Xie Ru He’s recollection was interrupted by Shu Nian’s voice.
She seemed rather unconcerned and didn’t ask what Xu Ze Yuan had said, just earnestly explained: “I don’t know why he called me, I’ve never had any private contact with him.”
After thinking for a moment, Shu Nian added: “I think he tried to add me on WeChat once, but I didn’t accept.”
Xie Ru He was quiet for a few seconds, then reminded her in a low voice: “Shu Nian, I answered your phone.”
The two seemed to be on completely different wavelengths, each speaking their thoughts.
Each emphasized what they wanted to tell the other.
“Huh?” Shu Nian was momentarily stunned, still worried that he might be upset about Xu Ze Yuan’s call, her reaction somewhat slow, “It’s fine, you can answer it.”
Xie Ru He’s eyes remained downcast: “You’re not angry?”
“Not angry at all.” Shu Nian looked at him, scratching her head, “I was sleeping, right? It’s fine for you to answer for me. In case the caller had something urgent, you could also tell me.”
Xie Ru He’s lips formed a straight line, and he added: “But I didn’t tell you.”
“You’re telling me now, aren’t you?” Shu Nian finally realized his attitude seemed to show guilt, or perhaps remorse, “Besides, forgetting isn’t a big deal, it wasn’t anything important anyway.”
Xie Ru He made a sound of acknowledgment: “I’ll remember in the future.”
“You can answer all my calls.” Shu Nian looked very honest, her voice soft and gentle, “Usually only directors, my teacher, and my mother call me.”
Xie Ru He’s expression relaxed, and he nodded.
After walking a few steps.
Shu Nian remembered something and said: “I told my mother that I’m dating you and that I’ve moved in with you.”
Just learning of this, Xie Ru He’s expression froze, and he didn’t make a sound.
“So if she calls, you can answer too.”
“…Mm.”
After saying this, Shu Nian didn’t speak further. She lowered her head, kicking small stones on the ground, thinking about what Ke Yi Qing had just said. Soon, she took out her phone from her pocket and opened the web browser.
She typed in the four characters “While He’s Still Here.”
Just as she clicked search, before she could see anything, Xie Ru He suddenly called her: “Nian Nian.”
Shu Nian immediately looked up: “Hmm?”
Xie Ru He’s expression was somewhat stiff, as if he was uncertain, carefully asking her: “Should I go visit your aunt?”
“…”
She hadn’t expected him to say this.
Shu Nian put her phone back in her pocket, puzzled: “Why are you suddenly saying this?”
“After all, you’re living with me now, and I’m afraid your aunt might worry.” Xie Ru He thought seriously, hesitantly saying, “If you think it’s too early, you can also give her my contact information.”
“…”
“When she can’t find you, she can call me.”
Shu Nian hadn’t thought about any of this at all, her expression confused: “That’s not what I meant…”
Xie Ru He touched the back of his neck: “I think we should consider these things.”
Hearing this, Shu Nian thought to herself and felt that what he said made sense. Then, she suggested: “How about we go during the Dragon Boat Festival?”
Xie Ru He looked a bit more relaxed and agreed with a “Good.”
Shu Nian said quietly: “We’ll be going to my stepfather’s home, my mother remarried.”
“I know.”
After a while.
Shu Nian called out: “Xie Ru He.”
Xie Ru He looked up: “What is it?”
Her face reddened, not quite knowing how to navigate social customs, and asked as if returning the gesture: “Should I go visit your grandfather?”
After returning home.
Xie Ru He helped Shu Nian drag the suitcase into the room, then brought the things they had just bought outside into the kitchen, and didn’t come out again, busy with something unknown.
Shu Nian turned on the air conditioner in the living room, then went back to the bedroom to change clothes.
Looking at the bulky suitcase on the floor, Shu Nian crouched down to unzip it. She gathered all the clothes in her arms, ran to the balcony, and stuffed them all into the washing machine.
Then, she returned to the living room.
When passing by the kitchen, Shu Nian glanced in Xie Ru He’s direction.
He was cutting watermelon.
Shu Nian wanted to help, but she didn’t feel like moving anymore. She forcibly withdrew her gaze, bounced over to the sofa, flopped down, and picked up her phone to play. When she lit up the screen, the page was still on what she had just searched.
The top result was a discussion thread from a forum.
——Is Miao Man too unprofessional? TV dramas are one thing, but for the recently released “While He’s Still Here,” she even used a voice actress on the big screen.