That night, Lin Murun had a beautiful dream.
In the dream, the season seemed to be summer. A gentle breeze brushed against his face, the air thick with rising heat, while the drone of cicadas hid within the dense layers of tree shade.
Lin Murun turned around and saw Si Bin standing behind him.
"Murun, I’m a little nervous." Si Bin’s features looked more mature than they did now. He was wearing a finely tailored shirt and carrying a beautifully packaged gift box of Pu-erh tea, looking as though he had already entered the workforce.
"Don't worry. My grandfather may be getting on in years, but he isn't old-fashioned," Lin Murun heard himself say.
The two of them walked into the familiar apartment corridor and stood before the door of Unit 301.
The door was free of dust. On the walls to either side hung a pair of couplets written in calligraphy. The red paper of the couplets was somewhat faded, the corners slightly curled, but it looked lived-in, as if the master of the house still resided there.
Lin Murun took out his keys and opened the door.
The sunlight was just right, and the house was clean. The dust covers that had once draped over the furniture were gone. When the warm breeze blew through the balcony, it ruffled the light-colored curtains.
An elderly man sat on the balcony with his back to the door, wearing white loungewear. The pages of the book he was turning made a soft rustling sound.
Lin Murun was momentarily dazed, feeling his consciousness split between himself and the dream. He stared at the balcony, and in a trance, heard his dream-self speak: "Grandpa, Si Bin and I have come to see you."
"Ah!" A familiar voice responded from the balcony.
The old man put down his book and stood up to greet them. His black hair was streaked with silver, and a pair of metal-framed glasses rested on the high bridge of his nose. He looked exactly as Lin Murun remembered him.
Upon seeing the people standing in the entryway, he asked with a smile, "What brings you two here?"
Seeing Grandpa Lin look toward him, Si Bin stepped forward proactively. "Hello, Grandpa." He handed the tea over. "Murun mentioned you enjoy tea, so I bought some ripe Pu-erh. I hope it suits your taste."
Grandpa Lin thanked him with a smile and took the tea from Si Bin’s hands.
The midday news was playing on the television in the living room. After Grandpa Lin invited them to sit, he boiled some water and took out two clean glass cups, pouring a cup of hot tea for both Lin Murun and Si Bin.
Lin Murun took a few sips of tea and then leaned back against the clean, soft sofa cushions. He listened idly to Si Bin and his grandfather chatting, and before he knew it, he drifted into a light slumber.
"How did Murun fall asleep?"
In his sleep, Lin Murun heard his grandfather ask Si Bin in a low voice, "Is he too tired from work?"
"He just started his internship at the law firm and is following his mentor on cases. He’s been working a lot of overtime lately." As soon as Si Bin finished speaking, Lin Murun felt a soft blanket being draped over him.
"Being a lawyer is indeed hard work." Grandpa took a sip of tea and asked, "And you? How have things been at your company lately?"
"Everything is going well, but I still have a lot to learn." As if afraid of waking Lin Murun, Si Bin’s voice was very soft.
"That’s good, then." Grandpa Lin set down his teacup and said slowly, "You and Murun are still young; there is still a long road ahead of you. No matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, remember to care for and understand one another. My time is up; my only regret is not being able to see Murun get into his dream university..."
In his hazy state, Lin Murun felt his grandfather’s hand gently stroking his hair. The old man’s palm was somewhat dry, with calluses on his middle finger from years of writing. Lin Murun’s nose twitched; he seemed to smell the scent of soapberry on his grandfather’s sleeve.
The familiar scent made Lin Murun unable to stop his tears from falling.
"This child, why is he crying even in his sleep?" Sensing his grandfather pull his hand away, Lin Murun opened his eyes, wanting to see his grandfather’s face one more time.
At that moment, Lin Murun’s calf gave an involuntary kick against the quilt, a movement that snapped him out of the dream and back to reality.
