Can't Get Used to It at All

Chu Qiunan spoke as he jogged quickly toward the elevator lobby.

Su Yang looked at Gao Yue, who was sitting opposite him, and asked, "Gao, are you sure you want to come along with us on this trip?"

Gao Yue nodded slightly. "Mhm. I was planning to travel alone anyway. I didn't want to trouble you guys originally, but Brother Nan kept telling me how nice you all are."

"He wanted me to come and meet everyone, saying it's livelier traveling in a group. He made it sound so tempting that I decided to be thick-skinned and tag along. I hope you don't mind?"

Su Yang took a sip of his coffee and replied nonchalantly, "Not at all. We're more than happy to have you."

"Then I'll be imposing on you from here on out."

"It's no trouble. But did he explain our itinerary to you clearly?"

Gao Yue nodded. "He did. You're heading into Tibet and the No Man's Land, right? I've actually always had the urge to go there, but I didn't dare try it alone. So, I'm taking this opportunity to join you."

"That works. But make sure you prepare some heavy clothing, a tent, a sleeping bag, and things like that."

"I know. You guys are heading to Ya'an now, right?"

"Yes."

"Great. I'll buy the gear once we get to Ya'an."

"Okay, sounds good."

The two chatted idly for a while. About ten minutes later, everyone had gathered in the lobby.

After Chu Qiunan introduced Gao Yue to the rest of the group, they checked out and left the hotel.

"Have you guys had breakfast?" Meng Wenzhou asked, looking around at the group.

Su Yang nodded. "Pan Pan and I already ate at the hotel restaurant."

"Then the rest of us who haven't eaten will go grab a bite before we head out."

"Sounds good."

Seeing this, Gao Yue, having just joined the main group, immediately stepped forward. "Let me treat everyone to breakfast. Since I just got here, I should make a gesture of appreciation."

The others paused for a moment, but Chu Qiunan laughed. "Just let her treat you, otherwise she'll feel shy about it."

"Hahaha, alright then, we won't stand on ceremony."

"No need for ceremony. Let's go, it's my treat. Brother Yang, do you and Pan Pan want to eat a little more?"

Su Yang shook his head with a smile. "I'll pass, I just ate not long ago."

"What about Pan Pan?"

Pan Ning also shook her head. "I'm good too, you guys go ahead."

"Alright then."

Soon, the group arrived at the entrance of a roadside eatery called Old Wu's Yi Cuisine.

Originally, everyone suggested just grabbing a simple bowl of rice noodles, but they couldn't withstand Gao Yue's enthusiasm; she insisted on treating them to something better.

The group didn't make a fuss and followed her into the restaurant.

Su Yang and Pan Ning found a separate spot to sit and wait.

Forty minutes later, Meng Wenzhou and the others emerged, well-fed and satisfied.

Everyone returned to the hotel's underground parking garage to get the cars.

Upon reaching the vehicles, Gao Yue felt a small shockwave go through her heart as she looked at the three luxury cars parked together.

through Chu Qiunan's introduction, she knew these people had money, but she hadn't expected them to have this much money.

She had assumed this group came from a similar family background to her own. Who would have guessed that right off the bat, there would be a Rolls-Royce Cullinan—and a Mansory custom edition at that.

The white Range Rover next to the Cullinan was also the top-spec version, costing over four million yuan on the road.

Just these two cars alone were far beyond what she could afford. Even if her father were here, the best he could barely manage would be a standard Range Rover.

Gao Yue walked up to Chu Qiunan and whispered, "Are your friends all this loaded?"

Chu Qiunan smiled faintly. "They're alright. About the same as me."

"Then why didn't you drive?"

"My cars are all sports cars. They aren't suitable for road trips, so I have to hitch a ride with them."

Gao Yue gave him a thumbs up. "You guys really are young and successful."

"Hehe, we do okay. Come on, let's get in."

"Which one am I sitting in?"

"You're with me in Old Meng's Range Rover."

"Okay!"

At that moment, Liu Bo looked over at Su Yang and Meng Wenzhou. "Brother Yang, Brother Meng, to Ya'an, right?"

"Yup."

"Okay, let's roll!"

"Alright, mount up."

They all got into their respective vehicles, drove out of the hotel parking lot, and headed toward the highway toll station.

Xichang wasn't too far from Ya'an, only about three hundred kilometers. Given the speed at which Su Yang and the others drove, they would likely arrive around two in the afternoon.

That was assuming no traffic jams or freak weather conditions.

Soon, the three cars successively entered the highway toll station.

This leg of the journey was relatively smooth. They didn't encounter any accidents along the way, there was no traffic, and the weather was excellent.

They stopped briefly at a service area to use the restrooms before continuing on.

At 1:50 PM, the three cars exited the Ya'an highway toll station and drove along the beautiful Qingyi River toward the city center.

Ya'an is a very famous city in the western part of Sichuan Province, also known as the 'Rain City.'

Surrounded by mountains with the Qingyi River winding through its heart, the city's humid air carried a relaxed, leisurely vibe. It was an ecological city where nature and humanity intertwined within the secrets of Western Sichuan.

Likewise, Ya'an was the second major city one encounters when embarking on the Sichuan-Tibet line.

At this moment, inside the WeChat group.

Ji Bo sent a message: @Everyone, where are we staying tonight?

Zhang Ziming: Don't know yet. Let's talk when we get into the city. Same old routine, find a place to park first, then we'll discuss exactly where to stay.

Chu Qiunan: OK.

Gao Yue had already been added to the group by Chu Qiunan earlier.

Seeing the messages, she replied enthusiastically: I'll book the hotel for tonight.

Ji Bo: absolutely not. You just treated us to a meal; we'll handle the hotel booking.

Chu Qiunan: Yeah, Yue Yue, there's no need for you to do that. Isn't that what I'm here for? I'll book it.

Gao Yue: I'm the new addition, I just want to pull my weight.

Chu Qiunan: Next time, next time. I've got today covered.

Ji Bo: Little Gao is really nice. There will be plenty of chances later, our journey is long.

Gao Yue: Alright then.

Ten minutes later, the three cars arrived on a bustling street in downtown Ya'an.

Sticking to their routine, they found some random parking spots on the side of the road, parked, and got out to stretch their legs.

The girls went to stroll around nearby, while the guys stood by the roadside smoking and booking the hotel.

Chu Qiunan pulled out his phone and opened an app to check the hotels in the city.

He exhaled a plume of smoke and said, "This Crown Hotel looks decent. It's a five-star, not far from here, and it's right by the Qingyi River. I'm booking this one, alright?"

The others leaned in to look at the photos and nodded. "Yeah, that one works."

"OK. Old Su, are you still sharing a room with Pan Pan?"

Su Yang nodded. "Mhm. Saving you some money."

"I thank you for that."

"What about you two?" Chu Qiunan turned to look at Ji Bo and Liu Bo.

"We're definitely splitting up. We only squeeze together if there are no rooms left. We can't live like that all the time."

"Hehe, I thought you guys got used to it."

"Not used to it in the slightest."

As the six of them were talking, Su Yang's gaze suddenly sharpened. Without warning, he whipped his head around to look behind him.

The sudden movement startled the others. Liu Bo asked with a face full of confusion, "What's wrong, Brother Yang?"

Su Yang didn't speak. His eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the crowded street dozens of meters away.

That sensation of being followed, the same one he felt back at Ganhaizi, had appeared again.

......