Chapter 14
Anuo hadn't even spoken yet, but a few words in her mouth were instantly swallowed back.
Even someone as patient as Chen Baifan felt that Xin Shu had a bad personality. It made Anuo wonder how difficult this person must be to get along with.
Anuo felt a pang of sympathy for him, but she didn't dare express it.
She thought that if they ever got together, she would definitely invite him to stay at her place. There was a spare room in her house, and she planned to have it beautifully renovated after the New Year so he could stay there.
During this time, while Anuo was deep in thought, Chen Baifan called her name with a puzzled expression.
Anuo snapped out of her thoughts and, feeling determined, said, "I won't talk to him."
The next morning, Anuo set off for Pocheng University.
Anuo wasn't particularly skilled at dealing with strangers, which was one of the reasons why she didn't make many close friends during her time in university. After graduation, she had chosen to stay in Pocheng as a full-time illustrator. As for Ying Shuhe, she continued her studies at the same university. One of their former dorm mates had gone abroad for further studies, while another had returned to her hometown for work.
Ying Shuhe was Anuo's only friend in the city.
Anuo would visit her at the university from time to time to catch up.
Pocheng University had a vast campus, and it took at least forty minutes to walk from the campus entrance to the dormitory.
Anuo's car couldn't enter the campus, so she took the on-campus bus and sat in the back by the window.
Moments later, a guy wearing a baseball cap got on the bus and sat next to Anuo. He had pulled the cap's brim down, covering the top half of his face, leaving only his strong, sharp chin visible.
The bus slowly started moving.
The scenery outside the window passed by in a blur: vast stretches of bare trees, a slightly gloomy sky, frozen lakes, deserted basketball courts, and people running on the track in shorts.
The days on campus.
Anuo withdrew her gaze and leaned back in her seat, her eyes closed.
The guy next to her suddenly shifted in his seat and removed his cap.
Anuo hadn't noticed, and she pulled her scarf up a bit, closing her eyes to relax.
The guy took off his cap, and with a theatrical flair, brushed his hair back. He casually bumped into Anuo.
Anuo opened her eyes and looked at him with a furrowed brow.
The guy looked back at her with a smirk, seemingly carefree. He was dressed in a loose, half-zipped white baseball jersey.
Anuo lowered her head and glanced at him.
The guy blocked her path by sitting in the gap between the seats, watching her intently with black, unblinking eyes.
"Little schoolgirl, can I get your WeChat?"
"..."
"Am I good looking?" he asked playfully.
"..."
"Handsome, right? I don't have a girlfriend."
Anuo sighed and opened her eyes again, irritated. She replied, "No wonder."
The guy suddenly realized what she meant, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he chuckled.
After that, he didn't initiate any further conversation with her.
Anuo was impatiently twiddling the strap of her bag with her fingers.
With so many empty seats on the bus, why did this person have to sit next to her?
Soon, they arrived at the dormitory area where Ying Shuhe lived.
Anuo stood up, and the guy remained seated, watching her with a playful smile. She coldly told him, "Let me pass."
The guy shrugged and got up as well, following her off the bus.
Anuo was confused.
Being called "silly girl" by him...
Ying Shuhe grabbed her hand, and Anuo, still feeling annoyed, shot a glance at the guy and said, "It's that guy."
"Wait a second, I called him here..." Ying Shuhe shook off Anuo's hand and walked over to the guy, saying, "Lin Wei."
Anuo was dumbfounded.
Lin Wei, as the guy was called, handed a document folder to her, but his eyes continued to linger on Anuo.
"Is he your friend?"
"Yeah, thanks," Ying Shuhe patted him on the shoulder, "I'll treat you to dinner another time."
Lin Wei licked his lips with the tip of his tongue. "What's her name?"
Ying Shuhe didn't think much and answered, "Anuo."
Lin Wei nodded, and he continued to gaze at Anuo with a hint of interest. "I'm leaving now. My little sister probably finished her dental appointment. I'm going to pick her up."
Ying Shuhe agreed, and Lin Wei walked away.
Ying Shuhe walked back to Anuo.
Anuo relaxed a bit and casually asked, "Who is that guy?"
"He's from the same department as me and our school's print room wasn't open. He happened to be nearby, so I asked him to help me print something."
Thinking about Anuo's earlier comments, Ying Shuhe patted her head and said, "He's a nice guy."
Anuo gave a nonchalant response, recalling Lin Wei's tone and behavior, which didn't endear him to her.
Ying Shuhe's roommates had all gone home, so she was alone in the dorm.
Anuo moved a chair next to Ying Shuhe and rested her head on the table. She said, "I'll be heading back to Chuanfu in a couple of days. When are you going home? You won't stay here, right?"
Ying Shuhe sighed and replied, "I'll go back on Monday, but my professor asked me to return early."
"Why do you need to come back early?"
"I don't know, various reasons, I guess," Ying Shuhe said with a touch of frustration. "I just hope that when I return, there won't be power outages all the time. Otherwise, I'll have to rent a place."
Anuo frowned and said, "You can just stay at my place."
Ying Shuhe hadn't considered that option, and she blinked. "Is that okay?"
"Move in today. I'm leaving on Sunday, probably for two months. My mom won't insist on me coming back so soon."
"I'll move in a couple of days; I still have some things to take care of at the school. Is it okay?"
"Sure."
"Two months, I hope your dentist brother won't be snatched away by someone else."
Anuo suddenly sat up straight, then quickly lay back down.
Ying Shuhe thought she was going to say something like "If he gets taken, then so be it," but Anuo remained silent, her brow furrowed as she appeared lost in thought.
On Sunday, Chen Baifan had to work in the morning due to his inability to get a day off. He had only managed to secure the afternoon off.
Anuo's flight was scheduled for 4 p.m.
Since they still needed to have a meal together, she decided to leave early and wait for Chen Baifan at the dental clinic after he finished work.
Normally, he finished work at noon, but there were occasional delays due to treatments.
It was almost noon now, and the clinic was almost deserted except for a nurse standing at the reception desk.
Anuo walked over and sat down on one of the couches, glancing at the room where Chen Baifan usually worked.
From this angle, she couldn't see him.
Anuo raised her head and noticed the nurse focused on something with her head down.
She quietly moved to another couch, where she could see Chen Baifan's back.
Feeling content, she opened her phone and took a photo of his back.
She yawned and lowered her gaze to her phone. Suddenly, her right eyelid twitched without warning.
Anuo rubbed her eye and felt an inexplicable sense of unease in her heart.
After a while, she couldn't bear it any longer and stood up. She went to the reception desk and asked, "How much longer will Dr. Chen take?"
The nurse, possibly following Chen Baifan's instructions, glanced at Anuo and replied, "Just wait a moment; he should be coming out soon."
The unease deep in Anuo's heart did not dissipate at all due to the nurse's response.
Puzzled, she touched her chest and tilted her head in confusion.
Just as she was about to return to her previous spot, a middle-aged woman entered the clinic.
The woman was wearing a colorful padded coat, her long wavy hair was dyed in a deep red color, and her high-heeled boots echoed loudly as she walked.
She approached Anuo and fixed a sharp and piercing gaze on the receptionist.
Anuo could see her heavily made-up face, with intense eye shadow and blush resembling a color palette.
Anuo lowered her eyelids and watched the woman's bright red nails tapping repeatedly on the desk, creating a jarring sound.
The color was somewhat eye-catching, and it made Anuo feel a sudden sense of unease.
Anuo shifted her gaze away and raised her feet.
Soon, the woman spoke with a shrill and aggressive voice, furrowing her brows and glaring at the receptionist. "Is there a doctor named Chen Baifan here?"
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