Liang He had been very busy lately.
First, there was the exchange trip to Florence at the end of May. This was a major event for the university. Chen Jingtao, the department head, personally led the group for a five-day trip with a packed itinerary. Despite being his age, it was Liang He’s first time going abroad. Before leaving, he hurriedly brushed up on his Renaissance history. Once in Florence, although everyone spoke English, Liang He’s listening and speaking skills were average at best, and the heavy Italian accents made it even harder. Most of what he understood came through a translator, which inevitably meant some professional nuances were lost. However, this didn't stop the classic architecture and artworks from leaping off the pages of his textbooks and manifesting before his eyes. In just five days, he had feasted his eyes on wonders.
Furthermore, there was another matter that left him somewhere between laughter and tears—pasta. He finally understood the meaning behind Qiu Yun’s expression when she faced a plate of "spaghetti" at Utopia. It was a world apart from the real thing.
Upon returning to the country, it was time for final exams. Besides finishing his own graduate coursework, Liang He also had to deal with a flurry of year-end summaries, meetings, reports, and student interviews in his role as a freshman counselor. Additionally, the Academy of Fine Arts had a tradition of summer art field trips for freshmen. He had to finalize the dates, locations, and accommodations, coordinating with the academy internally and negotiating with partner organizations externally. This task was supposed to be shared with another lead teacher, Lin Chongren, but Lin’s wife had just given birth. With Lin constantly running between the school and home, the bulk of the work fell onto the shoulders of the bachelor, Liang He. The third matter was the trouble in Lu Xialan’s family.
This last issue left him feeling exceptionally exhausted.
That day, Liang He didn't leave his office until nine in the evening. He rode his bicycle at a leisurely pace toward the dormitory. Just as he reached the building, he saw a figure standing under the dim, yellow glow of the streetlamp.
It was Lu Xialan.
Liang He was somewhat puzzled. He dismounted and pushed his bike forward. "Xialan?"
Lu Xialan didn't move.
Liang He wondered if he had misidentified her and called out again, "Lu Xialan?"
She saw him then but lowered her head. Only when Liang He drew closer did she look up. He saw that her face was haggard and her eyes were rimmed with red.
Liang He was stunned. They had seen each other once since the incident with the eggs. Lu Xialan had come to borrow some art books to help with her lecture slides. Liang He had taken her to the library, and neither of them had mentioned the incident. They had spoken of ordinary things, just as they always had. Lu Xialan had even mentioned that she might be sent abroad for studies next semester. Afterward, Liang He had treated her to a meal at the cafeteria. Then finals arrived, Liang He became busy, and Lu Xialan seemed occupied with her preparations for going abroad. They hadn't seen each other for a while.
For her to visit so late today, looking so distressed, caught Liang He completely off guard. He quickly parked his bike and asked, "What’s wrong, Xialan? What happened?"
Lu Xialan finally looked up, but she stared at him without speaking. Her eyes were naturally large, like a pair of expressive black grapes; now, in the darkness, reflecting the dim yellow light, they looked particularly pitiful.
Seeing her silence, Liang He asked again, "Did someone bully you?"
Lu Xialan shook her head.
"Then what is it? Have you been waiting here for me all this time?"
Lu Xialan nodded.
At that moment, a bicycle bell rang out behind them. "Coming through, coming through!"
Liang He stepped back, and the rider hurried between them. The cyclist seemed to sense the strange atmosphere between the two and didn't forget to glance back as he rode away.
Liang He felt this wasn't the place for a conversation. "Xialan, if something is wrong, why don't we go to my office to talk?"
Before he could move, he heard Lu Xialan speak in a low, hollow voice. "Liang He, do the words you said last time still count?"
Liang He paused. "What words?"
"Last time I asked you," Lu Xialan said, her eyes fixed on Liang He’s shadow on the ground, "if we could exist without the grievances of the previous generation."
Liang He didn't speak.
Lu Xialan continued to herself, "You didn't answer me then. But I felt you weren't that kind of person, so in my heart, I took it as your silent agreement. I came today to beg a favor of you. I beg you to act as if you don't know my family, only me. For my sake, please, you must help me."
Liang He was startled. He and Lu Xialan had grown up together in the same compound. Back when they were toddlers, the little boy and girl had even shared a bathroom. In over twenty years, they had never spoken to each other with such gravity. Even as they grew up and the innocent purity of childhood drifted away, Liang He had at least tried to maintain a shred of that youthful sincerity. What could have happened today to make Lu Xialan speak with such severe estrangement?
