Chapter 31

***

When they arrived at the canteen, it was at around dinnertime, so there were quite a few people. However, hospital workers don’t necessarily follow regular mealtimes due to their jobs, so it’s actually quite challenging to fill the entire hall.

Xia Feng brought Yu Dong to an empty table.

“Sit here first, I’ll go get us some food.” Xia Feng said.

“Alright.” Yu Dong nodded with a smile.

Xia Feng returned the smile then headed towards the canteen windows.

“Dr. Xia, the porridge you requested is ready.” The canteen chef said this when he saw Xia Feng, “I’ll go get it for you.”

“Thank you.” Xia Feng replied.

“Oh, you’re too polite.” The chef happily went into the kitchen.

He soon came back with a casserole and said, “It just came out of the stove, so it’s still pretty hot, be careful.”

“Thank you again.” Xia Feng thanked the chef as he accepted the casserole.

“What’s that?” Xia Feng jolted, he didn’t notice Shao Yifan approaching him. Shao Yifan lifted the lid of the casserole, causing a fragrant scent to dissipate. Shao Yifan took a deep breath and said, “Smells so good; chicken and mushroom porridge?”

“Put the cover back on!” Xia Feng was exasperated.

“Specially cooked for Yu Dong? Give me a bowl too, I haven’t had such nutritious food in a long time.” Shao Yifan licked his lips.

“You’re joking!” Xia Feng said.

“Don’t be stingy, Yu Dong won’t be able to finish such a big bowl anyway.” Shao Yifan attempted to wheedle Xia Feng for a bowl.

“Didn’t you just tell me earlier today that Yu Dong’s your idol, what are you doing trying to steal your idol’s food?”

“Stingy!” Shao Yifan put the lid back on and complained to the flustered chef: “Master Chef, how can you only make Xia Feng special dishes? I want some of that food too.”

“Oh haha, another day, another day….” The chef knew that Shao Yifan was just kidding around, so he happily played along.

Xia Feng escaped and brought the casserole back to Yu Dong. He placed it on the table in front of her and said, “Wait a bit, I’ll go grab a bowl and a spoon.”

“Alright!” Yu Dong saw Xia Feng was heading towards the utensil bar. Curious, she lifted the lid of the casserole, seeing the fragrant chicken mushroom porridge, it looked quite appetizing.

Yu Dong immediately sat up with a small chuckle.

Xia Feng came back and passed Yu Dong a spoon as he set down a small bowl in front of her.

Yu Dong accepted the spoon with a laugh, saying “You’re treating me like a child!”

“Children are often crying and making trouble, how can you be one when you’re so obedient?” Xia Feng sat down and started to serve himself a bowl too.

“Close enough, I haven’t had porridge in 7 or 8 years.” In her previous life, Yu Dong was a workaholic, but she still had trouble waking up in the morning. So she usually skipped breakfast even then, mostly just grabbing some fast food, how can she have time to leisurely enjoy porridge.

“7 to 8 years?” Xia Feng was surprised.

“Eh? Ah, yes ha ha….” Yu Dong realized what she said, but she didn’t know what else to say so she could only laugh nervously.

“Porridge is good got the stomach. You wake up so late and often skip breakfast so take this opportunity and eat more.” Xia Feng didn’t question further.

“I’ll eat more.” With a nod, Yu Dong acquiesced.

Xia Feng was satisfied with this and went back to his own bowl.

Yu Dong looked around while she took a bite, other people were eating rice or more simple foods so she couldn’t help but wonder: “You’ve been busy the whole day, is porridge enough for you? Do you want to eat something else?”

“I had some bread earlier, I’m not that hungry right now.” Xia Feng replied.

“Oh.”

“Yu Dong no longer continued, instead concentrating on eating her porridge. After a while, she finished.

Looking down at her empty bowl, she was quiet for a while before suddenly stretching the bowl out to Xia Feng.

Xia Feng raised his head in puzzlement.

“Another bowl!” Yu Dong smiled sweetly.

This….is she trying to act spoiled? Xia Feng couldn’t help but smile at the thought. He put down his spoon and accepted the outstretched bowl.

