"Yuanyuan, what time are you getting off work and going home today?"
"I have class this afternoon and won't be back until evening. Sis, what's wrong?"
"I...I lost my salary card..." Su Zhenzhen began to sob on the other end of the phone.
"What? You lost something again?" I covered my head, feeling dizzy. "How did you lose your salary card? Where did you lose it?"
"Actually, it's not that it's lost... it's just that I can't find it..."
"That's still lost! You're really something! Is there any money in the card? Did you report it lost to the bank?"
“I have money. I haven’t withdrawn my salary; it’s all in there. I went to the bank to report it lost, but they wouldn’t do it for me.”
"Why?"
"Because I don't have an ID card."
"And where is your ID card?"
"I lost it along with my salary card!"
Pfft—I spat out the apple I was eating.
"Big sister, where are you now?"
"I...I'm at the police station..."
"Report it to the police?"
"Replace your ID card."
"Then why did you call me? I don't know anyone in the police station."
"Um... Yuanyuan, could you lend me some money?"
"Borrow money? My brother-in-law's salary card is with you, why would you need to borrow money from me?"
"Uh..." Su Zhenzhen stammered on the other end of the phone, "Actually, I lost both of my cards...and my wallet too. I'm penniless now, and I don't even have money to buy groceries tonight."
"I...I...I!!" I stomped my foot, clutching the phone. "I'm speechless! How could you be so careless? ID card, pay card, wallet—everything's gone!"
"Isn't my ID card and salary card both in my wallet?" Su Zhenzhen replied somewhat angrily, "So isn't it reasonable to lose them together?"
"What the heck! Who keeps all these important things together? Forget it, I can't reason with you. Just come to my school after you've finished the paperwork at the police station, and I'll lend you your living expenses."
"Really?"
"kindness."
"Oh! Yuanyuan, you're such a good girl! Your big sister didn't spoil you for nothing!" Su Zhenzhen cheered on the other end of the phone, not at all like an unlucky girl who had lost two salary cards and her ID card.
After finishing my afternoon classes, I went back to my office to grab my purse and head to the school's ATM to withdraw money when I realized that the machine was very close to the dean's building. So close that I could see the dean's office in the building across the street just by standing in front of the machine and looking up.
I strolled slowly to the ATM, stared at the blue screen unconsciously for a while, and then suddenly looked up at the other side.
The black peach wood door was tightly closed, but I could almost see everything behind it.
The desk was piled high with documents and files, but on the small coffee table next to the sofa, there was always a small transparent vase with daisies in it.
What is Qu Ling doing? Is he as restless as I am?
The phone rang again. It was Su Zhenzhen. She had arrived at our school and was looking for me everywhere. I told her to follow the tree-lined path on the left and come find me at the ATM.
"Yuanyuan!" Su Zhenzhen called my name as she ran towards me from afar. I quickly stepped forward like a thief and covered her mouth, afraid that the people in the building across the street would hear. Actually, although we were close, it was unlikely that they would hear, but I felt guilty.
"Sis, keep your voice down! This is school!"
"Waaah—waaah—" Su Zhenzhen pushed my hand and nodded, "Okay, did you get the money?"
"I haven't picked it up yet, I'll pick it up right away." I took out my card, inserted it into the card slot, and entered the PIN.
After waiting for a while, the words "The password you entered is incorrect" suddenly appeared on the screen.
How is this possible? My password is wrong? It's just six sixes, isn't it? Or did I change it to six eights last time?
I'll try again!
Still not right!
Oh no, did they change the card to my birthday? Let me try again!
As a result of this attempt, my card was locked because I entered the wrong PIN too many times.
Tears... This is all the bad luck Su Zhenzhen brought me! Now I'm broke!
"Yuanyuan, are you done yet?"
"It's not working!" I pounded on the ATM in frustration. "My card is locked! I haven't been able to withdraw a single penny!"
"What? No money?" Su Zhenzhen's face immediately fell. "Oh no, I can't hide it from you now! Yun Cong, and my family, they'll all know I lost my salary card! What am I going to do? I'm definitely going to get a lot of flak!"
"There's nothing we can do about it! Who told you to keep losing things like this?" I scolded Su Zhenzhen while trying to come up with a solution. This girl is good for nothing except causing trouble. I really don't understand why my brother-in-law treats her like a treasure, chasing after her relentlessly and trying so hard to bring her home.
"Zhenzhen, Yuanyuan? What are you two doing here?" Qu Ling's voice suddenly rang out behind me, sending a chill down my spine.
"Dean...Dean..." I lowered my head, not daring to look at him.
"Qu Ling? Oh, that's great! Thank goodness! There's always a way out!" Su Zhenzhen beamed with joy when she saw Qu Ling. "Qu Ling, do you have any money on you? Could you lend me some?"