Chapter 26: (2k Nutrient Solution Bonus) Returning Home Under the Moon…

Chapter 26 (Bonus Chapter: Thanks for 2k Votes) Returning Home at Night...

Qi Heyin's figure was shielded by the umbrella, cut off from the unrelenting rain and mist around her.

She murmured an "Mm" and explained, "The car that came to pick me up broke down en route."

"How will you get back then..." Ji Ningye thought for a moment and said, "Should we call for another car from your family?"

"It’s too late now. By the time another car arrives, it’d be past ten." Qi Heyin shook her head and pointed to the main road straight ahead of the school gate. "There’s a bus stop a few hundred meters ahead. I’ll take the bus back later."

"...The bus?" Ji Ningye was taken aback for a moment, finding it unexpected. But he quickly remembered something and asked, "Your home is in the Eastern Hills villa district of the capital, right?"

Qi Heyin nodded.

"My home is nearby too." Ji Ningye paused, his expression tentative as he asked, "How about I... How about we go back together?"

"You're taking the bus too?" A flash of surprise crossed Qi Heyin's eyes as she glanced curiously at the sleek silver-blue motorcycle beside him. "Aren’t you riding back?"

"Because it’s raining," Ji Ningye chuckled, acting resigned. "I don’t have the habit of riding in the rain."

"I see. Then we can go back together." Qi Heyin thought for a moment and asked him, "Do you know how to take the bus?"

She suspected that someone like Ji Ningye, a young master out of touch with everyday life, probably wouldn’t know.

Sure enough, Ji Ningye hesitated before answering honestly, "I’ve never taken one before."

To him, the concept of public transportation simply didn’t exist. His usual rides were motorcycles, supercars, and private jets.

"...So, could you guide me?" he asked softly.

With that, he handed her the umbrella. "Wait for me a moment, I need to park the bike first."

Qi Heyin looked at the black backpack hanging on his motorcycle, now getting soaked in the rain, and naturally suggested, "Let me hold your bag for you."

Ji Ningye smiled and said, "Thank you," handing her the backpack before hopping on his bike and riding off into the rain, heading toward the underground parking lot on campus.

On the way, recalling their earlier conversation, his lips pursed involuntarily, feeling a twinge of regret.

...If only he had taken his sports car out today.

This damn motorcycle—all style, no substance.

About five minutes later, Ji Ningye returned to the school gate. Qi Heyin was still waiting for him.

Seeing him approach, she smiled and handed back his backpack, then tilted the umbrella his way. "Let’s hurry. I see the bus coming."

Qi Heyin didn’t know exactly where Ji Ningye lived. But she took his word for it when he said his home was "nearby."

The Eastern Hills area was, after all, the largest affluent district in the capital of Ferros. Five out of ten noble students at Faro Academy lived there.

However, even within the same neighborhood, there were still significant disparities among the nobles. Like the difference between her family's home and Ji Ningye's—one was a common three-story villa on the outskirts of the district, while the other... was likely a vast luxury estate at its very center.

To let more students board, the evening buses usually stopped at the station for about ten minutes.

With Qi Heyin leading the way, they jogged the few hundred meters to the bus stop.

Many students were already queued up to board. Although Faro Academy offered full-ride scholarships for scholarship students, many still lived off-campus for their own reasons.

Seeing so many people nearby, Ji Ningye's gaze shifted slightly as he silently lowered his head and subtly adjusted his mask.

The bus stop in front of them had stood for many years. After years of exposure, the red paint on its surface had gradually faded, revealing large patches of grayish-white beneath. The metal railings on either side were lightly rusted.

The overhead light cast a dim, yellowish glow, flickering on and off in the drizzly night, as if suffering from poor contact.

Amid the hazy, blurred light, Qi Heyin stood in line, rubbing her cold palms together and letting out a small, cold sigh.

Feeling the biting cold creeping around her exposed neck, she zipped up her jacket a little higher and thought idly that she’d probably need a scarf soon.

