Morning.
The sun is up.
Dong Xuebing, who was in Geng Yuehua’s room, looked at the time and felt it was time to get up. He walked over to her side of the bed and pulled up the blanket. Her sweat had dried up, and she looked exhausted.
“Carry on sleeping. I am leaving now.” Dong Xuebing said.
Geng Yuehua frowned and looked at him.
Dong Xuebing explains. “It’s late, and your parents might come over to wake you. I….”
Geng Yuehua reached out to grab her phone and pressed a quick dial button. “Mum, it’s me. Have breakfast first and don’t wait for me. Bye.” She threw her phone aside.
Dong Xuebing is speechless. “Then I will stay awhile more. Have some rest first.”
Geng Yuehua said sternly. “Make breakfast for me before you go.”
Dong Xuebing felt she is not treating him as an outsider now. “Ok. What do you want to eat?”
“Porridge and sunny-side up.” Geng Yuehua did not say anything this time.
“Huh? Ok. Go back to sleep first. I will take a shower and prepare breakfast.”
“Ok.” Geng Yuehua turns over and sleeps.
The blanket is thinner than a towel, showing Geng Yuehua’s curves. She is like a beautiful sculpture. Dong Xuebing takes a few glances before leaving for the bathroom.
Bathroom.
Dong Xuebing called the Subdistrict Office’s Work Party Office. “Hello, I am Dong Xuebing. Director Zhou, I will be late today, and call me if there are any urgent matters.”
Zhou Yanru smiles. “Alright. I know.”
“Are there any issues with the Earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness campaign?”
“It’s still ongoing, but we are running out of funds. You should know about our Subdistrict’s finances. It’s….”
“Don’t worry about this.” Dong Xuebing said. “I had reported to the District Government, and they will be giving us 1.5 million. It should be in before tomorrow. You will take charge of this fund. Other than the awareness campaign, get the disaster relief supplies like tents, biscuits, medicine, etc., like what we discussed. I will hold an earthquake response exercise in a few days and need these supplies. But many people had been complaining to the District Government about us, and this must be kept secret. Do you get what I mean?”
The District Government had issued funds?!
Zhou Yanru felt the sun had risen from the west.
The District Government had been neglecting Guang Ming Subdistrict for the past weeks. Why are they giving 1.5 million to them?
Zhou Yanru immediately reply. “I understand. Don’t worry about it.”
“Haha…. Ok. Thank you.”
Dong Xuebing starts his shower after hanging up. He was covered in sweat from yesterday and this morning's activities.
Twenty minutes later.
Dong Xuebing turns off the water after washing up.
Suddenly, someone knocks loudly outside.
“Yuehua?” Dong Xuebing asked.
“Are you done?” Geng Yuehua shouted.
“I’m almost done. What is it?”
“I want to take a shower if you are done.”
“Ok. I am coming out now. Oh, can I use your towel? There’s only one towel inside.”
Geng Yuehua did not reply.
“Yuehua?” Dong Xuebing shouted. “Can you reply to me?”
“It’s up to you.”
“I am going to use it now.”
“I said it’s up to you. Why are you so noisy?”
“Alright… alright.” Dong Xuebing wonders why can’t Geng Yuehua speak to him nicely?
Dong Xuebing dried himself with Geng Yuehua’s towel and got dressed. He picks up her toothbrush and starts brushing his teeth while opening the door. “Here…. I’m done. You can come in now.”
Geng Yuehua stares at the toothbrush in Dong Xuebing’s mouth.
Dong Xuebing feigned ignorance. “Huh? What is it?”
Geng Yuehua looks at him for a few seconds before limping into the bathroom.
Dong Xuebing quickly spit out the foam. “Are your legs fine?”
Geng Yuehua ignored Dong Xuebing and stood under the shower in her bathrobe, looking at him.
“I can massage your legs for you later. Alright. Go and shower now. I will prepare breakfast.” Dong Xuebing said and left the bathroom.
Dong Xuebing had gotten used to Geng Yuehua’s personality.
After a while, Dong Xuebing finished cooking the porridge and eggs for Geng Yuehua.
“Try if it suits your taste.” Dong Xuebing said.
Geng Yuehua starts eating without saying a word.
Dong Xuebing smiles. “Sunnyside up eggs is my best dish. If you like it, I will cook it for you every day when you are here.”
Geng Yuehua coldly says. “Switch on the TV.”
“Which channel?”
“News.”
Dong Xuebing knew Geng Yuehua couldn’t walk properly now because of him, and he is willing to do all these for her. “Is the volume loud enough?”
“Louder.”
“Ok.”
Geng Yuehua ate her breakfast while watching the news.
Dong Xuebing looked at Geng Yuehua and said. “Yuehua, our Subdistrict Office is holding an earthquake response exercise in a few days. This is to prepare the residents in the event of a disaster. Can the District Government support us?”
Geng Yuehua frowned. “Don’t be too much.”
“We had agreed that you would support us yesterday.” Dong Xuebing felt that’s a breakthrough in their relationship. “Can you just support us this time? I promise I will be there if you need my help in the future.”
Geng Yuehua did not reply.
“Yuehua….”
“Mayor Geng….”
“Sister Geng….”
“Please….”
Geng Yuehua replied without looking at him. “I will consider.”
Consider means she might agree.
Dong Xuebing is satisfied with this answer and starts eating breakfast with her. Earthquake response exercise is an essential part of his plan. He needs to relocate some residents to old and risky buildings before the earthquake.