Chapter 4 A Traveling Companion Who Fell From the Sky
February 8, Shanghai Pudong Airport.
The winter sun shone through the huge glass windows, casting a dazzling halo on the gleaming floor tiles.
The terminal was bustling with noise, and flight information was constantly being updated over the loudspeakers, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for departure.
Xu Nianyi stood at Entrance 6, the domestic departure point, pulling her two 26-inch suitcases with one hand and raising the other hand high, waving it vigorously at a taxi that had just stopped.
"Here! Tan Chen!"
The car door opened, and a tall, slender young man wearing a black windproof leather jacket stepped out.
He deftly took a black suitcase and a rather professional-looking black travel bag from the trunk, slung them over one shoulder, and then walked towards Xu Nianyi.
Backlit, his outline was somewhat blurred, but the handsomeness of his youth was still faintly discernible, only now the immaturity had faded, replaced by a more composed demeanor and a slightly unfamiliar sense of detachment.
As for why there are two people?
This story dates back to a week ago.
————
As they were about to depart, Xu Nianyi's excitement at winning the lottery and the prospect of freedom slowly dissipated like the receding tide.
Instead, a belated, snail-like mentality called "fear" has taken hold.
Like riding a roller coaster, you're always full of anticipation while waiting in line, feeling like you can do it.
It wasn't until I was almost on the seatbelt and it clicked shut that my heart started racing uncontrollably.
She realized that she might have been too optimistic.
A self-driving tour around China?
It sounds romantic and bold.
But behind it all lies countless real, cold, unknown realities.
It may involve traversing desolate, uninhabited areas and facing prolonged periods of signal loss;
They might have to drive at night in unfamiliar areas and deal with complex and ever-changing road conditions;
They may enter high-altitude areas and suffer from altitude sickness;
The vehicle may break down, and you may encounter various unexpected troubles on the road...
She always says she's independent enough—
I spent four years studying at a university in another city, including a year of internship in the capital, and then nearly three years working in the big city of Shanghai after graduation.
But those independent entities all exist within a framework of clear rules and safeguards.
This journey is more like an adventure into the wilderness, where the rules are vague and you have to rely on yourself for protection.
How wonderful it would be to have someone you know well and can look out for you with.
But as soon as the thought popped into her head, she suppressed it.
The possibility is too small.
Her friends and family members either have stable jobs or families to take care of. Who else would have the freedom to travel whenever they want and have a year or two of free time like her, a jobless person who just quit her job?
However, having won a million, she now inexplicably believed that anything was possible.
So, one evening, with the hope that a miracle might happen, she posted a message on her WeChat Moments:
"Looking for travel companions! We're available to depart anytime after February 8th for a road trip around China. Our tentative first stop is Hemu to see the snow, then we'll travel around Xinjiang, followed by the Northwest Grand Loop, and then head south... Anyone want to join us? Even a few days' travel together is welcome! [Sun]"
After posting on her WeChat Moments, she thought for a moment, then logged into her QQ account, which she hadn't opened in almost three years and which was filled with countless bittersweet memories of junior and senior high school. She copied and pasted the same content and posted it out, casting a wide net.
A few hours later, the posts on WeChat Moments and QQ Space received a large number of likes and comments.
Most of the comments were expressions of amazement, envy, and safety reminders from friends, expressing regret that they wanted to go but didn't have the time.
However, among a bunch of familiar and unfamiliar avatars and names, a comment from a Tencent Penguin account made Xu Nian sit up straight on the sofa, her eyes widening instantly.
The commenter's name is Tan Chen.
The comment consisted of only four words:
Count me in.
Talk about morning!
That was the boy from the next class whom she had a crush on in junior high school.
We met through a weekend math tutoring class and spent a period of ambiguous time together, walking side by side on our bicycles along tree-lined paths, chatting about trivial matters.
However, that ambiguous relationship came to an abrupt end without warning after the winter break of the third year of junior high school.
Tan Chen suddenly became cold, and their relationship instantly plummeted to a freezing point.
After that, in junior high and high school, although we were in the same school, we were like strangers.
However, Xu Nianyi's gaze would always involuntarily search for his figure in the crowd, and then linger briefly.
It's been almost ten years since we last spoke.
It's been almost seven years since we last met.
What does this sudden "Count me in" mean?
Xu Nianyi's heart started racing for no apparent reason.
She opened the chat window that had been blank for ten years, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed:
"Honey~ Do you know who I am?"
The other party replied with a concise "I know."
