Sadly the professor was also the most passionate out of all his lecturers. The students who sat in the first row wanted nothing more than to close their books and stop listening but they wasn’t able to under the professor’s watchful eyes. At the end of class, there were boys who ran over to the first row and teased them. “Come, let me look at your faces and see if they’re wet.”
It was a pleasant surprise for the university freshmen to know attendance wasn’t mandatory. They became obsessed with the feeling of being a “fugitive” and after discovering no one would investigate their disappearance, it soon became a trend.
Since a long distance call in daytime cost full price, the phone booth in the afternoon was empty as the crowd poured into the canteen for lunch. Over the line, it was also noisy with the sound of girls chattering. Their voices were high-pitched, like a group of happy birds. Amidst the sound of laughter and footsteps, Zhang Yuan tried to look for He Luo’s. While waiting to hear her voice, even one minute felt too long. He suddenly felt unsure of himself. He didn’t know how to begin a conversation with her. If the dorm warden tells him she wasn’t around, he would feel relieved.
He heard the sounds of quick footsteps and then He Luo’s breathless voice. “Hello. Who is it?”
“En… you’re pretty busy lately.” The end of her sentence sounded unnaturally high.
“Angry?”
“I was busy too. I had midterms in the past two weeks,” He Luo replied. “I was so busy I didn’t have the time to be angry. Who said I’m angry anyway?” She smiled. A little reluctantly, she added, “Do you blame me?” Her tone made her sound like a child who had just made a mistake.
“If you’re unhappy about anything, tell me. Don’t keep it to yourself.” He Luo twisted the phone cord with her finger, wanting to touch his sigh if she could.
A 20 yuan calling card can only buy them about 10 minutes of talk time. Even after the call disconnected, He Luo was still reluctant to put down the phone.
“Much thanks,” Shen Lie said. “Students’ praise is the biggest affirmation of our work.”
“You’re lowering your standards too much! Serving the people is a never ending job.”
“You’re always quick to stereotype an entire group of people.” He Luo laughed. “Ah, since you have such a good impression of Shen Lie, why don’t I introduce him to you?”
“That depends on his character, how much he likes the girl, and the external factors that influence him. It’s hard to say.” She widened her eyes. “Is someone pursuing you? Or… the person you like isn’t pursuing you, so you want to know how he feels?”
He Luo reached out to poke Tian Xin where she was most sensitive. Tian Xin grinned as she avoided her hands. “No, for real. Tell me how you guys end up falling for each other [seeing eye to eye]. Teach me some of your experience.”
“You’re fishing for his attention,” Tian Xin marveled. “And here I thought you’re a serious and proper person, turns out you’re a killer at attracting young men.”
“Ah, so you had a crush on him! Hurry up and confess, since when did it started? Since the basketball contest?” The truth dawned on Tian Xin. “That’s why I was wondering why he kept on using you for demonstration and being all touchy-feely.”
“So we’re the decoy for your love games! Isn’t it enough to just hold hands? If we’re not around, what will the consequences be!”
“Why are you suddenly so realistic?”
She continued, “If you’re having contradictions, then argue about it. If you miss each other, say it out loud. Is that very difficult?”
“I’m really a child. It’s nice to be a kid, they’re simple and cute.” Tian Xin bit her lips. “You two simply have too good of a relationship so you’re looking for something to fight about. You’re both masters trading blows, fighting for the kill.”
“Exactly! I told Zhang Yuan to clear things up with you but he calls me a busybody. God, why am I even looking trouble for myself?” Tian Xin rolled her eyes. “If it’s not for the fact that I’ve watched you two get together from back then and has even become our representative couple, I wouldn’t even bother.”
“Knowledge is power. Knowledge is life.” Tian Xin rubbed her hands for warmth. Her teeth were chattering. “Classmate Shen Lie, do you still have knowledge over there?”
“No. How long can that burn?” He Luo stopped them. “Let’s keep it to wipe our snot.”
Sweet and warm dialogue sprang up.
The night sky was quiet, even more profound than a summer night.
*
“Ah, meteor!” Zhang Wei Rui jumped and yelled as she pointed at the bright spot trickling past the night canvas.
“Aiya, it really does like a meteor.” Zhang Wei Rui laughed. Her ears and nose were red.
“No, what are you doing?” Zhang Wei Rui asked. As the two jostled over the piece of clothing, the first meteor flew across the sky, prompting the onlookers to cheer and cry.
Zhang Yuan took off his scarf and stuffed it into Zhang Wei Rui’s hand.
“That’s right! If not for you rushing her, she wouldn’t be wearing so little,” Zhu Ning Li said.
“You’re calling me Chocolate again!” Zhu Ning Li shook her fist at him.
“Then how do we go back?”
“You!” Zhu Ning Li got angry.
The next day, Zhang Wei Rui waited for Zhu Ning Li outside her class. The people inside were almost gone but she was still dragging her feet. “Where’s your monitor?” she asked. “I want to return the scarf to him.”
“Of course.”
“Then how did he get picked to be the monitor?”
