Chapter 41 Holding Hands

Liuyuan County, inside the post office's business hall.

Looking left and right, Chen Hai's gaze was quickly drawn to what resembled a brick inside the display cabinet, looking like a washable phone.

"Miss, can this thing make calls?"

With money in his pocket, Chen Hai felt considerably bolder. On his first visit to the post office's business hall, he pointed at the brick-like object and asked the nearby female clerk, who was knitting.

"That's a mobile phone, you can make calls just holding it in your hand."

"This one in the display cabinet is just a model. If you want to buy it, you have to place an order in advance."

"But telling you all this is pointless, the cost of activation and prepaid charges together is over thirty thousand yuan. Not just you, I reckon there aren't many in our whole Liuyuan County who can afford it."

The clerk raised her head, glanced at Chen Hai, and responded languidly without even standing up.

"Just a brick and it sells for so much? Made of gold?" Chen Hai gasped in disbelief and muttered.

Considering himself financially robust, even he was shocked by the price.

"Miss, how much are you selling pagers for?"

"Don't tell me the expensive ones. Just let me know the price of the cheapest one!"

Chen Hai asked again.

Once bitten, twice shy, he didn't randomly ask for prices this time, deciding to start from the cheapest one.

...

By the time he left the post office's business hall, it was already over ten minutes later.

A Casio digital pager, Chen Hai bought the cheaper type. The activation and annual fees together had cost him nearly a thousand yuan.

Spending that amount of money made him extremely heartbroken.

If it weren't for the convenience it promised for business contacts, he would have indeed thought about just walking away when the clerk quoted the price.

But as painful as it was to part with the money, the feeling he got from hanging the newly bought pager on his belt was palpable.

In fact, Chen Hai felt that he looked considerably more handsome than before.

Walking on the street, he felt as if he moved with the wind, almost floating.

Just as he was about to head back to the hotel for a short rest, he suddenly felt someone tap his shoulder.

"Chen Hai, where have you been? I've been looking for you around here for quite a while!"

It was Lin Lan. She held several large and small bags in one hand and fumbled in her pocket with the other.

"Lin Lan, did you need something?" Chen Hai asked, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Although there had been rumors in class during his recent dispute with Qian Bing that he was dating Lin Lan, Chen Hai knew well that between them, there was nothing but a pure classmate relationship.

"Here!" Lin Lan had already pulled out a banknote and stuffed it into his hand.

Chen Hai hadn't reacted yet when Lin Lan added, "During our three years in high school, this gathering is probably our last chance to enjoy time together."

"You promised to meet us this afternoon; you can't break that promise. Consider this money a loan. When you have money, make sure you pay me back."

These words finally made Chen Hai realize what Lin Lan's gesture meant!

She was worried that he might be too ashamed to attend the gathering of classmates because he didn't have any money!

It must be said, though, that the feeling of someone caring was quite wonderful.

Although Chen Hai didn't lack the money, Lin Lan's gesture still made him somewhat touched.

"I can't take this money!"

He quickly stuffed the banknote back into Lin Lan's hand, patted the pager hanging on his belt, and added, "I just went to the post office and bought a new pager…"

At this point, he didn't continue speaking.

However, anyone who wasn't foolish would understand the implied meaning in his words.

If someone could afford a pager costing over a thousand yuan, couldn't they spare ten yuan for the gathering fee?

Originally prepared to persuade Chen Hai to accept the banknote, Lin Lan felt a touch of disappointment and fell silent. She took the money Chen Hai handed her and put it back into her pocket.

"I'm sorry, I misunderstood you. I thought you refused Hu Zhiyong's invitation yesterday because you were short of money..."

Lin Lan explained softly, her head bowed.

"You were just trying to help me out, there's nothing to apologize for!"

Chen Hai chuckled.

Looking at Lin Lan's fair palms, which had several red marks from the six or seven plastic bags she was holding, he firmly took the bags from her.

"Are you alone? Where are Li Ying and Sun Fang? Aren't they with you?"

"You didn't come here specially to find me, did you?"

Chen Hai glanced around, his face playful as he joked.

"I certainly didn't come just to find you! I just happened to be in the area and needed to buy some things!" Lin Lan pouted, her words betraying her true feelings.

Chen Hai smiled, knowing enough not to expose her.

"Oh no, I forgot. Sun Fang and Li Ying are still waiting for me at the market!"

"I need to go back now. Let's meet at the pier at two o'clock this afternoon. You better not forget!"

After chatting briefly, Lin Lan slapped her forehead and bid Chen Hai farewell before turning to leave.

"Lin Lan, your things!"

Grabbing her small hand, Chen Hai pulled her back.

"Sorry, I forgot!" Lin Lan stuck out her tongue and made a funny face.

As she realized her hand was held by Chen Hai, her face instantly turned beet red.

"Thank you, I'll carry your things for now since I'm free. Let's go together to where Li Ying and Sun Fang are!"

Chen Hai said with a smile, keeping his hold casual as he continued to hold Lin Lan's hand and walked forward.

Her face flushed and bashful, Lin Lan kept her head down, her cheeks blushing to the roots of her ears.

"Holding her hand, does she have a crush on me?" Chen Hai thought to himself, managing to keep a composed look, while secretly feeling delighted inside.

As they approached the end of the street and were about to turn onto another, Lin Lan's feet planted firmly on the ground, unwilling to move forward.

"Chen Hai, let go of me. I know the way; I can walk by myself!"

"Li Ying and Sun Fang might see us holding hands and you never know what they might say!"

Lin Lan whispered to Chen Hai, her head still bowed.

For a girl as shy as her, allowing Chen Hai to hold her hand for such a long distance was already pushing her limits.

"We're both so familiar now, if you like me, just say it!"

Chen Hai whispered into Lin Lan's ear with a mischievous smile.

Such behavior would have been unimaginable for him in the past.

But now, with money in his pocket and newfound courage, he dared to act on thoughts he previously only dared to imagine.

Of course, he felt this way mainly because he had always had a soft spot for Lin Lan.

And this time, Lin Lan's action of coming to find him and secretly giving him money because she feared he had none really touched him a bit.

"Who likes you!" Lin Lan snapped, her typical denial, yet her cheeks were noticeably redder than before.