That evening, Qiu Yun was the last to gather at the village committee compound as usual. However, the only supervisor present was Lin Zhongren. During dinner, she learned that Liang He had fallen ill. He had been suffering from stomach issues for the past few days, and his condition had worsened today, so he wouldn't be joining them for the meal. Upon asking when it started, she realized the onset coincided exactly with the morning they had watched the sunrise together.
Qiu Yun’s first reaction was a pang of guilt: *Did I poison Liang He that morning?*
She finished her meal distractedly. She desperately wanted to go see him and find out how he was doing and how serious it was, but she didn't know how to approach him. The mere thought of their last encounter made her die of embarrassment. If Liang He saw her, would he have a Pavlovian response and immediately think of...
She walked back to her lodgings, her mind in a state of unrest, just as He Ying was coming out of the courtyard gate.
"You're back?" He Ying greeted her.
"Yeah." Qiu Yun nodded. Noticing a bag in He Ying’s hand that gave off a strong scent of herbs, she asked, "What’s that?"
"Herbs I gathered on the mountain this afternoon," He Ying said. "Hasn't Teacher Liang been feeling under the weather lately? If he drinks a decoction made from these, he’ll get better."
"Is it really that magical?" Qiu Yun peeked into the bag. She knew nothing about traditional Chinese medicine and didn't recognize the plant. "Could it be poisonous?"
"Haha," He Ying laughed. "This is an ancestral secret recipe from our village. This plant is called Huimu Grass; it’s excellent for the stomach. But it loves water and can't stand drought, so it’s not common around here. We wouldn't go out to pick it for just anyone. If you’re worried, why don't you come with me?"
Qiu Yun had been hesitating about whether to go, and He Ying’s invitation provided the perfect excuse. She immediately replied, "Alright, let's go together."
And so, only ten minutes after leaving the village committee compound, Qiu Yun was back. He Ying knocked on the door of the dormitory shared by Lin Zhongren and Liang He. Three seconds later, the door opened.
"Did you forget the soap?" Liang He asked as he opened the door.
Seeing He Ying standing there, Liang He blinked in surprise. "I thought it was Teacher Lin return—" He suddenly spotted Qiu Yun hiding behind her. His words faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "He just took a basin down to the river to wash clothes, but he didn't take any soap..."
Qiu Yun looked at Liang He’s face. He had lost some weight, and his complexion wasn't as healthy as usual, appearing somewhat pale. She didn't dare stare for too long. Fortunately, He Ying spoke up.
"Teacher Liang, Director Huang asked me to bring you some herbs. Since your stomach has been bothering you these past few days, drinking some Huimu water will fix you right up. It’s a village remedy—dispels the cold and nourishes the stomach."
"That's very kind of you." Liang He stepped aside. "Come in."
Once inside, He Ying enthusiastically explained the medicinal properties of the grass to Liang He. She moved deftly, finding a pot and a stove to begin decocting the herbs for him right then and there. She talked as she worked, never pausing for a second. Liang He couldn't help with the task, but he chimed in occasionally to keep the conversation going. Qiu Yun, however, could neither help nor find the courage to speak. She could only stand there awkwardly, watching He Ying bustle about. But while her mouth remained shut, Qiu Yun had eyes that could speak—or rather, the eyes of a girl at this stage of a relationship always speak. She cast a few awkward glances at Liang He, and the emotions in her eyes—a mix of embarrassed regret and sincere concern—leaked out.
While He Ying’s back was turned as she fanned the stove, Liang He looked at Qiu Yun and silently mouthed a few words with a smile.
Qiu Yun understood him instantly. He said: *I'm fine.*
Fine?
What was fine? Was his body fine, or was he saying... that morning was fine?
Qiu Yun stood there, a bit dazed. When He Ying turned around, unaware of the exchange, Qiu Yun abruptly broke eye contact. She lowered her head and looked flusteredly at the floor, watching an ant that had lost its way, crawling in frantic circles.
"Teacher Liang, drink this bowl today, and I guarantee the medicine will bring a cure." He Ying wrapped a wet cloth around the pot handle and poured out a bowl of steaming liquid.
"Is that so? That effective?" Liang He responded.
"Of course," He Ying said. "This grass is unique to Yungang. It even cured a foreigner who came here for research once. The water here isn't great—it's very hard. It’s normal for you to not be acclimated to the local environment."
"Perhaps this grass has received the Buddha's protection," Liang He replied with a smile.
"Maybe," He Ying said, using a spoon to flick away a stray leaf floating in the soup. She laughed. "Qiu Yun didn't believe me just now. She was so worried she insisted on coming along."
