Chapter 13

The winter vacation ended quietly like this.In the few days before returning to City B, Song Huaicheng was in a low mood.

That night, when Gu Pan came back and confessed about meeting the relatives of the Chen family, Song Huaicheng really hated it.Chen Shaochen, how could he be so black-bellied at such a young age, and easily trick his daughter into meeting her parents?The Song family hasn't expressed their opinion yet!He is very unhappy!

But what can he do now?It is impossible to beat Chen Shaochen to relieve his anger.

In a blink of an eye, it was the day when Gu Pan returned to City B.

Before parting, Song Huaicheng was full of emotion.

Gu Nian explained, "There is a saying, I don't know if you have read it. 'Don't worry about love, don't worry about your heart, don't fear the future, so be safe.' A smooth relationship is a good thing. It must be a bad thing." Smoothed the broken hair around her daughter's ears, "You are still young—in short, no matter what happens in the future, your father and I will be by your side."

Gu Pan hugged her tightly.She wanted to say, thank you for your patience and tolerance for me for so many years.Thank you for taking care of me wholeheartedly for so many years.

"Okay, let's go check the ticket." Gu Nian said.

Song Huaicheng sighed, and handed her the schoolbag, "Take good care of yourself." Sometimes he really dare not recall how that little baby grew into a big girl in the blink of an eye.

Gu Pan gestured, "Mom and Dad, goodbye!"

Song Huaicheng and Gu Nian stood there for a long time, staring ahead, full of reluctance.

The next day, Gu Pan went back to school.

Ye Zirui's bed had already been made, and Gu Pan accidentally glanced at the medicine box on her desk, she picked it up and looked at it, it was medicine for stomach cancer, and the box was empty.

At this time, there were several noises outside the door, and Gu Pan concentrated his mind to open the door.Chen Shaochen stood outside the door. He was wearing a black coat, looking refreshed, with a lunch box in his hand.

"Why did you come up here?" Gu Pan was surprised.

"You should be here by the time, I have to go downstairs in 15 minutes." He opened the lunch box.

Sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried broccoli, full of aroma.Chen Xiaochu's craftsmanship is improving day by day, and the soup has been mixed into the ribs, which is fragrant and crispy.

"Where's Zirui? I've prepared two for you."

Gu Pan replied: "She went to the studio to do homework for the winter vacation." He said and handed him the medicine box.

Chen Shaochen's complexion changed.

Gu Pan gestured, "The one on Zirui's table, I guess it belongs to her mother."

He comforted in a deep voice: "Since Mr. Zhou is willing to help her, this matter will not be too troublesome, and now that medicine is advanced, cancer can be cured."

His words seemed to give her a peace of mind.

Ye Zirui came back very late, looking tired.Her coat was stained with a lot of paint, and her long hair was tied casually with a rubber band. The corners of her mouth were already dry, and when she spoke, there was a little blood oozing from the lower right corner of her lips, "I'm exhausted."

Gu Pan was inexplicably distressed, poured a glass of water for her, and took out the food in the thermos.

"Thank you, I'm starving to death." Ye Zirui was not polite, and ate quickly. "The ribs are so delicious. Brother Chen still let us girls live. Gu Pan, you must have saved the Milky Way in your previous life." She suddenly smiled bitterly, "And I must be the destroyer of the Milky Way."

There is no peace in this life.

Gu Pan wrote on the paper: "How is your mother?"

Ye Zirui's face was pale and her eyes were dazed, "Gastric cancer is at an advanced stage, the doctor told us to be mentally prepared." She scratched her long hair, her face was full of depression and powerlessness, "She had half of her stomach cut two years ago. This time she fainted suddenly, and it was the neighbor who took her to the hospital."

"What else can I do? What else can I do!" she murmured.

Gu Pan patted her on the shoulder, and Ye Zirui slowly lay motionless on the table, her thin shoulders trembling.

In the face of some things, people are really too small, like weak sand and dust, powerless.Sickness, accidents, there are always various accidents, so we can only watch life passing by before our eyes, unable to do anything.

The school has started, and the campus has regained its vitality. In March, everything is revived, and the spring breeze is warm.

The School of Economics and Management's list of exchange trips to the United States in September was officially announced, and Chen Shaochen's name was impressively listed.

After Chen Shaochen received the news, after class, he went to the courtyard to find the teacher in charge. "Ms. Sun, I gave up my exchange student quota at Columbia University last semester."

