The Unreturnable Refrigerator - Chapter 20
Chapter 20: Pears
Sheng Xiali’s gaze silently moved up to look at the dorm room number, confirming that she hadn’t come to the wrong door.
She looked back at the person in front of her, who was wearing pajamas, had her hair tied up, and was covered in steam, looking like she had just taken a shower.
Sheng Xiali was a little confused. Wasn’t she supposed to leave?
Didn’t she take the key just to come back and get something she had left behind? Why was she still here…
And these pajamas… they weren’t the T-shirt she had borrowed yesterday. They looked new.
And the cartoon slippers on her feet also looked new.
Sheng Xiali stood at the door and didn’t go inside.
This scene was so sudden.
There was a faint voice in her heart, reminding her not to go any further. It would only lead to more trouble…
Lu Yin saw Sheng Xiali standing at the door without moving, but her face was finally no longer in its usual calm expression. Lu Yin pressed her lips together, holding back a smile.
Her “surprise” was a success.
She pulled her into the dorm and closed the door.
“I also applied to stay in the dorms for the summer. Don’t worry, all the paperwork is in order. We’re roommates for the summer.”
After Lu Yin got the key, she contacted her advisor on the way back and completed all the procedures.
Of course, she also called Lu Huiying and told her she wasn’t going to Licheng.
In every previous summer, Lu Huiying was very enthusiastic about Lu Yin going to Licheng.
In her eyes, the father-daughter relationship needed to be nurtured. She hoped Wang Xingteng would like Lu Yin a little more, so that the bond between her and Wang Xingteng would be deeper.
To put it bluntly, she hoped that for the sake of the child, Wang Xingteng wouldn’t abandon his family and daughter.
This time, when she heard Lu Yin say she wasn’t going to Licheng, Lu Huiying wasn’t happy, but she didn’t cry and insist that Lu Yin go as she had before. Lu Yin guessed that something she didn’t know about had happened.
It was also possible that because of the birthday banquet, Wang Xingteng was mad at Lu Yin, and her going there at this time would only add fuel to the fire.
In any case, Lu Yin didn’t care about the reason. She was just happy with the result.
She was also a little surprised that everything went so smoothly. Lu Yin felt that her luck had improved since she met Sheng Xiali.
Because she was alone in the old house, Lu Huiying also gave her a large sum of money.
With all the troubles sorted out and money in hand, Lu Yin was very efficient and bought everything she needed for her stay that afternoon.
She was just waiting for Sheng Xiali to come back and give her the “surprise.”
When Sheng Xiali walked in, she saw that next to her basin on the shelf by the door, there was another basin. Next to her towel, there was another towel. Next to her toothbrush holder, there was another toothbrush holder.
Two toothbrushes were leaning against each other, with their heads touching.
…
Maybe she shouldn’t have given her the key…
The further she walked in, the stronger this thought became, especially after she saw all the changes, but the bed hadn’t changed.
Lu Yin noticed Sheng Xiali’s gaze and said with an apologetic expression: “There are only small convenience stores and small supermarkets around here. They don’t sell pillows and blankets. I’ll go to a supermarket a little further away tomorrow. I might have to squeeze in with you tonight.”
Sheng Xiali turned to look at her, saw the apology in her eyes, and didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Seeing that she didn’t refuse, Lu Yin took it as a yes. She smiled and stepped forward to help Sheng Xiali take off her backpack.
Sheng Xiali slightly turned away, refusing her help. She took off her bag and put it in the cabinet.
As soon as she opened it, she saw that there was not only the T-shirt she had lent Lu Yin yesterday but also another one.
A nightgown.
Sheng Xiali could tell at a glance that this nightgown was the same style as the new one Lu Yin was wearing. It was just that the little sheep on Lu Yin’s pajamas were pink, and the set in her cabinet was purple.
“They had a promotion. The second one was half price.”
Lu Yin followed Sheng Xiali’s gaze and saw the nightgown she had put in Sheng Xiali’s closet. She took a step closer to Sheng Xiali, and under her gaze, she took the nightgown out of the cabinet and held it up with a smile, parallel to the one she was wearing.
“Look, they’re the same. They were on sale at the big market in the atrium on the first floor of the mall where you work. They were the last two. They were almost taken by someone else, but I was quick. I’ve already washed it this afternoon, so you can wear it directly.”
Lu Yin then held it up to Sheng Xiali and gestured: “Pajamas are all one size, so it should fit.”
Seeing that the hem of the dress was a little above Sheng Xiali’s knee, Lu Yin looked at her own, which was below her knee and almost at her calf. She really envied Sheng Xiali’s height.
