Chapter 145: Chapter 145

At the end of the month, Tian Xiang took two days off from work to prepare to go to Beijing with the troupe for a performance.

Before leaving, she specifically went to see her master, senior brothers, and sisters.

Everyone knew she was going to perform in Beijing and praised her for being capable, bringing honor to us from Sanli Lane.

Since the trip to Beijing required a ten-hour train ride, to avoid delaying rehearsals and the performance, the troupe bought tickets for a train leaving at midnight, arriving by noon the next day, leaving the afternoon and evening for rehearsals, and performing the day after.

This was all very rushed.

Tian Xiang asked for an extra half-day off, went back home to sleep for a while, and was woken up by Hu Honglian in the middle of the night, as the whole family saw her off to wait for the troupe’s bus to pick her up.

Tian Xiang didn’t want them to see her off that late at night; it was safe since the troupe had a bus.

As she was leaving, Tian Weibing told the team leader to take good care of her.

The team leader assured him not to worry, that Tian Xiang would definitely be looked after.

The bus departed, and Tian Xiang waved goodbye to her family.

She was about to bring more honor to the Old Tian Family.

This troupe often represented the province to perform elsewhere, so most had relevant experience and behaved calmly throughout the journey.

Only Tian Xiang and a new junior brother couldn’t contain their excitement, staying awake all the way to their destination.

When the bus arrived and they waited for the doors to open, Tian Xiang kept peering out the window and soon spotted Meng Cheng’an.

He bought a platform ticket to come and meet her.

They hadn’t seen each other for five months.

My goodness, he got even more handsome, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, making her heart race.

The senior brothers and sisters standing beside her noticed her blushing face and her dazed expression, following her gaze.

"Is that your boyfriend, Meng Cheng’an?"

"He really is good-looking."

Tian Xiang joined this troupe through connections, everyone knew her situation.

Initially, some privately remarked that she got in through connections, taking their spots and opportunities.

Later, they realized she had true talent, was pretty, flexible, had a nice voice, and her flipping, jumping, and singing skills were not far off from those who trained since childhood; her high perception silenced the gossip.

They hadn’t seen Meng Cheng’an before and didn’t know what kind of person he was, but knowing Tian Xiang’s beauty, they assumed her partner wouldn’t be bad either.

Now seeing him, apart from anything else, his appearance and demeanor stood out anywhere.

Graceful and refined, extraordinary bearing.

The group began to feel envious.

Quickly, the doors opened and everyone lined up to deboard.

When it was Tian Xiang’s turn, Meng Cheng’an was already there, reaching out to take her luggage.

Tian Xiang kept smiling with closed lips, her face blushing, visibly embarrassed at not having seen him for too long.

Meng Cheng’an was no better, always staring at her, with the tips of his ears reddening too.

Both were bashful, truly innocent.

Someone couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Tian Xiang snapped back and noticed everyone staring at the two of them, her face turned crimson, and she quickly introduced everyone.

The two team leaders were warm and even shook hands with Meng Cheng’an.

The group exited the station together.

Since no one from the unit came to pick them up, Meng Cheng’an temporarily acted as a tour guide, first taking everyone to grab a bite near the station, then they could take a ride to the hostel.

While waiting at the bus stop, the team leader asked Meng Cheng’an, "Is that car that’s been following us yours?"

At that, everyone turned to notice a Jeep following them around.

Meng Cheng’an nodded, "It brought me here. No worries, I’ll accompany you on the bus to the hostel."

Today, the grandson-in-law came, and if the old man wasn’t working, he would have come himself.

Since he couldn’t make it, arranging a car to pick him up was the least he could do.

The team leader quickly declined, "No need, take Tian Xiang first, we’ll take the bus. It’s fine, I’ve been there a few times, I know the way."

Meng Cheng’an smiled, "Alright then, we’ll head out first."

With that, he took Tian Xiang to their car in the back.

The speaking leader: "..."

So straightforward, could he not have exchanged a few more polite words?

From the look of him, he seemed eager to get rid of us, this lot in the way.

The team leader sighed, why hadn’t she met such a handsome, influential, considerate man in her youth?

Truly unfair, heavens.

Beside her, several girls looked on enviously.

They squeezed onto a bus while the couple got picked up by a car, that was the difference.

The senior brother who had just gone through a breakup chimed in, "Don’t get ahead of yourselves. Some things are fleeting but must be left to fate. Your fates lie, far away yet close at hand."

They rolled their eyes at him.

Tian Xiang and Meng Cheng’an had gotten into the car.

Thinking about the young guard following them all around, Tian Xiang felt quite embarrassed, constantly apologizing.

The young guard said, "It’s fine, it’s part of the job."

Tian Xiang smiled, thinking of the local specialties in her bag, unwrapping some to share with the young guard, letting him bring home a taste of her hometown for his family.

Tian Xiang also presented a piece to Meng Cheng’an, "You must have gone a long time without tasting this, try some."

She instinctively fed it over, Meng Cheng’an opened his mouth to take it in, his lips playfully brushing her fingertips.

Seeing his smiling eyes, she realized he did it on purpose.

Seriously, with someone right in front.

Tian Xiang glared at him.

Watching Meng Cheng’an chew gently, images of their intimate kisses floated in her mind, making her heart flutter.

Beauty indeed captivates!

Tian Xiang turned away, quickly tidying her bag, and moved to the window to view the scenery.

It was her first visit and she was intrigued by the city.

After a while, Meng Cheng’an leaned over and asked, "Is there anywhere you want to visit?"

She wanted to walk around a nearby park.

But time was too tight, arriving today, performing tomorrow afternoon, and leaving the day after.

Tian Xiang detailed her schedule, "Only on the morning of the day after do I have a bit of free time."

Meng Cheng’an, "Then let’s visit the park that morning and see a concert tomorrow night."

Meng Cheng’an pointed outside, "See over there, know what it is?"

Casually chatting, their hands below unknowingly brushed against each other and eventually clasped firmly.

As they’d have to wait for the troupe to arrive at the hostel, they weren’t in a rush to head over and had the young guard show them some nearby significant sites.

Arriving at the hostel when the others did.

The hostel was arranged by the unit, just beside the grand theater, the group checked in, set their belongings down, and headed over for rehearsals.

Meng Cheng’an took a day off today, nowhere else to be, staying with Tian Xiang, watching her rehearse.

This performance had quite a turnout, with several troupes from other provinces; it was a rare opportunity.

Just sitting for a while in the stands, someone tapped Meng Cheng’an’s shoulder.