98: Popular combinations

The car merged into the traffic on the main road, and Yu Heng held the steering wheel with one hand.

"You got your driver's license over the summer break?" Qin Lu asked.

"Yeah, I started learning right after exams," Yu Heng said, using his other hand to pull up the navigation on the car's screen and selecting the Tang-Cao Expressway, the fastest route.

"You're certainly bold," Qin Lu said in a flat voice. "How long has it been since you got your license, and you're already daring to drive on the expressway?"

"It's not like you just found out how bold I am, is it?" Yu Heng's hand reached for her leg again.

If one is bold enough, the Counselor can go on mater... "Then your boldness is a bit over the top!" Qin Lu glared at him but didn't bother with his hand. "Who just suddenly decides to go to the Capital City like this?"

"Haha, alright, we're already on the way," Yu Heng said, looking straight ahead. "I checked the high-speed rail tickets to Beijing. The next one is at 4:20. It's 2:30 now, and it takes an hour to drive there, so the timing is perfect."

"Are we really just leaving like this?" Qin Lu murmured, looking out the window.

"What else?" Yu Heng glanced at her. "I've already bought tickets for both of us."

"When did you buy them?"

"I just bought them while I was searching," Yu Heng said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"How do you know my ID number?" Qin Lu was stunned.

"When Qin Ya registered for livestreaming last time, didn't she use your ID?" Yu Heng stuffed his phone back into his pocket. "I took one look and remembered it."

"Why would you memorize that?" She turned her head to look at him.

"To be prepared for a rainy day," Yu Heng replied casually. "Like right now."

"As for Qin Ya..." She was still a bit worried.

"I told her she's sleeping at Bai Xinran's tonight." Yu Heng had already made arrangements. "Bai Xinran is reliable; she won't let her go hungry."

Qin Lu gave an 'en' in response. She had met that girl, Bai Xinran, twice.

"You're still worried with Qin Ya at my place?" Yu Heng clicked his tongue when he saw her mood was still flat. "Bai Xinran is there. It's not like the two of them will start a fight, right?"

"That's not what I meant..." Qin Lu sighed. "I just feel..."

"Feel what?" Yu Heng glanced sideways at her. "Feel like you shouldn't have come out with me?"

Qin Lu didn't say a word.

"Qin Lu," Yu Heng's voice softened slightly. "In your thirty-eight years of life, has there ever been one thing you did purely for your own happiness?"

Qin Lu was stunned.

For her own happiness?

It seemed... there wasn't.

Studying was to get into a good university, working was for a stable income, getting married was because she reached the age to start a family, and having a child was because it was time to have one.

Even when she first started dating Lin Liyan, it was because she felt he had pursued her for so long and seemed decent enough.

It seemed the only exception was wearing silk stockings; because Yu Heng said they looked good, she felt inexplicably happy and wanted to wear them for him.

"There isn't, right?" Yu Heng could tell from her expression. "So today, just follow me with peace of mind. For the next twenty-four hours, you aren't anyone else—you're just Qin Lu! Do whatever makes you happy!"

—

The car ran smoothly on the expressway, and the scenery outside changed from the suburbs to open fields.

Someone was harvesting rice on the ridges of the winter fields, and Yu Heng raised an eyebrow.

Back in Ancheng, no one even grew wheat anymore, mostly just corn and peanuts, yet people were actually growing rice here.

"You drive quite steadily," Qin Lu said, staring out the window.

"Of course," Yu Heng tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. "The license might be new, but I haven't just started driving."

"I'm still a bit nervous..." Qin Lu murmured. "This trip is a bit too sudden."

Yu Heng sighed, took his right hand off the steering wheel, and patted her thigh. It wasn't hard, but it was enough to make her body tense up.

"If you're still uneasy," he didn't pull his hand back but left it resting on her leg, "I'll find a service area to park and do something else to help you relax. I'm just afraid your high heels might kick a hole in the roof."

Qin Lu turned and glared at him. "You wouldn't dare."

"Just watch me." Yu Heng's eyes were serious when he said this.

Qin Lu stopped talking.

She knew he would dare.

---

Yu Heng parked the car, and Qin Lu followed him out, standing by the car looking a bit lost.

It had been a long time since she had taken a high-speed train, or rather, it had been a long time since she'd even had the concept of "going out."

"Let's go." Yu Heng walked around and naturally took her hand.

Qin Lu's hand instinctively flinched, but Yu Heng held it firmly and led her toward the elevator.

Looking at their clasped hands, she felt her heart racing. This posture was too intimate, like a couple. Neither before nor after marriage had she and Lin Liyan ever been this intimate in public.

