Tianpu Star had many colleges and few cities, with a very scattered administrative layout. Northwest University stood in the suburbs, and its southeast gate, near the agricultural practice base, was even more deserted. Hardly a soul could be seen on either side of the street, making it feel very quiet and empty. The two people in the bus stop sat in silence.
The girl had delicate features and wore a pretty little dress. An umbrella lay beside her, its canopy slightly damp; presumably she had walked through a light shower earlier.
Droplets like tiny scattered pearls still clung to her black hair, and pearl earrings hung from her earlobes. Rather than looking expensive, they made her seem fresher, but for some reason, a faint sorrow lingered between her lovely brows and eyes.
Tong Yan glanced at his wristband to confirm that the next bus was twenty minutes away, then looked at the girl's schoolbag and asked softly, "Excuse me, do I take the 37 to the Meilin Hotel in town?"
As he spoke, he seemingly inadvertently revealed the Northwest University visitor ticket in his hand.
The girl paused. Looking at his ticket, she guessed he was an independent traveler from another planet. She pulled up the map on her wristband to check and said, "Yes, you catch it here."
Tong Yan thanked her and said nothing more.
The girl hesitated for a while, then said, "There aren't many buses here. You might have to wait a long time for the 37. If you're in a hurry to get back, you might need to call a car."
"I'm not in a hurry," Tong Yan said. "Are you a student at Northwest University?"
The girl shook her head and turned the emblem on her schoolbag toward him. "I'm a student at Second