In a dorm room
With a plaintive sigh, Sophia lay on the bed. "I can't bear it! I just can't! What the hell is advanced mathematics?"
"I must have been crazy to choose this lesson at that time," Ella replied. She had no time to think about what to wear. After she composed herself, she focused on reviewing the advanced mathematics book. "I have no idea where Fiona is. She was the one I had to count on in passing the exam!"
"When are we supposed to take the exam?" asked Sophia as she rolled over.
"We'll have the examination after the New year's Day." "If that is the case, then I might fail the exam," said Ella, pouting.
"Can't we just count on Fiona? I'm sure that she will be back for the exam!" Sophia rolled her eyes.
"What is she even doing at home now?"
"Who knows? This is all... Um, nothing." Sophia suddenly covered her mouth with her hand before she revealed too much.
"What did you plan to say?" Ella moved closer to Sophia and shot her a suspicious look. "Tell me, now! Quick!"
"I'm sorry. I don't know." Sophia shook her head firmly.
"There were four of us here in the dormitory at first, and now we are only three people. You and Fiona are so close you must know something that I don't. Are you trying to isolate me?" Ella said and rested her hands on her hips.
"We isolate you? Why don't you come with us then?" Sophia said, furrowing her brows. "When you are free, you either go shopping or go out to meet boys for dinner. It's not our fault!"
At this very moment,
Sophia's phone rang.
She hurriedly grasped it and ran out of the room. "I have to answer this first!"
"Hey! Sophia! We're not done yet!"
Smiling, Sophia ran out of the room and saw that the call was from Ryan. She stopped laughing and answered the phone, "Hello? Ryan, is everything okay?"
"Sophia, are you free right now? Can you go downstairs please?" asked Ryan in a soft voice.
"Okay. I'm on the way now." Sophia began to run down the stairs.
Ryan was standing under a tree in a light brown sweater, waiting for Sophia outside the dormitory building. His face was pale, his long eyelashes fluttered lightly, and his eyes spoke of a deep loss.
"Ryan!" Sophia ran out of the dorm. When she saw him, she shouted, "It's freezing!"
"Sophia, slow down." Ryan took a few steps forward. "Slow down. I'm not in a hurry. Why are you running?"
"It's nothing!" Shaking her head, Sophia then noticed the bruise on Ryan's face. She let out a deep sigh and asked, "Ryan, does your face still hurt? Mr. Cheng was going way too far!"
Hearing Spencer's name made the smile on Ryan's face fade away. He then forced a smile. "It's okay now," he said, touching his face.
Sophia felt sorry for him, but she knew it was better to just drop the topic. She said, "So, what's the matter? Why did you come to see me today?"
"Wait. Is he a member of the Cheng family?" After hearing that, his eyebrows automatically raised. As Sophia nodded to him slowly, a surprised and suddenly enlightened look crept up on his face. "Mr. Cheng... I should have realized it a long time ago. Fiona's father was also a military officer. I should have thought about it..."
"Well, yeah. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you that Fiona is married. She asked me not to tell you," said Sophie, biting her lips.
Ryan smiled bitterly and said, "Nothing. You know, as long as she is happy."
Sophia thought to herself, 'Fiona is not happy at all. She is going through so much, alone. How can she be happy?' But if she said this out loud to Ryan, she was scared he would do something impulsive again. Since he had already decided to leave, she should let him leave Fiona in the past so he could move forward and stop worrying about her. Also, Fiona didn't want any more conflict between Ryan and Spencer, so it made sense to keep quiet.
"I have nothing more to tell you. I'm leaving now." After saying that, Ryan unconsciously glanced upstairs.
With her eyes fixed on Ryan, Sophia made up her mind and bravely said, "Ryan, Fiona is not in the dorm room."
"What? She's not here?" As Ryan realized this and came to his senses, he nodded and said slowly, "Okay, I see. Well then I guess I'll leave now."
He turned around and walked away. Seeing him walk away in dismay, Sophia hurriedly said, "Ryan, wait. I will see you off on Friday!"
Ryan didn't even look back. He just waved his hand and said, "Bye!"
It was deep into the night, and Fiona was sleeping soundly in the hospital. She was oblivious to the man that sneaked into her ward after she had fallen sleep.
Spencer crept into her room. Thinking of their quarrel this morning, he felt very sad. He should be angry, but tonight he couldn't help but sneak in the room to see her.
As she was lying in the bed, Fiona curled up with the Comic Bear, her arms tightly holding it close to her. She looked so peaceful and quiet.
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