Call

Chen Kaori went through her own posts the next moment, checking if she had given herself away, spending the holidays alone.

She sighed when she confirmed she posted nothing of the sort.

Her brows furrowed wondering how He Zifeng had the audacity to make her crave for crawfish.

She turned off her phone and shook her head. "This...no, this is bad. I should sleep."

Chen Kaori fixed her things and lied on her bed.

He Zifeng had been hot and cold towards her for years. She adored him as her savior and fell for him deeper each year.

When he went abroad to take his masters degree, she took hers in City O, but she was sent to live in the university, as her mother has a new family.

.

.

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"Hey, good morning over there," she greeted when he finally picked up her call.

"Ugh...Chen Kaori...it's too early." his husky voice complained.

Her time was thirteen hours ahead. Chen Kaori opened a takeout container to start her dinner when she made the call.

On the other line, He Zifeng was still sleeping when she called. He was up all night making a project proposal and had only been sleeping a couple of hours when his phone rang.

"You don't plan to skip breakfast, do you?"

"I want sleep more! I was up all night," he complained, but he stayed on the line.

Since they were miles away, it was the only time that He Zifeng allowed Chen Kaori to message and call like his girlfriend would.

Chen Kaori was sad to part ways with him, but was delighted when he became less cold, answering her messages and calls all the time, no matter how busy or tired he was.

"Okay. Sleep then...but you better eat brunch. I'll call again when it's time to wake up." Chen Kaori took pity at his tired and sleepy voice.

"Uh-huh...hmmm..." was the reply.

Chen Kaori hung up to let him sleep in. She giggled when the call was over then continued eating her dinner. She was doing fine in graduate school. In fact, she was being scouted by an advertising firm already, but she declined saying she will soon come back to City S.

She was washing dishes when her phone rang. She looked at the time as she wiped her hands dry and furrowed her brows.

She did not expect He Zifeng to be up just yet. Nevertheless, she hurried to get her phone.

Chen Kaori was even more confused as she tapped to answer the call, "Okāsan.*" (Mother/Mom)

"Kaori...how's uni?" Her mother's voice was soft as usual.

"Good...really good. I'm learning a lot," Chen Kaori replied.

"That's good to hear. Uhm...tomorrow's a weekend...and I..."

"Okāsan, I will come to your birthday." Chen Kaori declared.

"Really? Yokatta ne!*" (That's good to hear) Her mother's voice was full of excitement.

"Demo Okāsan*...please let me choose which clothes to wear." (But Mother)

"Uh...sure, sure!"

"Don't worry. I will abide by the dress code."

"I'm sure my daughter will be the prettiest! Oh, don't forget to use my card."

"Okāsan..."

"Kaori...your father and I already agreed on this. If you are in Country C, he will handle your financial matters. When you are in my home country, I will support you."

Chen Kaori sighed, "Alright...I'll get going then, so I could buy an expensive dress before the store closes."

"Make sure it's expensive!"

With that, Chen Kaori went straight to the designer shop her mother likes the most.

Her card made them treat her like royalty.

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Chen Kaori had been home after shopping and was about to go to sleep when she called to wake He Zifeng up so he could eat brunch.

"Yeah, yeah...I'm up." He Zifeng replied from the other line.

"Good. I'm in bed now." Chen Kaori casually declared.

He Zifeng gulped as his senses were awakened by her sentence. "Uh...I'll find something to eat now."

"Okay...uhm...I'll go to my mom's birthday party tomorrow. I went shopping while you were sleeping. Uh, can you look at what I got...see if it's okay? I just sent it to you. Ehrm...well, I need to sleep now. Bye!"

Before He Zifeng could say anything else, the line was cut off.

He obediently checked her message and her photo in the dress shop was there.

He Zifeng stood up upon seeing the photo, his eyes widened.

He hurried to check the earliest flight to City O.