Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 53. A 'Date' during the Lunar New Year

February 4, 1997, Tuesday.

In the morning, Guan Xuchen was working on his winter vacation homework in his room. However, his mind was divided. Half of it was focused on the maths problems in his homework book, while the other half was paying attention to the phone in the living room.

"Ding-ling-ling..." As soon as Guan Xuchen heard the phone ring, he dashed out of his room and into the living room excitedly.

However, his mother got to the phone first. After saying "hello", she broke into a big smile and said, "Oh, it's you, Zhen. What's up?"

Guan Xuchen watched his mother chattering away on the phone and felt rather disappointed. He silently hoped in his heart, "Mom, please finish the phone call quickly..."

It seemed that Great Heaven had heard his "prayer". After chatting for about ten minutes, Ms. Guan hung up the phone and then said to Guan Xuchen, "Xuchen, I'm going out shopping with Auntie Zhen and I won't be back for lunch. Dad is moonlighting and probably won't be back for lunch either. There are meat patties in the fridge, and there's a hairy gourd in the kitchen. You can cook your own lunch today, okay?"

"No problem," Guan Xuchen replied readily, but his eyes were fixed on the telephone.

"Then you stay home and do your winter vacation homework properly. You can play the game console only after you've finished it." Guan's mother gave a few more reminders, then changed her clothes and went out.

Shortly after Guan's mother left, the phone rang again. Guan Xuchen quickly picked up the receiver and blurted out, "Lang..."

"Soupy, how did you know it was me?" On the other end of the line came Gao Xinglang's warm and magnetic voice. "Can your phone display my number?"

"No..." Guan Xuchen felt a bit sheepish, and then asked eagerly, "Lang, are we going to visit the Lunar New Year Fair?"

"You guessed it right, Soupy," Gao Xinglang laughed heartily and said. "Like I said, I want to go to the Lunar New Year Fair with you this year."

"Then let's go right now!" Guan Xuchen couldn't contain his eagerness and suggested.

"I still need to help my mom tidy up some things," Gao Xinglang said with a cheerful smile. "How about we go at half past two in the afternoon and meet at our usual spot?"

"Sure! That'd be great," Guan Xuchen replied joyfully.

After putting down the receiver, Guan Xuchen glanced at the wall clock and found it was only half past ten. He returned to his desk, opened his homework book, and worked on another math problem. Then he put down his pen, stood up, walked over to the wardrobe, opened it, and took out several tops and pairs of trousers. He tried matching them for a while, but nothing seemed to satisfy him. He remembered that when he wore that blue and white vest to school before, Gao Xinglang had said he looked really good in it. Guan Xuchen had intended to go to his parents' room and get that vest, which had been originally bought for him but later "claimed" by his mother. However, he didn't have the nerve to do so in the end.

Then he recalled the time when Gao Xinglang had told him, "The light blue color suits you well. It makes you look energetic and handsome." So he finally picked a light blue jacket and a pair of white trousers.

After having lunch, Guan Xuchen looked at the wall clock. It was just a little past twelve, and he couldn't help feeling a bit anxious, hoping that time would pass more quickly. He didn't have the habit of taking a nap, and he wasn't in the mood to continue with his winter vacation homework either. So he took out the game console and played it absent-mindedly. When it was around two o'clock in the afternoon, he even gave up playing his favorite game, "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers". He quickly turned off the console and then went into his room to change into the outfit he had selected.