His action felt particularly soldier-like, and I admired him for days.
“Didn’t you learn in elementary school that the national flag is our nation’s dignity?” he asked.
Seems like it was mentioned, but I don’t remember!
“But… how are you so skilled?” I pointed to the two-meter-high balcony barrier. “You climbed over it in three seconds.”
“That barrier isn’t high. Not many people take five minutes to climb over it.”
He laughed, clearly reminiscing about how I couldn’t climb over it back then.
I asked, “Is your father a soldier?”
He met my gaze, expressionless. “No, my father is a businessman. He wanted me to be a doctor, so he sent me to study in Japan.”
I was slightly disappointed. But why should it matter? Even if I had guessed right, what difference would it make?
“Why are you suddenly asking about this?” he inquired. “You don’t happen to… like soldiers?”
“I admire them!” I corrected. “Resolute, self-disciplined, strong, upright, with a passionate fire beneath a cold exterior…” I thought, beneath the military uniform lies a tempting figure.
“Soldiers aren’t as good as you think. I think doctors are better…” Ye Zhengchen stated.
I despised his opinion. “At least soldiers are disciplined and won’t casually flirt with women.”
He snorted coldly. “What you see is their uniformed appearance. Once they take off the uniform, they’re just men with physiological needs.”
“Having needs is fine; the key is self-control. If you can’t control your needs, how are you different from an animal?”
“Sometimes, humans are worse than animals…”
“His gaze lost focus, drifting away. ‘Tigers don’t eat their own cubs, wolves travel in pairs… Some people, for power and desire, don’t care about their closest kin…’
‘Who are you talking about?’
‘Many people.’
His brow furrowed deeply at ‘many people.’ I realized he never mentioned his father and had never called home.
Could their father-son relationship be bad?
I smoothed his furrowed brow while washing his hair, rubbing his Baihui, Taiyang, and Fengchi acupoints to soothe him. After washing, I helped dry and straighten his hair.
‘I’ll go make some spare rib soup and bring it to you later.’
He suddenly grabbed my wrist. ‘Why are you so good to me?’
‘Because you’re good to me!’ I withdrew my hand, bowing deeply and smiling. ‘Senior, I’m grateful for your care these past few months.’
‘Don’t you have any other thoughts?’
‘Rest assured, I’d never dare have any improper thoughts about you!’
‘Then why did you ask if I was a soldier?’
This question caught me off guard. I scratched my head, unable to respond.
So, I sincerely told him, ‘I’ll tell you when I figure out the answer!’
After eating, I checked my phone – it was already 6:30 pm. ‘Time to go to work at the convenience store.’
‘You’re working at a convenience store?’
‘Yes!’ “
These Japanese devils’ tuition is expensive.”
Seeing him reach for his wallet, I quickly said, “I have money, but I can’t use the savings my dad set aside for tuition. Li Kai introduced me to a convenience store near Ishibashi. It’s close, three hours every night—not too hard—and I can practice my Japanese. I want to try…”
“Li Kai? The one from the Engineering Department?”
“Yes.” He was slim, with delicate features, somewhat scholarly. After a few interactions, I found him nice and cultured.
“Three hours? That means working until 10 pm.” Someone glanced at his watch, a fancy model. I sighed; what a spendthrift!
“Yes, not too late.” Before he could respond, I hurriedly put on my shoes. “I can’t talk any longer, or I’ll be late.”
Just as I was about to leave, I recalled Yahoo Weather predicting rain. I turned back to grab an umbrella and heard Ye Zhengchen shout, “Girl, how am I going to take a shower tonight? Can you help me?”
“Get out!” I threw a slipper. “Call your girlfriends to wash for you!”
I’ve seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless!
I turned to leave, unfortunately forgetting my umbrella.
On my first day of work, I was flustered and struggled to communicate with customers, which was embarrassing. Fortunately, both the customers and my boss were tolerant, reassuring me: “No problem, no problem.”
Amidst the novelty and busyness, three hours passed quickly.
At 9:50, Li Kai arrived to take over my shift. I watched as he inserted his rain-dripping umbrella into the stand by the door and peered outside.
The rain was fine and dense, showing no signs of stopping.
Seeing my worried expression, Li Kai asked, “Did you forget your umbrella? Take mine to get home.”
“No need,” I replied. “This rain looks like it might last all night. You live far away and need your umbrella. My apartment is close, just a few steps away.”
After finishing my shift with Li Kai, I walked out and rushed into the rain. The downpour was heavier than expected, large, cold droplets soaking my hair and face, trickling down my neck into my clothes.
I shivered.
“Xiao Bing…” Li Kai, holding an umbrella, chased after me and grabbed my hand. I almost slipped, but he supported my waist.
He pushed the umbrella into my hand. “Take it. I’ll have a friend bring me another one later.”
“I…”
I tried to push the umbrella back, about to say: No need!
A ray of light shot over, stinging my eyes. I quickly covered them with my arm. After adjusting, I lowered my arm and saw a person stepping out of a black RV in the heavy rain.
Fine droplets shattered on his handsome face, momentarily piercing my heart. I broke free from Li Kai’s hand and ran to Ye Zhengchen, my heart pounding. “What are you doing here?”
“Felt a bit stuffy alone in the apartment, came out for some air.”
As a medical student, I didn’t think an injured person with an immobilized right hand should drive out on a rainy night. But with such a handsome guy, dragging his bandaged right arm to pick me up, I was completely moved.
If he weren’t Ye Zhengchen, I would absolutely throw myself into his arms and tell him: I’m sticking with you for life!
He glanced at Li Kai standing at the convenience store entrance and opened the passenger door. “Get in.”
I waved to Li Kai with a smile. “Little Li, I’m leaving now. Bye!”
I got in the car, my skirt soaked and clinging to my body. The warm air conditioning clashed with the cold rain, making me tremble, and I sneezed. He awkwardly used his left hand to take off his half-wet outer coat, draping it over me and brushing my wet hair out of the coat.
“Are the bandages wet? They might get infected if they get damp.” I touched the bandages on his right hand; thankfully, he wore an outer coat.
He said coldly, “If you had lingered with that guy a bit longer, who knows what might have happened!”
“You could have waited in the car a bit longer,” I said with a laugh.
“If you think my timing is off, I’ll go into the store and let him keep you company in the car!”
In this heavy rain, why do I smell gunpowder from someone?
To ease the tension, I gave him a sweet smile. “Senior brother! No need to trouble yourself, we can continue tomorrow!”
He stepped on the gas, the car racing through the rain.
I quickly fastened my seatbelt.
The entire journey, he didn’t say a word, so I turned on some music.
A heavenly voice played. “What song is this?”
“Li Kai is pursuing you!” he said.
“Oh!” I considered it but felt nothing for him.
“You know? And haven’t refused?”
He hadn’t confessed, so I couldn’t tell him: Please don’t pursue me, I have no feelings for you.
“Why should I refuse?” I answered casually, still immersed in the song.
“Heavenly fragrance like me, seeping through your defenses…”
Great song, great lyrics. I hummed along softly.
“Heavenly fragrance like plum, piercing your taste buds, penetrating your heart…”
