Bai Jiaojiao really couldn't refuse: "Then I'll have to trouble you then."

"No trouble at all, you've been a huge help to me today..."

With Aunt Qin keeping me company and chatting along the way, it was definitely not boring at all.

Shen Heng was the one who was moved to the top bunk. He was nearly 1.9 meters tall, and when he was crammed into the small space of the top bunk, Shen Heng felt for the first time how pitiful he was.

The train arrived at the station at seven o'clock in the evening. At this time of year, it was already dark in Yancheng.

Where are you going? Do you need us to give you a ride?

Aunt Qin stood next to her lover, and they looked quite well-matched.

Bai Jiaojiao and Shen Heng shook their heads: "Thank you, but no need. You should go home now."

Aunt Qin and the others left first, and Bai Jiaojiao then set off to find a guesthouse to stay at near the train station.

There were quite a few people at the guesthouse near the train station. When they arrived at this time, they were told that there were no single rooms available, only shared rooms.

Even if they didn't want to, they had no choice but to live separately.

Bai Jiaojiao took her clothes and left her valuables with Shen Heng for safekeeping.

Tomorrow they're heading to Peking University to buy some things for the start of the semester. Although they agreed to buy a house near Peking University, it's not something that can be done in a short time, and they'll definitely be living in dormitories for a while.

Preparing so many things in one day must have been a huge undertaking.

Bai Jiaojiao forced herself to fall asleep quickly, ignoring the two strangers lying next to her.

Bai Jiaojiao didn't sleep well that night; the sounds of grinding her teeth and snoring kept her awake.

Although Shen Heng is a bit of a rascal, he has one good point: he doesn't drink excessively. He also likes to sleep on his side, holding her in his arms, and Bai Jiaojiao has never heard him snore.

Unable to fall asleep, Bai Jiaojiao got up and sat down to look at her luggage.

The next morning, Bai Jiaojiao met Shen Heng while yawning, her little face puffed up a bit.

"Didn't sleep well?" Shen Heng rubbed Bai Jiaojiao's face, trying to pinch her back to normal.

“I didn’t sleep at all,” Bai Jiaojiao said, her words filled with bitterness. “Let’s hurry to Yanda University. I reckon the guesthouses near there will be full.”

"Then let's find a place further away, or maybe get a private room."

Bai Jiaojiao agreed wholeheartedly. She would rather walk a longer distance when school starts tomorrow than sleep in a dormitory.

Shen Heng didn't sleep well last night either. He was carrying his and Bai Jiaojiao's admission notices and household registration book in his arms, which were essentially his life and property. So he had to keep watch with both eyes on him all night.

The two needed a rest. There was a bus from the train station that went directly to Yenching University. They spent one yuan to buy five steamed buns to take with them on their journey. The buns were palm-sized, and you could see the oily soup seeping out inside even through the skin.

Shen Heng took a bite of the braised pork bun: "No wonder everyone yearns for big cities. Look, this bun is different from the ones we have at home."

Even the flour is better than what they eat.

Shen Heng ate four in one go, making the other passengers on the bus swallow hard.

Around 9 o'clock, they arrived near Yenching University. Just as they had imagined, the guesthouse there was packed with people. They walked another two miles before finding a single room.

"You take a nap first. I'll wake you up for lunch, and then we'll go to the post office to get some money in the afternoon, and then go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some daily necessities."

They didn't have much luggage, but they still had a lot of things to buy.

Bai Jiaojiao said, "Heng-ge, let's sleep together."

"If we both fall asleep, what if we open our eyes and it's already dark when we open them again?"

When Bai Jiaojiao heard Shen Heng's words, she understood that he hadn't slept well last night either, and that if he had, he would have slept for a long time.

She felt even more compelled to let Shen Heng rest: "It's dark now, we can always go shopping after we finish reporting tomorrow." Bai Jiaojiao lay down on the bed and reached out to Shen Heng: "Come here."

Since Bai Jiaojiao had invited him like that, how could Shen Heng refuse? He immediately went over: "Look at you, have you noticed that you can't sleep without your Heng-ge?"

Bai Jiaojiao: "......"

In any case, Bai Jiaojiao felt much more at ease lying in Shen Heng's arms, and fell asleep within two minutes.

Shen Heng didn't know whether he was asleep or not. At one o'clock in the afternoon, Bai Jiaojiao was woken up by him.

The two went to a state-run restaurant and had a good meal. Then they went to the post office to withdraw the money, and immediately went to the bank to deposit it into their savings account. They only had enough money left for tomorrow's tuition and a month's expenses.

This was Shen Heng's first time entering such a large supply and marketing cooperative. He had thought that the supply and marketing cooperative where Duan Qiming worked in the county town was big enough and had a full range of goods, but he never expected that there were so many bigger ones out there.

He saw that the shelves behind the salesperson were full of various products. Li Shuxian was almost driven crazy at home because he needed some milk powder, but here they were still supplying fresh milk.

They bought a thermos, some toiletries, and some stationery, but didn't buy anything else for convenience.

On the way back, Shen Heng breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "My previous thinking was really wrong."

"What?"

“I originally thought that even if I stayed in Shili Village for the rest of my life, I could make you enjoy a life of happiness. But after coming to Yancheng today, I realize how ridiculous I was.”

The gap between urban and rural areas is indeed quite large now. Wealthy families have televisions and washing machines, while poor areas don't even have electricity.

Shili Village is relatively good; it has electric lights and telephones, and even a loudspeaker to play music, but the power goes out every few days.

Bai Jiaojiao's past life has only now become clear to Shen Heng. He can't imagine how Bai Jiaojiao has endured these past few years. Growing up in such an environment, it's too cruel to suddenly send her to live in the countryside.

Bai Jiaojiao looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to them, reached out and tugged at Shen Heng's hand: "Brother Heng, I've never thought there was anything wrong with what you said. Being with you is a blessing. Besides, we're out now, aren't we? Our future will definitely be bright."

Shen Heng's heart softened, but his whole body was filled with strength: "Jiaojiao, from now on, I will do my best for our good life."

"I trust you."

The two returned to the guesthouse sweetly, checked their luggage again, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there were no problems with the admission notice and household registration book.

Bai Jiaojiao's university life in her previous life was ruined by Ding Shifang, but in this life she will avoid Ding Shifang and make sure that situation never happens again.

Bai Jiaojiao was full of anticipation for her upcoming university life. She was so excited that she couldn't fall asleep at night after taking a nap during the day.

Shen Heng wiped his face: "If you can't sleep, do something. Just stay up all night."

"I'm about to fall asleep, don't disturb me."

Bai Jiaojiao covered her head with a quilt and pressed her head against Chen Heng's chest.

The guesthouse uses a stove for heating, but it's not warm at all.

Bai Jiaojiao placed her feet between Shen Heng's legs to warm them, saying, "I'll freeze you to death."