So slow
"Melodia, can the preliminary report be completed next week? If so, you can present it on Monday."
While Zou Gang was assisting her senior colleagues in the lab with a complex data collection, Professor Antberg suddenly came over and asked her a question.
The request was somewhat sudden, and the timeframe seemed very tight. After mentally assessing the materials she had, Kazusa replied confidently, "Professor, there's enough time."
This was the first time the professor had asked her to publish a paper. For the previous few weeks, she had been sitting at the back, practically invisible, listening to her seniors report on their progress. It's already an exception for a third-year student to even be in the lab; mastering the core data, analyzing it, and publishing it is virtually impossible.
The professor now wants her to publish independently, which means that her performance has already received initial recognition.
While calmly agreeing, Hezou was well aware of the heavy trust behind it.
When I finally turned off the lights and left the lab, it was completely dark.
The cool evening breeze brushed against her cheeks, slightly relieving her fatigue from working continuously for several hours.
After letting out a sigh of relief, she took out her phone and saw several messages from Lin Tang, all urging her to hurry up and attend the gathering of her classmates who were also interns.
He Zou simply made a phone call.
"Hello." When the call connected, there was a flurry of noise before Lin Tang's voice came through, "Melodia, are you done with your experiment?"
"Yeah, just finished, heading back to my apartment."
"Melodia, you absolutely have to come to this dinner! Several top talents from different departments will be there; it's a great opportunity to exchange experiences, isn't it?"
He Zou raised his wrist to check the time, hesitated for a moment, and then refused: "I can't today, I have something to do."
Lin Tang teased knowingly, "Something's up? You don't mean watching your boyfriend's game, do you?"
He Zou responded with a natural "hmm".
Today is the semifinal of the BNP Paribas Open, and the timing works out, so she wants to go back and watch it live.
"I knew it." Lin Tang sighed as if this was the first time in years that she had discovered her love-struck side. "There's a TV in the restaurant, and it's showing a live broadcast right now. It won't stop you from watching him! People have asked me several times already. I've sent you the address. Hurry up and come over, so that your pathology reports won't be slower than others in the future."
Hospitals are places where connections matter, and gatherings are essential; with a lineup like today's, it's impossible not to show your face.
He Zou smiled helplessly. She wasn't stubborn, and she did need this kind of communication. Understanding the latest developments in different departments would be more beneficial for her future planning.
She said to Lin Tang, "Okay, I'll be right there."
The address Lin Tang shared with her was a well-known beer restaurant near Heidelberg University. She probably chose this relaxing place because it was the weekend and she would be closed the next day.
When she arrived, the long table was already full of people, and the atmosphere was lively. She immediately spotted Lin Tang sitting in the corner, talking to someone next to her. There was an empty seat next to her, obviously reserved for her.
The empty seat faced the large TV screen hanging in the lobby. He Zou glanced at the screen, which was showing commercials, and walked towards Lin Tang.
On the way, she sensed a gaze and looked in that direction, meeting Muller's eyes. Under his complex and scrutinizing gaze, she politely nodded to him and then looked away.
"Melodia, over here!" Lin Tang, who had already spotted her, waved to her and pulled her to sit down in the empty seat next to him.
Those who are late naturally stand out and, as is customary, will be punished.
A glass of beer was placed in front of Hezai.
In the few years she's been in Germany, she's attended several parties, but she's still amazed by how much beer Germans drink.
Although she could hold her liquor better than Tezuka, after downing such a large 800ml glass of beer, she could just go back to sleep.
He listened to the court official Lin Tang's signal.
Based on their tacit understanding when encountering such situations, Lin Tang was about to pour half of the beer from He Zou's glass into her own when suddenly a hand reached out from the opposite seat.
Both He Zou and Lin Tang were stunned when they saw Muller chugging down a large glass of beer. Their reactions were quite different afterward.
Lin Tang raised an eyebrow with an expression of anticipation, while He Zou frowned.
Whistles and cheers erupted from the surrounding area instantly.
"Wow! You two are up to something? Confess!"
"They were both assigned to the Divine Department!"
"I knew it! Müller, you timed that performance perfectly!"
With a "thud," Muller put down his empty beer glass, looking at Hezou with a hint of provocation. He neither acknowledged nor refuted what everyone was saying.