She should have pulled her hand away, but the elevator doors opened, and several people walked out. Yu Heng turned sideways and pulled her closer to him.

As the elevator went up, the mirrored walls reflected the two of them. Yu Heng was wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, looking like a college student.

She was wearing a coat and silk stockings, looking... like a young woman keeping him as a toy boy.

"What are you looking at?" Yu Heng suddenly asked.

"Nothing." Qin Lu snapped out of it and looked away.

"We look good together," Yu Heng said.

Qin Lu glared at him. "Don't talk nonsense."

"It's the truth." Yu Heng shrugged. "A mature woman with a 'little wolf dog'—that's what's popular these days."

"Who's a 'little wolf dog'?" Qin Lu tried to pull her hand away, but Yu Heng wouldn't let go.

"Me," he said matter-of-factly, then gave a mischievous smile. "What else? Even if you were a dog, you wouldn't be a 'little wolf dog'."

Hearing this, Qin Lu glared at him fiercely and used her fingernails to pinch the back of his hand.

Yu Heng chuckled and held on even tighter.

The elevator reached the departure level, and Yu Heng led her out. His palm was a bit sweaty, but neither of them let go.

—

While waiting for the train, Yu Heng bought two bottles of water. The two of them sat in the waiting area, not saying much.

"Want some water?" He unscrewed the cap and handed it over.

Qin Lu paused for a moment and took the water bottle.

Yu Heng leaned back in his chair, his long legs stretched out and his hand resting on his knee. He looked at her and asked with a smile, "Have you ever watched a ball game before?"

"No," Qin Lu shook her head. "I don't understand sports."

"It's fine if you don't," Yu Heng laughed. "Just follow along and shout insults when the time comes."

Qin Lu pursed her lips. "I really don't know how to curse at people."

"You'll learn when the time comes." Yu Heng turned his head to look at her. "Once the atmosphere hits, it'll come naturally."

Qin Lu didn't respond and lowered her head to continue drinking water.

The intercom began announcing the ticket check for their train. Yu Heng stood up and reached out his hand to her. "Let's go."

Qin Lu offered her hand and was pulled up by him.

There was a long line at the ticket gate. Yu Heng had her stand in front of him, his hand resting lightly on her waist.

They swiped their IDs to enter the station, took the elevator down, and walked to the platform.

Throughout the entire process, Yu Heng held her hand and never let go.

The high-speed train was already parked on the tracks. Qin Lu looked up at the train number to confirm it was theirs.

"First class is in the front." Yu Heng pulled her forward.

He put the bags on the luggage rack. "You sit on the inside."

Qin Lu sat down, and Yu Heng sat next to her on the aisle side. The seat was very soft. As she relaxed, she realized her shoulders had been tense the whole time.

Yu Heng pulled a box of mints from his bag and offered them. "Want one?"

Qin Lu took one and put it in her mouth. A cool sensation spread across her tongue.

"Are you hungry?" Yu Heng asked. "They have meals on the train. Do you want to eat?"

"I'm not hungry." Qin Lu shook her head, then paused and added, "Are you?"

"I'm not hungry either." Yu Heng leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. "I'm going to sleep for a bit. Wake me up when we arrive."

He fell asleep just like that. Before long, his breathing became steady, and his head tilted over, resting on Qin Lu's shoulder.

Qin Lu's body stiffened for a moment. His hair brushed against her neck, feeling a bit itchy, but she didn't move and let him lean on her.

Qin Lu turned her head to look at him, but she could only see his eyelashes and the bridge of his nose. When he was asleep, he lost his usual aggressiveness and actually looked a bit... well-behaved?

The thought made her feel a bit amused.

She raised her hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally placed it gently on his hair, stroking it lightly a couple of times.

His hair was a bit coarse, not exactly soft to the touch.

Yu Heng moved unconsciously in his sleep, his head finding a more comfortable spot in the crook of her shoulder as he nuzzled against her.

The corners of Qin Lu's mouth curved upward ever so slightly, and she instinctively stroked his head again.

Her phone vibrated. It was a WeChat message from Qin Ya.

Qin Ya: "Mom, did you really go to the Capital City with Yu Heng?"

Qin Lu's fingers paused. Did this little rascal just tell Qin Ya directly?

He didn't even make up an excuse?

She had no choice but to type back: "Yes. You're sleeping at Yu Heng's house tonight. Be good and get along well with Sister Bai Xinran."

Qin Ya: "Okay! Have fun, you two! Don't worry about me!"