Chapter 11 - 11 Didn’t You See My Photo?
Tong Yao glanced around the room. Si Chen had mentioned that he hadn't applied for couples' housing yet, so this was likely the place he shared with his colleague. Other than a bunk bed, there was only a chair and an old wooden table with chipped yellow paint. On the table, there were two enamel cups engraved with 'Serving the People', along with several medical textbooks.
There were two wooden boxes beneath the bed, and the bedding on top was neatly folded. Not a speck of dust on the floor and no litter in sight-true to the stereotype, male doctors sure were particular about cleanliness. On that note, Tong Yao's impression of Si Chen wasn't too bad, albeit a bit too reserved for her taste.
Unsure about which bed was Si Chen's, Tong Yao simply chose to rest on the chair. The throbbing pain in her arm was rather distracting; without a television or a phone to distract her, she noticed a folded newspaper resting atop of a book. Just as she was about to pull it out, a knock came from the door.
Startled, Tong Yao quickly retracted her hand. The door was pushed open from the outside, and Si Chen walked in holding a meal box.
He said flatly, "I've randomly packed some food for you. Have a bite now. The canteen will have braised pork tonight."
At the mention of braised pork, Tong Yao couldn't help but swallow. She swore it wasn't her being greedy; it was her body craving some fats. After all, the mere thought of braised pork was making her mouth water.
Perhaps noting the inconvenience caused by her arm injury, Si Chen put the meal box on the table for her. Tong Yao was indeed hungry. So, without being overly polite, she began to eat.
Seeing her not being fussy about the food and eating with determination, Si Chen said, "You eat first. Leave the meal box there when you finish; I'll come and get it later."
The meal box contained a good mix of meat and vegetables and tasted quite good, but it lacked any spice. For a spice-lover like Tong Yao, it somehow felt like something was missing. Halfway through the meal, Tong Yao noticed that the meal box had been scrubbed until it shone. It must have been used for at least half a year or so. Was this Si Chen's meal box?