After finishing the meal, Sheng Kuang hailed a car.
It took about ten minutes for the car to arrive. Lin Jing played with Xiao Kugua in the living room for a while. She suddenly remembered that she had been living there for two months and, before leaving, she should at least say goodbye to Aunt Qin Yao. So, she put down the hand that was stroking Xiao Kugua's head and took out her phone.
She had added Aunt Qin Yao on WeChat, but they rarely chatted privately. Usually, when Aunt Qin Yao missed Gouzi, she would video call her in the group chat that Jiang Wan had created.
Occasionally, when Lin Jing took cute videos or photos of Xiao Kugua, she would habitually post them in the group. Aunt Qin Yao would reply when she saw them.
Aunt Qin Yao was an elder. Besides Xiao Kugua, Lin Jing didn't have much else to talk about with her, but even so, there was a considerable amount of chat history accumulated in this group.
Lin Jing noticed that after Jiang Wan created the group chat, Aunt Qin Yao had only spoken once. Afterward, when Qin Yao chatted with her about Gouzi, she basically didn't say much. On the rare occasions she did speak up, it was to express concern for Qin Yao.
Lin Jing held her phone and remained silent for two seconds before tapping out a message in the nine-grid input.
Xiao Jing Jiang: Aunt Qin Yao, I'm heading back to school soon.
Xiao Jing Jiang: Thank you for letting me stay at your place during this time. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused.
Qin Yao, likely free at the moment, quickly replied with a voice message: "Jing Jing is going back to school already? It feels like just a few days have passed. Have you packed everything? Don't forget anything important. If you do, don't worry, just tell Auntie and she'll arrange for someone to pick it up and send it to school."
Sheng Kuang, sitting nearby and annoyed by Xiao Kugua shedding hair, kicked gently at the dog to move it away. Hearing the familiar voice, he glanced towards Lin Jing.
Qin Yao: "Oh, right, Jing Jing, how are you getting back to school? Look at me, I'm so busy, I almost forgot you guys had to go back to school. Why didn't you tell Auntie in advance? Auntie could have arranged for a driver to take you. How about this, Jing Jing, wait for Auntie. Auntie will call the driver right now."
Aunt Qin Yao's voice messages were sent very quickly. Just as Lin Jing finished typing "I've packed everything," she heard the subsequent voice messages.
Fearing that Qin Yao might actually find a driver, she quickly switched to voice input: "Auntie, it's not necessary. Sheng Kuang said he'll take me."
Qin Yao: "...Oh, thank heavens. He finally did something useful."
Lin Jing: "..."
Sheng Kuang: "..."
Sheng Kuang's phone rang; the car he ordered had entered the neighborhood.
Lin Jing hugged Xiao Kugua, returned it to its cage, and whispered to it through the bars, "Promise your sister, you have to eat your dog food well and sleep well every day."
Sheng Kuang's phone rang again; the car had arrived at the entrance.
Lin Jing tugged Xiao Kugua's ear, reluctantly stood up, hugged her backpack, and followed Sheng Kuang out.
Today, both freshmen and returning students were coming back to campus, making the school very lively and crowded.
The dormitories were fully accessible today, unlike the usual restrictions on outsiders.
All four roommates in Lin Jing's dorm were from out of town. Lan Tingting wouldn't arrive at the airport until six in the evening. Another one had arrived earlier that morning by plane, and the third had just gotten off the high-speed train.
The first person to arrive had already unpacked her belongings and was currently out of the dorm, going grocery shopping with a classmate from next door.
Only Lin Jing and Sheng Kuang were in the dorm. Lin Jing didn't have much to unpack. She put her clothes in the wardrobe, and then put on clean bedsheets and pillowcases, and that was it.
Her desk was beneath her bed, where she had placed a row of shelves filled entirely with books. On a smaller shelf to the right of her computer, she had placed many small items: blind boxes, small trinkets, several light sticks, glowing bracelets, and fan signs.
Sheng Kuang's attention was immediately drawn to the pile of items. He casually picked up a fan sign and pressed it. It even had power.
A golden light flashed, with a line of seven-colored support words: "Kuang Zai, fly bravely, Mama will always be with you."
Three seconds later, Sheng Kuang picked up another one. The support words were different: "Kuang Zai, you have to work hard to break crystals for Mama today."
Sheng Kuang tutted, suddenly wanting to find a bag to stuff this entire pile into the trash can.
On the evening of their return to school, their class had a meeting scheduled for around 7:30 PM.
Lin Jing finished unpacking and, seeing that there was still time, asked, "Do you want to get something to eat?"
Sheng Kuang seemed indifferent, saying, "Sure."
The restaurants near the school were packed today, filled with students reuniting after a long time. With limited time and unable to go too far, Lin Jing decided to take Sheng Kuang to the cafeteria.
Leaving the cafeteria just as it turned six, Lin Jing noticed Sheng Kuang didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. She thought for a moment and asked, "Want to take a walk around our school?"
Sheng Kuang seemed surprised by her suggestion. He looked at her and murmured, "Sure."
The school was vast, and they strolled at a leisurely pace. At each location, Lin Jing would explain something to Sheng Kuang. Before they knew it, it was 7:10 PM.
Lin Jing needed to hurry back for her class meeting. "Um, I have a class meeting soon."
Sheng Kuang responded with a hum and, after a moment's pause, said, "Where is it? I'll take you there."
Lin Jing opened her mouth. "Ah, I'll take you there instead."
Sheng Kuang considered it and didn't refuse. "Alright then."
When they were walking around the school, Lin Jing had been quite talkative. However, on the way to the school gate now, they were surprisingly silent.
At the school gate, Sheng Kuang hailed a car. It was only about two hundred meters away, and the car arrived in less than a minute.
It was dark now, and both inside and outside the campus were brightly lit. The welcome flower pots piled at the entrance exuded a pleasant fragrance.
Nearby, the volunteers responsible for welcoming new students each held a "Welcome New Students" sign.
When new students approached, they enthusiastically greeted them, asking about their majors. Su Dan Novel Network.
Sheng Kuang glanced at a freshman being led away by a senior student. "The car's here."
Lin Jing hummed in acknowledgment.
Sheng Kuang paused for a moment, then reached out and patted her head. "Let's go."
With that, he truly left.
There was no traffic at this hour. He got into the car, and it started moving. In the blink of an eye, the car had driven far away.
A freshman next to him asked a volunteer something, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
Lin Jing stood at the school gate, suddenly feeling an emptiness in her heart.