Chapter 22 (2/2)

Tian Xin didn’t refute, only loudly complaining, “Exactly. I’ve been sitting there writing so much my a.s.s is growing callousess.”

“You also have to update me. Even if I’m going home, I’m also keeping my eye on your progress in Beijing.” Tian Xin mysteriously said, “A certain someone came over during break last year and earned He Luo’s first kiss [in English]. What about this time? Are there any upgrades?” For instance, those kind… Where is he staying this time? Since he’s earning so much from his part-time job, it must at least be a three-star hotel.”

“You’re so cruel!” Tian Xin cried. “He Luo, oh He Luo, you’re not only killing Cla.s.smate Zhang’s fantasy, you’re also hurting Cla.s.smate Shen’s feelings!”

“While still holding your luggage?” He Luo laughed. “You’re not worried of being called a terrorist?”

“And then they’ll send you to Beijing mental hospital,” she giggled. “Don’t bring so many things this time, it’ll look strange.”

“Who said so? Of course there’ll be someone caring for you.” He Luo paused. “Your mom.”

Before the sun was even up, sleepy Chang An were awaken by the parade partic.i.p.ants running across the streets. Everyone was out of breath. A panting Shen Lie complained, “Is this an evacuation drill? Or an air defense demonstration?” None of them had even the energy to laugh.

“He did call…” Ye Zhi was hesitant. “He said he’s not coming.”

“I also wondered whether Tong Jia Ting this muddlehead heard wrongly.”

“Maybe he’s only joking and is trying to give He Luo a surprise,” Ye Zhi said. “Did he use a very serious or kidding tone? You can’t even tell.”

Zhang Yuan asked, “You’re back? I saw on TV that the students section are the most chaotic.”

“Home,” Zhang Yuan answered. “Earlier I’ve told your roommate that something urgent came up and I can’t leave.”

“I’m not playing around,” he said. “If you don’t believe me, you can call my house number. I’m really at home.”

“How would I know?” He Luo frowned. She didn’t have the patience to explain. Earlier she asked Zhang Yuan, “Why is it so sudden? Did something happen… is everything okay?”

“Why can’t it wait a few days? The entire country is on holiday now, what did he need help with that is so urgent?” He Luo complained. “Even if there’s a change to the plan, you should’ve told me earlier. What exactly is so urgent?”

“No need,” He Luo said coolly. “You won’t tell me everything from A to Z anyway. Every time you’d say it’s a long story.”

“Don’t I have to wait for the other person’s confirmation?” Shen Lie explained.

“It’s okay to release your pent-up feelings now,” he said. “When you go back, ask Zhang Yuan calmly. He cares for you so much. Maybe he has some kind of problem.”

Maybe he has some kind of problem. He Luo remembered Shen Lie’s words. Zhang Yuan’s face was gloomy. Since he didn’t say much, she didn’t dare to ask much. Her worry and concern were both leaping from her throat, threatening her words to spill. The city has just newly repaired a wooden church built in the last century, outside it were dancing Russian girls in their puffy skirts. The accordionist was playing cheerful Russian pokka.

“Forget it. I don’t like noisy places.” His tone was moody and tired.

Zhang Yuan didn’t want to go either. Under the dark trees, there was nowhere for him to hide from the topic he didn’t want to discuss. Lately he had been busy out of his mind. On the 30th when he was packing for his Beijing trip, he heard a rumour that Fu Peng was detained at the public safety bureau for creating trouble while drunk. He was detained, fined, and his university was informed. Not one punishment was missed. When Zhang Yuan asked further, it turned out that a company registered Fu Peng’s invention as their patent and even accused him of plagiarism. In a fit of anger, Fu Peng smashed the gla.s.s wall of the company’s office, even smas.h.i.+ng the head of the project manager who had come to stop him. The manager suffered seven st.i.tches in his head.

“They’re all looking out for one another. I’m really disappointed,” Fu Peng said. “No, I’m disheartened. I’ve decided to study my doctorate in America. Kindness between humans, that’s the most Chinese quality, yet the only kindness growing here is nepotism.”

“Then just think of me as being as ostrich. I don’t want to fight with these people anymore. It just so happens that there’s a research centre in America that has just invited me to join them,” he said. “Little brother, I’ll convince them to let you join.”

But all this Zhang Yuan didn’t want to tell He Luo. Even if he told He Luo, it wouldn’t change anything. It would only worry her further. Can she not ask anything? He only wanted to sit beside He Luo, holding tightly onto her hand, as if he was holding onto the hope of an entire world.

They rented a two-seater bicycle, with He Luo helming. In just awhile, she complained it was difficult to control the bicycle and wanted to be lazy in the back. Zhang Yuan said, “You’re really someone who gives up easily, like a child.” When they made it down a low slope, they gently glided down where a gold avenue(?) has appeared at the end of the path.

“Dindal light phenomenon, what’s there to be surprised about.”

“Light path,” he said. “You’re really forgetful. We learned that in high school.”

“It’s a part of your education,” he said. “If you blindly absorb information, no matter how good your score is, you’ll still be naive as a person.”

“Yes. I want to work.” Zhang Yuan stopped the bicycle by the path, walked towards the gra.s.sy land near the river, and sat there. “But I want to go my own way, like what Fu Peng is doing. He has shared his experience and expertise with me, I can prevent a lot mishaps that way.”

He replied, “Yes. This is our country’s drawback. That’s why some people refuse to come back after going to America.”

He was quiet. He Luo, oh He Luo, you always looked at the world with such crystal clear eyes, yet why do you doubt my perception of my future and career? Don’t tell me all these. My thoughts and yours are no different.

Zhang Yuan glanced at her. “Oh, are you thirsty? Why don’t I buy you a bottle of water?”

“Aren’t you too tired from talking so much? Can we just sit here quietly for awhile?” Zhang Yuan said. “I’m just really tired. Really.” He closed his eyes and laid there, opening his arms and legs like a snow angel. The surrounding gra.s.s had already yellowed. The breeze swept the flowers by the river, and they went up and down, like golden waves.

She lifted her head. The wind had gotten stronger, even the clouds were flying past quickly. In autumn, the northern sky was so high up, so blue and so lonely. The two of them underneath such a sky was immeasurably small.

“En.” A mellow, tired sound.

“En. So sleepy.” He had not slept well the past two days. Beside her, he could finally relax.

Everything will naturally fall into their place, like the southern gra.s.sland and northern wind will always meet in the winter of each year.

<script>