Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, outside Broken Bridge Gate

  After dinner, Jiang Zhan went to the front desk to settle the bill, which was a total of 680 yuan.

  Jiang Zihan said: "Li Zhi graduated to read a master's degree, Peng Shuai and I are going to work, so let's split it between the two of us. I'll take on the title of senior brother, I'll pay two-thirds, you pay one-third, what do you think?"

  Peng Shuai agreed readily.

  Lin Mo said: "I also want to work, why was I left out?"

  Jiang Zhan said: "It's embarrassing for girls to pay when we go out to eat, right?"

  Lin Mo smiled and said, "I didn't expect that the great master still has a big man's chauvinism. No matter how you split it, I'll pay my share." He took out his wallet, counted out 170 yuan, and put it on the counter.

  Li Zhi saw this and felt embarrassed, so he also wanted to pay. Everyone advised him that it would be better for those who were going to work to pay, so he didn't insist anymore.

  Out of the restaurant, most people turned left to return to the school dormitory. Jiang Zhihan needed to turn right to go to a rental house outside the school - the school's dormitory had expired, so he could only pay for himself to rent a small room outside the school. He glanced and saw that Lin Mo also turned right, so he stopped in his tracks and waited for a while.

  "Didn't stay in the dorm?" Jiang Zhihan asked.

  "It's been a year since I moved out. It's more free outside."

  "Where do you live?"

  "I rented a room from an old lady in a teachers' dormitory outside the Broken Bridge Gate. She lives alone, so she wanted to rent out a room and make it more lively. The old lady is not bad, the location is close to school, and the price is not expensive."

  "It's on our way anyway, let's go together." Jiang Zihan invited.

  Two people walked down the dark street, with the lights of small restaurants and shops along both sides. On the left was a narrow stream, but it had a very impressive name, called Huanglong Creek.

  Jiang He and Lin Mo discussed their respective job search situations naturally.

  Jiang Zhan said: "I went to Hengjiang Group, which is a large private enterprise, but you may not have heard of it."

  Lin Mo said: "I've heard of it, last time their founder came to our school to give a report, I went to listen too. The founder is also our alumnus. How did you think of going there?"

  Jiang Zhan said, "Our major may not be as popular as yours in the electronics department. The technical director of this company and my graduate advisor have a good relationship, I participated in two cooperative projects, and stayed at their headquarters and factory for nearly four months, so we are quite familiar with each other. The treatment they offer is also good, much higher than that of ordinary new employees, and there is no probationary period. The company's development is very fast, full of vitality and hope, so I want to give it a try. How about you?"

  Lin Mo said: "I have basically decided between IBM and Lut."

  Jiang Zhan was somewhat surprised, although IBM and Lut were not particularly impressive companies, he knew that this was the first time IBM had come to Qing University for recruitment this year, and they had only recruited 10 people, but had conducted five rounds of testing, making a big show.

  "He asked: 'Has IBM ever recruited a few people from your department?'"

  Lin Mo said: "It seems like 2, the computer department recruited 5, and there are 3 from international trade, foreign languages, and economics departments. Our department is just one Ph.D. student and me."

  Jiang Zihan knew that IBM and Lut mainly recruited graduate students this time, so he couldn't help but look at his junior sister with new eyes. Her abilities were much stronger than he had thought.

  Jiang Zhan said: "We studied all the PhD students who went to IBM for recruitment, and they came back and sighed that the questions were very difficult, and the interviewer was also very picky. Everyone says that the college entrance examination is like thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge, but he said that this time IBM's recruitment is really like thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge. Lut is also a great company, it's said to have super good benefits."

  Lin Mo smiled and said: "I don't know how I got recruited either. During the interview, there were a few questions that I didn't answer well, and my heart was quite nervous."

  Jiang Zhan shook his head and smiled: "Young fellow, excessive humility is either hypocrisy or arrogance."

  Lin Mo furrowed his brow and said seriously: "Really, I don't know how I was recruited either, I'm not particularly strong."

  Jiang Zhan looked at this beautiful and capable girl, who still maintained her sincere cheerfulness and humility, and suddenly felt as if he had been drunk. He tried to cover up his emotions with conversation, "You're the best in your major at finding a job and getting an offer, right?"

  "Yes." Lin Mo acknowledged with a smile, "In our entire profession, I'm the best among all men, in the worldly sense of the word."

