Chapter 24: 024

Chapter 24

Zhen Bao went upstairs under the suspicious gaze of the building's auntie. Of course, the auntie probably didn't think much of it - Zhen Bao just had a guilty conscience.

"You're back!" Since college students sleep late, Qian LeLe and Fan Xuan were still watching their favorite drama. Seeing Zhen Bao come back, Qian LeLe jokingly said,

Zhen Bao felt rather awkward. If not back here, where else could she go?

Qian LeLe quickly changed the subject: "I bought some snow pears for you, left them on your desk. They're good for cooling down inner heat."

"Thanks!" Zhen Bao said with a smile, gently closing the door. Glancing up, it seemed like Jia Xiao Yu was asleep, no wonder Qian LeLe and the others had their headphones on.

Zhen Bao put down her bag, and took the big snow pear Qian LeLe gave her to the bathroom.

The lights were bright. In the mirror, her face was flushed, and her lips, apart from that blister, also seemed a little swollen.

Zhen Bao gently leaned against the door, closing her eyes.

The darkness of the parking garage, every kiss from Fu Ming Shi, floated clearly into her mind.

He first kissed her lips. She kept them tightly shut, but he kept kissing - her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, seeming to love every part of her. When he got to her ears, she felt unbearably ticklish, so he went back to kiss her lips, then tricked her into opening her mouth, forcefully and arrogantly...

"Sweet," he murmured after the kiss, his voice low and hoarse. If the angel of death had his voice then, I'm afraid everyone would be bewitched by him, willingly giving their lives over.

The memory ended. Zhen Bao carefully washed her face, then washed the snow pear.

After returning to her desk, she saw Fu Ming Shi had sent a message: Don't want to leave.

Zhen Bao's mind immediately conjured up a tall, lonely figure standing in the corner of the parking garage. One hand holding the pear, she replied: Go back soon, drive slowly.

With him by her side, she'd feel especially nervous. Not seeing him face to face, Zhen Bao was much calmer.

Fu Ming Shi: What are you doing?

Zhen Bao, sucking on some pear juice: Eating a pear, the one LeLe gave me.

In the parking garage several floors below, the light from his phone screen illuminated a small area, lighting up the handsome, gentle face of the man. Seeing his fiancee's reply, Fu Ming Shi laughed softly. That laugh soon became deep and meaningful as he texted back: I want to eat too.

Zhen Bao had just taken a bite of the pear. Seeing Fu Ming Shi say he wanted to eat it too, she froze for a second before replying: I'll have Auntie Wang buy some tomorrow.

Fu Ming Shi laughed: I want to eat yours.

As a first-time girlfriend, Zhen Bao had no experience and didn't realize Fu Ming Shi was flirting with her. She peered at the pear she'd just taken a few bites of, then earnestly asked: Are you still in the parking garage?

Fu Ming Shi's heart stirred: Are you coming down?

Zhen Bao: No, you can stand below our building and I'll throw the pear down to you.

After kissing for so long, he must be thirsty.

Fu Ming Shi laughed again. After thinking for a bit, he said: Okay, come out to the balcony first, you can take another bite.

Zhen Bao laughed too. She put down her phone and went to borrow a fruit knife from Qian LeLe. Eyes glued to her screen, Qian LeLe told her to just take it herself. Zhen Bao washed the fruit knife first, then cut off the part she'd bitten before grabbing her phone and the rest of the big pear and heading out to the balcony.

There were streetlights below, and Fu Ming Shi was already standing there, head tilted back.

Although they were separated by several meters, Zhen Bao still felt a little embarrassed.

Fu Ming Shi put away his phone and gestured for her to throw the pear down.

Zhen Bao smiled. She estimated the distance then lightly tossed it downward.

Fu Ming Shi took a couple steps back and easily caught it.

Because he was watching the couple, Meng Ji Ning accidentally bumped into someone.

"Sorry..." He quickly looked away and apologized, only to find, to his surprise, that it was someone he knew.

"What a coincidence, you have classes here too?" Feng Yue greeted him happily.

