Growing Fond of You, Mr Nian

Jiang Yuning nodded and showed him the series of numbers Nian Xi had written down.

“These are… Miss Nian’s phone number and WeChat number?” Uncle Han spent a few seconds reading them, then asked.

Jiang Yuning blinked. Suddenly, a splendid light shone out of his eyes. He immediately lowered his head and wrote—Impressive. I didn’t even know it’s a WeChat number.

Uncle Han didn’t know what to say.

Become WeChat friends with Jiang Yuning seemed a little hard.

I’m going to buy a phone, Jiang Yuning wrote.

Uncle Han was glad at first but then started to worry. He wanted a cell phone because he wanted to be with Miss Nian. But what if he got hurt in this relationship? What if he was getting in over his head?

“Sir, haven’t you decided not to bother Miss Nian?”

Jiang Yuning was feeling heartsick. He didn’t want to bother her, but their lives suddenly intersected. Fate brought her to him. He couldn’t help it.

He dropped his head.

Uncle Han couldn’t bear seeing that look on his face and thought, Never mind, just get him a phone. He’s so adorable. I’ll get him an older people’s phone so he won’t be able to bother her easily, Uncle Han thought.

One hour later, Uncle Han and Jiang Yuning showed up in a cell phone store.

“We need a simple cellphone. The kind older people use, thanks.”

“For you?” The salesman said to Uncle Han smilingly.

“Eh-hem,” Uncle Han coughed, then pointed at Jiang Yuning and said, “No, for him.”

The salesman gave an awkward smile, then hurriedly took out a simple cell phone and handed it to Jiang Yuning.

Jiang Yuning took the phone, pressed a few buttons, then asked the salesman, “Where’s WeChat?”

“I’m sorry, there’s no WeChat on this phone,” said the salesman.

Jiang Yuning dropped the phone, shook his head and wrote with discontent, I want a phone that has WeChat on it.

“I’m sorry, all our mobile phones are designed for older people. Most of them don’t use WeChat,” said the salesman embarrassedly.

Jiang Yuning turned to Uncle Han unhappily, then wrote, Why are you buying an old person’s phone for me? I’m not old.

Uncle Han didn’t know how to respond.

It seemed that he was determined to become WeChat friends with Miss Nian.

Never mind. Just let him do what he wants, Uncle Han thought, It’s exhausting for him to secretly wait for her near the police station once or twice a week anyway.

He brought a faddish phone for Jiang Yuning, and a SIM card, and asked the salesperson to save Nian Xi’s number on that phone.

Looking at Nian Xi’s number on his phone, Jiang Yuning felt very satisfied. He spent the whole afternoon on that phone. It was the first time he’d ever used a smartphone, but as a scientist, he learned fast.

He soon figured out how the phone worked. He registered on WeChat then sent a friend request to Nian Xi.

After that, he checked his phone every few minutes. He checked his phone countless times that night. Every time, he sadly wrote a note for Uncle Han—Maybe she doesn’t want to become my WeChat friend.

Uncle Nian nearly suffered a mental collapse, as he had read the same question from Jiang Yuning for too many times.

“Miss Nian is a policewoman. She’s very busy. She doesn’t have so much time to spend on her phone. Don’t worry. She will accept your friend request, or she wouldn’t have given you her WeChat number.”

Only after hearing that was Jiang Yuning relieved a little.

…

Nian Xi was really busy—busy solving Duan Yang’s case.

She went home at ten pm, fed Jiang-jiang, took a shower, then lay on her bed. Only then did she notice Jiang Yuning’s friend request.

His WeChat name was Jiang Yuning, simple and real.

It was typical Jiang Yuning. He used his real name for his WeChat username.

He really bought a phone. Nian Xi didn’t expect him to do that. She accepted his friend request without hesitating.

…

Jiang Yuning soon found Nianxi in his contact list. He was thrilled. He wanted to send her a message but worried that he might disturb her. So, he started browsing her WeChat moment posts instead.

She liked to make WeChat moment posts. She made one post every two days on average.

…