Whether Liang He actually went to B University for the gala the next day, or who he might have taken with him, Qiu Yun didn't have the heart to care. She had suddenly realized a very pressing matter that required her immediate attention: winter break was starting! Break meant going home, but for Qiu Yun, where exactly was "home"?
This student Qiu Xiaoyun’s family background was truly tragic. Her parents had divorced when she was young; her father passed away early, and her mother had sought higher prospects by moving to the UK. It was Grandpa Qiu who had raised Qiu Xiaoyun. Speaking of this Grandpa Qiu, Qiu Yun found him to be quite an eccentric character—not only had she never met him, but even when she had been knocked out by a soccer ball and lay in bed for three days at the start of the semester, he hadn't come to visit. When the school went to his home to look for someone, they discovered that the grandfather was actually a "half-immortal." After supporting Qiu Yun until she reached university, he frequently wandered about, living a nomadic life without a fixed residence.
Usually, Qiu Yun felt this eccentric grandfather was a blessing, as his absence meant she wouldn't be exposed as a transmigrator. But now, with the Lunar New Year approaching, he felt like a ticking time bomb. She didn't know if this "half-immortal" had returned from his travels. If he hadn't, she would spend the New Year alone—lonely, perhaps, but safe. If he had returned, how was she supposed to interact with him? After all, he was the one who had raised the girl; if the soul had changed, wouldn't he be able to tell?
The school dormitories allowed students who weren't going home for the New Year to stay. Qiu Yun ran to register, only to be met with a glare from the dorm matron. "Locals must go home. No staying over." The matron looked fierce, reminding Qiu Yun of those people years later who wouldn't let others dance in the basketball courts. Qiu Yun felt a surge of silent indignation: *Is this regional discrimination?*
She felt a bit melancholy. On Friday, after picking up her final grade report, she sat withered in the classroom all afternoon. She listened to Liang He, like a mother hen, announce political reminders and holiday precautions, but she was completely distracted.
Wang Chen was also a local and knew a bit about her family situation. She asked, "Xiao Yun, is your grandfather back? Do you want to come to my house for the New Year?"
Qiu Yun pursed her lips and said, "He might be back." After a thought, she asked, "Where do you live?" If Grandpa Qiu really was back, Qiu Yun didn't want to stay at home; Wang Chen’s place might be a good alternative.
"I live on Chengnan Street. Take the 103 bus from your place; it’s the last stop. My family goes back to our ancestral home every year for the New Year. This year we’re going to my dad’s side in the countryside. We’re leaving as soon as break starts. Do you want to come along?"
"So early?" Qiu Yun calculated the days. "When will you be back?"
"Not sure, probably the third or fourth day of the New Year."
*That’s not ideal,* Qiu Yun thought. If it were within A City, it would be fine, but following someone to the countryside for the New Year was truly inappropriate. Moreover, in this era, the New Year involved the whole extended family. Wang Chen seemed to have a younger brother or sister, and with her father’s relatives and their children, Qiu Yun could imagine it would be like a small tour group heading home. As an outsider tagging along for dozens of miles, she would be completely out of place.
So she shook her head. "I won’t go. I’ll find you when you get back."
"It’s okay, my family is very hospitable," Wang Chen said, as if sensing her thoughts.
Qiu Yun still declined. "My grandfather should be back. When you return, call your Brother Feng, and we’ll all hang out."
At the mention of "Feng," Wang Chen blushed again and stopped insisting. "Then I’ll come find you then."
While Liang He was holding the class meeting, he noticed Qiu Yun was distracted, whispering with Wang Chen from time to time. He had a general idea of her family situation and had intended to ask her about it after class, but he didn't expect to run into Lu Xialan at the door. Lu Xialan’s break had already started, and having nothing to do, she had come to the Academy of Fine Arts for two reasons: first, to bring a basket of eggs to her maternal aunt who managed the dorms, and second, to check on Liang He and ask about his New Year plans.
"No particular plans. The school lets out late and starts early."
"Are you going before the New Year this year, or after?" Lu Xialan asked.
Liang He knew what she was referring to. They had grown up in the same faculty compound. His parents and hers were teachers at the same university, living in the same yard. There were several others their age, but only Liang He was an only child, which was quite rare for that era. Later, the group scattered to the ends of the earth, and though some eventually returned, they gradually moved out of the compound. The Lu family was the first to leave; the Liang family was the last. Several of them had settled in other provinces or even gone abroad, leaving only Lu Xialan and Liang He, the youngest, still in A City. During the New Year, everyone would return to A City and visit the compound for an annual gathering. That was what Lu Xialan was asking about.
