48. Emergency Contact

Yu Chuanbei looked up at the night sky, catching sight of sparse, bright stars. He couldn't help but recall the night before, at a dinner party at Deng Dalun's house, when he and Ling Ling had watched the stars together in the attic. Back then, she'd been confused, saying, "I'm even unsure of every detail and gesture I make with you. I don't know if it's because I don't like you enough, or if I care too much about you. Maybe I cherish you too much, so I'm anxious about losing you? Or maybe my feelings for you aren't strong enough, so I'm so hot and cold? I don't know..." Back then, she was still confused about their relationship, but since she'd come today, he figured she probably had a clearer answer. He spotted an elderly man selling knitted pendants at the subway entrance, a rare sight. He walked over and, amidst the colorful handicrafts, saw a little girl holding a star. He picked up the wool pendant, struck by its cuteness, and bought it, intending to give it to Ling Ling. Ling Ling: "Are you still there?" Finally, he received her message. It was almost ten o'clock. Yu Chuanbei excitedly replied. Gushan Temple North: "Of course." Ling Bu Ling Bu Ling: I just finished my work here and I’m coming to see you now. Gushansi Bei: Yes, but no need to rush. Haven’t you eaten yet? Ling Bu Ling Bu Ling: Yes. Gushansi Bei: This store is closed. Then I’ll find another place to eat nearby. I’ll send you the location later. After dinner, I’ll take you home and let you go back to rest. Although there are many things I want to say to you, it’s enough for me to see you today. Ling Ling was in the subway, holding her phone and smiling sweetly. She didn’t reply to her private message on Weibo, but freed his phone number from the blacklist and added him as a friend again on WeChat. Now, it was Yu Chuanbei’s turn to smile foolishly while holding the phone. He was dragging his suitcase and was about to walk towards the small shop where the lights were still on, but his phone rang suddenly. It was his third sister Yu Jingxi. Yu Jingxi’s panicked voice with tears in her eyes scared Yu Chuanbei. She was a people’s teacher who was always gentle and calm, but now she was obviously scared. The baby was crying non-stop, and she was worried it might be an emergency. With her brother-in-law and mother-in-law away, she, a new mother, was terrified and at a loss for what to do. Yu Chuanbei quickly took two steps back to the now-closed and darkened Sichuan snack shop and hastily hung a pendant of a little girl holding a star on the doorknob. Then, trying his best to comfort his sister, he quickly hailed a taxi and sped off to her home. His sister, overwhelmed with anxiety, kept recounting and praying on the other end of the phone, and he offered his comfort. Finding only a brief moment to spare, he sent a hasty WeChat message to Lingling:…

Yu Chuanbei looked up at the night sky, and unexpectedly saw sparse stars. He couldn't help but recall the scene earlier at the dinner party at Deng Dalun's house, when he and Ling Ling had watched the stars in the attic. At that time, she had said confusedly, "I'm even unsure of every detail and every action I take with you. I don't know if it's because I don't like you enough, or if I care about you too much. Maybe I cherish you too much, so I worry about losing you? Or maybe my feelings for you aren't strong enough, so I'm so hot and cold? I don't know..."

At that time, she was still confused about their feelings, but since she was willing to come today, he thought that she should have a clear answer in her heart.

He spotted an elderly man selling knitted pendants at the subway entrance, a rare sight. He went over to take a look and, among the colorful handicrafts, saw a little girl holding a star. He picked up the knitted pendant, thinking it was adorable, and bought it, intending to give it to Lingling.

Does it work or not: Are you still there?

Finally, I received her message. It was almost ten o'clock. Yu Chuanbei responded to her excitedly.

Gushan Temple North: Of course.

Does it work?: I just finished my work here and now I’m coming to see you.

Gushan Temple North: Yes, but there's no need to rush. Haven't you eaten yet?

Does it work?: Hmm.

Gushan Temple North: This restaurant is closed. I'll find a place to eat nearby. I'll send you the location later. After dinner, I'll take you home and let you rest. I have so much to say to you, but just seeing you today is enough.

Ling Ling was in the subway, holding her phone and smiling sweetly. She didn't reply to her private message on Weibo, but freed his phone number from the blacklist and added him as a friend again on WeChat.

This time, it was Yu Chuanbei's turn to smile foolishly while holding his phone.

He was dragging his suitcase and was about to walk towards the small shop where the lights were still on, but his cell phone suddenly rang. It was his third sister Yu Jingxi.

Yu Jingxi's frantic, tearful voice startled Yu Chuanbei. The usually gentle and calm teacher was clearly terrified. The baby was crying non-stop, and she was worried it might be an emergency. Her brother-in-law and mother-in-law were both away, leaving Yu Chuanbei, a new mother, completely bewildered.

Yu Chuanbei quickly took two steps back to the now-closed, darkened Sichuan snack shop and hastily hung a pendant depicting a little girl holding a star on the doorknob. Then, trying his best to comfort his sister, he quickly hailed a taxi and sped off to her home. His sister, overwhelmed with anxiety, kept recounting and praying on the other end of the phone, and he offered constant comfort.

Finding only a brief moment of respite, he hurriedly sent Ling Ling a WeChat message: "Sorry, my sister's baby has a medical emergency, I have to go over first." "I hung a small gift on the door of the Sichuan snack shop. I think it looks a lot like you. If you come and see it, I hope you like it."

Ling Ling got off the subway and ran all the way to him. Panting, she ran to the door of the dark Sichuan snack bar. Seeing that he was nowhere to be found, she checked her phone and found his message.