Teacher Sun held the document in his hand, "Sit down and talk."

Chen Shaochen suppressed his expression.

Teacher Sun pushed his glasses, "The dean communicated with your father, and the result is what you saw today."

Chen Shaochen frowned, "So the final decision is that I have to go to America?"

Teacher Sun nodded, "You're still young, it's always good to go out and have a look."

Chen Shaochen smiled wryly, "Mr. Sun, I'm sorry for your trouble." The school will definitely not change easily, and he must discuss this matter with his father.

When Chen Shaochen returned to the dormitory, Yang Zhi and Zeng Xuran were playing games.

Yang Zhi was surprised, "Hey, why are you back?"

Chen Shaochen didn't speak.

"Congratulations, you are going to study in the United States. If you are not here next semester, our dormitory will probably return to a dirty, messy, and poor state."

Seeing Chen Shaochen's serious face, the two of them looked at each other and stopped talking.

Chen Shaochen pondered for a while, picked up his phone and walked outside.Only then did the people in the dormitory dare to speak.

"What's wrong? The atmosphere is not right today."

"I guess it's about going abroad. He doesn't want to go!"

"Such a great opportunity! It would be a pity not to go."

"Don't forget that Gu Pan is here! It will take a few years to go! Senior year, graduate student—a few years." Zeng Xuran gestured, "Gu Pan is only a freshman."

"Then let's go abroad together?" Yang Zhi said lightly.

"How likely do you think her situation is? Otherwise, he wouldn't be so entangled."

Chen Shaochen called Chen Zhanbei, and his secretary answered, "Your dad is in a meeting, and I will tell him after the meeting is over."

"Okay." Chen Shaochen leaned against the wall, his nerves tensed.He squeezed the phone, and his slender figure was projected on the ground, cold and powerless.

At this time, his cell phone rang, and it was a message from Gu Pan: I'm going to the studio to catch up with my homework at night, so I won't go to the library.You can write your dissertation at ease.

Chen Shaochen pursed his lips, fingertips back and forth on the screen, and finally sent only one sentence: Don't be too late, go back and rest early.

The Department of Fine Arts is going to hold a small art exhibition in the middle of this month. Recently, everyone is drawing like crazy, and staying up late has become a common occurrence.

Tang Tan has stayed up for three nights in a row, and he couldn't hold on tonight, so he left after ten o'clock.

It was already twelve o'clock, and there were still two people in the studio.

After an unknown amount of time, the classmate stood up, and the stool made a piercing sound on the ground, causing Gu Pan to pause for a moment.

"Gu Pan, it's past twelve o'clock, let's draw again tomorrow. The classroom is too cold."

Gu Pan pointed to his own painting, saying that he still has a little bit left.

The male classmate glanced at her painting and smiled innocently, "You girls' paintings are exquisite. Then I'm leaving, and you should go back earlier."

Gu Pan was the only one left in the studio, and the light was only turned on where she was, and the light covered the top of her head, leaving a faint halo.She speeded up, and after more than half an hour, she finally finished.

She took out her mobile phone only to find that it was out of battery and automatically turned off.The muscles in her neck were stiff, she hurriedly packed up the paint, palette, and brushes to go back, but when she opened the door, she realized something was wrong.

Gu Pan pulled hard, but the door didn't move at all. She felt a little bit in her heart. She was sure that the door was locked from the outside.

Her hands were stained with dry gouache, sticking to her skin dryly, and the smell of paint spread into her nose bit by bit, and her heart was desolate.

At the beginning of March, the nighttime temperature in City B was only a few degrees, and it was cold in the late spring these few days, so the studio was terribly cold and silent.But no matter how cold it was, it couldn't cool her heart.Gu Pan walked to the window, and through the glass, he could see the dim light from the street lamps, and the empty campus looked like a sleeping child at the moment.The occasional wind noise from outside made her hug herself with both arms, and the coldness continued.

It happened that the house was leaking and it was raining overnight, and her mobile phone was out of battery, so it seemed that she would have to wait until tomorrow to go out.Gu Pan returned to her seat and lay down on the table. After several days of exhaustion, she couldn't control her drowsiness.

Nightmare.

Chen Shaochen was woken up by the phone in the morning.

"Senior Brother Chen, Gu Pan didn't go back to the dormitory last night, is she with you?"

"Did you call her?" Chen Shaochen's voice became tense, and he had already jumped off the bed.

