"What's interesting?" Xu Chen asked, puzzled.
"Boss, who called you just now?" Ye Fei smiled slyly, and Xu Chen glanced at her and smiled too.
“My girlfriend,” Xu Chen said.
"The photos." Ye Fei stretched out her hand and laid it out in front of Xu Chen.
Xu Chen smiled and said, "No."
"How could that be? It's not in your wallet?" Ye Fei didn't believe it.
"Really, no. Maybe she has my picture in her wallet, but I don't carry her picture with me," Xu Chen said, touching his forehead sheepishly. "Because I don't use a wallet at all."
Xu Fei was at a loss: "Is she pretty?"
Xu Chen laughed: "Not as pretty as you."
"Nonsense, how could the boss's girlfriend not be beautiful when he's so handsome?" Ye Fei rolled her eyes.
"We're together not because one of us is prettier than the other," Xu Chen smiled, and Ye Fei was stunned.
After a while, he said, "Boss, do you know, when you talk to her, or when you mention her, you smile especially beautifully."
"Really?" Xu Chen stroked his chin. "Yeah, actually I look pretty when I smile."
Ye Fei pouted: "You? You usually smile so seriously, it makes you look at least three years older."
Then, changing the subject: "By the way, where does your girlfriend study?"
“The teachers’ college in our hometown,” Xu Chen replied.
"What are you going to study?"
“Chinese,” Xu Chen said with a smile, looking at Ye Fei. “Officer Ye, are you checking someone’s household registration?”
“Wrong,” Ye Fei waved her hand with a smile, “Gossip is a woman’s nature. Besides, our boss is handsome and outstanding. Anyone would be curious about your girlfriend.”
“Are you gossipy? But I’ve always felt that your personality is very boyish. You don’t gossip about family matters, you don’t talk behind people’s backs, and you don’t hold grudges when you have conflicts. That’s great, really great,” Xu Chen said.
"Really?" Ye Fei glanced at Xu Chen: "I'm not interested in other people's gossip, but you're an exception."
"Huh? Why?" Xu Chen leaned over, resting his head across the table: "Feelings develop over time?"
"Wow, it's rare to see you joking, boss!" Ye Fei exclaimed in surprise. "The power of love is truly amazing. It's only been a phone call and it's already become so real?"
Before she could finish speaking, the waiter brought over two bowls of noodles. Amidst the rising steam, Ye Fei reached into Xu Chen's bowl and took two slices of beef from it: "Boss, you're so sweet. It's okay if you eat a couple less pieces of meat, right?"
Xu Chen smiled and put the rest of the meat into Ye Fei's bowl: "Consider it compensation. You've worked hard today."
He didn't speak again until they finished eating the noodles, paid the bill, and he took Ye Fei back to her dormitory.
However, when the distance of walking side by side finally came to an end, Ye Fei stood alone at the entrance of the dormitory building, looking at Xu Chen's back, feeling a silent sadness in her heart.
3-2
The next day in class, Lu Yuanyang muttered to himself while texting, "Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, should I buy some zongzi to eat?"
Xu Chen was copying notes when he suddenly froze: "What did you say?"
Lu Yuanyang didn't hear him and was still texting in silence. Xu Chen hurriedly took out his phone to check the calendar: June 10th, the fourth day of the fifth lunar month.
So yesterday was June 9th?
"It's all over..." Xu Chen cried out in his heart... How could he have forgotten so completely?
Then I remembered the phone call from yesterday. She called, but I didn't say anything. Was she disappointed?
I frantically tried to send a text message, but what should I say?
I wrote the first message: Lele, I'm sorry, I forgot yesterday was your birthday. Happy birthday, is it too late to say it now?
After looking at it, I felt the second half was too sentimental, so I deleted it.
I wrote a second message: On behalf of the 8,300 students of the Provincial Medical University, I wish you a happy birthday yesterday.
After looking at it, I felt that the word "yesterday" looked suspiciously like I was trying to hide something, so I deleted it.
Then write the third point: Little student, in the new year, study hard, exercise, strengthen your body, and contribute to the rejuvenation of China.
After looking at it again, I felt that I couldn't express my apology and feelings, so I continued to delete it.
This went on and on until, in the end, I didn't even know what to say anymore.
I sighed and wrote the simplest words: What are you doing?
After a while, my phone started vibrating. I picked it up and replied briefly and decisively: Class in session.
Xu Chen was a little uneasy. Such a simple answer didn't reveal whether she was angry or not. Although Yu Lele wasn't a petty girl, experience had shown that girls in love couldn't be judged by common sense, so gaining the understanding and support of her superiors as soon as possible was more important.
Xu Chen typed out each word carefully: I'm sorry, I was too busy yesterday and forgot it was your birthday.
After a short while, she replied: It's okay.
The words were few, but they only made the situation seem more dangerous. Xu Chen propped his head up with his hand and asked Lu Yuanyang, feeling quite frustrated, "Hey, what would happen if you forgot your girlfriend's birthday?"
“Die!” Lu Yuanyang replied without even looking up from his text message.
Xu Chen was exasperated. Why was everyone being so concise today? And why were they all hitting the bullseye?
After finally getting through get out of class, Lu Yuanyang went to a quiet corner of the side staircase to smoke. Xu Chen also went to the corner of the staircase and bumped into a few boys lighting cigarettes, which caused a small commotion.
