August 7, 2025, Thursday.
20℃–31℃, sunny.
[Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received a deposit of RMB 4,500 at 00:01 on August 07. Current balance: 224,500.]
Lin Shen woke up, pulled open the curtains, and discovered it was already a sunny day.
He pushed open the window, and a fresh, humid gust of air instantly rushed in, carrying with it the subtle fragrance of earth.
"WHOOSH—!"
Lin Shen couldn’t help but take a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, feeling as if his entire lungs had been completely cleansed.
It was rare to come across such good weather in Modu.
Lin Shen left the secondary bedroom and subconsciously glanced toward the master bedroom.
The door was ajar. The bed was neat and tidy, and there were even signs that the floor had been swept.
However, that lively, lovely figure was now nowhere to be seen, leaving only a note on the dining table.
[Shen! Thank you for your hospitality these past four days! I had a great time in Modu! I was so happy spending time with you!]
[I’m so sorry about what happened with my sister. I think you’re a very gentle and considerate person, so don’t be discouraged. You’re the best!]
[I bought some steamed buns and soy milk. I was afraid they’d get cold, so I left them in the steamer in the kitchen. Remember to eat them when you wake up, okay?]
[My school starts on September 4th. I hope I can see you again then. If possible, there’s a lot I want to tell you in person.]
[So that’s the plan. See you then!~]
[—From Gu Wanqing (っ´ω`c)♡]
"Pfft!"
Seeing the cute kaomoji at the end, Lin Shen couldn’t help but laugh out loud. But immediately after, his heart was slowly enveloped by a thick sense of loneliness and solitude.
He carefully folded the note, tucked it under his piggy bank, and whispered softly to himself.
"See you in a month."
*
「10:00 AM, Hongqiao Railway Station.」
Gu Wanqing walked into a nearby KFC, suitcase in hand. She scanned her surroundings and finally spotted someone waving from a corner.
"Over here!"
Gu Wanting stood up and called out.
She was wearing a light gray, round-neck T-shirt with a white pleated skirt. White calf-high socks were paired with white sneakers, revealing her smooth thighs, giving her an overall sporty look.
The baseball cap on her head, in particular, marked her as a fashionable woman who knew how to dress.
"Qingqing!"
"Sis."
Gu Wanqing sat down across from Gu Wanting, feigning ignorance as she asked with curiosity.
"Where have you been all this time?"
"Paris."
A look of disappointment crossed Gu Wanting’s face, and she let out a soft sigh.
"Don’t even ask. You have no idea how dirty it is over there!"
"The area under the Eiffel Tower is like a garbage dump! And they were even doing construction right next to it!"
"And the public safety is terrible. One time, I was just walking down the street and my phone almost got snatched! I’m never going back."
"Is that so."
Gu Wanqing’s gaze shifted to Cheng Yue, who was sitting next to Gu Wanting.
"Who’s he?"
"Cheng Yue."
Gu Wanting introduced him, tugging on the fabric of his shirt at the shoulder.
"My good friend, a classmate from college."
"Tingting, didn’t you say you’d agree to be my..."
"Hm?"
After Gu Wanting shot him a cold glare, Cheng Yue immediately lost his nerve and could only offer a sheepish, silly grin from the side.
Gu Wanqing bit her lip lightly, then asked tentatively.
"Where’s my brother-in-law?"
"Don’t mention him to me."
Gu Wanting took a big gulp of her Coke, her tone extremely impatient.