Leisurely Traveler with Check-in System-Chapter 153 - 98: Li Younan’s Spicy Review: Just Find a Job! [6,400 Words!]
The highway gradually widened, and the traffic noticeably thickened.
The place names on the road signs began to frequently show the word "Chongqing," and the surrounding scenery slowly transformed from open fields and hills to a continuous stretch of buildings and elevated bridges.
It seemed as though the air carried a unique urban scent, mixed with dust and gasoline.
"We’re entering Chongqing!" Lu Xiaolan pointed excitedly at the dense skyline of buildings in the distance.
"Yes, we’re almost there." Li Younan responded, his attention somewhat sharpened.
The city’s roads in Chongqing aren’t as simple as the highways.
The voice of the navigation system began to sound frequently: "Entering Shapingba District ahead..."
"Watch for merging vehicles on the right..."
"Please keep to the left lane..."
The overpasses were complex and intertwined.
Xu Liya, a bit nervous, watched the incessant stream of traffic outside the window and the occasional darting motorcycles: "Chongqing’s roads... truly live up to their reputation."
"Just hold tight," Li Younan chuckled, gripping the steering wheel firmly with both hands.
Under Li Younan’s driving, the hefty body of the Cool Road Ze displayed confidence amidst the traffic.
Facing a steep uphill, he gently pressed the accelerator, and with a low growl from the engine, they smoothly ascended, leaving a cautious sedan behind.
Xu Liya snickered smugly from the back seat.
Unlike Anhui, which they had visited before, mentioning the name Chongqing instantly conjured many associated images.
Hotpot, the "you think you’re on the first floor, but you’re actually on the 18th" 3D urban experience, Hongya Cave, Jiefangbei... There are just too many landmarks that represent Chongqing.
As soon as Li Younan arrived in Chongqing, he dialed a number he hadn’t contacted in a long time.
Lu Xiaolan and Xu Liya both looked at Li Younan curiously. When the call connected, the voice of a guy on the other end immediately made Li Younan want to punch him: "Yo, isn’t this Engineer Li? What made you think of me today?"
Li Younan didn’t coddle him; he hung up the phone without a word.
Lu Xiaolan, sitting in the passenger seat, was momentarily stunned.
Even though the person on the other end deserved a reprimand, her cousin’s straightforwardness was still surprising.
Holding the phone, Li Younan said, "Three seconds at most."
Before Lu Xiaolan could react, the phone rang again, unsurprisingly from the same person.
Li Younan answered, and the person on the other end, somewhat agitated, said, "You still can’t take a joke, huh!"
Li Younan replied coolly, "Why don’t you reflect on yourself?"
"So, what’s up?" The voice lazily queried.
Li Younan said, "I’ve arrived in Chongqing."
The person paused, then sounded excited: "What? You’re in Chongqing? Are you on holiday?"
Li Younan set the phone down, put it on speaker, and with both hands on the wheel, said slowly, "I quit my job; that’s not important. I’m here this time to bring my sister to university; she’s about to start school. Where’s your family’s hotpot restaurant?"
The other end was thrilled: "That’s great, let’s eat at my place tonight. Our family’s hotpot restaurant is located at..."
He gave an address, and Li Younan quietly noted it down, then said, "I’ll drop my sister off first and catch up later."
"Alright, see you there."
After hanging up, Li Younan continued focusing on driving.
Curiously, Lu Xiaolan asked, "Cousin, who was that on the phone?"
Li Younan pondered for a moment, then smiled: "A university friend from Chongqing. His family owns a hotpot restaurant. Oh, we weren’t in the same major; we met in a club and got quite familiar. After graduation, he went back to take over the family business. Since I’m in Chongqing this time, I thought I’d call him up."
Lu Xiaolan nodded, and from the back, Xu Liya chirped, "Then he must be a true Chongqing native. Chongqing hotpot is quite flavorful; I think it’s better than Chengdu’s."
Lu Xiaolan disagreed: "Really? I think Chengdu’s is tastier."
Listening to their bickering, Li Younan was at a loss for words. What about Chongqing hotpot in Chengdu?
The car headed towards Chongqing University.
...
Today was the first day of the school term, with materials to be collected.
Most schools follow similar procedures. Being experienced and not having graduated long ago, Li Younan knew the ropes.
After parking the car, some sophomore students approached to chat, volunteer badges hanging around their necks.
Li Younan took a manual printed by Lu Xiaolan’s college and, following its guidance, led Lu Xiaolan to pick up materials and complete related procedures.
Some sophomores seemed eager to help Lu Xiaolan with her luggage and lead them over, but seeing Li Younan, they hesitated, eventually giving up.
When it was just the three of them — Li Younan, Lu Xiaolan, and Xu Liya — Lu Xiaolan quietly said, "Those seniors seemed quite nice."
Immediately, Xu Liya became vigilant, seriously advising, "Xiaolan, you need to understand your position; you’re a freshman. To those mischievous seniors, freshmen are the most wonderful beings in the world, as clean as a blank sheet of paper. This applies to boys and girls alike; handsome freshmen are similar in senior girls’ eyes. Having lost in competition with peers or outright beaten by seniors one year ahead, they turn their attention to the younger ones."
"And you, my dear friend, are just too naive!"
Lu Xiaolan stared at Xu Liya in bewilderment, frowning: "What on earth are you babbling about?"