A boy asked cheerfully, "Xu Chen, are you also planning to join the organization?"
Another laughed: "Come on, let's get this organizational meeting going."
He offered me a cigarette: "You're really something, kid. You never come when I don't bring Zhonghua cigarettes."
Xu Chen reached out to block it, smiling sheepishly, "Thanks, buddy, I don't smoke."
The boys were surprised: "Why would someone who doesn't smoke come here?"
Only Lu Haiyang laughed from the side: "You guys stay out of the way, the boss is looking for a quiet place to make a phone call and face his death."
Xu Chen punched Lu Haiyang lightly, made a threatening gesture, and then went down the side stairs. Several boys booed behind him, then burst into laughter after Lu Haiyang said something.
Xu Chen walked all the way from the fourth floor to the first floor before dialing the phone number. The familiar ringtone played—"Every Time I Pass by the Teacher's Window." It rang once, but no one answered. It rang a second time, and finally, a low voice answered, "Hello?"
Xu Chen's voice involuntarily lowered as well: "Are you in class?"
"I have a lecture by a foreign teacher today, I'm busy, I'll call you later," Yu Lele said furtively.
"Okay." Xu Chen hung up, feeling a sense of relief. She seemed alright. However, he still felt a little guilty and started thinking about buying Yu Lele a gift to make amends.
But what do girls like?
Thinking back to last year's gift, it was a white, chubby pig with pink nostrils and a curly little tail. Yu Lele hugged it tightly the moment she saw it and didn't let go the whole way home. But would giving her a long-haired toy again this year seem like a perfunctory gesture?
Out of options, I thought for a moment and texted Ye Fei: What kind of gifts do girls like?
A while later, Ye Fei texted: "The term 'girl' is too broad. If you're specifically referring to your girlfriend, why not give her a small gift that she can carry with her at all times and that she can use to evoke feelings whenever she's in a certain situation?"
Xu Chen suddenly realized what was happening and was extremely grateful.
Unable to see, on the other end of the phone, Ye Fei slowly put away her phone, staring blankly at the small peach wood amulet attached to it, with the character "安" (peace) engraved on the front, its surface gleaming with a faint brownish-red hue.
This was something Xu Chen brought back from his summer medical service trip to an old revolutionary base area during his freshman year. The small plastic bag contained dozens of phone charms made and sold by local villagers, and it was instantly snatched up by the girls. Ye Fei was busy organizing the photos and materials brought back by the medical team and didn't have time to join the fray. Seeing her busy, he came over, held out his hand, and gently held the small charm in his palm.
At that moment, he smiled openly and brightly: "This is for you."
Seeing the surprise in her eyes, he smiled again: "If you're the only one not coming to get the gift, and I don't help you grab it, you won't get anything later."
A year has passed, and the peach wood has grown darker in color. When she touches it while making phone calls or sending text messages, it's as if the person is standing right next to her, opening their palm and smiling, saying: "If I don't help you grab it now, you won't get anything in a while."
For the past two years, she may have been nothing more than a trustworthy assistant and a confidante to him, but they could never be lovers. Her magnanimity and cheerfulness were simply the means to maintain their friendship—if they couldn't love each other, at least they could still be friends.
But he had no idea.
Despair surged like a tide, engulfing her.
4-1
At 11 p.m., the lights in dormitory 206 suddenly went out. Although it was lights out time, footsteps continued to echo in the corridor. Xu Yin, pulling at her blanket, complained angrily, "Why are they all coming back so late? Nobody believes they were studying in the study room. Don't they let people get any sleep?"
Unable to sleep due to the noise, Yu Lele simply lay in bed and texted Xu Chen: Are you asleep?
Not long after, my phone screen lit up: No, someone is playing cards in our dorm, and I'm just watching.
—Oh, I didn't have time to call you back during the day. Is there something you need?
I just wanted to say sorry, I've been too busy lately and really forgot.
It's okay, you just get a year older with each birthday, so it doesn't matter.
Today, Lu Yuanyang even said he wanted me to pack myself up and mail myself to you as a birthday gift. What do you think?
EMS regulations state that pets cannot be packaged.
Go away! I've only been away from you for a few days, and you've already forgotten who's the master and who's the servant?
Tch, you narcissist. Tell me, do you miss me?
Please, miss, I just answered you in public yesterday.
Do you love me?
Girl, stop asking such pointless questions.
What kind of questions are informative? Show me one!
For example: Why is the sun a fixed star? Why does the moon revolve around the earth? Why is Xu Chen so smart? Why is Yu Lele so stupid?
Because the sun is too lazy, the earth is beautiful, and the moon is lustful. But Yu Lele is quite foolish—if she were smart, how could she fall for a narcissist named Xu Chen?
This kid is too arrogant! He needs to be disciplined! Drag him out and behead him!
...
As they chatted, that smiling face seemed to be right before her eyes. She closed her eyes, and in her mind, she could vaguely picture him standing there, pretending to be fierce, looking at her and saying: "Too arrogant! This child needs to be disciplined! Drag him out and behead him!"
She thought: His smile was so handsome, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, his eyes filled with tenderness. He seemed never to have said "I love you," never given her even a bouquet of flowers, never shown any affection in public except for holding hands. At all times, he was refined, elegant, and polite, even a little guarded. Only when he was with her did he let down his guard. He held her in his arms, and as he lowered his head, his laughter filled her ear, like a fragrant ocean.