An Unexpected Morning Encounter

The early morning air on the track was crisp and refreshing, with dew still lingering on the grass, and the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of earth. Chen Yuchen watched with amusement as the group of boys, who had earlier been pestering the girl, scurried away after his intervention. His serious expression had made them genuinely believe he was a new, young teacher.

The girl he had helped bowed her head slightly and said, "Thank you, sir." Her figure was well-proportioned, clearly the result of regular exercise. The tight-fitting leggings accentuated her toned legs, giving her an air of strength, while the simple sports tank top made her waist appear even more slender.

Chen Yuchen responded nonchalantly, "Next time you come out for a run, try not to wear something so thin. It could attract unnecessary attention. I won't always be around to help."

The girl was momentarily taken aback but quickly nodded, appearing obedient.

As Chen Yuchen resumed his run, the girl quietly followed a few paces behind, maintaining a respectful distance. The track was sparsely populated, with a few students scattered here and there, engaged in their morning workouts. Ever since the girl had started following Chen Yuchen, the boys who had previously tried to approach her backed off, perhaps assuming that he was her boyfriend.

After a few more laps, Chen Yuchen stopped to stretch, and the girl followed suit. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, "Sir, may I ask your name?"

"Just call me Mr. Chen," he replied coolly.

The girl, unsatisfied with the vague response, pressed further, "Could you at least tell me your last name?"

Chen Yuchen glanced at her, a smile tugging at his lips. "Mr. Chen is fine."

"Oh," she murmured, but there was a flicker of intrigue in her eyes. She felt that this "teacher" in front of her had an air of mystery, different from the usual stern demeanor of most instructors. He had a calm yet approachable charm that made him even more captivating.

"Sir, do you come here every morning? Maybe we could run together from now on? That way, those boys won't bother me anymore," the girl cautiously suggested, her tone tinged with hope.

"I'm busy most of the time. I only come occasionally," Chen Yuchen replied curtly.

A trace of disappointment flickered across the girl's face, but she quickly replaced it with a bright smile. "In that case, could I at least get your contact information? Maybe you could let me know when you're coming."

Chen Yuchen thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright," he agreed. He pulled out his phone and handed it to the girl. "Give me your QQ number."

The girl eagerly recited her QQ number, and after he added her as a friend, he finally learned that her name was Chen Leyi. She seemed pleased, and with a smile, Chen Yuchen said, "Well, I've got to go."

The girl nodded and watched him as he walked away.

After leaving the track, Chen Yuchen took a detour to the university cafeteria, where he bought some steamed buns and soy milk to bring back to the dorm. Upon returning, he found that Zhang Yi and Zhang Ben were still fast asleep, snoring loudly, while Wang Yishu was already up, quietly reading by the window. The fresh morning air blew through the open window, carrying the scent of water elms and pink locust flowers.

"Morning, Yuwen," Wang Yishu greeted him softly when he saw Chen Yuchen enter.

"Morning," Chen Yuchen replied, smiling as he glanced at Zhang Yi and Zhang Ben, still snoring away. "I take it you couldn't sleep through the noise either?"

Wang Yishu chuckled but didn't say much, his eyes returning to the book in his hands—a copy of Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood.

"Enjoying that?" Chen Yuchen asked.

"Just reading it casually," Wang Yishu responded.

Nodding, Chen Yuchen didn't press further. Instead, he handed the breakfast to Wang Yishu. "Here, have some breakfast. I brought some for everyone."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly—" Wang Yishu started to decline.

"No need to be polite. It's bad to skip breakfast." Chen Yuchen smiled.

"Alright then, I won't say no. Thanks, Yuwen!" Wang Yishu accepted the food with a grin.

Chen Yuchen nodded, then changed into some casual clothes. He took a quick wash with warm water and, as he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he couldn't help but feel satisfied. The youthful, energetic body staring back at him was one of the perks of his time-traveling experience that he found most gratifying.

After getting dressed, Chen Yuchen mentioned to Wang Yishu that he was heading out for a bit.

"Where are you off to?" Wang Yishu asked casually.

"I've got something to take care of," Chen Yuchen replied vaguely, not offering any more details.

Yesterday, his latest earnings from the small website he worked with had come through—90,000 yuan for the month of August. Combined with the leftover amount from July and an additional 20,000 from his stock market ventures, he now had 150,000 yuan in total. The housing prices near the university town were around 6,000 yuan per square meter, with a typical apartment costing about 600,000 yuan. The down payment would only be 120,000, which meant he already had more than enough for the deposit. With this in mind, Chen Yuchen decided that today would be a good time to check out some properties and see if there was a suitable opportunity to make a purchase.