Chapter 2: 002 Nice to see you again so soon_1 Chapter 2: 002 Nice to see you again so soon_1 Tang Su had an injection and drove home, where she slept for a whole day and night, plagued by nightmares, and even dreamt of being sixteen again.
The citywide high school basketball league in Hua City was held once every three years, and Tang Su was lucky enough to catch it and was successfully selected to be a cheerleader.
It was then that she met Lu Han, a name she secretly found out after sneaking to the neighboring high school after the conclusion of the league.
If the man who returned her hairpin that day was also named Lu Han, it was undoubtedly him.
Lu Han, eight years later, had not become unsightly; instead, he had grown even handsomer.
In Tang Su’s dream, the setting was the day the basketball league finals ended.
Lu Han was sitting in the school bus taking them back, wearing earphones and resting with his eyes closed.
She, along with other cheerleaders, stood outside the bus, holding up wreaths to see them off, when suddenly, someone beside her grabbed her hand and shouted to Lu Han, “Senior, Tang Su likes you.”
Tang Su’s face turned red, and she turned and ran.
This was a scene that coincided with what had happened in reality back then.
In the dream, Tang Su ran aimlessly for a long time, not knowing where she ended up, as if transcending time and space, she suddenly crashed into the warm and broad chest of a man.
The man’s strong arms steadied her firmly, “Miss, you’ve dropped your hairpin.”
“…”
Tang Su looked up, and the face she saw was that of Lu Han, eight years later.
Tang Su suddenly woke up with a start.
As consciousness returned, recalling the man’s somewhat unfamiliar eyes that day, Tang Su understood; she remembered him, but he might not remember her.
It made sense, after all. Eight years ago, he had led their team to victory, and she was just one of the cheerleaders.
Even that declaration of affection, which was not quite a confession, was expressed by someone else on her behalf.
They never really knew each other eight years ago; she inquired about him through juniors at his school, and he was none the wiser, so it was only natural that he didn’t recognize her after eight years.
What Tang Su found vexing was; why did fate arrange their reunion on the most embarrassing day for her?
She had imagined countless scenarios of their reunion, but none were like that day.
At this moment, her childhood friend Sun Qing stood at her bedside, startling the awakened Tang Su into a scream.
“Ahh—”
“Ahh what?” Sun Qing’s presence was ice-cold.
Sun Qing had come to check on her after being unable to contact her and had let herself in when she had rung the doorbell for a long time without Tang Su opening the door.
Upon entering the room, she saw Tang Su lying in bed, with one side of her face pale as paper, and the other red and swollen.
Seeing that sight, Sun Qing’s blood felt like it suddenly froze over.
Immediately Sun Qing asked, “Who hit you in the face?”
Tang Su didn’t speak, but Sun Qing didn’t press her, knowing she would tell her eventually.
She lightly patted Tang Su’s head, “Get up, let’s have something to eat first.”
Having not eaten for a day and night, Tang Su got up to wash and then sat at the dining table, taking the lunch Sun Qing passed her and started wolfing it down. Eating caused pain in her cheek, which gradually spread to her heart.
Thinking about what had happened that day, Tang Su’s hatred flared fiercely.
She vowed to avenge that slap.
After finishing her meal, Sun Qing pressed, “You’ve eaten your fill, so can you tell your sister who hit you now?”
Tang Su embraced her, not holding back tears and snot as she rubbed against Sun Qing.
Sun Qing wanted to push her away in disdain, but her hand reached out and instead patted her on the back.
Once Tang Su had cried enough, she said with a stuffy voice, “Ye Sichen.”
“What?” Sun Qing was so furious she nearly jumped to her feet.
Why was it Ye Sichen?
How dared he strike a woman, and a woman who was head over heels for him, eager to cook and care for him?
How could he be so outrageous?
Tang Su had once said he was refined and genteel, but Sun Qing thought, Ye Sichen was simply a refined scoundrel.
“Is today Friday?” Tang Su suddenly asked.
“Why? You still want to go get the marriage certificate with him?” Sun Qing raised her eyebrows, she had heard Tang Su say that they might get their marriage certificate in a couple of days.
She had originally come over to ask Tang Su, after getting the certificate, how she wanted to celebrate, so she could make arrangements.
But now, it seems like that marriage certificate won’t be happening, right?
Tang Su shook her head, “I’m not going through with this marriage.”
“Right, us women need to know when to cut our losses. Sister’s got your back,” Sun Qing put her arm around Tang Su in a sign of support, “These days, we women earn our own money, do our own housework, can even fix the plumbing ourselves, what do we need men for?”
“For his hand to be big enough to make a loud slap?”
“…”
That slap had caused Tang Su’s hearing to significantly diminish. The things Sun Qing was saying were sometimes clear and sometimes inaudible.
Tang Su realized something, she grabbed Sun Qing’s hand, “Come with me to the hospital, I can’t hear very well.”
“Can’t hear? No wonder, I’ve been knocking on your door for ages and you didn’t open it. I thought you were dead asleep. Is it because of that bastard’s slap?” Sun Qing was both worried and angry.
“Can’t say for sure now, but it’s very likely.”
“Let’s hurry to the hospital. I’ll come with you. As for that son of a bitch, sister has taken note for you. Whenever there is a chance, I’ll make sure he pays back that slap with interest,” Sun Qing said determinedly.
“No need, I will find my own opportunity for revenge,” Tang Su said resolutely.
Sun Qing gave her a thumbs up.
**
Both of Tang Su’s parents are doctors, her father an anesthesiologist and her mother an otolaryngologist, both working at Hua City Central Hospital.
Unwilling to go to the hospital where her parents worked, Sun Qing understood and followed Tang Su’s wishes to Huanan Hospital instead.
Sun Qing registered Tang Su for an appointment with a specialist.
True to their title, the specialists didn’t disappoint. They arrived at two-thirty but it wasn’t until four-thirty that the nurse called their number.
Sun Qing wanted to accompany Tang Su inside, but the reception nurse stopped her at the door, “I’m sorry, but it’s sufficient for family members to wait outside during Doctor Lu’s consultations, no accompaniment necessary.”
“What a peculiar specialist…” Sun Qing muttered under her breath.
The young nurse found Sun Qing incredible, angry as if her idol had been blasphemed by Sun Qing.
Not wanting to cause a patient-doctor dispute before even seeing the doctor, Tang Su told her to wait on the side obediently.
Sun Qing did as she was told and settled down in the waiting area.
Only then did Tang Su explain to the nurse, “My childhood friend is blunt with her words, she means no harm, please don’t take it to heart, nurse.”
Tang Su didn’t catch what the nurse said, but followed her directions and sat down opposite Doctor Lu.
The first thing that caught her eye was Doctor Lu’s work ID on the desk, with his name, age, and professional title.
Lu Han, 28 years old, otolaryngology expert and head of department.
A department head at twenty-eight?
Truly accomplished at a young age.
Tang Su reflected thoughtfully, knowing that her mother had worked at the hospital until forty before becoming a specialist.
Her foggy mind suddenly felt as if struck by lightning.
Lu Han? Is it him?
Tang Su quickly looked up.
These days, it’s common to meet people with the same name. At university, Tang Su had met no less than three Lu Hans.
None of those Lu Hans were the one she had constantly thought about in the past, but now, the Lu Han sitting opposite her was indeed the one from that day.
And also the aloof senior who had dominated her entire youth when she was sixteen.
The suspicion she had before was, at this moment, confirmed.
It was him, just—
Had they really met again so soon?