“How loving!” Shao Yifan was at a table not far from the couple. With a sigh, he exclaimed this to Head Nurse Liu.

“They’re newlyweds, that’s normal!” Nurse Liu replied.

“That’s not just because they’re newlyweds, it’s because they’re in love!” Shao Yifan wondered, “But Xia Feng never acted like that before.”

In the past, when Xia Feng was still with An An, they never acted like that. When he became a lightbulb on their dates, he never felt embarrassed, but now he was 5 meters away yet he’s already blinded.

“What is it, you’re making me awkward.” Nurse Liu noticed Shao Yifan’s sparkling eyes.

“Sister Liu, if you find someone nice, introduce them to me.” Shao Yifan took the opportunity to ask.

“There are so many little nurses around that secretly like you, and you’re still asking me to introduce someone to you?” Nurse Liu was surprised. “Our city hospital only has 2 golden bachelors, and with 1 now unavailable, you can’t tell me you have no one.”

“Alas, even if there’s a 3,000 scoop river the water is too weak.” Shao Yifan said this with a troubled expression.

(T/N I don’t know if it’s an idiom or something, but I think he’s saying even if there are so many ladies liking him, their feelings or his feelings are too superficial to be meaningful)

“Haha…” Nurse Liu soon finished her food and left with Shao Yifan.

After eating Xia Feng looked for his superior to get permission, then went home with Yu Dong.

Ring, ring!

Xia Feng heard his phone ringing. He took it out of his pocket and with a glance, immediately handed it to Yu Dong.

Yu Dong looked at the phone screen and saw that it was mother Xu calling. “I’ll put it against your ear?”

“No need, you can just answer it directly.”

“But auntie called you.” Yu Dong wondered.

“Every time mom calls she ends up mentioning you at least 8 times anyway.” Xia Feng replied with a laugh.

Yu Dong was stunned for a moment, but answered the call in the end: “Mom, this is Yu Dong.”

Mom, Xia Feng smiled at that.

“Oh, Dong Dong are you with Xia Feng?” Mother Xi’s cheerful voice can be heard on the phone.

“Xia Feng is driving right now, so he couldn’t answer the phone.” Yu Dong explained.

“Oh, that’s no problem.” Mother Xia thought for a moment then suddenly asked: “Dong Dong, do you have a cold? Your voice is a little weird.”

“Ah, yes I had a little cold, but I’m almost all healed.”

Xia Feng listened with a little furrow between his eyebrows, but he didn’t say anything.

“What happened? Really, that son of mine didn’t take good care of you at all. Put the phone on speaker, I’ll talk to him.” Mother Xiu suddenly became angry.

“Mom, it wasn’t Xia Feng’s fault. I just wasn’t paying attention to the weather and wore fewer clothes sometime before.”

“No that’s on him too. He’s older and a doctor why didn’t he say anything?”

“Mom, it really wasn’t his fault, he was in Kunshan on a business trip when I got the cold…”

“What you were sick, and he still went on a business trip? You give him the phone…” Mother Xia got even angrier.

Xia Feng couldn’t hear what his mother was saying, but he could guess from what Yu Dong was telling her. Seeing Yu Dong anxiously defend him, he thought the situation was funny, a warm feeling welling up.

“Put the phone on my ear.” Xia Feng saw Yu Dong’s difficulty and finally asked her this.

“Un.” Yu Dong obediently did so.

“Mom.” Mother Xia was still ranting about his lack of care towards Yu Dong when Xia Feng said this.

“Son?” Mother Xia noticed the change in voice.

“It’s me.”

“How can Yu Dong get sick while she’s in your care? Were you just learning a bunch of nonsense in medical school?”

“What nonsense, a doctor is taught on how to treat people, I can’t just make someone not get sick, you’re being unreasonable!” Father Xia’s arguments could also be heard through the phone.

“You shut up!” Mother Xia yelled.

Xia Feng listened to his parent’s banter and couldn’t help but laugh hard.

“Yes, it was my bad. I didn’t take good care of Yu Dong properly.” He tilted his head and glanced at Yu Dong in the peripheral of his view. Her face was red in embarrassment.

