America: I came here to study, not to show mercy.

Chapter 202 Departure, Aurora
It was 8 a.m. at the end of January.

Manhattan in New York was already bustling with people, and pedestrians were all wearing down jackets or hoodies with their hats pulled up. There were exceptions, though, but they were all white-collar workers in suits, holding a cup of coffee and hurrying along.

The remaining snow on the road was quickly cleared away by sanitation workers and piled up on the side of the road. Many pieces of snow were still hanging on passing cars, and every now and then a few pieces would fall onto the road.

Every time this happens, it elicits angry shouts and curses from the sanitation workers nearby.

Morning light streamed through the gaps in the drawn curtains, bringing a touch of brightness to the dim room.

Li Xiaoen woke up in bed according to her biological clock, and before her eyes was a vast expanse of soft, white flesh.

His mind went blank for a moment, then he took a deep breath and smelled a sweet, delicate fragrance that made him sway his head back and forth gently.

He didn't know when it started, but every time he woke up with Suffer, he was in one of two completely different states: either he was like this now, or the girl was on top of him, lying in his arms.

Breaking free from Suffer's arm that was pressing down on his neck, Li Xiaoen lay down and turned around to hug Suffer in his arms.

The sudden movement seemed to startle the other person, who let out a dazed hum, shook her head, and opened her sleepy eyes.

"Sophie, school usually starts at 8:30, how come you haven't developed a biological clock?"

Looking down to meet the girl's gaze as she looked up, Li Xiaoen teased, "Or do you sleep until after eight o'clock if you have early classes?"

"You're really amazing."

She rolled her eyes at him, then lowered her head and closed her eyes again.

"If you're still sleepy, then sleep a little longer."

Li Xiaoen smiled and sighed, tucking the blankets around the two of them. "There's no need to rush that matter. Just treat it as a trip. The most important thing is to feel comfortable."

Upon hearing this, Suffer immediately perked up, sat up abruptly, and glared at him.

"Why isn't this urgent?"

"If you're in a hurry, we can leave right now. It's up to you."

He nodded, lying down and looking up at the girl. The blankets slipped off his body with the movement, and he was inevitably drawn to the stunningly beautiful sight of her moving body.

Seeing the young man's gaze darken slightly, Suffer grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

"Ha ha……"

With a couple of loud laughs, Li Xiaoen sprang out of bed and quickly began to dress. "It's at most a five-hour drive. We'll have breakfast downstairs at the hotel and then set off. We should arrive this afternoon..."

"help me."

Suffer interrupted, handing over the undergarments.

Unlike in Yuecheng, the two of them came in empty-handed, and checking out was extremely convenient. After tidying up a bit, they went out and went to the restaurant on the lower floor.

After sitting down and taking the menu from the waiter, Li Xiaoen's attention was drawn to a group of young women gathered in the corner.

"Sophie, please order breakfast."

Li Xiaoen nodded to the girl opposite him, then stood up and walked towards them.

They were several Chinese faces with heavy makeup. Li Xiaoen approached with a slight frown, and then heard their playful shoving and pushing.

"Hurry up and take the picture, then it'll be my turn."

"Oh dear, our team can't get in. I need to communicate with them to confirm the shooting angles and lighting, otherwise we'll end up with unusable footage, which would be a waste of AA's money."

"If you're going to make things so complicated, then I'll take the picture first."

After saying this, the girl's mood clearly took a sharp turn for the worse. Seeing the increasingly tense atmosphere among them, Li Xiaoen's expression also became increasingly strange.

Just then, the girl, who was all ready and sitting alone at the dining table, began to speak into the phone camera.

"Hi~~ I'm at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York now~~"

"I'm going to a meeting at the United Nations headquarters soon~~"

"Actually, they do provide breakfast there, but I thought it was awful, so I just ate something simple at the hotel where I was staying, hehe~~"

"..."

The girl spoke casually to the camera in a high-pitched voice, cut off a piece of bacon, forked it, put it in her mouth, savored it carefully, shook her head, and gave a meaningful smile...

"Hey... I ordered this soft-boiled egg, and you broke it. How am I supposed to take a picture now?"

After one person finished taking a picture, the other girls who were originally sitting elsewhere and had only ordered the same bread started to complain, and their chatter quickly made the corner noisy.

what……

Is this what Chinese online celebrities and socialites are like after being packaged online?

Seeing this, Li Xiaoen felt uncomfortable and awkwardly raised his hand to rub his forehead. However, before he could come to his senses and leave, he was noticed by several girls.

Are you here to film a video too?

They looked her up and down, and one of the girls in a black dress spoke up, "Why don't I recognize you?"

Upon hearing this, the other girls exchanged subtle glances.

To put it nicely, they have no impression of them; to put it bluntly, they have no followers, at most a small internet celebrity with just over a thousand followers.