After a short wait, it was finally their turn to board. Ji Ningye stepped onto the bus first and, spotting an empty seat, quickly turned back to gesture for Qi Heyin to come and sit down.

"Aren’t you going to sit?" Qi Heyin glanced at him.

"No way I’m sitting while you stand," Ji Ningye tugged at his lips, saying offhandedly. "Besides, I still haven’t thanked you for last time."

Hearing this, Qi Heyin nodded in understanding and didn’t refuse further.

She took the seat near the aisle, with the window on one side and people on the other, while Ji Ningye stood in the open space in front of her.

The spoiled rich kid, who’d never been on a bus before, now stood with his arms crossed, silently looking around.

More and more students boarded, gradually packing the bus like sardines.

The bus was damp, cold, and noisy.

Standing by the central aisle, Ji Ningye was jostled by the crowd, obviously not used to it.

Still, he didn’t show any obvious signs of annoyance—only frowning slightly before taking a few steps forward, edging away from the crowd and moving closer to Qi Heyin.

Another two or three minutes passed, and after all the students had boarded, the night bus finally started moving slowly.

The roads in the suburbs were somewhat rough, and due to the rain, there were puddles and mud accumulated on the surface, making for a rough ride.

Seeing Ji Ningye rocking unsteadily with the movement of the bus, Qi Heyin smiled faintly and, taking pity on him, pointed to the hanging handrails above the aisle, motioning for him to hold on.

Ji Ningye silently looked at the handrail in front of him. It seemed worn from years of use, with severe signs of abrasion and a layer of fine dust and grime— who knew how many people had used it.

Ji Ningye: "......"

He instinctively pursed his lips, his eyes flashing with disgust as his slight germaphobia kicked in. But under Qi Heyin's prompting gaze, and for the sake of his own safety, he hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching out to grip it.

Unexpectedly, his grip wasn't firm enough.

As if trying to avoid something on the road ahead, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel hard right.

The bus fishtailed, its body shaking violently, and panicked shouts broke out among the students inside.

Due to the immense inertia, everyone standing on the bus was instantly thrown to one side like waves in the sea!

Ji Ningye, failing to hold onto the handrail, went flying forward.

His knee struck the hard floor, sending sharp pain shooting through him, making him instinctively frown and grit his teeth with a low hiss.

"......Are you okay?"

Qi Heyin's tentative whisper suddenly came from above him.

Her warm, gentle breath was close, as if she were right next to him.

Ji Ningye looked up, dizzy and disoriented, his gaze meeting the girl's striking, coolly beautiful golden-brown eyes.

At this moment, those eyes were slightly widened in surprise, laced with concern as they looked at him.

Ji Ningye's lips twitched slightly. Just as he was about to speak while staring into her eyes, he suddenly registered the oddness.

How had they gotten this close?

He blinked lightly, feeling the suspiciously soft pressure under his chin, and slowly lowered his gaze...

Ji Ningye: "......"

He blanked for a second, his masked face burning red in an instant.

Him, him, him...

Holy crap, he had just fallen face-first into Qi Heyin's arms!

But what kind of disgracefully awkward position was this... He was now half-kneeling on the ground, his upper body leaning forward, hands splayed out gracelessly, his chin heavily resting on her leg!

He had thought it might be some romantic embrace, but so much for butterflies—his heart might as well flatline, ugh.

Completely mortified, Ji Ningye thought to himself: He must have hurt her just now...

Seeing the man staring at her in silence, Qi Heyin raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering if he had rattled his brains loose from the fall.

It seemed this bus ride had been pure misery for this spoiled rich boy.

There probably wouldn’t be a next time...

Qi Heyin sighed.

She calmly lowered her gaze and reached out a hand, lightly poking his shoulder.

"Ji Ningye, get your act together and stand up."

She sighed, her voice dry as she reminded him, "You’re cutting off my circulation."