Chapter 24 (2/2)

What should she say to Zhang Yuan when she sees him later? “How are you?”, or perhaps “I’ve come back.” He Luo felt nervous. It was as if she was a young girl who had fallen in love for the first time and was about to confess to the one she liked.

Noticing her anxiety, Tian Xin patted her on the back and said, “Earlier you said you’re not coming back but you’re suddenly joining our cla.s.s reunion. Is it because you don’t want to see a certain someone? Why do you look so dazed?”

He Luo showed her a tight-lipped smile. She wanted Zhang Yuan to appear as soon as possible yet she also wanted this period of waiting to extend endlessly.

The door to their private dining room opened, cutting into the high volumes of human voice, the piercing aroma of beer, the breeze coming in carrying a hint of refres.h.i.+ng coolness.

“All you brothers are here early!” His low voice carried a shred of exhaustion, He Luo could tell. She couldn’t help but turn her head to see if his good-looking face was also haggard. As expected, he really was thinner now compared to six months ago. The contours of his face was more p.r.o.nounced and there was a shadow at his freshly shaved chin. That moment reminded He Luo of how his stubble had felt across her cheek, that tingling sensation.

In the next month, her heart was squashed.

She watched as a delicate young girl smiling as she stuck her head from behind Zhang Yuan, waving at the crowd. “I hope you all don’t mind me joining.”

“Why is it her?” Tian Xin’s voice was loud. Zhang Yuan glanced over and when he saw He Luo, he looked surprised.

He Luo turned around and held Tian Xin’s hand. “Eat the dishes. It’s none of our business.”

“She! What’s her name, that little brat, the one with the thieving heart!” Tian Xin desperately tried to jog her memory of the girl’s name.

“Zheng Qing Yin.” He Luo used her chopsticks to get a piece of vegetable but slipped. She tried several times but the slippery vegetable still slipped from the gaps of her chopsticks.

About six cla.s.smates had arrived at the dining room. They couldn’t all fit in the same table but didn’t want to sit separately, so they made the waiter combine their tables together. Now that there was another two newcomers, it was even more crowded. Those who already sat down huddled together to make s.p.a.ce.

“How troublesome!” Tian Xin appeared to be talking to herself but her volume was great.

“I’ll pour you tea, isn’t that good enough?” Zhang Yuan laughed. Picking up a large can of c.o.ke on the table, he filled the cup in front of Tian Xin to the brim and continued with the few cups next to her. When it came to He Luo, he said as he poured, “I thought you wouldn’t come today. They said you’ll be spending your summer break in Beijing.”

“Oh, thanks.” Her tone was polite and natural. She carefully and gracefully held the cup for him, careful not touch his fingers. “I changed my mind at the last minute. My mom and dad have been nagging me, saying I have to come back even if it’s just one week.”

“When are you leaving?”

“This weekend.”

Zhang Yuan made a ‘oh’ sound and went over to greet the other old cla.s.smates. Zheng Qing Qin sat beside him, pulling his sleeve. “Don’t bend forward too much, you’ll dirty your clothes from the dishes.”

Tian Xin scoffed. “You’re so free. Is it that you’ll join every reunion of each cla.s.s in each grade?”

Zheng Qing Yin didn’t pay her sarcasm any mind. She giggled and stuck out her tongue. “Nope. Other than my own cla.s.s reunion, I’m only coming to yours. Luckily the guys in my cla.s.s still kept in contact with their coach, otherwise where will I find you guys in this big, wide world?”

“If you can’t find, then don’t find,” Tian Xin muttered.

“The reason why I’m here is to see if I can hold a friendly basketball match between my cla.s.s and yours. Those brats in my cla.s.s are bragging that they’re exceptionally good these days, so I want to see if it’s true. This year I’ve been in Hong Kong, I haven’t seen any guys who are tall.”

“You’ve gone to Hong Kong?” someone asked.

“Yes. I’m studying English in the University of Hong Kong for a year. I’ll transfer to Toronto in the fall.” Zhen Qing Yin pursed her lips. “Hong Kong is not that fun. It’s a total foreign land. I miss high school the most, standing by the court to watch basketball.”

Tian Xin turned her head to look at He Luo. Using her hand to cover her face, she mouthed the words: “Boy-crazed.”

Several boys began chattering about how they played truant in high school, watching the cla.s.s teacher from the field as they fled.

“Gao Fang is the most cunning,” Zhao Cheng Jie said. “He even went to the math office to collect our homework, fibbing that Bai Lian asked for his help. Teacher Xiao Lin saw through him in an instant, saying, ‘You this brat, since when you’ll miss out on a basketball game? Remember to wash up next time, and wipe the sweat at the back of your neck.’”

