That evening, Lin Murun returned to the classroom for evening self-study.
Seeing him arrive, Yu Qianyi looked up and asked, "Huh? Why are you back already? Why didn't you rest for a few more days?"
"The fever broke," Lin Murun replied. "I figured I could use the self-study period to catch up on the lessons I missed today."
Yu Qianyi nodded. "You’re really pushing yourself."
Lin Murun smiled and borrowed some notes from Zhou Xuan, who was sitting nearby.
They say that recovery from an illness is as slow as drawing silk from a cocoon. Even though his fever was gone, Lin Murun’s energy was clearly not what it usually was.
After copying the notes and finishing a practice paper, he began to feel a stifling sense of discomfort. He decided to pack his bag and ask the teacher on duty for leave.
The teachers of the second humanities class all knew Lin Murun had been sick, so they didn't press him. They simply reminded him to stay warm and granted his request.
The moonlight was beautiful tonight. There were no drifting clouds in the sky, and despite the light pollution of the city, a few exceptionally bright stars were visible.
Lin Murun wrapped his scarf tightly and walked slowly back toward the student dormitories opposite the teaching building.
Since it was currently self-study time, the dormitory corridors were so quiet that the only sound was the rhythmic thud of his soles against the floor.
Lin Murun unlocked the door with his key and stepped into the room.
The dormitory was empty. Cheng Song had forgotten to close the window before leaving, and a biting cold wind blew in, fluttering the light-colored curtains.
The glow from the streetlights filtered through the open window, looking hazy and warm.
Lin Murun didn't turn on the lights. He walked through the darkness toward the light and reached out to tie back the dancing curtains.
The bell signaling the end of the period rang, and a sudden clamor erupted from the nearby teaching buildings. Standing by the window, Lin Murun quietly watched the students pour out of their classrooms.
The white mist of his breath was scattered by the wind. He shivered slightly, narrowed his eyes, and reached out to close the window.
When Cheng Song returned to the room, he immediately smelled the scent of medicine.
"Are you sick?" he asked.
"Yeah." Lin Murun was in the bathroom washing the cup he had used for his herbal granules. Hearing Cheng Song's voice, he said, "Sorry, I just finished my medicine and haven't had a chance to air out the room yet."
"You're sick, why would you open the window?" Cheng Song tossed his backpack onto his desk and asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling better now?"
"Much better," Lin Murun replied as he walked out of the bathroom.
"That's good. A lot of people in our class have been getting sick lately." Cheng Song rummaged through a pile of books as he spoke. "You're just pushing yourself too hard. Take advantage of Saturday and Sunday to go home and get some extra sleep; you should be fine after that."
"Thank you," Lin Murun said.
Cheng Song finally found his homework notebook. He looked up, puzzled. "What are you thanking me for? How long have we known each other? You're way too polite."
He paused, thought for a moment, and added, "No, I think you need to change that habit. You’re really too formal, like we aren't even that close."
Lin Murun was taken aback.
"Oh, I just said that off the top of my head, don't take it too seriously." Cheng Song put his backpack back on and scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry, maybe that's just your personality."
"What kind of personality?" Lin Murun asked.
Cheng Song had been about to leave, but hearing the question, he stood in place and pondered for a moment. "It feels like you're deliberately keeping a distance from everyone, like you aren't close to anyone."
Having said that, Cheng Song hissed through his teeth and scratched his head again. "I shouldn't put it that way. It's not that you're cold to people, it's more like..." He weighed his words carefully. "How do I put this? You're a good person. Look, every time there's a big or small exam, you let me borrow your notes. If I have a question I don't understand, you always answer it. But it seems like that's all there is."
"That's all there is?" Lin Murun repeated in confusion.
"Yeah, that's the feeling," Cheng Song said. "You're willing to help others, willing to share your study methods, willing to wake me up when I oversleep. You have a great temper, but..."
"But that's all. You don't seem to have any intention of making friends. You don't let anyone into your heart. It's like you carry an invisible air wall around you."
After saying all this, Cheng Song explained further, "But that's just my personal feeling. Just listen and let it go, don't take it to heart."
Lin Murun listened quietly until he finished, then lowered his eyes and gave a soft "Mm."
Cheng Song observed Lin Murun's expression closely. Once he was sure he hadn't caused offense, he opened the dormitory door. "Then... I'm off. See you Monday."
"Yeah, see you Monday," Lin Murun said.
Just then, the phone screen on the desk lit up. Lin Murun picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Si Bin.
"Have you gone back yet?" Si Bin asked.
Lin Murun unlocked the phone and replied, "Not yet, I'm in the dorm."
Si Bin said, "I'm coming to see you."
A short while later, Lin Murun received another message: "I'm here."
Lin Murun stood up, re-wrapped his scarf, opened the door, and went downstairs.
The dormitory building was lively on Friday nights. Most of the boarding students who lived locally were preparing to go home, so many of the dormitory doors were wide open.
It was warmer inside than out. Most of the boys had taken off their heavy coats and were chatting while packing their bags and laundry.
"I think I saw Si Bin downstairs." As he reached the turn in the stairs, Lin Murun happened to overhear two boys talking.
"Si Bin? Isn't he a day student?"
"Not sure, but he looks like he's waiting for someone."
There was a floor-to-ceiling window in the hallway. Lin Murun looked out.
The tall streetlights cast a warm yellow glow onto the ground. Si Bin was standing right under one, his back to the window.