Xu Nian was even more confused. He knew who I was, and even offered to travel with me. What the hell...
She tried to keep her tone natural, like exchanging pleasantries with a casual friend. "So, are you coming along? My time and itinerary are a bit uncertain, I'm pretty flexible. How many days are you planning to travel?"
"Either is fine, I'm always available."
Always free? Xu Nianyi was even more puzzled.
"Do you have a lot of free time? We haven't been in touch for so many years, I didn't even know what you were doing now. I just quit my job and I'm planning to spend about a year traveling." She asked tentatively.
“I have flexible hours. I’ll open my own bar, and the manager will handle the management. You can arrange the hours.” She added, “I was just thinking of going skiing in Jikplin, which is on the same route as yours.”
Gickplin Skiing?
Xu Nianyi had seen this while researching Xinjiang; it was said to be the largest ski resort in Asia, located in Hemu.
To be honest, she was also very interested in skiing, but she was a little worried about her athletic ability and feared that she might accidentally end up in the orthopedics department.
Stop! This isn't the time to think about that. The crucial issue right now is—
Should we choose to travel with Tan Chen?
The other person is someone I used to have a crush on!
We haven't been in touch for years, and I don't even know what he looks like now.
This feeling is so strange, a mixture of the unfamiliarity of a long-awaited reunion, the lingering warmth of youthful feelings, the resentment of unrequited love, and curiosity about his current situation.
But if they don't mind, why should I feel awkward and uncomfortable here?
Perhaps he just happened to see my post, naturally thought of skiing, and casually replied?
Or what if Lady Luck smiled upon her again, thinking she was too lonely traveling alone, and arranged a peach blossom for her? This thought made her cheeks flush slightly.
Furthermore, compared to randomly picking up carpoolers online, finding a junior or senior high school classmate is safer and more reliable, as they know each other well.
Moreover, she didn't say she won 1 million, so she certainly wasn't after money.
After much deliberation, Xu Nianyi took a deep breath and made her decision.
"Okay, let's do it together! I'm not used to using QQ accounts anymore, scan this QR code to add me, and we can chat on WeChat!"
Thus, a week before Xu Nianyi's trip around China began, she unexpectedly gained a travel companion—who was also her former crush.
Now, this thing that had fallen from the sky was actually standing in front of her.
When Tan Chen got closer, Xu Nianyi finally saw his face clearly.
His features were more defined than in his youth, his skin was a healthy wheat color, and his eyes were calm, with a touch of nonchalant laziness.
He looked at her, and the corners of his mouth seemed to curve slightly, as if he were greeting her.
"Long time no see." His voice was also a bit deeper than I remembered, with a touch of magnetism.
"Uh, long time no see." Xu Nianyi realized she was actually a little nervous and quickly tried to start a conversation. "Let's go, let's check our luggage first. I've got it, it's at counter F."
"Okay." Tan Chen nodded and naturally reached out to take a suitcase from her hand. "I'll take it."
Xu Nian was stunned for a moment, watching his tall figure pushing two boxes ahead of her, and that strange and subtle feeling in her heart resurfaced.
Their decision to fly directly to Urumqi Tianshan Airport was also at Tan Chen's suggestion.
Previously, Xu Nianyi was still struggling online to decide which motorcycle to choose, and initially settled on the Tank 300 Hi4-T in Dune Beige.
While she was comparing prices at several stores, Tan Chen messaged her to tell her that he had found a store in Urumqi that offered government subsidies, store discounts, and manufacturer subsidies. With these combined, and after some haggling and getting some free gifts, it would be nearly 20,000 yuan cheaper than buying it in Haicheng.
Most importantly, I don't have to drive nearly fifty hours from Haicheng to get there myself.
This reason instantly moved Xu Nianyi.
It saves money and at least four or five days of travel and fatigue, so why not?
She immediately agreed to the plan of picking up the car on the spot.
So, they are standing here now, ready to take a five-hour flight from Shanghai directly to Urumqi.
Tomorrow, I can pick up the car that belongs to Xu Nianyi, the car that will soon carry my dreams and the unknown.
Go through security, wait for your flight, and board the plane.
Sitting by the window, watching the scenery outside the porthole recede into the distance, and feeling the slight weightlessness brought on by the plane's acceleration and lift, Xu Nianyi's heart soared along with the plane.
She secretly glanced at Tan Chen, who was resting with his eyes closed beside her.
The journey hadn't even truly begun when an unexpected surprise arrived.
This journey around China seems destined to be anything but ordinary.
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