All members must be present
The high-speed train was running smoothly, and the scenery outside the window was stretched into blurred streams of light.
Fat Jiang had the masterpiece created by Zhao Teng and Sun Rui on his face. He was slumped in his seat with a look of despair, muttering about how his dream was ruthlessly crushed by a small poker game.
After the game, the carriage gradually became quiet.
Perhaps it was the tranquility that was so soothing, or perhaps it was the exhaustion from the days of preparation. After just a few words, exhaustion washed over us like a tide.
Lu Yu felt his shoulders sink.
He turned his head and saw that Shi Guang had fallen asleep at some point. He tilted his head slightly and leaned on Lu Yu's shoulder, breathing steadily and slowly.
The way he sleeps looks like a cat that has finally found a safe corner, looking particularly well-behaved and soft.
Lu Yu carefully adjusted his sitting position to allow Shi Guang to lean more comfortably. He even slowed his breathing, fearing to disturb the rare peace of the person beside him.
Zhao Teng, sitting diagonally across from them, keenly captured this scene. He quietly raised his camera, zoomed the lens to its maximum focus, and silently recorded the scene. Sunlight streamed through the car window, gilding the two young men with a warm, golden edge. The peaceful, peaceful days were like a close-up from an art film.
He mentally added a new voiceover to his vlog: "Dear viewers, please pay attention! High-energy warning ahead. This isn't an academic expedition to the ancient town; it's a honeymoon train to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Please consciously type the word 'matched' on the public screen."
The high-speed train arrived at the capital of western Sichuan Province. Stepping out of the modern, orderly station and into the bustling, somewhat chaotic long-distance bus station felt like stepping from one world to another.
"Follow closely! Keep an eye on your luggage!" Lu Yu instantly switched back to captain mode. He dragged the two heaviest boxes in one hand, counted the number of people, and reminded everyone loudly.
Sun Rui had already used the navigation app on his phone to map out the optimal route to the ticket window. Fat Jiang was disoriented by the scorching afternoon air and the crowded crowds, and he kept complaining.
Lu Yu finished counting the number of people and confirmed that all equipment and luggage were present. Just as he was about to lead everyone to the ticket gate, Fatty Jiang at the back of the group suddenly let out a shrill scream that could rival a tenor's.
"—Where's my ticket?!"
Everyone turned around to see Fat Jiang frantically turning his backpack upside down, spilling snacks all over the floor. He searched every pocket on his body, his face turning from red to white at a visible speed.
"Don't panic!" Lu Yu immediately frowned and strode over, his voice steady, trying to control the situation. "Think carefully, when was the last time you saw it? Did you forget where you put it?"
"I've looked! I really have! But I can't find him!" Fatty Jiang was so anxious he was about to cry, his voice tinged with sobs. "It's over, it's over. The train is about to leave, and I only have ten minutes left! I'm going to be left here! Just go away, don't worry about me, just pretend you never had me as your brother! Your journey is to the stars and the sea, but mine... is to this waiting hall..."
"Don't worry, Xiaopang, we will help you find it together." Lin Xiyue hurried forward to comfort him and helped him pick up the things scattered on the ground.
"Separate our teams!" Lu Yu made a quick decision. He pointed at Sun Rui and said, "Sun Rui, come back with me! Xiyue Shiguang, calm the fat guy down! Zhao Teng, stop taking pictures and go ask the staff at the ticket gate if you can get on the train with your ID information!"
Everyone sprang into action. Lu Yu and Sun Rui, going against the flow of people, quickly retraced their steps. Zhao Teng put away his camera and ran towards the ticket gate.
A few minutes later, Lu Yu and Sun Rui came back with grim expressions, followed by Zhao Teng, who also looked depressed.
"No," Lu Yu shook his head, a rare hint of frustration in his tone. "I've looked everywhere along the way, but can't find it. I asked Zhao Teng too, and he says long-distance buses rely on tickets, not people. Without a ticket, you absolutely can't get on."
The final notice urging passengers to board the bus came from the broadcast in the waiting hall.
"I'm sorry...Brother Lu...I'm sorry to everyone..." He lowered his head, his voice filled with deep guilt, "This is all my fault. How about...you guys go first, I...I'll find a way..."
"What nonsense!" Lu Yu interrupted him, "Team Yuguang, all members must be present."
He glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that there were only five minutes left before departure.
"We're running out of time. There's only one solution." Lu Yu glanced at everyone, "Buy a new one. Fatty, you..."
He wanted to have Jiang Xiaopang buy a new ticket himself, but he swallowed the words back. He knew the ticket was paid for by the project, and the process was complicated. If he lost the ticket, Jiang Xiaopang would not only have to pay the fare himself, but he would also likely have to write a statement of responsibility after returning.
"Forget it," Lu Yu said in a deep voice, "I'll pay for this ticket. Sun Rui, take Fatty and the others to the ticket gate immediately and wait. I'll be there as soon as I buy the tickets!"
After saying that, he pulled out some cash from his wallet and quickly rushed to the ticket window.