Meng Ji Ning smiled and nodded.

Seeing he was alone, Feng Yue chatted with Meng Ji Ning very naturally as they walked to the cafeteria together. "Just now, Zhen Bao's boyfriend came to pick her up again. Did you see? Her boyfriend treats her so well, comes by every other day. But Zhen Bao is so pretty, if I were him I'd be nervous too, afraid of her being snatched away by someone else."

Meng Ji Ning just smiled without responding. If he were Zhen Bao's boyfriend, he would treat her even better.

~

Fu Ming Shi kept his word, leaving after having lunch with Zhen Bao, without any touching.

Zhen Bao went back to her dorm and distributed two pears each to her roommates.

As they ate pears and chatted, Zhen Bao's phone rang. She grabbed it and saw it was Meng Ji Ning.

Zhen Bao answered right there in the dorm room.

"I'm planning a hometown gathering activity, going hiking this Saturday. Do you have time? My treat, just come play. " On the call, Meng Ji Ning sounded familiar and casual.

Zhen Bao was somewhat interested in a hometown meetup, but hearing it was Meng Ji Ning treating them, she declined, "Oh, I'm busy that day..."

"A date with Ming Shi?" Meng Ji Ning laughed, interrupting her. "You can bring family. Don't miss this chance to gather with fellow hometown folks. Think about it, I'm going to let Feng Yue know too."

Then he immediately hung up.

"Who was that?" Jia Xiao Yu asked curiously.

Zhen Bao told the truth.

Jia Xiao Yu had originally suspected Meng Ji Ning of having indecent intentions toward Zhen Bao. Now hearing that family could come along, she urged, "Then go have fun! We're all from the same hometown, plus someone's treating, just remember to bring Ming Shi."

Zhen Bao was still hesitating when Feng Yue's voice suddenly sounded outside their door.

Zhen Bao went to open it.

Feng Yue hugged her excitedly: "Meng Ji Ning also called you right? Go on Zhen Bao, let's go together to liven things up!" Meng Ji Ning said there weren't many girls going and hoped she could persuade Zhen Bao to come along. Feng Yue guessed Meng Ji Ning most wanted to invite Zhen Bao. She was a little unhappy at first, but when she heard Meng Ji Ning was willing to bring along Zhen Bao's boyfriend, Feng Yue was happy to see things work out. That way, Zhen Bao could flaunt her relationship in front of everyone with her boyfriend, and Meng Ji Ning would surely give up his pursuit.

Feng Yue enthusiastically coaxed Zhen Bao, who felt a little awkward declining, so she used Fu Ming Shi as an excuse, "Let me ask him first."

"Ok, ask him now," Feng Yue urged. In case Zhen Bao's boyfriend didn't agree, she could persuade him.

Pressed by Feng Yue, Zhen Bao had no choice but to call Fu Ming Shi from the balcony.

Fu Ming Shi was still on his way back to the company. Seeing it was a call from Zhen Bao, he immediately picked up. After learning about Meng Ji Ning's autumn trip plans, and his willingness to generously cover food and lodging, Fu Ming Shi laughed ambiguously, "Since it's an alumni gathering, let's go together. Ask when it is, and I'll come meet up with you guys on Saturday."

Zhen Bao could sense Fu Ming Shi's mood seemed quite good.

Since Fu Ming Shi was willing to go have fun, Zhen Bao hung up and nodded at Feng Yue, who had been hovering nearby.

Feng Yue happily left, taking with her the two pears Zhen Bao had given her.

A few minutes after Feng Yue left, Meng Ji Ning called Zhen Bao to confirm. Having obtained Zhen Bao's affirmation, Meng Ji Ning's lips curled up into a smile. Only then did he start looking online for attractions and hotels, while contacting other alumni from their province. By nighttime, everything was arranged. Meng Ji Ning made an itinerary and sent it to everyone.

Zhen Bao opened the image and briefly looked through it before forwarding it to Fu Ming Shi.

Fu Ming Shi was drinking coffee. Seeing this itinerary, he was strangely rather looking forward to it.