Liang He thought for a moment, suddenly feeling a bit irritable for some reason. "We'll see. I don't know if Da Chuan is coming back yet."
"He'll definitely be back. How could he not come back for the New Year?"
"Mhm," Liang He replied noncommittally.
"What, if Da Chuan doesn't come back, you won't organize it?"
Liang He glanced at her but didn't respond.
"Are you afraid he'll bring his sister along?" Lu Xialan had a sudden flash of insight.
Liang He glanced at her again, a small, somewhat helpless smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. At times like this, there was always a subtle tension between them. He didn't know how to explain it to the person in front of him, or perhaps he simply didn't want to.
But to Lu Xialan, that glance seemed like a doting look of "shared understanding."
She lowered her head and said, "It's fine, I'll be there with you."
Liang He’s lips twitched slightly; he didn't quite understand what she meant. In the end, he said nothing.
Chang Huan and Liu Yujin weren't locals of A City; one lived in B County and the other in C County. Both had bought long-distance bus tickets to head home the next morning. Wang Chen was from A City and was going home for lunch. Once she left, only Qiu Yun remained. Not just the dormitory, but the entire school became much more deserted. The playground that had been bustling and the teaching buildings that had been teeming with people were suddenly sparsely populated, with "sparrows able to be caught at the door." The cafeteria windows were reduced to just one, and the food was cold. Qiu Yun forced down a few bites, feeling quite depressed.
She could stay in the dorm until the twenty-sixth day of the lunar month, so she still had a few days to linger. She thought it over—sooner or later, she would have to face it. Having nothing to do that afternoon, she decided to head to Qiu Xiaoyun’s home to scout out the situation. Just as she stepped out of the dorm, she saw the faculty office building. Her thoughts took a turn, and she walked toward it.
The teachers hadn't fully started their break yet. Qiu Yun walked to the second floor; at the end was the Dean's office. She peeked in; the door was ajar, and there were guests inside. Next to it was the faculty office, a large room with several desks. On the desk by the door sat a red landline telephone. In one corner was a mountain of student paintings. Only one teacher was in the room; he hadn't taught her, but Qiu Yun recognized him as Lin Zhongren from the sculpture class.
"Student, do you need something?" Lin Zhongren noticed a figure hovering at the door.
"Oh, Teacher Lin." Qiu Yun entered the room. "I... can I use the phone?"
"The phone?" Lin Zhongren put down his work. "What for?"
"I..." Qiu Yun put on an embarrassed expression and explained, "I'm Qiu Xiaoyun from Class 1, Grade 87. Since break is starting, my grandfather is the only one at home. But he's been away lately, and I've lost my house keys... I wanted to call the grocery store next to my house to see if anyone is home... If no one's there, I'll go..."
Before Qiu Yun could finish making up where she would go, Lin Zhongren gave her a look as if he already knew her situation. "Oh, alright, go ahead and call."
"Thank you, Teacher." Qiu Yun walked in obediently, picked up the phone, and then paused.
"What's wrong?" Lin Zhongren asked.
"I... I think I forgot the grocery store's number."
Lin Zhongren laughed, tilted his head toward the window, and said, "Liang He is your grade's counselor, right? His desk is over there. See if it's on his desk."
Qiu Yun ran over. Sure enough, under the glass plate on the desk was a handwritten A4 contact list. People of this era seemed to love placing a piece of transparent glass of the same size on their wooden desks; under the glass, they often tucked frequently used items. Liang He was no exception. Besides the contact list, there were some slips of paper tucked along the edges, like memo reminders. In the top left corner, the corner of a photograph peeked out. Qiu Yun pushed aside the books on top; it was a black-and-white photo.
A family portrait of three.
The photo was black and white, with no date written on it. It had a white scalloped border as decoration, a typical old photograph. Liang He stood in the middle, probably only about ten years old, thin and looking quite tall. To his left was his mother, wearing a qipao, looking very elegant. To his right was his father, in a suit, also very handsome, with a somewhat Westernized, intellectual air. Qiu Yun had never seen Liang He’s parents; from this photo, Liang He looked like his father.
"Did you find it?" Lin Zhongren’s voice drifted over.
"Found it," Qiu Yun snapped back to reality. She scanned the contact list quickly and saw the second to last line: 89 Phoenix Street, Lin Xiang Non-staple Food Grocery Store, followed by a note in parentheses: Qiu Zhenghong, Qiu Xiaoyun’s grandfather.
Qiu Yun memorized the string of numbers and returned to the telephone. The phone rang a few times and was quickly answered. Qiu Yun explained her purpose, and after a moment, the owner, Mr. Lin, replied, "Haven't seen anyone. No one's tending to the plants in the yard either. Looks like he hasn't been back for a long time."
***
