It wasn’t until they boarded the train that Xu Nian’an finally realized Pei Yicheng and Ling Dong had been with them the entire time.
"You guys..." Xu Nian’an came to this realization belatedly, he thought to himself that on the train, how come Brother Cheng didn’t say any words of farewell, could it be they were also returning to Beining?
Pei Yicheng’s gaze fell on Xu Nianhua in a seemingly nonchalant way as he said, "I haven’t been back since my leg healed, and now I have company."
Xu Nian’an looked at him, as if asking: Wasn’t your leg already healed? It’s been two months, why are you only going back now?
However, Xu Nian’an didn’t dwell on it and simply asked, "Brother Cheng, do you know where Beining University is? Where is Ningbei Medical University? Are the two universities close to each other?"
Being busy with learning medicine all this time, Xu Nian’an had forgotten to ask about this previously.
He thought, since they are both in Beining, even if they are far apart, it won’t be too outrageous.
"One in the south and one in the north," Pei Yicheng answered.
Seeing Xu Nian’an’s confused look, he further elaborated, "When we arrive at Beining Station, we won’t be far from Beining University, but it’s still a two-hour drive to Ningbei Medical University."
"Two hours?" Xu Nian’an was somewhat surprised, saying, "That’s four hours for a round trip, half the day is gone!"
If you add in the waiting time for the train, that’s five hours gone.
"Big brother, it’s okay. During vacation, I’ll come to visit you just the same," Xu Nianhua said, and Xu Nian’an immediately shook his head, "Little sister, you just stay in school peacefully. I’ll come to see you. Riding such a long distance, you can’t even make sense of directions. What if you get lost? Where would I even start looking for you?"
She may not know the way, but she certainly can read signs.
"You must listen to me on this, I’ve promised Mom that I’ll visit you whenever I get the chance. Otherwise, she definitely won’t be at ease back home," Xu Nian’an was particularly insistent on this point.
Xu Nianhua pursed her lips and said, "Big brother, did you forget? Yining is also at the same university as I am. We can go visit you together."
"I might not know the way, but Yining surely does," Xu Nianhua added.
Xu Nian’an only belatedly realized that Xu Nianhua wasn’t like him, all alone.
Pei Yicheng suddenly spoke up.
The siblings Xu Nianhua and Xu Nian’an looked at each other and for a long moment did not comprehend what Pei Yicheng meant by his words.
"I’m also a student at Beining University," Pei Yicheng added.
His words were like throwing a huge stone into a calm lake, stirring up a massive splash.
The train kept moving forward.
"Thank you, big brother."
Xu Nianhua was holding a cup of instant noodles, and even though she hadn’t started eating yet, just the smell was enough to whet her appetite.
Xu Nianhua gazed out at the rapidly retreating scenery through the window, and even though the smell in the carriage was a bit unpleasant, it was still a uniquely interesting journey for her.
"It would be nice if we were at home, I’d cook a poached egg too."
Thinking of the times he made instant noodles at home, Xu Nian’an remembered how an additional poached egg always made it taste amazing.
"I wish we could, but when you’re out and about, don’t think too much about it," Xu Nianhua said, feeling a strong longing for sausages. Instant noodles with sausages were simply the best partners.
Unfortunately, it would still be many years before she could have sausages again, right?
She had thought about making them herself, but she didn’t know how to make them, so she dismissed the idea.