Party branch secretary Jian Mei spoke with Xu Chen. She was three years older than Xu Chen and stayed on as a counselor after graduation. Looking at this junior she had always thought highly of, she thought for a long time but couldn't figure out how to say comforting words.
Xu Chen spoke first: "Senior sister, I'd like to ask for two days off this weekend to go home and see my mom."
Normally, it's extremely difficult to get a leave of absence for accommodation in the Department of Clinical Medicine, but Jian Mei still readily approved it. Neither of them said anything, but they both knew in their hearts that this was perhaps a kind of compensation.
Going home is just an excuse.
Actually, Xu Chen just wanted to escape for a few days under the pitying gazes of his classmates. Of course, this incident also made him think: how could his mother avoid feeling lonely in a city where everyone knew each other?
Although Xu Chen often resented his mother for not stopping his father's corrupt practices, it was too late now. All he could do as a son was visit his father behind bars when time allowed, or spend as much time as possible with his mother. Xu Chen couldn't imagine how desolate and lonely the house would be without him.
Of course, besides the cold and loneliness, what could warm Xu Chen's heart was seeing Yu Lele.
Yu Lele, this girl, lost her father in a car accident when she was 14. At that time, as her deskmate, all he could do was change his daily arguments with her to silently care for her, though with little effect, he persevered. He just never imagined that the one who would cause her father's wrongful death was his own father—his father, the police chief, who accepted bribes, abused his power, and covered up the truth for the driver who caused the accident. The moment he learned all this, he could hardly believe his ears.
Those days were too painful to recall. He had no friends and dared not see Yu Lele. They had been deskmates, constantly at odds, and had finally become friends, only to be separated by the loss of a loved one in an instant. If he hadn't run away from home for a night after losing his chance for direct admission to university, if she hadn't searched for him desperately across a city after learning the news, he probably would never have known that some things are stronger than hatred.
That is tolerance and love.
He didn't tell Yu Lele about his failure to be elected to the Party. On the phone, he habitually reassured her he was safe, then quietly listened as Yu Lele recounted her life: she'd received a first-class scholarship last semester, a full 1000 yuan, which had arrived today; she'd won an award for her essay, attended the award ceremony, and even bought a warm-colored dress; she'd participated in the school's talent competition, met the renowned female host from the art academy, and she invited her to visit the provincial television station sometime…
Her world was rich and vibrant; he could imagine her bright smile whenever he closed his eyes.
After starting university, Yu Lele seemed to have completely changed.
She was no longer lonely, no longer dull, no longer insecure, no longer timid. She was basically the kind of outstanding girl you would see in a typical university. She might not be considered very beautiful, but you couldn't deny that she radiated sunshine from head to toe. When you stood next to her and saw her smile, you could feel warm and happy.
These are practically people from two different worlds...
Amidst the clattering of the train, Xu Chen drifted off to sleep, exhausted, though his sleep was restless, waking at least six or seven times. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and the chaotic sound of footsteps filled his ears, making him restless and uneasy.
Early in the morning, as the train approached from afar, Yu Lele stood on the platform, anxiously and nervously looking around.
Xu Chen didn't say which carriage he was in on the phone. She guessed that he didn't want her to go to the platform to wait. The old train station in her hometown was left by the Germans in the 1930s. The long platform always made the passengers complain about its length and inconvenience. She knew that he didn't want her to go that far.
But she still came. She ran out of school early in the morning, took bus number 52, and rode from the Teachers' College station at the southern end of the city to the train station at the northern end. She bought a platform ticket and ran in, standing alone on the platform waiting, but a small flame of happiness was burning in her heart.
She wanted to see him as soon as possible.
She never imagined that she and Xu Chen would end up like this.
Before she turned 16, she hated him, hated how he could be so wicked, trampling her dignity underfoot and not caring at all; before she turned 17, she was grateful to him, grateful for his kind support and encouragement, telling her never to give up hope; but at 18, her feelings for him turned into a faint, contradictory emotion—knowing the tacit understanding and joy they shared, yet still feeling a lingering resentment towards his father.
How could we possibly believe there could be love between us back then?
She never forced love, so during the entire summer before her senior year of high school, when they finally broke free from the constraints fate had imposed on them and walked hand in hand on the beach, she felt only a faint sense of happiness, peace, and security. She never imagined that after he went to medical school in the provincial capital, she would miss him uncontrollably, miss him so much that her diary entries would be filled with his name, and miss him so much that every winter and summer vacation they could spend together felt too rushed and too short.
It turns out that I, who always thought I was a cold and strong girl, couldn't escape this common fate in the end.
In the cool sea breeze of a June morning, Yu Lele gazed into the distance, her toes almost numb from tiptoeing.
Finally, finally, the train approached from afar. As it drew closer, the rumbling sound of it rushing past filled the air, and a strong wind swept over. Yu Lele reached out and pressed her hair down, anxiously scanning the train as it slowly passed in front of her. All she could think was: Xu Chen, where are you?
