Chapter 188 Extra 12

It was gradually getting dark. Mu Yanrui walked out of the police station and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. How could he be so stupid! He lost his phone in a foreign place and didn't bring any cash with him. He ran to the police after finding that his phone was missing. He was 22 years old and still believed that the police could help him find his phone? If he had this much time, he should go to the mobile phone store to deactivate his phone number first. Now even the store was closed.

Such a simple mistake made him loathe himself even more. He couldn't sleep all night last night, knowing clearly that she didn't have a boyfriend two months ago. Because of his slow action, he missed the window of opportunity. Now he realized that even if he had taken action then, it would not have succeeded. In her eyes, he was not a man at all, just a child. And he was indeed.

The police perfunctorily asked him to fill out a case registration form and told him to call his family and friends for help. He hesitated for a moment, then walked out. His parents had no idea he was in Hangzhou and thought he was at school. Besides that, the only number he could remember was hers, a number he had never called. But she was the one he least wanted to see. He didn't want her to know his folly, and even more so, he didn't want her to witness his despair.

He stood outside the police station for a while. A young man and an old man hurried over, the young man complaining all the way, "Only you would believe this kind of telecom scam! You believe everything they say!"

The old man stammered, "It was your phone that called. How could I not believe it? I was afraid something had happened to you..."

"I told you, I lost my phone yesterday!"

Mu Yanrui groaned in pain in his heart, turned around and walked back to the police station.

"Can I make a phone call?"

The policeman looked at him and pointed at the phone.

He picked up the phone and dialed the number he'd memorized. A long dial tone echoed with the rhythm of his heartbeat. After just one tone, the call was answered.

"Hello!" The haunting voice sounded from the other end.

He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to call out "senior sister".

"Is that Mu Yanrui?!" Qin Tian asked anxiously. For some reason, she felt the call had something to do with Mu Yanrui's absence from the lecture. It was 99% impossible, but what if he actually got into a car accident?

After a few seconds of silence, a young voice softly called out "Senior."

Qin Tian covered his chest and leaned against the wall: "Are you okay? Did you lose your phone? Where are you now?"

Mu Yanrui raised his head and looked at the noisy police station.

"I'm fine, my phone was stolen. I'm near the teahouse where we had tea yesterday."

"Don't go anywhere, I'm coming right now!"

The sound of the phone being hung up came from the other end, a monotonous and rapid rhythm. However, even more intense and surging than that was the sound of his heartbeat.

Policeman Old Chen put down his teacup, glanced at the young man, and sighed. It was unfortunate for this college student to lose his phone while traveling. He opened a drawer where he always kept 1,000 yuan in cash as a backup. He pulled out an envelope and took out 500 yuan. At least let him buy a ticket home.

He just looked up and saw the young man hung up the phone and ran out like the wind. He was so fast that he didn't even have time to call for help.

Old Chen looked at the RMB in his hand and sat back down. Never mind, he probably contacted his relatives and friends.

Qin Tian got out of the taxi and arrived at the West Lake. Traffic was paralyzed, so she might as well walk. She took small, hurried steps, sweat on her forehead. This skirt was really killing her. She couldn't run at all, and she couldn't ride a bike either. She was just not meant to wear this kind of clothes.

From afar, under the glazed lights of the teahouse, Mu Yanrui stood with his head bowed, carrying a bag on his back and wearing a black T-shirt.

"Mu Yanrui!"

He raised his head.

The West Lake in late summer was filled with the damp scent of rain, and his sweetheart, wrapped in the night and evening breeze, came for him like a newly blooming Austin rose.

The unveiling ceremony for the Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain concluded. After a brief speech, Tong Zhongyuan and Director Hua unveiled the red silk covering. The audience erupted in applause, and reporters rushed to ask him questions. He simply said, "Today's star is not me, but the Phoenix Head Flat Pot. I wish you all a pleasant viewing experience."

Song Suiyang watched his departing figure from afar, raised his chin and glanced at Zheng Rongyan. She was standing in a corner of the podium, staring blankly in the direction Tong Zhongyuan had left.