Lin Murun sat up and remained still on the bed for a moment. The rhythmic drone of the cicadas from the dream seemed to linger in his ears. He raised his hand to touch the damp corners of his eyes, discovering that he had actually cried in his sleep.
He sat blankly on the bed, carefully recalling the dream. His chest felt tight and stifled.
The vibration of his phone interrupted his thoughts. He reached for the phone on the nightstand and saw it was a call from Si Bin.
Lin Murun answered. "Hello?"
"Hey, Murun." On the other end, Si Bin greeted him with a smile. "Good morning."
"Morning," Lin Murun replied.
"Murun, do you have a cold?" Si Bin noticed the nasal quality in his voice.
"No." Only then did Lin Murun realize it was a bit cold. He wiped away the remaining tears, pulled the quilt tighter around himself, and after a moment of thought, said to Si Bin, "I dreamed of Grandpa."
He then recounted the entire dream to Si Bin.
Si Bin listened patiently until he was finished. After a pause, he said, "Shouldn't dreaming of Grandpa be a happy thing?"
"Mm..." Lin Murun huddled deeper into the quilt. After reflecting for a moment, he said, "It should be happy. If Grandpa were still here, the scene in my dream might have actually come true."
"Grandpa definitely wants you to live well," Si Bin comforted him.
"Yeah..." Lin Murun nodded.
"Give me a smile, Murun. If you miss Grandpa, we can go back home anytime," Si Bin said.
"I don't want to go back for now..." Lin Murun said muffledly. "It's okay, I'll be fine after I collect myself."
"Then, are you getting up?" Si Bin asked.
"Just about to." As he spoke, Lin Murun threw back the covers.
Si Bin gave a light chuckle. "Murun, take a look downstairs."
Lin Murun blinked, then immediately understood. He hurriedly put on his plush slippers and, without even stopping to put on his down jacket, ran to the window and pulled back the curtains.
The outdoor temperature in the early morning was very low. A layer of white mist had condensed on the glass of Lin Murun’s bedroom window. He raised his hand and quickly wiped away the cold moisture, looking down.
There stood Si Bin, holding his phone, standing at the base of the apartment building.
Si Bin looked up, met Lin Murun’s surprised expression, and smiled. "Go wash up quickly. I’ll wait for you so we can have breakfast together."
Si Bin’s low, magnetic voice came through the receiver with a slight hint of distortion. Lin Murun stood dazed for a moment before withdrawing his finger from the glass. He looked at Si Bin, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Okay, I'm coming right now," he said.
***
After the three-day New Year's holiday, everyone returned to school.
Before the break, No. 1 High School had conducted the final monthly exam of the semester. On the first night of self-study after returning, the report cards were distributed to each class.
"Huh? Zhou Xuan actually broke into the top three for the grade! But why isn't Lin Murun first this time?" Yu Qianyi asked in surprise.
"Let me see!" Li Qian hurriedly took the report card from her. After checking it carefully, she said, "Oh! Lin Murun is only two points lower than Si Bin. What a shame."
Many students in Class 2 were used to Lin Murun firmly holding the top spot, so they were quite shocked by the ranking.
Compared to the other students who were lamenting the two-point difference, Lin Murun appeared very calm, as if he had long expected to be overtaken by Si Bin.
Lin Murun took out his phone and saw a WeChat message Si Bin had sent ahead of time.
Si Bin: [Murun, I won.]
Only then did Lin Murun remember the bet Si Bin had mentioned previously.
He replied with a smile: [Yes, I saw. Do you want a reward?]
Si Bin’s "typing" status lasted for a while, as if he were writing and deleting, unable to decide.
After a long while, he replied: [I haven't thought of it yet. Can I keep it as a credit for now?]
Lin Murun: [Okay.]
The following evening self-study sessions were, as usual, filled with reviews of example problems and analysis of exam points.
