Sophie Harris lowered her voice and said, “It’s quiet here!” In fact, she had come here to hide from someone. Today was Friday, and it just so happened to be February 14th, Western Valentine’s Day. As early as yesterday, John Green had sent her a movie invitation through Megan Clark. Sophie Harris didn’t want to go, but was afraid John Green would come looking for her at the department, so she hid in the hospital reading room. She hadn’t expected to run into Ryan Bolton here.

Ryan Bolton glanced out the window, then looked at the clock on the wall. The time already pointed to 4:30 p.m.—almost time to get off work. After a few days of study, he had already learned Arabic numerals, and his sense of time had smoothly shifted from the old Chinese system to the 24-hour format.

Suddenly, a beeping sound came from Sophie Harris’s pocket. Under Ryan Bolton’s curious gaze, she took out a Motorola pager. In the early 1990s, this little black box was still a status symbol. The message was from John Green, and the screen displayed: Where are you? Tonight at 7:00, in front of Shuguang Cinema, don’t be late… John Green.

Sophie Harris showed a helpless smile. Among her classmates, only Megan Clark knew her pager number. It must have been that little girl who sold her out.

Ryan Bolton was always intensely interested in new things, so he came over on his own initiative and happened to see the message: “What’s this little box?”

Sophie Harris hadn’t expected him to come over so suddenly and hurriedly turned off the screen, her pretty face flushing as she scolded, “You’re so rude! Why do you like peeking at other people’s privacy?”

Ryan Bolton snorted, “What privacy? Isn’t it just that sanctimonious Teacher Green!”

Chapter 0004: The Valentine’s Day Car Incident

“What’s it got to do with you?” Sophie Harris glared at him, got up, and angrily walked toward the door. But when she reached the stairwell and looked out the window, she saw John Green waiting at the hospital entrance on his Jincheng Suzuki. Frightened, she retreated, just as Ryan Bolton arrived. Sophie Harris took the initiative to call out to him. Following her gaze, Ryan Bolton saw John Green outside the door and couldn’t help but laugh, “The wolf is here!”

Sophie Harris habitually bit her lower lip. Seeing Ryan Bolton about to leave, she hurried after him and grabbed his arm. “Hey, wait up!”

Ryan Bolton put on a serious face. “This has nothing to do with me. Don’t try to use me!”

Sophie Harris pouted her rosy lips adorably. “Ryan Bolton, aren’t we friends? Just do me this favor, okay? Walk out with me later?”

Ryan Bolton immediately understood—so this girl was planning to use him as a shield. But he wasn’t that naive. He’d seen all kinds of people; did she really think she could use him so easily?

“Please, I’ll treat you to dinner!” Sophie Harris pleaded pitifully.

Ryan Bolton was soft-hearted, especially toward pretty girls. On second thought, he didn’t have any fondness for that sanctimonious teacher John Green anyway, so letting Sophie Harris use him wasn’t a big deal. Besides, she’d promised to treat him to dinner. Speaking of food, Ryan Bolton couldn’t help but blush. If he hadn’t shamelessly mooched off David Brooks these past couple of days, he’d probably be begging on the street by now.

“I want braised pork!” Ryan Bolton took the opportunity to state his condition.

“Deal! I’ll take you to Zhiweiju, and you can order whatever you want!” Sophie Harris beamed with joy when she heard Ryan Bolton agree to help her out.

John Green didn’t see Sophie Harris come out of the hospital until 5:30. Just as he was about to go up to her, he noticed that there was a tall, goofy-looking guy by her side. At least in his eyes, Ryan Bolton fit that description.

Sophie Harris was wearing a red, mid-length trench coat, cinched at the waist, making her slender figure look even more delicate. Her walking posture was like a willow swaying in the wind, full of youthful rhythm. As for Ryan Bolton, he was wearing a blue jacket so faded it was almost white, with the county agricultural machinery factory’s logo embroidered on the chest. The knees of his black trousers were shiny from wear, and he wore a pair of suede leather shoes. He looked downright rustic. In contrast, Sophie Harris bloomed like a flower, while he was like… well, you get the idea. John Green walked up with a smile, but deep down he was seething with jealousy. He really couldn’t understand it—by any measure, he could easily outshine this vocational school student, yet Sophie Harris insisted on walking with this country bumpkin.

“Teacher Green!” Sophie Harris greeted him gracefully.

John Green smiled and nodded. “I’ve been waiting for you for ages. By the way, Megan Clark invited us to see a movie together. She’s waiting for us at the restaurant across from the cinema.” John Green spoke as if no one else was there. In his eyes, Ryan Bolton didn’t exist at all. To consider a vocational school student a rival in love? That was an insult.

Sophie Harris smiled and shook her head. “Teacher Green, I’m sorry, but Ryan Bolton already asked me out.”

John Green’s smile froze on his face. Awkward… speechless… That damn vocational school student even had the nerve to show a victor’s smile, looking down from above, exuding an overwhelming aura as he said, “John Green, we’re in a hurry. Let’s talk another time!” The two of them walked off shoulder to shoulder.

John Green stood dazed in the wind. Suddenly, from the audio shop next door, Wang Jie’s sorrowful, tearful voice rang out: “Her silhouette is slowly disappearing in the wind… All I can do is stand in the wind every day, letting the wind blow…”