That's tacit agreement! Now everyone's cheering even louder.
Kazusa's brows had relaxed, and she calmly looked at Muller, whose face was beginning to flush, and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Muller."
Compared to the silent Müller, her attitude was much more polite, and of course, much more distant. Those who were initially making a fuss gradually quieted down when they saw Müller's flushed face and then looked at the calm Hezono.
The atmosphere at the table gradually became a little awkward, but Kazusa seemed oblivious. She nodded and thanked the bartender who brought her a new beer, then smiled and said, "How's everyone's internship going? Our department has taken on a rare case..."
She generously shared her experiences with everyone, and the conversation gradually turned to observations from various departments. She remained the focus of the gathering, not because of gossip, but because of her solid professional knowledge.
Muller, sitting opposite her, tightened his grip on his wine glass slightly.
He couldn't quite distinguish his current complex feelings; was it resentment mixed with jealousy, or jealousy mixed with resentment?
Just then, a loud shout came from the TV in the hall—the men's singles semi-final had begun, and the cheers were due to the players entering the arena.
"It's starting! It's starting! Tezuka Kunimitsu's match!"
"Wasn't everyone predicting he would win this time?"
"Did you guys watch the last match? I really want to study his muscle control in his backhand."
"You're doomed, you've got occupational hazards at such a young age."
"Isn't the main point that he's too handsome?!"
"Speaking of which, he is also one of our alumni. I met him on the street once before."
As alumni, everyone's attention was drawn to Tezuka on the screen.
He Zou listened quietly to the discussion, and together with everyone else, they looked up and their eyes fell on the tall figure on the screen who was carefully adjusting his wristband.
In an instant, the surrounding chatter seemed to fade into the distance.
She watched intently, her gaze completely fixed on the person on the screen.
Müller's gaze remained fixed on him, watching her rejoice when he scored and tense when he conceded... the sight of her made his eyes sting.
When Tezuka secured the crucial break point with his signature spin shot, a gasp of amazement erupted throughout the restaurant!
Even Lin Tang couldn't help but cheer, excitedly patting He Zou on the shoulder.
He Zou merely raised a faint smile at the corner of his lips, quietly holding his beer glass and taking another sip.
When the game ended, her wine glass was empty without her noticing.
Watching him thank the audience and disappear into the players' tunnel, Kazusa's eyes were filled with joy. She lowered her head and stroked her empty wine glass, as if waiting for something.
Amid cheers celebrating his advancement to the semifinals, her phone, which was resting on her lap, began to vibrate, displaying the words "Guoguang" on its lit screen.
He Zou's heart raced a little. She whispered to Lin Tang beside her, "I'm going to take this call," and then got up and left the table amidst Lin Tang's teasing gaze.
Once she reached a relatively quiet corner, she answered the phone and held it close to her ear.
I could hear his slightly heavy breathing on the other end of the phone. The noisy sounds from the stands seemed to have quieted down a bit because of the distance, so I guessed he was probably in the temporary lounge.
She spoke with a smile: "Her breathing is more steady than I expected."
"Yeah, just came off the field," Tezuka replied softly. Hearing the ambient sounds from her side, he asked, "Outside?"
"I'm at a party, I'll be back in a bit." Kazusa stood up hastily, feeling a little dizzy from the large glass of beer she'd just had. She leaned against the wall for support, her voice softening slightly, "Kunimitsu, congratulations."
Tezuka immediately sensed something was wrong. "Melodia, have you been drinking?"
He Zou nodded honestly: "Yeah, I had a little bit~"
The light, airy tone made Tezuka pause for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, she heard someone calling her name from her side.
"Melodia, you're here!" Lin Tang, who had come looking for her, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Hezou leaning against the wall.
Seeing the empty wine glass, Lin Tang knew something was wrong. She knew He Zou's alcohol tolerance and knew that this glass would make her friend quite tipsy, so she hurriedly came over.
Behind Lin Tang was Muller, who had followed her because of her flustered expression. He had even thoughtfully brought a bottle of water. Seeing that He Zou looked up with a somewhat blank expression, he awkwardly unscrewed the bottle and handed it to her: "Drink some water first."
