A red bean

Author: Qiong Yao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Excerpt from the book: At midnight. The sky was only dimly lit. But Xia Chuile had already woken up. Resting her head on her hands, she slightly lifted her eyelashes, half-closing her eyes, watching the dark red curtains gradually turning bright red under the morning light. She was vaguely thinking of many things in her heart. These thoughts were like some shiny points shining before her. They were also like the sky at sunrise, colorful and dazzlingly beautiful. These things filled her young heart, making her unable to sleep or calm down. Even lying there motionless, she could feel the joyful energy stirring in her blood, like waves rising and falling. Today was a date. Today she would go out with the Liang siblings, and also that foolish boy, Zhao Zhenya! Thinking of Zhao Zhenya made her laugh. Big head, broad shoulders, he looked like a bull terrier. But Liang Zhizhong, for some reason, liked him. He said he was handsome and had a masculine charm, "intelligent but not showing it." Of course, he didn't show it. She couldn't see the slightest trace of intelligence in him. Liang Zhizhong, Liang Zhizhong, Liang Zhizhong. Liang Zhizhong was a carefree and reckless brat, and Zhao Zhenya was a foolish and silly one! Then, what about Liang Zhizhong? No, Liang Zhizhong couldn't be called a "brat." Liang Zhizhong was an undeniable gentle gentleman. He and Liang Zhizhong were completely different from each other. Zhizhong was rough and bold, while Zhizhong was scholarly and modest. The two brothers truly had their own strengths! If you "break both and mix them with water," they would become a "standard type." Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh. Her own laughter startled her, and only then did she realize her arm was numb from being pressed under her head. She pulled her arm out and looked at the clock. How? It was still before six! Time was passing so slowly. She turned over and pulled up the quilt, wrapping herself in it. She couldn't get up yet. It was still too early. If she got up, her father would laugh at her, calling her a "night owl reborn" and a "mad girl." Closing her eyes, she wanted to fall back asleep when suddenly, the phone in the living room downstairs rang. The clear ring shattered the stillness of the morning. She shot straight up from the bed, instinctively feeling it must be the Liang brothers calling her! Turning off the bed, she didn't even have time to put on her slippers and rushed straight to the door. Opening her room door, she ran downstairs barefoot, jumping and stumbling, muttering to herself, "It's all Mom's fault. No extension phones allowed in any bedroom. What strange rule is that? It's so troublesome to hear the phone!" Rushing into the living room, the phone had already rung more than ten times. She grabbed the receiver, panting, shouting, "Hello! Who is it?" "Hello!" The voice on the other end was soft and gentle—surprisingly, it was a woman! "May I help you?" Her timid tone was mixed with a certain urgency and anxiety. "Is this the Xia Mansion?" "Yes!" Xia Chuile frowned, a little puzzled. She checked the clock—it was only 5:50! Who was so reckless as to call so early? "Sorry," the other said apologetically, her voice soft, gentle, deep, and magnetic—unbelievably pleasant and charming. "I'm calling for Dr. Xia, Xia Xiahan, the doctor." "Oh!" Xia Chuile glanced at the stairs. Waking her father up so early to answer the phone would be cruel. The hospital had another emergency last night, and she hadn't come home until the middle of the night. "He's still sleeping. Can you call back in a couple of hours?" she said bluntly, immediately wanting to hang up. "Hey, hey," the other person panicked, her voice even trembling slightly, "Sorry, so sorry, but I have an urgent matter to discuss with him. My name is Du." "Are you his patient?" "No, not me. It's my daughter. Please, please let Dr. Xia answer the phone." The other person's voice was already filled with anxiety.