In June, the trumpet creepers bloomed most vibrantly, visible everywhere, on the verge of becoming overgrown.
After summer began, the days grew longer, and the weather grew hotter by the day. In recent years, Qingling had gained a reputation as a furnace city. Once June arrived, the temperature soared.
The past two days had seen highs of thirty-five degrees. The earth was scorching hot, constantly radiating heat.
Hot weather made people prone to lethargy. After finishing a long lecture, He Qingshi felt utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
As soon as class ended, he headed for the dean’s office.
Dean Qu had asked him to come by after class, presumably to assign him some task.
It was a more than ten-minute walk from the Main Teaching Building to the Administration Building. Fortunately, the campus had high vegetation coverage. The entire path was shaded by large trees, with countless patches of cool shade, making it somewhat bearable.
He Qingshi stood outside the door and knocked.
“Come in.” A deep, masculine voice floated out from inside.
He Qingshi pushed the door open and entered. As soon as he stepped inside, a wave of cool air greeted him.
The dean’s office was situated in the shade. The sun couldn’t reach it, and several enormous magnolia trees outside the window blocked the light. Even in midsummer, the room remained refreshingly cool and comfortable.
He Qingshi said immediately, “Teacher Qu, it’s so much cooler here.”
Dean Qu of the College of Liberal Arts was He Qingshi’s teacher. Not yet sixty, he had a kind and benevolent appearance and was a very wise and erudite scholar. He had received numerous honors throughout his life and enjoyed a prestigious reputation in academic circles.
He had been sitting behind his desk but stood up when he saw He Qingshi. He walked over to the sofa, smiling rather proudly. “My office is a geomantic treasure spot at University A. We don’t even need to turn on the air conditioning in summer. Dean Lü wanted to swap offices with me before, but I didn’t agree.”
Dean Qu raised a hand, gesturing for He Qingshi to sit on the sofa.
He Qingshi asked, “What did you need to see me about?”
Dean Qu spoke slowly, “It’s like this. The college recently plans to organize students to go to Wangchuan for a folk culture research trip. I see you’ve led students on a few such trips before, with quite good results. You’re also relatively familiar with the Wangchuan area. We intend for you to lead the team this time. What do you think?”
Hearing this, He Qingshi frowned slightly. “The semester is almost over. We’re still doing research trips?”
Dean Qu said, “Precisely because the semester is almost over, we need to hurry up and get it done. The college is short on material this semester. There’s no other way; we have to do it. Don’t worry, I’ll have Director Duan accompany you to assist. You focus on the professional aspects. Director Duan will handle everything else; you won’t need to worry.”
“Which classes are going this time?”
“Class 2 and Class 3 of the 2014 Chinese Language cohort.” Dean Qu continued, “You teach both classes, and you’re familiar with the students. It should be easy to manage. Besides, the counselors for these two classes will also go along. This matter should be very straightforward for you.”
To be honest, He Qingshi was most reluctant to organize such affairs. They were troublesome and required dealing with locals. But since Dean Qu had personally asked, he couldn’t possibly refuse. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and take on the task.
He Qingshi asked, “When do we leave?”
Dean Qu said, “Next Friday, returning Sunday afternoon.”
“Then I’ll go back and prepare.”
Dean Qu smiled with satisfaction. “I’ll leave it to you, Qingshi.”
“You flatter me, Teacher Qu.”
—
After leaving the dean’s office, He Qingshi saw Director Duan and Jiang Nuan talking at the stairwell entrance from a distance.
Jiang Nuan wore a plain long skirt, her head slightly bowed, her shoulder-length hair covering her cheeks, making her expression impossible to discern.
He figured it was probably college business that needed to be relayed to a student cadre.
He waited in a corner for a while, intending to approach after their conversation ended. He also needed to talk to Jiang Nuan.
This girl had been out of sorts since April. Not only did she sleep in class, but she was also frequently absent. She had already missed seven classes. The college rule stated that missing eight classes would result in direct disqualification from the final exams. She was now on the verge of having her exam eligibility revoked.
Although countless university students skipped classes and failed courses, and teachers couldn’t possibly manage every single one, Jiang Nuan had always been a good student. She rarely even arrived late, let alone skipped class. For a good student to change like this likely meant she had encountered some trouble. If a teacher didn’t pay attention at a time like this, a perfectly good kid could easily be led astray.
Actually, Counselor Meng from Class 3 had already noticed Jiang Nuan’s unusual behavior and had spoken to her privately several times. But the girl remained tight-lipped, saying nothing. Counselor Meng simply couldn’t figure out what had happened to her.
Since Counselor Meng couldn’t get anything out of her, he could only ask He Qingshi to try. Because He Qingshi was Jiang Nuan’s favorite teacher.
As her teacher, He Qingshi naturally couldn’t just ignore it. Besides, he quite admired Jiang Nuan as a student.
He had been wanting to find time to talk to her but never found the right opportunity. Moreover, he keenly sensed that the girl seemed to be avoiding him. She often disappeared right after class.
Since he ran into her this time, he might as well take the opportunity to have a proper chat with her.
Director Duan and Jiang Nuan spoke for a few moments before he left with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression seeming rather stern.
The two men met at the end of the corridor. Director Duan quickly composed his expression and greeted him, “Teacher He, just coming from Dean Qu’s office?”
“Yes, Dean Qu assigned some work.” He Qingshi glanced in Jiang Nuan’s direction and said, “Director Duan needed to see Jiang Nuan?”
Director Duan’s smile faltered for an instant before returning to normal. He said with a smile, “The college has some matters to relay to student cadres.”
“I see.” He Qingshi smiled. “You’re truly diligent, personally seeking out students to discuss matters.”