“Well, it’s good that you understand.” Then mother Xia suddenly lowered her voice and asked, “Is she looking a little embarrassed?”

Xia Feng glanced at Yu Dong again and then replied, “Yes.”

“Son, you that the more I scold you, the more I’m helping you; do you understand?” Mother Xia whispered conspiratorially.

“Do you want to hold your grandson soon? Then shut up!” Mother Xia yelled at father Xia again, before continuing to talk to Xia Feng: “Speaking of, how’s New Years? I discussed it with your father, we both agreed that you should accompany Yu Dong this year to visit her family.”

“Eh?” Xia Feng froze.

“What eh? Don’t you dare work overtime in the hospital again like last year. Go tell your superiors, how can you not visit your in-laws when you just got married to their daughter?” Mother Xia continued, “Don’t think that you can bully Yu Dong just because she’s defending you.”

“OK, I understand.” Xia Feng replied.

“Good, now give the phone back to Dong Dong, I want to talk to her again.”

Xia Feng tilted his head and said, “My mother wants to talk to you.”

Yu Dong made a little sound of surprise and put the phone against her ear: “Mom!”

“Yu Dong, I’ve just helped you teach that kid a lesson.” Mother Xia said.

Yu Dong looked at the driving Xia Feng a little guiltily.

“You don’t need to celebrate that kid’s birthday on Friday.” Mother Xia said, sounding exasperated.

Birthday? This Friday?

Yu Dong quickly took another glance at Xia Feng.

“Well, I won’t bother you any longer, I’ll be hanging up first.” Mother Xia ended the call.

At the other end of the phone, father Xia looked at mother Xia and said, “You said that just to remind Yu Dong of Xia Feng’s birthday.”

“What are you talking about?” Mother Xia disagreed, “They’ve been in love for so long how can Yu Dong not know when Xia Feng’s birthday is?”

Father Xia had no words…but he still felt that mother Xia was being reasonable/ Since Yu Dong knows already, why did you deliberately remind her again?

But in actuality, Yu Dong really hadn’t known.

“What’s wrong? we’re home” Xia Feng noticed that Yu Dong was in a daze as she hung up the phone so he asked her.

“Ah? home?” Yu Dong looked out; they really were in front of their apartment building.

“Go on up first, I’ll go park.”

“Un.” Yu Dong unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to leave.

“Wait a minute!” Suddenly Xia Feng stretched out and pulled out a beanie. He helped Yu Dong wear her jacket and the beanie, saying: “It’s cold outside. When you get home, go turn on the heater straightaway and wait for it to get warm before taking off your coat.”

“Un!” Yu Dong was a little dispirited when she got out of the car.

Xia Feng went ahead and parked the car. When he approached the entrance to the building, he saw that Yu Dong was still standing out in front. With a frown, he hurried towards her and asked, “Why are you still standing here?”

“Waiting for you.” Yu Dong replied.

“I parked quickly, but you still just recovered from a cold.” Xia Feng chided as he swiped the card to opened the doors.

“It’s just that we seldom go home together.” Yu Dong said in a small voice.

Xia Feng heard this and held Yu Dong’s hand tightly, he didn’t know what to say. The elevator arrived with a ding.

“Let’s go home.” Xia Feng led Yu Dong into the elevator.

……..

Lying in bed, Yu Dong recalled Xia Feng’s thoughtfulness today. His kindness, his smiles, her head was full of nothing but Xia Feng.

In the emergency ward, worried, running with her in his arms.

In the corridor, holding her hand tightly his handsome face looking towards her.

Helping to refill her bowl with a smile, even when she was deliberately trying to be coquettish.

Getting worried over her and fussing with her coat like an old mom, telling her not to catch a cold.

Even when she stood outside and waited for him, he didn’t blame her.

Yu Dong snuggled into her quilt and reached a happy conclusion.

Before she married him because he was convenient, then she wanted to try and like him and now…it seems that I already like you, Xia Feng.

Xia Feng was at his desk intending to prepare some experimental data. But an hour already passed, and Xia Feng hadn’t looked at the papers at all, his eyes would always inadvertently drift towards Yu Dong’s door.

