even left yet..."
Terrified he would get mad, Xiao Heqing hurriedly explained, "I left, I left! I'm already in a taxi! I'm almost at the station."
"He Qing! You've learned how to lie to me now, huh?! You said you were in a taxi hours ago, and you're still not at the station?! Do you live hundreds of miles away from it?!"
His roar startled Xiao Heqing. She pulled her phone away from her ear, wincing cutely with one eye closed. Waiting until he finished his lecture, she then tried to placate him. "Don't be mad. I only lied because I was afraid you wouldn't agree to see me... Um, how do I buy a ticket once I get to the station? I've never taken a bus before."
"..." Lin Zhengran sighed. "I'm definitely going to teach you a lesson once you get here."
Since things had already reached this point, he had no choice but to guide her step by step. "Don't hang up. Once you arrive, find the receptionist lady and tell her you want to go to..."
With Lin Zhengran's guidance and her firm conviction to see him, Xiao Heqing's journey went relatively smoothly. Setting off in the morning, she successfully bought her tickets, boarded the buses, transferred at intermediate stations, and bought more tickets. Although there were a few minor hiccups along the way—like her panicking over buying the wrong ticket or not knowing how to answer staff inquiries—Lin Zhengran's constant help ensured no major problems occurred.
At four-thirty in the afternoon, at Xinchun Bus Station.
Xiao Heqing followed the crowd off the bus, looking out at the unfamiliar yet beautiful city as she arrived at their meeting place. This was her first time traveling far away alone since getting her ID card. Though the distance wasn't incredibly vast, it was still quite the trial for her.
"Lin Zhengran? I've arrived at Xinchun Bus Station. Are you here too? Where are you?" she asked, hiding off to the side with her phone and scanning the crowd.
"Don't wander off," Lin Zhengran reminded her. "After getting off the bus, go wait for me by the service desk nearby. Stand directly under the security camera, and I'll come find you. Let me repeat: there are a lot of people, so do not run around."
"Okay, I know. Don't worry, I'll be very obedient." Xiao Heqing walked over to the arrival service desk, her excitement mounting.
She looked at the reflective glass doors in the distance, using them as a mirror to adjust her hair. Feeling that her ponytail had gotten messy during the ride, she carefully retied it. Convinced she looked pretty, she double-checked the desserts in her backpack. Only when everything seemed absolutely perfect did she resume waiting.
A few minutes later, Lin Zhengran—who had long since arrived at the station—found her with his phone in hand. "I see you. I'm on your right; you can hang up now."
Hearing his voice, Xiao Heqing turned her head.
Her eyes grew slightly dazed. The Lin Zhengran in her memory was still a little boy—albeit a very powerful one in her eyes, but a child nonetheless. However, four years had passed. Going through puberty, both of them had undergone significant changes. The current Lin Zhengran was so handsome that he practically looked like a completely different person.
He was a full half-head taller than her. He was dressed simply in a T-shirt and pants, but his aura was commanding. His eyes remained as bright and confident as ever, making it impossible not to feel a surge of shyness when making eye contact.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Xiao Heqing felt her face flush and her heart race the more she looked at him, slowly lowering her head.
Although Lin Zhengran was annoyed by how outrageously bold this girl had gotten, he was genuinely stunned the moment he laid eyes on her after four years. The Xiao Heqing who used to resemble a timid little kitten had blossomed into a graceful young beauty. Standing a bit over five feet tall with a slender figure, she had a sweet, pitifully endearing face and a pair of incredibly pure almond eyes. At first glance, she exuded the vibe of the quintessential unforgettable first love from a romance novel.
As they walked toward each other, Xiao Heqing bit her lip and whispered, "Long... long time no see... Lin Zhengran."
Lin Zhengran took a deep, emotional breath and slowly raised his hand.
BONK BONK BONK.
He knocked her hard on the head several times.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!" Xiao Heqing yelped.
It was like hammering a nail; with every strike, Xiao Heqing shrank down a little bit more, until she was finally squatting on the ground with her arms wrapped around her head.
