Chapter 39: Don’t Hang Up
You Ruxu slept in late the next day, waking with a slight headache. She hadn’t been exposed to the wind or cold, yet she felt the onset of a cold, her throat hoarse, coughing after just a few words. Wu Xiulian, hearing her cough, peeled a pear for her, telling her to eat it after breakfast. You Shu wasn’t home. You Ruxu asked Wu Xiulian, “Mom, aren’t you going to the university today?”
“I am.” Wu Xiulian said, “You’re coming with me.”
You Ruxu said, “Okay.”
She finished breakfast and the pear, took Wu Xiulian’s car keys. It was their old family car, seven or eight years old. Wu Xiulian had wanted to sell it and buy You Ruxu a new car for commuting after she graduated, but You Ruxu insisted on going to Jindu, so they didn’t change cars. The car was an older model, and You Ruxu wasn’t used to driving it, so she drove slowly. She drove Wu Xiulian to the university and walked with her after parking.
As soon as they got out of the car, a senior professor greeted Wu Xiulian and, seeing You Ruxu, said, “Oh, it’s Ruxu, isn’t it? Still as beautiful as ever.”
Wu Xiulian smiled, “This is our Ruxu. Have you greeted your aunt yet?”
You Ruxu greeted the professor and listened to her mother and the professor chat. Back when she was in school, she would always go to Wu Xiulian’s office after class and wait for her to finish work, so she always got good grades on her homework, every subject checked by a professor. You Ruxu knew them all. The professor, seeing You Ruxu, asked Wu Xiulian, “Ruxu should be dating someone now, shouldn’t she?”
Wu Xiulian said, “No.”
She looked at You Ruxu, “Our Ruxu is just like her aunt, refusing to date. No matter what I say, she won’t listen, always busy with work, it worries me to death.”
“It’s good that she’s not dating.” The professor said, “No dating, no problems. Look at that recent news about the husband killing his wife for insurance money, how frightening. Marriage is risky these days, being single is good, isn’t it, Ruxu?”
You Ruxu said, “Yes, Auntie, you’re right.”
“Right, my foot.” Wu Xiulian poked You Ruxu’s temple playfully, “Fine, if you don’t want to date, then don’t, it’s better than messing around outside.”
The professor laughed heartily, “That’s true, Ruxu, don’t mess around outside, your parents care about their reputation, don’t embarrass them.”
Wu Xiulian looked at You Ruxu and said, “She won’t, our Ruxu never gives us cause for worry.” She lowered her voice and asked, “Right, Ruxu?”
You Ruxu looked at Wu Xiulian.
Her throat itched, and she coughed as soon as she opened her mouth. Wu Xiulian changed the subject, “You have a bit of a cold just after coming back, I’ll buy you some medicine later.”
You Ruxu said, “Mom, I’ll buy it myself.”
Wu Xiulian said, “Alright, then you go back first, don’t you still have to cover the summit?”
You Ruxu nodded, handing the car keys to Wu Xiulian. Wu Xiulian said, “You keep the car, I’ll go back with them.”
You Ruxu took the car keys and sat in the car, the window open, the cool air blowing in. The air after the rain was damp. She didn’t move, then after a moment, messaged Zhou Tianzui: [Are you awake?]
Zhou Tianzui had been awake for a while, preparing the materials for the summit. She had just finished organizing them when she received You Ruxu’s message. Her lips curved into a smile. She replied: [Awake, what time are you coming?]
You Ruxu replied: [I’ll be there in half an hour.]
Zhou Tianzui only then noticed her half-eaten breakfast. She ate while looking at her computer, then became engrossed in her work. The boiled egg had gone cold. She took a bite and inadvertently glanced at the mirror. Her reflection was smiling as she ate. She pursed her lips and tried to adjust her expression, then gave up, tidied up her desk, and waited for You Ruxu.
Half an hour later, You Ruxu knocked and entered. Zhou Tianzui placed her laptop bag together with You Ruxu’s equipment. Seeing You Ruxu walk in, wearing a fitted off-white jacket, jeans, and sneakers, her hair neatly tied back, and presumably because of the summit, her makeup was meticulously applied, a pair of red earrings the only bright color, adding a touch of vibrancy to her overall look.
Zhou Tianzui glanced at her and asked, “Have you had breakfast?”
You Ruxu said, “Yes.”
She cleared her throat, her voice a little hoarse. Zhou Tianzui got up and poured her a glass of water. You Ruxu took a sip, the warm water soothing her throat. Zhou Tianzui said, “The equipment is over there.”
You Ruxu nodded and sat on the sofa to adjust the equipment. After a while, she looked up at Zhou Tianzui, who had finished breakfast and changed into a casual and comfortable outfit. She had applied light makeup, her hair tied back, a few strands framing her face, adding a touch of elegance she didn’t usually have. You Ruxu looked at her for a few seconds and heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Let’s go.”
She asked You Ruxu: “Should I carry one for you?”
“No need.” You Ruxu said, “It’s not heavy.”
But Zhou Tianzui still took one of the backpacks from her, carrying her own laptop bag as well. They went downstairs to the summit venue across the street. It was being held in a large hall, already filled with reporters and their equipment. You Ruxu had just walked in when she heard someone call out, “Ruxu!”
