When Rabbit Met Wolf 49 - 50

 

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49 I’m sorry

Tu Tu woke up feeling warm and comfortable like she had been leaning on a warm cushion while she slept. The alluring scent of the handsome man sitting next to her had surrounded her in her dreams.

She stretched out the stiffness in her body and looked around her. Lang Lang was still discussing deeply with Assistant Li. His brow was furrowed and his expression was serious; it must be a very important matter. Why did he come on this trip if he had so much work to do? (Zuben: He’s serious in acting)

Was it because of Linda? Damn it! It must be! How could he be so reckless if it wasn’t for a woman. Xiao Tu glared at Lang Lang’s profile resentfully until her eyes were sore. Then, she leaned back in her seat, deflated.

She felt a bit damp around the corner of her mouth and licked it, ugh, saliva. It must have been her dreams of big pig trotters that caused her to drool. Oh Xiao Tu, you’re not up to it! How could you compare yourself to that flamboyant, mature and seductive Linda?! But she had been sleeping with her face pushed into the head rest, she hadn’t drooled on it, had she? She turned to look and rubbed against the seat upholstery, no sense of dampness. Wow, it seems that the materials in first class are not ordinary. They have such strong water absorption capacity, no trace left behind.

As she admired the greatness of first class, she did not notice the suspicious large spot of dampness on Lang Lang’s sport jacket next to her.

Because she had slept so long, the plane was about to arrive at their destination. She had only taken a few flights in her life and it had been when she was young, so she had little memories of it. Hence she decided to look excitedly at the window as the plane circled the city as they came to land, not paying attention to the handsome guy next to her for the time being.

The plane landed, and the doors opened. Lang Lang elegantly unfastened his seatbelt, and walked out. Assistant Li followed closely behind. Xiao Tu quickly unfastened her seatbelt and rushed after them. (Zuben: Tutu, your eru town-council…)

Lang Lang walked to luggage claim to wait for his luggage. (Zuben: Hold up, didn’t everyone take hand luggage?) Seeing that the others had not come yet, she quickly seized the opportunity to get in touch,

‘Heheh, director, you’re walking so fast, it looks like you'r exercising and roaring!’ Xiao Tu said flatteringly, but Lang Lang ignored her watching the suitcases coming on the conveyour belt.

Xiao Tu did not give up, ‘So quickly we’ve arrived in Kunming, aren’t you excited? I’m so excited I cant live! Hahah!’

Lang Lang put his hands in his pockets and kept ignoring her.

‘Haha, Miss Xiao, you seem to like Yunnan a lot,’ Assistant Li piped up, ‘so do I. My wife and I came her on our honeymoon. We spent a lot of time in Lijiang. You know, it’s actually…’

‘Just call me Tutu. Brother Li, you’ve been to Yunnan before? Hurry and tell me everything!’ Xiao Tu found a like-minded person and was happy to chat. She unconsciously grabbed Assistant Li’s sleeve as she smiled, unaware someone’s eyes were darkening.

‘Tutu, let me tell you, the ancient city in Lijiang is a sight to behold, and the Shuhe town has the river running through between houses…’ Li began to chat with Xiao Tu enthusiastically, but suddenly felt a gaze boring into him. He turned and found Lang Lang looking at him frostily, staring at Xiao Tu’s hand grasping his sleeve. He quickly shut up and stepped away from Xiao Tu making her hand slip from him.

Only then, did Lang Lang’s gaze soften a bit.

Wow! That was a close call. Director Lang’s possessiveness is really not average. He must be vigilant and stay away from Xiao Tu. Xiao Tu looked upset: Oh Tutu, Brother Li wants to tell you everything, but who made such a man fall in love with you? In this life, you won’t be able to talk to any other man…

Xiao Tu has been happy to hear Brother Li’s tales, but he suddenly stopped talking and stepped away from her. She followed his gaze and realised it was Lang Lang glaring at them that had caused the trouble. She glared at him; its fine if he didn’t want to talk to her, why did he care if she talked to other people?

