During the six-hour journey, the two of them focused on their own activities.
Jiang Tong rested her chin on her palm, admiring the scenery outside the car window while listening to music through her headphones.
They happened to pass by a field of wheat, and the sunlight through the glass cast Bao Nan’s profile onto it.
His serious demeanor was reflected on the glass as he reviewed documents, occasionally looking down to illustrate something with his pen.
Jiang Tong supported her head, staring dazedly at his reflection on the glass, her red lips curving up unknowingly.
Meanwhile, her headphones switched to the recent hit song "Extraterrestrial Object."
A deep male voice began to sing slowly.
"You landed too suddenly
I just happened to pass by
A rare chance, yet feeling subjective
Wanting to snatch you but unable to touch
You brought me joy
Adding some color to this world
I wish I could blame you for being so casual
Treasure should be cherished, are you mine?
You’re like an extraterrestrial object, unattainable
Your name in the mundane world is unimportant
Just right for my hidden persona to persist endlessly
..."
"..."
In a corner she couldn’t see, Bao Nan held up the document, with a sketch paper underneath.
On it was a quick sketch of Jiang Tong tilting her head to look at the scenery outside the window.
Bao Nan pretended to study the documents, but his gaze secretly remained on her throughout the journey.
On the slowly moving bus, one pretended to watch the scenery, and the other pretended to read documents.
In reality, both were observing each other’s every move...
Yet neither was willing to break this mutual understanding.
As long as you’re here before my eyes, that’s all that matters.
...
After enduring the bumpy road, the research team finally arrived at their destination—
West Asia Village.
This is a rather impoverished, backward area, considered to be part of a remote mountainous region.
While tall buildings cover the city, here there were only a few scattered thatched cottages and bungalows.
"Comrades, welcome!" The village chief greeted them with a hearty smile, approaching them warmly.
Upon hearing that people from the big city had arrived, women, children, and the elderly from the village hurried out of their homes out of curiosity.
Hoping to see what people from the big city looked like.
Seeing the simple folks around them, Jiang Tong raised an eyebrow.
In truth, they, accustomed to life in the big city, longed for this slow and comfortable lifestyle.
Especially here, free from deceit and malice.
"What’s wrong?" Bao Nan, standing beside her, noticed her expression was a bit off, so he asked with concern.
Jiang Tong shook her head, "Nothing, it’s just that when I’m old, I’d like to live in such a small village, enjoy life in old age. While the kids work hard outside, I’ll be planting flowers and grass, raising pigs and sheep with my husband.
Getting up every morning together to herd cattle, feeling the fresh air of the fields, and watching the sunrise, how romantic!"
Hearing this, Bao Nan was slightly stunned, aware of her status as the Jiang Family’s young lady.
Rumors big and small, he had heard some.
She had been raised indulgently by Old Master Jiang since she was young.
Unexpectedly, she liked this kind of life...
But it doesn’t matter, as long as she likes it, he’s fine with it.
Seeing him silent, Jiang Tong awkwardly touched her nose, "Sorry, I’ve been talking too much again."
She didn’t know why, but she hadn’t felt this way before.
Yet now, every time she saw Bao Nan, she couldn’t help but speak lots to him.
This feeling is really strange; she had never experienced it before.
Could she be ill?
Otherwise, why has she been acting so strangely lately...