Soon, Lin Jiang spotted Li Yueting and Xu Yingjun in the crowd.
They were standing together, walking side by side, their heads lowered in conversation. It looked like they were discussing the exam.
Their expressions were neither excited nor dejected.
After coming out, the two of them also saw Lin Jiang, and he welcomed them into the car.
"How did the exam go?"
"I did okay, I think. Performed as usual," said Li Yueting.
"Same here. I answered everything I knew," said Xu Yingjun.
"Teacher Shen said that as long as you two performed normally, there wouldn’t be a problem. It should be a sure thing."
"It’s been so many years. This is the first time I’ve been this nervous since the college entrance exams. The results don’t come out until February, and the wait is torture," Li Yueting said.
"These past couple of days, Junjun has been so nervous she can’t fall asleep until the middle of the night. It’s been grueling."
"Don’t be nervous. There’s still a chance for placement adjustments. If it really doesn’t work out, you can just take the exam again next year. And in the end, I’ll be your safety net. What’s there to be afraid of?"
"You being our safety net won’t work. There’s a difference between a graduate student and an undergraduate."
"That’s just part of the process. Forget being a graduate student, so what if you get a PhD? Isn’t the ultimate goal to make money? I can help you make money, and that’s better than anything."
"That’s the problem. We’re earning your money. It wouldn’t work if we went to someone else."
Lin Jiang smiled.
’They still have a student’s mindset, always thinking about things that are simple and idealistic.’
’These days, just being able to make money is a blessing. And here they are, being picky about how they make it.’
While they were talking, Lin Jiang drove to the entrance of Jiaoda, ready to pick up Shen Qingqiu for a meal.
Soon, he saw Shen Qingqiu. She was wearing a red woolen coat, thick black tights, and flat shoes, and was walking out of the campus carrying her bag.
"You must have been waiting for a while."
Opening the car door, Shen Qingqiu sat down in the passenger seat and looked back at the two women.
"How did you perform?"
"We performed as usual, not exceptionally."
"Then that should be enough," Shen Qingqiu said.
"Now that the exam is over, don’t think about it too much. You have more options than others. Just relax for a while."
In the car, the three women chatted while Lin Jiang drove them to the Crab Mansion to celebrate the end of their grad school exams.
Lin Jiang ordered a bottle of red wine, and Shen Qingqiu had some as well.
"Are you two heading back tomorrow?"
"I’ve decided. I’m going to Junjun’s house to hang out for a few days. We’ll leave together tomorrow," Li Yueting said.
"That works. You’ve been studying for so long, it’s good to go and relax."
Halfway through the meal, Xu Yingjun went to the restroom. Seizing the opportunity, Li Yueting asked.
"Brother, Sister-in-law, when are you two leaving tomorrow?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. A couple of days ago it was ’Teacher Shen,’ and now it’s ’Sister-in-law’?"
"The exam wasn’t over a couple of days ago, was it? Now that it is, I’m not Sister-in-law’s student anymore, so I have to change how I address her."
’You’re really something else!’
"Don’t ruin Teacher Shen’s reputation."
Even though she was an NPC, Lin Jiang truly had no other intentions toward Shen Qingqiu, so naturally, he didn’t join in the teasing.
"How could it ruin her reputation? You two look good together."
Shen Qingqiu was a little embarrassed by the teasing. She wanted to explain, but she didn’t know what to say.
"Sister-in-law, when are you guys leaving?"
"I might have a class tomorrow morning. If nothing unexpected comes up, I should be able to leave in the afternoon."
"No worries, no worries. My brother is idle all day anyway. Whenever you leave, he can go with you," Li Yueting urged.
"Brother, hurry up and book the tickets! New Year’s Day is almost here, so plane tickets are in high demand. If you wait, you won’t be able to get any."
Shen Qingqiu realized this as well and took out her phone to book the tickets.
"I’ll find a picture of my brother’s ID card and send it to you in a bit," Li Yueting said, also fiddling with her phone.
’Damn it!’
’Best wingman ever!’
’Fucking MVP!’
Quietly, Shen Qingqiu stole a glance at Lin Jiang.
Her eyes, like limpid autumn waters, were like a clear spring, shimmering with a watery light.
Lin Jiang leaned over and saw that his name had been typed into the booking information.
But in her eyes, he could see a hint of hesitation.
Shen Qingqiu wanted Lin Jiang to go with her. She was also afraid of running into Shen Ziquan and didn’t want to get entangled with him.
Lin Jiang didn’t say anything. He took Shen Qingqiu’s phone and entered his ID number in the field below.
Then, he began to operate it skillfully.
Soon, Lin Jiang’s phone received a notification—a flight for two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ—
His phone vibrated. It was a message from Shen Qingqiu.
Shen Qingqiu: "Thank you."
Lin Jiang: "[System]: The other party has rejected your thanks and spat at you."
PFFT—
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
Li Yueting’s eyes darted between the two of them. ’Looks like things are just about settled between these two.’
’If I get into Jiaoda’s graduate program and study under my future sister-in-law, won’t that be amazing?’
’Lawyer sister-in-law, teacher sister-in-law, bestie sister-in-law...’
’If I could get a doctor sister-in-law too, my life would be perfect.’
Before long, Xu Yingjun returned.