"Can't get through."

Chen Shaochen's expression froze instantly, "She sent me a message last night, I'm going to the studio now."

Ye Zirui hung up the phone and said to Tang Tan, "Let's go to the studio too."

Tang Tan looked nervous, "Is nothing wrong?"

Ye Zirui frowned, "Don't think about it, what can happen at school. Maybe she won't come back when she is too late in the studio."

The campus is still silent in the tranquility of the morning, the mist is scattered, and the distant scenery is blurred.Shuttle on the road to the students who went to morning reading.

Chen Shaochen hurried all the way to the studio of the Fine Arts Department.

Ye Zirui and Tang Tan also arrived, both panting, "Senior Brother Chen, I just asked my classmates, Gu Pan was indeed the last one to leave last night."

"Go up and have a look first."

The three of them looked solemn and came to the door of the studio.

"The door is locked." Tang Tan said, "It should not be inside."

Ye Zirui slammed on the door, "Gu Pan."

Chen Shaochen's face was serious, "Her phone must have run out of battery." There was a premonition that she was inside.

Gu Pan's eyelids were heavy, he opened a gap slightly, and vaguely heard something outside, but he couldn't use any strength.

She was relieved to know that someone was coming, and she knew they would find her.

"Could you not be inside?" Tang Tan asked nervously.

Chen Shaochen stood at the door, "Who keeps the key to the studio?"

"Usually it's with the monitor, but these days, we're rushing to finish the draft, it's very confusing, and we don't know whose hands it is."

Tang Qin patted the door, "Gu Pan—Gu Pan—"

Gu Pan only felt that her whole body was taken apart. She reached out and pushed a box of paint on the table with difficulty, and the paint fell to the ground, making a sound.

"Listen—there is a voice inside." Ye Zirui said.

Chen Shaochen pursed his thin lips, he turned sideways, and slammed hard against the door.

"Boom-thump-"

Ye Zirui's heart was shaken, without saying a word, she also turned sideways, and started to slam into the door together with him.

Finally, after dozens of violent impacts, the door lock loosened, and the old door was finally opened.The curtains of the classroom were all drawn, and a lamp was left on. Under the lamp, a figure was sleeping on the table.

Chen Shaochen pinched his palms tightly, suppressed his emotions on his stern face, his heart ached beyond measure, he strode over, "Panpan—"

Gu Pan felt a figure passing by in front of his eyes.

With a sullen face, Chen Shaochen stretched out his hand to touch her forehead, which was hot. "I'll take her to the hospital first."

The moment Ye Zirui and Tang Tan opened the door lock, they were stunned.The door was locked from the outside, and they all thought of something.

Chen Shaochen hugged Gu Pan, "Go back."

"Brother, we will accompany you." Tang Tan said.

"No need, you guys go to class and help me get a change of clothes for her later." Chen Shaochen ordered quietly.

"it is good."

The light of the morning sun has dispelled the diffuse mist, and the sun shines in through the gaps in the curtains, leaving some mottled halos in the classroom.

"Why is Gu Pan locked in the studio?" Tang Tan asked anxiously.

Ye Zirui was silent for a moment, "Someone did it on purpose."

"Who?" The building was empty at night, staying here alone at night, Tang Tan subconsciously clasped his arms.

Ye Zirui shook her head, probably someone she knew.

hospital.

Gu Pan felt a tingling pain on the back of his hand, and as soon as he moved, his hand was grabbed.A warm palm, fingertips clasped her fingers tightly.

In the quiet ward, there is only the sound of saline bottles clinking together.

After the nurse inserted the needle, she said softly to Chen Shaochen: "Her mouth is a bit dry, you can use a cotton swab to dip the corners of her lips with some water."

"Thank you." Chen Shaochen replied politely.

He has been sitting there, staring at her sleeping face without blinking.She once told him that many classmates used to envy her, having beautiful clothes to wear, all kinds of snacks that cannot be eaten in China, and parents who cared for her in every possible way, but she envied those classmates who could say what they wanted to say and sing Songs I want to sing.

Chen Shaochen didn't dare to think about the scene of knocking open the door, she lay there lifelessly.If he had picked her up last night, she would not have been locked up in the studio, nor would she be lying in the hospital now.

Gu Pan moved his hands uneasily, and Chen Shaochen immediately grabbed her, "Panpan—" His voice was deep and mellow, miraculously comforting her.Raising his hand to straighten her messy hair, Chen Shaochen sighed slightly.

