The holly bushes by the roadside glowed a deep, dark green, as if coated in a layer of wax, protecting the deep veins within their leaves from the biting wind.
The wind stirred the fur collar on Chen Yuan's coat, making it quiver hesitantly—just like Jiangg Yao's heart at that mont.
The sadness was unbearable.
This was Lanjing South Station. At dusk, the fiery afterglow of sunset shone down on the two of them as they held hands.
Around them, travelers hurried past in small groups, pulling their suitcases, their faces alight with joy.
As the saying goes, "Whether you're rich or poor, you go ho for the New Year." After a year of toiling away from ho, they finally had ti to return to their hotowns, reunite with friends and family, and enjoy a rare mont of peace.
So even if they usually worried about their wallets being too light, it didn't stop these travelers from hurrying on their way, their faces wreathed in smiles.
Chen Yuan should have returned to Qishui County long ago. His good friends, like Wei Zhen and the other two, had arrived ho on the second day of the break. The sa went for his childhood friends from the school's family housing complex. They were probably in their pajamas right now, half-asleep while listening to their parents ramble on.
The school's narrow alleys, the worn-out basketball court, the stone corridors littered with withered branches and dead leaves—all were now filled with familiar faces not seen for the better part of a year.
Whenever Mrs. Chen stepped outside, she could see the neighbors' kids playing badminton below the academic building.
Everyone else's children were with their parents.
Then she would think of Chen Yuan.
A pang of bitterness would well up in Mrs. Chen's heart. Feeling resentful, she endlessly urged Chen Yuan to hurry back, sending him ssages every day to subtly prod him with questions.
Chen Yuan realized he couldn't put it off any longer.
After having dinner with Jiang Zhengfeng the other day, he discussed his return date with Jiangg Yao and booked the ticket.
And so, his departure from Lanjing for his third-rate little county ho had led to the scene unfolding today.
...
"Alright, we agreed you wouldn't cry when you ca to see off. Why are you doing this again?" Chen Yuan said, pulling his suitcase as he looked helplessly at Yaoyao.
Her eyes were brimming with a misty haze, and she bit her trembling lip.
She tilted her face up and just looked at him, not saying a word.
It looked as if a crystal-clear teardrop would fall at any second.
Her pitiful expression was almost too much for Chen Yuan to bear.
"I'm not crying..." Yaoyao said, but her voice was thick with unshed tears.
Those three words were far from convincing.
When they were traveling before, Jiangg Yao had seen her sister off in Sanya. She hadn't felt happy about it. Even though it ant she could have her Little Young Master all to herself, she didn't know what would happen to her sister in Mingzhu City and had a bad feeling about it.
After Jiangg Ning left, she had felt empty inside.
'It seems that life competing with my sister for Chen Yuan's ti wasn't so bad after all.'
This ti, she had to see Chen Yuan off.
She had to go through another parting, and they wouldn't see each other again for at least twenty-odd days.
She and Chen Yuan were in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, when feelings are intense and parting is the hardest. She had acted relaxed when they talked about booking tickets for the New Year, thinking it was only natural. But when she actually watched Chen Yuan pack his luggage, Yaoyao couldn't help but start crying.
'I don't know why I want to cry.'
All it took was a sting in her nose, and the tears instantly started to fall.
'I can't imagine going ho alone later, to an empty room…'
"I shouldn't have let you co see off."
"It's okay, I'm okay... Little Young Master, give a hug."
Jiangg Yao stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him tightly.
This was their first separation.
She was truly tasting the bitter flavor of parting.
Chen Yuan could clearly feel her body trembling. The hug seed to make things worse; as soon as he held her, Yaoyao's tears flowed uncontrollably.
The tears fell onto Chen Yuan's neck, drop by drop, shockingly hot.
As a guy, Chen Yuan wasn't as sentintal, but the sound of Jiangg Yao's crying inexplicably made his own heart ache.
A sense of loss filled his heart.
Perhaps having the one you love by your side is the happiest thing in the world. A brief separation, then, is a punishnt from fate. It brings pain, but it also makes one cherish the monts spent in each other's arms all the more.
If a couple is always together, no matter how much they love each other, they might start to take one another for granted.
"We can video call every day after I get back. It won't be long before we have to return to Lanjing for school. The break is really short," Chen Yuan said, stroking Jiangg Yao's head. The wind blew a few strands of her hair across his face, tickling him. "I'll co back two days early, okay?"
"Mhm."
Jiangg Yao replied, her voice full of grievance, and nodded obediently.
"Alright, I should go in now."
"Go on, I'll watch you leave."
"Okay, I'm going."
Chen Yuan picked up his suitcase and was about to leave, but he found that Jiangg Yao's arms were still clasped tightly around his waist.
He turned his head to look at her.
"You're really leaving?" Jiangg Yao asked, her cheeks flushed from crying as she stared at him.
Her slender fingers kept wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"I can stay with you for one more minute at most, or I'll miss my train."
Chen Yuan sighed helplessly.
He took a tissue and helped Jiangg Yao wipe her tears, coaxing her softly.
'It's only twenty-sothing days apart, but we're acting like this is a life-or-death parting.'
You always had to go ho for the New Year. It wasn't just Chen Yuan leaving; Jiangg Yao had also booked a flight back to Mingzhu City for the following day. If she stayed in Lanjing any longer, her mother, Jiangg Ruxue, would probably co and drag her ho herself.
"I won't hold you up anymore. You should go."
After a long mont of composing herself, Jiangg Yao finally let go of Chen Yuan's hand and gave a loud sob.
She sensibly took a step back.
"You should get going too. Be safe on your way back."
"No, I'll stay here and watch you go into the station," Jiangg Yao said, clutching a tissue, her eyes red-rimd. "Rember to ssage when you get on the train!"
"Got it."
"Hey, and tell when you get ho, too! I might be on my flight by then," she called out, standing on her toes.
Chen Yuan looked back as he walked away.
He made an "okay" gesture.
"You promised ! You have to video call a lot when you get back, every day! And talk to more, or I'll feel insecure!"
"Okay."
"And don't get too close to other girls when you're back!"
"Understood."
"And one more thing!"
Jiangg Yao waved her hands anxiously, but Chen Yuan had already reached the second floor, where he stood by a glass railing, looking down at her.
"Did you forget sothing?"
"No! It's just... everything I just said, did you rember it all?"
Chen Yuan gave Jiangg Yao a helpless look. The sun had almost completely set, and he was surrounded by people hurrying toward the platforms.
He didn't want to shout.
He just waved at Jiangg Yao.
He couldn't bear to look any longer.
Because in the instant he waved, he saw fresh tears slide down her face. Her shoulders trembled as she took a hesitant step forward, only to stop, looking lost and uncertain.
Chen Yuan turned and followed the other travelers, walking deeper into the station. He quickly turned for one last glance, but his view of Jiangg Yao on the floor below was already gone.
The surging crowd along the walkway had completely blocked the view behind him.
...
「Not long after.」
The train slithered along the tracks like a long serpent, heading away from Lanjing.
In his seat, Chen Yuan hugged his bag, then took out his phone, pulled an earbud case from his pocket, and put in his earbuds.
He casually opened a music app and listened to a soothing song.
...
「At the station entrance.」
Jiangg Yao stood there in a daze. She wasn't crying anymore.
Only after she ca back to her senses a little did she look around, feeling slightly lost.
The area outside the station was filled with unfamiliar faces.
For a mont, Jiangg Yao forgot what she was supposed to be doing. After standing there in a trance for a short while, she finally rembered that she should be heading ho.
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