Do you hate me that much? Isn’t it already a few days that I was young and reckless, and hurt your heart a little? I have apologised humbly, but you’re still so arrogant you want to drive everyone away and block me?! Grrr!

Just as she was about to start fighting with him, Linda and a few other colleagues gathered around Lang Lang, pushing her aside and chatted excitedly waiting for their luggage.

‘Director, you walked off so fast. It was hard for us to catch up.’ Linda said.

‘It seems you need to up your work out regime.’ Lang Lang replied with a smile.

The ordinary sentence instantly caused two different reactions in the hearts of two women: Linda, suddenly exposed to Lang Lang’s friendly side, was totally captivated by his charm. Xiao Tu, disliked by others for being like a dog. She stood behind them, clearly witnessing Lang Lang smiling at Linda, and her heart was filled with anger. She clenched her fished as she glared at him. Damn you! You don’t even bother with me, and you’re smiling at her?!

Everyone got their luggage and headed out to the exit, while Xiao Tu laboured under her over-filled backpack. Exhausted as she watched the male and female protagonists walking her ahead of her chatting passionately.
Zhen Zhen sighed as she walked at Xiao Tu’s pace. Alas, when will this unlucky child have the great leap forward in IQ? With her foolishness, she will never be able to catch Lang Lang back in her life.

 

50 Zhen Zhen and Xiao Tu

Xiao Tu was panting as she trudged to the bus park under the weight of her back pack. Because of the heat, she beginning to feel a bit dizzy. It was only when she got to the bus that she realised that the bus was going to Dali. She recalled she had written an itinerary in her dud vote; it was Dali to Lijiang and then Shangri La. But there were no direct flights to Dali, so one would have to fly to Kuming then take a bus to Dali.

She blinked in confusion.

Why would the company arrange this wasteful tourist route?

Zhen Zhen had nearly reached the bus when she realised she wasn’t hearing Xiao Tu’s panting any more. She turned back and saw the silly girl just looking dumbstruck. She stalked back and flicked Xiao Tu’s forehead mercilessly,

‘What kind of foolishness are you making again? Don’t you want to pursue your man? Why are you fooling around here?!’

The other people around them were shocked by Zhen Zhen’s loud voice, and felt sorry for Xiao Tu. Zhen Zhen was even more angry, she had lost face too many time because of this silly Tutu.

Xiao Tu blinked awake. She patted Zhen Zhen’s chest to calm her down, ‘I just can’t figure it out.’ She muttered in confusion.

‘If you have something to say, say it!’

Xiao Tu explained.

Zhen Zhen stood rubbing her chin thoughtfully like some ancient master. She dared not disturb her thinking.

Finally, Zhen Zhen slapped her hands together, her eyes suddenly bright with excitement, ‘I’ve figured it out. You, this silly Rabbit, are really blessed.’

Xiao Tu was even more puzzled, ‘What do you mean? Tell me in detail.’

Zhen Zhen didn’t mind her, and headed back to their bus, ‘Let’s go quickly! You must hurry and get there or there wont be space for our luggage in the bus again.’

‘Hey! Hey! Why are you like this?! Once you’ve figured it out, you don’t even care to tell me? Your behaviour is like someone who is running from a thatched cottage after taking a dump.’ Xiao Tu tried to run after Zhen Zhen, but her bag was too heavy.

Zhen Zhen chuckled, how could she not have seen, that Lang Lang was very attentive to Xiao Tu. Even though she had hurt him, he still was doing his utmost to lock her tightly by his side. Unconciously, she thought of that tall upright man in military uniform. She smiled bitterly and shook her head. That night was a drunken mistake, she knew he was in love with someone else, and he was only trying to contact her because of guilt.

Why did she get involved so foolishly?

Xiao Tu finally caught up with Zhen Zhen, and got onto the bus. She looked left and right for Lang Lang and saw him in the back. Linda was sitting in front of him and trying to chat, but he didn’t reply, just flicking through his phone. Seeing Linda being given a cold shoulder made her happy, she wanted to go and sit nearby, but realised all the seats were full, and only two in front left.