Finally, at the last moment when the departure bell rang, the group safely boarded the only bus to Qingwa Town.
The car slowly drove out of the station. Fat Jiang was still immersed in a huge feeling of guilt and gratitude. "Brother Lu, I'm so sorry... I'll pay you back for the ticket money when I get back..."
"Alright," Lu Yu waved his hand, interrupting him. "As long as he's alright, that's fine. Just consider this a lesson for you. Be more careful next time."
Fat Jiang nodded vigorously, his eyes a little red.
The bus's facilities were far less comfortable than those of the high-speed rail, and the cabin was filled with a complex smell of diesel and leather. The situation worsened after the bus left the city and entered the winding mountain roads.
The car body kept shaking and bumping along with the sharp turns, and the scenery outside the window changed from plains to endless green hills.
"Ugh... I can't hold on any longer..." The first to give in was Fat Jiang. His face turned pale, a layer of cold sweat oozed from his forehead, and he slumped down in his seat, looking as if he was taking in air rather than breathing out. "This road... why is it like a roller coaster... My stomach... it wants to run away..."
"Typical motion sickness," Sun Rui, who was sitting behind him, calmly analyzed. "It's a mismatch between the motion information received by the visual and vestibular systems, leading to functional disorders in the central nervous system. I suggest you close your eyes and reduce visual input."
"Brother Sun...I see double now...It makes no difference whether I close my eyes or not..." Fat Jiang moaned weakly.
Lu Yu also frowned. He took out a small medicine box from his backpack and handed over a bottle of motion sickness medicine: "Take it quickly, there are still more than two hours."
"Thank you, Brother Lu..." Fat Jiang was about to take it with his hands trembling, but Lin Xiyue, who was sitting on the other side of the aisle, handed him a small bottle with the lid opened.
"Don't take medicine, it's slow to work." Lin Xiyue's voice was gentle and crisp. "Smell this, it's a cooling oil, it's refreshing. Also, use your thumb to press this spot on the inside of your wrist. Yes, press hard. This is Nei Guanxue, it can relieve nausea."
As she spoke, she leaned over and personally guided Jiang Xiaopang to the correct acupoint. A cool and slightly spicy smell instantly spread throughout the carriage.
Fat Jiang took a deep breath and pressed his wrists hard, feeling his churning stomach actually feel better. He looked at Lin Xi with a look of immense gratitude, "Xiyue, you are my adopted parents!"
Lin Xiyue was amused by his exaggerated statement: "I used to go out to collect folk songs with my family often. I walked on the mountain roads so many times that I got used to it."
Zhao Teng heartlessly held up his camera, recording the tragic scene of Jiang Xiaopang, and even added a voiceover: "Please look at our team's logistics director, who sacrificed his precious stomach for the revolutionary cause. What a great spirit of dedication!"
"Zhao Teng, get out of here!"
During this small commotion, Shi Guang turned around and looked at Fat Jiang, whose face still looked unhappy. He unscrewed his unopened bottle of mineral water and handed it to him.
Lu Yu watched the subtle movement of the person beside him, and the smile on his lips deepened. He retracted his gaze and looked sideways at Shi Guang, and found that although Shi Guang showed no signs of motion sickness, his hands were unconsciously clenched into fists and placed quietly on his knees.
"Do you feel uncomfortable too?" Lu Yu asked in a low voice.
Shi Guang shook his head and turned his gaze to the rolling green hills outside the window. "It's okay, I'm used to it."
"Get used to it?" Lu Yu keenly grasped the word. "You're from Sichuan Province. Are the roads in your hometown like this too?"
"It used to be." Shi Guang's voice was soft, with a barely perceptible hint of nostalgia. "My hometown is in a small county town. When I was a kid, I had to take this kind of car to visit my grandmother's house. It took a long time to drive on the mountain road. But a few years ago, a new road was built and a tunnel was opened, so it's much faster now."
His tone was calm, as if he was describing something that had nothing to do with him, but Lu Yu could sense a hint of distance in it.
"Then... have you ever been to a place like Qingwa Town before?" Lu Yu asked tentatively.
This question seemed to silence Shi Guang for a moment. He stared out the window at the rapidly receding emerald green mountains and forests. After a long pause, he replied, "No. My family...we rarely go out."
Lu Yu could almost immediately imagine that as a teenager growing up in a small county town, his world might only consist of home and school. The magnificent scenery outside the window seemed distant and unfamiliar to him.
Lu Yu's heart suddenly tightened. He reached out and placed his hand over Shi Guang's, which was resting on his knee. Shi Guang's fingers were a little cold, and when they were held by his large, warm hand, he subconsciously curled up.
"But this time is different." Lu Yu also looked out the window, "This time we are together, creating new memories."
The car continued to bump along the narrow mountain road, and the scenery outside the window transformed into a pristine, lush green. Winding streams appeared and disappeared in the valley, and distant peaks were shrouded in a thin mist. Occasionally, a few houses built on the hillside could be seen, with smoke rising from the roofs.
The air became fresher and fresher, and the smell of soil and vegetation came in through the gaps in the car window.
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