"No, I'm not here to film."

Seeing their reactions, Li Xiaoen helplessly raised her hand, "I really came here to eat."

These words startled the girl, and her gaze, which had been scrutinizing her from head to toe, suddenly became more radiant.

If the young man's designer clothes are all his own, and not from a team or for promotional purposes, then judging from his demeanor and appearance, he is undoubtedly a second-generation student or tourist here.

"whee……"

A girl stepped closer and asked, "What's your name? You look so young, are you here to study abroad?"

"You can follow me on Douyin, my account name is shaning林, hehe... I just film for fun, don't go there and expose me, or I'll lose face..."

As she spoke, she playfully stuck out her tongue.

"Hey handsome, are you alone? Want to appear on camera? You're so handsome, you'll definitely attract a lot of fans! You can even make your own Douyin account later..."

Another girl quickly realized what was happening and excitedly moved closer.

"No... is it possible that I really just came here for a simple breakfast?"

Suddenly surrounded by them, Li Xiaoen raised her hand, both amused and exasperated. "I just heard Mandarin and saw some fellow countrymen here, so I thought I'd come and take a look..."

Unfortunately, this explanation was not only useless, but it also made them more enthusiastic. It wasn't until then that a cold voice came from beside them that they calmed down.

"Have you finished talking?"

The girl was speaking in English, which made the girls pause for a moment. They turned their heads and saw the tall, beautiful, icy-cold face of the American white girl, and they were suddenly stunned.

After glancing over, Suffer walked over to Li Xiaoen, nudged him with her elbow, and whispered, "Have you finished your business?"

"Okay, I'm just here to say hello to my fellow countrymen."

Li Xiaoen explained helplessly, then turned to look at the girls who were still dumbfounded. Noticing their puzzled looks, he thought for a moment, then amusedly raised his chin at them, "To be honest, I've made it ashore. This is the rich woman I found."

After saying that, Li Xiaoen raised his arm and put it on Su Feier's shoulder.

"..."

"Ah, ah..."

Coming to their senses, the girls forced smiles, turned around, and looked at each other, but no one said a word.

"Let's go."

The scene before them was truly absurd. Li Xiaoen tugged at Su Feier's arm and walked back with her.

What did you just say to them?

On the way back to the dining table, Sophie frowned and looked over. "No, is she saying something bad about me again?"

She clearly remembered that during the winter vacation in Yuecheng, the young man, in order to get rid of the two gold-digging women, mocked him by saying that he was a "colleague" and that she was his "old partner".

"I didn't say much this time."

Li Xiaoen shrugged innocently, "I was just saying you have money."

After scrutinizing the young man's face for a while, Sophie rolled her eyes and sat down at the dining table.

After a quick breakfast, Suffer drove away from the hotel and stopped the car outside a convenience store.

Are you going to buy something to eat on the way?

Li Xiaoen parked the car. Since it was a brand new car that he had just received yesterday, there was practically nothing inside.

"Since it's a trip, shouldn't it have to be done in a certain way?"

Sophie smiled casually and replied with a pursed mouth, but despite saying that, she bought more everyday necessities such as tissues and drinking water.

"Let's go."

With a lollipop in her mouth, the white plastic stick peeking out from her red lips, Sophie wore a bright smile.

"Was it bought only for you?"

Glancing at the girl, Li Xiaoen started the car and merged into the increasingly congested traffic of Manhattan.

"Here you go."

He rummaged through the bag next to him and handed it to him.

"I'm driving, are you going to feed me?"

Li Xiaoen braced one arm against the car door window and held the steering wheel with the other.

"..."

"There's a traffic jam right now, the cars aren't even moving, are you still handless?"

A nonchalant voice came from beside him. Without even turning his head, Li Xiaoen could feel the girl's slightly narrowed gaze as she looked over, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud twice.

Just as I was about to reach out to take it, I saw the girl had already peeled off the thin paper on the candy and handed it to me again.

"Um……"

Li Xiaoen took a deep breath. "If only you could look at me with gentle eyes."

"Do you want it or not?"

Sophie glared at him and said, "I helped you peel off the paper, and you still dare to ask for so much?"

"Yes, of course."

Li Xiaoen nodded helplessly. Seeing that the car in front had already started moving, he started his car and followed, while opening his mouth.

"I really suspect you did this on purpose."

After staring blankly at the young man for a while, Suffer took a deep breath, leaned forward, and put the candy in her hand into his mouth.

"Hehe..." With the candy in his mouth, enjoying the sweet fruity taste, Li Xiaoen chuckled. "Thank you, Su Feier. It was worth taking time off work and driving for hours to that remote town to help you investigate the truth."

"Didn't you say you'd support me no matter what I do?"

"Suffolk said slowly, turning his head to look over," Suffer said.

"I can't say I support you in everything."

