Chapter 16 (1/2)

“Ah, then let me do it.” He Luo pushed him away. “You go unpack.”

“And boys won’t miss any opportunity to slack off!” He Luo sticked her tongue out at him. “How did you get here? Did you manage to buy a ticket?”

“Stop joking!”

“Ah? A standing ticket…” Her heart began to hurt for him. An 18-hour journey.

“You… got in without a proper ticket?”

“What are you going to do then?” He Luo frowned. “Are you really going to stand all the way back? It’s not easy to buy tickets now.”

Shen Lie’s home wasn’t far from campus so he said he would return once he got the ticket. “There’s no need to queue. If my aunt can’t make it, then there’s no use even if you camp outside the station the night before.”

After Shen Lie left, Zhang Yuan smiled. “This cla.s.smate of yours is a really good person.”

“Luckily I bought breakfast in the train. It’s exceptionally disgusting.” Zhang Yuan yawned. “The biggest problem now is that I’m drowsy.”

“Just grab whatever in the canteen.”

“Okay. The decision is up to you.” He smiled, tone a little flat.

“I’ll send you off,” Zhang Yuan said.

“If I spoke too much, I’m worried you’ll feel chatty…” Zhang Yuan smiled. “But I’m really sleepy. I think I’m already asleep. I’m talking in my dream.”

They had been together for nearly 2 years. He Luo believed in her intuition. She had a guess. Perhaps Zhang Yuan was unhappy that she spent the night staying up to watch the flag-raising ceremony with another boy? But he didn’t seem to be jealous of Shen Lie. She thought that while it was true that Shen Lie was quite a good-looking guy but he was at least half a head shorter than Zhang Yuan. He also didn’t have Zhang Yuan’s free-spirit and easygoingness. As for personal appearance, Zhang Yuan should have enough self-confidence.

What’s the point thinking about this? She wanted to think she was just paranoid. Zhang Yuan was simply exhausted. To persist until now after an 18-hour journey, it was already remarkable. What else did she wanted from him?

“Ah, he also had a sleepless night. Since he’s sleepy, I let him rest first. Just so happens that I also stayed up.”

“I’m sleeping now.” He Luo turned on her side and continued to stare at the white wall.

He Luo was quiet. Truthfully, she really wanted to hold onto Ye Zhi and unleash all her pent-up worries. But they had only met for a month. There were many words that she couldn’t easily share.

“He said he’d take out you all out for dinner some day. What’s your hurry?” With a pin in her mouth, Ye Zhi mumbled.

“Don’t!” He Luo let go of the hair she was combing halfway. “I didn’t tell him I was sick.”

Zhang Yuan who was waiting outside the building laughed. “Why is Beijing so hot? I think I’ll get a heatstroke.” The sun seemed to have restore his radiance. He Luo whose head was a little dizzy from lack of sleep began to doubt if his previous indifference was simply a dream.

“Ah…” He Luo didn’t know what to say. “Why did you come back so soon from fetching water? Right, this afternoon I won’t be coming back.”

*

“Didn’t you suggest fried pancake and soy sauce pork?”

“That’s for those who actually sit in trains. Those who stand don’t have such a problem. Let’s get meat to recover some of my strength.”

“Big sis, since you already know I went without sleep last night, you’re still unwilling to let me have some meat?” Zhang Yuan smiled. “Come, hand me your meal card.”

Zhang Yuan pressed her shoulders so she would sit. “Let me go check out what you eat everyday.”

“Didn’t you say the fried pancakes are the best?”

Zhang Yuan laughed. When he returned with a tray of food, the two of them sat side by side.

[T/N: not sure about this part]

“Who said that!” Her tone was dissatisfied. “In primary school, when the pipa instructor came to our cla.s.s to select students, she made everyone put their hands on their desks. She picked me first, saying that my fingers are long and flexible.”

“My mom didn’t let me learn. She said it’s like selling art [ala geisha].” He Luo opened her palm, placing it against Zhang Yuan’s. “Look. It’s not very short.”

“You’re comparing me with him?” He Luo giggled, taking back her hand and turned towards the window. “This is the body part I’m most satisfied with.” Her slender fingers seemed transparent under the sunlight, lined with a subtle orange hue. She pinched her finger. “What do you say?”

“What did you say? Say it again, say it again!” She poked him on his side. “Rascal!”