Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”So, yesterday you called his dormitory, didn’t you? But no one answered, right?” Meng Qingmei brought it up, feeling a bit upset, ”This rascal, how old is he now and still makes us worry. He promised to come back the day before yesterday, we waited all day yesterday, and he didn’t show up. He doesn’t even answer his phone!”

”Alright, stop blaming him. He’s a doctor, maybe there’s a critically ill patient, and he’s still in the clinic saving lives, right? It’s not the first time this has happened,” Ji Shuanglin tried to reassure Meng Qingmei.

”Weren’t you complaining too just now? When I say something, you start to speak up for him.” Meng Qingmei rolled her eyes at him, let go of his hand, and walked ahead by herself.

”How am I taking his side? I’m clearly trying to reassure you...”

The old couple chatted while walking and happened to meet Old Liu who was returning from buying breakfast.

”Professor Ji, did your son Ji Chuan come back? What do you plan to cook for him today?”

”No.” Ji Shuanglin waved his hand repeatedly, ”Qingmei and I were just discussing this, that rascal is always busy with work, and the thing he promised is nowhere to be seen again.”

”Huh?” Old Liu laughed out loud, ”You really don’t know? Ji Chuan actually came back! I went to buy breakfast, and Ji Chuan was there too; we ran into each other, and he even greeted me.”

”Really?” Meng Qingmei suddenly realized, ”Old Ji, let’s go! I get it now, the kid probably arrived late yesterday, worried about disturbing our rest, so he didn’t come back home! He must have gone to the apartment we bought for him.”

”It’s possible!” Ji Shuanglin immediately brightened up, ”I knew it, this kid wouldn’t stand his dad up for no reason. Let’s go and check it out!”

”That’s good.” Meng Qingmei also breathed a sigh of relief, ”Originally we had agreed with Teacher Xiaoxia to come over today, and I was worried that if Ji Chuan didn’t come back, Teacher Xiaoxia might overthink. Now, we don’t have to worry! Let’s go, and bring Ji Chuan back, so he can get ready for the matchmaking!”

.........

Ji Chuan went out for a run and bought breakfast on his way back. Seeing Yan Huan sleeping soundly, he didn’t have the heart to wake her up.

Last night, she had another nightmare.

She sat by the bed holding a pillow, watching the dawn, and only fell asleep exhausted when it was almost morning.

Initially, Ji Chuan planned to take her to see the sunrise in Jiangning, but after hearing about her night, he decisively told Yan Huan to go back to sleep.

He went out to buy breakfast.

After eating, he would take Yan Huan to meet his parents.

Since it was like this, and she was sleeping so soundly, Ji Chuan just let her sleep, took off his clothes, and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

After a sweaty morning run, a shower felt refreshing.

Ji Chuan had just entered the bathroom and turned on the shower when the apartment’s door clicked open with a key.

Ji Shuanglin and Meng Qingmei walked in.

The house was quiet with no one around.

Ji Shuanglin glanced around and saw breakfast on the dining table, looking untouched.

”Ji Chuan! Ji Chuan!” he called twice, ”Where did he go?”

”Enough! Stop yelling. It’s early morning; maybe our son bought breakfast and went back to sleep,” Meng Qingmei said, then suddenly noticed two suitcases in the living room corner, ”No, something’s up.”