When I was in Reply 1988

Chapter 746 Paula's Shame

He muttered something under his breath and reached out to pull at the collar of his coat.

In this era when landlines were still the norm, there were many people doing this kind of business around the airport.

As soon as you get off the plane, who wouldn’t want to report safety to your relatives and friends, or at least let them know that you have arrived at your destination?

There are telephone booths, but they are few in number.

After finding a store, Li Renyong said directly in English: "Make a phone call."

A middle-aged red-haired woman was sitting in the shop, pointing at the price list on the wall.

International long distance call: 3 Euros per minute.

Domestic long distance calls: 1 Euro per minute.

Li Renyong wasn’t sure whether this price was a rip-off or not.

In the 90s, international long-distance calls from mainland China cost about 20 yuan per minute, and you had to wait in line and the charges were based on time periods.

According to the RMB conversion, one euro is now equivalent to 7.6 yuan.

Li Renyong took out a ten-yuan Euro note and said, "Ten yuan first."

Cheng Dongri helped me exchange the euros because he works in a bank, so it was convenient for me.

Pick up the phone, first dial the peninsula's country code 0082, then the Seoul district code 02, and finally add your home phone number.

As soon as the number was dialed, the call was connected immediately.

I don't think he was waiting at home.

"Mom, didn't you go to work today?"

Paula's voice came from the microphone: "I'm Paula, Auntie is not at home, please wait a moment."

There was a hint of urgency and excitement in his voice.

……

In the alley.

Paula put down the phone, ran out immediately and came to Jung-hwan's house.

"Ayong called."

After saying that, he left without stopping.

Since it was the weekend, everyone was together.

Thinking about this time, Li Renyong would probably call me, so it would be convenient to notify me.

Then, everyone immediately stood up and followed Huili home.

Paula pressed speaker so everyone could hear.

Everyone gathered around the phone.

Huili said, "Ayong, have you arrived yet? Has Li Cangdong come to pick you up?"

Li Renyong said: "I will call you as soon as I get off the plane, and I will notify them later."

Li Yihua stretched her neck and said, "Ayong, is everything going well?"

Deshan shouted loudly: "Ayong, are there many foreigners over there?"

Junghwan's voice can then be heard: "In a foreign country, Ayong should be the foreigner."

Then, there were various expressions of concern.

"Thank you, everyone. Everything is fine here. I just got off the plane. No one was like this when Aze went abroad."

Jin Shanying smiled and said, "When Aze went abroad for the first time, everyone did the same thing, and Fenghuangtang even accompanied him."

Suddenly, a burst of English came from the microphone.

Everyone only heard Li Renyong reply with an English sentence.

The adults don’t understand.

Kim Sun-young asked Deok-sun, "What are they saying?"

Deok-sun knows nothing about English and can't speak a word.

Paula smiled and said, "Auntie, she is just a special forces team and doesn't know anything. Ayong's time for the call is not enough, and he needs to pay again."

Deok Sun angrily said, “I’m not a special forces team.”

Jung Hwan comforted her, "Sister Bora, Deok Sun's grades are much better than before."

Then, Li Renyong's voice came from the phone again.

"My phone bill was gone just now, so I gave him another 100 Euros. I'll refund you the extra money and make up for the shortfall."

Huili said, "No need, as long as everyone knows that you are safe, do you have anything to say?"

Li Renyong said, "It's nothing. I'll talk to Paula later."

Ms. Luo said very tactfully: "Everyone, please disperse. Ayong wants to speak to Paula from the bottom of his heart." Although she said this, no one moved.

After waiting for dozens of seconds, Li Renyong thought everyone had left and Paula was the only one on the other end of the phone.

"Paula, did you miss me?"

The air suddenly stagnated.

Looking at the adults around her, Paula's cheeks instantly turned red.

She raised her head and looked around—Ms. Luo, President Jin, Phoenix Hall, and others were all there.

Everyone looked at her with a smile, a meaningful smile on their faces.

Paula felt embarrassed and clutched the corner of her clothes.

It’s not right to say “I want to” now, but it’s also not right not to say it. I just feel like my face is burning.

Seeing no one reply, Li Renyong said to himself, "I miss you very much. As the saying goes, one day without seeing you feels like three years. If we convert the time, thirteen hours is equivalent to more than a year without seeing you. Don't you miss me?"

Paula tried to hide her embarrassment and whispered, "Yes."

The sound is as small as a mosquito.

Li Renyong didn’t hear clearly: “Speak louder, I didn’t hear it.”

Paula bit her lip, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.

She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, raised her head, and said loudly: "Yes, I miss you very much."

After saying that, he turned around and ran into the bedroom as if he had used up all his strength.

"boom"

The door closed loudly.

In the living room, the adults laughed kindly, and Ms. Luo laughed the loudest.

Only then did Li Renyong realize that the neighbors had not left at all. He could even imagine Paula's embarrassed look.

"You guys didn't leave?"

Huili said, "Okay, hang up and call Lee Chang-dong right away."

The laughter in the living room gradually subsided, but Paula hid in the bedroom, her cheeks still burning.

She is a reserved person with her emotions, and this is the first time she has expressed her feelings in front of everyone.

Paula lay on the bed, feeling shy and a little sweet.

She secretly blamed Li Renyong, this big fool, for making her look bad in front of so many people.

However, thinking of his tone just now, the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised again.

She knew very well in her heart that she really missed Li Renyong.

In particular, I was very worried whether something might happen to him.

……

Paris.

Li Renyong hung up the phone, took out a business card from his pocket and called Li Changdong's hotel.

The call was quickly answered.

"This is the Esterel Hotel. What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for Mr. Lee Chang-dong in room 302."

"Please wait."

Soon, Lee Chang-dong's voice came from the microphone.

"Hello, is this Yong? When will you arrive?"

Li Renyong smiled and said, "Uncle Cangdong, you should be able to arrive before three o'clock in the afternoon. I'm still in Paris and should get off the plane at Nice Airport at two o'clock."

Lee Chang-dong said mysteriously: "After you get off the plane, remember to exit through the side door."

Li Renyong asked curiously, "Why?"

Lee Chang-dong said, "You'll know when you get there. Everyone is very busy these days. By the way, Nam-joo is with me. Do you want to talk to her?"

Li Renyong said, "No need, let's talk about it when we get there. Tell her not to pick me up at the airport. I'll be there soon."

I hung up the phone and got the change of 87 euros.

It took a few minutes and cost twenty-three euros, which is enough to buy several barbecue meals in Korea.

Paris in May is a bit humid and a little chilly.

Especially on a cloudy day like this, it's even colder.

As the clouds got lower and lower, the raindrops became denser, making slight crackling sounds when hitting the road.

(End of this chapter)