The exam is finally over...

Some students have gone back home.

Outside the high school gates, it was packed with students heading home for the holidays and parents picking up their children. The crossroad outside the school was jammed with traffic again.

A semester's worth of longing mixed with the hardships of studying, the joy of returning home for the New Year is evident.

The university is also on holiday...

We five said goodbye to each other at the school gate. We didn't see Yu Le for a while, and suddenly he walked over from the crowd. Shen Lin complained to him, "I thought you were leaving without saying hello!"

Yu Le panted and said, "No, no way, I just went to the supermarket."

"What are you going to the supermarket for? It's been so long, I'm going to miss the bus!" Shen Lin pouted.

"Ke!" Yu Le took out a bag of medicine and said, "You must have gotten carsick from the long journey home, so I bought you some motion sickness pills."

Shen Lin still pouted, but with a hint of grievance she said, "You know I don't get much use out of eating this. But thank you!"

Yu Le handed him the medicine and said, "Of course I know, but it'll be more comfortable if you take some."

Shen Lin nodded.

Yu Le continued to take out an orange and said, "Look, I got this for Roger. I wanted to buy you a bag, but your luggage is already too heavy. It would just be a burden. But the orange peel can help alleviate motion sickness very well. When you feel unwell, just peel it open and smell it."

Shen Lin touched, said: "Why! Want me to cry!"

Yu immediately said, "No, never?"

Jiang Ci stood up and said, "Alright, stop being sentimental. Shen Lin has to catch the bus, right? He still needs to take a taxi to Dongzhan!"

"Shen Lin clearly panicked and said, 'I'm going to call a car now.'"

Jiang Ci nodded.

I and Leng Yang stepped forward, Leng Yang said: "It's not a good time to take a taxi now, too many people are taking taxis, and it's too congested here."

Yu Le went out to make a phone call.

Shen Lin said in a panic, "I'll go farther away to shoot."

We all shook our heads.

I said, "How about I have Uncle Li send you to the East Station first?"

Yu Le walked closer and said, "It's okay, my dad is almost here. He's just at the last intersection, I'll have him drop us off at Dong Station first."

"That's fine, too."

Shen Lin hesitated, "It's not a good idea, you're not going that way anyway."

Yu Le said softly, "My house is very close, listen to me, you won't catch the bus if you don't hurry."

"Good."

"Then, goodbye."

We walked in opposite directions, parting ways. Chiang got into Dad's cold car, and Uncle Li picked me up from the throng of people.

For over 20 minutes, Yu Le's father kept enthusiastically greeting Shen Lin.

Yu Dad happily asked, "You and Yu Le are in the same class? I always feel like we get along well."

Shen Lin giggled sweetly and said, "Yes, Uncle, you are very warm."

Yu Le sat next to Shen Lin and said, "Dad, who do you get along with?"

Yu Dad held the steering wheel and said with a smile, "I know, but this classmate of yours always seems to like you."

Shen Lin awkwardly smiled politely. Yu Le secretly smirked triumphantly.

So, little student, where is your home?

"Uncle, just call me Shenlin. My home isn't in the city, it's too far. I probably wouldn't even know the name if you told me."

"It's impossible," said Uncle Yu with a proud face, "when I was young, I traveled all over the place. Where wouldn't I know?"

"Really? Do you know about Iwasumi Village?"

Yu Dad said excitedly: "I know, I know. When I was young, I went there to see the land. I remember the scenery was beautiful, the original ecosystem was perfect. It's a pity that I didn't buy it later, otherwise I would have settled there, so you and Yu Le would be hometown."

Yu Le smiled softly.

"Ah! Uncle, you really know about it! I thought nobody would know about this remote place!"

"Remote? The environment is great! It's a pity, you two almost grew up together!"

"Well, indeed, the ecology is beautiful. A pity, Uncle."

Uncle nodded.

No one saw Yu Le's serious expression. He was filled with regret, oS: "It's really annoying, I could have met earlier."

Yu Le said seriously: "Then, Dad, why didn't we buy the land?"

Yu Dad said, "It doesn't count, I bought it but sold it."

Yu Le pressed, "Why sell?"

"That's what your mom said, buying a house in the city is good for your development! So, don't you like living here now!"

