Chapter 130: Departure for the Country Farmstead

Perhaps it was Chen Xin standing nearby and watching that drew the young woman’s displeasure. The woman shot Chen Xin a sharp look, huffed, and then pouted at the man beside her. The man adjusted his glasses, offered a smile, and turned to Chen Xin.

"Could you go watch somewhere else? You're bothering us."

"I’m just looking."

"Looking at what? You don't have the money to play anyway." Although the young woman didn't say anything overtly malicious, her expression made her disdain perfectly clear.

Chen Xin frowned, glanced at them, and said nothing, intending to walk away. Suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder.

"I just went to get some tokens changed; why did you run off over here?"

Chen Xin turned around, eyes widening. She opened her mouth to speak, but the owner of the hand pulled her toward another machine.

"There’s nothing fun about that coin pusher. Come on, let's go get some water."

As he led Chen Xin away, Zhou Hao glanced back at the pair, giving the man a subtle, scrutinizing look.

"How did you end up here?" Chen Xin asked, surprised, and immediately noticed two teenage boys standing nearby. "Wait, aren't those the two who were on the dance machine?"

"You saw them playing?" Zhou Hao turned and glared at the two boys. "Come on, let's go get some water."

"I’m here with my classmates, you guys go ahead. I need to go back and find them."

"Let's go together. I’m actually taking these two back to your university."

As they walked, Chen Xin learned that Zhou Hao had come specifically to track down these two boys.

"They skipped classes and exams to run away from home. If you’re going to run away, at least have the guts to be self-sufficient. Instead, they raided their parents’ wallets before leaving. Seriously, I’m so annoyed I could hit them." Zhou Hao usually had a calm temperament, but his two young cousins had clearly pushed him to his limit. "Their grandfather thinks they’re at Jin University for a summer camp and kept insisting I come check on them to make sure they weren't suffering."

"Then how did you know they were here?" Chen Xin asked, curious. The two boys looked up at the ceiling with an air of defiance, refusing to meet her eyes.

Chen Xin didn't bother arguing with kids. She smiled and led the three of them to a tea area near the bar. She signaled to Qin Qing and the others, who nodded and stayed put.

"Is that your classmate? Why don't you have them come join us?"

"No need. They still want to play; I'm just keeping an eye on our things." Chen Xin deliberately kept her distance, fearing that the couple might notice Qin Qing and her friends because of her.

"I noticed you weren't really watching the coin pusher earlier. Is there something wrong with those two?"

As soon as Zhou Hao spoke, the two boys exchanged a look, suddenly interested, and pricked up their ears to eavesdrop.

"Well, I’m not entirely sure, but it seems like that woman is dating a classmate from school. It’s quite clear that the guy she's with right now isn't from the school."

"I get it, your classmate is just a spare tire, right?" one of the boys chimed in, his eyes sparkling. "Let me tell you, I've seen plenty of women like that..."

"Behave yourself and go sit over there. You haven't even hit puberty yet, and you're acting like you know women," Zhou Hao scolded, tapping the boy on the forehead and shooing them to a nearby table.

"Big Cousin, that’s just authoritarianism. We’re all hanging out together, why can't we listen? If you don't want us to hear, you shouldn't say it. If you don't say it, I wouldn't hear it, would I?"

Chen Xin found it amusing. She had initially thought these boys were the "cool and aloof" type, but one turned out to be a little chatterbox, while the other was the genuinely cold one.

"Brother, let's go." The quiet boy stood up to leave, but Zhou Hao frowned and told him to sit back down.

"You’re the one who told us to come, and now you’re the one who won't let us leave. What do you want?"

Hearing this, Chen Xin realized the boy was in a rebellious phase. She quickly suggested that Zhou Hao take them back. "I’m with my classmates today. Let’s meet another time."

"Sure, I’ll call you tomorrow," Zhou Hao replied, not standing on ceremony. "We’re staying not far from Jin University. I’ll text you once we get back."

After they left, Qin Qing and Gou Xiangru wandered back. "Was that guy your friend?"

"Yes. Are you both done? What’s next?"

Qin Qing didn't look well, and Gou Xiangru suggested they head back, leaving the male classmates to continue playing if they wished.

On the way back, the three whispered to each other. Chen Xin felt they shouldn't hide the truth, but Qin Qing insisted she had no standing to tell her fellow villager about the situation.

"Don't be stupid, Qin Qing," Chen Xin said, laughing in frustration. "You're acting as a cover for them. If you don't clarify this with your fellow villager beforehand, what happens if she’s caught cheating and turns the blame on you? You’ll be the one who loses the most."

Although Chen Xin's words struck a chord, Qin Qing still refused to speak up. After all, she had only known Chen Xin for a week, while she had known her fellow villager for years; surely the latter wouldn't deceive her?

Gou Xiangru was slightly swayed, but since Qin Qing wasn't acting, she, as a roommate and classmate, couldn't overstep.

The week passed peacefully, and the weekend arrived—the day everyone had agreed to go to an agritainment resort in the suburbs. Most would be leaving the school after the trip, and those remaining would be busy, so they wouldn't gather again until the next semester.

There were about twenty of them, split into two groups. The first group left at 7:30 AM to arrange accommodations. Chen Xin’s group left later, arriving at the bus station by 9:00 AM. It was a forty-minute drive, followed by a hike up a slope, putting their arrival at around 11:00 AM.

Chen Xin and Qin Qing were in the second group. Some PhD students, including Senior Sister Wei, had morning commitments and wouldn't arrive until the afternoon.

Chen Xin was sharing a room with Senior Sister Wei. Upon arrival, she unlocked the door, checked the bedding to ensure it was clean, and put down her bag to wash her face before heading back downstairs.

Their room was on the top floor near the rooftop terrace. It featured an oddly shaped corner where the owner had installed a tatami mat with cushions and a small low table. The rest of the amenities were simple, typical of a rustic resort. In this day and age, boutique homestays hadn't yet become popular; most private inns in tourist spots followed the same style—cleanliness was the priority, followed by service, with everything else being secondary.

Chen Xin boiled water, rinsed the tea set she had brought, and placed it on the small table.

She wasn't in a hurry to leave; she wanted to wait for Senior Sister Wei, as she had the key. If she left, it would be a hassle to have the front desk staff come up to open the door again.

Just as she finished rinsing the cups, she heard a knock. It was Lu Qing and another male classmate.

"We just called; the seniors and the professors are on their way. We decided to go play first instead of eating, then come back around one o'clock to eat together. Do you want to join us?"