55: Chapter 55 Going Home

For the rest of the time, they walked and took photos along the way; even Chen Fan was dragged into a few shots with them.

By the time they came down from the city wall, it was already past six in the evening.

Zhou Yumeng checked the time and suggested, "Hungry? Shall we have dinner together?"

Chen Fan nodded.

So, the group found a Sichuan restaurant.

The shop wasn't large, hidden in a small alley at the foot of the city wall, its sign half-obscured by a nearby plane tree. If Zhou Yumeng hadn't mentioned passing by it before, they wouldn't have noticed it at all.

Although the shop was small, the food was indeed excellent. The Boiled Fish was spicy and fresh, the Spicy Chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and even the simplest stir-fried greens had the breath of the wok.

After eating, Chen Fan intended to settle the bill, but he was stopped just as he stood up.

This time, it was Su Mian who stopped him.

"My treat," she said seriously, already pulling her wallet out of her bag.

Chen Fan was stunned for a moment. "No need, let me."

Su Mian shook her head, holding her wallet and looking at him with a hint of stubbornness in her eyes. "I said I would treat you next time."

Chen Fan looked into Su Mian's clear eyes and finally nodded with a smile. "Alright, then it's your treat."

Only then did Su Mian reveal a soft smile, satisfied as she took her wallet to the front desk to pay.

After leaving the restaurant, Chen Fan intended to see them back to school, but Chen Tong refused.

"This place is close to our school; it's just a short walk," Chen Tong said with a wave of her hand. "Hurry back to your hotel; you've been tired all day."

Zhou Yumeng nodded beside her. "Exactly, we can get back on our own."

Chen Fan thought about it and didn't insist. "Alright, then be careful on the way."

"Don't worry, we're not children," Chen Tong said with a laugh, then added a reminder, "Send me a message when you get to the hotel."

"Mhm."

Chen Fan stood there, watching the girls walk deep into the alley, chatting and laughing. The streetlights stretched their shadows long, and as they turned the corner, their laughter gradually faded.

Only then did he turn and walk toward where the car was parked.

...

After returning to the hotel, Chen Fan took a shower and lay down on the bed.

However, Su Mian's figure involuntarily appeared in his mind. Thinking of her adorable, ditsy look, Chen Fan couldn't help but let out a smile.

This girl really is quite likable.

Just then, Lin Xi's image also surfaced in his mind.

Both girls were very beautiful, but their personalities were quite different.

Thinking of Lin Xi, he suddenly remembered something and took his phone out of his pocket.

Then he opened QQ.

Sure enough.

There was an unread message in QQ, sent by Lin Xi.

[Lin Xi: What are you doing?]

Looking at the time, it was sent earlier this morning.

[Chen Fan: Nothing much, just lying in bed chatting with you now.]

[Lin Xi: Why did you reply so late? (Angry)]

[Chen Fan: I've been busy outside all day and didn't check my messages.]

[Lin Xi: Where did you go?]

[Chen Fan: Chang'an.]

[Lin Xi: When did you go?]

[Lin Xi: You didn't even tell me you were going to Chang'an (Pouty)]

Seeing Lin Xi's messages, Chen Fan felt a bit helpless. He didn't continue typing and instead called her directly.

After the call connected, there was a two-second silence on the other end before Lin Xi's voice came through.

"Hello?"

"Are you angry?"

"No~"

"I went to Chang'an to handle some business, not for fun, so I didn't tell you."

"Then... then you still can't not tell me~"

"It's not that I'm not telling you. Think about it, since I'm writing novels now, I'll often have to go out of town for business in the future. I can't tell you every single time."

"I know~" Lin Xi's voice softened. "It's just that I looked for you for so long today without a reply, so I got a bit anxious."

"Do you know you were wrong?"

"I know~"

"Since you made a mistake, shouldn't there be some punishment?"

"What punishment?"

"Call me 'Brother'."

"Hmph, I won't."

"If you won't, then forget it. Sigh, it seems you're still blaming me," Chen Fan said with a sigh, pretending to be disappointed.

There was a second of silence on the other end.

"I'm not blaming you~"

"Then why won't you say it?"

"It's too cheesy, I can't say it."

Chen Fan suppressed a laugh. "Just once, and I'll go to sleep right after."

"Really just once?"

The other end went quiet for a few more seconds, and then a very, very small voice came through.

"...Brother."

Chen Fan's mouth immediately split into a wide grin, but his tone remained calm. "What? The signal is bad, I didn't hear clearly."

"Chen Fan!" Lin Xi's volume suddenly spiked. "You did that on purpose!"

Chen Fan finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. "I heard it this time, I heard it."

"I hate you!" Lin Xi huffed. "Hanging up! I'm never talking to you again!"

...

The next morning.

Chen Fan had planned to go straight back to the county, but then he thought that since he was already here, he should buy some food and drinks to take back.

So, he went to the supermarket before heading back.

After leaving the supermarket, he immediately took a taxi to the Chang'an Bus Station and then took the Chang'an-County bus back home.

After a long journey, he finally arrived home around five in the evening.

When he pushed open the door, Chen Jianjun and Wang Mei were watching TV. They immediately turned their heads when they heard the door.

"Xiao Fan~" Wang Mei greeted him with a look of pleasant surprise.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back."

"Put your bag down quickly and have some water first." Wang Mei said, looking at Chen Jianjun. "What are you dazing for? Hurry and pour the boy some water."

"Got it."

"No rush, I brought you some gifts."

As Chen Fan spoke, he took off his backpack and took out three boxes, placing them on the coffee table.

He opened the first box; it was a gold bracelet he had bought for Wang Mei.

"Mom, I bought you a gold bracelet. Let me put it on for you."

"You child, why buy such an expensive thing~" Even as she said this, Wang Mei's face was full of smiles.

Most parents don't raise their children hoping to get something in return.

But when they receive a gift from their child, they are definitely very happy inside.

"Mom, come, I'll put it on for you."

Wang Mei held out her right hand and watched with a smile as Chen Fan slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

"How is it? Does it look good, Old Chen?" Wang Mei asked Chen Jianjun.

"It looks good. Since our son bought it, of course it looks good~"

Chen Fan then opened the box with the Longines PrimaLuna watch.

"Mom, there's more. This is a watch I bought for you."

"And this is a watch for Dad. You both should put them on and see if they look good."

Hearing that there was a gift for him too, a smile appeared on Chen Jianjun's face.

After the two put on their watches, Wang Mei couldn't help but ask:

"Xiao Fan, how much did this watch and bracelet cost?"

"The bracelet was over twelve thousand, and the two watches were about the same price, both a little over twenty thousand."

"Over twenty thousand~" Hearing the price, Wang Mei couldn't help but be shocked. One watch cost over twenty thousand. When she got married, the watch Chen Jianjun bought her was only a dozen or so yuan. They were both watches, but how could the difference be so huge?

Wang Mei glanced at the watch on her wrist.

"Oh, it's almost six o'clock. Xiao Fan must be hungry; I'll go cook."

With that, she walked toward the kitchen.