She walked back dejectedly as Zhen Zhen took the window seat. She looked kind of down herself, and didn’t think to help Xiao Tu with her bag.

Xiao Tu didn’t dare ask her for help with her expression like that that, so she tried to lift the bag herself up to the overhead compartment. But as soon as she was about to do so, it was effortlessly lifted up. She turned to see Brother Li hoisting her bag to the overhead compartment. He was such a good person, always appearing to help her when she needed it, but when she smiled about to thank him, he ignored her and quickly walked back to sit beside Lang Lang.

Xiao Tu scratched her head in confusion as she took her seat. Zhen Zhen was staring out of the window, she looked cold and aloof, which distressed Xiao Tu; what was wrong with Zhen Zhen?

She was always strong and cheerful. What had happened to make her feel like this? Why did she decided to come on the team building trip? Who was she hiding from?

Xiao Tu did not understand anything, but she took Zhen Zhen’s hand and held it in hers. Zhen Zhen turned at her touch, she gave Zhen Zhen a smile and patted her shoulder.

Zhen Zhen smiled and rested her head on Xiao Tu’s shoulder. Xiao Tu gently caressed her hair, making Zhen Zhen think of the past.

When they were in college, she, Xiao Tu and two other girls shared a dorm room. To be honest, she hadn’t like Xiao Tu at first, she was too stupid and didn’t have any special attraction. But she wasn’t mean to her, just didn’t try to be friendly. The other two girls wasted no time in bullying her; making her run errands for them, and do their share of chores. Once, one of the girls claimed to be on their period and asked Xiao Tu to do her chore of washing the general cleaning mops. Xiao Tu did not think twice and went to do it.
Zhen Zhen was already angry about something else, but seeing this happening, she glared at the other girl, and went to find Xiao Tu. Seeing her wash at the common taps made Zhen Zhen want to slap her upside the head see if it would make her smarter.

Zhen Zhen leaned handsomely against the wall and shouted, ‘Hello,’

Xiao Tu raised her head and looked everywhere before finding Zhen Zhen. Zhen Zhen was speechless, this girl is so stupid.

‘Did you call me?’ Xiao Tu asked. Although she’d been living with Zhen Zhen in the dorm for over a year, Zhen Zhen never spoke to her.

‘Who else would I be speaking to? A ghost?’

‘Hehheh, you’re right, but Zhen Zhen, you’ve never spoken to me before. I’m so happy. But why are you talking to me?’

Hearing her simple words and seeing her pure smile, Zhen Zhen lost the heart to scold her, ‘Why are you always doing Zhou Sisi’s duty?’

‘Oh, didn’t Sisi say she had a stomach ache – she had her period, so she asked me to do it for her. If you want me to do something for you, I can help you?’ Xiao Tu replied while wringing the mop.

‘How come it’s come back so soon?’

Xiao Tu knocked her own head, ‘Of course I never even thought about it. Does she have something wrong with her? Shouldn’t she go to the hospital?’

Zhen Zhen was flabbergasted, this silly girl was so simple she couldn’t imagine she was being lied to.

‘She’s on her period, but have you seen her use a sanitary pad? Have you not realised that as soon as she is on duty, she has her period? She obviously doesn’t want to do anything.’

Xiao Tu stood there blinking. Zhen Zhen poked her, ‘Hey, do you understand now?’

Xiao Tu grabbed Zhen Zhen’s hand, ‘Zhen Zhen, you’re so nice to me. From today onward, you are my number one friend. We will be together forever in this life – maybe the next.’

Zhen Zhen pulled her hand away from Xiao Tu’s wet grip, this woman was really silly. She walked away.

‘Zhen Zhen! Zhen Zhen! Walk slowly! Wait for your good friend!’

She did not expect that her small turn of conscience would cause great trouble. Since that day, Zhen Zhen was entangled by Xiao Tu. Zhen Zhen didn’t really want to be friend with her, but something happened that changed her mind.

