The taxi wheel accidentally hit a pothole, causing the car to bounce.

Xia Xiaolan’s right hand struck the car window, her watchmaking a sharp clicking sound.

“Miss Xia, are you alright?”

Xia Xiaolan’s wrist hurt a bit, but moving it suggested no bone damage.

“I’m fine, just an accident.”

Looking down, she noticed a crack in her watch case.

Xia Xiaolan was truly surprised. While studying at Huaqing, she had to maintain a low profile and wore an ordinary domestic watch. In the 1980s, domestic watches were known for their durability, making such damage from a minor impact unusual.

“Miss Xia, are you feeling unwell? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

Only when others pointed it out did Xia Xiaolan glance in the rearview mirror? Indeed, her face was pale, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead. After getting in the car, lost in thoughts about people and matters back home, she had inadvertently fallen asleep.

A sudden heart palpitation, that suffocating discomfort, had jolted her awake.

In that brief moment, she seemed to have had a nightmare, the mental stress clearly showing on her face.

The person concerned about Xia Xiaolan was none other than the girl who appeared close to Chen Qing.

The girl was from Chen Qing’s school, not just his classmate but also his current girlfriend.

Chen Qing’s ability to study abroad surprised Xia Xiaolan.

However, everyone had their fortune. Though Chen Qing hadn’t participated in the English competition, it didn’t mean he performed poorly at school. He hadn’t even gone home during breaks, staying to work on some project with a professor.

Perhaps mindful of his girlfriend’s presence, Chen Qing hadn’t been very warm towards Xia Xiaolan during customs.

After entering Hong Kong, his girlfriend became quite friendly with Xia Xiaolan.

She had insisted on riding in the same car with Chen Qing and Xia Xiaolan, asking numerous questions. Xia Xiaolan, not wanting to discuss much with an unfamiliar person, especially regarding personal matters, had pretended to sleep.

Unexpectedly, she had fallen asleep.

When she awoke, it was the taxi’s bump that damaged her watch.

Xia Xiaolan felt it was rather unlucky.

Yet Chen Qing’s girlfriend Han Jin kept showing concern, leaving Xia Xiaolan uncomfortable whether sleeping or awake.

“Enough, can’t you see Xiaolan isn’t feeling well? Can’t you be quiet for a while and let her rest?”

Chen Qing, probably unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, finally spoke up.

Han Jin pouted: “Aren’t you and Miss Xia good friends? I just wanted to show more care since we’ll all be studying in America!”

Xia Xiaolan coughed:

“Chen Qing and I just happened to test out of the same village. I lived elsewhere as a child and only moved back to the village a year before the college entrance exam. We’re not particularly close.”

Xia Xiaolan was considering Chen Qing’s feelings.

A spilled vinegar jar was never pleasant, and she didn’t mind taking a verbal hit.

Moreover, friendships should have boundaries. She and Chen Qing were fellow villagers and friends but had grown somewhat distant after entering university.

Even without the distance, a proper friend should know their place. Chen Qing’s relationship with his girlfriend must be closer than that with her. Friends might only occupy a small portion of one’s life, while Chen Qing and his girlfriend were studying abroad together and likely to end up together – she would be his life partner. How could Xia Xiaolan compare?

A flash of embarrassment crossed Chen Qing’s eyes.

He didn’t want to be so cold, but showing warmth might make things worse.

He could only convince himself that there was still plenty of time ahead, and currently having no real capabilities, why try to show off in front of Xia Xiaolan?

Han Jin, who usually wasn’t like this, seemed deliberately provocative today.

Probably feeling insecure?

Chen Qing could understand.

Caught between Xia Xiaolan and Han Jin, Chen Qing found himself in a difficult position.

Xia Xiaolan’s tactfulness seemed to please and comfort Han Jin, who finally stopped trying to make a forced conversation.

Hong Kong airport, throughout the flight, and after landing in Tokyo, Han Jin didn’t speak to Xia Xiaolan again, instead chatting enthusiastically with other exchange students.

Though everyone was headed to different schools, Han Jin suggested they keep in touch after settling in.

Her suggestion received approval from the Education Department leader:

“Being abroad comes with many inconveniences, and America’s environment differs greatly from home, as you’ll soon experience. You’re all excellent students going abroad together, so you must look out for each other overseas.”

In 1986, China couldn’t yet confidently call itself a “rising power” as in later years.

With limited national strength, the Chinese naturally held a lower status overseas.

In the late 1960s, after an arduous struggle, America legally abolished racial discrimination, but people of color still faced frequent discrimination.

The group leader informed everyone that private gun ownership was legal in America, and even in major cities like New York, some neighborhoods were very dangerous. He hoped that during their studies abroad when leaving campus, they would try to accompany local students, avoid being alone, and not return late.

Xia Xiaolan felt his points were valid.

These students had never left the country, only imagining America’s greatness through media and literature, lacking any sense of caution. They might encounter troubles in America.

Even thirty years later, news frequently reported criminals specifically targeting Chinese international students during robberies.

Chinese students were seen as wealthy, physically weaker than whites and blacks, and easy targets.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t change the broader environment alone, so she listened quietly. Better to pour some cold water on everyone’s “American Dream” now than have these students go unprepared and unknowingly fall into dangerous situations!

Seeing no other passengers paying attention, the leader coughed several times and spoke about the dangers of drugs, leaving these elite students dumbfounded.

Except for Xia Xiaolan, others found it hard to believe that in highly developed America, drug dealers would openly solicit customers on the streets.

In fact, after nightfall, not only drug dealers but many prostitutes would solicit on the streets.

The leader felt too embarrassed to mention this.

“America has many good aspects, which is why the country is sending you to study there, but capitalist countries also have many negative aspects. I hope students can develop their judgment, learning the essence while discarding the dross…”

Xia Xiaolan’s flight went from Tokyo to Chicago.

After completing immigration in Chicago, everyone would transfer to different flights. In Chicago, the Education Department leaders couldn’t escort each student to their universities—the real challenge was just beginning, and these first-time international college students would have to separate.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t yet part from Chen Qing and Han Jin. She was going to Cornell University, while Chen Qing and Han Jin were headed to New York University.

New York State was large, and among the exchange students, two others were traveling the same way. Xia Xiaolan knew neither of them, but the outgoing Han Jin had already befriended them on the flight from Tokyo to Chicago.

“Miss Xia, we’ve agreed to meet in the city center at 2 PM on the first Sunday. Would you like to join us?”