Leader Song realized for the first time the strong confidence Jiang Cheng possessed.

He was only thinking about how to develop S City, how to progress, how to surpass others.

But Jiang Cheng had always been thinking about a bigger stage.

She cared about S City because it was her hometown, but what she wanted to do was not limited to S City.

Leader Song took a step back, clasped his hands, and bowed in Jiang Cheng’s direction.

"Don’t—"

"I have learned."

Jiang Cheng hurriedly helped Leader Song up and changed the topic.

Leader Song was no fool, he quickly understood that Jiang Cheng didn’t want to continue discussing this topic.

The two diverted the conversation, and Jiang Cheng invited Leader Song to come in for some water, but Leader Song had other matters to attend to and was in a hurry to leave.

Jiang Cheng did not insist on keeping him and bid him farewell.

After seeing Leader Song off, Jiang Cheng hummed a tune as she went back home.

The new journey was so exciting just thinking about it!

That night, Grandma Shen was busy preparing supplies that might be useful.

The train ride would take nearly five days, so being well-prepared was essential.

Jiang Cheng and Shen Yue sat by the kang, listening to Grandma Shen’s constant chatter, occasionally exchanging glances and stifling laughter.

And then, the next second, Grandma Shen, who had her back to them, caught them.

"What are you laughing at?"

Shen Yue covered her small mouth, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Auntie, do you really have eyes on the back of your head?"

Grandma Shen snorted arrogantly, "Little one, I know everything you’re up to."

Shen Yue was shocked and quickly looked at Jiang Cheng for confirmation.

Ignoring the reflective spoon in Grandma Shen’s hand, Jiang Cheng said with a straight face, "Your aunt is just that amazing!"

Shen Yue believed it.

Grandma Shen, with her back to the two, could only laugh and cry.

Shen Yue, oh Shen Yue, even after being tricked several times, she still wouldn’t doubt Jiang Cheng.

After packing up, Grandma Shen reminded Jiang Cheng to rest early.

Jiang Cheng agreed, watching Grandma Shen being helped back through the small door by Shen Yue.

Jiang Cheng closed the door properly, fastened the latch from inside, scooped some cold water, mixed in some hot water, and washed up.

After washing up, Jiang Cheng wasn’t very sleepy, so she took out a book to read.

She read until she got tired and then went straight to sleep.

Nothing interfered with her because she was leaving the next day.

Over at the Li family, however, it was a completely different scene.

Li Chunxiang was too excited to sleep; it was her first time traveling, especially so far away.

She was both excited and afraid.

Excited to be going out with Jiang Cheng, afraid she wouldn’t take good care of her.

In short, her mind was a mess, and the more she told herself to sleep and get some rest, the more she couldn’t sleep.

When Li Chunxiang’s mom woke her up, she had only managed to doze off for less than two hours.

Aunt Li looked at Li Chunxiang’s dark circles, disdainfully saying, "Were you sneaking sweet potatoes last night?"

"Mom—"

Li Chunxiang scratched her messy hair, looking miserable, "I couldn’t sleep."

Aunt Li, showing no empathy, fully demonstrated the typical mother style, "Can’t even hold two ounces of sesame oil, what’s keeping you up!"

"Get up quickly, or do you want me to invite you?"

Li Chunxiang was already immune to her mother’s words, dressed with no energy, and got out of bed.

Seeing this, Aunt Li brought over a basin of cold water, "Wash! You’ll definitely be able to run ten miles after cleaning up!"

"Full of energy!"

Li Chunxiang actually listened.

The bone-chilling cold water was stimulating, and after washing, she felt invigorated despite the initial discomfort.

Both the Shen and Li families were busy in the morning, preparing food for the two of them.

Around eight in the morning, Gao Zhonghua came over pushing Shen Que.

Jiang Cheng and Li Chunxiang were already packed up, Gao Zhonghua loaded the luggage, and Li Chunxiang and Jiang Cheng got into the car.

Jiang Cheng sat in the middle, with Shen Que on one side and Li Chunxiang on the other.

Shen Que lowered the car window, and Jiang Cheng waved goodbye to Grandma Shen outside, along with Aunt Li.

"Let us know you’ve arrived safely."

"Got it."

Aunt Li also shouted to Li Chunxiang, "Xiang—-listen to Jiang Cheng, okay?"

"Mom, I know!"

Li Chunxiang answered confidently, and Aunt Li nodded reassuringly, "That’s all that matters!"

Being naive isn’t scary; what’s scary is being naive and having ideas.

The car slowly started moving.

On the way to the train station, Li Chunxiang looked outside the car the entire time: The scenery was beautiful!

As for the other side, she didn’t dare to look.

Jiang Cheng, seeing Li Chunxiang in this state, felt that if she didn’t do something, she’d be letting Li Chunxiang down for all the neck twisting along the way.

But what could she do?

Jiang Cheng’s hand brushed against Shen Que’s leg, and they exchanged glances.

In their eyes, they weren’t doing anything, and their glances were normal.

But for Li Chunxiang and Gao Zhonghua, the eye contact between the two was unbearable.

Someone once said, eye contact is a restrained kiss.

And in this moment, Jiang Cheng and Shen Que were just that.

"This is a comrade I know, feel free to find him if needed."

"Call me when you arrive, and if you get delayed, don’t worry, always prioritize yourself."

"Also, the weather in the south is different from here, dress accordingly, don’t catch a cold."

"I’ve packed cold medicine and stomach medicine for you, watch your diet."

"When running errands, try not to go alone, have Gao Zhonghua accompany you."

"I brought a self-defense knife for you to carry."

...

Shen Que kept reminding, and Jiang Cheng listened carefully to every word.

"I remembered it all."

"Mm."

They silently exchanged glances again.

In the front, Gao Zhonghua’s back itched but he didn’t dare move, feeling the atmosphere in the car was somewhat uncomfortable.

He felt like he rather run alongside the car than stay here.

Thankfully, they finally arrived at the train station.

Jiang Cheng didn’t ask Shen Que to get out of the car.

She openly had Gao Zhonghua and Li Chunxiang turn around.

Jiang Cheng stood outside the car, Shen Que sat inside.

She bent down, he looked up.

A kiss landed on Shen Que’s forehead, her palm patting his slightly prickly hair.

"Wait for me to come back."

"This... is for you."

Shen Que responded with a questioning hum, receiving the envelope Jiang Cheng handed over, which felt thin.

Jiang Cheng straightened up, flashed a bright smile, and waved her hand.

Shen Que also waved his hand, shouting loudly, "All the best!"

"I will!"

Jiang Cheng raised her hand high, giving a confident smile as she walked into the train station with unwavering spirit.

Gao Zhonghua and Li Chunxiang followed her like guardians, trailing behind.

Shen Que kept watching until she was out of sight, then closed the car door.

"Let’s go."

The driver started the car, Shen Que carefully opened the envelope.

He gingerly took out the photo inside and smiled foolishly.

In the photo, Jiang Cheng was smiling brightly at him.

The same dazzling smile he had just seen.

Shen Que’s thumb hovered over the photo.

Yes, just hovered, afraid that fingerprints would smudge it.

He stared at it for who knows how long, then cautiously placed the photo back into the envelope, thinking about buying a frame or making one himself.

"Hmm?"

Shen Que turned the photo over, only to see four bold characters: I’ll miss you.