Winter makes means for spring.  

The timber that misplaced their leaves over winter are beginning to develop new leaves once more.   These Ginkgo timber line both facet of the highway resulting in the college dormitory block for the ladies.  Beneath the timber, college students are standing in teams, catching up with each other about what occurred through the holidays.  There are additionally {couples} within the extra secluded spots, cuddling and displaying their affection for one another. After, the romantic spring season has arrived. 

Jian Yao’s roommates haven’t returned to the campus, so she has the room all to herself.  She spends her day studying, browsing the web and recording the small print of working with Bo Jinyan on a journal. It was a one in a lifetime expertise.  She desires to maintain a observe of every little thing that has occurred.

———

Jian Yao is mendacity in mattress when Fu Ziyu calls.

“Your voice sounds humorous.  Are you okay? Do you may have a toothache?  Or is your face swollen as a result of somebody hit you?”  asks Fu Ziyu. 

Jian Yao tries to not snort.  She has a whitening masks on her face. It’s laborious to speak if you don’t need to open your mouth.

“Masks! What’s up?” She solutions.

Fu Ziyu is amused.  He turns to Bo Jinyan and says: “Hey Bo Jinyan, she appears like a sheep.  It’s kinda whiny however it’s cute. Do you need to take heed to it?” 

Bo Jinyan solutions :”Why would I need to hear her distorted voice?” 

By this time, Jian Yao has eliminated the skinny piece of sheet from her face: “Hey, I didn’t reply the cellphone to get mocked.” 

Fu Ziyu laughs and tells her the rationale for the decision:”Let’s have lunch collectively.  I’ve discovered a flat for you.”

“I’ll deal with you. Come over to the campus.  There’s a restaurant close by that does a pleasant fish dish.”

———

There’s quite a lot of small eateries across the campus.  Yao picked a restaurant that does an excellent lamb and fish casserole. It’s a preferred alternative amongst the scholars.  

– Does he personal fits of another color?  Jian Yao wonders.  At the very least he appears to be like good in a black swimsuit. Hold on, why ought to she care what Bo Jinyan wears.   

• 

They stand on the entrance, ready for a waiter to point out them to their desk.  Bo Jinyan takes a go searching.  The place is stuffed with the odor of chilli, fish and lamb.

“They supply their fish from the fish market each morning.  It’s assured recent.  And the lamb is from Mongolia.” Jian Yao appears to be like at Bo Jinyan, “Have you ever tried this earlier than?” 

Bo Jinyan take a look at her.  He doesn’t reply her query.

Jian Yao passes the menu to Fu Ziyu: “Is there the rest you need to order?”

Fu Ziyu asks the waiter: “Can we order a steamed fish as effectively?”

“Sorry, we specialises in lamb and fish casserole.  The kitchen prepares the meals within the morning. We don’t have any entire fish fillets left.  The parts are fairly massive, it ought to be greater than sufficient for the three of you.” 

It’s a pleasing meal. Jian Yao and Fu Ziyu did many of the speaking.  Bo Jinyan will add a sentence or two sometimes, however it’s at all times in his boastful and thoughtless method.  They’re used to his type by now, so they only snort it off.  When Bo Jinyan leaves the desk to take a cellphone name exterior, Fu Ziyu says jokingly to Jian Yao: “What’s flawed with us?  Why are we buddies with Bo Jinyan? Can we prefer to carry torture upon ourselves?”

– A Pal?! Bo Jinyan?  Jian Yao thinks to herself.  They’re buddies now. 

——

Jian Yao notices that Bo Jinyan didn’t contact the fish and lamb casserole.  He didn’t eat from the meat dish both. 

Jian Yao: “Why…?” 

“He doesn’t eat purple meat.” Fu Ziyu is aware of what she is about to ask: “He was on a six months cannibal hunt in California a few years in the past.  He stopped consuming purple meat after that case.” 

Jian Yao“I’m sorry….” 

“By no means thoughts.  He additionally likes greens.  See, he completed this entire plate by himself!”  smiles Fu Ziyu. “ In his line of labor, he comes throughout quite a lot of very disturbing sights on the crime scenes, particularly through the time when he assisted the FBI investigation.  He’s used to them now, however it’s due to accrued expertise. The primary time he was at a criminal offense scene, he threw up too.” 

—— 

After lunch, Fu Ziyu brings them to a ravishing condominium constructing on a quiet cul de sac. 

The three bedrooms condominium Fu Ziyu discovered for Bo Jinyan is on the primary place. It has a really minimalist really feel.  A palette of impartial and gray colors makes the place chilly and uninviting.  There’s a huge 2metres x 2 metres mattress in the main bedroom, coated in black mattress linen.  Bo Jinyan takes a go searching and nods: “Sure, I like this place.  Thanks.” 

“We’re going to your condominium subsequent.” says Fu Ziyu to Jian Yao. 

