Before the start of winter break, Teacher Li announced a piece of news: Jiang Chenchen was going abroad.
His family was preparing to send him to high school in the United States. It was said that the school there had already been contacted, and his mother would be going with him to act as his guardian.
Those who had promoted directly from Class One had shared three years of middle school friendship with Jiang Chenchen, and some had even known him since elementary school. With Jiang Chenchen suddenly announcing his withdrawal to go abroad, everyone felt a bit out of sorts.
It was a complicated emotion. If one were to say they were sad, Jiang Chenchen had never really had any particularly close friends in school; everyone disliked his habit of tattling, and he didn't like sports, so he couldn't bond with the boys in class. But if one were to say they weren't sad, although Jiang Chenchen had a fussy temper, he never truly got angry when people teased him. He had always lived in his own world, studying hard and making progress every day—even if his efforts, which nearly led to premature balding, still left his grades constantly overshadowed by Qin Ruanshu.
On the last day before winter break, Teacher Li said they would hold a farewell party for Jiang Chenchen before school let out. Though called a farewell party, it was really just an opportunity for everyone to offer him encouragement and blessings.
The class passed around Jiang Chenchen’s homework log, and everyone wrote a message of blessing in it.
Tan Junzi’s Chinese literature skills were average. At a moment like this, she didn't know what to write or how to write it, even though she had much to say in her heart. She held her pen and thought for a moment, finally writing only this sentence:
*Being seatmates for three years was very happy. I wish you well and a bright future.*
Later, she thought about it and used correction fluid to white out the words in the parentheses, covering them up completely.
While writing, Tan Junzi saw what Qin Ruanshu had written before her. She had written: *I have always been first in the class. I’m just too amazing, so it’s normal that your grades weren't as good as mine. Once you get to the other side of the ocean, you can finally strive to be first in class for once. Good luck.*
After everyone had finished writing, Teacher Li gave up the podium to let Jiang Chenchen say a few words. Jiang Chenchen was rarely the center of attention like this. Standing on the podium, he pushed up his glasses. The students in the first row could see his hands shaking.
He sputtered for a long time without saying a word, finally giving everyone a deep bow. The moment his back bent, he said, "I’m really happy to have known everyone. Some I've known for three years, some for more than three years, and some are new classmates I've known for less than three months. No matter how long it’s been, once we are classmates, we are classmates forever. I won't forget you!"
While saying this, he remained in that bowing position so that no one could see his face. When he finished and straightened up, his face was already covered in tears. He turned his back to the class, facing the blackboard, his shoulders heaving.
Tan Junzi turned to look at Qin Ruanshu; surprisingly, she was also crying—silently but intensely.
Teacher Li walked over, patted his back, and turned to the class. "School is dismissed. Remember to do your winter break homework; don't wait until the last day to start. Also, does anyone have a tissue? Bring some up."
Blowing his nose and sobbing, Jiang Chenchen asked, "Teacher Li, do I still have to do the winter break homework?"
***
Because of final exams before the break, Tan Junzi hadn't been to the martial arts school for nearly a month. Before the Lunar New Year, she received a call from an unknown number. The voice on the other end was lowered, asking her to guess who it was. She thought for a moment. "Qian Niu?"
"How boring! Can't you pretend you can't guess?" Qian Niu said. "How long has it been since you came to the martial arts school? I have good news to share! In December, our school won third place in a provincial team competition. Don't look down on third place; it wasn't easy to get!"
"Third place is great!!! That’s wonderful!" Tan Junzi said sincerely.
"Hehe, so Brother Qin said that as a reward, he’s taking us to Jinjiang Amusement Park. Are you coming?"
"Me? You guys were the ones who won, not..." Before Tan Junzi could finish, someone else took the phone.
"I’m taking a bunch of kids by myself and can't keep an eye on them all. You come too. One more ticket won't make a difference," Qin Ke said on the other end, his tone carrying a hint of impatience. Having finished, he handed the phone back to Qian Niu.
"Come with us, come with us!" Qian Niu was in high spirits.
"Alright then. I’ll be responsible for bringing snacks. Tell Qin Ke he doesn't need to prepare any," Tan Junzi agreed quickly. It was true; if Qin Ke had to watch that group of little elementary schoolers alone, it would be trouble if even one went missing.
***
Chang Ying’s parents returned before the New Year. Old Man Chang didn't live in the city center of Tongcheng; he had a residence in the suburbs. During the New Year period, the whole extended family gathered there.
