Chapter 809: The Trip to Starhaven
Audrey couldn't help but think of Kevin again, wondering how he was doing now. However, she knew she needed to stay safe while outside. She found the wooden stick Kevin had given her under the bed and solemnly hung it around her neck, feeling a sense of security.
Once the train exited the tunnel, her phone quickly regained signal. Audrey checked her phone and found dozens of messages from her husband, Lucas. She quickly called him back to explain her situation and told Lucas she would arrive at Starhaven train station around 5 PM, asking him to pick her up. However, seeing no messages from Kevin, Audrey felt a bit uneasy, wondering if Kevin was truly upset.
As the train continued its journey, many passengers disembarked at each stop, and the carriage gradually became emptier. In Audrey's carriage, only three people remained: Audrey, Dave, and the mysterious man.
Dave looked up at Herbert, who was hiding under the covers, and whispered to Audrey, "Do you think there's something wrong with this guy? He hasn't gotten up for such a long time, not even to use the restroom."
Audrey smiled faintly and said, "It doesn't matter as long as he doesn't bother anyone."
She despised people who made loud noises in the carriage. Once, when she was on a bus trip to the provincial capital, a man next to her talked on the phone loudly all the way, making it impossible to rest. Thankfully, this time, she hadn't encountered such rude people. Even the bald man and his girlfriend were discreet under the covers.
Unable to resist Audrey's charming appearance, Dave said, "Audrey, why don't you give me your phone number? If you ever want to pursue a graduate degree at our school, you can contact me. I really think you should further your studies. With your qualifications, staying in a small county is a waste. A graduate degree is still valuable, and you might have a chance to stay in a big city."
"I'll think about it," Audrey replied, considering that Dave might have a point. She hadn't felt it while staying in her hometown, but now, as she got closer to Starhaven, the scenery around her changed dramatically, giving her a sense of being a frog in a well. Perhaps she should indeed strive for more.
She exchanged phone numbers with Dave and inquired about his university. Aetheria was not far from Starhaven, only a half-hour drive away. It was a picturesque place by the sea and mountains, home to two nationally renowned universities and the prestigious Qinjiang Music Academy, which had produced several prominent music masters.
As Dave and Audrey continued to chat, the previously dull journey became lively. When the train finally arrived at Starhaven station, Dave felt reluctant to part with Audrey, who had already started packing. He watched her leave the compartment with her luggage, her long legs striding away, feeling a bit down, unsure if he would ever see this charming teacher again.
"Stop looking; she's gone. A toad wanting to eat swan meat," a mocking voice suddenly came from behind. Dave turned around to see Herbert, his face darkening with anger. "What did you say?"
"I said you're a toad wanting to eat swan meat," Herbert sneered. He had been pretending to sleep on the middle bunk, listening to Dave's incessant talk about his school with Audrey, and couldn't help but laugh. He knew exactly what Dave was thinking. After all, they were both men.
"Who said I want to eat swan meat? No, who said I'm a toad?" Dave's face turned red, feeling exposed. "How dare you insult my character! We're just friends."
"Friends? More like you want to be friends with benefits," Herbert laughed disdainfully. "You're just interested because she's pretty and has big breasts. If she were ugly, would you be so enthusiastic? Look at yourself in the mirror. You're just a lousy university teacher. What's so great about that?"
"Say that again, I dare you," Dave gritted his teeth, clenching his fist. He had never been humiliated like this before.
"What if I do? Hit me if you have the guts," Herbert taunted, leaning his face closer to Dave. "Come on, slap me if you're a man."
Dave's face turned pale with anger. He raised his hand, ready to slap Herbert, but ultimately lowered it, scoffing, "I won't stoop to your level." With that, he picked up his laptop bag and left the compartment.
Herbert chuckled, spitting on the ground. He opened his hand to reveal a wallet he had stolen from Dave. However, after rummaging through it, he found only an ID card, work ID, bus card, and a few dollars. Cursing Dave as a poor loser, Herbert threw the wallet out the window and swaggered out, only to be stopped by two train police officers. "Sir, we've received reports that you're carrying a controlled weapon and have been intimidating passengers. Please show us your ID."
