Chapter 13 (1/2)

“Together with you, I want to idle away the time,

Be it lowering our heads and watching the fish swim by,

Or walking away after leaving the tea cups on the table,

Ignoring the beautiful shadows they cast.

I even want to idle away the sunset,

Taking a casual stroll with you, killing the time

Till the stars gradually fill up the entire night sky.

I even want to idle away the time when the wind arrives,

Sitting quietly in the corridor, entranced,

Till the sorrowful clouds in your eyes

Have been blown away, out of the window

I have squandered by world, it has pa.s.sed me by.”

Chen Nian sat quietly on the rooftop, basking in the warm glow of the setting sun. Her sweet voice filled the entire rooftop as she quietly recited various poems. Bei Ye sat beside her as he concentrated on strumming his guitar.

The gentle breeze blew across the rooftop, playfully ruffling the numerous papers and the hair of the youths.

Having completed her recital, Chen Nian turned to look at Bei Ye. Just then, Bei Ye had succeeded in managing to strum a complicated stanza. Turning his head to gaze at her, he p.r.o.nounced his verdict, “You improved.” Lowering his head, he continued strumming his guitar, beginning to practise another stanza. As he wasn’t entirely familiar with the stanza, he repeated the stanza several times.

The youths were busy practising.

The aroma of delicious food from the alley below wafted into the noses of the two youths. One could easily find the entire city’s delicacies in the alley – Steamed pudding, fried beancurd skin,  deep fried sesame rice cake, and sweet potato pastries.

Chen Nian expressed her amazement, “Before I met you, I never knew, that Xi Cheng had, such a place. Xiao Mi said, that the red bean bun, is the best red bean bun, she ever ate.”

Bei Ye turned to look at her.

Chen Nian explained, “Xiao Mi is, my deskmate.”

Bei Ye asked, “Will you two continue to be friends in the future?”

Chen Nian nodded her head in seriousness, “Yes.”

“Why are you so confident? After graduation, everyone is bound to scatter, each pursuing his or her own dreams.”

“Xiao Mi would also, come to Beijing. We promised to meet there.”

Bei Ye fell into a deep silence.

Suddenly realising the deeper meaning of her words, Chen Nian lowered her head dejectedly. Gradually, an irrepressible idea began to form in her head; the words rushed to the edge of her lips and she slowly opened her mouth. However, before the words could tumble out of her lips, the very thought of what she was contemplating frightened her, and she swallowed the words in a hurry.

Reigniting the conversation, she enquired, “Is this, your hometown?”

“No.” Bei Ye replied, “I’m not from Xi Cheng. My mum and I moved here when I was younger. After we arrived, she simply left me to fend for myself at the welfare centre.”

Chen Nian didn’t know how to continue the conversation.

“What about you? Were you born in Xi Cheng?”

“Yes. But my mum went to Zhu Hai, to work.”

Bei Ye didn’t respond, and simply continued to strum his guitar, the lone, solitary notes hung quietly in the air, unable to form a simple melody.

Chen Nian gently swung her legs from the edge of the roof. Gazing at the railway track far into the distance, she began to recall that special day when the two of them decided to run away from home. Gradually, a restless desire began to bubble up inside of her.

“Bei Ye?”

“Hmm?”

Placing her hands firmly at the edge of the rooftop, Chen Nian leaned forward and gazed at the sprawling town beneath her. Just as Chen Nian was about to keel over and fall into the concrete jungle beneath her, she suddenly jerked her head up and declared aloud, “I can’t wait.”

“What can’t you wait for?”

“I can’t wait, to leave this place, to leave my hometown… I want time to pa.s.s, even faster.”

“Why do you want to leave?”

“If I leave, to a faraway land, I’d be able to mature into an adult.”

“Why do you want to mature into an adult?”

“I don’t want, to be a weakling. Those who are young, are all weaklings.” Chen Nian continued, “When I’m an adult, I will be able to protect myself.”

Bei Ye’s strumming came to a sudden stop, pausing for a mere second before resuming. Bei Ye glanced at Chen Nian’s side profile, his fringe falling gently onto his forehead, “There are people willing to protect you.”

“No.” Chen Nian shook her head, “Danger is always lurking; one can never be… fully protected by others.”

One can only rely on oneself.