The Chang family was flourishing. In Chang Ying’s generation, he was the eldest, with a younger paternal cousin sister, two paternal cousin brothers, and two maternal cousin sisters below him. Moreover, these juniors were all talented in their own ways.
Chang Ying’s cousin sister, Chang Pu, was the one Tan Junzi was most familiar with; they had played together as children. Chang Pu had been full of energy since she was little, with athletic nerves even more developed than Tan Junzi’s; the two of them together could tear a house down. Later, Chang Pu was sent to learn swimming, and she turned out to be a natural; she was now a prospect for the provincial team. Tan Junzi was a "landlubber" by nature; she eventually learned the dog paddle from Chang Pu but could never master the breathing technique, so Chang Pu gave up on teaching her.
Chang Ying wasn't in the city during the New Year; he stayed at his grandfather’s house. The Chang family had strict discipline; everyone had to be present for the holidays, making it very ceremonial. Tan Junzi quite envied such a large family; the siblings might not contact each other much normally, but there was no estrangement, and they supported each other at critical moments while the parents' generation also got along harmoniously.
Unlike Tan Junzi’s home, which had no New Year atmosphere at all. For the past few years, Guan Qiuyue had been going on blind dates, but none had worked out; they would date for a while and then fizzle out. At first, Tan Junzi tried to remember the names and surnames of those aunts, but later she simply stopped. Even a child like her could see that her father wasn't putting his heart into finding a partner.
Her father was just that kind of person—dull, detached, throwing his whole mind into research with no hobbies other than reading. Who would want to live with someone like that?
Tan Junzi no longer craved fatherly love. When she was little, she had been clingy with him for a while. A child might not understand logic, but they can feel an adult’s coldness. Back then, Junzi often went to play at the house her father rented, but she would stay all afternoon with no snacks and no toys while her father stayed in his study and didn't come out. When dinner time came, Junzi would call Tan Zhengqi and say in a milky voice, "Grandpa, I’m hungry. There’s no food here. Come pick me up."
So later, Tan Junzi stopped constantly mentioning "Daddy." Having Grandpa was enough. Having Grandpa... was enough.
During the two weeks Chang Ying was away, he called Tan Junzi every day. Chang Ying felt that if Tan Junzi were a small animal, she would be the kind that was exceptionally easy to care for—for instance, she organized her own schedule for walks, meals, and sleep perfectly. Whenever he called, he could accurately guess what she was doing.
Every year when they set off firecrackers in the suburbs, he would specifically call Tan Junzi to let her hear the noise over the phone. He would describe every one he lit: "That was a string of crackers," "That was a whistling rocket," "That was a double-bang cracker..." Tan Junzi wasn't annoyed at all; if Chang Ying let her listen, she listened obediently, and would even make requests: "Set off another double-bang for me to hear!"
***
Jinjiang Amusement Park was an old-fashioned park in Tongcheng. Tan Zhengqi had taken Tan Junzi there several times when she was little, but later the facilities couldn't keep up, and she hadn't been back since growing up.
Tan Junzi stood at the entrance of Jinjiang Amusement Park waiting for the group, wearing a massive hiking backpack and carrying two large plastic bags in her hands, stuffed full of snacks, drinks, and ham sausages. Having not been there for a long time, she was surprised by how much it had changed; after the renovations, it looked quite decent.
She arrived early, half an hour before the park opened, so she put her backpack and plastic bags on the ground and stood still.
Just as Chang Ying’s call came in, a woman approached to speak with Tan Junzi, so she reflexively hung up the phone.
"Young lady, I’d like to ask you something. Is the XX Station near here?"
"I’m really not sure. I’m not familiar with this area." Tan Junzi stuffed her phone into her pocket and muted it.
The woman looked Tan Junzi up and down, her gaze lingering on the large bags on the ground. "You look like you're from out of town, aren't you?"
Tan Junzi was stunned, then realized the woman probably thought the bags were her luggage. She waved her hand and said, "No, I’m a Tongcheng local. These are all snacks. I’m meeting friends at the amusement park."
"Oh." The woman stood there without leaving, seemingly wanting to say more, when Tan Junzi suddenly raised her hand and waved into the distance. "Over here!"
Qin Ke was leading a group of martial arts students toward them. Qian Niu was there too, rushing over to find Tan Junzi.
Seeing Qin Ke and the others, the woman hurriedly said, "Then I won't disturb you."
Tan Junzi enthusiastically grabbed her sleeve. "Don't go yet. My friend is here; you can ask him. He might know where that XX Station is."