Since when have I become so distracted?

Like a young lovelorn boy.

Eventually, he gave up trying to do work. Xia Feng returned to his room and went to his coat, he took out the wallet Yu Dong gave him. There were a few cards in the wallet, a few bills and a silver card tucked neatly in between.

Xia Feng carefully took out the card and began to read the words in it again.

P.S. No matter how busy you are, you must remember to eat! (* ^ _ ^ *)

Xia Feng couldn’t help but ask his father, “Dad, mom doesn’t treat you well at all. Why did you want to marry her?”

“Let father tell a story.” Father Xia said, “Dad used to fight floods when he was a soldier. One day, there was a particularly big flood, and the dam was about to collapse. As a soldier, we had to let the normal people go first. On the last day, the dam broke, and it flooded dozens of villages.”

“My comrades and I were all swept away by the flood!” Father Xia said, sadness lingering in his eyes.

“I washed up into a ravine 10 miles away. Thankfully I didn’t drown, but I was unconscious for a day.” Suddenly, father Xia’s voice grew gentle. “The first person I saw when I woke up was your mother. I remember her muddy face and swollen eyes.”

“Even our company commander thought that I died, and it was your mother who looked for me anyway, walking along the river the for a whole day.” Father Xia said, “That time, I thought that if someone worried about me that much, that they’d never give up on me no matter how dangerous it was, then they must love me very much!”

“Oh!” Xia Feng listened then intelligently nodded, “Mom saved Dad.”

“You might not understand it yet, but when you look for a girlfriend when you’re grown up don’t just look for a girl based on her looks.” Father Xia told him.

“Should I look for someone to come and save me too?” Xia Feng asked innocently.

“Silly boy, how can a man let his woman do all the saving.” Father Xia lightly chastised.

“But Mom saved Dad!” Little Xia Feng had a good memory.

“I can do the same! Forget it, why am I arguing with a little kid. In short, when you go look for a wife in the future, find someone that can warm your heart, like how I woke up and saw your mother.”

At first, he thought he understood what his father said, but he probably only truly comprehended those words when he saw Yu Dong outside the hospital early this morning.

Xia Feng rubbed the wallet in his hands, back and forth, feeling the smooth surface interrupted by some lines. Xia Feng had never actually looked at the pattern before. Finally too curious, he put the wallet under the desk lamp and carefully looked.

When he finally saw the pattern, Xia Feng couldn’t help but smile widely.

When Yu Dong woke up, Xia Feng had already left.

There was porridge and a small dish of pickles by the table, accompanied by a little note.

[ Eat more porridge! Remember to wear a scarf when you go out! ]

Yu Dong couldn’t help but laugh. She put away the note and started to eat, the simple porridge tasting very sweet to her.

“Don’t come near me!” Yu Dong stopped her, saying: “I just had a cold, we have to be careful, I might pass it on to you.”

“Oh right, there are masks in the front desk drawer. Go get some, don’t pass it to Xinxin.” Xiang Xiaoyue said as she ate her breakfast.

Yu Dong listened and went out to get a mask.

“You’re all exaggerating!” Ren Xinxin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Dong Dong, you haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Why don’t I order some more, go ahead and eat this first?” Ren Xinxin said.

“No need, I’ve eaten.”

“Really?” Ren Xinxin doubted.

“Really. Xia Feng made me some porridge.” Yu Dong answered.

“NO, NO.” Xiaoyue shook her head. “There’s no need for cold medicine, he just needs to hold you and suck the virus out of your lips.”

“Go die!” Yu Dong threw a pillow to Xiaoyue’s face.

Xiang Xiaoyue didn’t dodge, instead laughing so hard she had to lie on the sofa.

Ren Xinxin was trying hard not to laugh, he arms holding her belly. “Nooo, laughing hurts.”

“Why don’t you help suck it out instead?” Yu Dong lunged for Xiang Xiaoyue with a grin. Xiaoyue desperately tried to evade her advances, making Ren Xinxin laugh even harder.

After the fight, Yu Dong reviewed the rest of the dubbing, then left for the radio station.

