Burying herself in assignments from her core classes, Tang Yan barely noticed time slipping by. When the once-quiet dorm started buzzing with noise again, it was already eight in the evening. Her roommates came back from their night out, laughing and chatting, cheeks flushed pink—clearly from more than just excitement. Looked like there’d been a bit of drinking at the party.
“I’m telling you, Tang Yan, you really missed out tonight! They had these huge Australian lobsters, and we even saw a few super handsome alumni—too bad they’re all taken now.”
Tang Yan turned and gave a small smile. “I had a ton of stuff to finish. I haven’t even completed the task Professor Wei assigned me.”
“Ugh, your life is so boring lately.”
“Yeah, college is supposed to be unforgettable! Don’t you want to make some fun memories?”
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions.
Tang Yan paused to think, then answered sincerely, “I think doing well in school is the most important goal for me.”
There was another reason, too—someone she wanted to catch up to. Only by working hard and improving herself could she one day stand confidently by that person’s side.
“So dull~”
“Totally! Don’t turn into some bookworm, okay?”
Tang Yan turned back to her books, smiling helplessly. Just then, her phone buzzed against the desk, set to vibrate mode. The screen flashed with Aunt Ji’s name. Tang Yan quickly grabbed the phone and stepped out onto the balcony, sliding the glass door shut behind her.
She answered softly, pressing the phone to her ear. “Hello, Aunt Ji?”
“No reason. Just calling to see what you’re up to,” Ji Yuqing said, then paused before casually asking, “Did your mom talk to you today?”
“Yeah!” Tang Yan replied. “She told me not to date and to focus on my studies.”
“I see…” Ji Yuqing rested her chin on her hand and hesitated for a moment before saying, “She’s not wrong. Relationships should be approached carefully. You can’t let them get in the way of school.”
A silence fell between them after that. Tang Yan played with the curtain edge, thinking hard before mustering the courage to ask, “Then… Aunt Ji, when do you think is the right time to start dating?”
She knew it might be a question with an obvious answer, but she couldn’t help asking anyway.
Ji Yuqing was also standing out on her balcony, surrounded by darkness, lit only by the faint glow from the room behind her. The shadows danced softly over her elegant profile, making her look striking.
“That’s your choice,” she said. “Aunt Ji can’t decide that for you. As long as you think the time is right, then it is.”
She paused, then added, “But…”
Tang Yan instinctively held her breath.
“Whatever you choose, you have to take responsibility for your life. Some things, once done, can’t be undone.”
“I think… I kind of get it,” Tang Yan murmured, half-understanding.
Ji Yuqing smiled faintly. “Don’t stay up too late. Take care of your health.”
“Mm, I’ll wrap up soon and take a shower. You too, Aunt Ji—rest early.”
After they hung up, Tang Yan lowered her phone slowly and kept turning Aunt Ji’s words over in her head. What did she really mean by all that?
Summer break was fast approaching. Word had been spreading among the students, including Tang Yan, that the school would be organizing a mandatory social practice program. Everyone had to participate, and the credits earned from it would count toward graduation. The class was buzzing with curiosity, eager to know what the activity would involve.
Just a few days before finals, the counselor came in to hold a class meeting, explaining everything in detail. Students could either form small groups or complete the project individually.
Tang Yan was still thinking it over when her roommates dragged her into forming a summer practice team—leaving her with no say in the matter.
They initially wanted Tang Yan to be team leader, since she had the best grades, but she kept refusing. This wasn’t like studying—it required people skills, and Xia Zihan was much better at that. After a bit of discussion, they all agreed to make Xia Zihan the group leader.
At home, Aunt Ji was helping Tang Yan pack. Folding clothes together, she asked, a bit worried, “Just the four of you girls? Will that be safe?”
“It’ll be fine! We’re putting together a detailed itinerary before we leave, including daily schedules. We even have to write daily journals about our activities and submit them when school starts again,” Tang Yan said cheerfully.
Ji Yuqing paused mid-fold, fabric draped over her wrist. “Why did you all decide to go somewhere as far as Xinjiang?”
“We thought the culture there would be really interesting to explore—its history, the people, the traditions. It’s full of character.”
Ji Yuqing nodded thoughtfully and continued organizing clothes, reminding her gently, “The weather there is dry, so drink plenty of water. Otherwise you’ll get nosebleeds.”
Tang Yan blinked in surprise. “You’ve been there, Aunt Ji?”
“Yes,” she said with a soft smile. “Back when I worked in sales, I traveled all over. I stayed there for a while handling business.”
“Aunt Ji, you’re still young now,” Tang Yan blurted out without thinking.
Ji Yuqing paused, straightened up, and said, “You keep packing. I’ll go get something for you.” Then she quickly left the room. Tang Yan couldn’t help wondering what it was.
A few minutes later, Ji Yuqing returned, holding two large bottles that looked like skincare products.
“Take these with you. Use them every morning and night after washing your face. They’ll keep your skin hydrated and help prevent allergies.”
“Thank you, Aunt Ji.” Tang Yan took them with both hands—they were heavy.
“What time’s your train?”
“Uh… Sunday afternoon, I think? Around three… Let me check—” She reached for her phone, but Ji Yuqing cut in quickly.
“No need. Just be safe with your classmates, and message me when you arrive.”
“I will. Don’t worry, Aunt Ji.”
“Good.”
Ji Yuqing nodded. “You go on packing. I’ve got a few documents to deal with.”
“Okay. You go ahead, Aunt Ji—I’ve got this.” Tang Yan watched her leave the room, then let out a long breath and continued folding her clothes neatly into her suitcase. She’d be gone for at least half a month. She’d never been away from Aunt Ji for that long. She wasn’t even sure she’d be able to sleep well while she was gone.
Back in her study, Ji Yuqing sat down and opened an email on her computer. But after barely three seconds, she closed the tab and pulled up a travel site instead. She searched for trains from Huadu to Xinjiang that left on Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m.
Such a long trip… Could a few girls really handle it all alone? With her chin propped on the back of her hand, Ji Yuqing stared at the screen, deep in thought.