HLM – Chapter 793 Youthful Classmates

The coach took the highway the whole way — to save travel time, since Auckland was quite a distance from Sunset Town.

It was everyone’s first time going abroad. Watching the scenery through the window, Zhou Haojie remarked, “There are so few cars on New Zealand’s roads. I thought this country had one of the highest rates of car ownership?”

Na Qingyang laughed. “You have to consider the population — only about four million people. No matter how many cars they own, it can’t look crowded.”

“The resources in these Oceanian countries really are abundant. If I remember right, New Zealand’s land area is about the same as Japan’s, isn’t it? But population-wise, just one large city in Japan already has more than four million people,” Zhao Xiaohui exclaimed in awe.

“How many people are in your town?” Fan Dong asked curiously.

Na Qingyang proudly lifted his chin. “Our Sunset Town is a big town. The permanent population’s nearly two thousand now!”

A collective gasp followed. Song Jiashu was stunned. “Two thousand? My grandma’s village back home probably has more than that!”

Na Qingyang: “…”

The bus sped along like lightning. After they passed through Auckland City, Na Qingyang woke the dozing classmates. “We’re about to enter Sunset Town territory.”

Once Highway 8 left Auckland and entered Sunset Town, the scenery changed immediately — the first thing that caught their eye was a towering almond eucalyptus.

It was a gift from Eva to Wang Bo. In just over two years, it had grown rapidly to nearly ten meters tall. The trunk was straight and slender, thrusting toward the sky like a sentinel.

“That tree is so tall!” Song Jiashu’s girlfriend, Yao Ranran, exclaimed.

Fan Dong chuckled. “That’s an almond eucalyptus. They grow crazy fast — one of the tallest tree species in the world. If I remember right, they can reach about a hundred and forty or fifty meters. This one’s still just a sapling.”

“This is still a sapling?” someone else blurted in amazement.

Na Qingyang gave Fan Dong a surprised glance. “Well now, boss, you actually recognize it?”

Fan Dong snorted proudly. “Of course. Back home, they’re encouraging farmers to plant these for timber. But no one wants to — they say the trees drink up all the groundwater.”

Na Qingyang nodded. “True. Their water absorption’s incredible.”

They went on, and soon Birthflower Road came into view.

The first sight was a vast stretch of hydrangeas — the perfect welcoming flowers, soft pink, tender and round like little balls, radiating cheer and festivity.

“Wow! So many gardens in New Zealand! What are these flowers? Eh? They changed already?”

The bus moved quickly; after just fifty meters of hydrangeas, the flowerbeds turned into fields of blooming golden coreopsis.

Next came Persian irises — their petals in white, yellow, green, and blue, intertwined in dazzling variety.

Na Qingyang called to the driver, “Slow down a bit — drive carefully here.”

The slower speed made the brilliance of Birthflower Road even clearer.

Cars were parked along the roadside; almost every flowerbed had people taking photos, sketching, or painting. Newlyweds in wedding gowns posed for their wedding pictures.

Before long, everyone noticed a pattern. “Hey, every garden’s the same length! Is there some special meaning? Don’t tell me it’s all flowerbeds up ahead?”

Hou Haibo, who had brought binoculars, took a look ahead and gasped. “My god, Captain Fan was right — it’s all flowerbeds, all the way! How many flowers is that? Miles and miles of blossoms!”

Na Qingyang smiled. “Welcome to Sunset Town, ladies and gentlemen. The first sight before you is our Sunset Town Welcome Road — Birthflower Road!”

There were quite a few girls on the trip, and the colorful flowers made them all excited. Screams of delight filled the air, shutters clicked nonstop inside the bus.

When the bus reached Auckland earlier, Na Qingyang had called Wang Bo. The old man had driven his vintage car into town to wait for his classmates’ arrival.

But after waiting an hour with no sign of the bus, he grew worried. He called several times — no answer.

“Damn it, don’t tell me they got into an accident?” Wang Bo muttered anxiously, calling Atulu. “Is the highway clear?”

The big Māori man lounged back, drinking coffee and eating fried chicken, utterly relaxed. “Yes, boss, wide open.”

Wang Bo hesitated. “Any reports of bandits or something on the road?”

Atulu instantly roared, “What? Bandits? Even if they had ten times the guts, who’d dare cause trouble on Māori land?”

“Damn it!” Wang Bo hung up, exasperated.

He was just about to drive out to check when a bus finally rolled up slowly. Looking at the plate, it was indeed the one Na Qingyang had rented.

A group of people waved excitedly from inside. “Old Wang!”

Seeing those familiar faces, Wang Bo’s irritation vanished in an instant. He waved back, grinning from ear to ear. “Damn, brothers and sisters, I missed you all so much!”

The bus turned onto the roadside and stopped. The driver said politely, “Sir, you can’t park here.”

Wang Bo pulled open the door, flashed his badge, and declared, “I make the rules here. Park right here!”

“Wow, Old Wang, look at you — still so imposing!”

“Your English is slick too — ‘I make the rules!’”

“Quick, quick, I’m dying to stretch my legs and breathe in this golden air!”

Fan Dong jumped off first, grinning and raising a fist for a friendly punch — but Zhuang Ding beside Wang Bo immediately tensed up, face fierce, lunging forward.

Wang Bo hurriedly held him back. Fan Dong startled, “Damn, Old Wang, are you keeping a bear now?”

Wang Bo burst out laughing. “Bear my ass, that’s my dog! Zhuang Ding, come say hi to the big brothers.”

Realizing these weren’t enemies, the dog calmed down, happily pouncing on Fan Dong and barking twice.

Fan Dong almost wet himself. “What the hell! You sure it doesn’t plan to eat me?”

The dog was truly intimidating — if Wang Bo hadn’t grabbed it earlier, the driver might’ve slammed the bus door shut in fear.

“Just shake hands, no hugs,” Wang Bo chuckled.

“Woof woof!” The dog sat obediently, extending one paw toward Song Jiashu behind him.

Song Jiashu froze. “What’s going on? What’s this about ‘big brother’? Old Wang, aren’t you taking advantage here?”

Wang Bo threatened half-seriously, “Zhuang Ding’s showing you goodwill. You’d better respond quick — if it gets upset, I can’t promise what’ll happen.”

The dog glared; Song Jiashu immediately reached out both hands to shake its paw.

Na Qingyang snickered. “Oh? Such a polite domestic animal — did it recognize one of its own kind?”

Song Jiashu spun around, ready to kick him, but everyone else was laughing too. He could only protest helplessly, “That dog’s paw’s the size of a rice bowl! One hand’s not enough to hold it!”