Chapter 20 (1/2)

Daytime in Beijing was very warm, reaching 12 to 13 degrees at noon. When He Luo went to buy her train ticket, she didn’t even wear her woolen coat. The warmth of the oncoming southeast wind sweeping into the tiny gaps of her sweater made her very fluttery. It was like spring has come. In that moment, He Luo truly felt reluctant to leave Beijing.

“Stop pretending.” Zhou Xing Yan glanced at her. “Look at your small and big bags. Are you really only going home for three days?”

“Did you manage to get a return ticket?” Tong Jia Ying asked. “There will be a test in Philosophy of Mao cla.s.s on the 3rd. When are you going to start preparing for it?”

“Fine. We’ll call [kou] you.” Zhou Xing Yan pursed her lips. “Kou, kou, kou, I’ll kou [hit] you to death! Why must you say you’re going to my home? If your parents find out I’m your accomplice, I am dead meat! There are only about 20 days more to go before the holidays. If you don’t go back, will you suffocate to death?”

Just thinking how she would be able to meet Zhang Yuan in a dozen of hours made her heart sing with delight. From the bus to the subway, all the twists and turns she took to reach the train station made her want to stick out her tongue from the humidity.

Why did she insist on returning during the three days new year break? Did she really miss him so much that she couldn’t even be patient for another 20 days? No, that wasn’t the case.

Showing off like this was not a sign of self-confidence. What was it that she didn’t believe in? What exactly was it? He Luo was unwilling to think too deeply.

She really, really loves him.

Even if the novelty of her new life bury her longing, his figure would inadvertently leap into her mind every now and then. A falling leaf, a gust of wind; a sunset and a song. When she thought of him, the taste of sweetness and sourness would entangle.

We should be together, so blissful that world will look on and feel envious.

He Luo was in train no. 12 but left through train no. 11’s exit to get him to quicker. But funnily, Zhang Yuan was approaching train no. 13 to find her. He looked a little anxious yet hopeful, standing on tiptoes while being so tall made him look somewhat silly.

“Ah!” His smile carried traces of laughter. “Please have mercy on me on account that I have to take care of the old and young in my household.” He obediently raised his hands in sign of surrender. “Are you going to rob both my money and innocence? If you’re aiming for money, this humble person has nothing to speak of. If you’re aiming for my innocence, then I’ll reluctantly give myself to you…”

Zhang Yuan snickered, shoulders raising and dropping as he laughed. He turned to take He Luo’s luggage and placed it on his shoulders. His hand reached for He Luo’s. The station was packed with people so He Luo held tightly onto his arm. “Something about you changed,” she said. “Why is your chin so square now?”

“Ah, is there?” He Luo reached for her chin. “Where? Liar!”

“It’s okay, I have a seat. There’s even an empty seat next to me. It’s just that the heater is too warm, causing me to sweat.”

“Yeap. Blood oranges and navel oranges. They’re both delicious.”

“But it won’t be the ones I always eat in the dorm.” He Luo looked up, smiling at Zhang Yuan. “I want you to try them.”

The girls’ dorm of the provincial university was guarded strictly. Boys were banned from stepping in at all. The two of them carried the luggage all the way to the concierge and came across Zhu Ning Li who was leaving the building. She looked surprised to see such a sight. Zhang Yuan took the initiative to greet her. “Hey Chocolate, come and meet your saviour.”

“Even if you want to beat me up or kill me, you have to do me a favour first.” Zhang Yuan pulled the luggage he was holding. “I can’t enter.”

“It’s the room opposite mine. Whose bed did you borrow? Why didn’t she come and help you with the luggage?” Zhu Ning Li asked. “Anyway I’m going to go study.”

He Luo tugged at his sleeve. “Don’t bother someone else. I can really carry them, didn’t I bring them all the way here from my university?”

“You’re really…” He Luo patted him with a smile. Looking into her bag, she took out another two oranges. “These female round navel oranges are better tasting, they’re sweeter.”

Zhu Ning Li remembered how during cla.s.s meeting, Zhang Yuan had slowly stood up. “If I smile at you everyday, do you think you’ll feel secure?” There was even a hint of laughter in his words. But when he was handing her the oranges earlier, the corners of his lips were curved. He was smiling from his heart, a smile that reflected his happiness. Was this boy in front of her truly the cold and aloof Zhang Yuan? His expression was warm, his entire self radiated suns.h.i.+ne. When she showed He Luo the way in, she discreetly turned around to look at Zhang Yuan. So it turned out that when Zhang Yuan smiled, he looked really good.

“It’s you who said your course doesn’t have many girls and told me to go and make up in numbers.” Zhang Wei Rui showed her a pure white s.h.i.+rt with a leaf print. “If I wear this with that dusty pink striped sweater and tweed skirt, would I look okay?”

“Why?”

“He Luo?”

Zhang Wei Rui sighed lightly. “And here I thought anything serious happened. I’ve long known that Zhang Yuan has a long-distance girlfriend. I’ve already said, I only think that having a brother like him is nice. Did you think I’m going to your faculty’s dance for him?”

Leaving the dorm, Zhu Ning Li felt angry at herself. She felt that her action was a little cruel. But a short period of despair is better than a long one. She desperately tried to convince herself that what she was doing is right. She has to nip such emotions at the bud, once and for all. Zhang Wei Rui was a child who was even afraid of going to the dentist’s. To push her like this shouldn’t be wronging her.

“Do you know how to dance?” Zhang Yuan asked He Luo.

“Of course, of course I know how to dance!” Zhang Yuan laughed. “But I only know some folk dances. Forget about it, let’s go.”

“Isn’t it just hugging and embracing each other?” Zhang Yuan moved closer to her ear. “I’ll let you do whatever you want to me later, isn’t that enough?”

“Then, will you let me do whatever I want to you?” His foot was stepped on.

Zhang Yuan sighed. “Big sis, I really dance very poorly. I’ll ruin your romantic fantasy.” The two of them stood on the sidelines of the dance floor, both a little rigid. His faculty had invited a few more experienced dancers for demonstration. Zhang Yuan glanced at them warily, before extending his hand to He Luo.

“If I’ll embarra.s.s myself today, then so be it,” Zhang Yuan said. “I’ll throw all my pride out. I’ll count to three and we’ll make the most basic steps.”

“One, two, three.” Zhang Yuan followed the beat of the song. “Let’s go.”

He Luo was so embarra.s.sed her face reddened.

*

And yet the moment she appeared, his winter has ended. The moment she spoke, the entire world smiled for her. The skies emptied, the Antarctic glaciers melted, melting into surging waves, drowning Zhang Wei Rui… Her heart ached. Something was squeezing her heart, making her clench her fists tightly.

Zhang Wei Rui turned around and walked out the door.