Chapter 93: How Is There Actually a Cousin?

"What? What's wrong with Liu Jiaoyue?"

Shao Ziyang's observational skills were mediocre to begin with, and on top of that, he was racking his brains trying to think of topics to chat with Jiang Mumu, so he didn't notice Liu Jiaoyue's state.

"You guys left the door open, letting the draft in, and she's wrapped in her quilt reading a book by herself."

Yang Tianxing pointed out a few obvious points and told Shao Ziyang.

Shao Ziyang recalled carefully, and it was indeed as Yang Tianxing said; he immediately apologized: "Little Yang, I really didn't see it, otherwise I definitely would have closed the door to chat."

He also took the opportunity to explain for Jiang Mumu: "Jiang Mumu probably didn't notice either; we were quite focused on our conversation."

"Forget it."

Yang Tianxing kicked Shao Ziyang: "That's just how you are; I've seen through you long ago."

Shao Ziyang didn't dodge, saying with a chuckle: "I'll treat you guys to a meal tonight, no more instant noodles. I wonder how the fast food on the train is; I saw there seemed to be chicken legs at noon."

The two went back after finishing their cigarettes; Yang Tianxing couldn't possibly hold a grudge against Shao Ziyang.

Actually, Shao Ziyang's mindset was easy to understand: he just hoped to have an attractive person of the opposite sex nearby when taking a plane, train, or even a bus, so that the two could have an intersection after chatting.

However, the reality was that there were mostly people of the same sex, and even if there were a few of the opposite sex, they would be forgotten after getting off the train.

After returning to the carriage, Shao Ziyang specifically apologized to Liu Jiaoyue.

Liu Jiaoyue's pair of peach-blossom eyes were dazed and confused, not knowing what to do; she was used to adapting to her environment and rarely took the initiative to make requests, so even if she felt cold because the door wasn't closed, she wouldn't blame anyone.

Yang Tianxing certainly wouldn't apologize to Jiang Mumu; who the hell is she?

By dinner time, Shao Ziyang specifically bought four boxed meals, including one to treat Jiang Mumu.

Yang Tianxing sneered inwardly; the train boxed meal cost 20 yuan each, a typical example of someone being poor and overly generous.

Jiang Mumu had not spoken to Yang Tianxing at all; she chatted with Shao Ziyang about the differences between the two cities of Chang'an and Rongcheng, and occasionally said a word or two to Liu Jiaoyue.

However, Liu Jiaoyue spoke in a simple-minded way and her ability to organize language was relatively poor, so Jiang Mumu lost interest after a few sentences and turned her head to continue chatting with Shao Ziyang.

But when Jiang Mumu saw Yang Tianxing take a laptop out of his bag to look at data, her eyes lit up; when Yang Tianxing took out his phone to make a call, she took the initiative to walk in and strike up a conversation with Yang Tianxing after he hung up.

"Which school are you from?"

Yang Tianxing always felt that seeing Jiang Mumu was like seeing a criminal, and he felt uncomfortable all over, but having a few normal exchanges was still fine.

"Chang'an Finance and Economics Institute," Yang Tianxing said.

"The Chang'an campus? I've been there once; the environment is so good. I even regret not getting into that school back then."

As soon as Jiang Mumu spoke, Yang Tianxing immediately knew why Shao Ziyang was so engrossed in chatting with her; with her level of speaking, she could pick up any topic Shao Ziyang threw out.

"I think that school is too poor, so I dropped out and started a business on my own."

Yang Tianxing said while looking at his computer.

"That's not bad either. Once you became a boss, you bought a laptop and a phone. The Finance Institute might have been good in the past, but its development level is indeed a bit poor now."

Jiang Mumu replied steadily, trying her best not to conflict with what she had just said.

"But not long after I dropped out, our principal called me back, and now I'm a university student at the Finance Institute again."

Yang Tianxing glanced at her and said.

"Uh..."

Jiang Mumu was a bit embarrassed; she probably realized that Yang Tianxing was leading her in circles, and there were too many tricks for her to keep up, so she sat back outside, and soon Shao Ziyang's laughter came from the corridor.

Liu Jiaoyue had been foolishly listening to their brief conversation, her little head resting on her knees, her eyes full of questions; she found it hard to understand Yang Tianxing's way of thinking.

Yang Tianxing didn't want to explain; he patted her head, took out a bag of apples, and handed it over: "Go wash a few and share them with everyone."

Liu Jiaoyue obediently went to wash the fruit, and before long, the sounds of Shao Ziyang and Jiang Mumu thanking her could be heard.

"Things that are good deeds should of course be left for good people to do."

Yang Tianxing thought to himself, smiled, and then continued to calculate the parcel collection trends of the part-time university students.

After returning to school in the second half of the year, he might have to take on the parcel business for a Hong Kong-funded electronics factory; Yang Tianxing knew there was no danger, but those part-time students might not believe it, so he had to find a way to persuade those with strong subjective initiative who were willing to follow him.

