We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"Teacher Wu, everyone has arrived."

"Okay." Wu Changguo said seriously, giving a few more instructions. "Listen up, everyone. After getting on the bus, you must obey the school's arrangements. During your free time in the evening, you are absolutely not allowed to go out alone! Before 10 o'clock, everyone must upload a photo of themselves at the hotel to the class group. Do you understand?"

"I heard you!"

With everyone responding in unison, the study tour group officially set off.

The school bus was filled with excited chatter as people huddled together in small groups, discussing their plans for the next few days and looking forward to the upcoming journey.

Li Mubai sat quietly alone in the double seat by the window, the rapidly receding scenery outside casting faint reflections on the glass, gazing at him from the other side.

This was probably his first time traveling, but he didn't seem to have the typical excitement of a tourist trip.

"We've arrived at the high-speed rail station. Make sure you have all your luggage and don't lose anything."

It was quite fast; we arrived in less than an hour.

This was also Li Mubai's first time riding a high-speed train; he had never even ridden a regular train before.

The high-speed rail station was bustling with people, and many passersby curiously observed the group of chattering students in school uniforms.

"Hey, what's your number?" Chen Qiuhe patted him on the shoulder from behind, her face beaming with excitement.

"Car 03, Seat 08F." Li Mubai glanced at his high-speed rail ticket.

"Let me see mine." Chen Qiuhe took out her ticket from her pocket. "Car 03, No. 08D, haha, what a coincidence."

"Really? Let me see." Li Mubai reached out to take her ticket.

"Hey, what kind of behavior is this, pulling and tugging in public!" Chen Qiuhe immediately hid the ticket behind her back and pretended to be serious as she dodged away.

Li Mubai was too lazy to argue with her. The most important thing now was to get through security and get on the bus as quickly as possible so as not to waste time.

Upon reaching the platform, the silver-white high-speed train was parked on the tracks, its streamlined body gleaming brightly in the sunlight. Li Mubai found his seat and placed his luggage on the overhead rack.

"Give me some space, I need to put my suitcase in too." Chen Qiuhe dragged her suitcase over with difficulty.

"Why are you carrying such a big suitcase? You're only going out for three days." Li Mubai helped her out.

"What do you know? I'm just being prepared." Chen Qiuhe said confidently, and then plopped down in a window seat.

"That's my seat, get up."

"I get motion sickness on high-speed trains, so I need to sit by the window," Chen Qiuhe said with a straight face, spouting nonsense.

"..."

Li Mubai was speechless and could only helplessly sit down in the seat next to him.

"This is my seat," a girl said expressionlessly, standing next to Li Mubai.

He looked up and saw Liu Xiaoqing.

He was stunned for a moment. Wasn't this Chen Qiuhe's seat?

"Excuse me, could you please change my seat? My seat is 01D," Chen Qiuhe quickly offered.

Liu Xiaoqing frowned when she saw it was Chen Qiuhe, then glanced at Li Mubai beside her, and finally said nothing before turning and leaving.

"No, so you're not going to sit here?" Li Mubai turned to look at Chen Qiuhe.

Chen Qiuhe chuckled, revealing a hint of cunning.

"Still laughing?"

"Then I won't giggle anymore."

"Don't change seats randomly."

"Yes, yes, you are now the class monitor, second only to the leader. It would be too presumptuous and unworthy for me, a mere ordinary citizen, to sit with you." Chen Qiuhe pretended to cover her face and cry.

"Someone like you would have been forced to wear a white hat in the 1960s or 70s."

"Haha, we live in a new era now!"

Chen Qiuhe's laughter blended into the chattering sounds of the entire train as the high-speed train gradually started moving.

"Mu Bai, Li Mu Bai, look! The high-speed train is starting!" Chen Qiuhe grabbed his arm and shook it. Like him, it was also her first time riding the high-speed train.

"I understand." Li Mubai brushed Chen Qiuhe's arm away from his grasp, his tone indifferent.

"Hey? Why can't I open the window? I want to get some fresh air."

"..." Li Mubai was silent for a moment. "The speed will get faster and faster. If I really open the window, I'll blow your head off."

"All right."

"Actually, the high-speed rail is very stable, unlike buses that sway and shake." Li Mubai thought she was worried about getting motion sickness on the high-speed rail, which seemed absurd, but he had seen online that some people did have this problem.

"If I faint, remember to support me," Chen Qiuhe said with a smile.

"You can just lean back in your seat."

Chen Qiuhe didn't speak. The high-speed train gradually accelerated, and even in the enclosed carriage, the whooshing sound of high-speed travel could still be heard.

"Li Mu Bai."

"What's wrong?"

"I feel like you haven't been very happy since she left."

"Is there?"

The high-speed train entered a tunnel, and the carriage darkened, but the students were still chatting and laughing about their study tour.

"have."

"Are you a psychologist?" He chuckled softly.

"No, but I am still very sensitive to my friends' emotional changes."

"You're really amazing."

"What I'm trying to say is, even if she's gone, I'm still here. Look, I'll get first place in the exam for you, and then I'll lead by example and inspire those who follow."

Chen Qiuhe said this with a hint of jokingness, but Li Mubai remained silent.

"It's okay. By the way, which university do you want to apply to?" He changed the subject.

"Tsinghua and Peking University!"

……

Ding-dong-

Ladies and gentlemen, the next stop on the train is Qingzi Station. Please prepare to disembark in advance.

"Take your luggage and line up on the platform. Li Mubai, remember to count the number of people."

It's troublesome to go out here; there's a constant worry that some students will fall behind.

Li Mubai gently shook Chen Qiuhe, who was fast asleep in her seat, got up, took off his backpack, and followed the crowd off the bus.

Lan Shiyu also arrived. She came out of carriage number 2 and nodded at Li Mubai.

Unlike Pingyang City, which is full of high-rise buildings and bustling crowds, Qingzi County is just a quiet and ordinary small county town. Most of the buildings are not tall, and you can see a clear blue sky when you look up.

The high-speed rail station is small and usually sparsely populated, but the arrival of students makes it crowded.

The school had already rented buses, and they boarded one by one, heading towards the hotel.

Qingzi Hotel is one of the few high-rise buildings in the county town.

"Which number are you?" Chen Qiuhe asked, looking at the room key in her hand.

"1207".

"That's really unfortunate, my number is 1008."

It would be strange if it were a coincidence; the twelfth floor is probably all male.

"But I have a single room," she added.

"Me too."

The hotel's decor is quite nice, with a spacious and bright three-story restaurant; it seems we'll be having all our meals here for the next few days.

The elevator went straight to the twelfth floor. Li Mubai found room 1207, swiped his card, and pushed open the door. The room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy, and it also had a large floor-to-ceiling window.

He walked to the window and gently pulled back the curtains.

The twelfth floor is high enough to take in most of Qingzi County: low buildings, crisscrossing streets, and distant faint mountain shadows—everything is quiet and peaceful.

Click.

I took a picture.

He opened the chat window, paused slightly with his fingertips, then typed a line of text and sent it along with the photo.

Li Bubai: "We've arrived in Qingzi County."