"Ah-choo!"
A woman's sudden but soft sneeze rang out across the quiet campus.
Xia Linfei had just come out of the laboratory building when she unexpectedly sneezed.
She had been busy all morning and had once again missed lunch. Xia Linfei gave a self-mocking smile. She felt like a donkey circling a millstone, busy day and night. She opened her umbrella to the sunlight and walked alone toward the cafeteria.
The sun hung high in the sky, its harsh light reflecting off the marble pavement in a dazzling white glare. Through the green sunshade above the laboratory building's entrance, a few inches of sunlight had already crept into the lab.
Having missed lunchtime, she found the paths deserted. The only thing in sight was a lone pink parasol moving along.
Behind the laboratory building, green trees and high walls formed a shady refuge. A cool breeze blew in from the river, brushing against her and bringing a refreshing chill.
Her hard-soled shoes struck the ground in a steady rhythm as Xia Linfei walked at an easy pace. Suddenly, she looked up and was startled to see someone not far ahead, carrying a heap of bags and struggling along...
When she got closer, she realized it was Su Yuan. Xia Linfei quickened her pace, her expression curious. "Su Yuan, why did you buy so much stuff?"
"Ah, Sister Xia!"
When Su Yuan turned and saw Xia Linfei, relief and delight immediately spread across her face. At noon, she and Wei Hongye had finished shopping and grabbed a bite in the food court. Since they had afternoon classes, they'd headed back, but she'd bought so much that there was no undoing it now. All she could do was struggle along with the burden.
"Sister Xia, come help me carry some of this!"