After admiring the fiery red maple leaves, as the cabbage wall beside the cafeteria grew taller day by day, the chill of autumn gradually intensified.
Before evening self-study, Zhang Guoqing specifically asked Zhou Jiao to wear an extra layer. This silly girl, once she becomes interested, loves to stroll around the campus leisurely.
As he expected, after class Zhou Jiao was holding a book and started to look around in the direction of the dormitory building. Seeing this, he waved farewell to Yi Jiefang and the others.
The couple wandered aimlessly around the campus, the strong wind at night rustled the leaves on both sides of the road; Zhang Guoqing didn’t particularly find it romantic.
He just couldn’t understand what beautiful scenery there was for Zhou Jiao to appreciate in the pitch darkness unless some crazies were also wandering the yard, making it feel like a ghost movie being filmed.
Of course, Zhang Guoqing would never voice these thoughts. Since he couldn’t appreciate it, he might as well accompany her. The chill gave him a chance to clear his mind and organize his thoughts.
On the way, they saw several crazies under the streetlamp memorizing books, but Zhang Guoqing didn’t greet them. He knew these people were here seeking tranquility. Usually, patrol teams would lighten their footsteps upon seeing these students.
Watching Zhou Jiao, relaxed and pretending to mutter softly with a book, her eyes constantly darting around, and swallowing her laughter with her fist over her mouth, he chuckled.
If it weren’t for the frequent passersby, he really wanted to ask his wife why she keeps glancing at those deserted spots—was she saying she wanted peace and quiet while actually looking for an affair?
Seeing his increasingly playful wife beside him, Zhang Guoqing smiled knowingly. The once otherworldly Zhou Jiao was already quietly changing. This was pretty good!
After a loop around, the satisfied Zhou Jiao began to head back to the dormitory building. Once back in the room, she took out a plate of chicken rolls, soaked two cups of milk, and propping her elbows on the table, gazed at him.
After washing his hands, Zhang Guoqing ate while gesturing for her to speak.
Zhou Jiao shook her head slightly; she just wanted to look at him. Soon, she would be heading south with her classmates, and the man before her would be separated from her for a month.
Zhang Guoqing was very clear about his wife’s thoughts. If it wasn’t for accumulating skills to better protect her, he wouldn’t want to be separated from her.
Fortunately, this time Yi Jiefang and the others were going along, easing some of his worries. He didn’t want to mention this unpleasant topic; to be together forever in the future, he had to give it his all.
Freshen up and rest.
Before sleep, Zhang Guoqing hugged his wife in his arms and couldn’t help but remind her a few times: "Without me by your side, don’t go out alone. Don’t get excited even at tourist spots; I’ll accompany you later."
Zhou Jiao softly agreed, feeling a bit guilty.
This time she would indeed sneak away from the unit, and perhaps quite frequently. She had heard that her group would stop in Jiangcheng City, staying there for a day to rest before changing to the train to Lingnan City, and she planned to use the excuse of visiting elders to leave. Moreover, in Lingnan City before heading to the internship site, she had to sneak away.
The hidden rooms couldn’t wait any longer; who knows if there would be free time at the end of the year. Compared to the excuse of going on vacation with Yi Jiefang, this internship was the best opportunity.
Opportunities should not be lost; time never returns.
It was inevitable someone would doubt why during the New Year, she and her husband had the leisure to head south, given her grandparents had lived there long-term.


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