Sheng Xiali listened in silence and then refused: “Thank you, but I don’t need it.”
After saying that, Sheng Xiali closed the cabinet, turned around, and took the thermos and bucket out of the dorm.
Lu Yin looked at the clothes in her hand and heard the door close with a thud.
Sheng Xiali slowly walked toward the water room with the thermos. The lights on the stairs, for some reason, didn’t turn on as she passed.
In the darkness, Sheng Xiali let out a heavy breath.
This was really a hassle…
Sometimes, refusing good intentions was more troublesome than dealing with ill intentions.
Perhaps she shouldn’t have just refused like that… Sheng Xiali held onto the railing and walked down, hesitating whether she should explain a little more.
She really didn’t need another nightgown.
While she was hesitating, she heard a series of footsteps, coming from a distance. Before Sheng Xiali could resolve her hesitation, a light appeared at her feet.
Following the light, she looked back. At the stairwell, Lu Yin was smiling and shaking a flashlight in her hand.
“I forgot to tell you, the lights here are all broken. Walk slowly, I’ll light the way for you.”
Lu Yin, panting, ran down the stairs to Sheng Xiali’s side and lit the steps in front of her: “Okay, let’s go.”
Sheng Xiali looked down at the person beside her. In the faint light, the smile was still bright. It seemed like what had just happened hadn’t affected her at all.
Seeing that Sheng Xiali was standing still, Lu Yin shook the flashlight: “What’s wrong?”
Sheng Xiali came back to her senses: “Nothing, thank you.”
She took a step forward into the light Lu Yin provided, adjusted her pace, and followed the light.
“Good thing I bought a flashlight. When I saw it, I thought it would be useful if there was a power outage. I didn’t expect to use it so soon.”
“The auntie said that repairs during summer vacation aren’t always timely. We’ll probably have to use the flashlight for the next few days.”
“Be careful. This one tile is a little loose. It’s easy to slip. Walk a little to this side.”
…
The loneliness that could easily grow in the darkness had no chance to appear under Lu Yin’s constant chatter.
Similarly, Sheng Xiali’s words of explanation couldn’t find a good time to be said in the continuous conversation.
It wasn’t until she was back in the dorm and saw that the nightgown was no longer in the cabinet. Sheng Xiali took her old T-shirt and, before going into the bathroom, she looked at Lu Yin, who was sitting in a chair and flipping through a book.
“Thank you for your kindness, but I don’t like extra things. I have pajamas, and they’re still wearable.”
When Lu Yin looked over, she gently shook the clothes in her hand.
She was used to having just enough of everything and didn’t like having extra.
Lu Yin smiled: “Well, old clothes are actually the most comfortable to sleep in. I even want to trade with you.”
Sheng Xiali smiled, went into the bathroom, looked at herself in the mirror, and sighed.
She really wasn’t used to explaining things.
Lu Yin watched the washroom door close, covered her mouth, and laughed softly. Sheng Xiali was probably worried that she was upset.
She wasn’t upset. She was just a little disappointed that her matching pajamas plan had failed.
Lu Yin looked at the silly cartoon sheep on her pajamas. She should have known not to buy this set. If there hadn’t been two of the same kind, she would have preferred to buy the one with the little cat.
Whatever. She would make do for one night and go buy the one with the little cat tomorrow.
This small disappointment instantly disappeared when Sheng Xiali came out after washing up!
Under the light, Sheng Xiali’s long black hair was tied into a loose bun on her head. A few strands of hair on her fair neck were wet and stuck to her face.
Her face, steamed by the water, had a pinkish glow, and even her narrow, sharp eyes had a hint of a languid charm.
But what Lu Yin couldn’t take her eyes off of was Sheng Xiali’s figure under the slightly transparent long T-shirt. Lu Yin swallowed hard.
Sheng Xiali noticed Lu Yin’s abnormality immediately and instantly remembered her discovery when Lu Yin wore this shirt last night.
Oh no, she forgot… this shirt was a little thin from being washed so many times and was a bit transparent under the light…
Sheng Xiali went to the cabinet with a blank face and put on a jacket.
Lu Yin watched her actions and narrowed her eyes. Her smart brain cells started working quickly. Sheng Xiali’s reaction was too fast. It was like she immediately knew about the problem with the shirt. Her reaction was wrong!
Lu Yin thought back to yesterday. She was wearing this shirt, and Sheng Xiali at that time… yes! She remembered! Sheng Xiali had looked at her and then turned away.
So that’s how it was. Lu Yin’s eyes curved into a smile. She wasn’t taking advantage of her after all. It was a fair exchange.
Lu Yin’s gaze was no longer reserved and became unrestrained.
