Chapter 6 – Part 2 out of 2
“My friend, she extended an invitation for dinner, but I politely declined today,” said Jiang Tao.
Cao An replied, “If you are uncomfortable being alone with me, you may invite your friends to join us. I do not mind.”
Jiang Tao smiled wryly and responded, “I will ask her.”
She proceeded to ask Fang Rui, who replied, “I treat you well, but I cannot be dragged into the fire pit.”
Jiang Tao put away her phone and informed Cao An, “She said it is fine.”
Cao An inquired, “Is she a former high school classmate or a colleague from the hospital?” He also asked about the current employment status of Jiang Tao’s university roommates.
Coincidentally, both of them attended Tong City No. 1 Middle School, but with a five-year gap. When Jiang Tao entered the school, Cao An was already studying in the capital.
Cao An’s voice exuded the same aura as his persona, but his words and tone always conveyed politeness. His WeChat messages gave the impression of a thin and elegant person.
Jiang Tao gradually relaxed without looking at his face. She asked, “Ms. Wang mentioned that no one dared to sit at the same table with you when you were studying. Is that true?”
Cao An replied, “Yes, since junior high school, I have been sitting alone.”
A picture formed in Jiang Tao’s mind of a bright and crowded classroom, with a tall and strong male student in the last row corner by the window, afraid to look directly at the surrounding students.
“What about university?” Jiang Tao asked.
“I rented a room off-campus by myself. I attended classes and ate alone, and the professors would not call on me,” Cao An replied.
Jiang Tao commented, “Have you never tried to make friends? College students should be more understanding. You just appear a little intimidating.”
As adults, they were more mature in all aspects. Although Jiang Tao was initially afraid of Cao An, she was able to maintain her composure and continue eating with him.
Cao An explained, “I am accustomed to being alone and doing things alone is more efficient.”
Jiang Tao suddenly thought of herself. She had an introverted personality and was close to only three roommates in college. She was only acquainted with other students in her class.
Her roommates enjoyed watching dramas and going shopping and only went to the library when exams approached. Jiang Tao usually went to the library alone for self-study.
Occasionally, she experiences a sense of solitude, but the efficacy of her independence is truly remarkable. She can embark on her journey at any given moment, in accordance with her own preferences and plans, without the need to accommodate anyone else.
The black jeep glided into the subterranean garage of the mall. Cao An retrieved Jiang Tao’s down jacket from the back seat, while he himself donned a casual black jacket. However, owing to his towering height and commanding presence, he appeared as a boss in everything he wore.
The two of them naturally converged, bypassing the black Jeep. Jiang Tao slipped her hands into the pockets of her down jacket, and at that moment, she realized the advantages of the height disparity. As long as she did not raise her head, she need not worry about accidentally colliding with Cao An’s face.
A young couple alighted from a car in front of them, and the woman nonchalantly glanced in their direction while tending to her long tresses. Jiang Tao observed the astonishment in the woman’s eyes and hastily averted her gaze like a spectre.
As she walked beside Cao An, Jiang Tao inexplicably felt a twinge of discomfort for him. Was this a form of discrimination? People who did not know him at all, merely because of his intimidating appearance, regarded him as a malefactor and guarded against him. Since childhood, he had not had a single friend in Dalian, including Jiang Tao herself, who also feared him. He noticed this and sent her a message to reassure her that she could leave first.
Cao An had long grown accustomed to the apprehensive attitude of those around him, and he was more concerned about whether the young nurse accompanying him would be psychologically burdened by walking with him. During a blind date a few years ago, his date unconsciously kept her distance from him, attempting to use the spatial gap to evade undue attention from passersby.
As they passed by the young couple’s car, Cao An suddenly noticed that the young nurse had drawn closer to him, shortening the distance to a mere dozen centimeters before another person could squeeze in. The sleeves of her down jacket even brushed lightly against his arm. Cao An looked down and saw that her face was redder than if she had been sitting in an air-conditioned car. Her long eyelashes blinked restlessly, and she attempted to feign normalcy.
Before them lies the elevator hall of the shopping mall, a small space teeming with people. Cao An remarked, “On weekends, one may have to queue up for a while.”
Jiang Tao replied, “I am not hungry, it is okay.”
Cao An suggested, “Once we have our number, we can explore other shops in the mall.” Jiang Tao nodded in agreement.
As they stepped into the elevator hall, the crowd engulfed them. Jiang Tao felt relieved that she no longer had to feign proximity to Cao An. Two elevators were present, one ascending and the other descending. The latter was packed with people jostling for position. Cao An led Jiang Tao to the front of the queue.
As the elevator doors closed, Jiang Tao observed the pressure on the faces of those inside, directed towards Cao An. She even heard someone audibly sigh in relief as the doors shut. The absurdity of the situation made her want to laugh.
After a few minutes, the elevator arrived. No one dared to push past Cao An, who allowed Jiang Tao to enter first. He pressed the button for the fourth floor and stood beside her. Jiang Tao usually occupied a corner of the elevator when it was crowded, fearing physical contact with Cao An. However, the people around them kept their distance, and she found herself looking ahead at the closed elevator doors, which reflected Cao An’s towering figure and his long, narrow eyes. Was he looking at her? Jiang Tao quickly lowered her gaze.
