Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 29

Step 1: Look for relatives, colleagues, neighbors, and friends of Shen He to see if there are any connections with people around me.

After three days of searching and comparing, I found out that Sister Zhao from the union is Shen He’s cousin. She was the one who mentioned introducing a partner for me last time, and she has a good relationship with Shen He’s mother.

“Xiao Xu, please make five copies of this form.”

“Sister Zhao is here, come in and have a seat, it’ll be a moment,” Xu Jing’an immediately got up to make copies and poured a cup of water for Sister Zhao.

After handing the copied forms to Sister Zhao, Xu Jing’an sat down opposite her, pulling out a handful of sunflower seeds for both of them.

“Is Xiao Wu getting married?” Sister Zhao asked while cracking seeds.

“Yes, the 29th is a Sunday this month.”

“Isn’t it just you left as the single girl in your department?”

Xu Jing’an smiled shyly.

“To be honest, how are you considering the introduction I mentioned last time?”

“Sister Zhao, what kind of person are you talking about?” Xu Jing’an didn’t directly say yes or no.

“My nephew, a police academy graduate, now works in public security. He’s a good-looking, genuine guy. Can I deceive you? We work in the same unit,” Sister Zhao whispered to Xu Jing’an.

“Sister Zhao, how could I not trust you? I just worry that if it doesn’t work out, it might make things awkward between us!” Xu Jing’an said thoughtfully.

“Then what’s there to worry about? It’s better to clear things up,” Sister Zhao said, shaking her head. “Shall I arrange for you to meet?”

“Sure, Sister Zhao, it’s up to you. I’ll wait for your news,” Xu Jing’an replied readily.

Sister Zhao stood up with her things and excitedly left.

Step 2: Record the daily life of this person and look for opportunities to run into them.

The 26th is a good day.

Xu Jing’an took a day off with Wu Sufen. In the morning, she went to the gym to wash up with fragrance-free shampoo and body wash. After drying her hair, she tied it back.

The unforgettable first love is like a “white moonlight.” A girl in a white dress can leave a lasting impression on a boy. But at the end of September, a white dress is out of the question; a white sweater, however, is acceptable.

After getting dressed, she took out her makeup from the gym bag. She moisturized her skin, applied a light foundation, then concealer. Her eyelashes were long and curled, clearly defined, and after grooming her eyebrows, she filled them in with a pencil. A hint of color on her lips completed the fresh, pure green tea look, with waterproof makeup being the key.

She styled her hair into a centipede braid and gently pulled down the fine fuzz on her forehead.

Before heading out, she found her old favorite jasmine-scented perfume. She applied it behind her ears, on her neck, wrists, and the top of her head, then put on her watch.

She wore black pants and black leather shoes, a round-neck white sweater on top, and a gray trench coat she had just bought from the department store. In her pockets, she had some fruit hard candies and White Rabbit milk candies.

By the time she arrived at the department store, it was almost 10 o’clock. Xu Jing’an bought a red scarf, one pound of White Rabbit milk candies, and two pounds of brown sugar.

As she packed her purchases into her bag and was about to leave, she heard a salesperson calling out: “New shipment of flawed fabric, three yards per person—” “I want it—I want it—” Suddenly, a crowd of people surged in from nowhere, pushing Xu Jing’an along with them. “I don’t want it, I don’t want it!” Xu Jing’an shouted in fear, waving her arms in an attempt to break free from the crowd, but it was useless.

The city police station was not far from the department store. Yesterday, Shen’s mother had asked Shen He to bring back a pound of brown sugar. But as soon as he arrived at the station today, there was a meeting.

Once the meeting ended, he stepped out without even putting on his uniform and walked to the counter, only to see Xu Jing’an buying brown sugar. When it was his turn, the salesperson informed him that the last two pounds were sold out.

Brown sugar was hard to come by, and Shen’s mother needed it urgently. He thought about asking the girl he had just seen if she could spare a pound. When the crowd rushed in, he instinctively stepped aside and avoided being swept away.

When he looked up to find the girl, he saw her being carried away by the crowd. Hearing her panicked screams, he rushed forward and pulled her out.

Xu Jing’an looked at the chaotic crowd, with more people desperately pushing in. She was so scared that her hands trembled. Grabbing his arm, she kept saying, “Thank you, thank you, comrade.”

Shen He looked at the girl before him—her messy hair, pale face, red eyes, and tears that hadn’t fallen yet. Suddenly, he felt his heart race, and his face flushed.

Once they were out of the store, both of them sighed in relief.

“Thank you so much, comrade,” Xu Jing’an expressed her gratitude sincerely. “How about I treat you to a meal?”

Shen He quickly waved his hands. “No, no, I have to get to work.”

“Well,” Xu Jing’an hurriedly handed over the two pounds of brown sugar and a pound of White Rabbit candies she had bought. “It’s just this, don’t refuse it.”

No matter what Shen He said, he wouldn’t take it, and in the end, Xu Jing’an had to settle for giving him one pound of brown sugar.

Shen He walked away with a turn, under Xu Jing’an’s gaze. After walking for a long while, he finally realized what had happened.

That night, he dreamt of a girl. He couldn’t see her clearly, but he noticed she was among jasmine flowers, with eyes that curved charmingly when she smiled.

When Shen He woke up in the morning, he had to wash his underwear and the bedsheets.