Ms. Li was quite satisfied with the results of this monthly exam. Before the end of the session, she emphasized the importance of the "City Merit Student" title again, placing high expectations on Lin Murun and Zhou Xuan.
Following that, the students of No. 1 High plunged back into their intense academic lives.
The temperature dropped day by day. Because the Lunar New Year fell early this year, the final exams were set for January 20th. Many students were simultaneously trying to absorb new knowledge for the second half of their sophomore year while shivering in the corridors during breaks, reciting key points for the final joint examination.
After evening self-study, Lin Murun and Si Bin continued their routine of going to the library to study together.
Time slipped away in this tense and busy atmosphere. On the day before the final exams, a rare, heavy snowfall hit H City.
Many students crowded excitedly into the corridors, taking out their phones to snap photos and record videos.
In an instant, Lin Murun’s social media feed was flooded with images of the snowy night. Even Si Bin uploaded two photos. Lin Murun smiled and gave Si Bin’s post a like.
While scrolling through his feed, Lin Murun noticed that Wu Chuchu had updated her status.
It was a photo of her family of three. Wu Chuchu was wearing a pure white dress, leaning on Bei Fan’s arm with a radiant, happy smile on her face.
It looked like they had remarried.
Ever since the day he had seen Bei Fan, Lin Murun had been unable to get in touch with Wu Chuchu. Si Bin had originally wanted to have a private chat with her about Bei Fan and Shen Xingzhi, but after receiving no response from her, he had let the matter drop.
Looking at Wu Chuchu’s brilliant smile and then thinking back to the history between Bei Fan and Shen Xingzhi, Lin Murun found it impossible to judge whether her choice was right or wrong.
By the time the exams began the next day, the snow had stopped, but a thin layer of ice had formed on the roads, and the shrubs in the flowerbeds were covered in a fluffy layer of white.
This final was once again a joint examination between three schools. Following the previous incident on the confession wall, the proctors were exceptionally strict, constantly pacing through the exam hall.
The questions for the two exams weren't overly difficult. After turning in his paper early, Lin Murun went to the cafeteria with Si Bin.
After dinner, they went to the library for self-study as usual.
The weather is coldest when the snow melts. Walking on the road, the tip of Lin Murun’s nose was frozen bright red, making him look quite pitiful. Si Bin couldn't bear it, so he pulled him out of the school gates to a pharmacy to buy disposable masks.
Just as he put on the mask, Lin Murun’s phone vibrated. He pulled it out from his school jacket and slid his frozen thumb across the screen to answer.
"Hello?"
As soon as the call connected, Lin Qingqing’s sobbing came through the line.
Lin Murun was startled and quickly asked, "What’s wrong, Qingqing?"
Lin Qingqing was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. After stammering for a long while, she finally managed to say that Wu Yichen had broken up with her.
Lin Murun frowned slightly. After a moment of thought, he said, "Qingqing, don't panic. I’m coming to find you. Where are you now?"
"At... at the shopping mall," Lin Qingqing choked out.
Lin Murun comforted her with a few words and then hurried toward the subway station with Si Bin.
All along the way, Lin Murun gripped his phone tightly, fearing that Lin Qingqing might do something rash in her state of distress.
Sensing Lin Murun’s anxiety, Si Bin put an arm around his shoulder and gently but firmly took the phone from his hand.
Si Bin’s long fingers lightly stroked the red marks on Lin Murun’s palm where the phone had been pressed. He comforted him, "Don't worry, Murun. We’ll be there soon. We’ll call her as soon as we get out of the subway."
Eventually, the two of them found Lin Qingqing curled up by the stairs in the emergency exit on the fifth floor of the mall.
Seeing Lin Murun, Lin Qingqing threw herself into his arms, crying as she explained the reason Wu Yichen had been so adamant about breaking up.
Wu Yichen was dodging Si Bin.
