5 OUT OF SIGHT, BUT NOT OUT OF MIND

Days and days passed. Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months.

Chen Linyun was the same frustrated fool which he had become after learning that Xue Jinxu had left the university. Though at this state, he was still able to keep his grades high. He was able to become objective, and separate 'Xue Jinxu' issues from the rest. He was actually good at it to the point that it was already excessively tormenting and unbearable to him and to people around him especially to his friends like Mo Wenbin.

A bit later Mo Wenbin had learned what had happened in the instance that he left his friend to fend for himself during his camping trip. He was away just for an overnight trip and a significant turning point had happened to his dear friend Chen Linyun. Actually he was rather incredulous that his friend's heart was helplessly conquered by a woman. He could only roll his eyes.

It was a pleasant ordinary afternoon. The two buddies, Chen Linyun and Mo Wenbin were spending the lovely afternoon in the open field near the benches. Mo Wenbin was munching on some steamed buns while both of them were leisurely watching their university's football team practice.

Not far ahead, they spotted a group of girls who were somewhat trying to convince one of their friends to come forward. A little bit later a timid girl obliged. She was holding a box of home-baked cookies. The box was adorned with cute little hearts and ribbons.

The timid girl slowly approached the two young boys who were intently gazing over to the field. They did not notice her at first. The girl kept looking backward at her friends who kept giving her signal to go on.

She stopped by the side nearer Chen Linyun. She called their attention.

"Classmate Chen.. I made some cookies for you. Please take it. There's also a letter inside." The girl started.

Chen Linyun did not even flinch. It was Mo Wenbin who turned his head towards the girl as acknowledgement that they heard her. He nudged Chen Linyun on his side with his elbow.

Chen Linyun scoffed. With his index finger he pulled back his black-rimmed glasses, a habit he frequently do. He left out a sigh.

Without even looking at the girl he said, "Sorry, I cannot take that. Appreciate the effort."

The girl started to tremble. She's near shedding tears. "Why? You aren't seeing anyone right? It's really for you please take it."

"I'm taken." Chen Linyun claimed, stood up and left.

Mo Wenbin choked with his own saliva. He coughed hard with what he heard. It's another episode of his friend's craziness.

Mo Wenbin looked pitifully at the girl but could not do anything. He could not linger any longer because he did not want to see the girl cry. He attempted to pacify the girl though by saying that he will give the cookies to his friend. Actually he wanted it for himself. Feeling dejected, the girl did not care anymore about the cookies so she relentlessly handed it to Mo Wenbin, even though she knew that it would not reach Chen Linyun. Or if it did reach him, he wouldn't even give a damn.

Back in the dormitory, Chen Linyun was facing his laptop again. Lately he was focusing to enhance his IT and trading skills. He wanted to be the best version of himself while he had not met his girl yet again. He also coveted power to be able to have more access so that he could find her easier and faster.

That was how Mo Wenbin found him when he entered their shared room.

"Hey. What do you mean by 'taken'? How can you lie with a straight face? Unbelievable." He took a bite on the cookie he got from the box, then threw himself on to his own bed. He propped himself with one elbow.

"Here's the cookies. It's good. Try some. It's for you anyway. You know you should accept these kind of things. Those girls put a lot of effort into their gifts. Not that we asked them for it.."

He's blabbering again.

Other people would not understand how these two clicked. The other one's lips were tight shut, who was usually reserved and quiet, while the other one was a carefree chatterbox. Chen Linyun, though silent, enjoys him being a chatterbox. It saves him from participating in the conversation.

"I wasn't lying just now. Although my girl disappeared, all of me is hers. I'm taken."

Mo Wenbin was speechless and annoyed.

He lost his appetite right away. He was so disgusted. He threw his pillow towards Chen Linyun's direction.

"You are hopeless. She doesn't even know how you feel. She's not even here! You don't know where she is either. You wouldn't know what she's up to or if she's still not committed. Why am I stuck with a fool like you?"

Chen Linyun ignored him, even if he was hit by the pillow on the face. Even if he's usually quiet, he had a rather cool temperament. He seldom got angry at all.

Mo Wenbin had a point. He actually hit the bulls-eye. It's the truth – he didn't know where she is, what she does, who she's with. Chen Linyun scoffed at the last item. 'Who is she with right now? It should have been me.'

However, only that girl from that one night interests him. If he cannot get her, might as well become a eunuch for the rest of his life.

Sometimes during his free time he visited the School of Art were she was enrolled before. He was trying to get any trace that would lead to her.

It wasn't entirely for naught. He got some little things here and there but not worth noting. It was part of her past, and it ended there. One time he found a piece of artwork which was made by her. Although it was forbidden, he captured a copy in his phone.

All these things about her, he collected and revered.

At one time he was able to retrieve her class list and schedule for her first two years during one of his hacking ventures from the university records. He tried to retrace and relive those first two years. He even researched who might be her friends, though this one he could not verify. It would be weird to approach other girls and ask about her. He did not want to talk to girls even if they were potentially her friends.

Sometimes he could not help but blush. When Mo Wenbin saw him blush he was instantly teased by him, "Your face is red. Could it be that you are imagining some obscenity with her?" Then he burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha, I'm just joking but your face has become redder. Hahahaha. Am I right? You shameless."

"Shut up." Chen Linyun irritatedly would say.

Behind his laughter Mo Wenbin actually pities his friend. 'That's all he could do, just imagine her. How can he possibly last in this situation? I really cannot understand him.' He thinks to himself while shaking his head.

'Pathetic' he added.