By the ti they arrived at the guest house of the provincial city electric power departnt, it was already dusk. After being in Lingnan for over twenty days, apart from being busy, her only impression of this place was the abundance of fruits and the surprisingly mild weather.
The cold-averse Zhou Jiao had only added a sweater. At the remote power station, even in the late night, she put on a cotton coat and would start sweating after moving around a bit.
She hadn’t even started her actions yet, and if she were to be sent back just like this, Zhou Jiao would be exasperated. After getting off the car, as expected, she saw Yi Jiefang heading to make a call. It really made her both angry and anxious.
"Don’t waste money, my dad has probably received the news by now. He’ll definitely call in the next couple of days. Let’s drop off our luggage first, everyone is waiting."
Yi Jiefang decided not to listen to her, planning to make the call after taking care of things.
As a group of them walked into the lobby, before the few "sick classmates" lingering in the guest house could approach, the lady at the front desk ca forward with a set of keys, her eyes lighting up when she saw Zhou Jiao.
"Hey you, yes, I’m talking to you. Co quickly and take your letters and notes back, and your family called asking you to contact them as soon as possible."
Pointed at by her finger, Zhou Jiao felt so embarrassed she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
Yi Jiefang joked, "Famous now."
"Don’t forget, you too!"
"I’m your own brother!"
"So what?" Zhou Jiao smiled, skipping further words as she quickly stuffed a stack of letters and Cheng Ruzhu’s notes into her shoulder bag,
Returning to the room, she glanced at the letters, which were mostly from Zhang Guoqing and his son. It’s touching how they used the letters as a diary for each day.
Then she opened Cheng Ruzhu’s five notes, which were essentially inquiries about when she would return. The last note, dated a few days prior, ntioned that her aunt had left so items at the guest house’s front desk in the comrce departnt for her to collect after seeing the note.
Hiding the letters without changing her expression, Zhou Jiao tidied up her laundry while thinking about how to use the trip to collect the parcels as an opportunity to handle so personal matters.
First she needed to organize the notes from this period and hand them over to the professor. Then, when he was in a good mood, she planned to request to spend a night at Cheng Ruzhu’s place. Would this be feasible?
The aftereffects of the unexpected incident at dawn might make the professor want to contact Cheng Ruzhu. Where was she to find her then? She might already have flown to Beijing long ago!
Xie Fang watched Zhou Jiao, who was about to freshen up, "You and Da Yi seem to have a really good relationship."
"That guy is kind-hearted, always claiming to be my elder brother. I think he’s more like a younger brother; at ho, he’s closer to my son."
"I’ll go with you."
"Sure, you guys hurry up too."
Xie Fang tagged along as they headed out, "How about we go out tomorrow?"
"I still need to organize the information from this period." Zhou Jiao shook her head with a smile.
"Oh, let know if you need anything."
"Thanks."
"Why so formal? Jiao Jiao, you’re great in every way, except you’re a bit too polite."
Zhou Jiao smiled slightly.
"We’re about to head into winter break when we return. This sester has gone by so fast."
Zhou Jiao nodded.
"What do you usually do at ho? I feel so bored, apart from sleeping. Perhaps I could visit you? Would that be inconvenient?"
Zhou Jiao glanced at her, "I might go back to my hotown."
"You’ll have so free ti, right?" Xie Fang turned back to call for Qiao Na to hurry up, "Xiao Na, how about we visit Jiao Jiao during winter break?"
Qiao Na glanced at the figure of Zhou Jiao walking ahead, "I still have to visit my brother, and then help my mom during the New Year. If I went out to play, I’d definitely get scolded. Anyway, it’s just a few days until school starts, we’ll et then, why hurry?"
Dong Xiujuan, who always played the quiet observer: "Jiao Jiao is different from us."
As to what she ant by ’different’, it could only be speculated, varying from person to person. But after she said this, Xie Fang at least quieted down a bit and changed the topic.
The short distance of less than a hundred ters felt like a theatrical play that Zhou Jiao had heard enough of. By distancing herself, she pretended not to hear. Xie Fang’s aggressiveness earlier had left a bad taste in her mouth.
