The two slept together in the simple waiting hall that night.
They didn't wake up until the people at the station blew their whistles and shouted for the people on the first train to start checking their tickets and entering the station.
After getting up, the two put away their blankets, then went to wash up, and then tidied up to prepare to enter the station.
Neither of them mentioned what happened last night, but they could both sense that their relationship had changed.
After they arrived in the provincial capital, Shiyue did not go to Uncle Shen's house.
Instead, they stayed at a guesthouse near the city hospital with He Lixuan.
She didn't plan to stay at the Shen family's house this time.
The two elders still live in the tenement building; even Shen Ningning doesn't live at home anymore.
Wouldn't her going just cause trouble for others?
The two dropped off their luggage at the guesthouse, ate something quick, and then went to the hospital together.
Shiyue did not go to find Yuan Xiao with He Lixuan. The two of them had never met before and did not know each other.
Besides, they might have something to say to He Lixuan alone.
She went directly to the department where Shen Ningning worked.
Shen Ningning was clearly surprised that she had come.
But after only a moment of surprise, she immediately said, "Shiyue, you came by yourself? Where is He Zhiqing?"
"He went to Sister Yuan Xiao's department."
"Hey, Yuan Xiao is leaving tomorrow, how could she possibly be at work today? She's in her dorm, come on, I'll take you there."
As Shen Ningning spoke, she took off her white coat, and then took off her clothes as well.
She turned to the intern next to her and said, "I'm going back to my dorm. Keep an eye on things for me."
After saying that, he pulled Shiyue outside.
Don't give her any chance to refuse.
Shiyue could only go with her.
When the two arrived at the dormitory, He Lixuan had already arrived after being guided by someone, and the three of them knocked on the dormitory door together.
The person who opened the door was a petite woman.
She was very young; Shiyue even felt that she wasn't much older than herself.
She was dressed in all black, with a homemade white flower pinned to her temple.
Upon seeing her, He Lixuan pursed his lips and called out in a hoarse voice, "Sister-in-law."
Yuan Xiao didn't seem surprised to see He Lixuan and the others. She simply nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for them to come inside and talk.
The three of them entered the room and found it to be very messy.
They're obviously packing their bags, preparing for a long trip.
He Lixuan glanced around the room and then discovered that none of the books his brother Song Wen loved most were still there.
A sudden pang of pain shot through his heart.
He was in so much pain that he couldn't say a word.
Yuan Xiao was calmer than they had imagined.
Even after the door was closed and only a few people who could be considered her own remained in the room, her expression did not change.
She glanced at He Lixuan and said, "Your timing is quite good. I'm taking the train to the Northwest tomorrow. Since you're here today, we still have a chance to meet."
He Lixuan bit his lower lip hard, unsure how to respond.
He wasn't actually familiar with Yuan Xiao.
They hadn't met before. Last time they came, Yuan Xiao was on night shift, so they only met once and had a meal together.
At the time, neither of them could have imagined that they would meet again under such circumstances.
He Lixuan hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Sister-in-law, you must be careful while you're out there alone. If anything happens, be sure to write to me."
Yuan Xiao smiled but did not respond.
Her journey was a long one, involving a three-day, two-night train ride, followed by a bus transfer, and finally, a walk...
At such a great distance, who can we really rely on if anything happens?
It is very likely that this meeting will be the last.
We may never meet again in this lifetime.
Yuan Xiao knew perfectly well, but she said nothing.
She simply pulled a photo out of the already packed bag and handed it to He Lixuan.
Then he said, "I was originally planning to take it with me. But since you're here, I thought you might want to keep it as a souvenir, so here you are."
He Lixuan took it and found that it was a photo of Song Wen playing basketball when he was in school.
In the photo, Song Wen is still very young. He is holding a ball in one hand, with the other hand on his hip, and he is smiling brightly.
He Lixuan's eyes suddenly reddened.
He clutched the photo tightly, but still looked up and asked, "Sister-in-law, is this the only one? Don't you want... to keep it as a memento?"
Yuan Xiao lowered her eyes and fell silent.
After a long while, she smiled softly and said, "You keep it. I think he'd rather you have the photos. After all, he'd rather die than lose touch with me..."
When she said her last words, Yuan Xiao couldn't hold back her tears.
Shiyue's vision also blurred.
She felt she could understand Yuan Xiao's feelings at that moment.
She feels pain towards Song Wen at this moment, but she must also feel resentment.
She resented that the man left so easily, disregarding their years-long relationship.
She resented him for so cruelly abandoning her alone...
Shi Yue turned her back and quietly wiped the corner of her eye, then subconsciously glanced at He Lixuan, who was silent beside her.
She didn't know why she went to see him.
But I couldn't help but glance at him.
The group did not stay with Yuan Xiao for long.
Staying here won't help them at all, and it will only make them feel sad again.
Just as they were saying goodbye and preparing to leave, Yuan Xiao called out to He Lixuan.
She seemed a little conflicted, but still said, "Lixuan, I received some news a few days ago that the teachers from Jiannan University have all gone to Suifeng. Are you aware of this?"
He Lixuan nodded: "I know. I called my older brother a few days ago."
Yuan Xiao frowned: "Did the teacher and his wife go too?"
Hearing that she was still willing to address her parents in that way, a hint of emotion flashed in He Lixuan's eyes.
He nodded again: "Yes, they were the first to go."
Yuan Xiao frowned even more deeply.
She looked at He Lixuan: "Lixuan, if it's convenient for you, you should contact your teacher and his wife as soon as possible, see what they need, and try to send them something."
I heard the conditions there are very bad..."
At this point, she pursed her lips and said, "Don't take offense, but I have a classmate whose parents are both teachers at Jiannan University. However, they were assigned to the third batch and haven't left yet."
My classmate said that they had received information that three of the teachers who had previously gone to Suifeng had already passed away due to illness.
Yuan Xiao's words sent a chill down He Lixuan's spine, and even Shi Yue felt a chill run down her spine.
Shen Ningning, standing to the side, exclaimed in disbelief, "No way! How could there be so many! How long has this document been out? They've only been gone for a few months!"
Yuan Xiao sighed, "Who says otherwise! They've only been gone a short time. But Suifeng is in the far north, and they went there in the coldest month of December..."
Listening to the two's discussion, He Lixuan remained expressionless, his aura so cold it seemed he was about to freeze himself into a statue.
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