The Best Of You (English Ver.) - Chapter 45
After Shen Nianshen escorted Sun Tiantian to the taxi, he stared at the car which was getting further and further away.
He stood for a long time by the side of the road, staring in the direction Sun Tiantian had left.
He should have been taken Sun Tiantian home. Recently, he didn’t take good care of his girl.
He stood by the side of the road for about five minutes and finally turned and walked into the alley.
At his house doorstep, Liang Qi was waiting for him outside.
Seeing Shen Nianshen came, he was silent for a while before saying, “Sister-in-law has gone home?”
Shen Nianshen agreed and did not go straight into his house.
He leaned against the wall, lifted his head, and looked up at the sky.
The sky was vast, people down here seem so small and helpless.
Liang Qi took out a pack of cigarettes from his trouser pocket, took one out, and handed it to Shen Nianshen.
Shen Nianshen shook his head, “No, thanks.”
He had promised Sun Tiantian not to smoke any more.
Liang Qi stopped and put back in his cigarette. After being silent for a while, he finally couldn’t help but ask, “Grandma’s illness, how much money do you need about?”
Shen Nianshen’s throat tightened slightly. After a while, he said, “I don’t know.”
His voice was a little hoarse, sounding very tired.
“Do you still have money?” Liang Qi asked.
Shen Nianshen nodded, “I do, but not much.”
Recently, his grandmother had to be hospitalized and bought various medicines, these were almost consumed most of his savings.
Liang Qi took out a card from his trouser pocket, “I have some money, you can use it.”
Shen Nianshen lowered his head and frowned, “Where did this money come from?”
Liang Qi said, “It’s from my father. Even though he doesn’t care about me, he still sends me living expenses.”
Shen Nianshen said, “You just keep it for yourself. I will find a way myself.”
Liang Qi immediately crammed the card into Shen Nianshen’s hand, “Why is the reluctant? It’s an urgent moment! There isn’t much money either, maybe just enough to buy medicine for grandma. But it’s better than nothing. After all, I don’t need it.”
Shen Nianshen lowered his head and looked at the bank card in his hand. He didn’t speak for a long time.
After a long silence, he raised his head and looked at Liang Qi. His gaze was deep and his tone firm, “Liang Qi, one day I will return your favor.”
Liang Qi waved his hand, “Never mind, we’re brothers. There’s no need to talk about things like this.”
–***–
In the evening, Sun Tiantian packed her things to go back to campus, starting the lecture in the new semester. She continued to pack things and finished it at about ten o’clock in the evening.
After bathing, she sat on the bed and called Shen Nianshen, wondered if he had slept or not.
The phone rang several times before connecting, and she could hear it sounded a bit noisy on the other end of the phone.
Sun Tiantian was stunned and asked subconsciously, “Ah Nian, are you outside?”
Shen Nianshen agreed, “Yes, I have some business to attend to. Can I call you later tonight?”
Sun Tiantian nodded, “Alright.” But after a short pause, she immediately said, “No, don’t call me tonight. It’s getting late already, you just go home and rest when you’re done with your business.”
On the other end of the line, Shen Nianshen was riding a borrowed motorbike. He was wearing a helmet and was waiting for a red light.
Listening to Sun Tiantian’s voice, his heart seemed to be choking on something and it’s difficult for him to breathe.
His throat hurt to the point where he couldn’t make a sound but he could only say yes softly.
Sun Tiantian’s voice was very soft, “Just finish your business first, and rest early.”
“Okay.”
When he hanging up the phone, the green light was still not on.
Shen Nianshen tightly gripped the handlebars of the motorcycle, his eyes fixed to the front.
The road ahead could not be seen, just like his future could not be seen by him.
–***–
The new semester will start tomorrow, but Xie Xun and his friends played all night at his home.
They were playing cards. Xie Xun was a little tired and lay down to rest on the sofa.
As Lin Jun took out the card, he asked Xie Xun, “You are so handsome and of good family background. Why don’t you go looking for a girlfriend? Do you want to be held back by Tiantian alone until you die?”
Xie Xun held the TV remote in his hand, boredly changing the channels, and said lazily, “Who said I just wanted to be held back by one person to death?”
Lin Jun smirked mischievously, “Lin Qin has been chasing you for so long, I didn’t see you accept her.” While talking, he looked at Xie Xun, “You aren’t waiting for Tiantian to break up and approach her, are you?”
Xie Xun looked at him coldly, “If you are not talking, will your silence be thought that you can’t talk?”
Lin Jun laughed and changed the topic, “My food delivery hasn’t arrived yet. Gosh, I’ll call to urge them.”
As he spoke, he took out the cell phone on the coffee table.
He was just about to make the call when the doorbell rang.
Lin Jun exclaimed and pushed Xie Xun, “You take the food.”
Xie Xun glanced at him, “Don’t you have your own hands and feet?”
Lin Jun, “I am playing cards! I’ll give you two chicken wings later.”
Xie Xun, “No, thanks.”
Xie Xun stood up and walked slowly towards the door.
He opened the door, and was reaching out to receive the food, “Thank…..”
Before he could finish his sentence completely, he was stunned.
Shen Nianshen was standing outside and wearing a slightly thin black sweater, he was holding a box of food in his hands.
Xie Xun stared at Shen Nianshen for a very long time and didn’t know what to say.
Shen Nianshen did not expect that the person who ordered the food would be Xie Xun. He was stunned for a moment before regaining his composure. He handed over the food, “Here’s your order. Please enjoy.”
Xie Xun did not take the food for a while and asked him, “Does Tiantian know?”
Shen Nianshen looked calm, “Know about what? About me working? Does she need to know?”
Xie Xun, “…”
–***–
When Shen Nianshen finished delivering the food, it was already four in the morning when he returned home.
