Fortunately, I Met You - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: 70

Cheng Xi opened the door and Lin Fan entered, hugging her before saying, “I missed you so much . Even if I get mad in the future, I won’t ever ignore you again . It wasn’t as much a punishment for you, as it was one for me . ” He then lowered his head and looked at the ingredients by her feet, smiling . “Steak? Do you need any help?”

But when he saw Cheng Xi’s look, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

Cheng Xi opened her mouth, but nothing came out .

Lin Fan released her . “Did something come up?”

This was the first time she had ever truly been at a loss for words . “Lin Fan,” She grasped his hands and strugglingly pushed out, “I’m sorry . I can’t have dinner with you today . ”

Lin Fan chuckled lightheartedly . “You really scared me with your severe look and everything . It’s just a meal . What’s the big deal? Is Jiaman acting up again?”

“Not her . ”

“Then it’s the hospital, right? Don’t worry, I can cook too . I’ll send it over to you once it’s done, alright?”

After Lin Fan said this, he was about to grab the ingredients and start cooking when Cheng Xi stopped him again . “It’s not the hospital . ” She exhaled and steeled himself . Originally, she had planned to tell him all the details about what was going on between her and Lu Chenzhou . But given the situation, while she couldn’t explain it right now, she also didn’t want to hide anything from him . “My professor just called me, saying that Lu Chenzhou’s ill . She’s not here, so she wants me to go and look after him . ”

Lin Fan paused before asking, “Really? What illness?”

“A severe cold and a serious allergic reaction . ”

Lin Fan smiled wryly . “Can you treat those things? As I recall, you’re a psychiatrist . ”

“Lin Fan…… this isn’t about whether I can treat him or not . He got sick after leaving my place, and his allergic reaction also first started at my place . Thus, as my professor’s sponsor, and with her request, I really do have to go and see how he’s doing . ”

“Is it really just that?”

“Yes . ”

Lin Fan looked at her, and Cheng Xi looked back at him, her gaze completely devoid of evasion or hesitation .

He finally released her . “Alright . Then go and come back quickly . ”

“Alright . ” She smiled and consoling said, “I’ll do my best to return early . If you’re hungry, then you should order something to eat . There’s a Chinese restaurant near my place that makes great beef dishes⁠—I’ll give you their number later . If you’re bored, you can also read some books or watch TV . I’ll be gone for a bit and will be back quickly . ”

“Okay . ”

Cheng Xi turned around to head out, but just as her hand touched the doorknob, Lin Fan hugged her from behind . “I really don’t want you to go . What should I do?”

She didn’t respond, and instead gently leaned into his caress, comfortingly rubbing the back of his hand as she did so .

She knew that he wasn’t someone who would endlessly pester her .  Sure enough, after a short but intense hug, Lin Fan let go of her . Cheng Xi turned around, reached up on her tiptoes, and then kissed him lightly on the cheek . “I’m sorry . ”

He shook his head and lightly caressed her lips as he lovingly replied, “Go . I’ll wait for you . ” Cheng Xi smiled, eventually turning to leave .  

Bathed by the bright and resplendent lamplight, Cheng Xi was waiting for a bus by the side of the road when she saw a roadside food cart selling scones . Even from a distance, the crispy, golden brown toasted scones emanated an enticing aroma .

It had been a very long time since Cheng Xi had last eaten something like that . She used to eat them every so often back when she was a senior in highschool . Whenever she studied late into the night, she would walk back home with Lin Fan . It was often so late that the roads would be empty . They would slowly stroll back, and at the halfway point, they would always see a young man pushing a food cart and selling scones . Cheng Xi would always buy two without fail, and then eat them side by side with Lin Fan, the two of them basking in the lovely scent of the scones .

Even long after she had graduated from high school, Cheng Xi would dream of their scent .

She walked over, bought quite a number in one go, took two out for herself, and then packed the rest away in a bag, which she gave to the security guard office nearby . “Could you please help me find someone to bring this back to my place?”

The security guard was familiar with Cheng Xi, so he readily agreed without any questions .

Cheng Xi then got on the bus with her twp scones . Cai Yi had sent her Lu Chenzhou’s address; it wasn’t the one in Donglai or the Lu’s manor . Rather, it led to a small area that had a very homely feeling .

It was a bit far away . When Cheng Xi left, it was only six . However, it was already eight when she arrived . She called Lu Chenzhou twice, but he didn’t pick up either time .

So with no other choice, Cheng Xi called Cai Yi, who said, “Give me a moment . ”

After a while, Cheng Xi received a four-digit number with the description, “This is the passcode to his main door . He’s at home, and you can just enter . If the inner door is locked, then just bash it open . There’s no problem even if you break it .

Cheng Xi started sweating and nervously asked Cai Yi, “Is this really alright?”

“It’s fine . Don’t worry about it . I just called his grandfather, and he told me that Lu Chenzhou only started not picking up anyone’s calls recently . ”

“Is there anyone else inside?”

“No . This is one of the quirks of our dear Director Lu; he doesn’t like there to be anyone besides him in his house . But I believe that you’ll definitely find a way to stay there . ”

Cheng Xi was speechless . She didn’t know where Cai Yi had found so much confidence . Cheng Xi herself had no expectations because she didn’t know what Lu Chenzhou would end up doing .

Without any helpers, the stress was a bit overwhelming .

After exhaling slowly to calm herself down, Cheng Xi stepped forward . This area seemed low-profile, but the security was quite strict . Cheng Xi reported Lu Chenzhou’s name and house number, and even had to take out her ID to register her visit before she could obtain a temporary pass to enter the community .

Lu Chenzhou’s house was in the innermost region of the area . It was a small standalone bungalow with its own wall and backyard . As Cheng Xi walked up, she didn’t see a single light on inside . When she got to the door, she first pressed the doorbell, but no one answered . Then she used the passcode that Cai Yi had given her to open the front door .

After stepping inside, she found that the house was silent, and it was lit solely by a little wall lamp on the other side of the main corridor . As she followed the light, she found that the living room’s door was half-closed, which she then pushed open lightly .

It opened smoothly, so silent that even Cheng Xi was surprised . Luckily, the living room was bright and well lit . When the door opened, the first thing she heard was her own voice . “…Little fox, I like you!” And then she saw Lu Chenzhou, asleep on the sofa with his head tilted towards the sofa and a trailing hand touching the ground .

Her own unfamiliar voice reverberated inside the room . “…Then, a voice echoed from behind . ‘I like you too . ’”

And then it kept repeating the same story about the little rabbit liking the little fox . She had recorded many stories inside that device; it seemed like this was the one that he liked best .

Cheng Xi stood at the door, hesitating about whether she should first enter and look around, or whether she should wait around for him to wake up . Suddenly, as if he had sensed something, Lu Chenzhou turned around . His jaw dragged on the sofa, but he still managed to look at the door .

Cheng Xi felt a sudden sense of anxiety overcome her . She explained, “Sorry, your door was unlocked…… May I enter?”

Lu Chenzhou maintained his original posture, not moving or speaking; he merely continued to watch her silently .

“Alright, I’ll assume that you’re ok with it . ” Cheng Xi walked inside . Only when she got closer did she realize that he was visibly thinner, and his complexion was sallow . Nonetheless, he was still very tidy and clean-shaven .

He looked weak, as if he’d just woken up, and his eyes were still bleary with sleep . This created a bit of an innocent aura about him, stripping him of his usual aloof attitude and replacing it with a bit of cuteness instead .  

He seemed like a big, sickly dog lying pitifully on the ground, waiting for his owner to pat him on the head .