Chapter 41: Farewell
On the evening of August 26, Li Dong rushed back to Dongping from Hechuan.
By the time he arrived downstairs at Qin Yuhan's house, it was already past eleven o'clock at night.
Seeing the faint silhouette under the lights from a distance, Li Dong's heart softened, and he quickened his pace.
"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" Li Dong asked.
Qin Yuhan, who had been waiting in the night for a long time, replied with a slightly hoarse voice, "The car leaves at six-thirty to Qingyang, and then the train at nine o'clock."
"I'll see you off!" Li Dong said.
A glimmer of light flashed in Qin Yuhan's eyes, but she quickly bit her lip and shook her head, "No need. My dad will accompany me to the capital."
Li Dong felt a pang of bitterness and apologized, "I'm sorry, I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to be with you."
During the entire summer vacation, he had seen Qin Yuhan less than ten times. Initially, Qin Yuhan had gone to the countryside, and later, he had been busy selecting sites for the branch stores, hardly staying in Dongping.
In the busyness of summer, he realized now that he seemed to have neglected the girl waiting for him in the dark.
"No need to apologize."
Qin Yuhan silently adjusted Li Dong's somewhat disheveled collar and said softly, "I heard from my mom that you've been so busy with opening new stores that you haven't even had time to eat. You need to learn to take care of yourself."
Li Dong nodded, holding the girl in his arms, and quietly inhaled the fragrance from her hair.
The embrace lasted for a long time. Qin Yuhan, holding back tears, smiled and said, "It's not like we'll never see each other again. Although Pingchuan is far from the capital, it's only a ten-hour drive. Don't forget to visit me in the capital."
"I won't forget. I'm even worried about someone poaching me," Li Dong said with a forced smile, feeling a sense of emptiness.
With Qin Yuhan leaving, they would be separated by thousands of miles. Meeting again would be a hundred times more difficult than now.
At this moment, Li Dong felt some regret.
...
The next morning.
At the Qingyang train station waiting hall.
Qin Yuhan seemed absent-minded, frequently glancing towards the station entrance.
Qin Hai furrowed his brow, several times trying to speak but swallowing his words.
When the train began ticket checks, and his daughter still seemed not to hear, Qin Hai couldn't help but say, "Yuhan, the train is about to leave. That guy definitely won't come."
Last night, his daughter and Li Dong had lingered downstairs until past midnight before coming home, and Qin Hai had been dissatisfied with Li Dong for a long time.
Seeing his daughter still reluctant, Qin Hai was even more enraged.
"I know," Qin Yuhan said with a low mood, "I told him not to come. He still has things to do."
"What could a student have to do? I think he just doesn't…"
"Li Dong!"
Qin Yuhan's surprised exclamation interrupted Qin Hai's angry words.
Qin Hai turned around and saw Li Dong, sweaty and breathless, running from the entrance of the station. His face darkened immediately. This guy was deliberately making things difficult for him!
...
Li Dong, gasping for breath, ignored the glaring Qin Hai and smiled at Qin Yuhan, "The car broke down halfway, but luckily it didn't delay the time."
Qin Yuhan was happy inside but scolded him, "I told you not to come. It's so hot today, and you'll have to sit for more than an hour on the way back."
"It's okay. I regret not being able to accompany you to the capital. If I hadn't come to see you off, I'd regret it for the rest of my life."
"Cough, cough!"
Qin Hai, feeling uncomfortable listening to Li Dong's increasingly affectionate words, cleared his throat loudly, reminding Li Dong that he wasn't invisible!
Hearing the annoying cough, Li Dong desperately wanted to ignore the third wheel.
But seeing Qin Yuhan blushing and pulling her hand away from him, Li Dong had no choice but to look up and greet, "Hello, Uncle."
"Mm."
"Cough, cough…" Qin Hai pretended to clear his throat and urged, "Yuhan, the train is about to leave. Let's go in."
Qin Yuhan was reluctant, holding Li Dong's hand tightly.
Qin Hai's eyes were almost popping out. Seeing his obedient daughter ignore him, he felt a pang of sadness and looked at Li Dong with a murderous glare.
Li Dong, now more concerned with Qin Yuhan's gesture, was smiling like a blooming flower.
Seeing that the time was indeed getting late, Li Dong, taking advantage of Qin Hai's inattention, quickly took a bank card from his pocket and slipped it into Qin Yuhan's hand.
Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "The password is six eights. Use it, and I'll transfer more later."
Qin Yuhan wanted to refuse but was firmly held by Li Dong.
"Don't refuse. You know me!"
Li Dong's tone was firm, and Qin Yuhan's grip gradually loosened.
Hearing the ticket inspector urging them, Qin Yuhan reluctantly said, "I'll accept it. You go back now, and remember to visit me!"
"I won't forget!"
Li Dong nodded heavily and released Qin Yuhan's hand.
Watching Qin Yuhan reluctantly being pulled through the ticket gate by Qin Hai, Li Dong waved his hand vigorously and shouted, "Yuhan, call me when you arrive!"
"Mm!"
Qin Yuhan responded loudly but did not see Qin Hai's neck turning red with anger!
After waiting until Qin Yuhan's figure disappeared through the ticket gate, Li Dong turned and exited the station.
...
After sending off Qin Yuhan, the time for Li Dong to start school was getting closer.
On August 28, construction began simultaneously on four branch stores of Faraway Supermarket, marking the official start of its expansion.
On the same day, a small supermarket in Dongping also started construction, with an area of just over eighty square meters.
This was a convenience store set up by Li Dong's parents, coinciding with his school start date.
...
On September 1, the performance summary for Faraway Supermarket in August was completed.
The supermarket's sales in August were 14.8 million, with a net profit of 2.26 million.
The initial investment for the four branch stores was 1.4 million, leaving 860,000. Apart from Sun Tao's 86,000 in dividends, Li Dong's account received 774,000.
To celebrate the first month's successful opening, Li Dong gave out nearly 100,000 in bonuses, and Yang Yun received an 8,800 red envelope, making her smile with delight.
After spending 180,000 to buy a shop for his parents, 50,000 deposited into Qin Yuhan's card, and 30,000 repaid in loans, Li Dong's actual take-home amount was around 400,000.
...
On September 3, Li Dong received a phone call from Yuan Xue.
The start of school at Renmin University was a few days later than at Beijing University. Yuan Xue called to say goodbye to Li Dong.
This was their first conversation since the college entrance exam.
On the phone, Yuan Xue's words were still brief, just telling Li Dong that she was going to the capital the next day before falling silent.
Just when Li Dong thought Yuan Xue had forgotten to hang up, Yuan Xue suddenly asked, "Li Dong, did you ever like me?"
Li Dong was stunned, and until Yuan Xue said she understood and hung up the phone in a disappointed tone, he didn't speak.
...
On September 5, the day before Jiang University started.
Cao Fang had packed Li Dong's luggage at home and talked to him all night.
Li Chengyuan silently accompanied them, not saying any warm words but reassuring Li Dong to take care of himself and get along well with classmates and teachers at university.
This time, Li Dong didn't feel overly reluctant to leave. The Dongping supermarket was already on track, the branch stores were being built in an orderly manner, and Sun Tao was watching over things, so he didn't need to worry too much.
His parents were also eagerly awaiting the opening of the convenience store, and with no illnesses or disasters, Li Dong could feel at ease.
On the morning of September 6, Li Dong didn't let his parents see him off. He boarded the bus to Pingchuan alone.