Suddenly put on the spot, Qiu Yun looked up to find Liang He watching her again, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
She bit her lip, wanting to say something but not knowing what. After thinking for a long time, she finally managed, "I hope you get well soon."
"He definitely will!" He Ying chimed in immediately. "One bowl of this, and he'll see results instantly!"
Liang He smiled unhurriedly. "Alright."
The evening breeze blew in through the window, bringing a touch of coolness to the hot summer day. In that moment, Qiu Yun was glad He Ying was there, yet she also wished she wasn't.
As if the Buddha had truly heard Qiu Yun’s inner thoughts, He Ying said in the next breath, "Teacher Liang, let me go dispose of these leftover herb dregs." With that, she turned and left the room.
The moment He Ying stepped out, only Liang He and Qiu Yun remained. Qiu Yun pretended to look at him casually. Liang He was bringing the bowl to his lips, but his gaze drifted toward her. When their eyes met, Liang He set the bowl down and walked over to her.
Qiu Yun’s heart began to race. She suddenly realized that perhaps from the moment she entered the room, she had been anticipating this very second.
It felt as though there were many things to say, yet she didn't know where to start. Both of them looked at each other’s faces in a silent, greedy manner—from forehead to bridge of the nose, to lips, to chin, then back up from cheeks to eyes—lingering as if they were beholding the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Liang He said, "You..."
Qiu Yun said, "I..."
They both spoke at once.
Liang He laughed, and Qiu Yun laughed too. Just as Liang He was about to pick up the thread of the conversation, someone pushed the door open.
Lin Zhongren: "Liang He, I forgot the soap again..."
***
The next day, Liang He was indeed much better. The stomach pain and acidity of the previous days had vanished, his appetite had returned to normal, and his spirits were high. Qiu Yun went out to sketch with Wang Chen and the other two roommates. When they reached their destination, Qiu Yun set down her drawing board on the spot.
Wang Chen: "What are you doing?"
Qiu Yun: "I'm drawing this small Buddha statue with you guys today."
Chang Huan was surprised. "You're not being a hermit anymore?"
Qiu Yun raised an eyebrow. "I've come out of seclusion."
The others: "..."
Beyond that, Wang Chen noticed that Qiu Yun had become incredibly fond of listening to the teachers' critiques—especially Liang He’s. No matter how many grottoes away they were, if she caught even a faint sound of Liang He’s voice, Qiu Yun would drift over, claiming she was "learning from others' shortcomings to perfect her own strengths."
Wang Chen was puzzled. "I thought you and Teacher Liang were... at odds? Why are you so proactive now?"
"Are you kidding me?" Qiu Yun tapped her drawing board. "When was I ever at odds with Teacher Liang? When have I ever been at odds with knowledge? Furthermore," Qiu Yun straightened her back and said with mock solemnity, "Marx said that all things are in a constant state of change. We must view things with a developmental perspective. Even if Teacher Liang and I had some... minor misunderstandings in the past, that was ages ago. It's all gone like smoke... scattered in the wind..."
"Tsk, tsk," Wang Chen nodded with an air of authority. "You talk a good game. So tell us, how far have you 'developed' now?"
"That sounds like a trap," Qiu Yun chuckled.
"If I believed your public statement, I’d have wasted my time sleeping in the same bed as you. Come on, confess. What’s really going on? Have you fallen for Teacher Liang?"
"Haha! Da Chen, you really are... influenced by your surroundings. Fine, we..."
Wang Chen actually leaned out from behind her drawing board, ears perked. Not only was Wang Chen holding her breath, but Chang Huan and Liu Yujin, sensing the scent of gossip, quickly moved their small stools over.
Qiu Yun said, "We are now able to play happily in the ocean of knowledge!"
Everyone collapsed in exasperation.
Wang Chen rolled her eyes and snorted. "You might fool others, but not me. Last night, and the night before, someone didn't get back until nearly nine o'clock. Where did she go?"
"What! What!" Chang Huan added fuel to the fire. "Our good girl Qiu Yun was out late?!"
"Hey, Da Chen!" Qiu Yun cried out. "Don't be so low... I went to deliver medicine to Teacher Liang, and He Ying was with me. You were the one who wanted to go to the bonfire party and didn't come with us."
"Low?" Chang Huan heard a new word. "What's 'leaking'?" But that wasn't her focus. She moved her stool closer to Qiu Yun and started a "counseling session." "Xiao Yun, don't be shy. It’s perfectly normal to like Teacher Liang. Look, in an art academy, the competition is fierce. It’s rare to find a top-tier specimen like Liang He. He’s like Tang Monk’s meat—every demon and monster wants a bite of him, openly or secretly. As far as we know, there are no fewer than twenty girls in our year who secretly like him..."
