Chapter 3

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before it was abruptly hung up with a "pop" sound

Sui Anran studied his voice and speaking habits, finding nothing particularly special; however, every sentence, from the beginning to the end, carried a soothing power that calmed the heart.

After finishing her inspection of the hotel, she planned to head to the underground parking lot. Having arrived at the elevator entrance, she recalled Wen Jingfan's earlier gentle reminder, and turned back to call one of the security guards on duty.

"Alright," he replied, but his gaze drifted past her to the wall clock behind her. He raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, and when he spoke again, there was a hint of fatigue in his voice: "I am staying in room 511. If you need any assistance tonight, feel free to come up and find me."

Directly opposite the hotel is a river, and the small shops on both sides have long since closed their doors in this inclement weather... At this moment of power outage, she could not discern whether the entire street's electrical circuit had failed or if it was just the hotel that was affected

Sui Anran casually hung up the microphone and sat down next to her chair. Once she relaxed her entire body, she realized that her fingers were slightly trembling

As she was speaking halfway, she suddenly stopped, feeling increasingly frustrated

Before she could retract her hand, Wen Jingfan had already raised his hand to take the business card from her, glanced at it, and then tucked it into his pocket.

He pressed his lips together and nodded lightly, making a sound of "mm". After taking a couple of steps away, he finally said: "Not a bother"

The soft carpet lies beneath my feet, and the lighting in the corridor is somewhat dim, just enough to clearly discern the layout of the entire hallway. The door to room 511 faces a recessed light fixture on the ceiling not far away, and the three digits on the doorplate are illuminated by the light.

The wind and rain outside have intensified, suggesting that a typhoon is about to make landfall, with the fierce winds and torrential rain striking directly. The sound of the downpour resembles the roar of an ancient mythical beast, carrying a hint of chill that sends shivers down one's spine

Uncertain of what he recalled, he curled his lips and smiled silently. This smile was faint, softening his brows and eyes considerably in an instant, yet it remained hidden in the darkness, unseen by anyone

She got up and poured herself a cup of warm water, then sat by the window, her thoughts drifting back to many years ago in the Vanyin Temple

Having listened to her for quite some time, he finally stood up, holding a flashlight in one hand and with the other hand in his pocket. He raised his eyes to gaze at the almost tangible storm outside, feeling a faint pain in the center of his brow.

Politeness, alienation

The young lady at the front desk was startled by the sound of the wind, causing her to accidentally press the speakerphone button, and the impatient voice of the guest on the other end became clearly audible.

The water in the basement has been completely pumped out, leaving only the damp ground, still covered with a layer of yellow sand that attests to the recent near-chaotic incident of seepage.

As small pebbles are thrown into a deep pool of water, delicate ripples emerge under the moonlight, spreading in circles, gently captivating one's senses.

Outside the window, the howling wind is isolated, and raindrops beat against the glass. At this moment, City S lacks any trace of the gentle charm of a water town. Amidst the torrential rain outside, it is as deep and still as an ancient well. In the shadowy night, it evokes a serene heaviness in the heart.

She turned around in the well-lit area, glanced at the communication room, and then returned to her office

Regretting her actions to the point of wanting to bite her tongue, why did she have to hand over her business card! It was both distant and aloof, revealing a certain degree of her lack of appreciation for what was good.

Are you available tomorrow

The clear-voiced man spoke with a slightly somber tone, and when he emphasized the two characters "时遇," it seemed he was enunciating more clearly for the audience's understanding, articulating distinctly with a rich voice

...

a distance of ten steps

Wen Jingfan has returned and is currently standing at the front desk. Uncertain whether he sensed her gaze, he turned his eyes and met hers.

After speaking, he raised his eyes to look at a nearby location and pointed in a direction, "Is the engineering department located in this position upstairs?"

Sui Anran immediately took his hand, smiled at him, and wanted to say something, but nothing seemed appropriate at the tip of her tongue, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words

"Yes, the electrician is checking the circuit, you can see it if you go over there," she replied, tightening her fingers around the slightly warm phone from the call, and added, "Mr. Wen, I really appreciate your help tonight"

She walked alone around the hotel again, and when she reached the corridor where room 511 was located, she paused slightly and turned to look at the closed door.

But it is only at this moment that she feels as if she is somewhat closer to him

At that time, Wen Jingfan

I am extremely tired, yet my mind is unusually alert due to matters weighing on my heart

After Anran contemplated the layout of the rooms on this floor, she noted that behind this wall were two single sofas, with a delicate small coffee table placed in between. Next to the left sofa, there should be a desk of moderate size, and behind the desk was a large bed, directly facing the bed was a flat-screen television

Good evening everyone, this is the 'Shiyu' radio column, I am the host Shiyu

Since her senior year in high school a few years ago, she has developed a habit of listening to the radio. Consequently, when selecting a mobile phone, her primary focus is on the sound quality. At this moment, the recording is played through the external speaker, and there is not a trace of noise. The introductory music is particularly gentle and soothing, making one feel relaxed.