He Luo joined the rest in their laughter. Remembering those days where she watched his spirited self, her heart felt endlessly complex.

Zheng Qing Yin added, “Right, right. Back then I can always see you guys playing. Once, when I was walking past, I was nearly hit by a basketball. Fortunately Zhang Yuan intercepted the ball, or else there’ll definitely be a basketball print on my face.” As she said this, she made a circle motion at her face.

“Acting cute,” Tian Xin gritted her teeth.

“Ah, seems like there’s something like that,” Zhang Yuan said. After a moment of thinking, he continued, “But I remember back then, the ball was heading towards the girls in our cla.s.s. Isn’t that girl?” His gaze turned to Tian Xin.

Tian Xin immediately nudged He Luo, who was blanking out. He Luo snapped to focus and said, “Ah, seems like it. Maybe.” How could she not remember? And that chibi version of a boy playing basketball that he drew. How he said, “Come to the court in the afternoon, I’ll dedicate my first score to you.” Yet in this moment, Zhang Yuan was sitting opposite her but their distance felt so far away.

This dinner was tasteless. After a round of drinks, someone persuaded Zheng Qing Yin to sing, saying that since she has been in Hong Kong for so long, she should be able to sing in Cantonese. She didn’t refuse and sang Faye Wong’s Promise. Clutching her mike, she batted her eyes. “I can’t sing that high, don’t laugh at me.”

Tian Xin grabbed the other mike. “I’ll sing Zhou Hui’s Mandarin version, let’s do a duet. I’ll guide you in the earlier part.” She even purposefully shouted, “Zhang Yuan, go and see where He Luo has gone. She said she’s going to washroom earlier but she’s taking so long.”

Zhao Cheng Jie held the door. “Let me go.”

“Stand right there.” Tian Xin stomped her feet. “Everyone, listen to me sing. None of you can go!”

Zhang Yuan found He Luo in front of the restaurant. “Move away, move away!” Someone drank too much and stumbled over to her. The man rushed to hold onto the wall, puking his guts out, after he shoved He Luo aside. Zhang Yuan took big steps to get to He Luo. “Are you okay?” He reached out to touch her arm but she turned around to avoid him, thanking him quietly. This entire night she had been unfailingly polite, courteous to the point of alienation. And she avoided all bodily contact whether intentionally or unintentionally, as if to say, “Stop! Don’t touch me.”

He put his hand down and shook his head helplessly.

Silence. The two of them kept the distance of a hug between them.

“Has your TOEFL results come out?” Zhang Yuan asked.

“633. Writing 5 points.”

“That’s not bad.”

“En, most universities request 600 and above, writing 4 points.”

“Then what cla.s.s did you register for during the summer break?”

“GRE.”

“Oh.”

“It’s like applying for graduate program. When you apply for postgraduate programs in America, you need to show some results. It’s inevitable,” she explained.

“Are you planning to study masters or a doctorate?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” she replied. “I don’t absolutely have to go overseas.” As long as you open your mouth. As long as you stop me.

“Why?” Zhang Yuan went straight to the point.

Because of you. He Luo lowered her eyes. “My parents are both in the country. Especially my dad’s company, he can’t leave. Even if I go overseas, I’ll still come back to look for a job.”

“How many years will that be?” Zhang Yuan asked. “It’s not easy to find a job in the country either. By the time you come back, your peers will have even greater advantage than you have.”

“Then, do you think I should go? Or should I just stay here?” He Luo t.i.tled her head.

“That, you have to decide on your own.”

It’s this kind of response again. In the past, I can consider you as being considerate to your lover’s decision, but now that we’ve become ordinary friends, is it so hard for you to give me a firm suggestion? Even if she has the intention to stay by Zhang Yuan’s side, how could she say things like, I’ll do whatever you want me to?

She said, “That’s not for sure. If I have working experience abroad, when I come back I’ll definitely be more employable. I’ll definitely carve an advantage for myself.”

She was still the same, unyieldingly stubborn. A girl who refused to give in. Perhaps there would be not many chances to meet again in the future. Perhaps in the future there would be another guy by her side. There were many honest words that he must say now, or there may never be another chance. Zhang Yuan couldn’t help himself and said, “He Luo, sometimes you’re too stubborn, too headstrong.”

“En?” He Luo lifted her head.

“A lot of times, you’re too insistent on your view and you don’t consider the point of view of the other person. You don’t listen to other people’s advice and has the habit of refuting the other person’s opinion.”

“Since when? I’m only speaking my own opinion.”

“See. You’re now refuting my opinion.”