Song Suiyang picked up her bag and left the scene with her head held high, looking cool and noble. Fireworks were bursting in her heart. She knew that our Shangbo Immortal Man would never lose no matter where he went.

Just now, facing Zheng Rongyan's provocation, Tong Zhongyuan simply replied, "There are many national treasures in the National Museum's collection that were restored by Teacher Zheng Bing. His skills are so exquisite and skillful that I am ashamed of myself. As for you and me, there is a generation gap."

Song Suiyang almost cheered on the spot. Zheng Rongyan overestimated her own abilities and tried to challenge Tong Zhongyuan, but Tong Zhongyuan dismissed the challenge by saying they were of different generations, and at the same time, he teased Zheng Bing for lowering himself to compete with a junior.

That's right, if you want to compete, go find the mother. Why bother prying at her son? If you have the guts, let your own son come out and compete.

Zheng Rongyan's face flushed red at his words, unable to respond. Director Hua, observing this, immediately continued with the proceedings. Zheng Rongyan obediently gave way, and Tong Zhongyuan leisurely stood up and took the stage to deliver his speech. Song Suiyang was surprised; she had thought she was so capable, but it turned out to be all talk and no action, her fighting power so weak.

Tong Zhongyuan returned to his hotel room, changed his clothes, and ate lunch. He had to attend another meeting the next morning, and the thought filled him with regret. He should have avoided this trip earlier.

He and Qin Tian texted at noon. She was having lunch with a partner and had a lecture in the afternoon. Bored that afternoon, he went shopping and bought a necklace that perfectly matched her. Beijing's attractions were too beautiful and historic to be explored alone. He wanted to walk with her through the centuries-old carved beams and painted buildings, and watch her face light up as she recounted those stories.

In the evening, he had dinner at the mall and took a taxi back to the hotel. Calculating the time, Qin Tian was almost done with his work. Their evening video calls were their time. He wondered if her nose had healed yet. He couldn't do anything tonight that would get him scolded.

As he entered the hotel lobby, an unexpected visitor stood up in his direction. A single glance made him frown. Is this ever going to end?

"Mr. Tong." Zheng Rongyan called out crisply and came forward.

"Come in."

Qin Tian opened the door of the room and turned to say to Mu Yanrui.

"Let me look." She opened her carry-on bag. There was a simple medicine bag. Years of traveling had ingrained in her the habit of carrying household medicines.

Mu Yanrui looked around the room, feeling strange. It was clearly just a standard hotel room, but he felt like he was at the home of the girl he had a crush on.

On the table sat a computer and a half-empty cup of coffee. Beside the bed lay a pair of cloth slippers she had brought with her, and a nightgown folded by the cleaner and placed in the corner.

He turned his face away, not looking at where she slept.

"Found it." Qin Tian took out a Band-Aid from the medicine bag.

She walked up to him, carefully tore open one side, raised her hand, and found it a bit difficult.

"Sit down. I can't aim this way."

The warmth of her soft words tinged his jaw. Perhaps because he hadn't slept well the previous night, his mind was a little hazy. He only subconsciously listened to her words, obediently sitting down at the corner of the bed and looking up.

Qin Tian studied his face. There was a scratch on his cheek. She had asked him about it on the way back, but he couldn't remember when it happened. Only when she mentioned it did he feel the pain.

She examined the wound carefully; it wasn't deep and the cut was clean. She placed her little finger on his soft lips and gently covered them with a Band-Aid.

He stared at her face, so close to him, without blinking, her eyes fixed on his petal-like pupils, the faint fragrance of her body lingering around his nose, and the little finger pressing against his lips...

Qin Tian put on the Band-Aid, but vaguely felt like something was missing. She glanced at him again; his cheeks were slightly flushed, and his breathing was a little rapid. She remembered. It was the temperature! Without warning, her hand rested on his forehead.

"Do you have a fever?"

Mu Yanrui's heart suddenly twitched and began beating violently involuntarily.

The phone on the table rang. The song "Love is all around" started playing.

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes

Love is all around me and so the feeling grows

Qin Tian lowered his hand, his lips curled up. This was someone's personal ringtone. It was just past seven, so it looked like he had returned to the hotel.