See you again
On the way to the airport.
Pan Yue, wearing a Bluetooth headset, was on the phone with the head of the R&D department. The call lasted until he got off the car, went through security, and boarded the plane.
"Is there anything else that's unclear?"
"No, Mr. Pan."
“Okay, feel free to contact me if you have any questions,” Pan Yue paused for a moment, “If I don’t answer the phone, just leave me a message, my flight is in a bit.”
Are you going to Yuecheng?
"Go to Jiangming." His tone was even a little urgent.
--
An hour has passed.
I rested until the menstrual cramps stopped.
Zhu Shiyi called Pan Yue again, but the line was busy.
A short while later, Liao Yan returned from her part-time job.
Zhu Shiyi made another tentative call, but the line was still busy;
I don't know how much time has passed.
Zhu Shiyi sent Pan Yue a message directly: 【What kind of phone call takes so long?】
The other party didn't reply at all, not even their chat nickname changed.
Zhu Shiyi made a phone call directly.
"Hello, the number you dialed is currently switched off..."
Zhu Shiyi was so angry that he wanted to throw his phone and howl seventy-two times while hugging the bed.
He doesn't reply to messages, can't get through on the phone, and now he's just turned off his phone. What is this man trying to do?
Because Liao Yan was present, Zhu Shiyi didn't call out. Liao Yan, completely unaware, finished washing the fruit and said, "I bought some strawberries, Shiyi, would you like some?"
"Okay." Zhu Shiyi climbed off the bed and shoved a large strawberry into her mouth.
She got out of bed, and it was getting late, so Zhu Shiyi went to take a shower. When she came out of the bathroom, she checked her phone, but there were still no messages.
So be it.
Zhu Shiyi didn't want to wait any longer, so she climbed into bed.
"Xiao Yan, I got my period today and I'm not feeling well. I want to go to sleep early. Can we turn off the lights earlier tonight?"
"Sure." Liao Yan turned off the light, leaving only a small desk lamp on her desk.
"Thank you, darling." She smiled at the outside of the bed, then drew the curtains closed, and her smile vanished.
She just wanted to shut herself away in this small space. Perhaps growing up means no longer confiding in others, and when she's sad, she stays alone, putting her sorrows into a glass ball, protecting them in her arms, secretly suppressing them, not affecting others, nor hurting herself, veiling her emotions with a layer of gauze, buffering the waves of pain that come straight at her.
Tears gently slid down my face, wetting my clothes. Sorrow was silent, I didn't know when it came, I only knew that with the passage of time, it would eventually return.
......
Half-asleep, Zhu Shiyi vaguely saw the phone on the bedside table flash.
Feeling heavy and exhausted, as if bound by a thousand-pound hammer, she closed her eyes and ignored it.
That glimmer of light in the darkness would occasionally pop out, dazzling one's eyes.
Zhu Shiyi took a deep breath, unable to bear it any longer, and angrily grabbed his phone to see what kind of monster wanted to be scolded.
Pan Yue: [I'll be at your school gate in twenty minutes.]
......
Zhu Shiyi sat up abruptly, rubbed his eyes, and made sure he wasn't seeing things.
She still couldn't believe it and asked Pan Yue again, "Have you arrived in Jiangming?"
Pan Yue: [Hmm.]
Pan Yue: [Let's talk about it when we meet, okay?]
My chest was so shocked it felt like fireworks exploding, brilliant and joyful.
Pan Yue was Pan Yue, forever taciturn. He wasn't good at saying anything, but his actions carried immense weight.
Without thinking, Zhu Shiyi threw off the covers, got out of bed, opened the wardrobe door, took out a sweater, paused suddenly, stuffed the sweater back into the wardrobe, and took out a woolen skirt instead.
Liao Yan noticed the commotion and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Are you going out?"
“…Mmm.” Zhu Shiyi glanced at her and nodded like a chick pecking at rice, a mysterious smile on her face that sent shivers down Liao Yan’s spine.
"Why are you so shy?" Liao Yan teased. "Are you meeting your boyfriend?"
To everyone's surprise, Zhu Shiyi's eyes lit up: "Mhm!"
Liao Yan: ? ......!
"Your boyfriend is here in Jiangming!"
“Yes,” Zhu Shiyi smiled, “He’ll be there soon.”
Liao Yan blinked blankly: "So sudden? Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"To be honest," Zhu Shiyi said, pulling on her skirt and ankle boots, "I only just found out myself."
This caused Liao Yan to exclaim in surprise, saying how sweet it was.
"I'm leaving." Zhu Shiyi put on a trench coat, grabbed her phone, put her hands in her pockets, and walked out.
"Wait!" Liao Yan called out to her, "Are you going back to your dorm tonight?"
Zhu Shiyi didn't think much of it: "Return..."
She suddenly had another thought: "Go back...?"
Liao Yan narrowed her eyes, waved her finger, and said with a knowing look, "Be careful, and remember to bring your ID card."
“…Um,” Zhu Shiyi’s face was a little hot. She shrank her neck and hunched over her small bag containing her ID like a quail, trying to cover up her feelings, “I haven’t decided yet, and I might not live outside.”