Yu Le hurriedly explained, "No, it's just a doubt, not saying the environment is good, right?"

Yu Dad nodded and drove seriously.

Just as I was about to ask Shen Lin something, I saw him leaning uncomfortably against the seat cushion, his eyes nervously fixed on the car ceiling.

Yu Le knew he might be carsick because whenever he went to play at Shenlin, he would fall asleep as soon as they got in the car, avoiding looking at his phone and rarely chatting. Yu Le hurriedly said, "Dad, can you drive slower and more steadily, please?"

Yu Dad sadly reduced his speed.

Shen Lin said with a hint of discomfort and awkwardness, "It's nothing, Uncle. I was just not good enough."

"Dad Yu comforted, "How could it be? People who get car sick are the most miserable. I understand."

Dad habitually took out ginger and a bandage from the side box and handed them to Yu Le, who understood implicitly. He skillfully broke off a small piece of ginger, tore open the band-aid, and stuck the ginger slice on Shen Lin's left wrist at the pulse point, and instructed him: "If you like the taste of ginger, you can smell it to buffer."

Yu Dad said with a smile, "Not bad at all. Next time if your mom is feeling down and I'm not around, I can rest assured knowing you'll take care of her."

Soon, Uncle Li brought me home. As I walked in and saw the soft sofa, I threw my bag aside and slammed onto it, sinking into its cushions before bouncing back up.

Auntie happily carried my school bag to my study and placed it on the stool. She said, "Xingyi, weren't you tired from the exam?"

I buried my face in the couch and said, "Hmm."

"Take a rest, dear. I'll go make something for you. What would you like to eat?"

I turned my head and lay on the sofa, smiling happily, and said: "Auntie, I want to eat noodles. Lots of them, Auntie! Please make your special chili oil for me and fry an egg by hand."

Auntie nodded, saying in a doting tone, "Alright, alright."

I happily gave Auntie a few flying kisses, "Mamahorse, thank you Auntie, I love you!"

Auntie's heart blossomed.

In a jiffy, I was seated at the dining table. My aunt brought over a steaming bowl of noodles. The hot vapor swirled like fog, and the distinct noodles were arranged neatly in the bowl, ready to enter my mouth. A perfectly golden-brown fried egg sat atop the noodles, its underside already soaked with broth. Oil chili peppers were mixed into the noodles, giving them a reddish hue that was incredibly appetizing. Finely chopped scallions and long strips of cilantro had also been infused with the heat.

Aunt added, "Coriander gets flavorful and you shouldn't pick it out like you used to!"

I was fully satisfied, "Hmm."

Shen Lin had already caught the returning bus home. The driver kindly helped Shen Lin put her suitcase in the back of the big bus. Shen Lin sat down in her single seat.

After changing buses, the motion sickness was noticeably better. Just in case, Shen Lin swallowed some motion sickness medication with water and held an orange in his hand.

Getting on the bus, it's not far from home. Although the bus facilities aren't great and the environment is clearly much worse, Shen Lin can always sleep soundly every time.

Shen Lin looked at the orange in his hand, then at the Band-Aid stuck on it. He inadvertently raised his hand and sniffed his nose. The pungent ginger scent went straight to his brain, and he suddenly realized something. Shen Lin smiled foolishly, oS: "Smelling ginger, smelling orange peel, and smelling motion sickness medicine, it's too exaggerated and complicated."

>More than two hours on the road, the sky went from bright to dark, the scenery became more and more beautiful but also gradually blurred, until the sky turned completely black.

Originally, Shen Lin would have slept through the whole journey. But this time, he was in high spirits throughout the trip. He didn't feel nauseous or dizzy from motion sickness, and his shoulders weren't aching either. He was full of excitement as he watched the night scenery pass by. The streetlights were no longer everywhere, and the lights weren't as bright. A cold wind howled wildly. I saw that at a roadside intersection under a streetlight, it was Dad waiting for Shen Lin.

The driver kindly opened the light for Shen Lin and kept reminding him, "Be careful."

Finally, Dad got to his precious baby. Dad strapped the suitcase to the back of the motorcycle and told Shenlin to put on his hat. Shenlin was taken home by Dad riding his beloved motorcycle.

(Editor in charge:romance novels young adults)