After the meal and before leaving, Li Yan received two train tickets handed over by the waiter. Since the tickets were bought last minute today, there were no good seats left, and the only option was two upper bunks.

They took a car to the train station, waited for the train, and finally boarded around four or five in the afternoon. Squeezing his way through the car, Li Yan couldn't help feeling pleased upon seeing the two lower bunks occupied by four young women. It seemed that both the middle and lower bunks were taken by girls.

This was undoubtedly a fortunate occurrence. In this small separated space, he was the only guy. Although he couldn't do anything, it was more comfortable to be around beautiful women. If there were four big burly fellows instead, and only Li Jie was the girl, she might feel awkward.

"Make some space!" a man said while they were stowing their luggage. He looked at one of the upper bunks and said to himself, "This is it!"

Clearly, he also saw the four women and felt quite pleased about having women in the middle and lower bunks.

Li Yan and Li Jie exchanged glances, surprised to see someone else claiming a spot. They double-checked their tickets, realizing both tickets were for adjoining upper bunks but in the next compartment, not the current one across.

Li Jie wasn't happy about this. The whole point of taking the train was to spend more time with Li Yan. If one was here and the other next door, they might not see each other even though it was just a thin partition.

Li Yan peered into the next compartment, noticing it was an average mix of men and women, young and old, not nearly as visually pleasing as the four young women here.

"Buddy, my girlfriend's ticket is here. How about you swap seats with me?" Li Yan tossed a small bag onto the upper bunk, as if declaring his territory, and walked over to pat the man's shoulder.

The man glanced at Li Yan, then greedily checked out the four women talking on the lower bunks, while sneaking a look at Li Jie. Having traveled by train many times, he had never been this lucky, with four women below and someone else's pretty girlfriend opposite. Swap seats? Not a chance!

"Sorry, exchanging tickets privately is uncivilized. I won't swap!" he rejected Li Yan righteously.

Apart from Li Jie, the four women were also paying attention. Although they were four, not worried about encountering any physical harassers.

"They're a couple, let them swap seats!" one of the girls simply chimed in.

But the man wasn't going to relent. This kind of situation doesn't come up with every train ride, and he didn't know them, so why care about being looked down upon?

"I can't do it. Why don't you move your girlfriend to the other side and see if someone else swaps for you?"

Judging by his tone and expression, Li Yan understood his mindset. While it might be understandable if he were alone, it clearly wasn't now. Li Yan smiled, gently tugged at the man's hand, and politely said, "No need to be so adamant! Let's go, I'll treat you to a smoke; we can discuss it."

A smoke? Is that supposed to impress me? I'll be smoking yours if anything! The man thought sarcastically, but before refusing, he noticed his arm, trapped like in a vice, growing tighter and more painful! Slightly shocked, he realized soft approaches weren't working, but hard ones weren't an option either!

He followed Li Yan towards the toilet and washbasin area separating the compartments. Since the train hadn't started yet and others were busy with their luggage, there were few people around.

"What, you think you can strong-arm me? Scared of you, like hell!" the man reached for Li Yan's collar. "I didn't beat you up in front of your girl, but don't push it… Ow!"

Li Yan released his other hand, directly grasped the man's neck, and pushed him into the wash area. "Offering money seems insulting, but recognizing your fortune, here's 100 bucks to switch it!"

"Screw you…" Although 100 bucks was quite a portion compared to the ticket, it wasn't enticing. The man cursed while swinging a fist at Li Yan.

Li Yan tightened his grip a bit more on the neck and bounced a cigarette in front of his gasping mouth.

"I'm offering you a smoke, let's be civil!"

Grabbing his incoming fist, Li Yan swung it into the man's own stomach while briefly loosening his neck grip. Struggling for air, one push to the stomach, and the cigarette partially went down!

Li Yan's hand returned to his throat, "Just want to swap seats, trying to tell you nicely, why make it difficult?"

The man couldn't speak, only making "ugh" sounds.

"Convenience for others is convenience for yourself, swap or not?"

The man vigorously nodded, reaching for his tickets.

Li Yan quickly released his grip, took the man's ticket, and handed the swap ticket to him. The man was too busy vomiting to pay attention, trying to expel the cigarette from his throat.

As Li Yan was leaving, a security officer passed by, hesitantly asked, "What's the issue here?"

"Oh… I'm a bully, he wouldn't swap seats, so I gave him a beating!" Li Yan replied honestly.

The man was startled, realizing Li Yan's strength, and the hassle of an investigation wasn't worth it. After spitting out the cigarette, he quickly turned to clarify, "Sorry, officer, he's kidding, I choked on a smoke!"

The officer snorted, moving on.

Li Yan shrugged and left.

Returning to the seat, Li Yan waved the ticket and told Li Jie, "Got it swapped."

Li Jie had already set up their luggage and was sitting on the bench in the aisle, unsurprised by the success.

The girls, surprised, noted how resistant the man seemed before. The outgoing girl curiously asked, "Hey mister, wasn't that guy unwilling to swap? How'd you get him to?"

Mister... Li Yan sweated a little, "Just offered him a smoke, got it swapped. Correction, I'm buddy, not mister."

"No way! How can a cigarette be so quick?"

"Right, and no need to correct us. We can call your girlfriend sister, but mister, don't be modest."

Li Jie giggled silently.

Li Yan chuckled, "Is that being modest? Kids, stop asking so much! Actually, I'm a bully, beat him up and forced the swap!"

The four girls giggled, obviously not believing him.

"Sis, Mister, have some pistachios!" The outgoing girl offered the snacks they'd opened.

Li Jie thanked, "Thanks, but no."

Li Yan accepted, "Students, right? Well, I'm actually from the '90s..."

"You?! '90s?"

"What a joke, you look way older than us!"

Li Jie was speechless, boasting isn't done like that.

Li Yan ate a pistachio, slowly adding, "Listen, let me finish. I said, 'Actually, I went to school in the '90s...'"

"Oh come on!" The girls together booed him.

While they were bonding, the man returned, looking down and greedily eyeing the girls before moving his luggage to the other side. Comforting himself, it's just a few more steps. I can still use the restroom, sit in the aisle, and get my view!

The train started. Initially being in public, it wasn't appropriate for Li Yan and Li Jie to be too affectionate; Li Jie's temperament would make it awkward without the girls occasionally chatting, keeping it lively.

In the evening, the train stopped for an extended time at a big transfer station, with many passengers getting on and off. Everyone prepared instant noodles and boxed meals for dinner, and the girls invited Li Jie to play cards. Once the train resumed, it was quite late, and everyone washed up for bed.

Li Yan and Li Jie were in the upper bunk, usually bothering to go up and down, so stayed seated below a while before reading, listening to music, preparing to sleep, then settled in the upper bunk.

"We'll arrive in S City at dawn…" Li Jie murmured softly. When they could present themselves as a couple at ease, once in S City, they had to return to their original roles and keep distance.

"Mm..." Li Yan had little to say.

After some time, he quietly mentioned, "About your bold suggestion yesterday…"

(Today's a disaster, sent the wife to the station, thought no extra money needed, only brought exact change for the bus, couple coins, but fearing misfortune, added a 50% buffer with three coins. While waiting for the bus on the way back, suddenly bladder urgency kicked in, realized 50% wasn't enough. One coin for the public toilet, and one for paper towels… testing my luck! Should I spend one on free toilet paper or two and take a cab home, then pay? In the end, I chose the second option, and fortunately, my luck held up. Originally, paper needed buying additionally at the public toilet; paying meant paper was gifted… could've embarrassed, just that difficult for a penny to deter a hero!) (To be continued. For the next story, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)

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