She turned around and saw a former university classmate, her former roommate, even. They had been closer than ordinary classmates, but they had lost touch after graduation.
You Ruxu smiled faintly. Han Shuang asked, “When did you get back?”
Looking at the equipment in her hand: “Oh, you’re back for work?”
You Ruxu said, “No, I’m still in Jindu.”
“I heard you went there after graduation.” Han Shuang asked, “Haven’t come back since?”
You Ruxu shook her head, “Not yet.”
“What’s so good about that place, it’s stolen the soul of our old classmate.” She teased. You Ruxu glanced at Zhou Tianzui and saw that she was also looking at her. You Ruxu lowered her head and heard Han Shuang ask, “This is Dr. Zhou, right?”
Zhou Tianzui extended her hand, “Hello, I’m Zhou Tianzui.”
“Hello, hello, I’m from Chaohuang TV.” Han Shuang was here to cover the summit and conduct interviews. Zhou Tianzui was one of her targets. Although her resume wasn’t as impressive as some of the directors, being nominated for deputy director at only thirty, and having performed several major surgeries, her reputation had reached even Yuhai. So, Zhou Tianzui was one of the people Han Shuang wanted to interview.
She had noticed Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu as soon as they entered. Clearly, she wasn’t the only one. Other TV stations had also noticed them, but she was the quickest to act, and she also knew You Ruxu, making it easier to approach.
Hearing that You Ruxu was still working in Jindu, Han Shuang breathed a sigh of relief. She knew she couldn’t compete with You Ruxu for an interview.
She looked at You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui: “You two know each other?”
Zhou Tianzui didn’t speak. You Ruxu said, “We’re friends.”
Han Shuang smiled, “Oh, you’re good friends. I was Ruxu’s roommate in university. Can we have dinner together after this is over? I have some questions for Dr. Zhou.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu, then after a few seconds, said, “Okay.”
Han Shuang was satisfied, having secured a valuable resource. She said goodbye to You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui and went to find other people. Zhou Tianzui asked You Ruxu, “Are you going in?”
“You go ahead.” You Ruxu said, “I’ll be in later.”
Zhou Tianzui, not quite understanding filming procedures, nodded and entered the hall. Many of her colleagues were already there. She chose a seat and occasionally looked back at You Ruxu, who was constantly being greeted by people. Han Shuang was also chatting with her. Zhou Tianzui leaned back in her chair, a notebook and pen in hand, unconsciously writing on the paper. Coming back to her senses, she saw half the page filled with the name “A Ran.” Just as she was about to turn the page, she heard someone beside her ask, “Hey, who’s that reporter at the entrance?”
She turned around. The speaker was a handsome young doctor, his face clean and fair. Another doctor, about the same age, sitting beside him, asked, “Which one?”
“The one in the off-white jacket.” The first doctor said, “Red earrings.”
“Oh, that’s You Ruxu.” The other doctor clearly knew You Ruxu, his tone familiar. “Her mother and my mother work in the same office. I heard she’s still single.”
“Really?” The first doctor was surprised, “Still single?”
The other one said, “Yes, single, but I heard she’s not planning to get married. My mom mentioned it.” He lowered his voice, “She’s never even been in a relationship.”
A soft gasp came from nearby, the man’s gaze towards You Ruxu intensifying, his interest piqued. The other doctor said, “But she’s working in Jindu now.”
“Jindu?” The first doctor sounded disappointed. “So far away.”
“Not that far.” The other one said, “I heard she’s coming back in a month or so, her mother’s already looking for a new job for her.”
Zhou Tianzui’s grip on her pen tightened, the tip leaving a mark on the blank page. She lowered her head, turned the page, and heard the other doctor encourage the one beside him, “If you want her contact information, just go for it, I heard she’s on assignment here, be proactive, maybe something will happen.”
The first doctor’s heart pounded, looking at You Ruxu, his affection growing. He couldn’t suppress his excitement any longer. He clenched his hands, stood up, and walked towards You Ruxu.
Zhou Tianzui’s gaze followed him, her eyes dark and bright, her expression unreadable. One hand held the pen, the other took out her phone. Just before the man reached You Ruxu, she dialed You Ruxu’s number.
You Ruxu was slightly surprised to receive a call from Zhou Tianzui, then looked towards where she was sitting. Not thinking too much about it, she answered the phone.
The man, just as he reached You Ruxu, about to ask for her contact information, saw her answer the phone, seemingly busy, and awkwardly touched his nose, turning back.
You Ruxu looked at Zhou Tianzui, hearing her voice through the phone, “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Wrong number.”
You Ruxu chuckled softly, “Then I’ll…”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t hang up.”
You Ruxu held the phone, her gaze meeting Zhou Tianzui’s across the crowded hall. She held the phone to her ear. Zhou Tianzui didn’t say anything, only the faint sound of her breathing coming through the line. Despite the noise around her, You Ruxu could hear it clearly, like a secret code between them, Zhou Tianzui’s breath traveling across the distance, brushing against her ear.
Like many times before.
You Ruxu tightened her grip on the phone, the ear pressed against the receiver turning slightly red.
You Ruxu: What’s wrong?
Zhou Tianzui: Miss You.
You Ruxu: You’re finally speaking human language in the author’s notes.
Zhou Tianzui: …
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