Chapter 19

  Nineteen

  "Open the door, open the door." Ning Xingguo pounded on the door with force, and he heard Shen Shuxian shouting for help. Originally, he was supposed to send Kang Mi off in a rickshaw back home, and when they said their goodbyes, they secretly kissed each other on the mouth. Kang Mi said that Shen Shuxian might have caught a cold and was sleeping, asking him to buy some ginger soup to visit her with. But because Zong Xiuyu had asked him to discuss something at noon, he forgot. It wasn't until the afternoon that he remembered he should go visit Shen Shuxian.

  Shen Shuxian woke up to the sound of knocking at the door, and was so scared that she shrank into the corner of the bed, burying her head between her knees. "Don't come in..."

  Ning Xingguo saw from outside the window and shouted, "Don't be afraid, it's me, your teacher."

  When she heard the sound of Ning Xingguo, Shen Shuxian quickly opened the door. Ning Xingguo was wearing a white shirt with a gray sweater on top, which was actually taken from her husband by Zong Xiuyu. There were still a few snowflakes on his hair, which melted instantly. With concerned eyes and broad shoulders, he was the person she saw after the nightmare. In this moment, Shen Shuxian was filled with hope for life and dependence on this man. Her body couldn't wait to welcome him, but tears fell down, "Sir, you're here."

  Ning Xingguo looked at the girl in his arms, her pale forehead, slender body, and melodious voice. He didn't have the heart to push her away, so he used the back of his hand to feel her forehead, which was scorching hot. He quickly helped her onto the bed and closed the door.

  Looking around, the dormitory is empty and cold. The two roommates have already gone home for the holidays. Most people have left school, except for a few students whose hometowns are at war and cannot return home, as it would be sending them to their deaths. Moreover, only military trains are available, making it even more dangerous for a girl to travel alone. Therefore, I applied early to stay in school for the New Year's holiday, anyway, the cafeteria has already prepared meals in advance.

  "Aren't you going home? Why is your head so messy?" Ning Xingguo saw the small coal stove in the corner of the wall, which had been extinguished long ago, with a furnace full of yellow dead ash. Last night, Zong Xiuyu had discussed with several teachers and herself that apart from using some of the foreign aid to purchase furniture and equipment, everything else would be used for military supplies. On New Year's Eve, they would transport some military supplies out of the city, and then purchase new reserves. The war situation at the front was tense. Before the Spring Festival, she had to stay in school to do some liaison and preparation work.

  Shen Shuxian's hands were slender, holding a soft and fluffy hand like a child's. Kang Mi's hands were relatively fleshy, with four adorable little dimples on the flesh, which was a very obvious difference. Women are not all the same even when the lights are off, hands have fat and thin, breasts have big and small, holes have loose and tight. Men are also not the same when the lights are off, brothers have long and short, buttocks have white and black, and there is a feeling of having body odor or not that will never be the same.

  Ning Xingguo felt a bit awkward and let go of his hand, saying, "You lie down, I'll go to the cafeteria to get you something to drink."

  Shen Shuxian's eyes reddened, and her hands suddenly tightened around Ning Xingguo's again. "Don't go, sir! I'm scared now, please don't leave me, please."

  Ning Xingguo sat on the edge of the bed, pulled the quilt over her and laughed, "Had another nightmare, how pitiful. Tell me, what did you dream about?"

  A gust of wind suddenly blew in, probably because the window latch was not closed properly. With a loud bang, the window was blown open. The paper scraps in the room flew up instantly, and the books were quickly flipped open with a rustling sound.

  "Ah!" Shen Shuxian burrowed into her quilt, "Don't come in, don't come in, don't look for me."

  Ning Xingguo got up and went to close the window, then came back to the bedside, patted Shen Shuxian's back and said, "Don't be afraid, sir is by your side, come out."

  The firm and gentle voice of a loved one is no less than a lifeline for those who are fearful.

  Shen Shuxian hugged Ning Xingguo and cried, "Don't let her in, don't, sir, sir, don't leave me, I didn't mean to."

  Ning Xingguo only then realized that she was truly pitiful, and he tightly hugged her to comfort her, "It's okay, don't cry, Mr. has gotten his clean clothes all dirty from your sniffles."

  Shen Shuxian finally stopped sobbing and lifted her head as if trying to hold back her tears.

  "What did you dream about? I'll help you interpret it." Ning Xingguo was as patient as if he were dealing with a little girl, supporting her against the bed, putting a pillow behind her back, and letting her sit comfortably.

  "Sir, I dreamed that Zhou Huijuan was asking for my life." Shen Shuxian's hand tightly grasped Ning Xingguo's wrist, trembling with fear. "Sir, do you think people become ghosts after they die?"