Liang He said, "Xialan, why are you saying such things? Did something happen to your family?"
Lu Xialan said, "I know I'm being abrupt, but this matter can't be delayed any longer. It had already happened when I brought you those eggs. I wanted to ask you then, but there was a turn for the better, so I didn't say anything. But now..."
"What exactly is it?" Liang He interrupted her.
"It's my uncle," Lu Xialan blurted out, but her voice immediately lost its strength and dropped to a whisper. "He had a heart attack. Two months ago, he was admitted to 102 Hospital. He’s been in a coma ever since..."
Lu Xialan’s uncle...
Liang He heard it.
The evening breeze blew, and the past fell around him like scattered petals by the roadside.
"Liang He," Lu Xialan said again, "just treat him as my uncle, as a stranger to you, alright? The surgeon who was supposed to operate on him was your uncle, He Chengmin. But after learning the patient was my uncle, your uncle suddenly had an academic seminar to attend and left A City."
"102 Hospital has more than one doctor," Liang He said flatly. "My uncle wouldn't disregard a human life because of a personal grudge. Besides, with your family’s connections, it’s not as if you can't find another good doctor."
"I know, I know," Lu Xialan murmured. "But who doesn't know that your uncle is the country’s leading heart surgeon? My uncle had to be resuscitated a month ago. We had your uncle’s top student perform the surgery, but he went straight into intensive care after leaving the operating table. He finally made it out of danger, but he can't survive another ordeal."
"Liang He," Lu Xialan’s voice choked with a sob, "Liang He-ge, my uncle has no children; he’s loved me like his own daughter since I was little. I can't just watch him wait for death in a hospital ward when there’s a way for him to live. I can't find out your uncle’s schedule or when he’ll be back, but I think an academic seminar can't be more important than a life, right? It wouldn't be impossible for him to spare a day or two to come back, would it?"
Liang He turned his head slightly and closed his eyes.
It had been many years. Since they started school, Lu Xialan had never called Liang He "ge" again. She used to call him "Liang-gege, Liang-gege," but one day, she suddenly started calling him only by his full name.
It had been many years; Lu Xialan had likely forgotten the term "Liang-gege." And many years later, when she finally called him brother again, it was "Liang He-ge."
The subtle difference and the convoluted meaning behind it made Liang He close his eyes.
"My uncle is a doctor. He won't leave someone to die."
***
The next day, Liang He went home.
When the family’s housekeeper, Zhou Wen, saw Liang He return, she hurriedly untied her apron. "Young Master Liang is back? Will you be eating at home tonight? Look at me, you didn't say anything in advance. I'll go out right now and buy a few more dishes."
Liang He said, "No need. I'll just eat whatever is in the house."
"That won't do. You're still growing! How about braised pork tonight? I'll go exchange this month's meat coupons."
Liang He noticed the bedroom door was closed and asked, "Is my mother already asleep?"
"Yes," Zhou Wen said. "Professor He has had a bit of a cold these past two days. She ate lunch, took some medicine, and went to rest early."
Liang He checked the time. It was only 12:34, earlier than usual. The household usually ate at 11:30 and finished by 12:00, after which He Chengyan would rest on the sofa for a bit before going to the bedroom for a nap.
"Is the cold serious?" Liang He asked.
"There’s been a flu going around the school lately; she probably caught it from a student. First, Teacher Chen Qian had a bit of a runny nose. I noticed it when she came over last week and even reminded Professor He to wear a vest so she wouldn't catch a chill and get infected. But a few days later, Professor He started sneezing. It must have been Teacher Chen Qian," Zhou Wen explained in great detail. "When she came back on Monday, Professor He said she’d already gone to the school clinic for cold medicine and that she’s much better now. Professor He also told Teacher Chen Qian not to come over for the time being."
"Oh." Liang He acknowledged her long-winded explanation. He hadn't known He Chengyan had a cold. Seeing Zhou Wen still standing there, he said, "My mother didn't tell me. You've worked hard during this time."
"Don't be so polite," Zhou Wen said, taking a cloth grocery bag from the cabinet by the door. "It's my job. Young Master Liang, I'm heading out to buy groceries now."
***
Once Zhou Wen left, the house became quiet.
