Chapter 571: Lin Qingyan's Request

The red scarf, amid the blue‑gray crowd, was so conspicuous, standing there like a flame.

The passing passengers couldn't help stealing a glance.

Following the flow of people, Lu Cheng walked slowly forward, mainly wondering what the first sentence should be.

Cold or not? Have you eaten? Yet when it reached his lips, it still turned into formal language.

"Hello Qing Yan Comrade."

She didn't know how long she'd been at this station; Lin Qingyan's fair face had cheeks slightly reddened from the cold.

"Hello Lu Cheng Comrade."

Since the divorce, this was their second meeting; the first had been because they helped Factory Director Zheng of One Steel Plant approve iron ore.

At the time, due to haste, they hadn't had time to exchange a few words.

"Oh, you're taking the train? How about I get you a train ticket, as a thank you for your help last time…"

Lin Qingyan smiled, "I'm here to find you."

Although she didn't know why, the place was bustling with people, certainly not a spot for conversation.

Lu Cheng looked around, "Then… let's go over there to talk."

"Alright."

Following the train's iron rail, after leaving the Platform and walking further, they reached an open area; the long rail stretched on until it vanished beneath the grayish horizon.

A few workers were working along the iron rail.

Without the Platform's shelter, the cold wind cut the face like a knife, and Lu Cheng couldn't help tightening his coat.

Lin Qingyan walked beside him, glanced, "You're the most sensitive to cold; do you want me to give you the scarf?"

Lu Cheng shook his head, "No need, I'll warm up soon, but the weather in the Northeast is indeed much colder than Capital City."

"Yes, I also got used to it gradually."

"Then you… do you two not plan to return to Capital City in the future?"

Lin Qingyan stared ahead along the iron rail, which pointed toward the train's direction; the originating station was Capital City.

"It's hard to say now; probably we won't go back," Lin Qingyan withdrew her gaze.

"But that's fine; actually anywhere is the same. Like this Northeastern land, it has its own unique charm, and I still like it here."

Lu Cheng suddenly recalled something, and a smile tugged at his mouth.

Speaking of the Northeast, Lu Cheng, having been an Educated Youth in his previous life, naturally knew it well.

Only, using the chance of rebirth, he successfully prevented Lin Qingyan from going down to the countryside for the Northeast labor team, yet unexpectedly, she still arrived in the Northeast by another means.

Moreover, Lu Cheng himself also chose this Northeastern railway line by another way.

It seemed as if, in the unseen forces, regardless of how the timeline changed, the Northeast remained a place the two could not bypass.

"What are you laughing at?" Lin Qingyan asked.

Lu Cheng replied, "You said… if at the start I gave the recruitment slots to someone else, and then I chose to come here for the countryside labor team, what would it end up like?"

Lin Qingyan found the hypothesis rather interesting and thought about it seriously.

"Hmm? As for you, I can't say, but if you left, then no one would help me; the Street Office would surely send me to the countryside labor team, maybe even to the same Educated Youth point as you."

Lu Cheng fell silent; indeed that was how it was in the previous life.

The difference is that at this point in time, Lin Qingyan could still walk with him, because back then, Lin Qingyan had already died.

Unwittingly, the two had already walked a long distance.

"Looking for me… is there something?" Lu Cheng still steered the conversation back to business.

But clearly it wasn't as he thought; Lin Qingyan had come here specifically just to see him.

"It's nothing much, I just wanted to thank you face‑to‑face."

Lu Cheng knew why: "Those two kids are quite cute, just a bit mischievous; you have to watch them, sneaking onto trains is too dangerous."

Lin Qingyan nodded lightly, "Hanghang and Yao Yao are usually quite mischievous, especially Yao Yao, who often drags her brother into trouble. Fortunately we met you last time; we caused you trouble in Capital City."

Lu Cheng waved his hand nonchalantly, "The kids are a bit mischievous, but they're still funny when they talk; being with them is quite enjoyable."

Lu Cheng didn't notice that as he spoke, Lin Qingyan pursed her lips and smiled.

"By the way, Qing Yan, since the kids miss their father so much, you should find time to take them to see him; otherwise lacking paternal love could be detrimental to their growth."

Lin Qingyan fell silent for a while, then finally said, "Their father is too busy."

Clearly, Lin Qingyan didn't want to discuss the topic; Lu Cheng instinctively thought their relationship might be strained, so he tactfully didn't bring it up again.

Lin Qingyan tried to change the subject, "By the way, what is Hole Pants?"

"Hole Pants? What's up?"

"Oh, after the kids came back, I saw Yao Yao's pants had a scorch hole, so I got her a new pair, but she refused to change and kept wearing that one, calling it Hole Pants."

"While I was away, she not only cut all her own clothes into pieces with holes, but also cut her brother's; the two kids walking down the street made the neighbors laugh to death, almost drove me mad."

Lu Cheng's forehead filled with a black line, "Hehe, really?"

"Yeah, Yao Yao said you made the Hole Pants for her."

Lu Cheng, embarrassed, "Ahem, don't blame me. She fell into a pond, I washed her out and was drying her, accidentally scorching a hole, fearing she'd cry again…"

Lin Qingyan guessed, "You really know how to coax kids. During the few days with you, I didn't expect the two kids could stay; I was worried you couldn't manage, so I had my dad rush over overnight."

"Sigh, it's also just blind coaxing."

Lin Qingyan was silent for a moment, "They really like you; after returning, they keep mentioning you, saying you took them to eat roast duck and to ride ice sleds…"

"That's nothing; after all they're your kids, even as a friend, helping look after them is only natural."

Lin Qingyan halted, the cold wind ruffling the hair in front of her forehead, the red scarf around her neck still the one Lu Cheng had bought for her before.

"Lu Cheng, may I ask you for a favor?"

Lu Cheng inexplicably exhaled a sigh of relief; Lin Qingyan, seeing him, kept talking about the children.

He didn't quite know how to bring up the topic; after all, it's someone else's child and has nothing to do with him, so the conversation is meaningless.

"You see, I told you that when you came to me you must have something, so between us there's no need for formalities; if there's anything you need help with, just say it."

Lin Qingyan asked first, "How many days will you stay here?"

"Hm? Three days; after three days I'll return to the Capital City."

Lin Qingyan nodded, "Then during these days, could you take the two children out for a walk?"

Lu Cheng inhaled, feeling a bit helpless—why does it always come down to the children!