You Again

Chen Zhi raised his hand and glanced at his watch.

11:35 AM.

There was a tough battle ahead.

Less than two hours remained before Pei Ningxue's flight landed, and the early flight Li Zhiyi took had most likely already reached baggage claim.

Dragging his own two large suitcases, he could hardly move an inch. Taking these things to pick up Li Zhiyi would not only be impossible to explain, but it would also exhaust him to death halfway there.

So Chen Zhi found a paid luggage locker in a mall near the university, scanned the QR code, paid, and shoved his suitcases inside.

Then he immediately hailed a taxi, heading straight for the Capital Airport terminal.

Along the way, Chen Zhi kept his eyes on the flight information on his phone, casually messaging Li Zhiyi to keep the situation under control.

[Chen Zhi: Are you there yet? If you are, stay put at the exit. There are a lot of bad people in Beijing, and human traffickers especially love pretty, innocent girls like you.]

[Zhiyi: Yeah, I've got my luggage. I'm standing right at the door like a good girl.]

Looking at the obedient nodding kitten sticker Li Zhiyi sent, a surge of guilt welled up in Chen Zhi's heart.

Upon arriving at the airport, Chen Zhi sprinted all the way.

The arrivals level of the terminal was swarming with people, with those picking up passengers holding up all sorts of signs.

From far away, Chen Zhi spotted Li Zhiyi.

He couldn't help it; she stood out too much.

The young girl was wearing a simple floral dress that fell below her knees, her hair tied in a low ponytail. At her feet rested a rather bulky suitcase, along with two tightly sealed white styrofoam boxes.

She was painstakingly guarding her pile of belongings, wringing her hands together as she nervously watched the passing crowd.

Without a doubt, those two dead-heavy styrofoam boxes were definitely filled with local specialties her grandparents made her bring, or some homemade dried goods.

Carrying them all this way over thousands of miles, they were probably worried he wouldn't get used to the food in Beijing, or thought things outside were too expensive.

Why are you standing there like a fool?

A familiar voice rang out above her head.

Chen Zhi!

Li Zhiyi instinctively wanted to rush over, but looking at the luggage by her feet, she was terrified someone might snatch it, so she could only stay put and look at him eagerly.

Your grandpa is really something, did he ask you to move your whole house?

Chen Zhi complained verbally, but his body was honest.

Without a second word, he picked up that dead-heavy woven bag with one hand and pulled the canvas suitcase over with the other.

Let's go.

Hey, that box is heavy, it has the stuff Grandpa bought, let me carry it... Li Zhiyi hurriedly reached out to grab it back.

Shut up and follow me.

Chen Zhi didn't give her a chance to refuse. He shoved the lightest small bag into her arms, You're in charge of this. If you dare fall behind, I'll sell you to the human traffickers.

Hugging the small bag and looking at Chen Zhi's broad back, Li Zhiyi felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

The two walked out of the airport hall and arrived at the ride-hailing pickup point.

Chen Zhi had already called a car while inside.

License plate ending in 0721, is this the one?

Chen Zhi checked the license plate, opened the trunk, and started stuffing all of Li Zhiyi's belongings inside.

Driver, could you give me a hand? There's a lot of stuff... holy crap?

Just as Chen Zhi poked his head by the driver's side window, he completely froze.

In the driver's seat, a middle-aged cabbie wearing a yellow vest and rolling two walnuts in his hand was staring wide-eyed, dead straight at Chen Zhi.

Their eyes met.

The air suddenly became rather quiet.

Wasn't this the exact same freaking driver who brought him and Lin Wanwan to the airport this morning?!

Beijing is so huge, with tens of thousands of taxis. Isn't this probability a bit too ridiculous? When fate comes knocking, you really can't stop it, huh?

The driver's expression went from shock, to confusion, to a sudden realization of I think I just discovered something huge.

He looked at Chen Zhi, then at Li Zhiyi, who was standing obediently behind him.

In the morning, it was a beauty wearing designer brands, bundled up like a massive celebrity.

