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Jie Bing's behavior left several people feeling quite awkward.
While the two were in the restroom, Cui Shuigen and Hu Ruoyun exchanged words. "Brother San, do you think Lao Liu is a bit targeted towards me?" The leader, Zhao Jinpu, entered while adjusting his belt. "Third Sister, Cui Shuigen, don't be like Lao Liu; he's younger..."
And just like that, the matter was brushed aside.
Friday marked National Day, and with Saturday and Sunday following, it was a three-day holiday. Hu Ruoyun and Mao Na had planned a trip to Tai Jun Mountain in Dongjiang County, which is part of Jiang City.
Dongjiang County is located about 100 kilometers west of Jiangbei City. From Jiangbei's Bus Station West, there is a special tourist line to Tai Jun Mountain that takes over an hour to reach.
Their plan was for Mao Na to take Bus No. 9 from Jiangbei Postal and Telecommunications School to the East Gate of Jiangbei University, where Hu Ruoyun would wait at the bus stop. They would then transfer to Tram No. 101 to reach Bus Station West.
Mao Na was excited; this was their first outing since they had clarified their relationship. They had prepared well for the trip, bringing food and drinks, and since they heard it could be chilly in the mountains, they also packed two warm jackets.
On the bus, Hu Ruoyun recounted the incident from the previous night when Jie Bing had thrown cards and made hurtful remarks. Mao Na responded with a knowing smile, "That kid must have been spoiled by his family. Different backgrounds lead to different experiences and mindsets. Regardless, you'll be living under the same roof for three years; his behavior is a bit much."
She then turned to Hu Ruoyun and advised, "Don't dwell on it too much. As he gains more experience over time, he should gradually realize that not everyone in society will indulge him like his parents do."
Hu Ruoyun teased her back, "But you and Mao Jie come from good backgrounds too; how come you can still hang out with someone like me from a farming family?"
Mao Na blushed slightly but playfully lifted Hu Ruoyun's chin with one hand. "Sister was captivated by your talent..."
Then she became serious again. "The gap between social classes will never disappear. Have you noticed how civil servants—especially those in important departments—can leverage their unique status to access resources across education, living standards, business, healthcare... They navigate these fields effortlessly and seem almost omnipotent.
And then there are industry leaders under state-owned enterprises: railways, oil giants, tobacco companies, state grid corporations, telecom giants, banks... Who can compete with them?
No one can guarantee they won't have dealings with hospitals or schools throughout their lives. Medical and educational professionals always carry an aura; their managers and leaders are highly respected and can connect with society on many levels due to their advantageous conditions.
Then there are wealthy individuals outside the system. As the saying goes, 'money makes the world go round.' In their world, money often opens doors that seem impossible otherwise; it’s said that money 'gives birth' to everything.
However, in this world, there are no purely defined roles of A or B; identities shift according to circumstances."
Hu Ruoyun was genuinely surprised that this "sister," who was only three years older than him, had such profound insights into society.
He held her hand earnestly and said, "I’m starting to admire you; what you say is both realistic and deeply philosophical!"
Mao Na laughed again. "Come on now; that's just what my dad says."
They chatted and laughed along the way, and before long, over an hour had passed.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the scenic area, Hu Ruoyun asked Mao Na to wait while he queued up to buy tickets. There were so many people that it took him over ten minutes to get them. When he returned, he found Mao Na chatting with two other girls.
As they approached, Hu Ruoyun realized that the two people were Jiang Qiuying and Zhang Meina. Zhang Meina's eyes lit up when she saw Hu Ruoyun. "I heard from Qiuying that you're in the Chinese department at Jiangbei University. I'm in Building 8 of the Provincial Police Academy. Jiangbei University is so big! I've been to your school a few times and never saw you! Which building do you have classes in? Which dorm do you live in?"
Seeing Jiang Qiuying there made Hu Ruoyun very happy. She briefly answered Zhang Meina, "I usually have classes in Building 3 of the Liberal Arts Zone and live in Room 513 of Male Dormitory 7." Then she asked Jiang Qiuying, "When did you arrive?"
Jiang Qiuying replied, "I got here yesterday afternoon. Meina said it was hard to end those tense high school days, so she invited me over to relax."
Just then, a man and a woman waved at Zhang Meina from a distance. Zhang Meina turned to Mao Na and Hu Ruoyun and said, "That's my brother and my sister-in-law. My brother is the deputy director of the Nanfeng Subdistrict Office in the South District, enjoying a position equivalent to a department head. My sister-in-law works at the National Tax Bureau in the South District... We drove here in my brother's office car; it's more convenient than public transport." While waving back at them, she told Mao Na and Hu Ruoyun, "We'll go over first; we'll chat later!"
Watching them leave, Mao Na expressed her regret, "I wanted to talk to Qiuying more."
Hu Ruoyun took her hand and said, "Come on, let's head up the mountain. She's with Zhang Meina; we'll find another chance."
Mao Na mischievously winked at Hu Ruoyun, "Don't you think Beautiful Zhang looks even better than before?"
Hu Ruoyun feigned ignorance, "Really? I didn't notice."
Mao Na playfully reached out to poke her, "I don't believe you! Look how she's already preparing for an encounter with you!"
Hu Ruoyun seriously held her hand, "The most important thing in a relationship is the resonance of souls; it seems we can't spark anything."
Mao Na persisted, "I believe we can't spark anything, but what if we accidentally ignite something?" After saying this, she blushed.
They continued climbing up the mountain while enjoying the beautiful scenery around them. The higher they went, the more stunning the views became—rolling green hills, red leaves and green grass, yellow flowers and green trees, cascading waterfalls and flowing springs—nature's brush painted autumn's charm, elegance, and authenticity!
After more than two hours had passed, it became increasingly strenuous. They sat down on a large rock to rest for a moment, had some snacks and water. As they prepared to climb again, Mao Na patted her legs and said, "I can't go on anymore; I really can't walk!"
Hu Ruoyun took all her belongings onto herself and supported one of her arms to help her up as they slowly made their way down. It hadn't felt steep going up, but coming down made the path seem like a sheer cliff.
When they reached the foot of the mountain and boarded the return bus, it was nearly dark. Hu Ruoyun wasn't sure if Mao Na was happy or not; all he knew was that she looked exhausted.
Arriving at Jiangcheng West Station, this time Mao Na didn't refuse Hu Ruoyun's offer to walk her back to campus. He accompanied her all the way to the dormitory building and watched as she slowly climbed the stairs step by step before he headed off to take a bus back to Jiangbei University.
Upon returning to his dormitory, he sensed something was off about the atmosphere inside. The other five people were present but not chatting; in fact, no one was speaking at all.
When he entered, the leader simply remarked, "Third Sister is back." The second member Miao Shujie and Lao Si Liu Tianwang nodded slightly while Cui Shuigen exchanged a brief glance with him. Lao Liu sat on his bed without lifting his head.
What happened?
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