“Wow, awesome!” Zhang Wei Rui was surprised at his unexpected side. “Just two points difference from Tsinghua’s acceptance mark. What an idol!”
“Why? You called dibs?”
“Alas.” Zhang Wei Rui sighed deeply. “It’s true that people say all good men are taken.”
“What naive? I never said I fell for him at first sight.” Zhang Wei Rui stuck out her tongue. Smiling, she added, “It’s good just to have a brother like him. We’re both surnamed Zhang anyway.”
“Ha, it’s all the same in English anyway.” Zhang Wei Run grinned, eyes narrowed.
The campus was organising an autumn/winter sports meet soon and required at least two women participating from each department. He Luo signed up for it and, during Children’s Day on the weekend, went running at the venue. When she returned to the campus, someone called her name while knocking on his lunchbox. “Why are you wearing like an athlete?” It was Shen Lie.
“Well, most girls have no sense of direction.” Shen Lie grinned.
“Isn’t it just a meal? Let’s go.” Shen Lie waved. “Rice at the canteen, eat whatever you like and as much as you like as my apologies.”
He Luo wasn’t sure to laugh or cry. So far, she had received drawings of a bucktoothed mouse, Indian feathers, Doraemon… every flick of the pen was vivid and refined. Once, Zhou Xing Yan intercepted the letter and became overjoyed. She circled He Luo and then hugged her neck, asking, “Shall we kiss?” She laughed. “Did you not kiss enough during the break or did you deny him? No wonder our poor boy has to ask for a kiss across a thousand kilometres.”
She will just kiss a pig then, so what? She still couldn’t resist placing her lips on the seal. The familiar scent of the craft paper drifted into her nose, carrying with it a hint of the cold in the north.
However, her expression became strained after reading the letter. She tied the curtains and climbed down her bunk bed. She sat at the table and, for a long moment, daydreamed.
Tian Xin was surprised to see He Luo just as she was about to take a shower. “What’s wrong? Did anything happen?”
“Yeah, right. Didn’t we just go see meteor shower together two days ago?” Tian Xin pursed her lips. “I’m not your Zhang Yuan. Would you miss me that much?”
“Am I too narrow-minded?” He Luo placed the milk she bought on her way here on the heater and sits down. She began peeling the chestnuts. Tian Xin was concentrating on putting her mask and murmured for her to continue.
“En, en, en…” Tian Xin made a string of strange noises.
He Luo’s mouth was dry after speaking so many words in one go. She took one of Tian Xin’s oranges and began peeling it. No matter how Tian Xin urged for her to continue, she persistently ate the orange without intention to elaborate. An impatient Tian Xin ran to the bathroom to wash off the mask. When she returned, there were still traces of green mud on her face. “Are you crazy? You told him to develop a good relationship with the girls in his class and this is how good they’ve become! It’d be just nice to have no girls pestering him. Ha, aren’t you regretting now?”
“That’s not surprising. Even though he has a girlfriend but since they can’t see it, they’ll just pretend he doesn’t have one,” Tian Xin replied. “In all fairness, even though he’s sometimes arrogant and too talkative, he’s a good classmate. His looks are also good. After you transferred, you two began to have an ambiguous relationship so the other girls naturally gave up. But did you forget about Zheng Qing Yin…”
“Zhang Yuan rejected to be her boyfriend but he never said anything about rejecting to be her friend,” Tian Xin said. “These innocent girls are especially dangerous because they’re fearless. I suggest you nip any potential trouble in the bud.”
“You say you believe in him, but you still came all the way here to talk to me.” Tian Xin smiled. “You’re thinking that the person who should be by his side everyday is you. Now that position has been taken by someone else. Even if it’s not Zhang Yuan’s initiative and it’s someone else pestering him, your heart must be uneasy…”
Tian Xin nodded. “You look so weak and pitiful, so unlike the He Luo I know.”
“Strong, independent, and assertive,” Tian Xin answered. “When you said you want to be a diplomat, I thought you might as well be the second Wu Yi.”
“Be a good wife and wise mother?” Tian Xin giggled. “Zhang Yuan, oh Zhang Yuan, he has killed the country’s second Wu Yi.”
“That’s right.” Tian Xin sighed. “This is how a girl in love should be like. I like you like this.”
“I can’t compete with Zhang Yuan.” Tian Xin shook her head. “Later on, get him to apply to your university’s graduate school. Then you can be together everyday. Just look at the students coming from all corners of the country. As long as he prepares well for the test, he’ll have no problem.”
“Hey, you don’t have to worry about that now.” Tian Xin held onto her. With a grin, she said, “Do me a favour.” She takes out a piece of paper. “Help me rewrite something.”
“Ay, keep it a secret!” Tian Xin hid the paper behind her. “Promise not to laugh.”
“Tadah! It’s my, Tian Xin’s, first time in 18 years…” Still unsatisfied with the privacy of the room, Tian Xin ran to lock the door,” ...my love letter.”
“He knows my handwriting. I’m too embarrassed. You’re my closest friend and most trusted person.”
“Are you writing or not?”
“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?” Tian Xin cried.
[illustration by Jiwoon Pak]