She wanted to shout, to let him hear her, to let him see her. But looking at the crowd flowing past her, Yu Lele couldn't open her mouth. She walked quickly on the platform, peering into every train window, but with so many people, which carriage had Xu Chen in?
As the crowd in front of her gradually thinned out and dispersed, Yu Lele's heart grew colder and colder.
She stood on the platform, somewhat bewildered, watching the last few pedestrians walk towards her and head towards the exit. It was already bright daylight, but Xu Chen had not arrived.
My heart sank, and a Siberian cold front swept over me, quickly enveloping me in icy chill.
Just as Yu Lele was about to cry, someone suddenly patted her on the shoulder.
Yu Lele's heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head and turned around, almost knocking the person behind her to the side.
She didn't dare to look up, but secretly peeked from below: leather shoes, trousers, a light-colored T-shirt with faint small checks, he was carrying a small bag in one hand, and his other hand was free, hanging at his side. She could almost feel the rhythm of his breathing on her neck, but she could only keep her head down.
Yu Lele still didn't dare to look up, not because she was shy, but because if he saw that she was about to cry, wouldn't she lose face?
She blinked frantically, trying to force back her tears. She felt like she wasn't herself at all. Over the years, with her father's death, her mother's remarriage, and her failing the high school entrance exam, how many times had she cried?
But every time I shed a tear, this person has to see it.
Ah—she almost roared: Why am I so unlucky?!
Xu Chen smiled and reached out to touch Yu Lele's hair: "Yu Lele, what are you doing?"
Yu Lele remained silent. The more she tried not to cry, the more tears welled up in her eyes. It was so embarrassing! She couldn't explain this inexplicable emotion. It was truly humiliating!
"Lele?" Xu Chen called out tentatively, but seeing that the girl in front of him was still looking down, not speaking or moving, he became a little worried. He bent down and saw that Yu Lele was crying.
Xu Chen was startled.
He quickly put the bag on the ground and held Yu Lele's shoulder: "What happened?"
Yu Lele finally looked up and saw the worried expression on the boy's face. He was still so tall that she had to stand on tiptoe to reach his nose. His hands were so big that they seemed to be transmitting warmth through her shoulders into her heart.
Without a second thought, Yu Lele almost instinctively threw herself into the boy's arms. Xu Chen paused for a moment, then reached out and hugged the girl in his arms. He heard her muffled voice: "I thought you were lying to me, I thought you weren't coming back."
Xu Chen breathed a sigh of relief and laughed: "Yu Lele, you weren't always this prone to crying!"
One sentence hit Yu Lele's sore spot, and Yu Lele blushed, buried her head, and wiped her face hard on the boy's clothes as if in revenge. Xu Chen noticed and chuckled as he pinched Yu Lele's cheek: "Hey, this isn't a tissue."
Yu Lele hugged the boy in front of her tightly, as if she had never felt so strong before. She couldn't express her worries: she kept dreaming about him lately, dreaming that he wasn't doing well. But she couldn't hear anything from his voice on the phone.
Xu Chen smiled and frowned: "Yu Lele, are you born with superhuman strength? I can't even breathe with your strength. Hey, I'm talking to you, let go, I'm not going to fly away."
Yu Lele remained silent, still tightly gripping the boy's shirt from behind. Xu Chen sighed, reaching out to ruffle the girl's hair: "Yu Lele, are you trying to murder your husband?!"
Yu Lele finally smiled. She raised her head, her eyes were red, but deep inside they were clear and transparent.
Xu Chen saw his own smiling face in the center of her pupils.
There were no pedestrians on the platform. The sun rose, casting a beautiful warm red glow on the boys and girls. The June heat was gradually rising, and on the empty platform, they stood together, forming a beautiful picture.
1-2
That evening, Xu Chen rushed from home to the Teachers' College.
Before leaving, my mother kept nagging, "You're only back for two days, and you won't stay home for long."
Xu Chen had no choice but to tell the truth: "I'm going to find Yu Lele."
The mother then fell silent. She turned to look at her son, who had grown tall and had matured into a handsome young man, just like his father had been.
Thinking of this, the mother felt a pang in her heart. She had to admit that she was grateful for the tolerance and forgiveness shown by Yu Lele's family. Perhaps it was for this reason that she believed the girl was a good girl, and that her son being with her was undoubtedly a good thing. She only later heard from her son that Yu Lele's mother had remarried, and her current husband was her childhood sweetheart. Ultimately, this was a decent ending, which made her feel a little better.
She simply told her son, "Don't come home too late."
Only after hearing her son's reply did she feel relieved and return to her bedroom.
As Xu Chen walked down the street, he still found the scene amusing: it seemed that in his mother's heart, he would always be a child. She wished she could remind him every day to look at the traffic lights when walking, to look left before right when crossing the street, to chew his food slowly, and to keep his eyes at least 15 centimeters away from the book when reading...