"Long time no see, my foot!" Lin Zhengran scolded angrily. "Do you realize how far apart we live, you idiot?! It would be one thing if you'd ever traveled alone before, but you didn't even know how to buy a ticket, and you still dared to come all this way to meet me?! If I hadn't guided you, would you even know where you are right now?"
Crouching on the floor and holding her head, Xiao Heqing's voice was full of grievance. "Stop scolding me, stop scolding me! I know I was a bit impulsive this time, but I really wanted to see you. Besides, with you guiding me, I knew I'd be fine. And... aren't you here now, too?"
"I'm only here because you told me you were already on your way! What else was I supposed to do?! If I didn't come, you'd be crying your eyes out all day, telling me how much you miss me and how wronged you feel! And you actually dared to lie to me now?!"
"I won't dare do it again. I'll never lie to you again." Despite being yelled at, Xiao Heqing pouted, feeling inexplicably overjoyed. It had been far too long since she last experienced the feeling of being scolded by him in person.
She even playfully stuck out her tongue in delight.
Lin Zhengran caught this and rewarded her with another flick to the forehead.
"Ouch~" Xiao Heqing whimpered. "That hurts~"
"You've even learned to stick your tongue out! You didn't listen to a single word I said, did you?!"
Xiao Heqing pursed her lips and looked up at him with cautious trepidation. "Don't be mad... It's been years, and you've gotten so tall and handsome. I almost thought I got the wrong person just now, but seeing how fierce you are, I know I'm definitely right."
"..."
Letting out a heavy sigh, Lin Zhengran wondered why he ever got involved with someone like her. He mocked himself, "Honestly, I could have just asked Mrs. He to keep an eye on you so you wouldn't run off. Even if you'd already gotten on the bus, I could've had them call you back. That would've been much safer. But somehow, like I was possessed, I hopped on a bus to come see you too. I must have lost my mind."
Xiao Heqing beamed happily. But when Lin Zhengran shot her a glare, she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth—looking exactly like she did when they were little.
"Forget it. Since we're already here, let's go eat." Lin Zhengran extended a hand. "Get up. You must be starving after riding buses all day. We'll find a place to eat first and figure out where to stay tonight later."
Xiao Heqing grasped his outstretched hand and stood up, looking at him with immense joy. Happiness was practically bubbling over in her mind.
"What do you want to eat?" Lin Zhengran asked. "There are a lot of dinner options at the station."
"Anything is fine. I'll eat whatever you eat."
"Let's just get noodles, then. The noodle shop over there doesn't look too crowded."
"Okay!"
Following by his side, Xiao Heqing covertly yet carefully studied his grown-up features.
He was really handsome. A wide smile remained plastered on her face.
"What are you staring at me and grinning like an idiot for?" Lin Zhengran asked curiously.
Xiao Heqing instantly schooled her expression and shook her head blankly. "Nothing. I'm not smiling at anything."
Lin Zhengran also took a serious look at how she appeared now. Staring straight ahead, he casually complimented, "After a few years, I didn't expect a silly girl like you to get so much prettier than before."
Both thrilled and embarrassed, Xiao Heqing lowered her head, her brain turning to mush.
"By the way," Lin Zhengran said, "we can't make it back tonight. What did you tell Mrs. He? There's no way she would have agreed to let you stay out overnight, right?"
"I told her I was sleeping over at Wenwen's house. I even pre-recorded a message for Wenwen so that if my mom calls tonight, she can cover for me."
Lin Zhengran was utterly incredulous. "You haven't learned a single good thing over these past few years, have you?"
"That's not true..." He Qing defended herself. "Of course I know girls shouldn't stay out overnight alone, but aren't I with you? I feel like there's nothing to be afraid of... Anyway," she whispered, her face blushing as she stared blankly at Lin Zhengran, "right?"
Lin Zhengran was dumbfounded. Just what the hell had that best friend of hers been teaching her?
Left with no other option, he had to gently knock some sense back into her head.
"Right what? What are you trying to say, you little brat?!"
Clutching her head, Xiao Heqing looked incredibly wronged. "I didn't say anything! I wasn't even thinking of anything this time!"