  Jiang Zihan was delighted by her lack of pretension, and in his heart, he looked up to her even more. Kao, is it really true that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder? How can there be someone who looks better and better the more you look at them? Jiang Zihan thought to himself, as Lin Mo was already asking him about his experience with projects at the company.

  Jiang Zhihan naturally didn't mind sharing his own experiences, and in fact, there was nothing special about them. However, for Lin Mo, who had never really worked before, they were fresh and meaningful. Unbeknownst to them, the two had already walked close to Duanqiao Gate.

  About 20 meters from the Broken Bridge Gate, there is a three-story building. In front of the gate, a lantern is hung high, with "Tian Xiang Lou" written on it.

  Every time Jiang Zhihan saw this sign, he couldn't help but laugh. The Tianxiang Building was often the name of a brothel in many martial arts novels. But the Tianxiang Building next to Qingda University was an authentic teahouse. Although it was called a teahouse, apart from traditional green tea, flower tea and oolong tea, it also sold pearl milk tea, various drinks, pastries and snacks.

  Jiang Zihan suspected that the boss had intentionally chosen this name, and he was quite in tune with his sense of humor. This teahouse had opened more than two years ago. Jiang Zihan still remembered one evening when he and his best friend from college, Li Minzhong, went out for a drink. On their way back, they saw the teahouse for the first time. Li Minzhong was quite drunk and rubbed his eyes, asking Zihan what was written on the sign. Jiang Zihan said it was Tianxiang Lou. Li Minzhong let out an exaggerated cry, "WaKao! Now even brothels are openly operating right in front of university gates!" He insisted on dragging Jiang Zihan up to take a look. Of course, they didn't see any courtesans like Chunlan or Qiujie, but that evening Li Minzhong did indeed fall for the young woman who served them tea, exclaiming that she was a goddess as soon as he saw her. Later, after inquiring around, they found out that she was also a student at Qingda University, working part-time at the teahouse.

  The items at Tianxiang Building are not too expensive, and the environment is elegant. There are several snacks, cakes, and ice cream that are famous outside, so business has always been good, and word of mouth among Qinghua University students is also good. Jiang Zihan saw Lin Mo laughing and felt a sense of understanding, asking: "Also watching martial arts?"

  Lin Mo said: "Look at many."

  The two of them looked at the sign, and countless images of Tian Xiang Lou from martial arts novels flashed through their minds. It was usually a place where some killer organization would meet, often with a red maiden who possessed exceptional skills and had an extraordinary identity. The two couldn't help but burst out laughing at each other.

  Jiang Zihan said: "Today's things are quite salty, shall we go in and sit for a while and have a drink of water?"

  Lin Mo hesitated for about two seconds, nodded and said okay. Jiang Zhihan praised himself in his heart, saying that inviting a girl was very natural, he had really made progress.

  Lin Mo apparently enjoyed her conversation with Jiang Zihan. Although she was outgoing, she rarely had tea alone with a boy. Having tea alone with someone like Jiang Zihan, who was almost a stranger, was almost a first for her. She didn't know why, but this boy, who couldn't be described as handsome, gave her a very warm and down-to-earth feeling, like a spring breeze.

  The topic started with martial arts novels, then moved on to movies, literary works, travel, and campus anecdotes. Jiang Zihan didn't intentionally try to cater to her views, but was surprised to find that their spiritual wavelengths were unexpectedly harmonious. He stared into her eyes as he spoke, so he had the opportunity to observe her without hiding. In the warm light, Lin Mo's facial features became even softer, with skin as delicate as ivory. Jiang Zihan watched her blink, furrow her brow, smile, and pout, as if every expression and movement was full of magic. He looked into her eyes, slowly feeling like they were a pool of water, clear and deep, without realizing he had already fallen deeply in.

  Jiang Zihan knew some so-called beauties, who usually looked good at first glance, but the more he saw them or had private contact with them, the more tasteless they became. For Jiang Zihan, Lin Mo was probably one of those beauties who were worth looking at, and her dynamic self was much more vivid than her static facial features. The closer he walked with her, the more he discovered her beauty and charm.

  The next moment, when Jiang Zhan felt that his gaze had exceeded the usual time, he couldn't help but blush slightly, pretending to be unintentional and turning away his eyes, looking at the teacup on the table. The atmosphere between the two sides of the small table began to have a little silence and ambiguity.

