Chapter 027: On the Way Home from Work

Lin Luyao clocked out at the door and started walking toward the bus stop.

Halfway there, she suddenly realized: the last bus that stopped at her campus gate left at eight-thirty. By the time she got on and reached the transfer station, it would be far too late.

Forget it, better call a cab... At least she was earning overtime pay today.

Though she told herself it was all right to indulge just this once, her legs dutifully carried her in the opposite direction—at least if she left the tech park before hailing a taxi, she could save two yuan.

Though Lin Luyao had wandered the park countless times in daylight, this was her first time doing so at night.

The streetlights on either side of the road, as if oblivious to the cost of electricity, cast a bright glow across the pavement, stretching her shadow out long and thin.

A materialist at heart, Lin Luyao nonetheless found her mind suddenly replaying scenes from horror movies—what if a white ghostly figure drifted up behind her, calling her name in the darkness...

A car horn blared.

Startled out of her imaginings, she turned to see a white sedan trailing her.

“Oh, mother!”

Seeing her glance back, the car rolled up beside her, and the familiar face of Qin Shishen appeared in her view.

“So it’s you!” Lin Luyao would never admit that, in that instant, her legs had nearly buckled from fright.

Fortunately, she managed to keep her composure. Otherwise, she’d have embarrassed herself thoroughly.

“You’re only just getting off work? Why are you alone—no colleagues with you?”

“Well, it’s a special case today. Everyone’s working overtime. I’m actually one of the first to leave.”

“Where are you headed? I remember the bus stop isn’t this way.”

Lin Luyao sighed helplessly at his words. “I know, but the bus that stops at our school is already done for the night. I thought I’d go out to the main road to catch a cab—it’s a bit more convenient.”

Qin Shishen nodded in understanding, but glanced around and frowned.

A young woman walking alone at night—however you looked at it, it wasn’t safe.

He couldn’t help but offer, “How about I give you a ride? I can drop you off at the main road, or even take you all the way back to campus.”

But he’d overlooked one thing—for a young woman walking alone at night, the sudden appearance of a well-meaning adult man could seem even more threatening and dangerous.

“No, no! That’s too much trouble for you!” Lin Luyao quickly waved her hand, explaining that she’d already called a ride and that the driver would be there any minute.

Perhaps afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she even pulled up the order screen on her phone and held it up for him to see.

Qin Shishen didn’t insist. He simply reminded her to be careful, stepped on the gas, and drove ahead. He didn’t go fast, though—he kept watching Lin Luyao in his rearview mirror.

After all, they were at least acquaintances. As the former big brother next door, he could look out for her a bit, on behalf of the brother who wasn’t here.

Lin Luyao had no idea what was passing through Qin Shishen’s mind.

After saying goodbye, she kept her head down, replying to messages as she walked.

She hadn’t checked her phone all afternoon, and now a row of red notifications glared at her, annoyingly persistent.

When they were together, Jiang Xiaohan hadn’t seemed so chatty, but now, after just a short separation, her messages had multiplied endlessly.