Chapter 48. Fang Han spent the whole day in the academician building, sweeping the floor...

Fang Han spent a day in the academician building, sweeping, dusting, and weeding.

The weather was nice today, so he took out many yellowed books to air them out. At noon, he sat on the steps of the courtyard, watching the sunlight filter through the lush pomegranate tree and cast dappled shadows on the ground.

As the sun set, Fang Han climbed the tree and picked the ripe pomegranates.

The fruit trees were lush, and he harvested fruit every year.

Select the best quality ones and send them to the elderly professors who are still alive in the neighborhood.

"Xiaohan has arrived?" The old professor adjusted his reading glasses, looked at the pomegranates he had brought, and sighed, "I'm getting old, I can't eat much anymore, you're so kind."

The old professor reminisced about the past, gesturing to the ground to indicate the height: "I remember when you were so little, your grandfather would take you to pick pomegranates and bring them to us every year. In the blink of an eye, you've grown up so much, so many years have passed."

"By the way, do you have a girlfriend yet?"

At this age, it seems like no one can escape this question.

Fang Han gave a vague reply and left.

Along the way, Fang Han carried a large bag of pomegranates. There were college students everywhere, and he distributed most of them in no time.

He had a small bag of carefully selected items left, which he carried back home.

Fang Han did not go back directly, but quietly walked around the small roads near National Southeast University. As night fell, the dim streetlights came on, and the bright moon in the sky emitted a soft light.

From the subway station at National Southeast University, you can get directly to his residential area.

During this time, Fang Hongming called Fang Han and asked in a low voice, "Did you go to the Academician Building?"

"Um."

"Your mother hasn't gone out all day. She's just been lying in bed and won't talk to anyone," Fang Hongming said helplessly. "Do you want to come back and check on her?"

"Forget it," Fang Han refused.

His return won't have any positive effect; it will only increase Hu Hong's distress.

Fang Hongming: "It's been so long, but she still hasn't accepted it."

Fang Han didn't reply.

Not only did Hu Hong not accept it, but he didn't accept it either.

Fang Han carried the bag of pomegranates into the residential area, chose a chair under dim lighting, sat down, leaned back, and sat quietly.

He didn't know how long he had been sitting there, watching the crowds coming and going around him.

There were loving couples holding hands, sweet families of three, and pedestrians hurrying by...

Suddenly, someone sat down next to Fang Han.

Fang Han turned his head to look, and after seeing who it was, his expression froze, as if he were hallucinating.

Gao Wenying smiled, her clear and bright face beaming: "Aren't you surprised?"

Why did you come back early?

“If you’re ending early, reschedule your flight and come back sooner. Otherwise, what’s the point of staying here? I’m not used to it.” Gao Wen said. “You were too busy today, so I didn’t tell you.”

Fang Han didn't reply to her messages.

After much deliberation, Gao Wen changed her flight.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't check my phone today." Fang Han said apologetically, his expression becoming serious as he spoke.

“It’s okay,” Gao Wen lied. “I came back with them, a whole group of us.”

Fang Han felt relieved. He looked around, and Gao Wen knew what he was looking for. She pointed to a spot not far away and said, "My suitcase is over there."

He looked in that direction and saw her suitcase placed on the side of the road.

Gao Wen glanced at the pomegranate in Fang Han's arms, then at him, and continued to sit with him.

"Have you eaten?" Fang Han asked.

"I ate the airplane food," Gao Wen replied.

"Then you probably didn't eat much." Fang Han stood up, walked to the side to help her push her luggage, and said, "Let's go back."

"Aren't you going to sit down?" Gao Wen had been watching him for a long time, but he didn't move. She finally spoke up, "You're leaving as soon as I get here?"

Fang Han dragged her luggage back and said softly, "I was worried that you were afraid of snakes."

Before he finished speaking, Gao Wen jumped up, her scalp tingling with fear, and ran forward to Fang Han's side at lightning speed, glancing around nervously and warily.

"Don't worry, we searched everything last time, there won't be any," Fang Han reassured her.

"Then why did you scare me!" Gao Wen sneered.

Fang Han: "I was worried you'd be scared."

“Okay.” Gao Wen reached out and took the bag of pomegranates from Fang Han.

"I got this for you," Fang Han said.

"Thank you." Gao Wen accepted the gift generously. She took out a pomegranate to examine it. The pomegranate was small and bright red, and it didn't look like it was bought; it must have been picked from a tree.

As they chatted, Fang Han pushed his suitcase while Gao Wen carried a small bag of pomegranates into the apartment building.

When they got home, Gao Wen put down the pomegranates and took one out of the bag: "It looks delicious, I'll try it."

Fang Han walked into the kitchen: "What would you like to eat?"

"Noodles, I'd like tomato and egg noodles," Gao Wen said.

Fang Han opened the refrigerator and started working in the kitchen.

The noodles cooked quickly, and soon the aroma wafted out. He brought out two bowls of noodles.

As soon as Fang Han sat down, Gao Wen pushed a small bowl full of pomegranate seeds in front of him: "Try it, this pomegranate is quite sweet."

Looking at the small bowl of pomegranates in front of him, Fang Han was lost in thought for a long time and did not make any other move.

"Senior?" Gao Wen asked softly when she noticed his strange expression.

Fang Han lowered his head and ate his noodles in small bites, saying gently, "That pomegranate tree was planted by my maternal grandfather the year I was born. It's a good variety and bears a lot of fruit every year. When he was alive, he would take me to pick them every year."

