Fu Ming Shi carried Zhen Bao on his back to a hotel nearby before stopping under a tree and waking her up. He really wanted to carry Zhen Bao directly into the hotel, but Fu Ming Shi was afraid it would cause unnecessary misunderstandings. In the wee hours carrying a drunk, sleeping girl into a hotel...they were all sensitive keywords. In case some righteous person came to inquire, it would be embarrassing for Zhen Bao, not to mention there was Feng Yue who might make wild guesses in the room.
Fu Ming Shi liked Zhen Bao so he had to take care of Zhen Bao's reputation.
He called her name repeatedly until Zhen Bao woke up, lying on Fu Ming Shi's back, confused and looking at him hazily.
Fu Ming Shi teased her, "Do you recognize me?"
Zhen Bao stared at him for a while, then looked around. The autumn wind was cold, awakening her memories little by little before she fell asleep. He was kissing her.
"Put me down please." Feeling awkward, Zhen Bao said softly lowering her eyes.
Fu Ming Shi squatted down slightly.
Zhen Bao jumped down not too smoothly. Fu Ming Shi reached out to support her, worried she couldn't stand firmly.
He was gentle and considerate. Zhen Bao felt warm inside. "Thank you."
"With our relationship, no need to be so polite." Fu Ming Shi bent down and looked straight into her eyes.
His handsome face was too close. Zhen Bao thought of that overly long kiss again. She turned away first.
Fu Ming Shi caught up with her and led her into the hotel hand in hand.
"Wash your face and go to bed after, don't chat idly with others." Fu Ming Shi reminded her in a low voice when they reached the top floor.
Zhen Bao nodded drowsily.
Fu Ming Shi knocked on the door for her. Probably after a few tens of seconds, Feng Yue opened the door laughing, looking refreshed and energetic. Upon seeing her, Fu Ming Shi changed his mind temporarily. He lowered his head towards Zhen Bao and said, "I'll send you back to your room."
Zhen Bao's head felt heavy. She didn't think too much about it.
Feng Yue joked, "You need to send her back for such a short distance. Can't you bear to be apart from our Zhen Bao?"
Fu Ming Shi just smiled faintly, turning Zhen Bao's head to face frontwards again. "Go wash your face." Why waste time with an outsider.
Zhen Bao obediently replied "Oh" and went into the master bedroom.
Fu Ming Shi stood in front of the master bedroom, looking down at his phone.
After washing her face with warm water, Zhen Bao felt even more sleepy. Rubbing her eyes, she walked to the master bedroom door and advised Fu Ming Shi, "We're still climbing the mountain tomorrow. You should sleep earlier too."
"Hmm," Fu Ming Shi held her shoulders, bent down to kiss her forehead. "Good night."
Zhen Bao lowered her head smiling.
Fu Ming Shi exited through the door. His dark eyes bewitchingly looked at her, "Close the door first, I'll leave after."
Zhen Bao foolishly closed the door.
"Lock it," Fu Ming Shi leaned his head against the door panel, his voice extremely low.
The sound of Zhen Bao locking the door came from inside.
Fu Ming Shi took out his phone and called her.
Zhen Bao's phone was still in her bag. She yawned as she took out her phone. Seeing it was Fu Ming Shi, Zhen Bao couldn't help laughing as she brought it to her ear.
"Turn off the lights and go to bed, tell me after you're lying down." Fu Ming Shi turned around, leaning against the door panel, casting an indifferent glance over Feng Yue.
Zhen Bao didn't understand what Fu Ming Shi was doing but still put down her phone, took off her jacket, climbed into bed, turned off the lights, and lay down comfortably before saying to the phone, "Lying down already."
"Sleepy?" Fu Ming Shi imagined how she looked sleeping.
Zhen Bao nodded, "Sleepy."
"Sleep, see you tomorrow morning for breakfast." Fu Ming Shi started walking away.
"Okay, good night." Zhen Bao was really tired. She ended the call, put her phone aside, and fell asleep.
At the same time, Fu Ming Shi locked the hotel room door from the outside.