Gu Pan slept all morning, and Chen Shaochen finally woke her up, "It's time for Sleeping Beauty to wake up."

She blinked and moved slightly, only to realize that her limbs were sore and swollen without any strength.

Chen Shaochen noticed it, "Have you had enough sleep?" He pressed her arm carefully, "Does the arm still hurt?"

Gu Pan looked at the outline of his side face, and she remembered every line in her heart.She shook her head and said no problem.

The room was silent.

After massaging for a long while, Chen Shaochen stopped.Looking at Gu Pan's blurred expression, he said, "Eat something."

Gu Pan suppressed his chaotic emotions and gestured, "Very hungry."

Chen Shaochen served a bowl of white porridge, Gu Pan was about to take it, he shook his head, "I'll do it." He scooped up a spoon carefully, and blew lightly for fear of being hot.

Steaming white porridge was placed in front of the two of them.Everything in front of me is like a dream, sweet and dreamy.

Gu Pan raised his hand and gestured slowly, "Will you go abroad?"

Chen Shaochen's hands trembled, and the porridge accidentally dripped onto his clothes.

She raised her chin slightly and looked at him without blinking.Her face was pale because of the fever.

At that moment, Chen Shaochen's chest was full of words, but he found himself speechless.He didn't want Gu Pan to be troubled by this matter.

He pursed his lips, "I made you worry." He put the porridge aside and held her hand, "I won't go, T is fine. I will always be by your side." He kept The word paused, and the voice was firm.

Gu Pan relaxed, but her heart was extremely entangled. She kept telling herself not to trap him here so selfishly, but she still couldn't help asking him.

Seeing her silence, Chen Shaochen sighed, "I provoked you first, how could I leave you here alone?" The ending sound rose, "Unless Little Bread doesn't want me anymore."

Gu Pan blinked, his expression became very heavy, and he gestured with his hands, "Brother, I was alone in the studio last night, and I was very scared. My phone was out of power, so I couldn't send you a message even if I wanted to. Then I fell asleep and did it. I had a dream. It was snowing that year. We walked out of the school together. You asked me to show you that you could understand. You don’t know how happy I was at that time..." Her eyebrows slightly raised, "Maybe it was from then on that I I just like you. But you are so nice, and what about me? I am too troublesome, people always have to wait for me to type out every word when communicating with me.”

Chen Shaochen's eyes were reddish, it turned out that she was always so uneasy.His throat was hard, and he said in a gentle and moving voice: "If it is trouble, it is also a sweet trouble, not to mention that I like your trouble, and I am happy."

Gu Pan sniffed, bit the corner of his lip hard, raised his hand and gestured, "Thank you."

Chen Shaochen stretched out his hand to hug her, put it next to her ear, and said in a deep voice, "I'm also reluctant to leave."

In the afternoon, Chen Shaochen received a call from his father, and his face was a little dignified.

"Shaochen, did you need something from me yesterday?"

Chen Shaochen stood in front of the window, "Dad, I have thought about going to America to study in the second half of the year, please don't interfere."

There was a few coughs from the other end.

"Aren't you going to go?" Chen Zhanbei asked again.

"En." Chen Shaochen replied.

Chen Zhanbei stroked his sore and swollen forehead on the other end, "It's emotional." His deep voice sounded again, with undisguised criticism, not angry but powerful.

Chen Shaochen lowered his eyes, "Dad, I know that you and my mother have experienced many difficulties to be together. I think you should understand my feelings."

"Confused! If you really want to be nice to her, you have to become stronger. Chen Shaochen, do you have that ability now? A student, giving up his future for the sake of feelings? You will only make me underestimate you, and you are not worthy of being me, Chen Zhan Bei's son." The more Chen Zhanbei spoke, the angrier he became.

His voice was loud, and Gu Pan heard some words from a distance.

Chen Shaochen pursed his lips, "Even if I don't go abroad, I'm sure of my future."

The father and son broke up unhappy and each hung up the phone.

Chen Shaochen turned his head, Gu Pan was looking at him, he walked over and comforted: "It's okay."

Gu Pan squeezed her hands, the strength in her palms made her try hard to get rid of the powerlessness.

She looked at him. They are still young now, and their promises to the future are sincere, but no one can guarantee what the future will be like.

It was like she was inexplicably locked in the studio.

