1136 Missing the Appointment
She pressed her ear to his chest and listened to his clear and powerful heartbeat as she tried to make her reason sound credible.
“I was observing and recording data since I went there this morning. Later, Teacher Xu told me to take a short break, so I went to take a nap before continuing with the work later. But…”
Being busy with one thing for a long time would make one tired. It was normal to have a short rest to attain high efficiency later on.
She wrapped her arms around his slim waist and said in a muffled voice, “Then I had a nightmare. I tried to call you when I woke up, but your phone was turned off.”
There was an almost undetectable trace of grievance in her voice.
Why did it have to be switched off at that time?
He did not know that the fear at that moment had been overwhelming as it surged and had easily overcome her.
Lu Huaiyu was hugging her, so he could not see her current expression, but he could clearly feel her emotions.
Panic, nervousness, fear, and grievance.
His heart suddenly ached.
He closed his eyes and hugged her even tighter. He rested his chin on the top of her head and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry.”
The point was not that his phone had been turned off, but… When she had looked for him, when she had needed him… he had not been there.
How could he make such a mistake?
He cupped her face in his hands, looking into her eyes carefully and carefully. He repeated himself, enunciating each word, “I’m sorry, there won’t be a next time.”
Her eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist.
Lu Huaiyu looked at her, his slightly calloused fingers gently caressing her cheek.
“What dream did you have? Was it related to me?”
Shen Li’s eyelashes fluttered.
She pursed her lips and nodded… before then shaking her head.
“… I think it was… I was looking for you, but I couldn’t find you. I can’t remember the details.”
Of course, she couldn’t actually say what it was.
This explanation seemed to be enough to explain why she had come to him in such a hurry.
Lu Huaiyu’s eyes were dark as he looked at her for a long time.
No matter how terrifying the nightmare was, it was still just a dream.
How could she not be able to differentiate between dream and reality? How could she put aside all her work at the National Planetarium just because of a dream that she could no longer remember, just to look for him.
He remembered the look in her eyes when she came in. He remembered it very clearly.
It was as if he had just survived a disaster, or she was worried and afraid of losing something, but was so glad to finally be sure that everything was still as it was.
Especially since… She had come here immediately.
He was silent for a while. Then, he kissed her between her eyebrows and said, “Why couldn’t you find me? You’ve found me now.”
His cool and soft lips fell upon her, filled with his cedar scented breath.
Her restless heart finally calmed down and she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
“Lu Huaiyu.”
He replied in a low voice, “Yes, I’m here.”
She closed her eyes.
…
Gu Tinglan sat outside and waited for a while. When he heard the door open, he turned his head to look.
Shen Li and Lu Huaiyu walked out one after another.
He studied bother their expressions, but could not see anything.
He had no idea what they had been talking about inside.
He stood up and said, “Ah Li.”
“Little Uncle.”
He looked at her, then at Lu Huaiyu, and asked, “Have you settled the matter with Second Master Lu?”
Shen Li paused and nodded.
She had said those words to Lu Huaiyu because she had to give him a clear explanation. As for the others, it was better to say less and make fewer mistakes.
Although Gu Tinglan was curious, he did not ask further as he considered that this was a matter between a couple. Besides, the expression on Shen Li’s face showed that she did not want to talk about it.
Recalling the few missed calls she had made earlier, he glanced at Lu Huaiyu and asked, “You tried to look for him, but his phone was turned off. Why did you think of calling me? ”
Shen Li’s eyebrows jumped.
On this day in her previous life, the two of them had met with an accident together. Naturally, her first reaction had been to look for Gu Tinglan.
But these words…
“Uncle and Second Bother have always been on good terms, so I was just trying my luck.”
She said carefully, “Besides, Uncle usually doesn’t ignore my calls. I thought it was strange, so I called a few times.”
So in that case, did that mean that she had not known that Lu Huaiyu was here today?
But even if she had not known before, she did now.
Gu Tinglan paused for a moment before laughing.
“Yes, we were supposed to have dinner together tonight.”
Shen Li nodded and did not ask any further questions. It seemed like she would believe whatever he said.
Lu Huaiyu glanced at her from the side.
Gu Tinglan looked at the time.
“It’s almost five o ‘clock. I still have one last patient. Ah Li, why don’t you wait here for a while, and we can have dinner together later?”
It was obviously not appropriate for her to return to the National Planetarium at this time. In addition, the accident had not happened even until now, so she did not dare to relax completely. Of course, it would be best if she could be with them.
Hence, she agreed without hesitation.
“Alright, I’ll go with what you say, Uncle.”
Gu Tinglan laughed.
“It’s your first time here, so you can take a look around first. There’s a barbeque restaurant on Linchuan Road nearby. It’s really good. Would you like to try it later?”
Shen Li’s heart seemed to be clenched by something.
— Linchuan Road!
That was the place where the accident had happened in her previous life!
This was also why she had driven directly to that place before she had gotten through to them!
However, while she had been on the way here, Gu Tinglan had called her back to confirm that the two of them were in the clinic. She had then taken a turn and come here instead.
Who would have known that Gu Tinglan would suggest going to Linchuan Road for a meal?
She pursed her lips.
“Uncle, I don’t really feel like eating barbecued meat tonight.”
“Huh? You don’t want to eat this?” Gu Tinglan did not really mind it. “So, what would you like to eat, then?”
Shen Li said, “I haven’t thought about it yet. Why don’t we decide on it later?”
Gu Tinglan smiled and nodded. “Sure. We’ll go with whatever you feel like then.”
“Okay,” Shen Li replied and sat down on the sofa.
Lu Huaiyu handed her a cup of water. Only then did she realize that her throat was extremely dry.
Gu Tinglan turned around and walked in the other direction. His assistant went up to him and said, “Doctor Gu, Mister Dou is not here yet.”
The hand Shen Li was using to hold the cup suddenly stopped when she heard the name ‘Mister Dou’.
Gu Tinglan looked surprised.
“He hasn’t come yet? It’s almost time. Doesn’t he always arrive twenty minutes earlier?”
The assistant shook her head.
“We don’t know what’s going on either. Until now, Mister Dou still hasn’t called to cancel the appointment.”
Gu Tinglan frowned slightly.
At that moment, Shen Li’s voice came from behind.
“Uncle, did your patient… miss his appointment?”
Gu Tinglan turned around. I’m not sure yet. But it looks like it’s very possible.
Shen Li’s fingers tightened.
“Why would he break a promise for no reason?”
“Yes, I’m also surprised.” Gu Tinglan smiled. “He’s always been very enthusiastic whenever he comes here. Oh, speaking of which, you should remember this person. He was the one who insisted on seeing me and my assistant had called several times to urge me to return. “
