Chapter 21: Zhang Siqi

Early the next morning, Lin Yi arrived at the designated meeting point, Haiyuan South Station, with his suitcase.

Haiyuan was originally a small county, but after receiving administrative approval, it was upgraded to a city. Despite the upgrade, the infrastructure had yet to keep pace. Their group was traveling to Nanjing in Jiangsu Province for a trip. Since they were leaving the province, they had to take a train from Fulin City, which held jurisdiction over Haiyuan.

When Lin Yi arrived, several people were already waiting. Among them were faces both familiar and strange. Having not seen these people for over a decade, truthfully, he could recall very few of their names.

"Lin Yi, you're here?" Niu Junjie greeted him as soon as he saw him.

"Yeah." Lin Yi nodded, finding a seat for himself. He genuinely didn't know how to engage with them. He was afraid of mispronouncing someone's name, which would be embarrassing. Silence was the safer choice. In reality, among this group, Niu Junjie was the only one he had been close to; his relationships with the others were quite average.

"Lin Yi, I never expected you to be the top scorer in the college entrance exam for Xiang Province." A girl wearing a white baseball cap and a white casual outfit approached him, a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips. A faint fragrance drifted toward him.

Lin Yi glanced at her with surprise, trying to recall her name, but his mind remained a blank slate. In short, he didn't know who she was. Despite this, he maintained basic courtesy.

"Just luck," Lin Yi replied modestly.

"Hmph, then why don't I have such good luck?" Clearly, the girl was not satisfied with his answer.

*I wouldn't know about that,* Lin Yi thought to himself. Outwardly, he simply smiled and did not engage further.

"Lin Yi, could you sing *Your Answer* for me?" She rested her chin on her hand, looking at him with eager eyes.

"Hey, look, it's Lin Yi!" A sudden exclamation echoed through the hall. Lin Yi looked toward the sound and found several girls of similar age staring at him like lions eyeing a lamb. What were they up to? Malicious intent? It couldn't be ruled out. At this thought, Lin Yi’s pupils constricted, and he shifted his weight to the left.

"It really is Lin Yi!"
"Wow! Lin Yi!"

With stars in their eyes, the girls rushed toward him. Seeing this, Lin Yi shifted further to the left, his palms sweating. These women didn't look like they were up to any good.

"Lin Yi!" A girl in a school uniform with two braids and a fair complexion grabbed his arm, looking ecstatic.

"Lin Yi, we’re your fans," another girl said, her face flushed red. She truly hadn't expected to run into him at the station. This was just too lucky!

*Fans?* Lin Yi shifted his seat again, leaving no trace. He had fans now?

"Thanks," Lin Yi replied with a forced smile. To be honest, he didn't care much for fame. He preferred a solitary life and disliked being disturbed.

"Can you give me an autograph?" the girl in the uniform asked excitedly.

"Sure," Lin Yi replied, still smiling, while inwardly praying they would leave once they got their autographs.

"I want one too!"
"Me too!"

...

Not far away, Niu Junjie watched this scene with envy; he wanted that kind of treatment, surrounded by beauties.

"Ouch." A sharp pain hit his arm. Just as he was about to curse, he looked up and saw Shen Jing glaring at him, puffed up with anger. She was mad! *Heh, why is she mad?* As expected, she still cared about him.

"Heh, Lin Yi has such good luck with the ladies; he’s in for it now," Niu Junjie scratched his head, smiling to excuse himself.

"Hmph!" Shen Jing ignored him, turning her head away.

"Honey," Niu Junjie said cheekily.

"Who's your honey? You shameless jerk!"

"Wife."

"Who's your wife! Niu Junjie, I’m telling you, don't push your luck!"

"My little sweetheart."

"Niu! Jun! Jie!" Shen Jing gritted her teeth, staring daggers at him.

"Little Jing, don't be mad. It breaks my heart when you're angry."

Shen Jing...

Within the crowd, a fair-skinned boy in a white T-shirt and ripped black jeans watched the scene with jealousy, sneering under his breath, "Just got lucky, that's all."

"Thank you. Lin Yi, I have one last request. Can you grant it?" The girl in the school uniform blushed, clutching the corner of her shirt, and whispered.

*Can I say no?* Lin Yi mused silently.

"Sure." He nodded with a "smiling" face.

"Lin Yi, you're the best!" The girl was so excited she instinctively gripped his arm. "Hurry, help me take a picture with Lin Yi!" She handed her phone to her friend, ran to Lin Yi's side, and sat down, flashing a sweet smile.

*Click! Click!*

"Lin Yi, goodbye." The girl parted with him reluctantly. If the train hadn't arrived, she would have liked to stay longer. Watching them leave, Lin Yi exhaled in relief, his heart still racing. Those women had finally left. If they had stayed any longer, he might not have survived. He had kept up that fake smile for over twenty minutes.

"Hey, is it my turn?" The girl in the white baseball cap returned to his side, looking at him. "You still haven't sung for me."

"Sing what?"

"*Your Answer*."

"I'm not in the mood right now," Lin Yi said, attempting to decline.

"I don't care."

Lin Yi...

"I'm really not in the mood; I'll sing terribly."

"That's perfect, I'll record it and put it online."

Lin Yi...

"Then I won't... sing."

Just as he spoke, he caught a glimpse of a woman walking toward them and froze. She wore a white dress embroidered with pale pink lotus flowers; her skin was as delicate as warm jade, her cherry lips were vibrant, and two strands of hair danced softly in the breeze. Wearing a white bucket hat and pulling a small suitcase, she walked slowly toward them.

This woman was none other than Zhang Siqi, the girl Lin Yi had secretly admired.

"Sorry, there was traffic on the way here. I'm late; sorry to keep you all waiting," Zhang Siqi said apologetically.

"It's fine." The boy in the white T-shirt and ripped jeans immediately rushed over to take her suitcase, but she declined.

"No need, I've got it."

"Cousin, you're finally here! I've been waiting until my flowers wilted," the girl in the white baseball cap said, pouting as she hopped over to her.

*Cousin?* So this girl was Zhang Siqi's cousin. Lin Yi looked at her in surprise.