Ji Zhuxin calculated the time. The start of the school term was far too rushed; they would have to leave on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which was less than a week away.
"In Shanghai, other families have good conditions, and ours are poorer, but don't ever feel like you're less than anyone else, you hear?" Ji Zhuxin wiped her tears.
Ji Zhaoxi buried her face in Ji Zhuxin's embrace and gave a muffled response.
Ji Zhuxin's eyes were red. "Your sister won't be by your side anymore. When the weather gets cold, you have to remember to put on more clothes. No one will be there to remind you. If you get sick or catch a cold, you'll have to deal with it all by yourself."
The more Ji Zhuxin spoke, the sadder she became. "Don't worry about money. I'll send you money every month, okay? If you need to buy books or if the school asks for other fees, just tell me."
"Sis, I'll do odd jobs and earn my own money," Ji Zhaoxi choked out, her tears soaking Ji Zhuxin's clothes.
Ji Zhuxin angrily patted her head. "Talking nonsense again. Are you trying to make me mad? Don't worry, I've saved up quite a bit of money for you."
"Don't just be tough at home and then too scared to speak up outside. If someone bullies you, you have to fight back, understand?"
She was terrified that Ji Zhaoxi would get bullied and be too afraid to scold them back, acting like a coward.
"Tomorrow, your brother Qin Du and I will take you to the county town. The weather is warmer over there, and things are expensive in Shanghai. We'll buy you a few sets of clothes first. You can buy daily necessities when you get there; otherwise, it'll be too heavy to carry."
Ji Zhuxin kept rambling on. As Ji Zhaoxi listened to her, it felt like going back to their childhood when her sister used to coax her to sleep.
"Sis, I will definitely give you a good life."
Ji Zhaoxi wiped her tears.
She couldn't just go to Shanghai to play; she was the first college student in the Ji family.
Ji Zhuxin smiled. "I don't need a good life. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."
The night grew deeper.
Ji Zhaoxi burrowed hard into Ji Zhuxin's arms. Ji Zhuxin patted her in amusement. "Just like a little puppy."
She held Ji Zhaoxi in her arms, resting her chin on her head, and the two fell asleep just like that.
The next day.
Ji Zhuxin took Ji Zhaoxi and Qin Du into the city.
Ji Zhaoxi and Qin Du hadn't spoken alone for several days, and Qin Du was even more silent than before.
Ji Zhuxin originally thought buying a few clothes would be enough, but Qin Du also bought her a woolen overcoat, several shirts, and a few pairs of corduroy pants.
Seeing Qin Du's devotion, Ji Zhuxin couldn't help but sigh.
Let the two of them resolve their own issues, she thought, but Ji Zhuxin would absolutely never agree to let Ji Zhaoxi return to Xinniu Village after graduation.
"Hurry up and thank your brother Qin Du for buying you so many things," Ji Zhuxin smiled.
Ji Zhaoxi looked at Qin Du hesitantly. "Thank you, Brother Qin Du."
Qin Du lowered his eyes, avoiding her gaze. "It's nothing."
Even after returning to the village, the two still couldn't find time to talk alone.
She was leaving tomorrow. Ji Zhuxin had been busy finding a ride for Ji Zhaoxi these past few days.
Watching the busy Ji Zhuxin, Ji Zhaoxi gritted her teeth and snuck out.
She ran to the backyard, where Qin Du was sharpening his hunting knife. Qin Du was stunned for a moment when he saw the person in front of him.
"Xixi."
Ji Zhaoxi's eyes instantly turned red. She hadn't felt much these past few days, but now that she was leaving tomorrow, an unspeakable panic suddenly surged in her heart.
Qin Du stood before her, his eyes full of restraint.
"Ji Zhaoxi, where did you go?! Why is the introduction letter missing? Hurry up and look for it!"
"Hey, where is she? Xixi? Ji Zhaoxi—"
The two looked at each other, and finally, Qin Du couldn't hold out any longer. He sighed, "Xixi, go back."