Yu Dong rarely came to the radio station at this time. She could name most of her colleagues, but she could only say she was familiar with a few.

But today on the way to Director Ma’s office, many of them greeted her with enthusiasm.

Knock Knock!

“Come in!” Director Ma said.

“Every since your live broadcast, we’ve been getting overwhelmingly positive responses. The city mayor especially praised our radio station and you, you’re doing an outstanding job.” Director Ma praised.

“Director, you’re flattering me. I think that any of our colleagues would’ve done the same in that situation, it just happened to be me.” Yu Dong said.

“Coincidence or not, nevertheless you should be praised for doing a good deed.” Director Ma continued, “Our boss has decided to give you a special bonus as a reward.”

“Thank you, leader.” Yu Dong smiled as she thanked him.

“Also, isn’t it almost New Year’s? Municipal TV stations are preparing for the New Year’s Eve Literature and Arts Gala. They require 2 hosts from the city’s broadcasting stations to present, its purpose is to promote and improve the image of radio and TV stations. Our station is participating, I think you should go.”

“Ha??” Yu Dong was stunned. “Director, I have no talent for presenting.”

“Don’t be modest, I’ve heard that you often sing in your broadcasts. I’ve been told that the audience response is very positive.” Director Ma said, “It’s settled, do well!”

“……”

What’s with this fast-paced talk?

……..

Xia Feng was walking through the office door and was startled by Qiao Ming running out, almost colliding with him.

“What happened?” Xia Feng asked Shao Yifan when he came in.

“It’s nothing.” Shao Yifan picked up a glass of water.

“Then why is he running so fast?” Xia Feng was puzzled.

“To go to his girlfriend.” Shao Yifan said.

“Girlfriend?” Xia Feng wondered, “But it’s work hours.”

“Come one, don’t be so harsh.” Shao Yifan started to explain, “Isn’t Qiao Ming busy preparing his thesis recently? Plus, you went to America then Kunshan recently. Our department is already short on people, and with you not in, me and Qiao Ming were the only doctors here. I don’t mind working overtime since I have nothing to do, but Qiao Ming is different. He has a girlfriend to take out to eat and watch a movie with, the number of times he actually managed to do that can be counted with 1 hand.

“Just now, his girlfriend gave him an ultimatum: go out to the cinema tonight, or break up immediately.” Shao Yifan gloated. “Worse, he didn’t see the text until after his operation. I wonder if he can still make it?”

Listening to this, Xia Feng sympathized with Qiao Ming. “Do you want to give him a few days off?”

“Give him a vacation? Then we’ll have to work overtime.” Shao Yifan cried out, “I’ve been doing overtime for 3 months.”

“You just said that Qiao Ming’s girlfriend gave him an ultimatum.”

“Let’s wait until he comes back before talking about this.” Shao Yifan didn’t care.

An hour and a half later, a dejected Qiao Ming returned to the office.

“It hasn’t, probably just half a movie.” Qiao Ming’s voice was depressed.

“Uh, did I just jinx it?” Shao Yifan said.

“Shut up, you!” Xia Feng flared at Shao Yifan and rushed to Qiao Ming to say: “I just talked with Shao Yifan, do you want to go ask the director for a vacation? We can cover for you for a few days? to talk to your girlfriend again?”

“Yeah, now that Xia Feng’s back we have enough people again. Furthermore, he’s married, and I’m a single dog. We don’t have anything as urgent as your situation.” Shao Yifan agreed.

“No need, I waited for her outside the cinema for an hour and saw her come out in another man’s arms.” Qiao Ming said calmly.

“What the hell!” Shao Yifan couldn’t help but swear.

Xia Feng also frowned.

“I thought about it?on the way back, it was difficult to meet up even when we were together. Even on most days, we would only see each other in the hospital.” Qiao Ming continued self-deprecatingly, “Yeah, breaking up is fine; we’d both end up unhappy if we ended up married otherwise.”

“So I’m smart ah, never falling in love, just playing the ambiguous game or the so-called short-term love.” Shao Yifan put a shoulder around Qiao Ming’s shoulders and said, “It’s alright, your buddy will take you out to a bar sometime.”