Unfortunately, Lu Yin’s biggest plan for the day still failed.
When she woke up the next day, Lu Yin found that Sheng Xiali was still sleeping on the hard board next to her.
She had fallen asleep first again last night…
Sheng Xiali also hadn’t expected Lu Yin to follow her to work again the next day.
Not just the next day, but every day after that was the same.
Lu Yin would follow her to the movie theater. After she made the popcorn, Lu Yin would buy an extra-large bucket, then watch a movie in the morning and two in the afternoon.
At noon, she would get takeout and eat with her, and they would have dinner together at a small restaurant on the street.
After dinner, she would go to her tutoring job, and Lu Yin would go back to the dorm.
The red string on the key that Sheng Xiali had given her had been on Lu Yin’s hand ever since.
Lu Yin had given her the key she had gotten, but she never used it.
Every night she came back, the dorm light was on.
For the first few days, she still had to knock on the door.
Later, she didn’t even have to knock. As soon as she got to the door, it would open as if it were automatic, and the smiling face behind the door was the same every day.
And the words were the same.
“You’re back. Was today a good day?”
Sheng Xiali had a feeling that she had “come home,” a home that only existed in her dreams, and a kind of concern that she would only hear in her dreams.
The dorm was also changing every day. She had only been staying at the school for the summer, so her things were mostly in her original dorm. This summer dorm only had the most basic necessities, and the whole room was very empty.
But after Lu Yin came, the dorm was filled up in a short time.
This day, Sheng Xiali came back to the dorm and found that the last bit of empty space was also gone. In the corner, there was a set of yoga equipment and a large yoga ball.
Sheng Xiali looked around. Lu Yin’s clothes were hanging on the railings of the remaining empty beds. A full set of skincare products covered one of the desks. The other desks were not idle either. One had a laptop on it, and another had a bunch of different cups.
There was also a set of cooking utensils. Lu Yin was currently there, “clattering” away, cutting things.
Sheng Xiali put down her bag, and a plate of something was put in her hand.
“Eat some apples. I bought some today. You use your brain so much every day, you should eat a few apples to replenish it.” Lu Yin said, handing her a fruit fork with a thin handle.
Sheng Xiali held the plate and the fork, a little dazed.
Three days ago, this person said that bananas were good for the brain. Five days ago, it was lychees… Today, apples were good for the brain too… Was every fruit good for the brain in her book?
“Aren’t you eating?”
Sheng Xiali noticed that after handing the plate to her, Lu Yin went to eat a pear herself.
Lu Yin didn’t like apples, so she shook her head: “I’m eating a pear.”
She had also bought pears today.
The pear juice spread in her mouth, and she was so happy. Lu Yin liked to eat pears. She looked at Sheng Xiali with a little regret. This person didn’t eat pears.
Lu Yin watched Sheng Xiali eat the tasteless apple. She shook the pear in her hand and asked: “Why don’t you eat pears? Are you allergic to them?”
She had never heard of anyone being allergic to pears, and Lu Yin was a little curious.
Sheng Xiali raised an eyebrow, as if she was a little confused by Lu Yin’s sudden question. She was confused about how she knew she didn’t eat pears.
Lu Yin saw her confusion: “The first time you came to our dorm, Song Xinlei said you didn’t eat pears.”
Sheng Xiali narrowed her eyes at Lu Yin. This time, she seemed confused that she actually remembered.
Lu Yin, of course, remembered: “Huh? Is it an allergy?”
Sheng Xiali shook her head.
Lu Yin was surprised: “You just don’t like them?”
She thought she couldn’t eat them. Song Xinlei had said it so seriously.
Sheng Xiali hesitated about how to answer this question.
Lu Yin took a bite of the pear. Seeing that Sheng Xiali hadn’t said she didn’t like them and her expression was hesitant, she suddenly had an idea: “Could it be that you’ve never eaten one?”
She had never eaten one, so she didn’t know they were good? So she didn’t eat them?
She thought of how she used to really hate cilantro. Then she tried it once and found it was quite good.
But, would someone have never tried a pear?
She hadn’t expected this absurd idea to be confirmed by Sheng Xiali in the end.
Lu Yin took a breath. She felt that Sheng Xiali shouldn’t even be called Sheng Xiali. It should be “Sheng Xia Who Has Never Eaten a Pear.”
She couldn’t believe she hadn’t tried such a delicious fruit. Did she think a pear was like cilantro?
No, this wouldn’t do. She had originally thought Sheng Xiali was allergic to pears, so she hadn’t given her one. Now that she knew she just hadn’t tried it, how could she miss the opportunity to introduce her to pears?