“Mine?  In the identical constructing?” 

“After all, then you possibly can look out for each other.” Fu Ziyu whispers in her eyes: “I feel it’s safer so that you can have a male buddy dwelling shut by.” 

Bo Jinyan overheads this assertion.  He has a smile on his face.  Jian Yao shouldn’t be positive what the importance of this smile.  Proud?  Pleasure? What’s he pleased with anyway? That he’s a person, and never a weak and susceptible girl?   

——-

“This neighbourhood might be exterior my funds…”

“Have a look inside first earlier than you resolve.” Fu Ziyu pushes her right into a small studio condominium on the second ground.  It’s neatly furnished.  A bit chandelier hanging from the ceiling provides a pleasant female contact.  There’s two small orange sofas in the midst of the room.  There’s a tatami mattress subsequent to the window.  Within the different facet of the room is a clawed foot bathtub, with mushy pink drapes round it.  Jian Yao can already think about how enjoyable it will likely be soaking the tiredness away after a tough day’s work.  This  place is ideal for her.

“How a lot is that this studio?”  She is aware of it’s not going to be low cost however it’s price the additional hire.    Fu Ziyu tells her how a lot the hire is.  She makes a fast calculation in her head. “OK!  I’ll take it.” 

Bo Jinyan appears to be like round her condominium. He takes a have a look at the views exterior the window:  “Wow, you’ll by no means see a dawn by means of these home windows.”  It appears to be like into the wall of a tall neighbouring constructing. 

Come on, on the worth she is paying, she will be able to’t count on a sea view too!  

He walks to the clawed foot bathtub.  He appears to be like at it for ages, after which makes use of his fingers to look at the floor.  Jian Yao thinks it’s bizarre {that a} man would stare at her bathtub for such a very long time.  She walks over and tries to attract him away: “There’s nothing particular to see right here.”  

“Why are you blushing?” Asks Bo Jinyan. 

It’s not one thing Jian Yao expects him to say.  She subconsciously touches her face.  It’s … just a little scorching.   

“Don’t be shy.” His eyes flashes her a haughty look: “Girl feels the must be bare generally. To be free of the restraints of clothes. You categorical that when you find yourself alone.  It’s regular human behaviour.” 

Jian Yao face is shiny purple now.  However maybe they’ve spent sufficient time collectively by now.  She comes again together with her counterattack: “Is that this what you learn out of your psychology books?  That’s simply theories ‘on paper’,  you haven’t any concept how girl truly thinks or behaves.”  

–

Jian Yao spend the following few days adorning her condominium.   She appears to be like ahead to her first day of labor.  

Bo Jinyan has been busy too.  He purchased a automotive – a Grand Cherokee.  They met one another on the foyer just a few occasions.   Apparently, Bo Jinyan works largely from residence.  He doesn’t must go to the workplace day by day. 

–

Jian Yao works for an organization calls ClearWorld –  a widely known worldwide buying and selling firm. It’s not straightforward to get an internship there, however her good grades helped her to safe the job. 

On Monday morning, Jian Yao takes the subway to work.  The corporate is in a constructing situated close to the embassy district, subsequent to all of the high-end buying malls, leisure and bars.  

It’s a magnificent constructing.  Everybody may be very well-dressed.  All of them appear like they’re very busy.  The ambiance right here is kind of intense. Jian Yao has heard rumours about an worker who died instantly of fatigue resulting from over working.  There’s additionally a narrative {that a} lady dedicated suicide lately as a result of she will be able to’t take the strain of working right here anymore.  Jian Yao doesn’t know if they’re true.  However everybody does appear like they’re in fight mode and able to ‘battle’.

Jian Yao studies to the sector that’s liable for  automotive elements. This is without doubt one of the smaller divisions throughout the gross sales division. To her relieve, her reporting supervisor is kind of good, and her colleagues are pleasant and useful. They’re throughout the identical age as her, so it’s straightforward to get together with them.   

———

Weekend.

It’s been per week since Jian Yao began work.  It’s been a busy week.  She is completely happy to loosen up in her little condominium.  

There’s a knock on the door.  It’s a courier bundle for somebody calls Simon.

The courier man says to Jian Yao: “ I referred to as Mr.Bo.  He’s not residence in the intervening time. He mentioned to depart this bundle with you.” 

– Simon?   She didn’t know he has an English title.  

– Simon. It’s a pleasant title. It fits him. 

Simply earlier than time for dinner, there’s one other knock on the door. It’s Bo Jinyan.

They simply have a look at one another.  She passes him the parcel.  She expects him to depart immediately.  However as an alternative, he walks in with out an invite.  He begins inspecting the home. Then he takes a seat on the couch and opens the parcel.  It’s a doc file.  He begins going by means of the file. 

Jian Yao leaves him to do his personal factor.  She goes again to the kitchenette to arrange her dinner.