Chapter 89: I’m Waiting
1056 Words
The break was over in a flash. Shen Qiao glanced at Luo Ye and said, “You should head back. You’ve got afternoon classes. Even if you don’t mind skipping them, you still have to update your novel. The shift here ends at eight, and you won’t be back to the dorm until after nine.”
Luo Ye looked at him. He wanted to stay a little longer, but readers were waiting for the next chapter—he couldn’t ignore the fans for just one guy. He nodded, watched Shen walk out of the cafeteria, and turned his attention back to the empty space.
Soon the cafeteria was quiet, save for the kitchen staff. An older lady walked over and said, “Hey there, kid—looks pretty young. What brings you to work here?”
It was late October; students only showed up during the summer break or winter holidays, not now.
Luo Ye replied, “Just a half‑day gig, I’m leaving soon.”
The lady smiled, then remembered Shen’s good looks and the fact that, compared to the other workers, he still looked a bit fresh. “You’re friends with that young guy, right? He started a few days ago, seemed uneasy at first, but he’s stuck around for some reason.”
She walked away. Luo Ye stood there a moment, then headed for the exit.
Outside the cafeteria, a site supervisor spotted him and marched over, “What are you doing still? Break time’s over. You’re going to lose pay if you don’t get out now.”
Luo Ye, normally easy‑going, felt his temper rise. “Why are you shouting at me without even asking what’s going on?”
He tried to stay calm, “I’m not an employee here.”
He’d already worked a half‑day for free.
The supervisor sneered, “Not an employee? Then why are you here? If you don’t want to work, get out—don’t expect any pay.”
Luo Ye’s patience snapped. “I’m missing out on a few hundred yuan a day, working my butt off. Why don’t you respect the people actually on the line?”
The supervisor scoffed, “Respect, huh? Fresh out of school, no cash, no connections—who’s going to respect you? If you want to be a manager, think about why I’m the manager and not you.”
Luo Ye said nothing more. The supervisor’s position probably came from seniority or connections; whatever the reason, he was in charge of a bunch of workers.
Thinking about Shen’s situation, Luo Ye left the factory without confronting the supervisor any further. The world doesn’t care about friendships or fairness; it only rewards luck and hard work.
He stood at the gate, took a final look at the building, and was about to hail a cab when his phone buzzed with a new message from the fairy senior.
Su Bai Zhu: “I’m waiting.”
He froze. Was she really coming here?
He perched on a nearby step and waited. After more than half an hour, a pink car pulled up—its bumper still had the “Spicy Fish Head” sticker from when he first bought the car for the faculty housing.
Su Bai Zhu stepped out, wearing a cream‑colored long dress, one leg sliding out of the door to reveal a slender, pale calf.
“Senior? What are you doing here?”
Luo Ye was stunned; he hadn’t expected her to actually show up.
Su Bai Zhu’s expression was flat. “Nothing. Just checking if you’ve been kidnapped.”
He’d never left her on read for this long. All the weird possibilities flash through his mind—car accident, sudden death, k********g, being shipped overseas, having his kidneys snatched… The thoughts got absurd, but that’s what his brain does when he worries.
When he finally messaged her at noon, she finally relaxed. The whole morning’s anxiety turned into a sudden urge to see him, so she came.
Luo Ye blurted, “Senior, can you drive?”
She answered without a hint of surprise, “I have a license.”
He tried to play it cool, “That’s not what I meant…”
The last time she drove, she was nervous, but now she could comfortably navigate from campus to the outskirts.
“I know,” she said, sliding into the passenger seat, clearly inviting him to drive.
Luo Ye checked the clock—afternoon classes started at two, and they could still make it if he drove.
They pulled up to the faculty apartments, and on the ride Luo Ye filled her in on Shen’s situation.
Su Bai Zhu had heard a little about it. Her best friend was interning at the hospital where Shen’s girlfriend was being treated, and Shen’s good looks and devotion were the talk of the nursing staff. She’d heard about him in gossip, but only learned today that he was Luo’s roommate.
“What do you plan to do?” she asked softly.
“I’m thinking of asking for help from the reading group,” Luo explained. “If enough people know, there’s always a way.”
She nodded. Since a student’s possible withdrawal was a school matter, she could also bring it up with the administration to see if any aid programs existed. Shen was the top scorer in the computer department that year, after all. Dropping out was a last resort.
After parking, Luo Ye stared at the senior and said, “I’m asking for a favor this time.”
She replied in her usual even tone, “Good, you know I’m a bother.”
He lowered his head, a little embarrassed. She turned to leave, “Next time, get back sooner.”
He was confused at first, then realized her jab wasn’t about the ride—it was about him not answering her messages all morning.
Watching her walk away, Luo Ye muttered, “Senior, I’m already hopelessly falling for you.”
She halted, turned, and asked, “Did you just say something?”
“Yeah.”
“What?”
“Senior.”
“Huh?”
“When I’m ready, I’ll tell you louder.”
Su Bai Zhu gave him a quick glance, then nodded, a faint smile appearing, “I’ll be waiting.”
- Writer