The room became quiet again. Feng Yue stood next to the sofa, her gaze shifting between the master bedroom and room door several times. She was a little confused about what Fu Ming Shi had just acted out. Watching Zhen Bao wash her face and sleep, could it be like a certain love pattern in legends where Fu Ming Shi treated Zhen Bao like a daughter and doted on her?
Was the affection that strong?
Feng Yue felt Fu Ming Shi went overboard. It wasn't like they were filming an idol drama. But if a man was willing to treat her like that...
Turning off the TV, Feng Yue went to knock on Zhen Bao's door. Zhen Bao had been out for almost two hours. She wanted to ask what places Zhen Bao and Fu Ming Shi visited and how they got to know each other, and learn some experience in passing.
"Zhen Bao, Zhen Bao..."
The repeated knocking woke Zhen Bao up. She frowned, opened her eyes to look at the door, "What's the matter?"
Feng Yue laughed, "It's only 10 pm, get up and let's chat."
Zhen Bao lay back down again, "I'm tired, let's talk tomorrow."
Feng Yue's smile stiffened. She joked on purpose, "What were you doing that you're so tired?"
Oblivious to certain implications, Zhen Bao didn't pick up on Feng Yue's innuendo. Too tired to talk, she turned and continued sleeping.
Since Zhen Bao didn't get up, Feng Yue tried pushing the door and found it locked from inside. Feng Yue gave up completely, turned off the TV and went back to the second bedroom to play on her phone until she fell asleep close to midnight.
~
Fu Ming Shi got up at 6 am, washed up and called Zhen Bao.
Zhen Bao was still sleeping. The ring was soft so she only heard it the third time Fu Ming Shi called.
"Get up, let's go for breakfast."
Whether morning or night, Fu Ming Shi's voice always seemed low and clear.
Zhen Bao responded and continued to laze around a little more before getting up.
Feeling a slight headache, washing her face didn't alleviate it. Zhen Bao was hesitating whether to ask Feng Yue when Fu Ming Shi came knocking.
"Ready?" Fu Ming Shi stood outside without coming in.
"Waiting for Feng Yue?" Zhen Bao asked looking inside.
Fu Ming Shi had both hands in his pockets, staring at her. "If you want to spoil my appetite, sure."
Though the words were mean, Zhen Bao somehow laughed about it. Bringing the room key, she went downstairs. Only when they reached the fourth floor and the elevator doors opened did she call Feng Yue to remind her not to be late. Breakfast was on the first floor. When the elevator doors opened, Meng Ji Ning was actually standing outside. Seeing them, Meng Ji Ning was also surprised for a moment before smiling and saying "Morning."
Zhen Bao nodded slightly.
Meng Ji Ning walked to Fu Ming Shi's left. After a brief silence, he turned to look at Fu Ming Shi, "About last night, thanks."
Figuring it out, everything prior was like a dream. With a clear conscience, one could naturally let go.
Fu Ming Shi glanced at him. "You're welcome."
Zhen Bao asked in confusion, "What happened last night?"
Meng Ji Ning smiled and said, "Shi Ming helped me out with a small favor."
Zhen Bao looked at Fu Ming Shi but didn't ask further. She had slept early the night before so Fu Ming Shi probably contacted Meng Ji Ning after returning to the guest room.
After breakfast, since they weren't coming back here after the hike, everyone went to check out first. Fu Ming Shi brought Zhen Bao along. For the next half day activity, he didn't give Feng Yue any opportunity to get close to Zhen Bao. However, Feng Yue kept sidling up to Meng Ji Ning so she didn't have any intention of being a third wheel between them.
When the autumn excursion ended, Fu Ming Shi returned to work. Zhen Bao continued with her studies and found a part-time job at A University's animal hospital, working two hours a day mainly bathing hospitalized pets and cleaning the rooms for a monthly salary of 1,500 yuan. Many university students did part-time jobs. The animal hospital was within the school grounds so it attracted a lot of applicants including senior students. Zhen Bao had experience bathing pets. Even pets that resisted bathing became exceptionally docile in her hands. Hence she managed to get the job relatively smoothly.
