Chapter 38 An Appointment with Someone

"Well, you've been asleep all day. I've already called your head teacher to ask for leave, so you should rest for now," Mother Shi said with a nod.

"Oh no, I have an appointment with someone this afternoon." Shi Zhaodi pulled back the quilt and made to get out of bed.

"What are you doing?" Mother Shi grabbed her daughter and asked.

"Mom, I have an appointment with a classmate this afternoon. I can't break my promise," Shi Zhaodi said anxiously.

"What could be so urgent? You're still running a fever. Just call your classmate and let them know," Mother Shi advised.

Shi Zhaodi looked at her mother, then nodded.

Finding Zou Kai's phone number, she walked outside to make the call, only to hear the automated prompt that the other party's phone was turned off.

Checking the time and realizing it was just class break, she called Qian Duoduo and asked if Zou Kai was still in the classroom.

Qian Duoduo told her that Zou Kai had left right after the first class of the afternoon.

"How did it go?" Mother Shi asked.

"Well, I couldn't get through to my classmate." Shi Zhaodi shook her head, then turned back to her mother and said, "Mom, please let me go out for a bit. I'll be right back."

"Why are you being so willful, child? You're still running a fever!"

"I'm feeling much better now. I'll just go out for a second and come right back."

"Then eat your congee before you go." Seeing her daughter's anxious expression, Mother Shi ultimately had to compromise.

"Thank you, Mom!" Shi Zhaodi gave her mother a hug, kissed her on the cheek, rushed back to her bedroom to quickly finish a bowl of congee, changed her clothes, and hurried out the door.

"Be careful on the way and come back early," Mother Shi called out from behind.

"Got it, Mom!" Shi Zhaodi replied, waving backward over her shoulder.

Shi Zhaodi rode her bicycle in a rush all the way to Zou Kai's house.

Sister-in-law He opened the door and told her that Zou Kai had gone to school and hadn't returned yet.

With no other choice, Shi Zhaodi said goodbye to Sister-in-law He and walked away, wheeling her bicycle with a look of disappointment.

Suddenly, a figure blocked Shi Zhaodi's path. She quickly raised her head to see Zou Kai standing there, glaring coldly at her.

"Zou Kai, it's you!" Shi Zhaodi instantly lit up with joy, and then quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stand you up this afternoon—"

"We're going now!" Zou Kai cut her off, took hold of her bicycle, mounted it, and rested one foot on the ground as he waited for her.

"Where are we going?" Shi Zhaodi asked as she had no choice but to climb onto the backseat.

"You'll know when we get there." With that, Zou Kai pedaled forward.

Never in her wildest dreams had Shi Zhaodi expected that Zou Kai would bring her to a cemetery.

Taken aback, Shi Zhaodi turned her head to look at him in astonishment.

Without offering any explanation, Zou Kai crouched down and gently swept away the fallen leaves and dead branches in front of the headstone, moving with utmost care as if afraid of disturbing the person sleeping beneath.

Shi Zhaodi crouched down beside him and looked at the photo on the headstone—it was a woman in her thirties, smiling gently.