By noon, it changed to a girl-next-door who looked like the ultimate good girl?

And this young man hadn't even changed his clothes!

Young man, you're... The driver opened his mouth, the words why is it you again almost slipping out.

Chen Zhi reacted extremely fast. Without a change in expression or a skipped heartbeat, he directly opened the car door and shoved Li Zhiyi inside.

Then he walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, sat down, and gave the driver a heavily suggestive look.

Driver, to Renmin University. I'm in a rush, please do me a favor and drive a bit faster.

The driver was an old veteran of the streets.

Having driven in Beijing for twenty years, what kind of monsters and freaks hadn't he seen?

Even though rough seas were already churning in his heart, and his gossiping soul was burning brightly, his professional ethics made him forcefully swallow the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.

Ahem, alrighty, hold on tight.

The driver stepped on the gas, and the car slipped into the traffic.

The atmosphere in the car was a bit bizarre.

Li Zhiyi sat in the back seat, looking shyly at Chen Zhi's profile, and asked softly, Chen Zhi, have you been waiting long? I see your back is all sweaty.

Saying this, she pulled a tissue from her bag, wanting to hand it to him.

Not long, just got here. Chen Zhi didn't look back, just waved his hand. Wipe yourself, look how red your face is from the heat.

The driver shot Chen Zhi a meaningful look through the rearview mirror.

Just got here?

Heh, there wasn't a single word of truth coming out of this kid's mouth. Clearly saw you get dropped off at the Central Conservatory of Music this morning, and now you just got here?

Along the way, the normally chatty Beijing cabbie forcefully held back from saying a single word, his face turning red from the effort.

They finally arrived at the gate of Renmin University.

Chen Zhi quickly and nimbly unloaded the luggage.

Thanks, driver. After paying, Chen Zhi didn't forget to give the driver a respectful fist-and-palm salute.

The driver gave him a deep look and gave him a thumbs-up. It was genuine admiration from the bottom of his heart.

Chen Zhi didn't breathe a sigh of relief until the car drove away.

He checked the time; it was already 12:40 PM.

Fifty minutes left until Pei Ningxue landed.

This was Renmin University, dozens of kilometers away from the airport, and this was exactly the time for traffic jams.

He had to finish this quickly.

Zhiyi.

Chen Zhi turned around, looking at Li Zhiyi who was about to speak, and beat her to the punch, Um, I just took a look. There are a lot of people at the freshman reception point here at Renmin University, so I won't walk you inside.

Huh? Li Zhiyi froze for a moment, the light in her eyes dimming a bit. But, I haven't even treated you to a meal yet. Grandpa made me bring so many things, I originally wanted to...

Next time, definitely next time.

Chen Zhi looked at his watch, furrowed his brows, and pretended to be anxious. There's a problem with the academic system over at Peking University. They said I have to go in person with my ID for on-site verification before 2 PM, or it will affect my enrollment registration. You know how it is, schools like Peking University have a lot of rules.

Hearing this, Li Zhiyi immediately panicked.

In her heart, Chen Zhi's future was more important than the sky.

Then hurry up and go! Li Zhiyi gave him a push, her face full of anxiety. Don't worry about me, I can manage on my own! Whatever you do, don't delay your important business!

Are you really okay? Chen Zhi asked tentatively.

"It is fine, it is fine! There are volunteers everywhere!" Li Zhiyi stopped a passing senior volunteer. "Senior, I am a freshman. Could you please show me the way?"

Seeing Li Zhiyi loaded with bags, the senior eagerly took over. "No problem, leave it to me!"

Li Zhiyi turned her head and waved at Chen Zhi. "Hurry up and go! Be careful on the road!"

Chen Zhi patted Li Zhiyi's shoulder and spoke with earnest gravity, "Once you are in college, you can relax a bit. Eat after class, sleep after eating. If you are short on money, tell me. Do not make things hard on yourself."

Without giving Li Zhiyi a chance to respond, he continued.

"I still have to report to Peking University, they are rushing me. I am leaving first!"

Chen Zhi turned and ran.