It was just 9 o'clock after eating the apples, and the train attendant came to remind them that the lights would be turned off in half an hour; Yang Tianxing urged Liu Jiaoyue to go wash up, while he himself remained unmoved and continued looking at the computer.

At 9:30, the lights in the carriage were officially turned off; Shao Ziyang and Jiang Mumu also hurriedly brushed their teeth and went to bed, while Yang Tianxing didn't close his computer until around 11 o'clock.

He went to check on Liu Jiaoyue first and found that she hadn't fallen asleep yet; although it was hard to see clearly in the carriage, Yang Tianxing could just sense that she still had her eyes open.

"Can't sleep?"

Yang Tianxing walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, asking in a low voice.

Liu Jiaoyue shook her head gently.

Yang Tianxing thought it must be that she wasn't used to taking a sleeper train for the first time, so he pinched her cheek: "Go to sleep, I'm here."

Liu Jiaoyue nodded shyly, and Yang Tianxing tucked the quilt in for her before leaving the carriage.

Yang Tianxing seemed especially gentle during the journey, which made Liu Jiaoyue feel very satisfied.

Her heart was very small, and she didn't actually want much; as long as Yang Tianxing was a little less fierce to her, that would be enough.

In the corridor.

Yang Tianxing opened the curtain; the train was passing over a bridge across the river, and there were dots of starlight on the pitch-black river surface. The train whistle and the horns of cargo ships echoed each other. Yang Tianxing watched silently for a while before returning to rest.

……………

At ten o'clock the next morning, Yang Tianxing finally climbed out of his sleeper bunk with a sore back and aching limbs; as soon as he went out, he saw Shao Ziyang chatting away with Jiang Mumu.

"Yo, you guys have endless things to say."

"We aren't like you, sleeping until now," Shao Ziyang said.

Jiang Mumu saw Yang Tianxing come out but didn't greet him or speak; she just turned her head to look at the scenery outside the window.

After Yang Tianxing finished brushing his teeth and returned, Liu Jiaoyue had already prepared the instant noodles, placed the ham sausage on the side, and even washed an apple.

"Our girls from Chuan-Yu are indeed virtuous."

Jiang Mumu couldn't help but say; she had been watching Liu Jiaoyue running back and forth, busy at work.

Yang Tianxing said to Shao Ziyang: "Envious? You should find a Chuan-Yu girl too."

"I'd like that too, but how could such a coincidence happen?" As Shao Ziyang spoke, he glanced toward Jiang Mumu, whether intentionally or not.

Jiang Mumu wore a smile on her face, pretending not to hear.

Yang Tianxing used his mouth to bite the ham sausage into pieces and spat them into the soup; he didn't mind since he was the one eating it, and with his mouth full of grease, he wondered if he should find some time to tell Shao Ziyang about Deng Yidi's complicated romantic history to strike a blow to his blind confidence in love.

The train arrived at Rongcheng Railway Station around 12:00 PM, and Jiang Mumu left first carrying her luggage; Yang Tianxing asked Shao Ziyang, "Are you a bit reluctant to see her go?"

"Yeah."

Shao Ziyang admitted it, but then he added, "I got her QQ number; I'll add her once I'm back in Jinzhou. After all, we'll both be in Chang'an later, and knowing one more friend means one more path."

Yang Tianxing thought to himself that it was probably one more path for a simp; returning to Chang'an next year should be very interesting.

For the next few hours, Yang Tianxing just followed Liu Jiaoyue as they changed vehicles along the way, first taking a train, then transferring to a bus, then a tractor, and finally, it was on foot.

"Crunch, crunch, crunch."

A heavy snow had just fallen in Liu Jiaoyue's hometown, and the three of them made sounds with every step as they trod on the snow layer.

Yang Tianxing checked the time; it was almost 10:00 PM, and the cold moon hung high in the sky, reflecting the snow-covered ground in a ghastly white—this really did feel a bit like the pilgrimage to the West.

"Little Yang, how much longer until we arrive?"

Shao Ziyang asked, panting as he walked behind.

Yang Tianxing listened for a moment: "Should be soon."

"How do you know?"

Shao Ziyang was very curious.

"A dog's bark can travel three miles against the wind; it's obvious we've reached a place where few people go, which fits the current situation of Liu Jiaoyue's family."

Liu Jiaoyue blushed and didn't say a word; after walking for another twenty minutes or so, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"We, we're here."

Just as Yang Tianxing was about to speak, a small black shadow in front ran over quickly, shouting loudly: "Big Sister!"

Yang Tianxing turned his head: "Ziyang, I didn't lie to you, did I? Liu Jiaoyue really does have a cousin; I'll introduce you in a moment."

Shao Ziyang held it in for a long time before saying, "A cousin is a cousin, but she looks at most five years old. Little Yang, doesn't your heart ache from bamboozling me like this?"