Chapter 798: Encounter
Audrey looked at the man beside her in surprise. He appeared to be in his early thirties, wearing a black jacket and glasses. His square face, small eyes, and slight beard gave him a scholarly appearance. He reminded her a bit of Ethan from the office, though Ethan was always somewhat timid, whereas this man seemed calm and composed. His gaze was clear, lacking the usual uncomfortable eagerness and greed of other men.
The man was holding a bulging laptop bag. He wasn’t very tall, about the same height as Audrey, with an average build that would blend into a crowd.
"Thank you," Audrey said, feeling a bit embarrassed as she took the tissue from him and turned away to wipe her tears. Her heart remained heavy. She knew she had a tendency to be indecisive. Alissa had once advised her to live in the moment and not overthink things.
But Audrey couldn't be as carefree as Alissa. Her feelings for Jason were still deep, making it hard to let go. Moreover, she couldn't rely on Kevin, which made her life difficult. She knew she should end things with Kevin for both their sakes, but she couldn't muster the courage to do so.
This trip to Starhaven was meant to help her gradually distance herself from Kevin. Their relationship was never meant to be, and it was time to end it.
The man quietly observed Audrey. Her stunning beauty surprised him. While such beauty was not uncommon in Starhaven, it was rare in Starfall Town. However, he was naturally introverted and awkward around people, especially beautiful women. He had only offered her the tissue because she seemed so sad. Now, he worried that he might have overstepped and felt relieved when she accepted it.
Soon, a slow-moving train pulled into the platform. It was an old-fashioned train, slower than the high-speed trains but much cheaper, making it a popular choice.
Audrey followed the other passengers into the carriage, struggling to lift her heavy suitcase onto the luggage rack. Suddenly, a hand reached out and effortlessly placed her suitcase on the rack.
"Ah," Audrey turned to see the same man who had given her the tissue. She blushed and thanked him softly before continuing to her seat. She quickly found her upper berth and frowned at the thought of climbing up and down for the next ten hours.
The man followed and, seeing her hesitation, smiled, "What a coincidence, I'm in this compartment too."
"Hello," Audrey said, surprised at the coincidence. She smiled slightly, her charm making the man’s heart race. He couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was, and his heart beat faster, making him too nervous to continue looking at her.
The man had a lower berth. He placed his laptop bag at the head of his bed and opened the window for ventilation. Seeing Audrey standing by the door, staring at the upper berth, he realized her predicament. After a moment's hesitation, he offered, "Why don't we switch? I'll take the upper berth, and you can have the lower one."
"Oh, I couldn't impose," Audrey instinctively declined. The lower berth was more expensive, and she didn’t want to accept his kindness without reason.
"It's no trouble. I prefer the upper berth anyway; it's quieter," the man insisted, moving his laptop bag to the upper berth and smiling, "I'm Dave. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, I'm Audrey," she replied, shaking his hand. She felt grateful and said, "Thank you. Let me reimburse you for the price difference."
"No need," Dave said, his heart pounding as he held her soft hand. "It's important to help each other out when traveling. Are you heading to Starhaven too?"
"Yes, I'm visiting family," Audrey said, withdrawing her hand. She learned that Dave was a university professor and felt a pang of envy, "Being a university professor sounds great—light workload and good pay. Much better than my job."
"With your qualifications, it's a shame you're teaching in a small town," Dave said, looking regretful. "You should have stayed in the provincial capital. The resources there can't compare to a small town. It's a waste of talent."
"Not really. With my degree, I wouldn't stand out in the provincial capital," Audrey said modestly, though she agreed with Dave. She regretted following Jason back to the small town. Many of her classmates had advanced in their careers, some becoming university professors or government officials, while she remained a small-town teacher. She realized her decision had been a mistake, but there was no turning back.
"Don't be too modest, Mrs. Johnson," Dave said with a smile. "It's not too late to start now. You're still young. You could pursue a graduate degree and be in your prime for your career. If you're interested in our university, I can help you connect with a mentor."
"I'll consider it," Audrey said, feeling this might be a good plan. If Jason wanted to stay in Starhaven, she could pursue graduate studies nearby, advancing her career while reuniting with her husband. However, this would mean leaving the city and Kevin behind. Though she had resolved to end things with Kevin, she had friends and colleagues in the city, and the small-town life was comfortable. It was a difficult decision.
Dave took the opportunity to admire Audrey. Her delicate features, bright eyes, and fair skin made her a rare beauty. Her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her ample chest exuded mature charm. She was a stunning woman, unlike any he had seen at his university.
Dave wanted to ask if Audrey was married but feared hearing a disappointing answer. Even if she were single, he doubted someone as beautiful as Audrey would be interested in an ordinary man like him. Still, he didn't want to miss the chance to get to know her better during their ten-hour journey.
As they chatted, another man entered the compartment. He was short, wearing a backpack, mask, hat, and sunglasses, hiding his features. He glanced quickly at Audrey and Dave, seeming briefly captivated by Audrey's beauty before climbing into the lower berth opposite hers and covering himself with a blanket.
Audrey and Dave exchanged glances, both finding the new arrival's behavior suspicious. Audrey, still sensitive after her recent kidnapping, felt uneasy. She wondered if the man could be a fugitive.
Dave signaled to Audrey, and they quietly left the compartment to talk in the connecting area. "Mrs. Johnson, that guy seems off. He’s acting suspiciously," Dave said.
"I agree. I'm worried he might be trouble. We have over ten hours to go. Maybe we should report him to the conductor," Audrey suggested.
Dave smiled wryly, "It's not that simple. He hasn't done anything wrong, so the conductor can't just interrogate him. But don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."
"Alright," Audrey said reluctantly. Maybe she was overreacting. After all, it was broad daylight on a crowded train. What could happen?
Inside the compartment, the man peeked out from under his blanket. He had removed his mask and sunglasses, revealing himself as Herbert, the man who had appeared in Kevin's yard that night.
Herbert was anxious, having encountered Jasper's arch-enemy, Jerome, that night. Jasper's gang and another gang had been the city's biggest rivals. Jerome was the brains behind the rival gang, and after Jasper defeated them, Jerome and the boss's son disappeared, becoming Jasper's biggest concern. Jasper had been searching for them ever since.
Herbert had been captured by Jerome, who tortured him for Jasper's whereabouts. Herbert revealed several of Jasper's locations before escaping. Fearing both Jerome and Jasper, he fled to the city and decided to leave Starfall Town.
He was surprised to see Audrey on the train. Though he hadn’t seen her face clearly that night, her large, firm breasts were unmistakable. He wondered why she was on the train and decided not to miss the opportunity. Remembering the night Audrey had been used by the boy, Herbert felt aroused and smiled wickedly. It seemed fate had given him a beautiful companion for his escape.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the compartment. Herbert covered his head again, fearing Jerome's men might be after him. He decided to stay hidden.
Meanwhile, Audrey and Dave returned to the compartment, seeing the conductor closing the doors. The train was about to depart. They noticed three new passengers: a middle-aged man in a suit with a thermos, looking like a retired official, and a couple—a bald man in a branded T-shirt with a thick gold chain and an ostentatious belt, and a woman dressed provocatively in a tank top and denim shorts, exposing her navel and long, white legs. The woman's ample but smaller-than-Audrey's breasts strained against her top.
The couple was sitting on Audrey's lower berth, flirting openly. The bald man’s hand roamed the woman’s thigh, and she writhed against him like a seductive snake. If not for the presence of others, they might have started making out right there.
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