Chapter 5: Journey to Nan’an City

At 11 PM, Lin Duo boarded the bus to Nan’an City with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Nan’an City, located in the southeast, is one of the five municipal cities in the country, renowned for its highly developed commercial sector. Choosing Nan’an as the final destination was a carefully considered decision. Firstly, Nan’an is incredibly far from his hometown, nearly 2,000 kilometers away, and with a population exceeding ten million, finding someone there would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Secondly, if he wanted to establish himself through work, it would be easier to find opportunities in a commercially thriving region.

The bus journey was expected to take twenty hours, so many passengers lay down to sleep as soon as they boarded. Lin Duo, already tired from walking, felt even more exhausted. However, the young man sitting next to him seemed wide awake and struck up a conversation: “Aren’t you a bit young to be traveling alone?”

“I have relatives waiting for me in Nan’an City,” Lin Duo replied warily, eyeing the man.

The young man’s lips curled into a slight smile: “You don’t need to be so guarded. There are people everywhere on the bus, so you’re safe. But honestly, it’s rare to see a girl your age traveling alone. Don’t your parents worry about you?”

Lin Duo’s mind flashed with two images: his brother Lin Cheng’s dirty sneakers and his father’s belt. He shivered slightly and responded cautiously: “I’m not a child anymore. I won’t be easily tricked by strangers.”

“Haha, I had the same attitude at your age. Looking back now, I realize how naive I was back then,” the young man chatted animatedly.

Seeing Lin Duo’s indifferent expression, the young man seemed displeased: “You still think I’m a bad person, don’t you? I’m a college student, raised under the glorious light of communism, with a well-rounded education in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. I have no bad intentions.”

This piqued Lin Duo’s curiosity: “Are you really a college student?”

“Yes, I’m at Nan’an Institute of Technology, majoring in Architecture.”

“Wow, Nan’an Institute is very prestigious. Only three students from our high school got in last year,” Lin Duo said, his respect for college students evident.

The young man, flattered by the admiration in Lin Duo’s eyes, proudly lifted his chin: “Back in high school, I was a top student, and many girls would ask me for help with their homework. You seem to be in middle school, right? Do you need help with any problems? Although it’s been a while since I studied high school material, I’m still confident with middle school topics.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Duo’s face fell, and he fell silent. After all, his decision to run away meant dropping out of school, and his grades were good enough to get into a top high school. This choice was incredibly painful for him.

Seeing the girl’s silence, the young man changed the subject: “It’s only early June, not even summer break yet. Why are you traveling so far?”

This touched on another sore spot for Lin Duo. He leaned back and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. The man, feeling ignored, returned to his phone.

Actually, Lin Duo was only pretending to sleep. His mind was racing with worries. Besides the money spent in Jiangbei City, he only had about 500 yuan left. Once he reached Nan’an, he had to find a job before running out of money. Although Nan’an was commercially thriving, how many employers would take a chance on a 14-year-old, especially one as frail as him? He also feared his parents finding him, forcing him back home, cutting his newly styled hair, and throwing away his new clothes. He would be made to return to school, where classmates would mock him, calling him a “freak.” He was afraid…

“Hey, wake up, it’s time for breakfast!”

Lin Duo opened his eyes groggily, only to see a young man’s face blocking his view. He let out a startled “Ah!” and curled up, using the blanket as a shield.

“We’re stopping for breakfast. I woke you up because I thought you might be hungry,” the young man said, looking annoyed. “What’s with you, acting like I’m going to attack you?”

Lin Duo looked around, realizing the bus had stopped at a rest area. Many passengers were looking their way, whispering.

“S-sorry…” Lin Duo mumbled, his face turning slightly red.

“Hurry up, the bus only stops for 20 minutes. If you’re hungry, grab something quick,” the young man said, getting up.

“W-wait for me!” Lin Duo quickly followed him.

The young man went to a snack stand: “Two meat buns, steamed. And a bag of soy milk.”

“Sure thing!” The vendor quickly prepared the order, then asked Lin Duo: “What would you like, little miss?”

“I… I’ll have the same, two meat buns and a soy milk.”

The young man glanced at Lin Duo, smirking: “With that little body, can you really eat two?”

“Of course I can!” Lin Duo insisted, not wanting to be underestimated.

They found a seat, and the young man quickly devoured his buns and soy milk. Lin Duo, however, ate slowly, finishing only one bun before giving up on the second.

“Um, big brother, I can’t finish this. Would you like it?”

The young man smiled: “You should have thought of that before. Oh well, my appetite is huge, and I was actually thinking of getting another tea egg, so this works out.”

As he spoke, he took the bag from Lin Duo, finishing the remaining bun in a few bites. Then, with a mischievous grin, he said: “You know, since you bit into this bun, does that count as an indirect kiss?”

Lin Duo’s face turned crimson: “Y-you’re taking advantage of me!”

“You gave it to me, so how is it taking advantage?” the young man retorted, always quick with a comeback.

Lin Duo, unable to argue, stammered: “Y-you’re a pervert! A jerk!”

The young man laughed and stood up, stretching his legs after the long bus ride. Lin Duo, meanwhile, began to calm down, touching his face and wondering when he started sounding so girly. Was it that his true self, a girl, had been suppressed all this time, only now allowed to surface in this new, unfamiliar environment?

Since the bus had another short stop, Lin Duo decided to take a walk and breathe some fresh air. His reflection in the bus’s polished surface caught his eye, and he noticed his hair was a bit disheveled from sleep. He quickly fixed it.

“Even at this young age, you’re already so concerned about your appearance,” a familiar voice said from behind him.

Lin Duo turned around, pouting: “There’s nothing wrong with a girl wanting to look pretty!”

“Of course not,” the young man replied, his smile growing warmer: “Tell me honestly, have you ever had a boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend?” Lin Duo had never considered that possibility: “I’m just a middle school student. Boyfriends are too early, and my parents and teachers always warn us that dating will affect our grades.”

The young man scoffed: “You believe everything they say? In ancient times, getting married at 16 was considered late! Besides, you’re already a beauty in the making. In ancient times, you might have been bought as a child bride by some wealthy family!”

“Child bride?” Lin Duo blinked, confused.

“Well, it’s a bit complicated,” the young man started to explain, then stopped: “Never mind, I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

Lin Duo, however, was intrigued by another comment: “Do you really think I’ll grow up to be beautiful?”

The young man answered seriously: “Based on my experience, yes. You have such smooth, fair skin and a delicate, oval face. You’re already a treasure in the world of lolis. You’re just a bit small, not fully developed. Give it three or four more years, after puberty, and you’ll be a stunning beauty. I might even be tempted to chase you then!”

“Really?” Lin Duo’s face lit up with joy.

Suddenly, the young man sighed deeply: “But by the time you grow up, I’ll probably be married already. It’s just fate, I guess.” He reached out, gently ruffling Lin Duo’s hair.

Lin Duo had never been touched like this before, and it felt surprisingly comforting, like a warm current flowing from his head down to his limbs. He closed his eyes, purring softly like a kitten.