Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

The bus descended the mountain road and entered the provincial highway. The road became smoother, and the bus became more stable.

The scenery outside the window changed from mountains to fields, then from fields to houses. The houses became more and more numerous and densely packed. Tianhai City was almost here.

"Next stop, Tianhai City Long-Distance Bus Station," the driver called out.

Cui Ying removed her hand from Chen Ping's arm and began packing her things.

She pulled her suitcase out from under the seat, tidied her bag, and smoothed her hair.

He took a small mirror out of his bag, looked at himself, and then put it away.

She glanced at Chen Ping, but Chen Ping was looking out the window and didn't notice her.

She looked away and took a deep breath.

"Chen Ping," she called out.

"Um?"

"We're almost there."

"Um."

"You..." she paused, "You're really coming to my house?"

Chen Ping turned to look at her and smiled, "You said it yourself, how can I not go?"

Cui Ying's lips curled up slightly, then stopped, then curled up again, unable to resist.

She lowered her head, her face flushed, whether from happiness or nervousness, it was hard to tell.

The bus turned into the station and came to a stop.

The doors opened, and passengers disembarked carrying their luggage.

The girl whose wallet was stolen came over to thank him again before leaving after getting off the bus.

Chen Ping stood up, slung his canvas bag over his shoulder, and Cui Ying followed behind him, dragging her suitcase.

The two got off the train and stood in the station square.

The sky over Tianhai City was hazy and a shade darker than the sky over Siping Township.

The air smelled of exhaust fumes, dust, and all sorts of other indescribable smells of the city.

The station square was bustling with people. Some were hurrying along with their luggage, some were holding up signs to greet people, and some were squatting by the flower beds smoking.

Cui Ying stood next to Chen Ping, dragging her suitcase, looking at the crowds in the square, and took a deep breath.

"Let's go," she said.

"Where to?"

Cui Ying glanced at him: "My home."

She dragged her suitcase forward, took two steps, then stopped, turned around, and looked at Chen Ping.

Chen Ping stood there, his canvas bag slung over his shoulder, watching her.

Cui Ying was also confused and quietly waited for Chen Ping.

Chen Ping smiled, walked over, and sat beside her.

The two walked side by side in the station square, dragging their luggage, their pace neither fast nor slow.

People came and went around them, and no one paid attention to them, but Cui Ying's lips were turned up high and her eyes were bright.

"Chen Ping," she called out.

"Um?"

"Aren't you nervous?"

Chen Ping thought for a moment: "A little."

Cui Ying smiled, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "Me too."

They hailed a taxi, got in, and headed straight for Cui Ying's house!

The taxi drove on the overpass for more than 20 minutes before turning onto a road lined with sycamore trees on both sides.

The road was wide and clean, and the trees on both sides were neatly arranged, like soldiers in formation.

Chen Ping looked out the window. He hadn't been back to Tianhai City for a month. The last time he walked on this road was the day he went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get his divorce certificate.

"Turn right at the next intersection," Cui Ying told the driver.

The car turned onto a narrower road, with walls appearing on both sides.

Behind the wall are rows of villas, some with red bricks, some with white walls, and some with gray tiles, each with a different style, but each one is so beautiful it doesn't seem real.

There is a guard post at the entrance of the residential area. The security guard is in uniform and sticks his head out of the guard post when he sees a taxi coming.

Cui Ying rolled down the car window. The security guard recognized her, smiled, and raised the railing.

"This neighborhood is quite strict," Chen Ping said.

"It's alright, I've lived here for over ten years, and the security guards all know me." Cui Ying's tone was indifferent.

The taxi stopped in front of a three-story villa.

The exterior walls are made of red bricks, the window frames are white, and there are two neatly trimmed osmanthus trees at the entrance. The main door is a dark brown solid wood door with a gleaming brass door knocker.

Chen Ping got out of the car, stood at the door, and looked up at the three-story villa with an attic and a garage. A black Mercedes was parked in front of the garage.

"We've arrived." Cui Ying dragged her suitcase to the door and took out her keys from her bag.

Chen Ping stood behind her, carrying a canvas bag, without moving.

He stared at the dark brown door, feeling as if countless ants were crawling inside him.

It wasn't fear, but a feeling I couldn't quite describe.

He has lived in Tianhai City for the past few years, and his biggest dream is to own a villa like this.

When he was the purchasing director at the Municipal People's Hospital, his salary wasn't low, but housing prices rose faster than his salary, so he simply couldn't afford to buy a house.

However, if he had turned a blind eye to some things when making the purchase, he might have been able to afford the villa.

But Chen Ping wouldn't do that; he has principles and a conscience.

Standing at the door of Cui Ying's house, looking at this three-story villa, he suddenly felt that the distance between him and Cui Ying was not just a matter of a house.

"What are you thinking about?" Cui Ying turned around and saw him standing there in a daze.

"It's nothing." Chen Ping walked over. "This villa must be very expensive, right?"

Cui Ying inserted the key into the lock, turned it, and the door opened.

She pushed open the door without turning her head: "I don't know, my dad bought it, probably six or seven million."

Chen Ping nodded without saying anything.

Six or seven million yuan—he couldn't earn that much even if he worked at the Municipal People's Hospital his whole life.

He did the math in his head, smiled afterward, and stopped himself from thinking about it any further.

"Come in, what are you doing standing at the door?"

Cui Ying had already gone inside. She leaned her suitcase against the wall in the entryway, changed into a pair of slippers, and took out a new pair from the shoe cabinet, placing them at the door. "These are for you, they belong to my dad. You should be able to wear them; they're brand new."

Chen Ping changed his shoes and went inside.

The entryway wasn't large, but it was very tasteful. The floor was covered with gray tiles, and an oil painting hung on the wall, depicting a bright blue sea.

Passing through the entryway, you enter the living room, which is so large it takes him a moment to realize its size. The sofa is light gray and very long, big enough for three people to lie down.

The coffee table is made of solid wood, and a tea set is placed on it, all clean and tidy.

The TV wall is made of stone, with a pattern resembling a landscape painting.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is a small courtyard with several bamboo trees that rustle in the wind.

"Your parents aren't home?" Chen Ping looked around.

"They probably aren't here. My dad is definitely at the company, and my mom is probably out shopping."

Cui Ying put her bag on the sofa, turned to look at Chen Ping, and said, "Go take a shower first. You must be tired after sitting in the car all morning. I'll make you some noodles."

Upon hearing the next two words, Chen Ping instinctively reacted.

Chen Ping chuckled and said, "We're already at your house, you can't expect me to eat noodles. The conditions in the dorm are tough; we eat noodles every day. And now you want me to eat noodles at your place?"

Cui Ying's face flushed instantly, from her neck all the way to the roots of her ears.

Of course she knew what Chen Ping was talking about; she had been laughed at several times before for that "I'll give you some noodles to eat" joke.

She glared at Chen Ping, her lips moved a few times as if she wanted to say something but didn't, finally managing to stammer out, "I... I can't cook, I can only make noodles."

Chen Ping looked at Cui Ying, her face flushed, her head down, and her fingers twisting together on the hem of her clothes. Something in his heart softened.

He smiled, put the canvas bag on the sofa, and rolled up his sleeves.

"Let me help you. Where's your kitchen?"