One winter night, it had snowed and it was very cold. Zhen Zhen managed to avoid Xiao Tu by going behind the school to eat some spicy hot pot. In the middle of the night, she began to have stomach trouble. She could hardly move from the cramps. She called out her dorm mates name,

‘What is it?’

‘I have a bad tummy ache; can you help me to the hospital?’

‘You’ll be fine. Go back to sleep. It will stop hurting. So sleepy…’ She didn’t know which of them answered her. She knew the affection between dorm mates was light, but she hadn’t imagined it was completely non-existent.

Attacked by another burst of pain, she decided to struggle to get to the hospital by herself. As she tried to get off her top bunk, she must have made some noise that woke Xiao Tu up. In her daze, she saw Zhen Zhen about to fall, she quickly got up to help her down,

‘Be careful, what is wrong with you?!’

Zhen Zhen didn’t have the energy to explain anymore. Since no one would help, it was best to persevere herself.

Seeing her clench her stomach while standing, Xiao Tu guessed, ‘Stomach pain?’

Zhen Zhen said nothing, but she knew she was right, ‘I’ll help you. Let’s go gently.’ Seeing her shiver from the cold and bent over in pain, Xiao Tu was frightened, she quickly picked up the long winter coat hanging from the bunk and draped it over Zhen Zhen, ‘Let’s go to the hospital quickly.’  

Zhen Zhen was too weak, she could only walk slowly down the stairs assisted by Xiao Tu. When they reached the entrance, the gates were locked. Xiao Tu put Zhen Zhen against the wall, and went to the dorm supervisor’s room. The lady was famous for her temper, Xiao Tu was sure to be shouted at. Sure enough, at Xiao Tu’s insistent knocking, the woman shouted at her. But Xiao Tu stood her ground.
Finally, she came to open the gate for them, complaining the whole time. Zhen Zhen illness was ignored. Xiao Tu collected Zhen Zhen thanked the supervisor and took her out.

Because of the heavy snow, there was a thick blanket of fallen snow on the ground making it hard to move through. Xiao Tu firmly held on to Zhen Zhen as they traversed the lane to find a taxi. When the path was only wide enough for a single person, Xiao Tu would walk in the snow or over ice to make sure Zhen Zhen didn’t fall. But her thin sneakers got soaking wet.

‘You should walk in front of me, your shoes are getting wet.’ Zhen Zhen told her but Xiao Tu smiled and replied,

‘It’s fine, I like walking in the snow. I like the cold feeling. We’ll be at the gate soon.’

As the two young women huddled together in the cold, and things unknowingly changed.

On a snowy night, there would not be many taxis. They waited a long time, with Zhen Zhen growing weaker. Xiao Tu decided to stop a random car on the road. The man stopped, and Xiao Tu explained what had happened, them man was kind enough to take them to the hospital.

At the hospital, Zhen Zhen was told she had acute gastroenteritis with a high fever. (Zuben: I don’t know anyone who has gastroenteritis as much as Chinese novel characters), and she had to be admitted but there were no beds, so Zhen Zhen had to sit with Xiao Tu while she got her analgesic drip. Xiao Tu made Zhen Zhen lean on her shoulder hoping she would be comfortable. Just as the first bottle was emptying, Xiao Tu found that Zhen Zhen’s grip was loosening. She had fallen asleep. Her forehead was still sweaty with her fringe soaked in sweat. Xiao Tu was distressed for Zhen Zhen, she helped her wipe the sweat thinking, no matter how strong people where, there was a time they would be fragile.

As she fell asleep, Zhen Zhen felt a light stroke on her head. Leaning on her small shoulder, she decided, she would protect the precious person like Xiao Tu for life!

Unexpectedly, revisiting those old feelings, Zhen Zhen relied on Xiao Tu. Thinking back to the beginning of their friendship, she felt very warm. Although, Xiao Tu was thoroughly stupid, there were very few people as kind as she was in this day and age. Her warmth always made people feel at ease. In many ways, she made Zhen Zhen warm in her heart. Even though she shouted at her, and was always chastising her, she always wanted to protect Xiao Tu. If her friend liked her so much, what chance did that bad Wolf have?

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