“Don’t teach Qiao Ming weird things.” Xia Feng couldn’t help but say.

“Fine, if you think my skills are wrong you teach us.” Shao Yifan suddenly said, “You say you’re always at the hospital and the lab with less free time than us, but you dated An An for 4 years. Although you ultimately broke up with her, you should still tell us what you did.”

Qiao Ming listened to this and looked at Xia Feng in admiration.

“Can you not mention An An?” Xia Feng was exasperated.

“Fine, let’s talk about Yu Dong then. You married her recently, it’s been less than half a year, and you were on a business trip for most of it. You still spend most your time in the hospital and at the lab, how much time have you actually spent with your wife besides sleeping?”

Xia Feng was stunned when asked this.

“Yes, how many meals have you had together? How many movies have you seen? How many times did you go out shopping with your sister-in-law?” Qiao Ming couldn’t help but ask.

“We ate out 4 times? Or 5 time.” Xia Feng tried to recall.

“Since you came back?” Shao Yifan asked.

“Since we got married.” Xia Feng corrected.

The men looked at Xia Feng unbelievably.

“What about the movies? How many times have you gone to the cinema with her?” Shao Yifan couldn’t help asking.

“…..” Xia Feng shook his head.

“Can’t remember? Or you have plans later?” Shao Yifan asked.

“We’ve never been!”

“What about shopping together? You must have right?” Qiao Ming asked.

“Does walking around after a meal count?” Xia Feng laughs.

“Xia Feng, you should seriously take note of what just happened to me.” Qiao Ming solemnly said, “I, at my very best efforts, lost my lover. That’s fine, but marriage is something else, you should be careful with it.”

As if suddenly cured, Qiao Ming put on his white coat and went out to patrol the wards.

Xia Feng sat on his chair thinking, before looking at Shao Yifan and asking: “Am I really being incompetent?”

“Even if your my best bro, my conscience won’t let me say no to that question.” Shao Yifan said.

“Oh….” Xia Feng leaned on the back of his seat, in deep thought.

“I say, Yu Dong never said anything to you? Asked you to accompany her somewhere?” Shao Yifan couldn’t help but ask.

“Yu Dong seems to be quite busy too.” Xia Feng replied after some thought.

“Are you so busy that you don’t even know how Yu Dong spends her time? I guess even if you sleep in the same house, you have no clue as to what she does in her day.”? Shao Yifan scolded.

“So early? Why are you going?”

“Going to watch a movie with Yu Dong.” Xia Feng replied, grabbing his car keys and disappearing through the doorway.

Leaving Shao Yifan sitting alone in his office shouting: “Xia Feng, you arrogant show-off!”

Why are you kicking a single dog!!!

…..

In Xiaoyue Studios, Yu Dong was stunned as she hung up the phone.

“What’s wrong?” Xiaoyue asked.

“Xia Feng just invited me to go see a movie.” Yu Dong was a little nervous as she replied.

“Then go, why are you acting like an idiot.” Xiang Xiaoyue looked at her blankly.

“It’s just a little unexpected.” Yu Dong said.

“What’s so surprising about going to the movies with your husband? You’re acting like you’ve never been together before.” Xiang Xiaoyue carelessly spouted the truth, and noticing the dumbfounded Yu Dong, was also stunned. “You’ve really never seen on together?”

“Yeah!” Yu Dong nodded.

“Your first date?” Xiang Xiaoyue couldn’t believe it.

“Not really. We went out for dinner twice.” Yu Dong said, “He bought me roses on the day he came back from America.”

“What? Something that simple you’re already won over?” Xiang Xiaoyue looked at Yu Dong, incredibly wronged.

“How can that not, ” Yu Dong was exasperated. “I was the doing the chasing in the first place.”

“Yes, when it comes to marriage and who’s supposed to be chasing who, you clearly don’t know what you’re doing!” Xiaoyue shook her head.

“I’ll be leaving first!” Yu Dong couldn’t be bothered continuing this conversation.

“Wait a minute, you’re just going dressed like that?” Xiaoyue asked.