"I know, I know," Liao Yan replied dismissively, pointing to the sanitary napkins on the table. "You have to bring these too, or it'll be a hassle."
It's both concern and a reminder.
When you're menstruating, you can't do anything.
Zhu Shiyi's face burned even more.
"I'm not taking it!" she exclaimed as she fled, leaving behind the words, "My bag is too small, it won't fit!"
--
In winter, the night wind howls, carrying a sticky, damp feeling that clings to one's longing heart.
Zhu Shiyi ran all the way to the school gate, panting heavily, her heart pounding for no apparent reason.
With just a glance, a tall and imposing figure stood in the wind, the hem of his coat gently swaying in a slight arc, overlapping with the longing in his heart.
As if by telepathy, in the darkness of the night, his gaze seemed to glance over, faint and indistinct.
Thoughts quietly caught up with his footsteps, and Zhu Shiyi inexplicably stopped, standing frozen in place. The figure grew larger and larger, and everything in front of him became clearer and clearer.
"Why aren't you wearing more clothes?" A familiar voice floated in my ears, lifting the last layer of misty veil.
Pan Yue took her hand, tested its temperature, frowned slightly, clenched his fist, put her icy hand into his pocket, straightened her collar, and silently buttoned up her coat one button at a time, meticulously and without a word.
The familiar warmth completely pulled her out of the illusion, and Zhu Shiyi was certain that everything before her eyes was real.
Their eyes met, but they remained silent.
Given Pan Yue's nature, if she doesn't speak first, they can continue watching like this forever, and he won't say a word even if the earth is destroyed.
Zhu Shiyi let out a soft sigh, lowered her head, and asked in a muffled voice, "Why are you here?"
In short, there was doubt, surprise, and a hint of grievance; as for whether there was excitement, Pan Yue was unsure.
He reached into the bag and cupped her hand in his palm.
"It was meant to happen, so it happened."
"Should I come?" Zhu Shiyi raised her head, a hint of doubt in her eyes. "I thought you missed me."
The girl's voice was soft and sweet, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"...I was thinking of you too." Forcing himself to say something sentimental, Pan Yue buried his head to look at her, but could only see a fluffy head.
The next second, Zhu Shiyi snorted, put her hands on her chest, glared at him resentfully, and then abruptly turned her head to the side: "You still remember me!"
...It seems a bit sarcastic;
But... at least I'm still willing to say weird things to him.
He tentatively placed his hand on her waist, and seeing that she didn't flinch, he tightened his grip, holding her firmly in his arms. Pan Yue swallowed, buried his face in her fair neck, and took a deep breath.
Everything is fine.
And there's that familiar warmth and fragrance.
The girl squirmed in his arms, sometimes snuggling against his chest.
Pan Yue dared not resist and let her do whatever she wanted. Only after she calmed down did he cup her soft face in his hands and ask, "Are you hungry?"
Zhu Shiyi shook her head, her eyes darting around for a couple of seconds, then tilted her head again: "Are you hungry?"
A little.
"Didn't you have dinner?"
"have eaten."
What did you eat?
"...I just took a bite."
Zhu Shiyi was a little angry. She moved her hand away and flipped his hand over as well, wrapping her thumb and middle finger around his wrist and feeling it carefully.
"How much weight have you lost?" Zhu Shiyi pouted and glared at Pan Yue.
Pan Yue didn't move, and answered without changing his expression, "Not much."
"Liar!" She shoved him away. "You've lost weight!"
Does "losing weight" refer to the wrist? Pan Yue shook his wrist and then pinched his own. Had he lost weight? He didn't seem to notice any difference.
"What do you want to eat?" Zhu Shiyi pulled Pan Yue aside and walked straight to the side.
"What would you like to eat?" Pan Yue didn't resist and just pushed forward.
On the first day of her period, Zhu Shiyi's appetite was so-so: "I don't care."
"Let's have barbecue then."
"...It's too oily, I don't want to eat it."
"crayfish?"
"don't want."
Pan Yue smiled helplessly: "Didn't you say it didn't matter?"
"So what!" Zhu Shiyi glared to the side, feeling relieved. "I just don't want to eat anything too strong-flavored."
Pan Yue took out his phone, checked the navigation, and led her to a seafood congee restaurant.
The sweet and savory shrimp and shellfish congee, cooked until thick, captured Zhu Shiyi's heart as soon as it was served.
“You need to eat more,” she said, diverting some of her attention from the delicious food to Pan Yue. “I don’t like skinny men, like bamboo poles, without any muscle. They’re not good-looking.”
Pan Yue glanced at his abdomen subconsciously, but unfortunately he couldn't see anything; his abdominal muscles were all covered by his clothes.
“I also work out,” he explained.
"You're working out but not eating properly? Aren't you supposed to be the most nutrition-conscious person? You used to tell me all about glycemic index and nutrient ratios..."
The damp, cold wind was kept out, far away on the horizon;
Right before my eyes was a steaming, fragrant pot of congee, and her chattering voice.