  "By the way, come to think of it, I still don't know where our old home is exactly?" Jiang Zhihan attempted to break the silence, suddenly discovering a good topic.

  Lin Mo mentioned a rough address, and Jiang Zhihan opened his mouth and said: "It's only about 500 meters away from my home." The two of them laughed.

  Jiang Zihan sighed, "Living 500 meters apart for over a decade, attending the same middle school, yet we didn't know each other. It's ironic that we had to travel thousands of miles to meet and get to know each other. Fate is indeed strange."

  Lin Mo slightly lowered her head and didn't respond. After a while, she raised her head and said: "It's getting late, let's go."

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  Outside Tian Xiang Lou, in front of Duan Qiao Men.

  Lin Mo's rental house is in a small district just across the road, while Jiang Zhi Han's place requires another 10 minutes of cycling ahead.

  Jiang Zihan pushed his bicycle, while Lin Mo walked. Jiang Zihan thought for a moment and said: "I'll send you to your doorstep anyway. It's too late, it's not safe for a girl to be alone, although the security here has always been good."

  Lin Mo nodded. Jiang Zhi Han opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but felt that it was too hasty, and in the end didn't say anything. Anyway, Lin Mo's contact information was already on their middle school alumni directory, so there was no need to ask for his pager or phone number again.

  "Let's go," Jiang Zihan said. The two walked down the pedestrian path and started crossing the road.

  Jiang Zhihan's habitual caution made him remember to look left and right, and within the range of twenty or so meters in his field of vision, there wasn't a single car.

  Under the dim streetlights, Jiang Zhi Han turned his head to look at Lin Mo's profile. Her soft long hair floated gently with their movement, and he could smell the fragrance of her shampoo and a sweet scent that was uniquely hers. He wished this road would never end.

  The next moment, Jiang Zihan's ears were filled with the roar of machinery, and a red sports car with beautiful curves seemed to have descended from heaven and was already by his side.

  Lin Mo's mouth was agape, and under the shock, he had no reaction at all. Jiang Zhihan only had a split second to react, and he did two things: with all his might, he pushed Lin Mo backward between himself and the car, and still managed to curse in his heart, "Damn it! In a 30 km/h speed limit zone, this guy must have been driving at least 100 km/h!"

  Then, as if he had been feeling for the past few days, his soul was outside his body, watching his shell soar high into the air, drawing a beautiful arc before crashing heavily to the ground.

  In the ambulance, Lin Mo sat beside Jiang Zhihan. Except for extreme fright and a slight sprain, she was unscathed. She looked at the young man on the stretcher, three hours ago they were just acquaintances who exchanged greetings, twenty minutes ago they seemed to have known each other for a long time. And now, would they be separated forever?

  Separated by 500 meters without knowing each other, having to travel thousands of miles away to get to know each other, is it just for this ending? Then why bother getting to know each other at all?

  Jiang Zhihan moved his lips on the stretcher, and the doctor did not stop Lin Mo from leaning down. This wounded man was too seriously injured, it was only a matter of time. Jiang Zhihan's voice was hoarse, and Lin Mo had to put his ear close to his mouth to hear the faint sound.

  He said to take care of yourself and apologize to my parents for me.

  Lin Mo's tears could no longer be held back and slid out.

  He said, very happy... nice to meet you, tonight is very... fun.

  Lin Mo leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Me too."

  What a pity...

  Then Lin Mo lifted his head in horror, hearing the voice's abrupt cessation and seeing his hand slipping down powerlessly.

  But the next moment, Jiang Zhihan's lips moved again, and Lin Mo leaned in.

  He said, you, what's your name?

  Lin Mo said softly, I am Lin Mo.

  No answer.

  My name is Lin Mo, My name is Lin Mo, My name is Lin Mo... ...My name is Lin Mo.

  Lin Mo's voice grew louder and louder, tears more and more, a little nurse in the front row turned her head to wipe away her own eye corners.

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  The tunnel is very long and dark, but there's a voice accompanying me, I'm Lin Mo, I'm Lin Mo, I'm Lin Mo, I'm Lin Mo, I'm Lin Mo, I'm Lin Mo...

  Slowly, there is a thread of light in front. Is it the end or the starting point?