Gu Ji and Fatima boarded an old blue train.
The carriage was packed to the brim, a sea of people in the aisle stretching endlessly, bodies pressed against each other, forming a noisy, crowded flow, reminiscent of the overcrowded green trains during the Chinese Spring Festival travel rush, but even more congested.
"Move, move, move!"
"Keep going forward! Hurry up! Everyone's waiting back here!"
"Waaa... waaa I want to go home!"
...
Gu Ji's ears were bombarded with a chaotic mix of conversations, curses, and the cries of children, making his head feel like it would explode.
With the screeching sound of the train's whistle, the carriage windows shook, rivers and mountains blurred past, indicating the train had begun its slow departure. The setting sun, half-hidden behind clouds, cast an orange glow on the water and walls, exuding a gentle halo.
If this were a lake, it would be beautiful;
But unfortunately, this was a city.