Liang He sat down on the sofa. The sunlight was perfect, making the entire living room bright and airy. The poplar trees outside the window had grown fresh green leaves that rustled in the breeze. Beside the sofa armrest was an ancient sandalwood side table holding some books He Chengyan usually read. On top was today’s newspaper, still smelling faintly of lead ink. This spot was indeed very nice; no wonder He Chengyan liked to sit here and read. Because someone sat there year-round, this part of the sofa was slightly more sunken than the rest.
The clock on the wall ticked away. 12:54. He Chengyan’s nap usually lasted from 1:00 to 1:30. There were still thirty minutes.
Liang He was actually quite nervous. He knew that what he had come to say today concerned things that hadn't been mentioned in this house for many years. Regarding this topic, both he and his mother, He Chengyan, were as if standing on the edge of an abyss or walking on thin ice. But he couldn't simply ignore it.
The sun shone brightly outside, and the clock ticked inside. Although He Chengyan was there, her bedroom door was tightly shut, giving Liang He the illusion that he was alone in the house.
He leaned his head back against the sofa. The sunlight made him feel lazy, and he gradually began to feel drowsy.
He thought of many things from the past.
The day he came home from school, his mother, He Chengyan, was sitting there, not even realizing he had returned. It was only when he called out "Mama" that she looked up. That movement caused the tears she had been holding back for so long to fall like a string of pearls. He panicked and asked, "Mama, what’s wrong?" He Chengyan didn't speak. He asked again, "Where’s Papa?" He Chengyan said, "Your father and I are divorced."
In that era, divorce was an extremely rare occurrence. Liang He couldn't understand why his parents would divorce. they had treated each other with mutual respect for over a decade and had never even raised their voices. Then, suddenly, Liang He came home from school to find his parents divorced. it was completely without warning and utterly ridiculous. Even more baffling was that the reason for their divorce was "incompatibility."
He didn't believe it was true. Yet, it was. When Liang Kun left, he took only a single suitcase of clothes and didn't even say goodbye to Liang He. He felt the world was full of despair. How was it possible? His father loved him so much; how could he just leave without a single word? Even stranger, it was as if everyone had made a pact to remain silent about Liang He’s father, refusing to discuss him. It wasn't until a week later that Lu Xialan suddenly ran over and whispered to Liang He, "Your father is going to teach in the countryside."
Going to teach? Liang He gripped Lu Xialan’s hand tightly and asked, "He’s going to teach? Where? Why would he suddenly go there?"
Lu Xialan said, "I think it’s Guizhou."
Liang He asked, "When is he leaving?"
Lu Xialan said, "This Saturday."
Liang He asked again, "How do you know?"
Lu Xialan’s eyes flickered, and she said hesitantly, "I heard the adults talking on the road."
Liang He only heard that his father was leaving for Guizhou on Saturday; he didn't care who the "adults" were. He raced home and told He Chengyan, "Papa is leaving on Saturday! He’s going to Guizhou!"
He Chengyan’s expression was unnervingly calm. She told him that on Friday, the whole family would return to the countryside to stay with his younger uncle’s family.
Liang He grew frantic and almost shouted, "Papa is leaving on Saturday! He’s going to Guizhou!"
He Chengyan turned her head, staring at a crack in the wall. Expressionlessly, she said, almost syllable by syllable, "From now on, you are not allowed to mention Liang Kun again, whether outside or in this house!"
Liang He was stunned. He had never seen his mother so cold-blooded. What was happening? The world had become unrecognizable, shattering like a mirror into a thousand pieces. He screamed and ran out into a torrential downpour. He ran until he was exhausted and cried until he was hoarse, finally huddling under an eave, shivering. Then, a pink jacket was draped over his shoulders. Someone said, "Liang-gege, don't cry anymore. Your clothes are soaked through."
He did go home that day. He Chengyan seemed to know he would eventually return. She gave him a lifeless glance, but her eyes were suddenly stung by the pink jacket. She asked, "Where did this jacket come from?" Liang He kept his head down and didn't answer. He Chengyan grabbed him, threw the jacket away, and stared into his eyes. She said fiercely, "From now on, do not associate with the Lu family ever again."
Liang He clenched his fists and glared at her. Beyond his anger, he had forgotten to ask why.
Later, before Liang He could ask Lu Xialan about his father again, the Lu family had already moved out of the compound.
***
