Jiang Cheng used a photo to make Shen Que’s heart race like a drum.

On the way back, Shen Que had only one thought: I’ll miss you.

It wasn’t until he got to the machinery factory that his lips finally stopped curling up, but his good mood lasted the whole day.

On the other hand, Jiang Cheng, who boarded the train, felt a bit different.

Because she didn’t have time to think about Shen Que, all her focus was on squeezing, squeezing, squeezing!

Thankfully, Gao Zhonghua used his long arms and legs to protect her and Li Chunxiang, otherwise, they wouldn’t even know if someone took advantage of them.

The three of them somewhat disheveled, squeezed onto the train and found their sleeping compartment.

The tickets were bought by Shen Que, so the three of them were in the same compartment.

Soft sleeper, four beds.

They were at the departure station, and no one had yet arrived for the other bed.

After tidying up a bit, Gao Zhonghua took the lower bunk, while Li Chunxiang and Jiang Cheng took the upper ones.

A few minutes after boarding, the train gradually started to move.

Many people pushed open the windows, waving goodbye to the relatives sending them off outside, tears flowing freely for many.

Jiang Cheng and her friends, though, were calm and collected.

After all, they already had their tea ready, and were munching on sunflower seeds.

Once the train picked up speed, Jiang Cheng, after having two cups of tea, opened the bag she brought and strapped on sunflower seeds, peanuts, and dried sweet potatoes, ready to head out.

Gao Zhonghua wanted to follow her.

"No way, your appearance isn’t conducive to my negotiations."

"I’ll be fine, you stay here."

Gao Zhonghua was a bit uneasy, but listened obediently.

Mr. Shen had said that outside, they should listen to Jiang Cheng.

"Don’t worry, at most, I’ll be back in two hours."

After agreeing, Jiang Cheng left with her things.

But not even half an hour had passed before she returned.

Li Chunxiang quickly got up, looking at Jiang Cheng and asked, "Why so fast?"

Jiang Cheng put down her things, sighed, and said, "I’ve brought this upon myself!"

"I!"

Jiang Cheng pointed to herself, then opened the compartment door and pointed outside.

Curious, Li Chunxiang followed her out and saw a poster pasted up.

It looked a bit like illustrations from comic books, easy to understand even if you couldn’t read.

The picture simply and clearly depicted someone deliberately getting close to then knocking out another person to kidnap a child.

Li Chunxiang blinked, then looked back at Jiang Cheng.

"You drew this?"

Jiang Cheng nodded.

"Sort of, I provided the promotional idea, and also the drawing concept, but now... whenever I go chat with people, they all look at me warily."

"I walked around and found at least five posters in every compartment!"

Jiang Cheng was really at a loss whether to laugh or cry at this point.

She calmly accepted it, saying, "Oh well, I suppose I’ve contributed to raising public awareness about child abduction."

Li Chunxiang glanced aside and confidently said, "You had to contribute! You’re the most convincing person I’ve met, if you can’t persuade them, the swindlers definitely won’t stand a chance."

After saying this, Li Chunxiang even nodded firmly.

Jiang Cheng, upon hearing this, nodded along, saying, "Thank you, Comrade Li, for the roundabout compliment."

Li Chunxiang thought about the word compliment, and followed behind Jiang Cheng, muttering quietly: Did I compliment her?

After returning to the compartment, Jiang Cheng honestly read a book.

Since she couldn’t go out, she might as well rest properly.

Seeing this, Li Chunxiang fully played the role of a good assistant.

Taking care of food, drink, bathroom needs, all of it.

The three first ate the dry food they brought along, planning to go to the dining car for meals in the coming days.

The train traveled all the way to the provincial city, and someone finally appeared to take the empty spot in their compartment.

"Hua Ying — your compartment is here, do you think you can find someone to switch with?"

"It’d be better for us to share a compartment, you’re a girl, it’s more dangerous."

Voices approached as the compartment door was opened and two people appeared at the door.

When Jiang Cheng heard the familiar name, she looked toward the door.

Hua Ying.

The daughter of the store manager, who was fond of her nephew and arranged a blind date Jiang Cheng knew nothing about, but was beaten by Jiang Cheng.

Back then, what impressed her most was Hua Ying’s mother, a woman who saw men as mere money-makers and doted solely on her daughter.

With her hair still stylishly short, Hua Ying walked into the compartment, turning back to stop the man behind her from looking around.

"Zhang Guisheng, I’m here. Go find your own seat."

Zhang Guisheng said, a bit worried, "Hua Ying, I’m not comfortable with this."

The three inside the compartment pouted simultaneously.

Who exactly is he worried about?

Did they have ’bad guy’ written on their foreheads?

Hua Ying frowned.

"Comrade Zhang Guisheng, the train is a public space, with attendants, patrolling police, it’s very safe."

"I am an adult, I don’t need your care, please leave."

After Hua Ying spoke, Jiang Cheng’s gossiping spirit was ignited; there was definitely something fishy here!

Sure enough, Zhang Guisheng acted as if he hadn’t heard, directly stepped inside, and turned his gaze toward Li Chunxiang.

"Comrade, can I swap places with you? My seat is a lower bunk, also a soft sleeper, you wouldn’t lose out."

Li Chunxiang, who was peeling an apple, blinked, looking at Jiang Cheng, then Gao Zhonghua, then at herself.

"Hmm — Seems like I look the easiest to bully."

"No, I need to train harder!"

"I absolutely cannot hold everyone back!"

Li Chunxiang’s slightly bizarre logic left Zhang Guisheng speechless, as he was about to speak again.

Hua Ying, now annoyed, spoke once more: "Zhang Guisheng, I don’t want to share a compartment with you, please don’t force things, if you keep this up, I’ll have to call for an attendant."

This time, Zhang Guisheng heard her.

Wearing the most honest face he could muster, he looked at Hua Ying with an injured expression and said, "Hua Ying, I’m just worried about you, after all I’m your—"

"You’re not!"

Hua Ying interrupted Zhang Guisheng, saying, "I am not your fiancée, it’s not an age of arranged marriages, marriage is free, don’t make things up."

"Without my personal consent, whatever you say is harassment!"

Zhang Guisheng’s head hung low, a flash of malice incompatible with honesty passed through his eyes.

When he looked up again, he was staring at the three in the compartment with a wounded expression, helplessly: "I...I’m sorry, I’m not... I was just worried about Comrade Hua Ying."

"Sorry for my improper speech, please take care of—my apologies, I mean, please take care of Comrade Hua Ying."

After saying that, Zhang Guisheng looked back at Hua Ying, displaying a fake affectionate look.

"Hua Ying, don’t be angry, I’ll listen to you."

Standing there, Hua Ying was truly disgusted but couldn’t pinpoint a single fault.

Zhang Guisheng mumbled on for quite some time before finally leaving the compartment.

Standing in the middle of the compartment, Hua Ying felt like she was about to explode with anger.

She took deep breaths, calming herself, then looked at the three and introduced herself: "My name is Hua Ying."

From the upper bunk, Jiang Cheng suddenly sat up, extending her hand towards Hua Ying.

"Hello, I’m Jiang Cheng!"

Hua Ying looked up.

"It’s you? I remember you!"

Jiang Cheng asked confidently: "Is it because I’m too good-looking that you remembered?"