However, not long from now, I will be turning 21.
How many times in a person's life will they be 21?
Xu Chen thought: In the blink of an eye, a quarter of my life has passed. But what will the remaining three-quarters be like? What kind of life will I have? What kind of people will I meet? What kind of changes will occur? Who can know?
No one can know the ending before any story begins.
The dances at the teachers' college seem to have become a tradition.
Starting around the 1980s, teachers' colleges held dances every weekend. Regardless of political and economic changes, this cultural tradition was respected and maintained. Aside from military training, the welcome dance was arguably the first collective activity for freshmen. Although each year's welcome dance, thanks to the enthusiastic instruction of upperclassmen and the freshmen's eager questions, essentially became a basic education dance, the close bonds between classmates seemed to be cultivated amidst the rhythmic chants of "one, two, three, four, two, two, three, four." You have to admit, at the dance, any girl can transform into a confident and beautiful princess with graceful steps—as long as you dare to take that first step.
Yu Lele stood at the school gate waiting for Xu Chen. Every now and then, classmates from the same department would walk by and ask curiously, "Yu Lele, why aren't you going in yet? It's about to start, isn't it?"
Yu Lele always smiled, her face showing a happy and content expression, yet she deliberately suppressed it: "I'm waiting for someone."
Some people, being a bit gossipy, asked, "Do you have a dance partner yet?"
Yu Lele calmly nodded: "Hmm, I've got it." Then she looked at the other person's winking or infinitely curious expression with satisfaction.
Yu Lele wore a white dress today, the long skirt reaching down to her ankles, giving her a soft and graceful look. Yu Lele seemed to stubbornly believe that girls must wear skirts with wide hems when ballroom dancing, so that the skirts would flutter when she twirled, creating a truly enchanting scene.
However, the effect of the white dress was obvious: Xu Chen's eyes involuntarily lit up when he saw Yu Lele. Only when they got closer, under Yu Lele's smiling gaze, did Xu Chen joke, "Yu Lele, you're a completely different person now!"
"Huh?" Yu Lele didn't understand what he meant. Then she saw Xu Chen bend down and whisper in Yu Lele's ear, "You look pretty good, don't you? Why did you dress like an old lady back then?"
Yu Lele nudged Xu Chen with her elbow in annoyance. He caught it, took Yu Lele's hand, and walked into the campus with a smile.
A warm feeling suddenly surged through Yu Lele's heart.
She looked down at her two hands clasped together, then looked up at the boy beside her with his crisp collar and clean-cut appearance. She felt a sweet sensation spreading through her heart, almost too sweet to describe.
At the dance, Xu Chen, a complete stranger, became the focus of attention for almost all the girls.
Yang Luning smiled and said to Xu Yin beside her, "What was that saying again? I knew Yu Lele's boyfriend was handsome, but I didn't know he was this handsome."
Xu Yin also laughed: "Yu Lele has to keep a tight rein on her boyfriend, otherwise it's too dangerous!"
As they were talking, the music stopped, and the two saw Xu Chen and Yu Lele walk out of the dance floor. Yang Luning pulled Xu Yin aside: "Let's follow them!"
Xu Yin slapped Yang Luning: "Why are you meddling in other people's business? Absence makes them feel better than marriage, what's it to you?"
Suddenly, he gestured towards the distance with his chin and said, "Hey, look who's coming!"
Yang Luning turned her head and saw a male student from the Department of Political Science and Law who had been chasing her walking towards her. She immediately gasped and hurriedly said to Xu Yin, "I'm going back to my dorm to rest now. Bye-bye."
They fled in panic.
Only Xu Yin remained behind, clutching her stomach and laughing.
Meanwhile, Yu Lele was showing Xu Chen around the school. As she introduced things like, "This is the music building," "This is the library," and "This is where I do my morning exercises," Yu Lele rambled on about the fun things she did. Xu Chen looked down and saw the girl's excited eyes, and smiled gently. Suddenly, he remembered the Party branch meeting three days ago, his eyes dimmed for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.
But Yu Lele still saw it. She suddenly took a step forward, stood firmly in front of the boy, looked up into Xu Chen's eyes and asked, "Xu Chen, are you doing well at school?"
Xu Chen was taken aback, thinking she knew something, but then he thought it was impossible: "Why do you ask that?"
Yu Lele bit her lip: "I dreamt that someone was going to hit you. I rushed over, but I couldn't help at all. I could only watch you get beaten."
Xu Chen's eyes widened: "What? I got beaten up?"
Yu Lele nodded: "Xu Chen, has anyone bullied you?"
Xu Chen laughed out loud: "Yu Lele, do you think I'm still in elementary school? That no one would bully me?"
Yu Lele said seriously, "But you have something on your mind."