If she didn’t refute, that would mean she was agreeing that she was stubborn. But if she refuted, that would be proving she was indeed stubborn. This was a trap of logic! He Luo lifted her head and glared hatefully at Zhang Yuan. She couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes. She didn’t know if he missed any of their past together, even in the slightest.

Zhang Yuan helplessly smiled. “I won’t say such things in the future anymore. It’s quite insulting.”

He Luo watched him turn away, and couldn’t help but say, “Hey, you didn’t insult me. I know you’re doing this for my own good and that you won’t say this to anyone this but me.”

Zhang Yuan turned around, expression gradually warming. “Tian Xin is waiting for her duet with you. Hurry up and come in.”

Tian Xin had always been a mike addict. Fortunately she has a good voice and was good at mimicking the voices of popular singers, so everyone else good-naturedly bear with her. Zheng Qing Yin was happily planning their basketball game. When she saw Zhang Yuan returning, she asked when he would be free.

He said, “I’m very busy lately. It’s not easy to make someone else take over a project for me, I’ve decided to hibernate.”

Zhao Cheng Jie laughed. “Haven’t you decided to hibernate a long time ago? Why did you shave and come over today? Next time let others see your caveman look.”

After chatting for awhile, He Luo began to feel tired. Getting up, she said, “My parents want me to go home earlier. I’ll leave first. You all enjoy yourselves.”

Tian Xin needled them nonstop. “How are you going home? How are you going home?”

“I’m taking the bus, it’s very near,” He Luo replied and bid everyone farewell.

“And you guys are just going to let a girl go home alone like that?” Tian Xin pointed outside the window. At eight pm on July, the sky was still partially lit but she couldn’t help but worry.

“I’ll accompany her.” Zhang Yuan got up.

“Will you come back?” Zheng Qing Yin asked.

Tian Xin glared at her. “Don’t you have a driver? We’ll wait with you.”

Zhao Cheng Jie complained at Tian Xin. “Why are you poking your nose into someone else’s business? Why are you needling Zhang Yuan? If He Luo can’t accept Zhang Yuan in the past, she won’t be able now either. Why are you letting Zhang Yuan suffer twice? Besides, doesn’t she already has a boyfriend?”

“Nonsense!” Tian Xin widened her eyes. “Where did that rumour came from? I was wondering why this two were being so awkward with each other, it was actually the fault of you people. If He Luo has any intention to date other people at all, do you think she needs to travel all the way home just for this little reunion?”

Zhang Yuan rushed to catch up to He Luo, who was already on the other side of the road. When the traffic light turned red, he watched as she disappeared into the crowd. He quickly rushed through the traffic. A car stopped and honked at him. The driver stuck out his head and scolded, “Are you rus.h.i.+ng to get reincarnated!” A person’s instinct was truly strange and wonderful. He Luo turned around in that moment and Zhang Yuan ran to her side. The two of them walked side by side to the bus stop.

“The drivers here are really aggressive, be careful,” He Luo said. “You still don’t know how to take care of yourself. Do you still have to stay up late these days?”

“Now and then. It’s just that when I get really busy, I have to finish a whole pack of cigarettes just to stay awake.”

He Luo frowned. “Be careful of pneumonia.”

“Pneumonia? All the bacteria are being smoked to death.” Zhang Yuan laughed. “I should be worried about lung cancer instead.”

“It’s dangerous,” He Luo nudged him. “Isn’t there anyone to talk some sense into you? No girls like smelling the smell of cigarettes.”

“They’re not my girlfriend, what right do they have to tell me to do anything?”

He Luo was speechless.

After a pause, Zhang Yuan asked, “Then, are you keeping an eye on Shen Lie and not allowing him to smoke as well?”

He Luo immediately burst into laughter. “I’m not anyone to him, what right do I have to tell him to do anything?”

“Really?”

“Why should I lie?” He Luo added, “We’re just good friends, that’s all.”

His feelings much more relaxed, he asked, “Will you be coming home for the coming break?”

He Luo thought about it. “Not sure. I’m still studying for GRE, I’m worried I won’t have enough time. But I’ll definitely be back to celebrate the new year.”

“But I might not be around,” he said. “Lately my project has been doing well. I’m working with someone else on a supermarket logistics management software. Their boss is from Yantai, he invited us to go visit Shandong for the new year break.”

“If… I come back in the next break, you…” He Luo tried to probe his reaction. “Do you need me to help you with anything?”

“Let’s talk when that time comes,” he said. “I’ll treat you to dinner. Spring rolls, braised meat.”

It was her favourite hometown dish. He Luo nodded. “Okay, then that’s a promise.”

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