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This post was last edited by colinzh on 2016-1-18 at 11:08. (60) Hitchhiking. The company was very quiet on the weekend; with fewer cars in the courtyard, it became even more spacious. The trees scattered around were no longer in the way, revealing their trunks for the first time. Ye Wenhui, who had just left the office with Qin Rui, felt as though he was getting to know this place all over again – it seemed especially fresh to him. As evening approached, the weather was clear. In the early autumn sky, a few sparse white clouds could be seen. The sun had lost its previous intensity and hung quietly in the western sky, its calm presence making the reds appear even redder and the blues even bluer. A gentle breeze blew across the face, and Ye Wenhui’s chest, which had been feeling oppressed, finally got a much-needed breath of fresh air; he couldn’t help but take several deep breaths. Engineer Qin’s car was parked by the road below the building. The two of them walked while chatting casually; the plane trees’ leaves on the ground made a rustling sound under their feet, as if they were elastic, which made their steps feel lighter. Engineer Qin also liked this feeling; after walking a few steps, the two of them tacitly stopped talking, and their paces became synchronized. As they approached the car, the two exchanged smiles. The woman in front of him had bright eyes and beautiful teeth; her long hair swayed gently in the wind, complementing the surrounding environment perfectly. This sight made Ye Wenhui hold his breath (in awe), becoming so distracted that he even forgot what he was supposed to do. Seeing Ye Wenhui staring at her in surprise, Engineer Qin felt a bit embarrassed; she gave Ye Wenhui a slight smile and said, \"Engineer Ye, we’ve arrived. Let’s get in the car.\" ”Only then did Ye Wenhui realize his mistake; he quickly tried to cover it up by coughing twice, took a few steps forward, opened the car door, and sat down in the passenger seat. He remained stiff, not daring to move at all, with his heart pounding violently. It was not until Engineer Qin drove the car out of the gate of the yard that things gradually calmed down. Qin’s full name is Qin Rui; he is two years older than Ye Wenhui and has been working for five or six years. Seeing Ye Wenhui in such a state, he wasn’t annoyed at all – instead, he felt somewhat proud. She has always been confident about her appearance, and over the years, countless people have fallen for her charm; she’s become used to such things. The company is located in an area of Quancheng that is home to many schools, with a large number of primary, secondary, and higher education institutions; there are four or five universities alone. In such a place, there are of course various clothing stores and snack shops, and at night there are many street stalls as well. Over time, it has become a well-known pedestrian street in the area. From the company to the dormitory, this street is a route that Ye Wenhui has to take, but for Qin Rui, it’s the path he least wants to take. Crossing this street leads to one of the main roads in Quancheng; it’s a convenient route for Qin Rui as well. However, there are many other paths that can also lead to that main road, and the road in front of them is the most difficult to traverse. There’s still a long time until dark, but this place is already bustling; crowds come and go, and vehicles on the road have to drive with great care. There were also many cars parked on both sides of the road, turning what was originally a fairly wide four-lane road into something that resembled a two-lane road, making the already congested road even harder to navigate. Driving on this road poses a serious test of the driver’s skills; a single mistake can lead to minor problems, such as scratches, or more serious accidents. In extreme cases, it can even cause several vehicles to get stuck together. If, by accident, drivers hit people crossing the road, it becomes an even bigger problem. Qin Rui drove the car, stopping from time to time, his eyes fixed straight ahead; his cheeks were red from tension as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. It took him seven or eight minutes to cover less than half of a street. Ye Wenhui couldn’t drive, and there was nothing much that could be done in such a situation; he could only try to say something light-hearted. Gradually, the two of them became more familiar with each other, and Ye Wenhui stopped being so nervous. After a while, the car reached an intersection. Ye Wenhui had a brilliant idea and said to Qin Rui, \"Engineer Qin, do you see that intersection ahead? We’ll turn in there in a moment.\" ” Qin Rui was puzzled and asked, “Isn’t this a vegetable market? What are we going there for?” ”From the side of the road, it’s clearly a vegetable market; there’s even a large sign by the road that reads “XX Road Vegetable and Fruit Convenience Market”. Ye Wenhui smiled mysteriously and said, “It’s right to follow me; there’s something extraordinary hidden here.” ” Seeing Ye Wenhui in that state, Qin Rui’s curiosity was piqued as well. He placed his hands on the steering wheel and said, “Okay, I’ll go by your advice. If we can’t get out later, you’ll have to pull us along with a tow truck.” ” “Haha, don’t worry, it will definitely be done. ” After waiting another two or three minutes, Engineer Qin finally drove the car to that intersection; he turned the steering wheel and took a sharp turn into it, in a very decisive manner. It was a narrow alley wide enough for only one vehicle to pass through. Under Ye Wenhui’s guidance, Qin Rui carefully avoided the people and objects in the alley. After turning a corner, a large gate came into view immediately; above the gate, in big letters, were the words “XX College” – it turned out to be the entrance to a university. Qin Rui suddenly understood, filled with joy, and turned to Ye Wenhui, giving him a thumbs up. It was much simpler from there on. There were several gates in the university, and there were few cars on the roads within the campus. Ye Wenhui directed Qin Rui to take winding paths around the campus, and it wasn’t long before they reached another gate. Once they stepped outside, they found themselves on the main road in the area. “You’re amazing; you know about such hidden paths. ”Ye Wenhui’s dormitory was nearby, so Qin Rui parked the car by the road; he no longer had to walk along that street, and he felt relieved. Ye Wenhui said, “Our dormitory is right around here. I’ve taken this road many times before, but you’re the first person to dare drive a car in here.” ” “I’m the first one too; don’t try to fool me. I really don’t want to take this path again. ” “Hehe… There’s no need to take this route next time; it’s not that congested on normal days either – it’s only really busy at this time of day. Thank you, Engineer Qin, for driving me even though the traffic is so bad. ” “Don’t be polite – if I had known it was this close, I wouldn’t have brought you; it’s faster to walk anyway. We’ve been through so much together; shouldn’t you show some appreciation? ” After spending time together, the two of them enjoyed talking with each other very much and felt they wanted more time together. As the sun began to set, Ye Wenhui took the opportunity to say to Qin Rui, “Of course. We’ve become friends through tough times. If you have nothing else to do, don’t rush back yet; experience the local night life.” ” Qin Rui hesitated for a moment, pondered for a while, and then said slowly, “Alright, I’ll give you the chance to have dinner with a beautiful woman.” ” Upon hearing this, Ye Wenhui burst into laughter and said, “It’s an honor; thank you, beautiful lady.” ” 17 cities in Shandong Province [Let’s chat]