Chapter 59

On the fourth day of quarantine, Bian Xuedao lay on the bed, conceptualizing the promotion plan for my123 in the second half of the year.

Actually, Bian Xuedao did not mind this quarantine. Someone delivered meals every day, and he did not have to attend classes, a rare opportunity to relax.

In the past, he had been busy every day, with no time to think about his future after graduation. These past few days provided a good opportunity for quiet reflection.

After a few days, Bian Xuedao realized that letting his savings sleep in the bank was not a smart move. He should find a way to make the money work, even if the stock market was not yet bullish and not suitable for beginners. Investing in real estate or accelerating the promotion of my123 would be a good idea.

At noon, Bian Xuedao heard a gentle knock on the door.

Looking at his watch, it was time for lunch delivery. Every day, a dedicated person delivered meals to the students in the building. The delivery person did not meet the quarantined students, just knocked on the door, placed the meal box outside, and waited a few minutes before leaving. The students would then open their doors and take the meals inside.

The quarantined students did this not to avoid infecting the delivery person but to prevent the delivery person from infecting them. Living in the quarantine building, the sense of crisis grew day by day.

Today was a bit special. The knock on Bian Xuedao's door sounded four times, and the person clearly had not left.

Bian Xuedao asked, "Who is it?"

The person outside whispered, "Open the door, it's me."

Bian Xuedao sat up from the bed, recognizing the voice as Shan Rao's.

Opening the door, he saw Shan Rao standing outside.

Shan Rao glanced down the corridor, slipped into the room through the door crack, and looked deeply at Bian Xuedao, asking, "Are you okay? How could you be so careless and end up here?"

Bian Xuedao, looking at Shan Rao who was fully covered, said, "I was going to ask you the same thing. Why are you here?"

Shan Rao took out a charger from her pocket and handed it to Bian Xuedao, "I'll go deliver the meals first. Charge your phone quickly. I'll talk to you when I collect the temperature sheets in the afternoon."

Bian Xuedao hastily ate his lunch, recorded his temperature, and began waiting for Shan Rao.

Around 2 PM, the knock on the door came again.

Finally, Shan Rao arrived.

Shan Rao stayed in Bian Xuedao's room for only three minutes. She said she needed to collect the temperature sheets from the entire building, organize them, and submit them to the school hospital for archiving. She told Bian Xuedao to charge his phone and call her if he needed anything.

Before leaving, Shan Rao whispered in Bian Xuedao's ear, "I haven't been able to reach you for days. I missed you."

Bian Xuedao connected his phone to the power source, called home to report his safety, chatted briefly with Brother Wen, and then called Li Yu.

Li Yu answered the phone and, before Bian Xuedao could speak, said, "Shan Rao really went all out for you this time. How are you going to repay her? We didn't have that meal this semester, and I won't come next semester either."

Bian Xuedao was confused, "What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'all out'?"

Li Yu said, "Is the charger from Shan Rao?"

Bian Xuedao said, "Yes!"

Li Yu said, "Do you know what she did?"

Bian Xuedao said, "Delivered meals, collected temperature sheets."

Li Yu said, "Do you know why it was her?"

Bian Xuedao said, "No."

Li Yu said, "Do you know that no one in the school wants to do this job?"

Bian Xuedao said, "..."

Li Yu said, "Although there are no confirmed cases in North Jiang Province, everyone who delivers meals to the quarantine building says the atmosphere is oppressive and the psychological pressure is immense. Since the school was sealed off, no one has lasted more than three days delivering meals. Shan Rao couldn't reach you by phone, couldn't find you at home, so she came to me. I told her your situation, and we tried many ways to get the charger to you, but it didn't work."

"Shan Rao was worried that you would be anxious without a way to contact the outside world, so she volunteered to be a quarantine building volunteer. You've heard about the situations in Beijing and Guangdong, right? Doctors and nurses have already died. If there are any hidden patients in your building, Shan Rao, who walks around the building, is in more danger than you."

