Chapter Four, Warmth Abounds.

At times, I excitedly knocked on his door and when he appeared in front of me, I shouted with excitement, "I have successfully cultivated Hi-1 type bacteria. Professor Fujii praised me for being diligent and hardworking. He is likely to let me participate in the targeted therapy project for lung cancer cells." He laughed, his eyes and eyebrows smiling, showing genuine happiness for me. "I will take you out for a big meal to celebrate your hard work!"

Really? Then I won't sleep tonight and will further enrich my report. However, before enriching the report, I can still chat with handsome guys to relieve some stress.

"Oh? Professor Fujii wants to hear your report? Is he intending to involve you in the anti-cancer bacteria project?" When it comes to my research topic, Ye Zhengchen's eyes reveal an unusually rare focus.

You see this late every day, you must be very tired, right?

Ask.

Walking through the bamboo forest, walking along the mountain path, bypassing the bamboo forest, he stopped in front of a stone stele. Deeply engraved on the stele were verses as free and unrestrained as flowing clouds: "The truth of the world becomes more obscure the more one seeks it, but within the obscurity, occasionally a glimmer of light is seen, making the truth even more enchanting..."

As soon as our eyes met, and he saw my moist eyes, his smile faded away and he asked, "Why are you crying?"

He lowered his gaze, and his gentle eyes fell on my face. I also looked back at him quietly, unable to help but exclaim in my heart: This man is so handsome!

Deep into the night, Ye Zhengchen sits in his room wearing pajamas and drinking tea, while I am in his bathroom washing socks with great care inside and out.

"Did you come to see the maple leaves alone?" he asked.

At times, when I inquire about the progress of his research, he explains the profound pathology to me in a clear and concise manner, teaching me how to prepare a report that would satisfy the professor.

I was completely puzzled, when suddenly a beam of light shone upon Ye Zhengchen and me. After adjusting to the dazzling light, I saw Feng holding a microphone and saying seriously, "Hey you two, stop flirting and pick a song to sing."

Senior Brother, may I ask you a question? I have been troubled by a question for a long time. Now that I have the rare opportunity to have a heart-to-heart talk with the handsome Ye in the quiet of the night, it would be a disservice to myself if I don't ask some personal questions.

Ye Zhengchen was momentarily stunned by my question, then he smiled at me with a mysterious expression and said, "It's something that men understand, even if I were to explain, you wouldn't understand."

I really want to ask: What about me? You've been so good to me, you wouldn't happen to want to have a one-night stand with me or anything, would you?

I scratched my head and nodded, "Professor Fujii wants to know about my recent research progress and asked me to give a presentation tomorrow. I just finished preparing."

I suddenly remembered my childhood friend. He also likes cactus and despite being pricked all over, he still likes it. He paused and sighed faintly, "I haven't contacted him for a year, I don't know how he is now." The last time we met, he hit me with a beer can. I don't know if he will hit me with a cactus next time we meet."

Friends laughed together, and someone pointed at Ye Zhengchen and said, "The words 'pure' and 'innocent' coming out of your mouth, why do they sound so impure?"

For example, one day, I heard the doorbell before I even got out of bed. I opened the door, but there was no one outside. There was an extremely ugly cactus and a large birthday cake placed at the doorstep.

I took a long breath and patted my chest, feeling a sense of relief as if I had escaped from the mouth of a wolf, but at the same time, there was a faint sense of loss. I tried my best to ignore that feeling of loss and smiled brightly at Ye Zhengchen, saying, "Senior Brother, I am grateful for your support. If there is anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask. I will definitely do my best and give my all, even if it means sacrificing my life."

Um...

I had no choice but to reluctantly take the microphone and, amidst the lingering prelude, follow him to the front of the screen, singing this song that we had listened to countless times together.

At times, we stand together in front of the door, leaning lightly on the railing of the open-air corridor, watching people fishing by the lake, watching them catch and release, and then catch again.

"You're still not sleeping at this late hour?" he asked.

Ye Zhengchen turned around and saw me, smiled, his smile was like ice and snow suddenly melting into clear stream, flowing through the tip of my heart.

Busy time always passes quickly, in the blink of an eye, several months have passed.

Oh? Are you criticizing or praising?

Ye Zhengchen stood up generously, took two microphones, and handed one of them to me, saying, "Let's sing together."

Okay, I won't tease you anymore. I don't have a girlfriend. He winked at me and said, "Silly girl, a man like me can never have a girlfriend."

At times, I have meals with my desk mate and we talk about the strange hobbies of the professors in the medical department, as well as the cultural differences between China and Japan.

Click! The sound of the camera shutter startled me. I followed the sound and saw red leaves scattered all over the mountains, swaying in the wind. The azure river flowed under the bridge. Ye Zhengchen stood by the bridge railing, holding a camera in his hand, with a warm smile on his lips.

Why did you give me a cactus?" I asked him loudly. I thought that a master of love like him would surely give a romantic gift that would make a woman cry, rather than a "creative" plant like a cactus.

At times, I would play the music loudly, so that both of us could hear the flowing love song, and inadvertently hum a line: "Heaven knows how important you are to me, heaven knows I have fallen in love..."

Everyone immediately started to cheer, "Duet love songs, great! Great!"

At times, I would be criticized by Professor Tengjing for experiment failures, and I would go to complain to Ye Zhengchen. He would always comfort and encourage me gently until I left with high spirits. Our senior and junior brothers' great friendship also became deeper and more enduring through my complaints.