Chapter Six: A Fish
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(Why has another chapter been locked? What exactly isn’t allowed to be written!)
The two of them went out and made a thorough round of shopping, and after that, they didn’t leave the house again. Every day, they only kept an eye on the news and called their families, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the twenty-third. Zhao Nan’nan was going home.
“I’ll leave the house to you these few days. I’ll probably be back after the fifteenth.”
“Don’t bother coming back. Looks like the city’s about to be sealed off. Stay in your hometown a little longer.”
“Alright, then I’m off. Bye~”
“Bye~”
Zhao Nan’nan went downstairs and hailed a cab. The news reports these days had already made people uneasy. And with all public transport shutting down at ten o’clock today, Zhao Nan’nan arrived at the train station early in the morning to find far more people there than she had imagined.
Wearing an anti-smog mask, Zhao Nan’nan sat alone in the waiting area. Just as she was about to enter the main hall, she paused, turned around, and left.
“You—why are you back?” Tian Lei came out upon hearing the door open, and seeing Zhao Nan’nan walk in, asked curiously. “What did you forget? You could’ve called me—I’d bring it to you. Can you even catch your train now?”
“I… I’m not going home this year!”
“Did you have a fight with your family? Whatever it is, you should still go home!”
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“With the virus so severe now, if I get infected, won’t my parents get infected too?”
Tian Lei nodded slightly after hearing this, then grabbed the spray bottle filled with disinfectant and proceeded to sanitize Zhao Nan’nan.
Zhao Nan’nan cooperated fully, spreading her arms in a cross and slowly turning in place. Her movements were practiced—clearly she’d done this many times already.
Once she’d turned around, she removed her mask and disposable gloves, and Tian Lei began disinfecting her luggage.
After the process, Zhao Nan’nan smiled, pushed her suitcase back to her room, and called her parents.
Tian Lei thought for a moment, took a fish out of the freezer, and started to thaw it. Zhao Nan’nan’s actions moved him, though there was a hint of helplessness too. These days, each day brought new shocks, and it was hard to step outside.
Back in her room, Zhao Nan’nan picked up the phone, hesitated, and finally called her mother. “Mom, I’m not coming home this year!”
“…What happened?” Her mother’s voice rose abruptly.
“The virus is really bad here. Trains are about to stop running. I’m afraid if I go home, I’ll bring it to you. I’m not coming back this year!”
“No! Didn’t you say you could make it home? Hurry up and come back!!” Her mother’s voice rose again, “You have to come back!!”
“Mom, I’ve already refunded my ticket.” Zhao Nan’nan spoke firmly, but her eyes were already red. “This virus is truly frightening—I can’t go back!”
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“…Silly girl, you have to come home!” Her mother’s voice was choked with emotion.
“It’s alright, Mom. Don’t worry! I’ll take good care of myself. That’s all for now—I still have to tidy up here!” Zhao Nan’nan forced herself to hold back, but after hanging up, she pressed her face into her hands and began to cry.
It took Tian Lei an hour and a half to stew the fish. He set the table, then knocked on Zhao Nan’nan’s door.
“What is it?” Zhao Nan’nan opened the door, her tears already wiped away, her suitcase half-packed.
“It’s afternoon already, and I see you haven’t eaten. Come have some. Looks like this year’s New Year’s dinner will be just the two of us. Let me show you my cooking.”
“It does smell good.” Zhao Nan’nan’s nose twitched, and she managed a smile.
“Come on, try it.” Tian Lei hadn’t gone home for the New Year in years—in fact, he didn’t really have much of a concept of New Year’s dinner. The news was urging people not to gather, and even the chance to go out for a drink was gone. It was rare to have someone to share a meal with.
Zhao Nan’nan sat at the table, took a deep breath, and her lips curved upwards. “Thank you.”
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