After listening to Li Yu, Bian Xuedao called Shan Rao. The call connected, but no one answered. He tried three times with the same result.

To reduce the number of times volunteers entered the building and avoid unnecessary contact, the school delivered hot meals and dishes for lunch, while breakfast and dinner were yogurt, bread, and sausages, all packed in bags and delivered with lunch.

Bian Xuedao could only wait until the next day for Shan Rao to deliver lunch to see her again.

In the evening, Shan Rao's phone finally connected.

Bian Xuedao said to Shan Rao, "Work for two more days, then find a way out and get someone else to replace you."

Shan Rao laughed softly on the phone, "I can't be replaced. I volunteered, and the school leaders have praised me. Unless I get infected, I have to stay until the school is unsealed. That's the rule."

Bian Xuedao said, "What rule is more important than life? The worst consequence at Dongsen University is not getting a diploma."

Shan Rao said, "Without a diploma, how can I find a job? Without a job, how can I support myself?"

Bian Xuedao said, "I'll help you find a job."

Shan Rao laughed, "Don't talk like a child."

Bian Xuedao said, "You shouldn't have come in. I won't go crazy if I don't talk to you for half a month."

On the phone, Shan Rao was silent for a moment, then said, "I couldn't find you, and knowing you were in quarantine made me worry. I wanted to see you. Now, at least I can see you every day, and we can talk on the phone. By the way, every day at noon, you have to tell me a funny joke, a short one, not too long, I don't have much time."

Bian Xuedao asked, "Does this mean you are also in quarantine?"

Shan Rao said, "Sort of, but it's definitely more relaxed than yours. I can contact some fixed contacts."

Bian Xuedao asked, "Where are you staying now?"

Shan Rao said, "In the old building No. 3 next to your building."

Bian Xuedao asked, "Isn't Building No. 3 empty?"

Shan Rao said, "Yes, but now the whole building, only the first floor is occupied by me, two aunts, and two security guards. Don't worry, I brought earplugs and blocked the door with a table. I'm not afraid... I'm sleepy, you should go to bed early too. Remember to prepare a joke for me tomorrow."

Bian Xuedao held the phone and stood by the window, looking at the old building No. 3 on the left side of the quarantine building. On this side, the whole building was dark.

He knew that Shan Rao must be scared and was forcing herself to go to bed early.

Sitting on the bed, Bian Xuedao found Xu Shangxiu's dorm phone number, Shan Rao's phone number, and Dong Xue's phone number on his phone. At this moment, he realized he hadn't contacted Dong Xue for a long time.

With his thumb, the three phone numbers alternated on the screen, and finally, it stopped on Shan Rao's number.

At 11 PM, Bian Xuedao received a text message from Shan Rao. He opened the message, which contained only nine characters: "Love knows no reason, it deepens."

On the fifth day of quarantine, in the plastic bag belonging to Bian Xuedao, there were two boxes of chocolate beans.

After delivering the meal boxes and plastic bags to the entire building, Shan Rao went to Room 405 to watch Bian Xuedao eat. They said nothing, one eating and the other watching, the room was quiet but sweet.

Bian Xuedao said, "It's time for the joke, right? Okay, I'll tell you one."

One day, a rabbit was watching TV when he heard a knock on the door. He went to open it but saw no one. "Hello, can you give me some water?" The rabbit then noticed a snail at the door. "No!" The rabbit kicked the snail away angrily. Years later, the rabbit was watching TV alone when the knock came again. He went to open the door, and the snail said, "Why did you kick me just now?"

Shan Rao, watching Bian Xuedao mimic the snail with a serious face, wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh loudly. She covered her mouth and held back for a long time, then said, "Is the snail just crawling back? I want a joke like this tomorrow! Here, listen to this when you're bored." She took out an MP3 player from her pocket and handed it to Bian Xuedao.

"I have to go. Call me if you miss me." Shan Rao put on her mask and was about to leave when Bian Xuedao pulled her back. Looking at her exposed eyes, he said, "Take care of yourself. Call me if you're scared at night."

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