Tezuka couldn't see the person opposite Kanade, but he could clearly hear the unfamiliar, concerned male voice, and his eyes darkened.
The unfamiliar atmosphere instantly sobered up Hezai. Although she was still a little dizzy, her eyes had regained some clarity.
She merely nodded to Lin Tang, without looking at Muller, and of course, ignored the water he offered and his concerned words. Her somewhat confused mind left her no time to conceal her actions, and she made her rejection plain and clear.
After greeting Lin Tang, she turned her attention back to her phone screen. Seeing his worried expression, her voice became clearer as she softly explained, "It's nothing, Guoguang, it's just a bit noisy."
Off-screen, Muller's face darkened instantly because of Hezou's completely dismissive attitude. His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and he could only awkwardly withdraw it in the end.
Tezuka on the other end of the phone couldn't see this scene, but Lin Tang could see it clearly. She clicked her tongue quietly, thinking that Tezuka-kun would probably be jealous.
To Lin Tang's surprise, Tezuka didn't say much. His voice came through the speakerphone, even with a hint of coaxing, "Melodia, it's getting late. Shall I let Lin take you home to rest?"
"Okay." Kazusa nodded; she really wanted to leave this noisy and somewhat awkward place.
Upon hearing this, Lin Tang, with great tact, stepped forward and took He Zou's arm, assuring her into the phone, "Don't worry, I'll take her home."
Then, without making it obvious, he blocked Muller's view of Hezou with his body and told him, "I'd also like to trouble you to tell the others that Melodia is drunk, so we're leaving now."
Muller stood there, watching as the man on the screen effortlessly decided her destination without saying a word.
Feeling a strange gaze from behind, Lin Tang dragged his friend along and quickened his pace to leave this place of trouble.
—
It wasn't until she returned to her apartment, washed up, and sank into the soft bed that Kanade finally let go of her forced rationality and allowed the effects of the alcohol to fully take hold.
She picked up her phone, found the pinned chat window, and made a video call.
The busy tone only rang once before the other party answered.
"Melodia, are you home?" As he spoke, Tezuka's gaze swept over her face to make sure she was alright.
"Hmm..." Kazusa lay on her side on the bed, propping her phone against the pillow, looking at the person on the screen, her voice relaxed with the relief of being home, "I'm all set."
Her cheeks were flushed slightly, whether from the bath or the alcohol, and her purple eyes, illuminated by the soft light of the bedside lamp, held a gentle, moist quality.
She didn't say anything, just stared straight at him.
Tezuka noticed that she was different from usual and guessed that she was probably still drunk, so he unconsciously lowered his voice even further: "What's wrong?"
"I'm tired." She buried half her face in the pillow and mumbled, "My head is still a little dizzy, it's all your fault."
Tezuka chuckled, hearing her complain to him for the first time. His tone was indulgent: "Hmm, what's it to blame me for?"
"I don't know...it's all your fault." She couldn't explain it clearly, so fueled by the alcohol and his indulgence, she unusually acted unreasonably and then traced his outline through the screen, from his brow bone to the bridge of his nose, finally landing on his thin lips that were always pursed into a straight line, and asked him, "Guoguang, do you miss me?"
The voice was soft and gentle.
Tezuka's Adam's apple bobbed, and he stared intently into her eyes. "I want to."
He Zou smiled contentedly, then snuggled deeper into the pillow, her voice becoming even more muffled: "I miss you too. When are you coming back?"
His return date had been set long ago, and she naturally knew that, but Tezuka still patiently repeated, "I'll be back in two weeks."
"Two weeks." Kazusa counted the days, not entirely satisfied. She clutched the edge of her pillow and muttered a complaint about the time passing slowly...
Hearing her words, Tezuka's expression softened, and he gently repeated, "Hmm, so slow."
"But it's okay, this way we'll have more time."
"More time?"
"Slow down, take your time."
She spoke vaguely, but Tezuka understood.
He and Melodia were both convinced that they would love each other for a long time and stay together forever.
I will miss you, but there's no need to rush.
Hezou was still speaking intermittently, very slowly, and without any clear focus.
Tezuka leaned against the headboard, listening quietly.
The sound on the screen gradually faded, turning into even, long breaths.
Looking at the sleeping face in his palm, a very soft laugh echoed in the quiet hotel room.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com