Gu Pan began to feel confused...

Seeing her absent-minded, Chen Shaochen sighed, "I will have a good talk with him, isn't it the same where you study?" He paused, "The porridge seems to be cold——"

Fortunately, Tang Tan and Ye Zirui came over at this time.

"Gu Pan, how are you? You scared us to death." Tang Tan patted his chest, Ye Zirui stood aside without saying a word.

"I'm fine." She twitched.

Chen Shaochen greeted the two of them and went out to make porridge.

Tang Qin said: "We asked, you and Xu Song were the last ones to leave yesterday. It can't be him who locked the door. Do you remember who was the last one to leave?"

Gu Pan pondered, then shook her head for a long while, "I don't remember, I have been rushing to draw and didn't pay attention." She squinted her eyes.

"We must catch that person, it's too hateful." Tang Qin said through gritted teeth.

Ye Zirui said, "I brought you a set of clothes." She looked at Gu Pan's pale face, thoughtfully, "Gu Pan, there is something I just found out, and I think I should tell you."

Tang Tan took her hand, as if he didn't want her to talk.

Ye Zirui calmed down, "We heard that Senior Brother Chen is going to America as an exchange student next semester, do you know?"

Gu Pan's heart was full of gratitude, but there was not much emotion on his face.She made a gesture, and both of them understood and handed over their mobile phones.

With the same movement, the three suddenly laughed.

Gu Pan typed a line on Ye Zirui's Nokia phone with a long history, "I know. Don't worry, I'm fine."

"Will Senior Brother Chen leave?" They were all worried about this question.

Gu Pan was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"Don't go?"

She typed four words, "I don't know."

In the evening, when Chen Shaochen came back, Gu Pan's spirit had improved a lot, and she wanted to be discharged from the hospital.

Chen Shaochen said with a sullen face, "The doctor said that you have stayed up too late these days, your body's resistance has declined, and you will have to hang up the water for two days."

Gu Pan took his hand with a flattering expression on his face.

Chen Shaochen couldn't take it anymore, he just sighed softly, "The temperature was so low last night—" His eyes were full of worry and fear, "Be sure to fully charge your phone in the future."

Gu Pan nodded again and again, and gestured again, "I won't forget."

In the end, he still went to Chen Shaochen.

"You go to rest, you can sleep or read comics." Chen Shaochen took off his coat and only wore a plaid shirt underneath.

Gu Pan didn't move, watching him take off his clothes.

"What's wrong?" Chen Shaochen hung up his clothes.

Gu Pan walked to his side and put his right hand on his right shoulder, "I want to see—" she gestured, "Zi Rui said that you didn't get the key to the studio."

The door was slammed open, and on his shoulder—

He replied: "It's not a big deal."

Gu Pan held back his expression, "I want to see it. Don't be shy."

Chen Shaochen was at a loss for words, "Since you want to see it, you can take it off."

Gu Pan's face froze, his left and right hands went up, and he unbuttoned them one by one.

Chen Shaochen finally couldn't hold back, "Let me do it." His hands were beautiful, with slender fingers, "Did you see that?" He said in a hoarse voice, "It's that simple, you have to learn it too."

Gu Pan unhurriedly opened his shirt, his shoulders were dark purple.She only felt pain in her internal organs, and wandered cautiously over the scar.

Chen Shaochen turned sideways, trying to avoid her hand.Gu Pan shook her head violently, she whimpered, and held him tightly with one hand, not letting him escape.

Chen Shaochen said naturally: "It doesn't hurt, it's just that the color is scary." With a smile in the corner of his eyes, "I broke my leg when I was playing football when I was young, it hurts much more than this."

Gu Pan sniffed his nose, the tip of his nose was red and sour.

Seeing that she didn't look up, Chen Shaochen was agitated for a while, "Hey, wait a few days and you can help me rub it well?"

Gu Pan blinked, hot tears spilled onto his chest, Chen Shaochen trembled, his heart was hot.

Gu Pan withdrew his hand and casually wiped away his tears. When he looked at him again, his emotions had stabilized. She made gestures one after another, "You broke the door of our studio, you pay for it!" There were still tears on the eyelashes.

Chen Shaochen thought about it, and his eyes gradually darkened, "Naturally, I have to pay for it. But—" His expression also became gloomy, "Let's talk about how you were locked in the studio?"

Gu Pan already smelled a dangerous breath.

(End of this chapter)

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