Such a person was still too inferior in skill. If she had approached with gifts under the pretense of seeing her son, she might have gotten a bit more respect.
After freshening up, Zhou Jiao didn’t join in their conversation anymore. She ate a late lunch and then sat down to organize the notes from that period. Halfway through, she was called away by Professor Wei.
When she returned to the room, only Xie Fang was left lying on the bed with her eyes closed, resting.
Zhou Jiao glanced at her own bed with scattered drafts and notes; they had indeed been tampered with. If she wasn’t mistaken, perhaps even her luggage had been searched.
Really, you don’t know a person until you’ve interacted. Her character was truly unparalleled!
"Jiao Jiao, you’re back. Do you want to rest? I can help you organize."
Zhou Jiao waved her hand, "No need, it’ll be quick."
"What did the professor want? How co he didn’t let you rest properly?"
Faced with such probing, Zhou Jiao found it unbearable, smiling silently as she fetched a small stool and continued to organize her notes. If the other party was curious, then so be it, she would lend them to classmates anyway.
"Jiao Jiao, stop being busy, let’s have a chat."
"It’s fine, I can hear you while you talk."
Xie Fang paused, asking with a face full of grievance, "Do you dislike ?"
"Why would I?" Zhou Jiao looked at her in surprise, "You’re cheerful and warm-hearted. What could possibly make dislike you?"
Xie Fang, seeing her genuine expression, bead, "That’s good. I really like you all; we must be lifelong friends."
Zhou Jiao smiled at her and lowered her head to continue her work. What defines true friendship?
Xie Fang didn’t notice Zhou Jiao’s sarcastic smile as she lowered her head, looking at her back, "That... that..."
Zhou Jiao responded indifferently, "Which one?"
"What do you think of Yi Jiefang?"
Zhou Jiao understood. This was an attempt to share personal secrets, akin to a close friend, but it depended on whether she’d take the bait. "Very good."
Xie Fang got off the bed, ran to Zhou Jiao’s side, and leaned over, whispering, "Many female students at our school like him. You probably don’t know that Qiao Na secretly admires him."
"Oh."
"Aren’t you surprised? Or did you already know? You’re such a bad friend, not telling this either."
Feeling a headache at one person’s monologue, Zhou Jiao wondered when she had acquired a close friend. She pointed to the manuscripts pressed down by the other person.
"You know I never pay attention to such things," implying she wasn’t aware nor interested.
Xie Fang checked the door, and whispered, "Do you think if Xiao Na confessed to Da Yi, she’d be rejected? Da Yi doesn’t seem to have feelings for her."
Not only superficial but also gossipy. Zhou Jiao glanced at her, "The school doesn’t allow student relationships. Besides, Da Yi wouldn’t date a classmate."
"Why not? Five years of being classmates ans they know each other well, right?"
Hearing this, Zhou Jiao observed her expression, thoughtfully continuing her writing, "He said a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its burrow. Mainly, he hasn’t t a girl who moves him yet."
"True, given his qualities." Xie Fang picked up a piece of paper, wondering, "I wonder what standards he has for a partner? If they’re like yours, Qiao Na definitely has no chance."
"As a married woman, what standards do I have? Mind your words." Her voice was not loud, yet it carried a subtle authority.
Everyone was an adult, who couldn’t read between the lines? Was Da Yi soone she could desire? Using Qiao Na as a shield, how vile!
Even if Qiao Na truly liked Da Yi, so what? Dragging herself into the mix.
"Hehe, just kidding, don’t take it seriously."
Zhou Jiao nodded, silently picking up a pen to continue her calculations. How could sparrows understand the aspirations of swans? Her vision should be broader, rather than associating with these people.
As Xie Fang watched Zhou Jiao absorbed in her calculations, she hesitated to move closer, fearing further aversion. Considering there was still ti, she bit her lip and returned to her bed.
Engrossed in her thoughts, Xie wasn’t aware that even with all her strategies, at best, she was nothing more than a clown in Zhou Jiao’s eyes. To soone like Zhou Jiao, once she discovered your true character and intentions, you were less than a discarded piece on a chessboard. At the slightest hint of trouble, she would strike swiftly and decisively!
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