Shen Yuan took Li Zhi's hand as they stepped onto the escalator, which slowly ascended.
His gaze crossed the river in front of them and landed steadily on the imposing complex of buildings on the other side.
The red brick walls appeared solid and solemn under the sun, while the modern glass curtain walls exuded vitality.
Sunlight sprinkled over the vast lawns and tree-lined avenues of the campus, creating a dappled pattern of light and shadow.
Students came and went in twos and threes, backpacks slung over their shoulders, while the massive silhouette of a distant academic building stretched clearly against the blue sky.
Looking at the familiar scene across the way, Shen Yuan's eyes lit up with a hint of subtle anticipation and… a certain self-assuredness that came from being prepared.
Li Zhi followed his gaze and, naturally, also saw the vast campus on the other side, so sprawling that she couldn't see its end.