"Officers, I'm being framed!" Herbert's face changed. His ID was a fake he had bought online, and he couldn't afford to be sent back to his hometown. The officers, noticing his nervousness, became more suspicious and escorted him away.
Audrey followed the crowd off the platform, feeling a bit uneasy. She had reported Herbert, suspecting he might be a wanted criminal. Reporting him wouldn't hurt, and if he was indeed a criminal, she had done society a favor.
Outside the station, many people were waiting to pick up passengers, some holding signs and calling out names. The sun was glaring, making it hard to see. Starhaven, known as the furnace, was still oppressively hot even at almost 6 PM. Audrey quickly took out a sun umbrella from her bag, grateful she hadn't worn a skirt, or she would have been scorched.
She looked around for her husband but couldn't find him, so she called him. After a while, Lucas answered, "Honey, are you at Starhaven?"
"Yes, I just got out. Where are you? I can't see you," Audrey said, walking out of the crowd. Her tall figure, long legs, and voluptuous chest drew attention. Several idle men sitting on the steps nearby, yawning, suddenly brightened up, whispering excitedly as they saw her.
"Our boss suddenly asked me to deliver something. I can't pick you up. I'll send you the address, and you can take a taxi there," Lucas said apologetically.
"Alright," Audrey replied, feeling a bit lost as she looked at the bustling city. Starhaven, with nearly 20 million residents and over 300 Fortune 500 companies, was a place where anyone in a suit could be a CEO, and even an old man in slippers might be a billionaire. Thousands flocked to this international metropolis daily, some achieving overnight success, while others left in obscurity. Many, like Lucas, struggled to find their place.
Audrey marveled at the towering skyscrapers, feeling a sense of unreality. Just yesterday, she was in a remote, backward county, but now she was in the most developed city. The people here, with their sophisticated attire and demeanor, were vastly different from those in her hometown.
Suddenly, she saw two tall, blonde, blue-eyed girls walk by. Both were over 1.75 meters tall, with long legs, fair skin, and deep-set features, exuding an exotic charm. Their attire shocked Audrey even more. One wore only a red crop top, exposing most of her back, with her breast contours visible from the side. She paired it with very short denim shorts, revealing her round, white buttocks. The other girl wore a black low-cut tank top, her ample breasts almost fully exposed, bouncing with each step, looking like they might fall out any moment. Both girls walked with their heads held high, indifferent to the stares of the men around them, clearly used to such attention.
Audrey was stunned by the stark contrast. In her hometown, such attire would be criticized and seen as improper, but here it seemed normal. She looked at her jeans and shirt, suddenly feeling very out of place.
No wonder Lucas didn't want to return to their hometown after coming to Starhaven. Audrey felt a sense of crisis. She, too, was overwhelmed by the city's allure, much stronger than her hometown.
Suddenly, a group of men approached, holding colorful photos and grinning, "Miss, need a place to stay? Just nearby, only $200 a night, with a private bathroom, 24-hour hot water, and free internet."
"No, thank you," Audrey quickly replied.
She left the station square, heading towards a row of taxis. As she approached, a group of drivers came over, asking where she was going.
"Driver, I need to go here," Audrey said, showing the address Lucas had sent her on her phone. She had no idea where it was.
The drivers exchanged glances and laughed, "Mountvale? That's far. How about $500, no meter?"
"That's too expensive! You're ripping me off," Audrey said angrily. Lucas had warned her that the fare should be no more than $200.
"Miss, Mountvale is very remote. We won't get passengers on the way back. $500 is fair."
"Forget it, I won't take it," Audrey said, dragging her suitcase away. She thought of staying at the station overnight and waiting for Lucas to pick her up the next day.
Just then, a car horn sounded. A car approached and stopped in front of her. A young man with sharp features and piercing eyes leaned out, "I'm Harry, a police officer. Do you need help?"
Harry often patrolled the area to prevent price-gouging near the station.
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