Chapter 32: Gifts and the Return Journey

Li Yan naturally had no intention of waiting in Luzhong City until the start of the semester. He already had plans to head to Chengdu for a short trip first and get some of his affairs in order. As for Gangan, although they had just confirmed their relationship after a long period of ambiguity, only for it to be followed by an imminent separation, Li Yan felt it was nothing to worry about.

When Li Yan stepped out of the railway station, the sun was already high in the sky. Despite the peak of summer, the air in Luzhong City lacked the salty tang of the sea breeze, carrying instead the familiar, slightly humid scent of his hometown. He walked out carrying only a small suitcase, with no extra luggage. Most of his clothes and luxury items had already been shipped home via SF Express, leaving only a few essentials for him to carry.

The taxi ride home took half an hour. The driver, a local, chatted enthusiastically about the newly opened shopping malls, the food festival, and the upcoming beer carnival. Li Yan offered a few perfunctory responses but did not engage much. He was exhausted and just wanted to go home and catch his breath.

Entering the residential complex, he climbed the stairs and opened the door. The house was empty, as expected, with his parents at work. He looked around the living room; the solid wood sofa and coffee table were still there, and the glass vase on the dining table held a few gardenias his mother had arranged that morning, their delicate fragrance filling the air.

He rolled his suitcase into his bedroom, took off his coat, and changed into home clothes—a T-shirt and shorts—feeling much more at ease. He took a few empty hangers from the wardrobe and hung up the new seasonal LV and Dior shirts and trousers he had picked out in Green Island City. These clothes lacked flashy logos or gaudy patterns, but their material and tailoring clearly signaled their high quality. Li Yan gently smoothed the sleeves with his fingers, imagining himself wearing a well-fitted Dior shirt with a pair of comfortable casual shoes for university activities, which would make him look natural and confident rather than ostentatious.

Once the clothes were hung, he took a jar of local Green Island specialty snacks from his small bag—purchased at an old shop—intending to share them with his parents when they returned. He arranged two small gift boxes on the coffee table—a silk scarf for his mother and a wallet for his father—placing the specialty dried goods and snacks neatly beside them. It wasn't overly packaged, but it was thoughtful.

Sitting on the sofa to rest for a moment, he opened an app on his phone to look for flights to Chengdu. He planned to go the day after tomorrow. The price of a first-class ticket was several times that of economy, but he didn't care about the price difference.

When he placed the order, the ticket cost just over two thousand. He chuckled to himself, "This way, I won't have any chance of encountering those 'face-slapping' tropes on the train before school starts." In the various "rich protagonist" novels he had read back then, the protagonists always encountered embarrassing situations while riding the slow trains to school. Now, having upgraded his travel style, he didn't have to crowd into a hard seat; a first-class flight would be a much easier and more relaxed way to start.

After the payment was successful and he had confirmed the departure time and terminal information, he leaned back comfortably against the sofa and closed his eyes for a few minutes. The afternoon flowed by quietly. He didn't go out, staying home to watch a lifestyle program on TV. While half-heartedly following the screen, he imagined himself renting an apartment in Chengdu. He had already contacted an agent, who mentioned three or four well-furnished apartments with monthly rents ranging from two thousand to five thousand. He wasn't in a hurry; with his financial strength and careful planning, he had the freedom to choose a place that suited him perfectly.

In the evening, his parents returned from work. His mother scanned the living room first: "You're back? Why didn't you let us know?"

Li Yan stood up and smiled: "No need, I'm home now, aren't I?"

His father walked in while changing his shoes and looked at the gift boxes and snacks on the table: "Buying things again? Didn't I tell you not to spend money recklessly last time?"

Li Yan softened his smile and spoke gently: "I'm not spending blindly this time. I have extra money, so I might as well get you something decent. Take a look—a silk scarf for Mom in a simple pattern, and a high-quality leather wallet for Dad. There are also some dried goods from Green Island City; let's try them together."

His mother picked up the scarf and draped it around her neck. The reflection in the mirror showed a soft, elegant pattern that suited her daily commute perfectly. "It's actually quite nice. I like it subtle; I've never liked those things covered in big logos." She nodded with satisfaction. His father opened the wallet, tried putting a few cards inside, and found it didn't bulge. "This is good." He didn't ask about the price, just gave a faint smile.

Li Yan poured himself a glass of water and said casually: "I'm going to Chengdu the day after tomorrow to look at some apartments. I'd like to rent one in advance; I might not want to live in the dorms after university starts. I'm also considering buying a car there to get around."

His mother frowned slightly: "Is buying a car that urgent? You've only just turned eighteen."

Li Yan smiled: "It doesn't have to be immediate; I'll survey the market first. The priority is to rent a place so I can get to know the local area better. The first-class flight was just over two thousand, which isn't too expensive for a morning flight, and it's much more convenient."

His father nodded: "As long as you have a plan, safety comes first. Don't rush into anything; look at a few more places."

Li Yan said "mm" and handed his mother a small bag of specialty nuts: "Try these first, they aren't expensive, just a local specialty." His mother opened them and tasted one: "The flavor is quite good, not too salty."

Dinner was a home-cooked meal prepared by his mother: stir-fried greens, tomato and egg stir-fry, steamed fish, and a simple bowl of hot soup. Li Yan ate with great satisfaction. After having had fine dining and seafood in Green Island City, he still found these simple home-cooked dishes delicious. This was the balance he wanted: having capital didn't mean he had to live in luxury every day; the key was to spend when it was worth it and not to be wasteful when it wasn't.

After dinner, as his mother was cleaning up, she said to him: "Get some rest early, don't overwork yourself. Since you don't have to go to work tomorrow, just stay home and relax. Since you're flying to Chengdu the day after tomorrow, does your father need to drop you off at the airport in the morning?"

Li Yan shook his head: "No need to trouble him, I'll just take a taxi. It's not far. You two don't need to delay your work."

His father, sitting on the sofa watching the news, nodded at his son's words: "Alright, just be careful. Send us a message when you get there."

Late at night, Li Yan returned to his room and placed a simple T-shirt and jeans on his chair for the next day. In his suitcase, he packed his best outfits for Chengdu—two or three sets of high-quality, understated luxury clothing, along with a pair of comfortable shoes, ready for his next journey.

As for the 200,000 he intended to leave for his parents, he hadn't told them yet, but he had already planned it. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he used his phone to transfer 200,000 to his father's account, then sent them a text message.

"I transferred some money to you to keep. Don't worry about my spending; I have a very clear plan."

This way, he avoided the awkwardness of a face-to-face conversation. His parents would likely not be surprised when they saw the message in the middle of the night.