Li Zhiyi stood at the school gate, watching Chen Zhi's retreating back. She opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed the words "be careful on the road."

She sighed softly.

"He definitely skipped a meal just to see me off..."

Li Zhiyi sniffled, feeling both touched and guilty.

...

Meanwhile.

The taxi driver from earlier parked his car by the road, took a huge gulp of strong tea from his thermos, and finally could not hold it in anymore.

He pulled out his phone, held down the voice message button in his WeChat group, and could not wait to share:

"Brothers! Let me tell you! My eyes have been opened today!"

"This morning, I picked up a couple. The guy looked pretty sharp, taking a girlfriend who looked like a big celebrity to the Central Conservatory of Music. But just now! I picked up this same kid at the airport again! And guess what?"

"Ha! The kid changed girls! This time he brought a good girl who looked like a sweet girl-next-door to Renmin University!"

"Same place, same car, same guy, different girl! And this kid did not even bat an eye, he was so steady! It is a good thing I can keep my mouth shut, anyone else would have exposed him right there! Young people these days are true time management masters, absolute role models for our generation!"

He smacked his lips, still relishing the gossip.

Our capital city really is a place of outstanding people, you can find all kinds of characters here.

I should take advantage of the crowds and go back to the airport to get some more gossip—I mean, pick up another fare.

...

Chen Zhi had no idea he had already become a legend among the taxi drivers of Beijing.

Right now, he just wanted to die.

Coming out of Renmin University, it was impossible to hail a cab.

He eventually had to scan a shared bike and then transfer to the airport express.

Sitting on the express train, Chen Zhi felt like his legs no longer belonged to him.

1:30 PM.

Panting heavily, Chen Zhi appeared at the airport terminal's arrivals gate once again.

He took a deep breath, trying hard to make himself look a bit more presentable.

He had barely stood there for two minutes.

A tall, slender figure walked out of the corridor.

Pei Ningxue was wearing a beige wide-brimmed woven hat, with a pair of vintage brown sunglasses resting beneath the brim.

She was not dressed too flashily today, wearing a Showa-style French floral dress instead.

On a pale yellow background, elegant iris flowers were printed. The waist-cinching design accentuated her excellent figure, and the hem fell just past her knees, revealing a section of fair, delicate calves.

She looked like a wealthy young lady walking straight out of a television drama.

Wherever she passed, both men and women would let their gazes linger on her for a couple of seconds.

This was Pei Ningxue.

No matter where she was, she always lived like the main character under a spotlight.

But what made Chen Zhi's eye twitch was...

In the woman's hand, she was only pushing a silver, roughly 20-inch small Rimowa carry-on suitcase.

Even that suitcase looked very light, as if it were empty.

Chen Zhi walked over, his brows tightly furrowed.

"This is what you meant by 'a lot of luggage'?"

Chen Zhi pointed at the small suitcase, fuming. "To pick you up, I did not even eat a damn meal and rushed over here like my hair was on fire, and you are just making me carry this?"

If he had known it was just this one lousy suitcase, could she not have just taken a taxi herself?!

Pei Ningxue stopped walking and took off her sunglasses, revealing her cold, clear eyes.

She looked Chen Zhi up and down.

She saw the fine beads of sweat on his forehead and his slightly heaving chest.

"What? Are you mad?"

Pei Ningxue took a step closer.

A faint fragrance drifted into his nose.

She extended a long, pale finger and gently lifted Chen Zhi's chin.

"Running over here in such a hurry, it seems I carry quite a bit of weight in your heart."

A charming smile curled onto Pei Ningxue's lips.

"Do not worry, my good brother."

"Making you make this trip, I definitely will not shortchange you on your rewards."

Chen Zhi swatted her hand away and said in a bad mood, "Save it. WeChat me 50 bucks to prove it."

Pei Ningxue let out a soft chuckle and leaned in close to Chen Zhi's ear, her warm breath brushing against his auricle.

"Money is so tacky."

"When we go to the hotel tonight, I will wear that lacy one for you to see. How about that?"