Wen Jingfan was about to take a step forward when she heard her name called, and she turned back to glance at her. However, without any light, she could not clearly see the expression on her face, only that her eyes seemed to be a bit brighter than usual

Wen Jingfan pondered for a moment and directly asked, "Can I make an appointment with you?"

The broadcasts he has been doing are always late-night radio shows, and midnight is the softest and most exhausting time of the day. His voice is gentle, carrying a subtle allure that is not easily perceived, low and soothing, resonating in the ears, capable of evoking the most secret desires hidden deep within one's heart

At that time, she met him, and it changed her life forever.

She raised her hand and pinched her brow, pressing her hand firmly against her bent knee

The cold, soaked in the chill of early autumn, penetrates to the bone

encounter

The flight at noon the day after tomorrow

Sui Anran was momentarily stunned, feeling as if her heart skipped a beat in that instant, "... ... can."

The sky that night was fierce and menacing, yet it was the most tender moment in her memory

"Tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock..." His voice slightly lowered, rich in tone. It seemed as if he was suppressing something; after a brief pause, he coughed a few times before continuing, "What is your phone number?"

After finishing this sentence, he did not wait for her response. He merely glanced at her, nodded slightly, and turned to leave

She grasped the pen and gently twirled it between her fingers

Sitting in the lobby for over an hour, Anran could feel the approaching typhoon making landfall near the sea in City S. The strong winds howled, and even from a distance close to the hotel entrance, one could sense the surging and exuberant moisture from outside through the small gaps.

Wen Jingfan did not notice her discomfort and instead continued with the topic he wanted to mention before the power outage: "When are you going back the day after tomorrow?"

Sui Anran subconsciously took out her business card and handed it over, but only when she saw the fleeting smile in Wen Jingfan's eyes did she suddenly realize

Wen Jingfan was still sitting in the same position as before, holding a flashlight in his hand, his thumb gently rubbing the switch. The outer casing of the flashlight was made of metal, feeling icy cold to the touch at first, but after holding it for a while, it had developed a faint warmth.

She averted her gaze, took ten steps forward, and glanced back at the spot where she had just been standing, finding herself somewhat amusing

Her instructions were conveyed, and the young lady at the front desk immediately sprang into action. This is her workplace, so even without the illumination of lights, she is able to accurately assess the arrangement of items on the front desk at this moment

Thinking this, she immediately spoke up to remedy the situation: "The business card not only has my mobile number, but also my contact email. In the future, if you need to..."

After a moment of contemplation, Anran realized that she originally had no shifts; it was only due to the schedule change tonight that she was assigned a night shift. Consequently, she would have the entire day free tomorrow

Calmly listening to the guest's complaints, I slightly leaned forward and replied: "Thank you for your suggestion. Please remain patient; we are currently checking and repairing the circuit. It should be resolved within approximately ten minutes. I apologize for the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding."

Like the many times I have seen Wen Jingfan in Suian's memories—seemingly gentle and easy to get along with, yet actually proud and aloof, making him difficult to approach

The layout is not very spacious; she is currently standing at a distance from that large bed of approximately... In her mind, she is sketching that scene, counting on her fingers, estimating it to be around ten steps.

The two words gently spilled from Anran's lips, softening the gaze slightly

As Su Anran had just grown accustomed to the darkness, she was suddenly pierced by the light, instinctively raising her hand to shield her eyes. Once the dizziness and the dark haze in her vision subsided, she finally opened her eyes and looked out through her fingers

She took out her phone, opened the music list, found several recordings within it, adjusted the volume, and then placed it in front of her documents to play aloud

He cast a sidelong glance at Sui Anran, who was on the phone with the electrician from the engineering department, his head bowed. The hotel was shrouded in darkness, with only the faint green light of the safety indicator in the distance illuminating the empty space ahead.

Wen Jingfan is the boss's younger brother, and whether in work-related matters or personal connections... it is not her place to intervene

As Anran watched her pick up the phone, the signal light on one side of the phone briefly lit up, and the faint "beep beep" busy tone was immediately drowned out by the sudden sound of the wind outside

That memory gradually overlapped with the sound of the moment, and she, in a daze, smiled faintly.

After Anran hung up the phone, she still felt a bit uneasy. Just as she was about to go in person, Wen Jingfan leisurely called out to her: "Stay here; if someone is looking for you, they will be able to find you."

I sat there for an unknown duration, and suddenly, without warning, the lights came on amidst the gentle voice of the girl beside me