He showered before slowly packing up his things for tomorrow’s lecture.
There’s not much stuff, basically just only books.
it was nearly five in the morning when he finished packing.
He laid on his bed but didn’t feel sleepy at all.
He took the phone from under the pillow and pressed it to turn on the screen.
The screensaver’s picture was a photo of Sun Tiantian.
It’s a photo taken on his birthday. Sun Tiantian’s face was full of cream cake and smiling happily, Shen Nianshen captured the moment with his cell phone.
He stared at the photo for a very long time, looking at Sun Tiantian’s bright smile. He really wanted to smile with her, but he was too tired to smile.
–***–
The next afternoon, before Sun Tiantian went to campus, she took out the bank card from her cupboard.
On the card, there was 50,000 yuan, it was her red packet for this year.
When she arrived at the campus, it was ten o’clock already. Her roommate had arrived earlier than her.
After finished tidying her things up, Xie Yan smiled sweetly and said, “During the winter break we haven’t seen each other, let’s have lunch together later.”
Sun Tiantian was changing her shoes, she replied, “You guys just go, I have an appointment with Ah Nian.”
Xie Yan smiled, “I knew you were going on a date. But we will wait for you. We can go later tonight.”
Sun Tiantian smiled, “We’ll talk about it later tonight.”
Sun Tiantian changed into a pair of flat shoes, she took her bag and went out immediately.
Sun Tiantian and Shen Nianshen promised to meet at the campus gate. When she arrived, Shen Nianshen was already there.
“Ah Nian!” She ran over to Shen Nianshen happily and immediately threw herself into the young man’s arms.
Shen Nianshen smiled and hugged her, “Slow down.”
Sun Tiantian smiled, looked up to see Shen Nianshen, and asked happily, “What are we going to eat?”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Fried rice with egg?”
Shen Nianshen smiled for a while and stroked her head, “Is it full enough?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s go then.” Shen Nianshen took Sun Tiantian to a fried rice restaurant across the campus.
On the first day of the semester, there were a lot of people in the restaurant.
Sun Tiantian and Shen Nianshen were lucky, when they arrived there was still one empty table in the restaurant.
Sun Tiantian ran into the kitchen and ordered two plates of egg-fried rice. When she returned, Shen Nianshen was sterilizing the glass with boiling water as usual.
Sun Tiantian sat down and said happily, “I was just checking my class schedule for this semester. There are very few classes.”
“Is it?”
Sun Tiantian nodded, supported her cheeks with both hands, and smiled at Shen Nianshen, “What about you? You have a lot of classes?”
Shen Nianshen nodded, “Quite a lot.”
In fact, he applied for early graduation. So, he had to complete all the courses from the third and fourth years in the shortest possible time. Originally, he was supposed to enter his second year of college next year. But if everything went well, next year he could graduate sooner.
And because he wanted to finish the remaining two years of college in one year or even six months, he barely had much free time.
So, he could only study during the day and work at night.
Shen Nianshen was silent for a while and said as he looked at Sun Tiantian, “Tiantian, this year I may not have much time to accompany you. If…”
“I know, you are in the second year now. There must be a lot of classes. No problem, I can accompany you when there is no class.”
Shen Nianshen looked at her, his throat dry. After a long time, he nodded slowly, “Okay.”
Sun Tiantian saw the dark circles under Shen Nianshen’s eyes. She hastily got to her feet and sat down next to him. She looked up and touched his eyes sadly, “You didn’t sleep well? Your eyes have dark circles.”
Shen Nianshen held Sun Tiantian’s hand and smiled, “It’s okay, I didn’t sleep well lately.”
Sun Tiantian held Shen Nianshen’s hands tightly and looked at him sadly, “Ah Nian, please don’t work too hard. I don’t want you to be like this.”
Shen Nianshen caressed Sun Tiantian’s face, a gentle smile tugged at the corners of his lips, “I know.”
After eating, Shen Nianshen took Sun Tiantian back to campus. He said as he walked, “I’ll take you back to the dormitory.”
Sun Tiantian looked at him, “Are you going to the library?”
Shen Nianshen, “No, I have other business.”
Sun Tiantian pursed her lips and held her bag. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally said, “Ah Nian, there’s something I want to give you.”
Shen Nianshen, “What is it?”
Sun Tiantian lowered her head, opened her bag, and took out the bank card she had wanted to give to Shen Nianshen.
Recently, Grandma was hospitalized, doing treatment and buying medicine, she knew that Shen Nianshen had spent a lot of money. Actually, she wanted to give the money to Shen Nianshen from the start, but she was afraid that she would hurt Shen Nianshen’s heart.
She took out the bank card and handed it over carefully, “Ah…Ah Nian, here is 50,000 yuan. You just use it for grandma’s needs, I…”
“I have money.”
Sun Tiantian was stunned and looked at him.
Her mouth opened, wanting to say something but not knowing how to say it.
Shen Nianshen looked at her deeply and repeated every word very seriously, “Tiantian, I have money.”
Sun Tiantian’s gaze fell on the dark shadow under Shen Nianshen’s eyes. Her eyes stung and she said while sobbing, “But you worked so hard to earn money. Here’s my red packet, you just take it… please…”
“I told you, don’t worry about me. I’ll find a way.” Shen Nianshen said firmly.
Sun Tiantian looked at him and couldn’t hold back her tears.
Shen Nianshen raised his hand and helped her wipe away the tears. Seeing Sun Tiantian cry, he couldn’t help but pull the girl gently into his arms.
His throat ached. It was quite a while before he said softly in a hoarse voice, “Tiantian, I love you.”
In the darkest moments of his life, there was Sun Tiantian who warmed his heart.
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