Shen Qingqiu’s alcohol tolerance was very average. After two glasses, she was already tipsy.
Li Yueting and Xu Yingjun, on the other hand, were unaffected.
After dinner, Lin Jiang drove the three of them back.
Li Yueting and Xu Yingjun got out of the car first, leaving him to drop off Shen Qingqiu last.
"This must have been a lot of trouble for you, having to take a trip with me despite your busy schedule."
Shen Qingqiu sat in the passenger seat, looking at Lin Jiang as she spoke.
"I’m not very good with words, and I don’t know how to thank you properly. If your company ever needs my help with anything, you must tell me. I’ll do everything I can to help."
"You’re our company’s senior consultant now, so you’re technically one of my employees. Isn’t that thanks enough?" Lin Jiang said.
"Besides, you helped me set up the entire organizational structure. That’s worth a lot of money."
"I’m just glad you found it useful. Other than that, there’s probably nothing else I can help you with."
"Why are you overthinking it? If I really wanted to get something from you, I wouldn’t be helping you."
"But we’re not related, and you have no obligation to help me. Even though you told me not to say it, I’ve always been grateful. During my most difficult times, you gave me the greatest help. I really want to thank you properly, but I don’t know how, and I always end up just causing you more trouble."
"You, me, Tongtong, and Yingjun—we all built our connections and ties by ’troubling’ each other again and again. Humans are social creatures. Living alone is tiring. You’ve locked yourself away, which makes it even more tiring. It’s time to come out."
Lin Jiang glanced at his watch. "It’s getting late. Get some rest. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
"Mhm."
Shen Qingqiu opened the car door, got out, took a step back, and looked at Lin Jiang.
"Stop looking at me. Go on back."
"You go first," Shen Qingqiu said.
"Alright, I’m leaving then."
"Okay."
Lin Jiang drove away. When he was some distance off, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw that Shen Qingqiu was still standing in the same spot, lingering.
Lin Jiang sighed to himself, ’What a hard life she’s had...’
「The next morning.」
Lin Jiang woke up early. He first went to Berkeley for a meeting, then went to pick up Li Yueting and Xu Yingjun to take them to the high-speed rail station.
Li Yueting knew how to read the room. Once they got to the station, she kept to herself the entire time and didn’t act as a third wheel.
"Brother Jiang~~~"
Xu Yingjun said in a sweet, delicate voice, her eyes filled with reluctance to part.
Lin Jiang caressed her cheek. "It’s not like you’re never coming back. Don’t act like this is a life-or-death parting."
"But this time, I might not be back for a long time. Maybe not until after the New Year."
"Once I’m done with my work, I’ll come visit you."
"Really?!"
Although Xu Yingjun enjoyed learning English with Lin Jiang, what she liked even more was just being with him.
At their age, "playing cards" wasn’t the most important thing. Being together every day, just being able to see him—that was what mattered most.
"Of course, it’s true. When have I ever lied to you?"
"Then it’s a promise. Pinky swear," Xu Yingjun said, holding out her little finger.
"Pinky swear."
After he coaxed her for a while, Xu Yingjun’s mood improved significantly.
Before long, it was time for ticket inspection. As the two women went to line up, Lin Jiang pulled Li Yueting aside.
"Mind your manners when you’re at someone else’s house. Don’t just stuff yourself silly when you see good food. Watch your image, be helpful, and remember it’s not your own home."
"I know, I know. I’ve met Junjun’s parents. They’re really nice and always invite me over. Don’t you worry."
"I’ll transfer you another 20,000 yuan. Buy something after you get off the train. Don’t go empty-handed."
"Thanks, bro! You’re the person I love most in this world."
"Get lost."
"I’m off! Bye-bye."
After watching the two of them leave, Lin Jiang turned and walked out of the high-speed rail station, then drove to Jiaoda.
After her class ended, Shen Qingqiu came out carrying her bag.
Although all the women had good taste in clothes, the best-dressed were still Qin Yangyang and Shen Qingqiu.
She was wearing form-fitting jeans, little boots, and a small black jacket on top. In the bleak, cold wind, she was as elegant as a lone orchid in a deserted valley and as graceful as a lily in the breeze—transcendent and beautiful.
In her hand, besides her bag, was the suitcase she had bought the other day. It seemed she wasn’t planning on going home and was ready to leave directly.
Lin Jiang got out of the car and helped Shen Qingqiu put the suitcase in. It wasn’t very heavy.
Back in the car, Shen Qingqiu said.
"The flight is at two in the afternoon. It’s eleven-thirty now, so we have two and a half hours. We can get something to eat before we go. I heard from a colleague that a new Northeast restaurant opened on Dongrong Road. They said it’s pretty good. Want to go try it?"
"Sure, let’s go."
The two of them went to the Northeast restaurant Shen Qingqiu had mentioned and ordered two dishes.
But they didn’t finish everything in the end. Because they had to catch a flight, Shen Qingqiu was a bit regretful that she couldn’t get the leftovers to go.
When it was time to pay the bill, it was Shen Qingqiu who paid, not giving Lin Jiang a chance.
On the way, Lin Jiang drove along the highway.
Shen Qingqiu sat quietly in her seat, gazing at the scenery outside. The car window reflected her stunning side profile.
For her, this journey was both a homecoming and a form of salvation.

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