Chapter 24 He lacks her, and at the same time, she lacks him
"How did you..."
They both laughed at the same time. He blinked and motioned for her to speak first.
"There's only one Chinese Super League nearby, where else would I go if not here?"
"Yeah, that's all I can do." He smiled and said, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, why are you here?"
"Besides coming here to see Gustav today, I also wanted to see you and bring you a gift to apologize."
Li Wenjing didn't expect to meet him today. She fixed her bangs by her ears and glanced down at the old T-shirt and jeans she was wearing. She had only washed her face before going out, so her face was dry and a little tight.
"Don't give it to me. You haven't finished your chocolate yet. I need to think about what gift to give you in return."
"No--"
"Doctor Gu!"
Before he could finish his words, Yu Di came out. Seeing him coming, she insisted on inviting him to her home for hotpot.
At home, Li Wenjing and Gu Weiyi huddled in the kitchen. He was chopping beef, Wenjing washing vegetables on the other side. Left alone, the two of them, Yu Di said he was going to get some milk tea, and with a wink, she pushed Wenjing into the kitchen to help him.
"The love story of home invasion and robbery has come, and sisters can only help so much."
Looking at the message she sent, Wen Jing turned away with a suppressed smile, shoving the phone in her pocket, realizing that his eyes were on her.
"What's so happy?"
"Nothing, it's still Yu Di. I can't even buy a milk tea, and I didn't even ask what I want to drink."
"I can do anything. I don't know what tastes good, just like you guys."
A large pot of beef was cut up, and he cracked a few eggs, picking out the egg whites to marinate. He told Wenjing to ignore everything and do it herself. Wenjing stepped closer to watch him marinate the meat, her fingers rubbing a few handfuls of the red meat, getting sticky. He explained that this would make the beef more tender.
"How come you're so good at cooking?"
"If you don't cook in England, you'll starve to death."
Li Wenjing just laughed, "Is white people's food so bad?"
"There's really nothing good about staying in the UK. The weather is bad and the food is not good either."
"I think you French have always disliked Britain."
After chatting for a few more words, he sorted the ingredients, finally added olive oil and covered it with a layer of plastic wrap. He was in a good mood today, and the atmosphere between the two of them became much more relaxed. As they were talking, his cell phone rang in the living room. Li Wenjing helped him pick up the phone, glanced at the caller ID Gustav, and asked him if he wanted to answer it. He just said to bring it over, and couldn't get his hand away for a while. Li Wenjing answered it first and put the phone to his ear. They spoke in French. Her cold fingers touched his cheek, and his cheek was hot, and it rested on her fingertips. Li Wenjing was about to take the phone down to turn on the hands-free mode, but he said a few words and hung up in a very calm tone.
Before Li Wenjing could ask, he explained, "Gustav asked me what my lunch plans were, and I said I'd eat at your house. I wouldn't go out."
"Are you here just for lunch today?"
"There's something else."
Li Wenjing didn't want to ask about the father-son relationship, so she stopped asking. However, he opened his mouth and hesitated, "I... I'm going back to Paris soon."
The door lock rattled, and Yu Di returned. He stopped talking, a hint of hesitation in his eyes, his mouth still open, until Yu Di came up to them and called for the two of them to serve the food. Li Wenjing was also puzzled. Once they were seated at the table, she asked him again, "Why did you go back to Paris?"
"I have to go back for something."
Yu Di said, "Wow! I want to go too. If we go on a trip someday, can Dr. Gu take us?"
Yu Di always spoke his mind. Li Wenjing felt that she was a little out of line, but at the same time, she wanted to know when he would be back, so she said, "Dr. Gu isn't always in Paris. When will he be back?"
"I don't know." He paused with his chopsticks and lowered his head. "If you come here for vacation, I'll go shopping with you."
Li Wenjing murmured, her disappointment lasting until they finished their hot pot. After they washed the dishes, he was about to say goodbye and go find Gustav. Li Wenjing was stunned when Yu Di pushed her and told her to go see Dr. Gu off.
