Third Comb

The two did not speak for a long time.

She put down the lunch box and walk to the side. She became a honey badger, secretly hiding away so she can eat a sweet cake alone.

A while later, the person on the other end cleared his throat.

Jiang Tiao pursed her lips trying to hide the smile on her lips. Her eyes, however, were unable to contain her excitement as it sparkles in the day.

She intentionally asked, “Who are you?”

His voice is low like a cello string plucked on the heart, “You don’t remember me after a few days?”

Jiang Tiao touched her cheek and felt the heat radiating from it, “Oh….I remember now.”

“What are you doing?” Fu Ting Chuan asked.

Jiang Tiao looked up, the sun shining through the gaps between the ginkgo leaves creating various geometric shapes, “Eating lunch, you?”

The man’s voice contains a smile, “Making a call.”

“Oh…” Jiang Tiao calmly responded but her high pitch at the end of her sentence earlier had already exposed her excitement, “You’re back in Beijing? I saw that the number is from there.”

“Yes.”

“Then will the call fee be expensive calling here?” Jiang Tiao asked. Aiya, they were not like this before. When did she start worrying about his daily expenses?

Fu Ting Chuan stood in front of a window with a smile on his lips, “It’s fine. I just received an endorsement so I have a lifetime of unlimited call fee.”

Jiang Tiao remembered that he recently became a spokesperson for a telecommunications conglomerate.

This person never boasts but when he does, it is strong and deadly.

She was worrying too much and now, she doesn’t know what to say.

But she is very happy. Her heart is beating so fast, slamming against her chest, threatening to jump out.

The line is silent once again.

Fu Ting Chuan suddenly let out a laugh, “Heh.”

A magnetic voice filled her eardrum causing Jiang Tiao’s cheek to heat up, “What are you laughing at?”

“Laughing at myself for not being able to find a topic to talk about with a girl.” He honestly and seriously answered.

Jiang Tiao covered her lips and put the blame on herself, “I can’t too. After speaking a few words, I can’t keep the conversation going.”

In fact, your voice is very good to listen to, she secretly thought in her heart.

“Your phone is roaming?” Fu Ting Chuan asked.

“It seems so.” She thought and affirmed, “Yes. My number is in Shanghai and my master’s studio is there.”

"Okay, I got it."

“You can’t be thinking about paying for my calling fee right?” She subconsciously replied.

Fu Ting Chuan pretended to be surprised, “So smart!”

“No need, I have a lot of call fees left,” Jiang Tiao said. This is the truth. The studio handles everyone’s calling fee and automatically pays 60 dollars worth of fees every month. She can never use it up.

“You really don’t need to….and I’m not just being nice.” She whispered.

“Ok, ok. I won’t pay you.” Fu Ting Chuan complied and smiled.

Jiang Tiao’s ears reddened and her head numbed. If her phone has a life, perhaps it would be charmed to death by that smile.

“Jiang Tiao, are you done eating? Start work!” Someone called out to her.

Jiang Tiao covered the speaker and hid her smile, “I’m coming!”

After her colleague turned away, she patted her chest and spoke to the phone, “Scared to death….”

“You should go.” Fu Ting Chuan apparently heard what is going on.

“Okay.” Jiang Tiao quickly responded. This is the first time she is reluctant to hang up.

“Then I’ll hang up?”

“En.”

“You first.” A piece of stray hair fell on her hands, “Which fan would hang up on their idol first?”

She is a bit embarrassed.

Fu Ting Chuan chuckled, “How come I heard….” he paused and continued with a voice filled with puzzlement, “that it is only right and natural for the man to wit for his girlfriend to hang up first?”

After he said that, Fu Ting Chuan felt that what he said was a bit abrupt.

Because there is a woman who he really wants to love, not just because of a desire for her figure or character or to nurture and take care of her or even for her to soothe his troubles. He had been fine until he met Jiang Tiao. They happened to run into each other, not as a fan and a celebrity, but as a man and a woman.

He had already given her a few days to reflect and come up with her own decision.

What he said just now was also to hope for her response.

When Jiang Tiao heard this, she felt like fireworks blowing up.

Ahhhhhhh!

Her face turned as ripe as a tomato.

Jiang Tiao tried to contain her excitement. In all honesty, this excitement is like a tsunami, rushing past her.

But she can’t lose face. Is Fu Ting Chuan trying to feel out the relationship between them? Therefore, she can’t appear panicked or nervous otherwise it would seem like she is a fool.

She decided to not overthink and calmly replied back.

“Really?”

“It should be.” Fu Ting Chuan seriously answered.

Not far from her, people are moving to and fro. It looks like they are about to resume.

She can’t drag on any more. Even if she doesn’t want it to end, she has no choice.

“Then, I’m really going to hang up now?” By saying this, Jiang Tiao slightly acknowledges the relationship that Fu Ting Chuan understated earlier.

Even if it is in a dream, even if it will be a burden, she is willing, so willing.

“Go.” Fu Ting Chuan softly said, “I miss you very much.”

Gosh, she is heating up again. Jiang Tiao touches her cheek with the front and back of her hand, trying to cool it down. If this goes on, she will definitely go up in flames.

She replied, “Then, goodbye.”

“En.”

“I miss you too.” She isn’t mimicking him. This comes straight from her heart.

En–––” He lengthened his voice.

Jiang Tiao laughed, “Okay! I really have to get back to work!”

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye.”

Jiang Tiao decided to press the hangup button, otherwise, the call would never end.

She ran back, passing through the shimmering warm light.

Was this the feeling of love? Unwilling to separate. Once she heard his voice, every cell in her body is filled with bliss. There is only one person in the world whom she is satisfied with from the bottom of her heart. There is only him.