Chapter 310 - 268: Rui, Gu Muxue Is Looking for You

It wasn’t until the train’s arrival announcement played that Lin Ruoxi’s eyes slowly cleared. ’I knew it was time to face reality.’

"Rui, we’ll be in Hedong in a little over an hour. Go rest on the opposite bunk for a bit." Lin Ruoxi forcefully pulled Xue Rui up from the bed.

Xue Rui deliberately stayed put on the sheets. He knew she wanted to tidy up the bunk and was intentionally not getting up.

"I don’t want to walk anymore. Just pack me up and take me with you," Xue Rui joked.

A flash of surprise flickered in Lin Ruoxi’s eyes, but it quickly faded. ’She knew that was impossible.’

Xue Rui noticed the change in Lin Ruoxi’s expression and obediently moved to the other bunk, watching her put away the red three-piece bedding set.

She neatly restored the sleeper bunk to its original state, making the bed even smoother than the staff at the departure station had.

"Mm, I’ll ask Sister Yu where she is." After finishing everything, Lin Ruoxi sat down next to Xue Rui, took out her phone, and pressed the power button.

Xue Rui actually wanted to turn on his phone and check his messages too, but they hadn’t gotten off the train yet. He had promised Lin Ruoxi he wouldn’t turn it on before they got off, and he had to keep his word.

However, as soon as Lin Ruoxi turned on her phone, it began buzzing nonstop. A string of notification sounds echoed through the small cabin.

Xue Rui turned his head in surprise. Lin Ruoxi’s social circle was very small, with only a few people who would contact her. Who would send her so many messages?

Lin Ruoxi opened a text message. It was from Yu Minlan:

[Ruoxi, I’m so sorry, I’m a traitor! The moment Xue Rui asked, I panicked and confessed everything...]

Xue Rui’s eye twitched. ’Yu Minlan is a goddamn double agent.’

Lin Ruoxi replied, "It’s okay, Sister Yu. Xue Rui said he forgives you."

Xue Rui was left speechless. ’She was asking you. Why drag me into it for no reason?’

She continued scrolling down and, to her surprise, found messages from Ren Qunfang.

"My mom?" Xue Rui suddenly had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

Aunt Ren: [Xixi, where did you and Xiaorui go? I tried calling both of you, why are your phones off?]

[You must reply the moment you see this. Don’t make your aunt worry.]

Lin Ruoxi was about to reply to Ren Qunfang but was stopped by Xue Rui’s outstretched hand.

"Rui, you didn’t tell Aun... Aunt Ren?"

Lin Ruoxi hesitated when saying "Aunt Ren." Her relationship with Xue Rui was different now, and she wasn’t sure if she should change how she addressed his mother. But then she reconsidered. ’A girlfriend would still call her ’Auntie’...’

Xue Rui rubbed his chin, lost in thought. ’Didn’t I send a mass text to all my contacts?’

’Why did his mom end up asking Lin Ruoxi?’

’Could it be... the text never sent?’

"I’m sure I sent a mass text," Xue Rui said.

Lin Ruoxi lowered her head, took Xue Rui’s phone out of her schoolbag, and gently offered it to him. "Mm, here."

As she held his phone, a sense of security washed over her.

’Xue Rui always kept his promises, no matter how big or small. But she didn’t need him to keep every single one; he would be too exhausted that way.’

Xue Rui shook his head, refusing the phone. They were only half an hour from Hedong now. He’d sworn he wouldn’t turn his phone on until they arrived, and since things had already happened, a little more time wouldn’t make a difference.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. The text must not have gone through. That meant he had disappeared on Gu Muxue for a whole day and night without a word...

"How could it not have sent?" Xue Rui muttered.

She spoke up to explain, "The train was constantly moving. It probably happened to be switching between cell towers right then, so the signal was lost."

"I think it’s because iPhones have terrible signal."

"Mm, that could be part of it."

Suddenly, Lin Ruoxi remembered something. She opened her phone’s blocklist and removed Gu Muxue’s name.

’Xue Rui didn’t want her to contact their classmate Gu Muxue, so she’d blocked her that night. She was afraid Gu Muxue would ask her questions she didn’t know how to answer.’

’But she had just realized something—hadn’t their classmate Gu Muxue been unable to contact Xue Rui for a whole day?’

She found her message history with Gu Muxue. It was a long string of texts, sent from around eight or nine last night all the way until now.

[Lin Ruoxi, can you get in touch with Xue Rui?]

[Why is your phone off too? Are you with Xue Rui?]

[Where did you and Xue Rui go?]

...

[Lin Ruoxi, are you and Xue Rui safe right now? Please reply when you get this.]

[I’m really worried right now.]

[Call me back.]

Lin Ruoxi’s breathing grew ragged. She never expected their classmate Gu Muxue to be so worried about Xue Rui. Just as she was about to show him, another text came from Gu Muxue. It contained just three short words:

[I’m begging you.]

Lin Ruoxi said, "Rui, Gu Muxue is looking for you."