After starting her part-time job, the first Friday, Fu Ming Shi called her, "Going out to play tomorrow?"
Zhen Bao went out to the balcony, "Where to?"
The weather had turned cold. Fu Ming Shi wanted to bring her to soak in hot springs, "Don't worry, we'll soak separately."
The more he explained, the easier it was for Zhen Bao's mind to wander. She was silent for a while before asking, "What time will you be back?"
"Staying overnight there, return the next afternoon." Fu Ming Shi looked at the calendar on the screen as he spoke.
Zhen Bao pursed her lips softly saying, "That's no good. I've got quizzes for four subjects, I'll need to study at night."
Fu Ming Shi laughed, "You can bring your revision materials over."
Zhen Bao leaned against the wall mumbling, "No mood there."
Fu Ming Shi spun the pen on his desk, compromising, "Then let's watch a movie tomorrow. Go soak in the hot springs after you're done with the quizzes."
Zhen Bao secretly laughed, continuing to emphasize, "Watch a noon movie then come back early afternoon."
Her work hours were from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Fu Ming Shi took her to be wholeheartedly focused on her studies, acquiescing helplessly, "Fine, won't affect your revision."
After settling the arrangements, Zhen Bao ended the call relieved. Fu Ming Shi treated her very well, even wanting to manage her frugal lifestyle. Rather than speak of it and upset him, it was better to keep it from him. Moreover...her current living expenses were all Fu Ming Shi's money. Zhen Bao wanted to earn her own money, then give Fu Ming Shi a small gift.
She could tell him about it when giving the gift.
Indeed Zhen Bao had several quizzes. She came in first in her class for all four subjects after finishing the quizzes at end October.
"Zhen Bao, you did so well coming top in the quizzes. You've got to treat us to dinner tonight!" Feng Yue walked out of the classroom with Zhen Bao after the fourth class ended in the afternoon.
Before Zhen Bao could reply, Jia Xiao Yu who was beside them joked, "Zhen Bao mustn't agree no matter what. Based on your standard, if you treat us now, looks like you'll have to treat every year during finals. For your wallet's sake, we can't set this precedent." If treating, it should be their dorm mates. What was Feng Yue trying to horn in for.
Zhen Bao was frugal for a reason. She still owed Fu Ming Shi a butt-load of debt, how could she possibly treat others just because of one quiz.
"Forget it, I'll let you off this once." Feng Yue immediately changed the topic, hugging Zhen Bao's arm. "Let's go to the cafeteria together."
Zhen Bao forced a smile. "You guys go ahead. I need to get to my part-time job first."
She left after that, riding her bicycle to the hospital.
After she was gone, Jia Xiao Yu and two others ditched Feng Yue and headed to the cafeteria together.
Feng Yue's bicycle was stolen and she hadn't gotten a new one yet. She slowly walked back to the dorm building alone. When she was close to the dorm building, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure ahead!
"Shi Ming!" Feng Yue called out in surprise.
Fu Ming Shi was just about to call Zhen Bao. It was Wednesday, but he missed her, so he made an exception to come see her. On the way over, there was traffic, so he guessed Zhen Bao had probably left the teaching building already. Fu Ming Shi decided to go to the dorms to contact Zhen Bao and surprise her.
Recognizing Feng Yue, Fu Ming Shi's expression was blank.
"You've come to see Zhen Bao? She went to her part-time job." Feng Yue said enthusiastically.
Fu Ming Shi's finger paused over the dial button. Finally he gave her a direct look.
Feng Yue understood that look. She said in surprise, "She didn't tell you?"
"I forgot." Fu Ming Shi said flatly. Then he turned and brushed past Feng Yue.
The man's back was cold and aloof. Feng Yue blinked in confusion.
Fu Ming Shi ignored her. The phone connected and he asked directly, "Where are you?"
Zhen Bao had just parked her bike and was walking toward the hospital. She lied, "In the cafeteria. What's up?"
Fu Ming Shi gave a cold laugh, "Nothing. Take your time eating. I'm waiting for you downstairs at the dorm."
Zhen Bao froze on the spot.
They had agreed to only meet on weekends, hadn't they?
