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Chapter 275: The Hotel
Chapter 275: The Hotel
The distance from the pier to the White Cloud Hotel was considerable, and taking a taxi would be expensive. Nonetheless, Zhou Chenglei didn't hesitate to hail a cab.
The White Cloud Hotel was built to accommodate the expansion of foreign trade and the needs of the trade fair, primarily catering to foreign guests. It was not yet open to the general public.
Jiang Xia vaguely recalled that it would only open to the public in 1983. The people of Suicheng enjoyed their morning tea, and it was fashionable for them to invite friends to the hotel's restaurant for tea and chats every morning.
Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia exited the taxi and approached the grand hotel, a symbol of the aspirations and dreams of generations.
Zhang Fuyan had booked the rooms, but it was unclear if she and Jiang Dong had arrived yet.
The introduction letter and related documents had been sent to Jiang Xia by Zhang Fuyan in advance.
Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia went to the lobby to check-in.
Jiang Xia asked the receptionist, "Have the guests in the two rooms next to ours arrived yet?"
The receptionist handed over the room keys, "Not yet."
Zhang Fuyan had mentioned that they would arrive around 5:30 pm by train and then transfer, so they should be here around 6 pm.
It was almost time; it was already 5:40 pm.
Jiang Xia took the keys, "Let's go to our rooms first, and we can meet them in the restaurant for dinner when they arrive."
"Okay."
So the two of them headed to their rooms with their luggage.
The Railway Station
Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong exited the provincial railway station together.
This was the provincial railway station, and during the Suicheng Trade Fair, it was bustling with numerous enterprises from various regions attending the exhibition. Passengers poured out of the station, creating a lively atmosphere.
Jiang Dong carried four luggage bags, one for himself and three for Zhang Fuyan.
Zhang Fuyan wanted to carry two herself, but Jiang Dong insisted.
His father and brother-in-law never allowed his mother or sister to carry anything, and Jiang Dong considered himself even more considerate. How could he possibly let the woman by his side carry luggage?
What he didn't understand was why girls needed to bring so many things when traveling! Weren't they bothered by it?
"Do you think my sister has arrived?" Jiang Dong asked.
"She should have," Zhang Fuyan replied, "Xia Xia said she'd be here by morning."
"Then let's hurry!" Jiang Dong urged, eager to see his sister after such a long time apart.
Jiang Dong lifted the four luggage bags with both hands and cleared the way for Zhang Fuyan, ensuring she wouldn't be jostled by the crowd.
Ye Xian, Zhu Qingqing, and Yang Min followed behind them.
Ye Xian carried two suitcases herself, and they were heavy! She watched as Jiang Dong helped Zhang Fuyan with her luggage, while Zhang Fuyan walked lightly with her hands free. Ye Xian pursed her lips, feeling a bit aggrieved.
If it weren't for Jiang Xia misleading her, she would be the one walking with Jiang Dong right now.
During their summer vacation trip home, Jiang Dong hadn't let her carry any luggage either.
Not only did Jiang Dong carry the luggage, but he had been exceptionally attentive to Zhang Fuyan throughout the journey.
He fetched food for her during their meals, and at one of the stops, when Zhang Fuyan saw food being sold outside and expressed her desire to eat, Jiang Dong eagerly hopped off the train to buy it for her!
Yang Min, observing the couple ahead, whispered to Ye Xian, "Xiao Xian, now that your misunderstanding with Jiang Dong is cleared, and I've also apologized and explained the rumor to him, won't you consider getting back together with him?"
Ye Xian lowered her head, "Never mind. It's me who wronged him, and I don't have the face to ask for a reconciliation."
It wasn't that she didn't want to; she was waiting for the right moment.
If she approached Jiang Dong now, he might misinterpret her actions as a response to his father's accident, which would ruin any chance of reconciliation.
So, she couldn't approach Jiang Dong for a reconciliation just yet.
She needed to wait for the right opportunity.
The Huizhui Conference was approaching, and Yang Min hoped for a chance to bring everyone together.
"But what if you don't go and reconcile with Jiang Dong? What if they develop feelings for each other?" Yang Min asked, concerned.
Although Jiang Dong had been considerate of Zhang Fuyan throughout the journey, there were no intimate gestures between them, making it clear they weren't a couple, and no ambiguous vibes.
Jiang Dong likely treated Zhang Fuyan like an older sister, nothing more.
But they weren't actual siblings, and when a man and woman spend time together, feelings can naturally develop.
At the very least, an outsider like her could see how well-suited they were for each other!
So Yang Min was anxious on Ye Xian's behalf. Ye Xian, however, remained calm, saying, "If it's meant to be, it'll happen."
After all, Jiang Dong was the one she met first, and she believed they were destined to be together.
Moreover, she trusted that fate was in the hands of heaven, while separation was a matter of human effort.
As long as she tried hard enough, Jiang Dong would be hers.
Take the train ride, for example.
Initially, their train tickets were booked together, with students from each school ideally arranged in the same carriage.
However, due to two additional participants from their school, the originally booked hard sleeper berths were insufficient. Two students had to share a carriage with Qi University students, who had soft sleeper berths.
Most people preferred to stay with their schoolmates, but when Ye Xian heard that the Qi University students had soft sleeper berths, she instinctively realized it was the carriage of Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong. She had seen their soft sleeper tickets before boarding, which were different from everyone else's.
So, she pulled Yang Min along and volunteered to switch.
And indeed, it was their carriage!
Thus, Ye Xian spent the next few days in the same carriage as the two.
Every day, she witnessed Jiang Dong's attentive care for Zhang Fuyan, but he didn't pay her any mind, which made her furious!
Yet, she also took a step closer to Jiang Dong, allowing him to see her resentment and also notice that she hadn't pestered him after learning his father was fine.
She had always been patient.
Upon exiting the railway station, many people were waiting for their rides.
However, their school had arranged for a car to pick them up, so they didn't need to squeeze with others. The school had informed them earlier about the transportation.
Two buses were parked there.
Students from several universities were queuing to board the larger bus.
Ye Xian saw Zhang Fuyan and Jiang Dong getting onto a mid-size bus, so she immediately urged Yang Min and Zhu Qingqing to hurry up and join them.
But as the three were about to board, someone stopped them, saying, "You're supposed to take the large bus. This bus is headed to a different hotel."
Ye Xian: "..."
So, Jiang Dong and Zhang Fuyan were staying at the same hotel? Was their hotel far from the others? Ye Xian instinctively looked out the window, searching for their figures.
Jiang Dong was standing in the aisle, placing luggage not only for himself and Zhang Fuyan but also helping other leaders with theirs.
Zhang Fuyan sat by the window, noticing Ye Xian, and quickly averted her gaze.
Zhang Fuyan's hotel wasn't booked by the school but by her parents' work unit, and her train ticket wasn't arranged by the school either, which was why she had a soft sleeper berth instead of a hard sleeper one.
She had heard that Qi University's accommodation was full, and since two people from her side had delayed their departure, their extra beds were offered to others.
These past few days, Zhang Fuyan had seen Ye Xian looking so disgusted that she almost vomited!
She couldn't wait to meet Jiang Xia and confide in her about her pent-up frustrations.
After about ten minutes, the bus arrived at the hotel entrance. Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei, having unpacked and washed up, were waiting downstairs for the two.
As the couple reached the lobby, they saw a mid-size bus parked outside and headed out.
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