“What’s the matter with what I’m wearing?” Yu Dong glanced down to look at her clothes. It was neat and tidy, looking good.

“You have to deliberately dress up on a date. This also acts as a hint- an indication that you’re interested in dating him.” Xiang Xiaoyue pulled Yu Dong back to her chair and took out her make-up bag pouch, intending to give Yu Dong a little makeover.

20 minutes later, Xiang Xiaoyue was finished.

Xia Feng bought a 9:30 movie ticket after making sure that the movie finished before 11:00, he didn’t want to make Yu Dong late to work.

There were a number of couples in the cinema. Xia Feng stood alone at the entrance; it was evident with a glance that he was waiting for a girlfriend.

“Xia Feng!” Finally, he heard Yu Dong’s voice near the elevators.

“What time does the movie start?” Yu Dong asked.

“9:30.” Xia Feng handed a ticket to Yu Dong.

“Then we should go in!” It’s a good thing she didn’t let Xiaoyue do her hair, she might not have made it on time otherwise.

“Wait a minute, let’s go buy popcorn first.” Xia Feng led Yu Dong towards the snack bar and told the clerk: “Give me a couple set.”

Yu Dong hugged a large bucket of popcorn and looked at the two cups of coke Xia Feng was holding. She awkwardly asked: “Didn’t you say that it isn’t good to drink coke?”

“I remembered that you like to drink it though,” Xia Feng gently said, “It’s our first date, so I want to get you things that you like.”

Yu Dong flushed at Xia Feng’s words.

Xia Feng smiled as he led Yu Dong to the theater.

During the whole movie Yu Dong’s attention wasn’t on the screen, but on her hand that Xia Feng was holding.

Similarly, Xia Feng’s attention the whole time was trained on Yu Dong’s light pink lips.

When the movie finished, Xia Feng led Yu Dong out and to her car.

“I should be driving you to work, but I left everyone in the hospital.” Xia Feng apologized, “So-”

“That’s alright, go ahead. I’ll drive myself back.” Yu Dong hurriedly interrupted.

“Thank you for being so understanding.” Xia Feng said.

“Sure!” Yu Dong then asked, “Are you coming home tonight?”

“Late shift tonight.” Xia Feng shook his head.

“Oh.” Yu Dong was a little lost at this, but she nevertheless reminded Xia Feng: “When you’re not busy, remember to take a break.”

“I will!” Xia Feng replied.

“Then…you can go now!”

“OK….I’m leaving!” Xia Feng squeezed Yu Dong’s hand before releasing it. He then slowly walked away.

“Xia Feng!” Yu Dong suddenly called out to him just as Xia Feng was about to leave.

Xia Feng turned back, puzzled.

Yu Dong suddenly walked over, went to her tiptoes, and kissed the corner of Xia Feng’s mouth. She barely touched his lips before immediately retreating, and shyly said: “You can go now!”

“Yu Dong.” Xia Feng suddenly said.

“Hm?” Yu Dong tilted her head in question.

Yu Dong was forced to take a step back, and she ended up leaning against the car behind her. Xia Feng followed her, using his tongue to pry open her lips. A subtle creamy scent mixed between their lips and tongues. The scent became sweeter, more intoxicating.

Xia Feng didn’t know how long had passed before he finally managed to let go of Yu Dong. She had melted, her body too weak to stand on her own and she heavily leaned against the car. Her wide eyes had become teary, the make-up making her appear more charming, making her pink lips fuller.

Xia Feng’s eyes flashed, he couldn’t help but kiss her again.

Yu Dong lifted a hand and gently hugged Xia Feng’s waist, the two people kissing in this dim parking lot felt like they were the only people in the earth.

The snow that had stopped began to fall again as if to bring out a romantic mood just for the sake of these two people.

***

Not gonna lie, when I first saw this chapter I legit sweatdropped, it was double the usual length! (10,000 characters vs. the normally less-than-5,000 characters).

I hemmed, and I hawed, and eventually pulled myself together and what do you know! I didn’t need to split this chapter into parts yay! I’m a little loopy now after all the cups of coffees I drank!