Chapter 97: Happy Birthday
After chatting with Lin Yuejiu for a bit, Li Jing went to the bathroom to take a shower. Finally, Xu Nianshen had the chance to ask seriously: “You kissed her?”
Lin Yuejiu avoided his probing gaze. “That was an accident.”
“What kind of accident makes you kiss someone else?”
“Just… a very ordinary accident.”
“Girlfriend, you’re not being honest.” Xu Nianshen sighed. “Your boyfriend is really heartbroken.”
Lin Yuejiu couldn’t stand seeing him like this. “Alright, alright, I’ll tell you. Here’s what happened. When I first arrived, didn’t she help me many times? Back then, I wanted to thank her and said I’d treat her to a meal, but she refused. She said if I really wanted to thank her, just give her a kiss. So I kissed her.”
“How many times did you kiss her?”
“Later, she helped me out of trouble again, so I kissed her one more time. Altogether just twice.”
“Fine then. Same number as the times you kissed me. Now I feel balanced.”
“Teacher Xu, you’re really stingy, even jealous of my roommate.”
Xu Nianshen sighed helplessly. “What can I do? My girlfriend isn’t by my side. This is the only way I can feel my presence.”
Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help but laugh. “So pitiful? You’re Study-God Xu, aren’t you?”
“So what if I’m Study-God Xu? Study-God Xu is still human. I still have emotions and desires.”
They chatted a while longer until Li Jing came out of the bathroom. Lin Yuejiu said, “I’m going to shower now, so I won’t talk to you anymore. Let’s continue tomorrow.”
“You’re going to shower?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“How about this—you take your shower, and we keep chatting at the same time?”
Lin Yuejiu: “…”
She hung up immediately. Teacher Xu had changed!
Looking at the abruptly disconnected call, Xu Nianshen could only shake his head and smile.
—
Half a semester passed in busyness and fulfillment. When the holiday notice finally came, Lin Yuejiu felt all the tension drain away. At last, she could really rest.
Everyone else was making plans on where to go during the break—even Li Jing was planning a trip with her boyfriend.
On the first morning of the holiday, Li Jing got up early to put on makeup. When she saw Lin Yuejiu sprawled on the bed, she asked, “Jiujiu, aren’t you going out to play?”
From under the blanket came Lin Yuejiu’s muffled voice. “No.”
“Why not? It’s rare to get a break, and it’s even a long one.”
“Five days counts as a long holiday? You must not know what a real holiday in China is.”
The school was technically on break, but the association only gave them five days off. Because training was strict, vacations were short.
“In the association, five days is considered long. You really don’t want to go out?”
“My boyfriend isn’t here. Where would I even go?”
“Even if your boyfriend isn’t here, you could ask him to come over.”
Lin Yuejiu froze under the covers. “That’s true…” but then quickly reconsidered. “No, maybe he has to make up classes. I don’t even know if he has a break. Forget it. It’s only five days—I just want to rest.”
“Alright then. I’m heading out. If you want anything to eat, call me and I’ll bring it back.”
“Jingjing, have fun.”
“And you, enjoy your rest.”
Li Jing went out, and the dormitory instantly turned quiet. Lin Yuejiu curled up in her blanket, shifted a little, then poked her head out. She picked up her phone—should she ask Xu Nianshen to come over? She was his girlfriend, after all, and it wouldn’t be unreasonable for a girlfriend to want her boyfriend’s company. But no… what if he had make-up classes? Back in their second year, they had already heard that in the third year there would be extra lessons.
Troubled, Lin Yuejiu set her phone aside. Forget it, she shouldn’t disturb Teacher Xu. She’d just use these few days to rest properly. With that thought, she closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
At school, Xu Nianshen was working on math problems. Occasionally, classmates came by to ask him questions, then left again. He flipped open his draft notebook, and on the top of the page a few numbers were written—it seemed the day was drawing near.
Just as she had said, Lin Yuejiu spent her days holed up in the dorm. Other than going out to buy food, sometimes she simply asked Li Jing to bring it back for her. For those few days, she turned into a complete homebody.
Soon, the holiday reached its final day. Li Jing said to her: “Darling, tomorrow’s the last day of break. Don’t you want to go out and look around?”
Lin Yuejiu picked up her phone to check the time, let out a yawn, and replied, “I guess I could go out and see the scenery.”
“Do you want me to go with you? I’ve already spent four days with my boyfriend—I can spare one to be with you.”
“Thank you, my dear Jingjing, but that’s not necessary. I’ll just step out for a look and might be back soon. No need for you to tag along.” Lin Yuejiu climbed down from bed, glanced out the window, and added, “Besides, your boyfriend is downstairs waiting for you with your favorite milk tea.”
“In that case, I’ll head out first.”
“Mm, have fun.”
Lin Yuejiu leaned against the window, watching Li Jing throw herself into her boyfriend’s arms. She sighed softly in her heart. She too wanted to run into her boyfriend’s embrace, to breathe in that calming scent on him. But then she thought better of it—no, he wouldn’t come.
After washing up, she put on a casual outfit, grabbed a piece of bread, and stepped out. Having stayed inside for four days, it was about time to go out for a little walk.
As she sat down to put on her shoes, there was a knock on the dorm door.
“Come in, it’s not locked.”
A stranger walked in, a girl she didn’t know. “Excuse me, are you Lin Yuejiu?”
“I am. And you are?”
“Someone’s waiting for you downstairs.”
“Who???” Lin Yuejiu looked utterly puzzled.
“He said he’s your boyfriend.”
Lin Yuejiu’s head snapped up. She quickly stood and rushed to the window. That familiar figure was standing below, and as if sensing her gaze, he looked up, meeting her eyes, and smiled.
Her other shoelace was still untied, but she didn’t care anymore. After thanking the girl, she bolted out like the wind, bumping into people along the way and muttering apologies without slowing down. She dashed downstairs, breathing unevenly, and saw him not far away. Xu Nianshen turned toward her, arms spreading open with a smile. Lin Yuejiu’s lips curved upward as she lifted her feet and ran straight into his embrace. He caught her firmly.
She clung to him tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck, soaking in the safety and the familiar scent she had missed. It felt like a dream. Releasing him slightly, her hand reached up to his face, stroking, then gently pinching—warm, real. It truly was Xu Nianshen. She couldn’t help but laugh.
A soft smile lingered in Xu Nianshen’s eyes. “You’re that happy to see me?”
“Yes. Just yesterday, when I saw my roommate run into her boyfriend’s arms, I thought—if only I could run into mine. And now…” Lin Yuejiu held him by the waist, looking up at him from within his arms. “Are you Santa Claus? You actually granted my wish.”
Xu Nianshen’s arm tightened around her waist. “Your wish is really that simple?”
“Of course.”
He raised his wrist to glance at the time.
Lin Yuejiu’s eyes filled with doubt. “What is it? Something urgent?”
After a few seconds, his dark eyes locked onto hers. “It’s four o’clock in the afternoon in England right now.”
“? And?”
“Happy birthday, Jiujiu.”