Qiu Yun’s eyes widened. "How do you know that?"
Wang Chen patted Qiu Yun’s shoulder, signaling her to stay calm. "Don't be shocked, and don't worry about how we know. After all, I'm a few years older than you and have a bit of dating experience, right? These past few days while you weren't sketching with us, we got bored and counted. There are about twenty-two. Of course, excluding our dorm—"
"That’s not necessarily true..." Liu Yujin drew out the last word meaningfully, her gaze lingering on Qiu Yun.
"Oh, right... haha." Wang Chen nodded, unable to stop herself from laughing.
Qiu Yun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Three women make a play, and they were proving it.
Chang Huan leaned in mysteriously. "I have some news about Teacher Liang. I just heard it from someone in the traditional Chinese painting class yesterday."
"What is it?" Everyone perked up.
"There were always rumors that Teacher Lu from B University—Lu Xialan, the one we know—was Teacher Liang’s girlfriend. But recently... I’m telling you this in confidence, don't tell anyone else... Teacher Lu isn't his girlfriend. Their families have some history, but they are definitely not a couple. Because Teacher Lu... has a boyfriend..."
Wang Chen: "For real?"
Liu Yujin: "How do you know?"
Chang Huan: "The truth is unknown; it’s just a rumor, but there’s no smoke without fire. I was surprised to hear it too. If it’s true, then Lu Xialan is really too much."
"Ah..." Liu Yujin let out a long "ah" of realization. "Teacher Liang was sick a couple of days ago—was it because he was crushed by this? How does that poem go? 'Pining away for her until he is haggard'?"
Hearing this, Qiu Yun suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, but she couldn't control her hand. With a *plink*, her paintbrush fell into the water bucket.
The splash brought everyone’s focus back to her.
"Xiao Yun, don't be sad or agitated," Chang Huan said, moving her stool even closer and speaking earnestly. "Lu Xialan might be a bit much, but isn't this our golden opportunity? Before, everyone was hesitant because they thought they were a couple. But now, Teacher Liang is single and perhaps a bit heartbroken. You can take advantage of his vulnerability..."
Qiu Yun felt her voice tremble slightly. "Are you sure...?"
"Well, I don't have much credibility since I'm still single. Come on, Da Chen," Chang Huan beckoned. "Da Chen, you're the most qualified among us. Come help Xiao Yun ease her mental burden."
Wang Chen suppressed a smile and said, "Xiao Yun, it’s up to you. Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders. Our dorm is your family; we’ll support you no matter what."
"Haha," Liu Yujin couldn't help but clap. "Well said. Go for it, Xiao Yun. We all think you actually have a foundation to build on. Teacher Liang seems to appreciate you quite a bit."
Even though she knew her roommates were just teasing her, Qiu Yun couldn't help but ask when she heard Liu Yujin’s last sentence, "How can you tell?"
"It’s obvious," Liu Yujin said. "Back when the first issue of *Wild Wind* was created, your painting made you famous throughout the school. You broke Teacher Liang’s precious sunglasses, and he didn't even make you pay for them, did he? That’s a classic case of 'cherishing talent leading to affection.' Then there was the hotpot... at the very least, he doesn't dislike you."
"And another thing," Chang Huan added. "During those days you weren't sketching with us, whenever Teacher Liang came by, he’d ask where you were. We pointed him in your direction, thinking he’d go find you. But strangely, he just stood on that big rock back there—look, right over there—" Chang Huan pointed. "You can see your spot from there. But he’d just stand there for a while and then leave."
Qiu Yun looked in that direction. There was a high point that offered a view around the corner to the secluded spot where she had been sketching.
"By the way," Chang Huan continued, "did he ever actually come to find you?"
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
惠母草 | Huimu Grass | A fictional or local medicinal herb mentioned in the story.
云冈 | Yungang | Refers to the Yungang Grottoes area in Datong.
水土不服 | Unacclimated / Not adjusted to the environment | Specifically refers to illness caused by changing environments/water.
野风 | Wild Wind | The name of the school publication/magazine.
陆夏兰 | Lu Xialan | A female teacher from B University, previously rumored to be Liang He's girlfriend.
出关 | Coming out of seclusion | A martial arts term (seclusion training) used here as a joke.
僧多粥少 | High competition / More seekers than spots | Literally "many monks, little porridge."
唐僧肉 | Tang Monk's meat / A prized catch | A reference to Journey to the West; something everyone wants to "consume" or possess.
为伊消得人憔悴 | Pining away for her until one is haggard | A famous line from a Song Dynasty poem by Liu Yong.
