Chapter 13 (1/2): Closing the Net

“What?!”

Cen Yingshuang instinctively shot up from bed, got down, and ran to the window to peek downstairs.

Her apartment was on a high floor, and even the courtyard lights below looked faint and dim, let alone seeing any people.

“Is this for real?”

Cen Yingshuang couldn’t help but be stunned.

Who knew the reply would be: “Just kidding.”

Cen Yingshuang couldn’t help but roll her eyes and blurt out, “Why do you like joking around so much?”

Only after saying it did she realize her words were a bit harsh.

She was about to explain when she heard He Yuzhou’s laughter.

Apparently, he wasn’t angry at all.

In fact, it seemed he always took teasing her as a kind of amusement.

Cen Yingshuang lay back down on the bed, guessing that He Yuzhou was still in Italy.

Wasn’t he usually swamped with official business?

How did he have time to call her?

Thinking this, she planned to check the world clock to see what time it was in Italy.

At that moment, He Yuzhou’s voice came through again: “Happy birthday.”

His side was very quiet, matching her own silence, so she could hear every syllable clearly.

His pronunciation was precise and solemn.

Even his breathing and tone were calm and steady, like a silent yet gentle breeze.

Just then, she opened the world clock.

The first time zone displayed was Beijing Time.

The clock showed exactly midnight.

Cen Yingshuang didn’t expect He Yuzhou to time his birthday wishes so precisely.

“Thank you, Brother Yuzhou,” she said sincerely, feeling deeply moved.

But then she realized a crucial question: “How did you know today was my birthday?”

He Yuzhou casually answered, “You told me.”

Cen Yingshuang frowned, “Did I?”

“Yeah.”

His certainty made her doubt herself.

She did mention confessing about birthdays, but she didn’t think she’d ever said the exact date.

Then again, maybe she had let it slip unknowingly and forgotten.

“Well, okay then.”

Her mind raced to another important question: “Then how did you know my phone number?”

He answered the same way: “You told me.”

This time, Cen Yingshuang firmly denied it: “No way! I never told you!”

She was sure of it.

He Yuzhou’s quiet laughter came as a response.

Low and mellow, like a misplayed piano note.

His laughter was brief and quickly restrained; he didn’t answer the phone number question but smoothly changed the topic, “Are you free this afternoon?”

His tone shifted to teasing, “You’re not going to confess first thing in the morning, right?”

Her attention was completely diverted, and she forgot about the phone number question.

His teasing made her suddenly shy; her ears flushed, “Of course not! I’m going tonight!”

He said lightly, “Then do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Help me get something.”

“Okay,” Cen Yingshuang agreed readily.

“Mm,” He Yuzhou said, “Rest early.”

“Okay.”

Just as they were about to hang up, he suddenly remembered something and quickly called back, “Wait…”

He emitted a nasal “Hmm?”

“Can this number find your WeChat?”

Cen Yingshuang asked.

Since he had the phone number, it made sense to add him on WeChat and keep in touch.

He hesitated for half a second, then said, “Try searching five minutes later.”

“Ah?” she was puzzled but nodded.

“Mm,” He Yuzhou said softly, “Let’s hang up.”

“…Okay.”

Cen Yingshuang waited a few seconds but he hadn’t hung up yet.

“You hang up first,” he reminded her.

“Oh, oh.”

She realized and hurriedly hung up.

She couldn’t help but admire his politeness—he even waited for the other side to hang up first.

In her heart, she silently gave He Yuzhou a thumbs up.

After hanging up, she noticed Jiang Suian had also sent birthday wishes at midnight.

She replied with a thank you and a happy Bi Qi sticker.

Jiang Suian immediately replied: [You’re not asleep yet?]

Cen Yingshuang truthfully said: [Got a call, woke up.]

Jiang Suian didn’t ask who called but said: [Then go back to sleep, see you tomorrow.]

Cen Yingshuang corrected: [It’s already tomorrow now.]

Jiang Suian: [Then see you tonight.]

Cen Yingshuang seriously: [It’s still night now.]

Jiang Suian: [Then see you now?]

Cen Yingshuang laughed, her heart feeling sweet: [I dare not go out, my mom would notice.]

Jiang Suian: [Then sleep early, scaredy-cat~]

Cen Yingshuang still laughing: [Haha, good night.]

After ending the chat with Jiang Suian, she suddenly remembered He Yuzhou’s “five minutes” comment.

It had already been more than five minutes.

She copied He Yuzhou’s phone number and tried searching it on WeChat.

