The girl's voice was stuttering and trembling, as if she was suppressing her anxiety. "How, how do we verify?" the girl asked, her voice trembling. "Where are you?" Shi Lin asked casually. Lin Mian slowly replied, "North City A University, School of Architecture." "An architect?" "Um..." Lin Mian buried her face in her arms, half of her face blushing. She felt ashamed of her identity. Shi Lin turned off the water, dried his hands with a towel, his distinct knuckles gripping the phone as he walked out of the bathroom. It wasn't his habit to bring people home. But it was late, and he didn't want to go out. He was gambling on whether this naive girl would come. If she did, he planned to scare her a bit. So, he gave her the address of the apartment: "Baifang City, Building 6-1009, come over." Lin Mian's face was burning, with her neck and earlobes also turning red, as red as blood. She checked the time and realized there was still half an hour before the dorm lights out and doors closed. She hesitated. But her mother's words kept echoing in her ears: "We have provided for you, fed you, scraped together to pay your tuition, and now that you have become a university student, you are not willing to take any money from home. You cry poverty every day. You are not even as good as the neighbor, Song Xiaoman, who graduated from junior high and works outside, sending ten thousand yuan home every month. What use are you!" Lin Mian bit her lip. The other person, seeing her silent for a long time, suddenly sneered, "Since you lack the courage, don't even dream of making any big money.""Wash and go to bed, designer," Shi Lin said. Lin Mian clenched her hands, forcing herself to say, "I'll go." She was sitting in the dark hallway of the dormitory at that moment, all alone. Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind, "I'll go, wait for me."
Baifang City was not far from A University, only four bus stops away or two subway stops. Following the navigation, Lin Mian boarded the last subway train, with an empty carriage and only the sound of station announcements. Within a few minutes, she arrived at the station. Outside the community, she took some time to find Building 6 as he had described. It was a high-end apartment complex where the elevator required a key card. Lin Mian sat in the lobby waiting area, took out her phone, and dialed Shi Lin's number. "I, I've arrived, I can't go up in the lobby, the elevator needs a card."
When Shi Lin received the call, he was surprised that she had actually come. After a moment of silence, he inexplicably said, "Wait." Then he hung up and casually changed into home clothes before heading downstairs. Downstairs in the lobby's waiting area, there were sofas and small tables, with a few people sitting around. Shi Lin glanced around and saw a girl in the corner, wearing a white T-shirt, loose jeans, and black canvas shoes, dressed plainly with a hesitant demeanor, giving off a clear yet foolish appearance. He stepped over.
Lin Mian waited for a while, looking around the upscale surroundingsThe majestic building made Lin Mian feel a bit out of place. She straightened her back, sat up straight, trying to appear more natural. The next moment, a male voice came from above, "It's you?" Lin Mian subconsciously looked up and met the clear and distinct handsome face of the man. He stood in front of her with one hand in his pocket, looking down at her, tall and upright, exuding a scent of shower gel and the unique fresh smell of a man.