After accidentally discovering the relationship between Si Bin and Lin Murun, Wu Yichen, driven by a mix of curiosity and subtle malice, had asked some of Si Bin’s middle school classmates about Si Bin’s sexual orientation. He hadn't expected the inquiries to spread. After passing through several hands, the rumors eventually reached Si Bin’s ears.
Upon receiving a WeChat message from Si Bin, Wu Yichen didn't feel he had done anything wrong, yet he was terrified that if things escalated, Si Bin would come to settle the score. Thinking of the relationship between Lin Murun and Lin Qingqing, he gritted his teeth and broke up with her.
Lin Qingqing, who had been caught in the crossfire, never imagined her boyfriend would leave her over such a thing. She had pleaded in every way possible, but only received Wu Yichen’s firm reply.
"Qingqing, it’s better if we break up."
An unfinished cup of milk tea sat by Lin Qingqing’s feet. She never expected that this small gathering, squeezed in during their final exams, would turn into a breakup meal.
It was too sudden. Lin Qingqing couldn't accept it at first and held Lin Murun while crying for a long time. Only under Lin Murun’s constant comfort did she finally stop her tears.
By the time Lin Qingqing’s emotions had completely stabilized, it was already eight o'clock in the evening.
Seeing Si Bin reminded Lin Qingqing of Wu Yichen, so she pulled Lin Murun out of the emergency exit, leaving Si Bin behind.
Lin Murun was pulled down the escalator by Lin Qingqing, frequently looking back to make sure Si Bin was following.
To respect Lin Qingqing’s feelings, Si Bin followed the siblings from a short distance. Seeing Lin Murun look back, he gave a faint smile.
*It’s okay.*
Lin Murun read his meaning.
This awkwardness was shattered by a car accident just as they stepped out of the mall.
A crowd had gathered by the side of the road not far away. A black sedan was parked at the curb, and the pavement was stained with a significant amount of blood.
Looking at the blood on the ground, Lin Qingqing was so frightened she gripped Lin Murun’s hand tightly and whispered, "What happened? Was there a car accident?"
Lin Murun shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
"How pitiful," a young woman passing by sighed to her companion. "I heard she was taking her child out for dinner when she ran into a male homewrecker."
"A male homewrecker?" her companion asked in surprise. "But wasn't the person hit a woman?"
"Yes, her husband found a male mistress..."
Hearing their conversation, Lin Murun suddenly felt an ominous premonition. He quickly turned and called out to the two young women, "Wait!"
Seeing that Lin Murun was wearing a school uniform and was exceptionally handsome, the two stopped and asked patiently, "What is it, little brother?"
"Did you just say the person hit was a woman taking her child out for dinner?" Lin Murun spoke very quickly.
The two women glanced at each other. One of them said to Lin Murun, "I only heard it from an older lady. She said the person hit was a young-looking woman with a child. Before she crossed the road, she had been arguing with two men..."
With every word, Lin Murun’s heart sank further. Seeing his face turn pale, the other woman asked with concern, "Do you know the woman who was hit?"
Lin Murun and Si Bin exchanged a look, both seeing the unease in each other's eyes.
"I don't know..." Lin Murun thought of Wu Chuchu’s face. He shook his head, thanked the two women, and pulled the confused Lin Qingqing toward the roadside.
The sound of police sirens approached from the distance; someone must have called for help.
Lin Murun struggled through the crowd and saw the face of the woman who had been hit.
The person lying in the pool of blood was none other than Wu Chuchu, who had just posted her remarriage photo on social media yesterday.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 熟普洱 | Ripe Pu-erh tea | A type of fermented tea. |
| 三好生 | Merit Student | Lit. "Three-Good Student" (Good in ethics, study, and health). |
| 市三好 | City Merit Student | A city-level honor for students. |
| 联考 | Joint examination | An exam taken by multiple schools simultaneously. |
| 男小三 | Male homewrecker / Male mistress | A man who is the "third party" in a relationship. |
| 皂荚 | Soapberry | Gleditsia sinensis, used traditionally as soap. |
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