Chapter 13 (1/2)

Chapter 13

The soph.o.m.ore year ran a tighter schedule than year one. Yun Jin shuttled tirelessly between cla.s.ses, tutoring lessons and the department office. This Qing Ming, she didn’t return home to sweep her father’s grave; her mother had phoned up and told her she would see to it herself.

Mother no longer choked up when mentioning Yun Jin’s father. Indeed time was a great healer. Mother also added that due to someone’s connections, she was able to find work in the largest textile factory in the county. While it was tiring, the pay was adequate and she hoped Yun Jin wouldn’t push herself so much.

“It’s alright. I’m used to it.” Yun Jin replied. As compared to the prospect of not having to work so hard, she was happier over the fact that her mother had overcome the worst grieving stage.

Another matter weighed heavily on Yun Jin’s mind – now that Shen Ju An was in Year Four, he would graduate in a couple of months. By this time, most of the graduating cla.s.s had already signed on with companies. For a period, there was a rumour that the Professor had wanted Ju An to join the academic staff but their negotiations fell through ultimately. Yun Jin wanted to know where he was headed and so on a day when both were free, she asked to meet him at the library.

It was already past three in the afternoon by the time she reached the library. Thus, there were few students present and the long benches in the reading lounge were only occupied by a few people. She identified Shen Ju An’s back from afar. She walked over quietly and found that he was actually bent over the table, asleep with a book half-covering his face.

Yun Jin found this hilarious. It was the first time she saw how he looked while sleeping. The April breeze blew past them. When it swept past a person, it created a sort of dreamy ambience. It was indeed a suitable time for a nap.

Yun Jin gingerly lifted the book off his face. His clean features was mesmerizing. The wind lightly tousled his hair and Yun Jin slowly but purposefully swept apart the hair covering his forehead. The moment she touched his face, his hand that was originally resting on the desk flew up and grabbed her fingers. Then he opened his eyes and smiled at her.

Yun Jin froze. Seeing that he had no intention of loosening his grip, she was also in no hurry to withdraw her hand. She smiled back and they gazed at each other quietly as their fingers intertwined. Finally, a person pa.s.sing by coughed lightly and it was only then that Shen Ju An slowly released her hand.

Yun Jin placed her hand beneath the table and asked after a moment’s beat “I heard that they wanted you to sign on here. How come they’ve approached someone else now?”

Shen Ju An touched his jaw and said dispa.s.sionately “I rejected their offer. I have no intention of remaining here.”

“Then …” Yun Jin prodded carefully.

“I’ve signed on with Yong Kai.” He replied blandly.

Yong Kai? The name was familiar to everyone. Even in this city flooded with enterprises and national companies, Yong Kai’s name was common knowledge. It was even rumoured that it was highly selective of its candidates yet Ju An had managed to sign on with little fanfare.

“I had always thought teaching was more suitable for me.” Yun Jin commented with a tinge of regret.

“Trust me. I know what I’m best suited for…” It wasn’t clear if it was because he had just woken up from a good dream but Shen Ju An had on a lazy smile, one that Yun Jin was unaccustomed to.

“… Whether it’s work or people.” He looked directly at her and added on the last statement quickly.