Youths always have hearts filled with the desire to mature into adults; they tremble with feelings of anxiety and restlessness; they are akin to arrows that, despite being on the edge of release, are obstinately held back by the hands of the archer.

Chen Nan gazed into the distance, a look of determination forming on her face. Bei Ye simply stared at Chen Nian, the same look of determination forming on his face as well. Finally, Bei Ye said, “You will definitely be able to find a better place.” You will grow up, and develop into a better person.

“What about you?” Chen Nian turned her head to look at him.

“It’d be the same wherever I go.” Bei Ye smiled, his slightly forlorn expression not escaping Chen Nian’s eyes.

“Do you want……to leave your hometown?”

“Are you asking whether I want to leave this place?” Bei Ye continued strumming his guitar, the melodious notes smoothly flowing from his fingertips.

“Yes.”

“I want to.”

“When?”

“As soon as possible.”

Chen Nian lips curved into a gentle smile. It won’t be long before they would be able to leave this place.

“I cannot continue staying here much longer.” Bei Ye announced. Before Chen Nian could truly contemplate Bei Ye’s words, he had already continued in a calm, and distant tone, “I’m reaching my tolerance limit. I hate every single person who lives here.”

Thoughts of Bei Ye’s parents suddenly barged into Chen Nian’s mind, and the memory of Bei Ye being mocked and bullied by various youths flashed before her eyes. Quietly, she replied in a gentle tone, “I too…..dislike every single person here.”

The words quietly tumbled out of her mouth, her agreement ringing loud and clear in Bei Ye’s ears, as though her agreement with him was sufficient to transform them into similar people, into people who stood beside each other on the same battlefield, into two youths who stood side by side, their shoulders touching each other as they faced the harsh and cruel world together.

Upon hearing Chen Nian’s agreement, Bei Ye fell into silence once more.

I hate this city.

Thankfully, I wasn’t able to meet you earlier – if I had met you earlier, I would have fallen in love with every single person in this city.

And that would have killed me.

As his fingers flew across the guitar, the deep, melodious voice of the youth gently flowed out of his lips.

“That bright laughter reminded me of those flowers of mine; those flowers that bloomed for me, in every quiet corner of my life. Once, I thought that I would always stay by her side, guarding her and protecting her. But we have long separated, I can no longer find her amidst the crowd.”

The days where the two youths were able to sit side by side were numbered. Deep down in their hearts, the both of them knew that their separation was imminent.

Chen Nian raised her head, the breeze gently caressing her hair as she gazed at the azure blue sky.

Beep…… The sharp shrill of the bird trainer’s whistle pierced Bei Ye’s quiet melody, causing a huge flock of white pigeons to fly past the two youths.

When the familiar sound of the train engine rang out, the two youths stood up and made their way down the emergency stairwell. As Chen Nian hadn’t been paying attention to the steps beneath her, she unintentionally took an infirm step, and was about to crash onto the floor when Bei Ye hurriedly scooped her back into his arms and softly reminded her, “Be careful.”

Whispering into her ears, his deep, soft voice was akin to a gentle morning melody. Chen Nian flushed, her face reddening in embarra.s.sment as she held tightly onto Bei Ye’s arms.

Bei Ye arms remained encircled around her as he lowered his head slightly amd gently kissed her earlobes. Trembling, Chen Nian squeezed her eyes shut. His kiss, his breath – they wormed their way into her ears, causing her to s.h.i.+ver in excitement.

Chen Nian felt her face burning up.

His kiss was like a small slab of honey. She was happy and delighted; and yet, she was also fearful and sad.

Bei Ye fetched Chen Nian to an area near school. Hopping off the motorcycle, Bei Ye continued to trail behind Chen Nian, quietly gazing at her as she walked into the school compound. As per their usual custom, Chen Nian turned back and returned Bei Ye’s gaze.

Their eyes were filled with unspoken troubles that were buried deep in their hearts.

It was Sat.u.r.day. As Chen Nian had to continue attending cla.s.ses, Bei Ye had no activities that day. However, he wasn’t in the mood to hang out with his friends, and simply returned home. Chen Nian had tidied his house to the point where there wasn’t a single dust mote to be seen. Lying on the bed, Bei Ye inhaled Chen Nian’s remnant scent.

The graduation exams were nearing, and Chen Nian was about to depart from his life. But he was already so used to having her around. What was he going to do when she left?