"Wait! Are you sending Dr. Gu off like this? You smell like hot pot. Change into a skirt!"
"It's all the same, what's the point of changing it?"
Li Wenjing knew Yu Di had good intentions, having invited Dr. Gu to dinner and then sent him off, trying to create opportunities for the two of them. But between them, others didn't understand. Their emotional indecision, timidity, and mutual misunderstanding... Many factors combined to prevent them from moving forward. They were stuck here. It was better not to bring it up; bringing it up would only lead to another argument.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, Li Wenjing and Gu Weiyi strolled around Ocean Park and arrived at the dolphin performance hall. There were no dolphin shows this afternoon, just a dull blue pool, a sparse crowd of tourists sitting on the steps, and a few leaves twirling. The sun sank lower, dark clouds drifted across, and a few drops of rain fell. Li Wenjing yawned, and Gu Weiyi, sitting nearby, yawned as well.
Li Wenjing said: "I feel sleepy and dizzy after eating."
"Clear your mind and take a nap."
"No, if I sleep, my mouth will open and I'll drool."
"What about coffee?"
"Alright."
Gu Weiyi went to buy coffee, and when he came back, Li Wenjing was still asleep leaning against the table. Gu Weiyi put the coffee beside him and looked at her quietly, while the afternoon raindrops rolled in and fell on her eyelids.
She suddenly opened her eyes, "How long have I been sleeping?"
"Only ten minutes."
"I don't know why I fell asleep. I'm getting old..." She took the coffee. "I didn't ask you just now, what were you doing in Paris?"
"Treatment," he said. "There's nothing curable. I've spoken to the doctor over the phone. I'm a doctor myself, and I know it might not be curable, but Gustav insisted I go."
"Go get treated, otherwise he'll always be worried..."
Li Wenjing hesitated for a few seconds, "I'm worried about you too."
"A lot has happened since I met you. Maybe I've been alone for too long and need some changes, even if it's just..." His tone became very slow, like a drizzle, "for you."
Li Wenjing was stunned at first, then laughed, "Don't give me that, I don't believe it. You foreigners are all sweet-talkers, especially French men."
"I'm telling the truth. I do have some feelings for you. These feelings aren't quite enough to turn into liking or love yet. I don't have the confidence. I actually get anxious around you. Maybe I've really fallen in love with you. When you're not around, I miss you all the time. It's more than the relationship between doctor and patient. I also want to get better."
"You don't need to change anything. You're already fine. Just cure your illness." Li Wenjing felt a little sad. He was about to leave when he spoke to her. "I always feel like you'll be gone for a long time."
"I'll be back soon."
"No, don't worry. Promise me to get well and come back when you're well."
Li Wenjing's nose tightened. How could someone who seemed so cheerful suffer from a mental illness? Depression? Or bipolar disorder? She didn't know how to ask, and she was afraid she might say something wrong and irritate him, so she simply didn't ask specifically.
"When is the flight?"
"Tomorrow at noon. I'll be staying in the city all day." He said, "Will you come and see me off?"
"No, I want..."
Li Wenjing was just about to say that she wanted to work overtime when she met his soft eyes.
"Are you so cruel to me?"
"Well..." Li Wenjing lowered her posture, "I don't want to miss you too much, you should go back soon."
These straightforward words could not be said in her native language, and although saying them in English reduced the shame, her face was still hot. The warmth of his cheek touched hers again, and both of their faces were hot. He kissed her cheek and said goodbye.
"Tu me manquers," he whispered in her ear. "In French, 'I miss you,' which means I'm missing you."
The words came out of his mouth softly, like weaving flowers into a garland, and finally lingered in her mind.
He lacked her, and at the same time, she lacked him.
At the weekend, Li Wenjing received a call from Gustav. He was very anxious on the other end and told her that Gu Weiyi was missing.
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