Lin Zhexia waited at the train station for about half an hour.
She found a noodle shop to sit in. Although it was getting late, places with high foot traffic, like train stations, were relatively safe.
After finishing her noodles, she was holding a glass of water when the glass door of the noodle shop was pushed open—
The weather in the north differed from the south, with greater temperature differences between day and night. As the door opened, a rush of cool air swirled in.
The person who entered was very tall, wearing a thin hoodie and carrying a black jacket. His features looked as if they had been drawn with a paintbrush, making him exceptionally eye-catching in the crowd.
He didn’t stand at the entrance for long before his eyes swept the room and found the person he was looking for.
Lin Zhexia put down her water glass and, looking at Chi Yao approaching her table, quickly said before he could sit down: “I’m sorry, this seat is taken.”
Chi Yao’s hand rested on the back of the chair as he glanced at her.
“?”
Since she had come here on her own without telling anyone, Lin Zhexia was afraid he might be angry, so she improvised a little scene to lighten the mood: “This seat is reserved for a very handsome guy surnamed Chi, named Yao.”
“Is that so?” Chi Yao asked with little inflection in his tone, “How handsome is he?”
Lin Zhexia: “He’s the most handsome person I’ve ever seen. From the day I was born until now, I’ve never seen anyone more handsome than him.”
Chi Yao’s expression softened slightly.
Lin Zhexia pressed her advantage: “Not only is he handsome, but he’s also very smart and talented. Except for some issues with his character, he could be called perfect.”
Chi Yao pulled out the chair and sat down directly: “I forgot to mention, my character isn’t that great either. I like to take other people’s seats.”
“…”
“You look unfamiliar,” Chi Yao continued their little play, “you don’t look like a local. Where are you from?”
Lin Zhexia played along: “I’m from Lianyun.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Tourism.”
Chi Yao’s tone was a bit cool: “Traveling alone?”
“Yes, to challenge myself,” Lin Zhexia said earnestly, “people need to learn to grow up on their own.”
Chi Yao sneered: “Then you can stay here by yourself. I won’t hinder your growth. I’m leaving.”
After saying this, Chi Yao made as if to leave.
Lin Zhexia was afraid he might go, so she stood up to grab his clothes: “No, in just these few hours since I left home, life has already harshly worn away my edges—I’ve come to my senses now.”
Chi Yao sat back down with a reluctant air: “Explain.”
Lin Zhexia improvised: “First, I shouldn’t have come alone, it’s not safe. Second, I should have notified you in advance. Third… I can’t think of anything else. That should be enough, right?”
Chi Yao: “Take out your phone.”
Lin Zhexia handed her phone over.
Chi Yao tilted his chin slightly, and Lin Zhexia immediately understood, unlocking her phone.
Chi Yao opened the contacts, found Lin He’s phone number, and then handed the phone back to her.
“Third, call Aunt He.”
Lin Zhexia made a call to Lin He, informing her that she was now in Haicheng City.
Lin He almost thought she was dreaming: “You’re in Haicheng City? What are you doing there? Is Chi Yao next to you? Let me speak to him.”
She had already gone.
It wasn’t realistic to ask her to return immediately, and it was too late now anyway.
Lin Zhexia followed behind Chi Yao like a child caught running away from home, waiting for a taxi.
She heard Chi Yao make a few affirmative sounds into the phone, and then the taxi arrived. Chi Yao opened the car door, gesturing for her to get in.
After getting in, she couldn’t help asking: “What did my mom just say to you?”
Chi Yao: “To make sure you’re safe, stay with me, and don’t wander off.”
Lin Zhexia caught the key point: “So she didn’t tell me to go back first thing tomorrow morning?”
Chi Yao made an “Mm” sound.
“Then I can stay here for a day,” she calculated, “and then go back with you.”
After saying this, she felt like it sounded as if she wanted to be with him.
It might even make people suspect that she had come specifically for him.
So Lin Zhexia quickly added, “I was originally planning to go back tomorrow, I didn’t plan to stay out for so long. I just suddenly wanted to come see the sea.”
Chi Yao said, “You know it was sudden, too.”
Lin Zhexia: “After all, I’m inexperienced. I’ve never seen the sea in my life. Try to understand.”
“…”
The night in this city was very quiet. When the car stopped, you could occasionally hear the sound of waves hitting the shore.