“Can’t help but worry.” Director Duan waved his arm. “I’m going to report some things to Dean Qu.”
He Qingshi nodded. “Please, go ahead.”
Once Director Duan was out of sight, He Qingshi hurried to catch up with Jiang Nuan.
“Jiang Nuan!”
Jiang Nuan, walking ahead, halted abruptly at the familiar male voice. She quickly and flusteredly wiped her face.
“Teacher He.” The girl’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying, and her voice was somewhat hoarse.
He Qingshi noticed but didn’t ask about it. He simply said, “Come on, let’s go sit in the cafe.”
Jiang Nuan was puzzled. “What’s the matter, Teacher He?”
He Qingshi said softly, “I want to talk to you.”
—
There was a Time Difference Cafe at University A’s north gate. It was a nationwide chain, with branches at all major universities and downtown areas in Qingling. It had an elegant environment, simple yet stylish decor, fresh and refined, with a comfortable atmosphere. It was especially suitable for university students and urban white-collar workers. Just sitting in that environment seemed to make all worries instantly vanish.
He Qingshi quite liked this cafe and often brought his laptop here to sit.
In the evening, the cafe was sparsely populated with only a handful of customers: two couples and one teacher, five people in total.
The cafe played English songs. The soothing, gentle music poured down, enveloping one’s ears, so soothing it could make one’s ears melt.
He Qingshi pushed the menu toward Jiang Nuan. “See what you’d like to drink.”
“It’s okay, Teacher He, I’m not thirsty.” Jiang Nuan was visibly nervous. Her hands were under the table, constantly twisting the straps of her backpack. The two thin straps were almost twisted to the point of breaking.
“Jiang Nuan, you don’t need to be nervous.” He Qingshi looked at her. “It’s hot. Have something to drink.”
Seeing she couldn’t refuse, Jiang Nuan ordered a glass of ice water.
He Qingshi ordered a soda water.
After placing the order, the server left.
He Qingshi clasped his hands together on the tabletop and spoke lightly, “Jiang Nuan, have you run into some trouble?”
Huo Chuxue had outpatient duty this morning.
Early in the morning, on her way to the Outpatient Building, she saw a group of little nurses led by Lin Yao eagerly discussing something, looking very lively.
Passing by the nurse station, she paused and asked casually, “What are you all chatting about so animatedly?”
Lin Yao scrunched up her little face, looking aggrieved. “Doctor Huo, don’t you know yet? Our hospital is arranging for doctors to go to the countryside for a free clinic. I’ve been unluckily chosen.”
Huo Chuxue: “…”
“When?”
“Starting next Friday, lasting a week.”
First Hospital organized medical staff to go to towns under Qingling’s jurisdiction for free clinics every year, aiming to improve the medical service levels of township hospitals. Each department would assign corresponding personnel. A thankless task like a free clinic was something doctors and nurses always resisted. Everyone tried to push it off or avoid it; whoever got stuck with it was out of luck.
Huo Chuxue felt a pang of dread and hurriedly asked, “Am I on the list?”
Lin Yao looked at her and nodded solemnly. “I regret to inform you, you are.”
Huo Chuxue: “…”
Because of this, her mood was poor all morning.
By the afternoon, the list of personnel for the free clinic from each department had been posted. Fang Ru announced the news in the WeChat group, which immediately erupted with all sorts of complaints and grievances. Huo Chuxue was unfortunately one of the unlucky masses. Not only her, but Qiao Shengxi and Zhou Mo were also going this time. Zhou Mo was the team leader for the Stomatology Department.
This time, Huo Chuxue was also entrusted with an important task by Fang Ru—she was the team leader for the Obstetrics Department.
The only silver lining was that they were going to Wangchuan. She had been there once before for Zhou Mo and Zou Yi’s wedding, so she wouldn’t be completely in the dark. Besides, Zhou Mo was also going this time. Wangchuan was Zou Yi’s hometown; Zhou Mo went there occasionally and was somewhat familiar with the area.
The free clinic location being Wangchuan gave Huo Chuxue a reason to contact He Qingshi. Their current relationship was still too superficial; they didn’t even seem to be friends, and their private contact was minimal. Every time she wanted to reach out to him, Huo Chuxue had to rack her brains for an excuse. The excuse had to be plausible, disguising her “ambition” so He Qingshi wouldn’t catch on. Just thinking about it was exhausting!
In the evening, she sent He Qingshi a text message. She deliberately edited it to look like a mass message.
Huo Chuxue: “Going to Wangchuan soon. Replies may be delayed, sorry. Please call if anything urgent.”
After sending it, she didn’t dwell on it. She tossed her phone aside and went straight to take a shower.
He Qingshi would surely think this was a mass text when he saw it. Many people don’t reply to mass texts. She naturally didn’t expect him to reply either.
Her goal was simply to occasionally remind him of her existence, to make him aware of her presence. To let him know where she was and what she was doing.
Her work was too busy—either outpatient duty or surgery. She didn’t even get enough sleep every day and truly couldn’t spare the time and energy to ask him out every day. She also couldn’t come up with that many excuses. To be honest, romantic pursuits and moonlit strolls really weren’t suitable for a doctor.
After her shower, just as she was about to blow-dry her hair, she heard her phone ringing incessantly.
She glanced at the screen and was somewhat surprised. The call was actually from He Qingshi.
Her finger swiped across the screen to answer. “Hello, Mr. He?”
The man’s voice was, as always, clear and pleasant. “Doctor Huo is going to Wangchuan?”
“Yes, the hospital arranged for us to do a free clinic.”
“When?”
“Next Friday.”
The person on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then chuckled. “What a coincidence. I’m also going to Wangchuan next Friday for a folk culture research trip.”