"Fang-kun..."
Asaka Akie's voice was as gentle as ever, but it sounded low, as if she had lost all her energy.
"I can't sleep. I wanted to talk to you."
"Sure. I can't sleep either, so it works out perfectly, doesn't it?"
Normally, Fang Cheng would have hung up right away. Just because you couldn't sleep didn't mean you could disturb him while he was trying to!
But now, he had all the patience in the world to listen to every word Asaka Akie said.
Asaka Akie let out a soft laugh, then fell silent. After a while, she said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what to say..."
Fang Cheng chuckled too. "It's fine. You can talk about anything you like, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. Fang Cheng, your late-night chat companion, is at your service."
Asaka Akie couldn't help laughing, and Fang Cheng laughed along with her.
As they laughed, Asaka Akie's voice suddenly grew choked with emotion. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
Fang Cheng's laughter faded, and he said softly, "Don't apologize. You haven't done anything wrong."
"Thank you, Fang-kun. I always have such a hard time controlling my emotions."
Asaka Akie tried to hold back her tears, her voice thick with tears and sniffles. "I've already sent you today's class notes online. Remember to check them. And make sure you get to class on time from now on... You'll miss important points otherwise... Remember to eat plenty of vegetables at lunch so you get a balanced diet... It's getting cold, so remember to wear more layers... Don't go out so much at night... It's... it's dangerous..."
Asaka Akie rambled on, reminding him of little everyday things, just like a mother or an older sister.
But by the end, she was sobbing too hard to speak.
Fang Cheng