The woman looked a bit awkward. Qin Ke approached and gave Tan Junzi a nod. "What’s wrong?"
Tan Junzi pointed at the woman. "She’s looking for XX Station. Do you know where it is?"
Qin Ke thought for half a second, then frowned. "XX Station is quite far from here. It’s four bus stops away." He turned to the woman. "Is that where you're going?"
The woman quietly brushed off Tan Junzi’s hand and stepped back, saying dismissively, "Oh, it’s fine. I’ll look around some more. You all have fun." Then she left in a great hurry.
Qin Ke frowned as he watched the woman’s retreating back. Tan Junzi noticed that the woman’s right pinky finger was missing half its length; she was surprised for a moment but didn't take it to heart. She said, "You said it’s four stops away? Then she still has a long way to go. I hope she finds it."
"Something’s strange," Qin Ke said.
"What?" Tan Junzi was puzzled.
"...Nothing." Qin Ke had intended to say that the direction the woman was walking toward was exactly where XX Station was. She clearly knew where it was, so why did she ask?
"It’s fine. Let’s go buy tickets." Qin Ke shook his head, ushering the group of kids toward the gate. He then casually slung Tan Junzi’s backpack over his shoulder and picked up the two large bags of snacks.
"What’s in here that’s so heavy?" Qin Ke asked.
"Drinks, yogurt, things like that are heavy," Tan Junzi said.
"We could have bought water inside the park. No need to carry it." Qin Ke carried the two large plastic bags with one hand, leaving the other free to hold the hand of the youngest boy.
"Buying inside is so expensive! I’m telling you, the food and drinks sold in these amusement parks are a total rip-off. The prices are several times higher than at a convenience store outside."
"You're quite good at saving me money," Qin Ke commented flatly.
"It’s not easy for you to earn money; you shouldn't be so extravagant. Really, what I’m saying is life wisdom." Tan Junzi thought of what Qian Niu had said—that Qin Ke was essentially subsidizing the martial arts school’s basic operations.
Qin Ke smiled and said nothing more.
Ever since the soy milk incident had caused Tan Junzi to suspect Qin Ke liked her, he hadn't made any "suspicious" moves during the latter half of the school semester. Gradually, Tan Junzi felt she had simply been too full of herself back then and stopped worrying about it.
Leading the group with Qin Ke today wasn't as awkward as she had imagined. Most of the time they acted as a group, and Qian Niu was constantly chattering by Tan Junzi’s side, so she and Qin Ke had no time alone. Tan Junzi was also deliberately keeping her distance from him.
In Tan Junzi’s view, the relationship between them was a bit neither-here-nor-there. They were slightly more familiar than ordinary classmates because of Yuan Guo, but they weren't exactly good friends.
Many of the rides at Jinjiang Amusement Park were new. Qin Ke had planned it well; in half a day, they had already gone through all the classic attractions. Finally, only the haunted house remained.
The kids were all eager to try it, but Tan Junzi stood at the entrance, inching away. "They're all kids; it might not be good to go into a haunted house. What if they get traumatized..."
Qian Niu stood behind Tan Junzi and gave her a hard shove. "Don't be a wet blanket. Everyone wants to go. Get... in... there!"
The two of them were locked in a tug-of-war. Qin Ke said, "Tan Junzi, you couldn't be scared, could you?"
"I’m not, I’m not." Tan Junzi was still busy studying the haunted house’s rules and regulations, looking at age and height limits, hoping to find one kid who didn't qualify so she could stay outside and watch them. But she failed.
In the end, for the line entering the haunted house, Qian Niu led the way, Tan Junzi stood in the middle, and Qin Ke brought up the rear.
Not long after entering, after passing a few checkpoints, the chubby boy in front of Tan Junzi turned around and said, "Shiwu, don't touch my face. It’s not scary on its own, but it’s terrifying when you touch me out of the blue."
When Tan Junzi didn't answer, the boy realized something was wrong. He discovered that the thing brushing against his face just now was a "ghost" hand. With a scream of "Ah—!", the boy realized to his despair that the group had completely scattered.
Tan Junzi was currently in despair. The paths in the haunted house were intricate and confusing, completely different from the traditional haunted houses she had played in as a child! Why was it so winding? And there were so many rooms!
Shortly after entering, they had passed through a mirror maze and everyone got separated. She thought she was following the chubby boy, only to find him on the other side of a glass pane; she had no idea how he had ended up there! She tried to chase after him but wandered in the mirror maze for a long time before getting out. After exiting, she entered another room where a coffin suddenly slammed open with a *bang*. She let out a yelp and nearly collapsed onto the floor.