Ji Zhaoxi bit her lip, looking at him with red eyes. "Will you come to see me off tomorrow?"
Tears welled up instantly, and she lowered her head. "Never mind, you shouldn't go. I'm afraid I'll..."
"Xixi, I want to go," Qin Du said softly. "Just let me go."
"Ji Zhaoxi—where did she run off to?"
Ji Zhuxin's voice kept ringing out.
Ji Zhaoxi nodded in a panic. "Okay."
She ran into the alley and shouted back, "Sis, I'll look for it now."
Qin Du watched her back, his clenched hands tightening. He lowered his eyes, looking utterly powerless.
The next day, before the sky was even bright, they set off.
First, they took the production team's tractor to the county town.
Qin Du carried most of the luggage and took the bags from Ji Zhaoxi's hands as well.
After finally arriving at the county town, they boarded a bus with all their bags. The bus station was full of black smoke, and the smell of gasoline was everywhere.
The smell made Ji Zhaoxi feel nauseous, and her face grew a bit pale.
Qin Du peeled an orange for her and used his scarf to cover her nose.
Ji Zhuxin kept asking when they would depart, worrying about what they would do if they arrived too late.
The bus finally started. It would take over an hour to reach the train station. The people on the bus were all early risers, and soon, almost everyone fell asleep.
Qin Du gently placed Ji Zhaoxi's head on his shoulder. He held her hand and carefully kissed it.
He looked down at her, and scenes from the past suddenly resurfaced: her crying on the field ridge, her timidly handing him the box of pickled vegetables, and that kiss...
This road to the train station was utter torture for him.
They finally arrived at the train station, and the conductor woke everyone up.
The platform was crowded with people, reeking of sweat and greasy smoke.
Ji Zhuxin and Qin Du bought platform tickets and followed Ji Zhaoxi inside.
Ji Zhaoxi searched inside the train car for a long time before finding her seat, while Ji Zhuxin and Qin Du followed her from outside the train.
Watching Ji Zhaoxi struggle with her luggage, Ji Zhuxin's tears fell instantly. How could she feel at ease letting her go to Shanghai all alone?
"Remember to send a letter home if you run out of money," Ji Zhuxin tightly held Ji Zhaoxi's hand. Ji Zhaoxi wiped her tears and nodded.
Ji Zhuxin continued to give Ji Zhaoxi instructions for a good while. They were all things she had repeated over the past few days, but at this moment, it felt like she could never say enough.
She glanced at the silent Qin Du beside her and choked out, "Qin Du, say a few words to Xixi. I'll wait for you outside the platform."
There were sounds of crying and parting words everywhere. Ji Zhaoxi and Qin Du were just like the others, one inside the carriage and one outside.
The green train let out a final long whistle, and its wheels began to roll slowly.
Ji Zhaoxi leaned against the window, sobbing uncontrollably.
Qin Du's eyes were terrifyingly red. He clenched his back teeth so hard that his roots ached, the pain traveling along his jaw to the base of his ears.
He didn't dare to speak. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, all the pleas hidden in his heart would burst out.
The train gradually accelerated. The conductor shouted from ahead, "The train is leaving! Stop holding hands! Those not boarding, step away quickly!"
Watching Ji Zhaoxi's tears, amidst the conductor's exclamations, Qin Du suddenly leaned half his body through the window. His large hand cupped the back of her head, and he kissed her fiercely and desperately.
This kiss was filled with too many complex emotions, so intense that his teeth even cut her lip.
The surrounding passengers were completely shocked. A train conductor came running over, shouting, "What do you think you are doing? Have you no decency!"
Tears slipped between their lips, tasting of salt.
The platform was a chaotic mass of shoving bodies, mingled with the wails of children. Train horns and whistles blared endlessly. Just as the conductor was still struggling to push his way toward them, Qin Du leaped down onto the platform and instantly vanished into the crowd.