Pan Yue did not interrupt, and his uneasy heart gradually calmed down with the careful instructions.
"Do you understand?" Zhu Shiyi asked fiercely.
"I understand," Pan Yue agreed.
"Not enthusiastic enough? You need to say it loudly and excitedly, 'I know, I know!'"
Pan Yue: ......
"explain!"
With no other option, he looked around. The other tables were filled with customers clinking glasses and chatting, and no one noticed him.
Pan Yue shook his head, his expression evasive, and lowered his voice slightly, barely managing a hint of excitement: "I know, I know."
But this quirky little girl had no intention of letting him go.
"You're not imitating it properly!"
Pan Yue chuckled, glancing at Zhu Shiyi in the hope that she would be more perceptive and quiet down, but to no avail; the young girl was not afraid of him at all.
He gritted his teeth inwardly, too ashamed to repeat those strange words again.
"What time is your curfew?" Pan Yue decided to change the subject, and took Zhu Shiyi's rice bowl to fill it with porridge.
Fortunately, this series of actions distracted the girl, who replied triumphantly, "I'm a graduate student, not a child anymore, there are no access restrictions!"
Pan Yue was amused. Someone who wasn't a child was speaking like a child, because adults don't emphasize that they are adults.
"What time does the child plan to go home?"
The child who was called a "little kid" wasn't happy; he bared his teeth fiercely, like a little wolf.
"25:61 on the evening of the 32nd of the 13th month!"
Pan Yue: ......
He was speechless, staring at the child throwing a tantrum in front of him. His palms itched terribly, so he did as he pleased and vigorously rubbed her head.
"I told you not to touch my head!" Zhu Shiyi yelled and dodged away, then asked him, "Where are you staying tonight?"
"hotel."
Which hotel?
"It's not decided yet," Pan Yue said, opening his phone. "Let's book one near your school."
Zhu Shiyi hummed twice and leaned closer: "When are you going back to Jinrong?"
My flight is at noon tomorrow.
"So fast!" Zhu Shiyi exclaimed in surprise. "Then why did you come here?"
Pan Yue gave him a look: "Didn't I already ask?"
Oh, I miss her.
Zhu Shiyi chuckled to himself and continued to crane his neck to look.
Pan Yue didn't try to avoid her and chose a mid-range chain hotel next to her school.
She subconsciously touched the bag beside her, which contained her ID card. Deep down, the desire to miss her was secretly clamoring within her.
She hugged Pan Yue's arm tightly, then leaned closer and rested against him.
"What's wrong?" a deep voice asked gently.
Zhu Shiyi didn't even dare to lift her head: "I don't want to go back to sleep either."
“…” Pan Yue’s pupils dilated slightly, his cheeks twitched and his lips moved slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he tentatively said, “Then I’ll book one for you.”
“No need,” Zhu Shiyi stopped him firmly, pressing down on his hand as he tried to book a room, but then buried her head even deeper, so that no one could see her flushed face. “...I’ll just share a room with you.”
A breath of hot air stuck deep in his throat, burning Pan Yue so much that he raised his neck and closed his eyes.
"Don't overthink it!" Zhu Shiyi immediately straightened up and explained, as if on cue, "Booking a hotel at the last minute is so expensive! The room is usually only three hundred or so a night, but now it's almost five hundred. Why waste that money?"
Pan Yue turned his head and gave her a look, trying to get a hint of guilt from her eyes.
Zhu Shiyi, however, avoided it.
“Hey,” she said defiantly, slapping him lightly, “What are you afraid of? I’m not afraid at all!”
A breath of air escaped my nose; I didn't know whether to laugh or be suspicious.
“Okay,” Pan Yue agreed, controlling himself to stop thinking about it too much. “I’ll cancel the room and get a standard room.”
"...No need." Her breathy voice, as soft as drifting clouds, was incredibly alluring.
Pan Yue narrowed his eyes and subconsciously adjusted his glasses: "...What did you say?"
"...You're nearsighted and can't hear well either, right!" Zhu Shiyi's voice suddenly became serious. "I said, you don't need to!"
Pan Yue's breathing quickened for two seconds.
He turned off his phone and pushed Zhu Shiyi's bowl towards her: "Then eat quickly." His voice was a little hoarse.
“...Oh.” Zhu Shiyi felt a sudden jolt, and after a few bites, he vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
"Don't misunderstand," Zhu Shiyi said, shoveling a mouthful of porridge into his mouth without looking up, "I didn't mean anything by it."
Pan Yue paused for a moment, then asked in his usual tone, "What do you mean by 'other meaning'?" as if he genuinely didn't know.
Zhu Shiyi was furious. She didn't believe that any adult could misunderstand what she meant!
She focused her gaze and saw Pan Yue with his eyes lowered, silently picking up his porridge and drinking it, looking as serene as an old monk in meditation.
For a moment, she couldn't tell if his calm demeanor was genuine. Unable to guess, Zhu Shiyi bluntly asked, "I just want to ask you, can you sleep in the same bed with me, simply holding me and sleeping?"
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