Translator: Larbre Studio
Editor: Larbre Studio
Shen Qinglan went straight to the train station, not choosing the plane. She preferred to admire the scenery along the way.
She did not have a destination, so she bought a ticket at random based on the closest available time. When she got it, she realized it was a ticket to Hangcheng.
Shen Qinglan bought a ticket for the high speed rail, and she was lucky to get a window seat. Looking out from her spot, she could look at the scenery along the way.
Once she got on the train, a girl about seventeen or eighteen years old came on board. She wore thick makeup, had long burgundy hair, carried a backpack and a huge trolley case. The girl stopped in front of her. Shen Qinglan thought she was the passenger whose seat was next to her, so she did not mind.
But the other girl kept staring at her and did nothing else. Shen Qinglan turned to look at her, wondering what was going on.
Delighted that Shen Qinglan noticed her, the girl smiled and said, “I don’t like sitting in the aisle, can I switch seats with you? I can compensate.”
Her statement was a polite one, but her eyes bore unabashed arrogance. In her view, Shen Qinglan’s attire was quite ordinary, so she must be from an average family. If she compensated with a little more money, surely Shen Qinglan would agree.
If she were able to get a plane ticket, and if time were her side, she would not have taken the crappy train. She got on one anyway, but she got an aisle seat, where people would pass he by as they come and go. She hated it.
Shen Qinglan calmly took note of the girl’s facial expression. Before she headed out, she only put on a light makeup. A few brushes on the face was all it took to make her look less appealing than usual. She was still pretty, just not as stunning.
Shen Qinglan glanced at the girl, then looked away without saying anything.
The girl was not pleased to be ignored. She said, “Hey, I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me?”
“I did. What’s your point?” A melodious voice responded.
“Well, you didn’t reply, and that’s rude. I said I want to switch seats with you. I can compensate.” Then, the girl put up two fingers and said, “Two hundred.”
Shen Qinglan did not even raise a brow. Did she look like she needed money? She looked down and inspected her outfit thoughtfully.
Two hundred. The ticket only cost five hundred. Two hundred was indeed a huge sum. Shen Qinglan did not react, whereas the other passengers were vaguely wriggling in their seats. She’s not interested, but we are. We don’t mind taking the aisle seat.
The girl apparently noticed the other passenger’s intentions. Her arrogance grew more obvious. She knew it. There was nothing that could not be solved with money.
Just when the girl was waiting for Shen Qinglan to give up her seat, two words spilled from the latter’s lips, “Not switching.”
The girl’s smile froze. She looked at Shen Qinglan in disbelief, “Hey, don’t be greedy. Two hundred is already quite a lot.”
She thought Shen Qinglan resented the low offer and wanted to haggle.
Shen Qinglan found it hilarious and provided no explanation. She closed her eyes, not bothering to get involved with the girl, who was just a spoiled child.
The girl’s face flushed red when she realized she was being ignored. Angrily, she glared at Shen Qinglan, as though trying to burn a hole through her.
As it turned out, she was the last one to get on the compartment. Otherwise, with her standing there, blocking everyone else behind her, they would have gone crazy.
She was a stubborn one. Since Shen Qinglan was unwilling to switch seats, the girl would rather keep glaring at her than admit defeat and sit down. She seemed determined to hold out on her to the very end.
But the other passengers were getting fed up. A middle-aged man waved at the girl, “Hey, miss, I can switch seats with you. Give me the money.”
The girl followed the source of the voice and found the man sitting beside a young woman carrying a one-year-old baby.
The girl pouted in resentment. She hated children the most. They could be very annoying when they got riled up.
The young woman noticed the girl glance her way and showed her disgust too. She tugged on the man’s sleeve, shaking her head. The man chuckled in regret. He thought he could earn a quick two hundred bucks.
“Miss, let me switch seats with you.” Two rows in front, a middle-aged woman spoke. An old man with gray hair sat next to her.
The girl pouted in resentment again. She wanted a seat by the window, but she also wanted peace.
Once again, her gaze fell on Shen Qinglan, and this time she put up three fingers, “I’ll give you three hundred. Switch with me.” Three hundred was her bottom line. She would not offer a higher sum than that.
Shen Qinglan did not even bother to open her eyes this time. “Not switching.”
“Y-You…” the girl stuttered furiously, but failed to finish her sentence.
The seat belonged to Shen Qinglan. If she was unwilling to switch, there was nothing the girl could do about it.
She stood there angrily for a while, and eventually sat down. Hmph, fine. Don’t switch then. I saved three hundred anyway.
The compartment finally regained its peace. Some passengers heaved a sigh of relief, while others regret.
The girl next to Shen Qinglan was sullen throughout the journey. She nagged nonstop, mostly complaining about the turbid air in the compartment and the lack of comfort on the train compared to flying.
Shen Qinglan looked out of the window, totally ignoring her.