Chapter 9 (2/2)

Chen Hansheng fiddled with the phone as he answered her. “I want to earn money in university and support myself.”

“Earn your own money?”

Xiao Rongyu was astonished as she tied her hair back, revealing the fair nape of her neck. “What are you going to do?”

“Of course I’m going to find a beautiful and rich girlfriend. I’ve always had a weak constitution. The doctor suggested that I live off a woman,” said Chen Hansheng seriously.

Xiao Rongyu expressed her disdain.

Now that he had something to entertain him, Chen Hansheng remained engrossed with the Nokia 7650. He even shamelessly used the excuse of ‘helping her take some weight off her luggage’ as he ate Xiao Rongyu’s snacks.

Though Xiao Rongyu rolled her eyes, she was not stingy.

The Nokia 7650 was not only the brand’s first color-screen phone but also the first flip phone and the first phone that used the Symbian operating system. For the 2002 era, there were almost no other rivals in the mobile phone market. This phone was basically the first generation of Nokia’s ‘King of Machines’ series.

Of course, for Chen Hansheng who came seventeen years from the future, the Nokia 7650’s features were nothing. Once he was done exploring its system and functions, Chen Hansheng examined the phone’s appearance one last time before returning it to Xiao Rongyu.

Xiao Rongyu had been curious ever since Hansheng insisted on having her phone. “You looked like you were trying to dismantle it.”

“If I had a screwdriver, I would have,” said Chen Hansheng with a nod.

“You’re crazy.”

Xiao Rongyu quickly snatched her phone away. The bus started to pass through the Yangtze River Bridge and many passengers had stood up to watch.

This magnificent bridge was built in 1960 and had become one of the city’s scenic spots for decades. The sight of armed police standing guard on it caused the people on the bus to cheer. Under the bridge was a large white ferry docked at the pier.

“Why aren’t you excited?”

Xiao Rongyu noticed how calm Chen Hansheng was compared to the others.

She had leaned over to look at the scenery too and was probably so engrossed that she did not notice how close she had gotten to Hansheng. Rongyu was so close to him that her breath tickled his ears when she spoke.

But Hansheng did not mind it.

‘The opportunity has arrived!’

Chen Hansheng suddenly turned around to face her and said, “You’re not surprised either.”

Unfortunately, he had not expected her to be equally as quick. The moment he had whipped around, she pulled away and looked at him with her guard up.

Chen Hansheng felt a little regretful that he didn’t get to kiss her. Xiao Rongyu looked at him vigilantly as she said, “I’ve been to Jianye City before. Not only the Yangtze River Bridge, but also the Presidential Palace, Dr. Su Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum, and Nanjing’s Fuzimiao.”

Xiao Rongyu couldn’t tell if Chen Hansheng had done that on purpose but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Once they had crossed the Yangtze River Bridge, the next stop was the Jianye bus station. The three of them got off the bus there. Xiao Rongyu realized that Chen Hansheng had the least amount of luggage.

He only had a backpack and a pair of sunglasses he whipped out of nowhere just because the sun was too bright. Chen Hansheng was looking more like a tourist than a university student.

“Why didn’t you bring a quilt?” asked Xiao Rongyu.

“The university dorm will provide one. It was already written in the manual.” Hansheng casually responded.

“What about clothes? It will be fall in Jianye by October.”

“I’ll just ask my mom to send them over when it’s time.”

Xiao Rongyu nodded.

Once they had gathered their luggage, Xiao Rongyu thought that they would head over to their universities together. After all, hers was just across the street from Hansheng and Zibo’s. However, Chen Hansheng unexpectedly shook his head and said, “I will take a taxi there later. You should head over to the train station and take Bus No. 137 from there. Your university stop is the fifth one from the last stop.”

Xiao Rongyu was dumbfounded. “What about you?”

“Zibo and I are going for a walk at the nearby Longevity Lake Park.”

Chen Hansheng did not seem to be joking. After all, he only had a backpack which made it easier for him to move around.

But Xiao Rongyu was a little anxious. She was a girl with a lot of luggage. Wasn’t it too much for her to move all those by herself on such a hot day through such a complicated route?

“Chen Hansheng!”

Xiao Rongyu suddenly shouted, almost crying. “You bastard! You promised my dad that you would take care of me!”