Gao Wen couldn't quite understand the feelings between Fang Han and his family.

However, he said that he was raised by the older generation since childhood, so the relationship should be very close.

Looking at the pomegranate seeds in front of her, she thought of Fang Han's strange behavior today and vaguely guessed what was going on. She said softly, "He must love you very much, right? And he raised you very well."

Fang Han lowered his eyes and remained silent for a long time before saying in a low, hoarse voice, "When I was in the second year of junior high school, my mother came home and wanted to take me shopping to buy me some clothes. She came back late, and he had a heart attack and no one found him. He passed away."

The pills were scattered not far away, and the old man crawled forward desperately, just a hair's breadth away from being saved.

Hu Hong was devastated and suffered a mental breakdown for more than half a year before gradually recovering.

Since her father passed away, Hu Hong has never visited that small building again, nor does she mention it. Everyone knows that she has not accepted it.

Gao Wen could sense Fang Han's deep sorrow and self-blame. She looked at him with clear eyes and said clearly, "This is not your fault, nor is it your mother's fault. No one could have predicted it, and you could not always be by the old man's side."

"If he knew, he certainly wouldn't want you to blame yourselves like this. The person who loves you will always love you. Even after he passed away, all he would think about is how to protect you and wish you happiness."

Fang Han looked up at Gao Wen. Her eyes were serious. She held a pomegranate seed in her palm and offered him some. She smiled and said, "It's so sweet. I really envy you for being able to eat such a sweet pomegranate every year."

"This tree has been with you for over twenty years. Next time you have the chance, please take me to meet it."

Fang Han raised the corners of his lips slightly, took a few pomegranate seeds from her palm, and put them in his mouth.

“I brought you some local specialties. It took me a lot of effort to buy them,” Gao Wen said, walking to the side and opening her suitcase. “There were just too many. I mailed the rest back, but I brought these with me.”

Gao Wen shared what she had bought.

My suitcase was empty before I left, but it was packed full when I came back.

Fang Han had witnessed her shopping prowess at the supermarket before, so he accepted and understood her buying most of a suitcase full of "souvenirs," and even helped her pack.

"You must be exhausted these past few days?" Fang Han asked.

"Mm." Gao Wen nodded.

She said she was tired, and she just kept saying she was tired. Fang Han looked at the weariness on her face and felt a pang of pity in his eyes.

"Look!" Gao Wen took out two creative keychains, held them up, and said with a smile, "Aren't they cute? They even have landmark buildings on them, to show that I 'was here'."

“It looks great,” Fang Han said.

"You choose one, and I'll give it to you." Gao Wen originally bought two for herself, but now she felt she could give one to Fang Han.

Fang Han lowered his head, carefully selecting: "This one?"

Gao Wen was very generous: "Here you go, you've 'been here' too."

"Thank you." Fang Han chuckled softly, his brows furrowed with tenderness.

"You're welcome."

......

Gao Wen trained for five days and then rushed to catch a plane.

She was so tired that she kept dozing off on the way to the airport, and she even slept on her chair while waiting for her flight.

In her original plan, she was to sleep in the hotel and then leisurely return the next day.

Later, she changed her flight without hesitation.

Gao Wen was really tired. Lying on the bed, her body was sore and aching from the intense training these past few days, but she couldn't fall asleep. When she closed her eyes, all she could think about was the scene downstairs just now.

Fang Han sat alone under the dim tree, hunched over in silence, shrouded in an indescribable sense of loneliness.

In her memory, he was always a gentle and sunny person, someone who grew up surrounded by love.

It turns out he also had some very sad things to do.

The deeper the love received, the harder it will be to let go.

Gao Wen couldn't sleep, so she picked up her phone and sent Fang Han an emoji.

Fang Han picked up his phone and saw a cute little bear knocking on the door, peeking out: Are you there?

He smiled slightly: "Yes, I am."

Five minutes later.

The two appeared downstairs.

As night fell and the night breeze grew cooler, Gao Wen put on a coat after Fang Han's deliberate reminder.

The two walked side by side on the path.

"Are you hungry?" Fang Han asked.

"fine."

Fang Han: "I guess I affected your mood. You didn't eat much noodles just now, and you'll be hungry if you don't sleep now."

“If you put it that way, it’s a bit like that,” Gao Wen looked up at him, “but it’s not because of you. You brought me some very sweet pomegranates, and I’m in a great mood.”

Fang Han smiled: "If you leave the residential area and turn right a few hundred meters away, there is a food street that is very lively at night."

Gao Wen was used to going to bed early, so she didn't know.

“I want to go!” Gao Wen immediately replied.

Let's go.

Gao Wen never expected that her first time eating skewers by the roadside would be with Fang Han.

She felt he was more out of place in this environment than she was, but he had always been someone who was suited to a slow and steady life.

She wasn't actually very hungry, but she still ordered a whole table of food. She was used to not eating much at night, but Fang Han definitely hadn't eaten much today, and since he was a good kid who wouldn't waste food, he would definitely eat more.

The air was filled with the sounds of everyday life. Gao Wen recounted the events of the past few days, and Fang Han listened attentively, his smile lingering on his lips and a gentle light shining in his eyes.

The gloom that had been hanging over me these past few days is gradually dissipating, and the sky is now clear and sunny.

He discovered even more of her good qualities.