With the patched-up paper still in place, Li Xiaoen nodded seriously, "You could say it's the vast majority of things."

"Do you have the final say on the specifics of the measurement?"

"It's shameless to say this, but I regret to inform you..."

Leaving the congested streets of Manhattan, the traffic suddenly improved, and Li Xiaoen gradually increased his speed, replying loudly, "Yes, Suffer, haha..."

The laughter stopped abruptly, and Li Xiaoen suddenly held his breath to suppress the strange sensation of being struck in his lower back and abdomen.

"Sophie, I'm driving, be careful."

Without even looking down at the thing pressed against his abdomen, Li Xiaoen complained helplessly.

"Here's some water, do you want some?"

Sophie rolled her eyes.

"feed me?"

"Be careful, Mr. Sean."

“I can pull over to the side of the road and slow down, then… ah…”

As he spoke, another muffled groan escaped his throat. Li Xiaoen took a deep breath in resignation, gripped the steering wheel with one hand, and reached out the other towards Su Feier.

As expected, Li Xiaoen received an open bottle of water, took a sip, and then handed it back.

Following the navigation on his phone, Li Xiaoen entered the I-87N interstate highway heading north. Looking at the snow-covered American countryside in the distance, he couldn't help but hum a tune.

Aurora is an ordinary small town in New York State. If it weren't for this incident, he might never have known about this town. This was also one of the reasons why he told Sophie he wanted to go on a trip.

Strangely enough, New York is not in New York State, and Washington is not in Washington State. This unique naming convention of the United States reminded him of Beidu Road in his hometown of Yuecheng.

"Sophie, have you ever been to this town called Aurora?"

As Li Xiaoen sped steadily along the highway, he quickly found his driving rhythm, turned on the stereo to play music, and chatted casually with the sparse traffic ahead.

"No, so let's just treat it as a trip."

Sophie pursed her lips and shook her head, then looked down and chuckled as she fumbled for her phone. "Let me see what's fun there."

"Hmm... Sure enough, there is a Catholic church in that town."

After searching for a moment, Sophie lowered her voice and turned to look at him, "Sean, that witness is a Catholic, so there's a good chance he's living in seclusion there."

"Why didn't I ask you to find out what fun things there are to do and what beautiful scenery there is?"

Li Xiaoen was both amused and exasperated. He knew that Su Feier was very ambitious and competitive, and was destined not to be a woman who would stay at home and be a good wife and mother. Now, this situation perfectly illustrated that.

"I saw it. Tell me, what's wrong?"

Sophie rolled her eyes reproachfully before looking down to carefully examine the elements of the town's attractions, muttering, "Aurora has a lake, wineries, parks, and a school with 19th-century architecture?"

"Oh, the school is closed."

"..."

Is this how you introduce tourist attractions?

Li Xiaoen rubbed his forehead with his hand resting on the car window. "Suffolk, if your job were a tour guide or a salesman at a tourist attraction, I guarantee you'd be fired by your boss very soon."

"Then why don't I just be my own boss?"

"Hmm...that seems to make sense."

After a moment's thought, Li Xiaoen nodded helplessly in agreement, "Oh, by the way, Su Feier, you asked the school's academic affairs office for leave on weekdays when you came out to teach, right?"

"Don't worry about it, or we can just talk to them when we get back?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoen paused in his relaxed sitting posture.

"Wouldn't it be best to send a message?"

He sighed.

"Actually, the school doesn't care at all. That's just how you Chinese people are."

Sophie glanced over helplessly.

“I don’t think it’s a troublesome thing; on the contrary, it should be.”

"So, as a good student, why did you use a drone to fly up to the dormitory building and yell at people at the end of last semester?"

Li Xiaoen raised an eyebrow, tilted his head, and pondered for a moment with amusement.

“I think... these two things are different.”

"Ah……"

As soon as she finished speaking, Sophie let out a sneer and looked over mischievously.

Sometimes, the young man is as calm and orderly as he is now, and at other times, he displays the impulsiveness and vigor that only young people have. But what puzzles her is that she sees a subtle and mysterious fusion of these two completely opposite qualities in the young man, and she is not surprised at all.

“It is indeed different, Sophie.”

Unable to withstand the strange look the girl was giving him, Li Xiaoen explained, "I'm just a romantic, okay? Last semester..."

Before he could finish speaking, Suffer handed him a potato chip, forcing Li Xiaoen to stop talking and bite into it.

"Thank you."

The crispy potato chips burst in his mouth, releasing a rich potato aroma. Li Xiaoen chewed and spoke, making muffled sounds.

As soon as I finished eating and opened my mouth, Suffer handed me another piece.

After eating three pieces in a row, just as he was getting a little thirsty, Suffer opened a bottle of water and handed it to him. He took a sip, and then another piece of dried fruit.

