Running away from the Love-Brain

Return Journey on the High-Speed Train

Before leaving Leshan, Meng Yuhong prepared a small, well-packed bundle for the four of them, containing Zhang Fei beef sausage, cured meat, oranges, and an entire sweet-skinned duck.

The elderly woman still felt guilty about the hand injury and held each person's hand for a long time, even secretly wiping away tears.

Chen Wenran and Ran Yan softly comforted the old lady. Chi Buyu blinked, and a shaky tear slipped out; perhaps it was only now, in this moment of confusion, that she realized she would miss her grandmother. Her eyes also turned red.

Cui Xijin remained silent.

Even though she recognized that her silence was an unwise choice, in her mind, any problem or unexpected event could generate at least three different solutions. Yet, at this moment, she found herself without any other recourse but silence.

She handed them tissues.

Chen Wenran didn't shed tears but accepted the tissue, wanting to say something to ease the mood. She looked at everyone's faces, ultimately feeling as if her words were stuck in her throat.

Ran Yan took a tissue, glanced at Cui Xijin, sighed, and handed it to the red-eyed Chi Buyu, gently comforting her shoulder, "It's okay, Shui Shui. If you miss Grandma, we can come visit anytime."

Chi Buyu responded with a muffled "Mm," a bit nasal, and then, almost in a spoiled manner, hugged Meng Yuhong tightly, burying her face in her shoulder and remaining silent for a long time.

Meng Yuhong patted Chi Buyu's shoulder, feeling pained for her granddaughter, and comforted her, "It's alright. If you miss your grandmother, you can always video chat. It's not like there's no internet; with Wi-Fi, you can see anyone anytime."

Chi Buyu responded with a muffled "Hmph" and then, after a moment of silence, suddenly said, "Then you can drink milk tea again!"

Meng Yuhong paused, not immediately agreeing. Just then, You Ying honked the horn from the car. Meng Yuhong playfully pushed her, urging, "Let's go quickly. It's noisy with so many people crammed here."

The warmth of the moment was shattered.

Chi Buyu seemed somewhat dissatisfied and, in a vengeful manner, rubbed her tears on Meng Yuhong's shoulder. As soon as Meng Yuhong glared at her, she immediately opened the car door and shrank into You Ying's car.

After a while.

The car window slowly rolled down, and Chi Buyu lifted her chin, her eyes still slightly red, threateningly biting her lip, "If I see you drinking milk tea next time, I'll confiscate your membership card!"

Several cars were parked in the yard, the afternoon sun hot. Chi Buyu waved from the car window, still holding a bottle of icy Emei snow.

After finishing her conversation with Meng Yuhong, she lowered her eyelashes, somewhat lost, and glanced hurriedly at Cui Xijin, then looked away dejectedly, biting her lip, caught between wanting to say something and holding back.

Cui Xijin looked at her calmly and said, "Be careful on the road."

Chi Buyu lowered her eyelashes and replied, "Thank you for your birthday gift."

Suddenly, both of them found themselves at a loss for words. At that moment, You Ying patiently called out, "Yan Yan?"

Ran Yan responded, "Coming," and before getting into the car, she quietly nudged Chen Wenran with her elbow.

Chen Wenran cleared her throat, patted Cui Xijin on the shoulder, and loudly said, "Don't worry! Once we take the high-speed train to Chengdu, we'll let you know!"