She couldn’t wait to peel a new one. Lu Yin turned the pear in her hand and held the unbitten side to Sheng Xiali’s lips.
“Do you want to try it? It’s so delicious. It’s sweet and juicy. Just try it. I’m not lying.”
Sheng Xiali quickly moved back, and her mouth didn’t touch Lu Yin’s pear.
Lu Yin looked at Sheng Xiali with pleading eyes: “Really, I’m not lying. It’s so delicious. I guarantee you’ll like it after you try it. And look, I bought so many. If you eat them too, we can finish them faster.”
She said this and moved aside a little to show Lu Yin a whole box of pears under the table.
Sheng Xiali frowned. So many.
“Can you finish all of them?”
Lu Yin honestly shook her head: “So, can you help me?”
Sheng Xiali was about to tell Lu Yin to control the amount she buys in the future and only buy what she can eat. As soon as she opened her mouth, the pear in Lu Yin’s hand was passed over and fit right in.
Her heart skipped a beat. Looking at Lu Yin’s successful eyes, Sheng Xiali hesitated and then took a bite.
“It’s good, right? It’s so juicy and sweet, right?”
Sheng Xiali felt the pear juice spread between her teeth and tongue and nodded.
Lu Yin’s face instantly bloomed into a smile. She took the pear back and held it in her mouth. She took another pear and peeled it skillfully, then handed it to Sheng Xiali.
Sheng Xiali looked at the pear in her mouth. It was the one she had just bitten…
How could Lu Yin not know? (#^.^#), it tasted even better.
Lu Yin took small bites of her pear and continued her question, asking very directly.
“Is there a story behind pears?”
Why wouldn’t Sheng Xiali eat pears? Lu Yin had a feeling there was a story, but she didn’t know if Sheng Xiali would be willing to tell her.
They had been together for a while, but she still knew very little about Sheng Xiali.
She only knew that she woke up at six in the morning without fail, was busy every day, worked two jobs, and in the evenings, she not only prepared for her classes but also taught herself professional subjects. Besides her employers, only Song Xinlei had called her.
She also didn’t send messages. If there was something important, she would call, emphasizing time efficiency.
She had also never seen her call her family, or her family call her.
Lu Yin didn’t like people asking about her family, so she didn’t ask about other people’s families.
But this person was Sheng Xiali. She found that she actually wanted to know. Or, if Sheng Xiali asked about her, she would be willing to tell her.
But Sheng Xiali didn’t seem to be curious or care.
After Lu Yin asked, she saw that Sheng Xiali didn’t respond for a long time. She thought she probably didn’t want to talk about it and was about to laugh and change the subject when she heard Sheng Xiali suddenly speak.
“Have you heard the story of Kong Rong giving up the pears?”
Lu Yin raised an eyebrow: “Do I look illiterate to you?”
Sheng Xiali couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
Lu Yin breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere had been a little heavy. She said with a smile: “I got into Qing University on my own through the college entrance exam.”
The gloom on Sheng Xiali’s face dissipated: “I can tell.”
Lu Yin saw that the atmosphere had improved and returned to the main topic: “Did someone use that story to make you give up a pear?”
Sheng Xiali was surprised at how quickly Lu Yin had figured it out. It was a little funny. She didn’t remember much about her childhood, but the situations where this story was used were etched into her bones.
Of course, she wasn’t just made to give up a pear. It was just a tool to “educate” her.
Lu Yin sighed. The pears were so innocent.
“Don’t you think there’s a problem with that story? ‘Giving up’ is giving away something that originally belongs to you. First, that pile of pears has to belong to her. After that, whether she gives them away or not should be up to her. Otherwise, it’s called stealing.”
Sheng Xiali glanced at her, noncommittal, and didn’t want to continue the topic.
Although Sheng Xiali’s expression was still the same calm and cool one, Lu Yin was sensitive enough to feel the emotions she was trying to hide.
Lu Yin lifted her chin and deliberately laughed. When Sheng Xiali looked at her, their eyes met, and she raised an eyebrow at her.
“For me, if someone asks me to give up an apple, that’s fine. I don’t like eating them anyway.”
She said this and pointed to the sliced apples in front of Sheng Xiali with a hint of disgust, but then she urged Sheng Xiali: “Eat them quickly, or they’ll oxidize.”
She then hesitated and took a piece and put it in her mouth. After a few bites, her expression became even more disgusted, as if to say they really didn’t have much flavor.
Then she took a bite of the pear she was holding again, and winked at Sheng Xiali. Her dark eyes sparkled: “But if you ask me to give up a pear—”
She grinned, a smile sweeter than pear juice.
“That’s for you only.”