"..."

Chewing on a chewy piece of dried mango, Li Xiaoen looked ahead and focused on driving, but something seemed off to him.

He has been fed several kinds of snacks by Suffer in total.

"Sufeil..."

Li Xiaoen frowned slightly and tentatively asked, "You're not trying to distract yourself, are you? You haven't asked the school for leave yet, have you?"

……

They ate breakfast around 10 a.m. at the hotel, and also ate some snacks along the way. Perhaps because it was a weekday, they arrived in the town of Aurora in just four hours.

After smoothly parking the car in the parking lot of a hotel resort called Inns of Aurora in the town, Li Xiaoen did not get out of the car immediately, but turned to look silently at the girl beside him.

After asking that question, Suffer didn't pay any attention to him for the rest of the journey, which is why he sped up and arrived at his destination in such a short time.

Looking left and right, but not glancing in the direction of the young man, Suffer opened the car door, took out her phone, and walked off in one direction on her own.

"Eh……"

He called out hurriedly, but couldn't stop the other person's actions. Li Xiaoen opened the door and was about to chase after them when he saw that Su Feier's bag was still on the passenger seat. He had no choice but to hurriedly reach out and grab it, close the car door, and chase after them.

"Sufeil..."

They were probably looking for a church. Sophie wasn't moving very fast, and Li Xiaoen quickly caught up with her, pulling her hand. "Okay, I misunderstood you. I apologize."

"I'm not in the mood for your guessing game. I need to find the witness quickly, confirm the evidence, and then go back."

She rolled her eyes at him and tried to break free, but she couldn't escape the young man's grasp.

"Alright, that's the purpose of our trip, and we certainly won't overlook that."

Li Xiaoen explained slowly, "But shouldn't we book a hotel room in advance, just in case the car gets locked and we can't move around easily, right?"

In the United States, because public transportation between states and even between cities is not very developed, cars are practically the primary mode of transportation for Americans. Also, if you park your car in a convenience store or restaurant parking lot without making a purchase, the other party has the legal right to lock the car or call the police.

This is why many people park in the parking lot outside KFC or convenience stores, then go in to buy a Coke or a bag of fries before going to run other errands nearby, even if the parking lot is empty the whole time.

Upon hearing this, Sophie finally stopped struggling.

"Ha ha……"

He couldn't help but give the girl an amused look, but Li Xiaoen immediately received a cold glare in return. He quickly turned around, pulled her towards the main entrance of the resort, and said, "There's no rush. Don't forget, we still have a reason for coming here for tourism."

Pulled along, Sufiel glanced down at her bag in the young man's hand, pursed her lips, turned her head, and looked to the other side.

"Sufeil..."

His gaze was drawn to the lake beyond the white garden behind the house, its surface rippling in the wind. Li Xiaoen casually explained, "We were talking about that while we were driving, and you kept handing me things to eat. It's reasonable for me to have some suspicions, isn't it? Besides..."

As he spoke, Li Xiaoen turned around and looked over. "Based on my previous experience, I think I have a lot to be suspicious of."

Meeting those light blue eyes, Li Xiaoen felt Su Feier's forceful pressure on his hand.

Oh well, American University probably doesn't strictly enforce these rules and regulations for domestic students anyway, especially since Sophie's family is Princeton's biggest sponsor.

Without further hesitation, Li Xiaoen released Su Feier's hand, embraced her, and led her to a straight road outside the main building entrance, heading towards the gate.

According to information found on Google, this resort is a four-star hotel. The main building is not very large, with three floors, and only serves as a reception and catering facility. The walls are made of brick-red stone bricks, and the balconies and pillars outside are supported by white wood. What is special is that two American flags are diagonally inserted outside its white gate.

Having successfully booked a lakeside suite, Li Xiaoen and Su Feier had afternoon tea there before heading straight for the Catholic church, following the navigation.

"is it here?"

Passing by a church with red brick walls, pointed arches, and a pointed roof, Suffer frequently looked down at his phone and the Gothic church in front of him, murmuring to himself.

“This is the Elders’ Council of Aurora, Miss Sophie.”

Li Xiaoen smiled helplessly, raising his hand to pat the snow off the hood of the girl's down jacket, "It's just a collaboration with that church..."

Upon hearing this, Suffer frowned and looked over.

After giving her a meaningful look, Li Xiaoen lifted his leg and pulled her to a signboard standing on the lawn outside the church not far away. He raised his hand and knocked on it, making a crisp clanging sound.

"..."

Avoiding the smug gaze of the young man, Suffer raised her hand, gathered the snow hanging on the notice board into her palm, and silently made a snowball.

"Hey……"

Raising an eyebrow, Li Xiaoen stepped back. "Suffolk, are you getting angry out of embarrassment?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a snowball flew rapidly toward his head.

(End of this chapter)