He wasn't wearing his school uniform, but a navy blue trench coat. His shadow lay grey at his feet, looking exceptionally solitary in the night.
People were coming and going outside the dormitory, yet Si Bin stood there motionless, appearing quietly detached from the crowd.
Lin Murun watched from the hallway for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and ran downstairs.
"Si Bin."
He reached the streetlight and called Si Bin's name.
Si Bin turned around. His dark eyes held glints of light under the streetlamp, looking remarkably tender.
"Did you take your medicine?" he asked Lin Murun.
Lin Murun nodded.
"The doctor said your throat might be uncomfortable." As Si Bin spoke, he pulled a small box from his coat pocket. "I brought you some throat lozenges. Your mouth might taste bitter after the IV; you can have something sweet."
The small box lay quietly in Si Bin's palm, its metal surface gleaming.
Lin Murun reached out to take the lozenges and whispered his thanks.
"I'm going then. Remember to get plenty of rest when you get home." Si Bin put his hand back in his pocket and turned to leave.
The packaging of the lozenges still held the warmth of Si Bin's palm. Lin Murun opened the box, unwrapped a candy, and put it in his mouth.
It was very sweet.
With the lozenge in his mouth, he stood there and quietly watched Si Bin leave. Only when Si Bin's back was no longer visible did Lin Murun move his frozen hands and turn back toward the dormitory.
The number of people on the third floor had noticeably thinned out, and the hallway was much quieter.
Back in his room, Lin Murun first called his uncle to say he would be staying at school to study this week.
Upon hearing this, his uncle fussed over him with concern for a while.
Lin Murun listened patiently, responding occasionally. After nearly half an hour of chatting, his uncle finally hung up.
Once the call ended, Lin Murun opened an app and booked a high-speed rail ticket to N City.
Just then, Lin Murun's phone rang again.
"Hello? Brother Lin." The call connected, and a girl's clean, gentle voice came through. "Brother Lin, are you coming back this year?"
"Yes, I've booked a ticket for Sunday," Lin Murun replied.
"That's great! Let's go see Mom together on Sunday. She must miss you a lot," the girl said.
"Then remember to finish your homework first. We'll go to Nanshan this weekend," Lin Murun said.
"I've already finished it," the girl replied obediently. "Then I'll see you the day after tomorrow."
"Mm, see you then," Lin Murun replied with a smile.
Early Sunday morning, Lin Murun packed his backpack and took his dormitory keys, ready to head out. Before leaving, he hesitated for a moment, then decided to bring Si Bin's throat lozenges with him.
H City was not far from N City. It took only twenty-five minutes by high-speed rail to reach N City North Station.
Lin Murun took a familiar bus route to the city center, navigated through several small alleys, and finally entered an old residential compound that had no property management.
"Little Lin is here again?" The old man guarding the gate held a cup of hot tea and greeted him with a smile in the local dialect.
"Yes, hello Grandpa," Lin Murun responded politely.
"The Wutong lass was talking about you yesterday. Go find her. The mountain paths aren't easy to walk; remember to go and come back early," the old man advised as he set down his tea mug.
Lin Murun climbed up the dark, old-fashioned stairwell and knocked on the door of Unit 601.
On the old-fashioned iron security door, a "Fu" character written on red paper was pasted. It sat tight against the green-painted door, looking both rustic and festive.
Behind the green security door was a warm yellow wooden door.
A moment later, the wooden door opened. A girl with a ponytail poked her head out. When she saw who it was, her eyes crinkled into a smile.
"Brother Lin." She opened the security door and invited him inside.
"Grandmother is out working; only I'm home." She poured Lin Murun a glass of water and pulled out the backpack she had organized the day before. "We need to stop by the flower shop first. Yesterday's lilies weren't very fresh, so the owner told me to come back today."
"Okay." Lin Murun took a sip of water. "Let's go."
The girl closed the windows, locked the door, and walked out of the compound with Lin Murun.
The flower shop owner recognized the two of them. After taking the money, he picked out the best-blooming lilies and wrapped them up. "The weather forecast says it might rain today. Remember to come back early so you don't catch a cold."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle Li," Luo Wutong said as she took the flowers.
"I'll carry them," Lin Murun offered.
"No, let me. I was too small to carry them before, but I can do it now. I should deliver the flowers to Mom myself." Luo Wutong held the flowers and boarded the bus to the suburbs with Lin Murun.
After transferring once, the two arrived at the foot of Nanshan.
It was nearly noon by now, but as the weather had turned cold, there were noticeably fewer citizens out for excursions than in previous days.
Wild bamboo grew in thickets at the foot of the mountain. When the wind blew, one could hear the "shasha" sound of the bamboo leaves rubbing against each other.
Luo Wutong held the lilies and walked along the mountain path without a word. When she got tired, she would stop and rest for a few minutes.
"Let me," Lin Murun said, wanting to take the flowers from her arms.
The young girl shook her head stubbornly, took a sip of water, and continued forward.
The two walked side by side in silence until they finally reached the summit.
"We're here." Wutong saw the familiar tombstone from a distance.
Her exhaustion vanished instantly as she ran toward the tombstone with the flowers in her arms.
Lin Murun followed.
"Mom." Luo Wutong knelt on the ground and placed the lilies before the tombstone. "Brother Lin and I have come to see you."
Lin Murun also knelt down. Looking at the name on the tombstone, he said softly, "Teacher Luo, Wutong and I have come to see you."
***