Now, in front of her was a staff member dressed as an axe-wielding maniac. She knew the staff wouldn't touch her and were only there to scare her, but her legs were weak, and she didn't dare cross past the maniac to reach the exit.
The staff member was working hard to scare her, and she was working hard being scared—both devastated and helpless.
Just then, a pair of hands reached out from behind and suddenly gripped her wrists. She nearly jumped out of her skin, a massive wave of goosebumps rising along her spine.
She turned her head. Qin Ke was smiling at her. The eerie green light hitting his face made even that smile look sinister.
"Are you crazy?!" Tan Junzi said angrily. She really felt like she was about to have a heart attack from the fright.
Qin Ke pursed his lips. After the group scattered, he had been strolling through the haunted house when he saw Tan Junzi locked in a stalemate with a ghost, looking like she was dancing the tango. When the ghost took a step forward, Tan Junzi took a step back; when the ghost moved left, she moved right. It was incredibly comical.
He had intended to lead her out, but seeing the girl’s face full of indignation yet unable to hide her cowardice, his thoughts shifted. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her to the side. Even after pulling her aside, he didn't let go; with a slight bit of force, Tan Junzi was pinned against the wall.
Tan Junzi looked down and began picking at Qin Ke’s fingers, trying to get him to release her wrists. Qin Ke seemed to be teasing her; she would finally pry off his thumb to go for his index finger, only for the thumb she just pried off to close back up.
"You... you... let go of me." Sweat beaded on Tan Junzi’s forehead.
Qin Ke remained silent. His other hand reached over to pin down Tan Junzi’s restless hand. He leaned down, his forehead nearly touching hers, their noses almost bumping.
The gesture was too intimate; they were too close. The smell of cigarettes and an unfamiliar scent of body wash on Qin Ke made Tan Junzi feel entirely uneasy. What made her even more uncomfortable was the sound of Qin Ke’s soft breathing. The breathing was very quiet, and the haunted house’s background noise was loud, but she could hear it with perfect clarity. Each breath made her mind go blank; she didn't understand what Qin Ke was doing. Nor did she have the capacity to think about what he wanted.
The two remained in a stalemate for a moment.
"Tan Junzi," Qin Ke suddenly called her name.
"Huh?" Tan Junzi’s throat bobbed.
"Tan Junzi," Qin Ke repeated. He didn't actually know what he wanted to say. He just repeated "Tan Junzi," "Tan Junzi"... about four or five times.
His voice was a bit raspy, as if he were exerting extreme self-control. He could feel the confusion and helplessness of the girl in front of him. He used his strength to suppress her resistance, yet he did nothing further.
But the girl’s unwilling resistance interfered with him time and again, until, as if possessed, he whispered a near-breathless murmur, as if coaxing her: "Why is your name so pleasant to hear?"
Hearing that tone, Tan Junzi felt her legs go weak. What kind of strange words were those?
"Are you afraid?" Qin Ke asked again.
Tan Junzi didn't speak. Afraid of what...? Was Qin Ke asking if she was afraid of the haunted house? But at this moment, Qin Ke’s actions were scarier than the haunted house. She didn't know how to answer.
"Sigh." Qin Ke didn't persist. He simply sighed in her ear and gradually let her go, stepping back to give her some space.
Using the dim light, Tan Junzi looked at Qin Ke with searching eyes. His face gradually returned to that layer of nonchalance, but this nonchalance did not convince her. She was utterly bewildered. What was that just now? She wasn't stupid; she could feel a kind of tension coming from Qin Ke—the kind of aggression a man has toward a woman, far exceeding normal boundaries. He had crossed the line. She was very unhappy.
This was truly a foul. It left one bewildered and caught off guard.
"You... you can't do that again. I’m extremely angry right now," Tan Junzi said, enunciating every word. She didn't ask why; she simply drew a line. *There is a boundary between us as ordinary friends and normal classmates. I don't care what reason you had for your actions just now, but the line is right here, and you are not allowed to cross it.* These were the words she left unsaid.
Having finished, Tan Junzi felt her way out of the room. She walked through the remaining rooms of the haunted house with a heart as still as water. Her thoughts were a mess; she wasn't even afraid when the ghosts and monsters danced around her. She marched out of the haunted house with her head held high.
***
Right up until they said goodbye to everyone at the park entrance, Tan Junzi acted normally, not letting her emotions show.
