Chapter 103: What a Pure Relationship

Was Yuan Hang deliberately trying to keep her away from that manager from the Operations Department?

Sitting in the taxi, Su Qinghu recalled everything that had happened along the way. When they arrived at the guesthouse and saw Yuan Hang use the excuse of being a light sleeper to pay for his own room, she became even more convinced of her suspicion.

After entering the room with Sister Li, Su Qinghu still couldn’t figure it out, but she instinctively became more cautious.

""Xiao Su, there’s no interview today. Let’s wash up, take a shower, and then go out for a walk, okay?"" Sister Li said with a smile as she put down her luggage. ""The air in southern cities is nice, but it’s so humid. The closer we got, the stickier I felt.""

After more than twenty hours on the train, even with her dulled senses, Su Qinghu could still smell that unique train odor lingering on her. Faint as it was, it was definitely there.

Taking a shower was her top priority right now.

But as for going out, Su Qinghu was a bit hesitant—her legs still felt wobbly from the journey.

""Let’s find a teahouse by the lake, have some tea, and enjoy the view,"" Sister Li suggested with a smile. ""It’s not every day we come here, so let’s not just stay in the guesthouse.""

As soon as Su Qinghu heard ""tea and a view,"" she nodded in agreement. ""Let’s shower first, then.""

She took out the clothes she planned to change into, ready to hang them up for some air and sunlight, when there was a knock at the door.

Sister Li paused, then opened the door before Su Qinghu could react.

It was the Operations Department manager.

Sister Li smiled. ""Manager, is something up?""

""Pack your things. We need to transfer now,"" the manager said, still as serious as ever. ""I just got in touch with our interviewee to confirm the meeting time, but his staff said he had an urgent matter and went to the neighboring province. He won’t be back for a few days, so we need to go there to meet him.""

Sister Li’s smile faded. ""What about tickets? Can we even get any at this hour?""

If they couldn’t get tickets, what was the point of everyone going to the station? They’d just have to come back and stay here. After all, they’d already checked in.

""They’ve arranged it for us over there. We’ll have tickets when we get there."" The manager glanced at his Shanghai-brand watch and frowned. ""Where’s Xiao Su? Tell her to hurry up!""

Hearing their conversation, Su Qinghu quickly put her clothes back in her suitcase. When Sister Li looked back at her, she pointed at her suitcase to show she was ready to go.

Sister Li nodded, grabbed her own suitcase, and led Su Qinghu downstairs.

That’s the life of a journalist—always ready for sudden changes and quick to adapt. Nothing too hard to accept.

Downstairs, Yuan Hang was already waiting. When he saw them, he picked up their luggage. ""The car’s ready. It’s outside.""

Back on the train, that familiar, unique train smell hit Su Qinghu again, and her face gradually turned expressionless.

After breathing fresh air, the contrast with the train’s odor was so stark that Su Qinghu couldn’t help but gag a little.

The Operations manager glanced over, but before he could say anything, Yuan Hang spoke up, ""Hang in there. This time, it won’t be such a long ride.""

Sister Li, on the other hand, looked at Su Qinghu with concern. When the two men weren’t looking, she waved Su Qinghu over and whispered, ""Xiao Su, are you… pregnant?""

Su Qinghu was still a bit out of it. Pregnant? What?

With Sister Li’s subtle hint, Su Qinghu finally got it and shook her head, trying not to laugh.

It was true that she and Chen Lie shared a bed, but he was always well-behaved and never crossed any lines.

And she hadn’t even had a chance to flirt with him before he ran off for work...

What a pure married couple they were~~~

They rode the train again, and it wasn’t until nearly midnight that they arrived at the guesthouse closest to their interviewee.

It was hot, and no one had much appetite. After checking in, they washed up and went straight to bed.

When Su Qinghu woke up in the morning, the towel she’d wrapped around her wet hair was gone. She massaged her scalp with her fingers, let out a long breath, and opened her eyes.

Sister Li was already washing up.

Still a bit dazed, Su Qinghu got dressed and greeted Sister Li. ""Sister Li, do we need to revise the interview outline?""

""Do you have any good suggestions?"" Sister Li asked with a smile as she wiped her face. ""Did coming to the south inspire you?""

Su Qinghu nodded. ""We should cut out the two questions we already know the answers to, and add some about how southern businesspeople envision the future business landscape after the reforms, and their suggestions for economic development in northern cities. If we have time, we could do a quick survey—find out which cities local small vendors most want to go to, and what local policies would attract them.""

There weren’t that many big companies yet, but attracting the lower-tier market could be significant too.

""Hey, that’s a great idea,"" Sister Li’s eyes lit up. ""Maybe this trip could even help the paper’s business department make some money, and win us some goodwill.""

If they happened to attract some investment or help solve the capital’s persistent issue with migrant gatherings, that would be a real achievement.

The two of them went downstairs, where Yuan Hang waved at them. ""Let’s go get breakfast! Our interviewee won’t be free until five or six this afternoon.""

Su Qinghu said, ""I want to go to the busiest part of town!""

""Let’s go! My treat. You and Sister Li can eat whatever you want,"" Yuan Hang laughed. ""The manager’s off doing his own thing. We’re free until 4:30.""

What more was there to say?

Sister Li grabbed Su Qinghu and headed out. ""Let’s go! I haven’t been to Jiangnan in ages. I want to see what it’s like after the reforms.""

Once they reached the busiest area, they strolled, snacked, and shopped until they were too full and tired to move. Then the three of them found a window seat and sat down.

Su Qinghu leaned back comfortably, sipped her tea, and watched the handsome young men and pretty girls passing by, feeling instantly refreshed.

""Hey, hey, you’re a married woman—where are you looking?"" Yuan Hang teased. ""Careful, your husband might get jealous~~~""

Sister Li, in high spirits, teased Yuan Hang back, ""If you try to chat up a pretty girl, you might get scolded. But if Xiao Su chats up a good-looking guy, he might be happy to show her around Jinling.""

""Just you wait, Sister Li!"" Yuan Hang protested, standing up. ""I’ll go out right now and chat up a stylish, pretty girl for you!""

He got to the door, paused, then came back. ""Forget it. No matter how stylish or pretty, could she compare to the one right here?""

After all, she’d started a whole trend at the paper with her baggy pants and silk blouse.

But just as he sat down, Su Qinghu suddenly jumped up and dashed out like the wind, leaving Yuan Hang and Sister Li stunned in their seats."