Sure enough, she found a user who looked like a zombie account.

No profile picture, no status, no Moments, nothing.

Only the username: HYZ

She hesitated, then sent a friend request.

He accepted immediately.

She tentatively sent a message: [Brother Yuzhou?]

He replied instantly: [Mm.]

Cen Yingshuang smiled: [Did you just register this account?]

He Yuzhou: [Yeah, first time using WeChat.]

She realized that in Hong Kong, people generally didn’t use WeChat.

Feeling proud, she said: [Then I’m your first WeChat friend?]

He Yuzhou: [The only one.]

Cen Yingshuang: [What an honor!] She sent a bowing sticker.

Before he could reply, her eyelids began to droop.

She yawned, eyes blurry: [So sleepy, I’m going to sleep now. Good night.]

He Yuzhou: [Good night.]

She put down her phone and quickly fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, she woke up again, this time thirsty.

Half-asleep, she went downstairs to the kitchen for water.

Passing the living room, she noticed a figure on the balcony.

Rubbing her eyes, she saw it was Cen Bowen.

She slowed her steps and gently knocked on the sliding glass door.

Cen Bowen turned around, saw it was Cen Yingshuang, and immediately stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray.

“Shuangshuang,” Cen Bowen’s voice was hoarse after smoking, “Why aren’t you asleep this late?”

“I came for water,” Cen Yingshuang asked worriedly, “Dad, why are you out here smoking? Did something happen?”

Cen Bowen rarely smoked unless he was upset or facing a difficult problem and used smoking to vent.

She recalled last time she came home, Cen Bowen was on the phone, looking quite angry.

She wondered if it was related to tonight.

“It was a patient,” Cen Bowen said under the dim wall lamp on the balcony, his mood low.

“They passed away tonight.”

Being a doctor, experiencing life and death was inevitable.

After all, doctors hold life and death in their hands. Many doctors grow numb after facing life day after day.

But Cen Bowen wasn’t like that.

Sensitive and tender, he treated life and work with reverence and a burning sense of responsibility.

Cen Yingshuang said nothing, knowing words of comfort were hollow now.

She could only hug him tightly.

Still, a vague and unexplainable unease crept into her heart.

She felt as if something bad was approaching.

Cen Yingshuang’s coming-of-age ceremony had arrived.

Every year on her birthday, Zhou Yabin would make a bowl of longevity noodles without fail.

This year was no different.

Cen Bowen still had to work today, but Zhou Yabin had taken the day off to accompany her.

At noon, Cen Bowen took his lunch break to leave the hospital and went to the restaurant Zhou Yabin had booked.

The whole family celebrated her birthday together, including Cen Bowen’s parents and siblings.

Originally, Zhou Yabin wanted to throw a big event for Cen Yingshuang, maybe a fan meet or something, but Cen Yingshuang disliked such fuss.

To her, birthdays were for warm family meals, not pointless formalities.

After lunch, Cen Bowen returned to work, and the grandparents went home.

Zhou Yabin said she would take Cen Yingshuang shopping.

Cen Yingshuang suddenly remembered the favor she had promised He Yuzhou.

Just as she was about to call him to ask where to pick up the item, a local unknown number from Beicheng called.

She answered, “Hello?”

“Hello, is this Miss Cen?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Yes.”

“Mr. He asked me to deliver something to you. Are you available now?”

“Yes, where do I pick it up?”

“It’s a bit much, so I’ll deliver it to you. Where do you live?”

“A bit much?”

She had no idea what that meant.

After hesitating, she said, “Okay, I’ll send you the address.”

Zhou Yabin was beside her.

After hanging up, Zhou Yabin asked, “What’s up?”

“I have a package to pick up,” Cen Yingshuang didn’t mention it was at home.

“Then Mom will go with you…”

“Mom, no need!”

Before Zhou Yabin finished, Cen Yingshuang earnestly emphasized, afraid of being too obvious.

She racked her brain for a reason, “It’s a birthday gift from a friend; we want to chat a bit.”

Zhou Yabin never doubted her and naturally believed her.

“Hmph, with friends, you forget Mom,” Zhou Yabin pretended to sulk but agreed, “Alright, go quickly.”

Cen Yingshuang decided to play along.

“Mom, I’m having dinner out with my friend tonight. She’s celebrating my birthday, so you and Dad don’t need to wait for me.”

“Make sure to come home early,” Zhou Yabin reminded.

“Got it.”

Cen Yingshuang stepped out, her gait noticeably lighter.

She took the nanny car back home.