The momentary disappointment was wiped out by understanding, and she only felt distressed. He had waited for her all night, and just got off the plane without a moment's rest, and had to go to his sister's house to help again.

"I'm fine. I hope the baby is okay." She replied to him sincerely.

Then she stood where he had just stood, took off the lovely pendant, and held it in her palm, feeling the warmth. She raised her head and looked up at the same starry sky as him.

After she returned home alone, she cooked some noodles by herself, but deliberately added chili peppers because after seeing the photos of Dandan noodles that Yu Chuanbei sent her, she inexplicably felt a little craving for spicy food.

More than an hour later, Yu Chuanbei sent her another message: "Are you home yet?"

Ling Ling said, "Yeah. Is the baby okay? Are you home yet?"

"I just got home. The baby's fine, just some gas. The doctor's going to give it a massage and it'll be fine. Our relationship has been such a bumpy road. It felt like it was almost at the end, but it got tripped up by a small stone. No, no, this shouldn't be the end, it should be the beginning, right?"

Ling Ling didn't want to answer his question directly, so she changed the subject and said, "I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon, and I don't know if I can finish it early."

"I just got back from a business trip and have a lot of work to do. I also have a client to meet tomorrow. But I'll always have time to see you."

"Then shall we meet at that time and place?"

"No appointment. I'll pick you up directly from your company. That's the safest way. If there's any new developments, we'll go together."

Ling Ling couldn't help laughing when she heard him say this. She didn't expect that this man had such a lovely side.

If they continued chatting like this, they would probably chat until late at night. Yu Chuanbei didn't want Ling Ling to stay up late, so he had to end the chat with her reluctantly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day at 2 pm, Ling Ling hurriedly had lunch and went to the conference room to rehearse the system construction results report meeting.

Important speeches don't need to be long; the longer they are, the easier they are to write. The real challenge is trying to keep them short and cover everything, making them both eye-catching and thought-provoking. So, an hour before the presentation, Ling Ling was still revising the manuscript.

He Zhixian walked into the meeting room at this time and saw Ling Ling busy revising materials. He was afraid that his sudden appearance would scare her, so he took two steps back and knocked on the door.

"Brother He, why did you come early?" Ling Ling greeted him warmly. She really liked this colleague.

He Zhixian seemed a little reserved. "Originally, our department was responsible for organizing this meeting, but now it's temporarily transferred to you. I feel bad about it. So I came to see if you can help."

He Zhixian has always been a grassroots cadre who is far away from the ruling center and only focuses on research. His politeness without knowing his true background made Ling Ling feel embarrassed.

"The conference room has been set up by the conference affairs department. I heard that Mr. Fang is very pragmatic and doesn't care about too many things. It's just right that you came. There are a few data points that I'm not sure about. Can you help me take a look? I've circled them with a red pen." Ling Ling handed him her speech manuscript. He sat in a seat next to her and helped her think carefully about it.

Ling Ling's phone happened to ring. When she saw it was Yu Chuanbei, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She nodded to He Zhixian and then trotted to the corner of the corridor to answer the call.

But when the call was picked up, it was a middle-aged woman's voice: "Excuse me, are you... uh, Ling Ling? From Yu Chuanbei—"

"Oh, I'm Lingling, Yu Chuanbei's friend." She felt a little weird.

"I'm a nurse in the emergency room at People's Hospital. Yu Chuanbei was in a car accident and is currently receiving treatment in the emergency room. We need a signature from his family. We can't unlock his phone, so we can only find you as an emergency contact with one click. Is it convenient for you to come over now?"

The nurse's rapid-fire words, word for word, seemed to pin Ling Ling to the wall. She leaned weightlessly against the cold marble wall, numb with fear.

It wasn't until the other party kept urging her "Hey, Hey" that she came to her senses. She quickly confirmed the specific hospital and department with the other party and promised to rush over immediately.

She walked back into the meeting room with her body stiff. He Zhixian looked up and saw her appearance, and was shocked because her face was pale and covered with tears.

"Lingling, what happened?" He Zhixian hurried forward and asked.

Ling Ling wanted to speak properly, but tears fell again, "My friend was in a car accident, I have to go see him..."

"Then I'll drive you there now!"

"No, Brother He, please help me explain, these were originally yours..." Ling Ling tried her best to stay calm while handing over to him, but her sad emotions were completely out of control.

He Zhixian wanted to decline, knowing that this afternoon's meeting was meant to be a presentation of Ling Ling's achievements after six months of hard work. She could easily turn the tables with this success, becoming famous. He naturally didn't want to steal the credit, and he wasn't confident he could perform better than Ling Ling. But seeing her like this, he had no choice but to agree to reassure her.

"Okay, don't worry, I will help you explain it."

Hearing He Zhixian's promise, Ling Ling nodded at him with sobs, but she couldn't speak. She ran to the elevator, covering her mouth tightly, not daring to let herself cry out loud.

All the way in the taxi, her mind was intertwined with various images of her parents' car accident. Scene after scene, thread after thread, it made her breathless, but she did not relax her tense nerves, because she had discovered that as long as she did not try hard to control herself, her hands and legs would tremble constantly.

——Yu Chuanbei, please, don’t let me lose you!

Author's Note

Liu Qiu

author

04-07

The happiest thing every day is seeing readers reply. Thank you all for sticking with me. Okay, I just finished "No Time to Fall in Love with You" (the 7th Long-Form Rally), and now I'm going to continue writing the extra chapter about Yu Jinnan and Luo Hao!