Only after watching Tan Junzi board the bus did Qian Niu gently tug on Qin Ke’s sleeve. Qin Ke looked down at her.
"I saw what happened just now..." Qian Niu said.
"..."
"Do you like Shiwu?" Qian Niu asked.
"..."
"I don't care if you like her or not, though it would be quite shocking if you did. But what I want to say is, even if you like her, you can't do that. You can't take advantage of her by using your advantage in strength and gender... If you do that, no girl... will ever like you!"
Qian Niu said this all in one breath, then added with the authority of a senior disciple, "For example, right now, I could clearly give you a beating, but I’m not doing that because I can't bully you just because my kung fu is better. So, I’m reasoning with you."
Qin Ke patted Qian Niu’s head.
Seeing that she was still glaring at him, Qin Ke remained silent for a moment. "I will apologize to her."
Qian Niu nodded with satisfaction. After a long pause, she asked, "So do you really like Junzi?!"
Qin Ke thought for a while and shook his head. "Like? Not exactly."
Qian Niu gave Qin Ke a meaningful look and let out a long "Oh," adding, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
***
When Tan Junzi returned to her neighborhood, she saw Chang Ying from a distance, sitting on the edge of a flowerbed downstairs. In winter, the flowerbed was bare, and Chang Ying’s silhouette looked inexplicably desolate standing in the middle of it.
"Chang Ying!" Tan Junzi shouted loudly. She only just remembered she hadn't looked at her phone all day. She felt a strange surge of anxiety and a bit of guilt. She didn't know why she felt guilty; she just wanted to call out Chang Ying’s name loudly, as if saying it could give her a sense of security. She ran toward him.
Chang Ying turned and saw Tan Junzi running toward him from the neighborhood entrance, huffing and puffing. Startled, he stood up and caught her elbows with both hands. "Stop. Brakes."
Tan Junzi braked just in time.
Chang Ying straightened her coat collar. "Where did you go? You didn't answer your phone, and you didn't reply for several hours." After the call was hung up this morning, Chang Ying assumed she was busy, but after waiting most of the day without a reply, he got worried and hurried back from the suburbs.
"...I took the kids from the martial arts school to Jinjiang Amusement Park. They won third place in the province, so we were celebrating." Tan Junzi lowered her head, looking as dejected as a flat soda.
The martial arts school... Chang Ying paused. He wanted to ask who else went, but felt it was pointless, so he didn't.
Chang Ying feigned a relaxed tone. "How was it?"
"Not great." Tan Junzi looked up at Chang Ying with a resentful expression. "I’m never going to Jinjiang Amusement Park again! It was so boring. It’s much better staying at home. I haven't even done today’s homework!"
Chang Ying smiled. Although he didn't know exactly what had happened and didn't want to pry, Tan Junzi’s attitude made him feel inexplicably satisfied and refreshed. She was like a child who had been bullied outside.
Chang Ying used both hands to gently pinch the flesh of Tan Junzi’s cheeks, pulling them into a grin like a funny face. "Who upset our Junzi? Tell me about it."
With her cheeks being pulled, Tan Junzi couldn't pout. She said indistinctly, "It’s nothing. I feel much better now, I’m not angry anymore... Stop pulling, my face hurts."
Chang Ying let go of her face and checked her expression again to confirm she wasn't angry anymore.
Tan Junzi said out of the blue, "I suddenly realized that you are especially good."
Chang Ying smiled. *You only just realized?* But he didn't say it. He turned Tan Junzi around. "Go on in. It’s cold out here."
"The driver is still waiting outside; I have to rush back." Chang Ying watched Tan Junzi enter the building and waited until the light on the fourth floor turned on before turning to leave the neighborhood.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
锦江乐园 | Jinjiang Amusement Park | A well-known amusement park in the story's setting.
二踢脚 | Double-bang cracker | A type of firecracker that explodes once on the ground and once in the air.
十五 | Shiwu | Literally "Fifteen," a nickname for Tan Junzi used by Qian Niu.
鹏程万里 | A bright future | An idiom meaning "The roc flies ten thousand miles," used to wish someone a grand career or prospect.
龟毛 | Fussy / Pedantic | Slang for someone who is overly picky or difficult.
打小报告 | Tattling / Snitching | Reporting someone's small faults to an authority figure.
修正液 | Correction fluid | Also known as White-Out.
镜子迷宫 | Mirror maze | A common amusement park attraction.
心如止水 | Heart as still as water | An idiom meaning to be completely calm and unfazed.
