Chapter 42 Part 1

To return Da Zhong's gift, Miao Jiayan was forced to spend money, and the expense pained him for several days.

He originally wanted to give the backpack to Jiang Xun, but Jiang Xun didn't like it. Holding such an expensive and impractical item, and to prevent the money from being wasted, Miao Jiayan put a few books inside and started carrying it himself.

Carrying such a large bag in the middle of a hot summer, his back would sometimes get soaked with sweat.

But he had to carry it even if he sweated. This was a schoolbag that Miao Jiayan had spent 27,900 on; he had to keep carrying it until it fell apart.

Before this, the most expensive schoolbag Miao Jiayan had ever bought was one from his freshman year, which cost four hundred. He still used it when he went out now, as it could fit two sets of clothes.

From the very beginning, Miao Jiayan was always seen in the most ordinary clothes; his attire was very plain. Even the first set of photos taken in the cotton field was of him doing manual labor. To this day, no luxury goods or very expensive items had appeared in his photos. Sister Fangfang said this persona of his was quite good. Miao Jiayan didn't understand what was or wasn't a persona; it was simply impossible for him to spend so much money on things.

The skincare products he usually used were all given by partners or were gifts to Sister Fangfang that she passed on to him. There was no way Miao Jiayan would ever spend several thousand on a set of products for his face.

In some ways, he was like a little Pixiu, only knowing how to earn money but not how to spend it.

One evening, Miao Jiayan's little Chinese rose bloomed again. He took a couple of photos of it and posted them on Weibo.

—Showing you all a little flower.

Top comment: [doge] Today's photo was taken from a self-shot angle, so does that mean a certain someone isn't home today?

Reply below: Hahahahaha, you see it, but don't say it, sis.

Miao Jiayan didn't look at the comments. He logged off right after posting. His review schedule was incredibly tight recently. The exams were scheduled very close together, sometimes with two exams in one day. He hadn't failed a single course since starting university. Although his grades weren't good enough for a scholarship, he was already working very hard.

Chen Chao was coming back on the fifth. Jiang Xun went to the airport early to wait for him.

—Chao, waiting for you at Exit 7.

Chen Chao's plane was still taxiing. He turned on his phone and replied: I'll be a little while.

Jiang Xun: No rush, go get your luggage first.

"Brother Chao, you're not coming with us later, are you?"

There were eight people in Chen Chao's group, all from their university. Zhang Kai was a good friend of Chen Chao's; the two were very close.

"Yeah, not with you guys," Chen Chao said.

"Then we won't wait for you for dinner. You'll probably be back late tonight, right?" Zhang Kai asked him.

"Don't wait for me, I don't know what time I'll be back." Chen Chao was looking down, texting Jiang Xun. He said, "You guys can go check in right after you eat."

"Alright, I'm starving." Zhang Kai used his phone screen as a mirror, fixing his hair. "I have a high school classmate studying here, she asked to meet up."

Chen Chao asked casually, "Where are you meeting?"

Zhang Kai mentioned a place. Chen Chao said, "That's pretty far from where we're staying."

"Should I still go, then? I was thinking of going for a walk after dinner, maybe grab a coffee or something." Zhang Kai thought for a moment and said, "Then I won't go."

Chen Chao paid him no mind. He didn't have any luggage to collect, so after telling them, he left ahead of them.

Jiang Xun was waiting for him outside the exit. When Chen Chao came out with his backpack, Jiang Xun raised an arm and shouted, "Chao! Over here!"

Chen Chao saw him and walked over with a smile. Jiang Xun bumped his shoulder and said, "How is my Chao so handsome."

Before Chen Chao could speak, he added, "Just a little tanned. Have you been running around outside every day?"

"Have to go out," Chen Chao said, walking with him. "That's just how it is for us."

"That's about the same as me." Jiang Xun laughed. "But I sometimes use a bit of sunscreen, hahaha."

The last time they had seen each other was the winter before last; they hadn't met in a year and a half. They were neighbors as kids and had played together since they were in split-crotch pants, right up until Chen Chao's family moved away. They were true childhood friends.

Jiang Xun had been craving meat for days. He and Miao Jiayan didn't share the same tastes in food. With Chen Chao back, Jiang Xun had finally found someone to eat with him.

"It's no fun eating out by myself, and Miao'er doesn't eat this stuff either." Jiang Xun ate a piece of beef brisket, feeling incredibly happy. "I'm so sick and tired of the food at our school."

Chen Chao, who was studying in the south, hadn't even said he was tired of it, yet here was the one who stayed close to home complaining.

Chen Chao couldn't help but laugh, telling him, "Stop being so dramatic."

"I'm really not being dramatic," Jiang Xun said while eating. "You get sick of any food if you eat it every day. But I can go home sometimes, it's not far anyway."

That was the good thing about studying locally; you could go home whenever you wanted.

Halfway through the meal, a phone vibrated. Hearing the sound, both of them glanced at their respective phones on the table. Jiang Xun put down his chopsticks, picked up his phone, and said, "It's Miao'er."

Chen Chao looked away and continued eating.

Jiang Xun answered the call.

"Hello?

"Yeah, I picked him up. We're having dinner.

"Are you coming over?

"It's not that far. If you take a taxi, it should be about half an hour."

Jiang Xun finished speaking, glanced at the time, and said, "Anyway, there's probably traffic at this hour. You should check the map."

After hearing what the other person said, Jiang Xun said, "Alright then."

Jiang Xun hung up the phone. Chen Chao glanced at him. He said, "He's not coming. The traffic is bad near the school."

Chen Chao hummed in acknowledgment and asked, "Are you guys busy recently?"

"It's alright. They left us time for exam month, so there's not much scheduled. But it's going to get busy afterward. We're never free during the summer vacation." Jiang Xun put his phone aside. "Last summer, we were running around outside during the hottest period. We both ended up with heatstroke."

Chen Chao was far away from them and they didn't contact each other much, so he didn't know much about their work and couldn't really comment on it.

He had come back this time to help Xiao Kai with something. Xiao Kai was a media major, and he was planning to shoot a documentary for his graduation project.

He had drafted several topics, and the one he was filming here was about the local customs and traditions of three provinces. Chen Chao wouldn't be staying to film the entire thing with him. He was just bringing them over and letting them film on their own. Chen Chao would probably stay for about a week and then leave.

"What are your plans for after graduation? Are you coming back?" Jiang Xun asked him.

"Still two more years," Chen Chao said.

"Won't two years fly by in a flash?" Jiang Xun looked at Chen Chao and said, "I have a feeling you won't come back."

Chen Chao didn't speak, just poured him a glass of water.

They chatted while they ate, and the meal lasted for quite a while. Afterward, Jiang Xun returned to school, and Chen Chao went home.

He hadn't told Chen Guangda in advance that he was coming back. At this hour, Chen Guangda had just finished dinner outside, come home, taken a shower, and was about to video call his son.

The sound of the door opening made Chen Guangda jump. He had been slouched on the sofa but shot up straight.

Chen Chao walked in. Chen Guangda stared at him with wide eyes.