Lin Jiang had barely taken two steps when she heard the car engine roar to life. Her eyelids felt hot, and with a blink, two large tears splashed down. Just then, she heard someone call her name.
"Lin Jiang!"
The voice was frantic. She looked up to see Shen Yan running toward her, launching into a barrage of questions the moment he reached her. "Where have you been? I waited for you at the school gate for ages but didn't see you. I went to your classroom, but it was already locked. I tried calling, but I couldn't get through. Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
Lin Jiang’s nose prickled with a sudden sting, and her tears began to flow like a bursting dam. She reached out haphazardly to wipe them away, but they only fell faster.
Seeing her cry, Shen Yan was instantly thrown into a state of panicked helplessness. He tried to duck his head to see her face, but Lin Jiang turned away, hiding from his gaze. He grew even more anxious than when he couldn't find her. "What happened? Who bullied you?"
Lin Jiang’s breath hitched in a sob.
Shen Yan was so frantic he didn't know where to put his hands. "Was I too harsh just now?" he asked tentatively.
Lin Jiang took a shaky breath, her voice coming in fits and starts. "No... it’s just... I didn't see the steps clearly. I missed my footing and took a tumble. My knee really hurts now."
Shen Yan let out a sharp "Ah" and hurried to look down. Sure enough, the fabric over her knees was stained with dirt, clearly the marks of a fall.
Frowning, Shen Yan asked, "Is it serious? Did you go to the hospital?"
"I already went, it’s nothing major. After school, Wang Jiaqian asked me to go buy a Murong Yunhai poster, and I forgot to tell you. My phone died, too." Lin Jiang had managed to suppress her sobbing. She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Shen Yan."
Shen Yan quickly supported her. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Do you want me to carry you on my back?"
Hearing this, Lin Jiang’s tears threatened to spill over again. She hurriedly said, "No need."
Shen Yan didn't insist. He helped her walk forward, his expression dim.
Having used the fall as an excuse to let out her tears, Lin Jiang felt much better. She only felt guilty toward Shen Yan—she had let him wait anxiously for over two hours for nothing, and then she had made up a lie to deceive him.
"Shen Yan, don't worry. I feel much better now."
"How can I not worry?" Shen Yan replied quickly, clearly still upset.
Lin Jiang fell silent.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Shen Yan realized he might have overreacted. He slowed his pace and explained, "I'm worried because the adults told me to look after you on the way to and from school. Now that you're hurt, how am I supposed to explain this to your parents? My mom is going to scold me again."
"It's okay. I'll tell my parents myself. I won't let Auntie Jing or Uncle know," Lin Jiang said after a moment's thought, trying to comfort him.
Shen Yan licked his dry lips and said, "Okay."
Only then did Lin Jiang offer a small smile. "Thank you, Shen Yan."
The elevator stopped at the tenth floor.
***
On the other side of town at Green Island, the lights were hazy and dim. A few patrons were scattered about as a resident singer performed an obscure Spanish song.
Shi Tou opened a bottle of Port and asked the person leaning back on the sofa smoking a cigarette with a grin, "Say, do you think Zhao Siyi would have the same guts Lin Jiang had today, rushing out to protect you like that?"
Jiang Weifeng poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue and smiled. "I don't know."
"To be honest, I regret not having the nerve to skip my directing class to see that scene for myself," someone nearby chimed in.
"Give it a rest, Cheng Minghao. Your mom isn't someone to mess with," Shi Tou laughed, taking a sip of his drink.
Cheng Minghao spat in mock annoyance and sighed. "Jiang Weifeng, how did your mom and my mom even become best friends? Their personalities are worlds apart. Your mom is so sweet, but mine is like a tigress."
Hearing this, Jiang Weifeng’s hand paused as he opened a bottle. He glanced at Cheng Minghao, who quickly realized he had said something insensitive and changed the subject. "Why did that girl block the blow for you? Does she like you?"
"No, it was probably just an instinct. She likely would have done the same for anyone else," Jiang Weifeng said, not giving it much thought.
"True. She looks like such a 'good student' type; she was probably taught to be a Good Samaritan since she was a kid," Shi Tou added. Then, remembering something, a dreamy look crossed his face. "But Lin Jiang is actually quite pretty, and her voice is sweet."
"Oh? Is she a beauty?" Cheng Minghao grew interested.
Jiang Weifeng didn't join the conversation. Shi Tou added, "That's just my personal opinion."
Cheng Minghao scoffed, his interest vanishing. "Last time you saw a girl who looked like Sister Feng, you said she wasn't bad either."
Shi Tou grabbed a die from the table and threw it at Cheng Minghao. After the two messed around for a bit, Shi Tou asked Jiang Weifeng again, "You sent her back—did you say thank you?"
"I did."
"How'd you say it?"
"Just said thanks. Also told her to look out for herself first if something like that happens again."
"Nice, Brother Feng. You know how to talk," Shi Tou laughed.
The image of the girl's injury flashed through Jiang Weifeng’s mind. Though it wasn't heavy, her skin was fair and delicate, which made the bruise look more pitiful. He took a sip of his drink and said, "I was just being well-intentioned."
Cheng Minghao asked, "Then what about Lan Jingyu?"
Jiang Weifeng swallowed a mouthful of alcohol, his voice devoid of warmth. "Wait until Monday."
The night grew deep and the wine flowed freely, as certain thoughts began to stir.
***
Saturday was an overcast day. Lin Jiang lingered in bed that morning, only getting up after her alarm had buzzed three times. When she put on her pants, the bruise on her knee looked even more purple than the day before. She stared at it blankly, dallying for a while longer.
Xu Mingjuan had finished making breakfast outside. Seeing no movement from Lin Jiang’s room, she was about to go call her when Lin Jiang pushed the door open.
Xu Mingjuan grumbled about her "dawdling" before asking, "Does your leg still hurt?"
"Much better," Lin Jiang replied. She then headed downstairs to the park for her morning vocal exercises.
For the past few years, she had woken up thirty minutes early every morning to do her exercises in the park. Ms. Cheng asked about her progress every week during class, so she didn't dare slack off.
After finishing her exercises and breakfast, Xu Mingjuan drove her to class. On the way, she cautioned her again, "It's your senior year. Be careful with everything; your health is the most important thing."
Lin Jiang felt a wave of warmth and quickly agreed. As she was about to get out of the car, Xu Mingjuan asked what she wanted to eat. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Pork rib soup."
"Alright," Xu Mingjuan said. "I'll invite Shen Yan over for dinner tonight, too. He looked quite guilty yesterday. It wasn't his fault you tripped, but we can't let the boy feel bad about it."
Lin Jiang nodded with a smile. "Mom, you really think of everything."
Saturday passed quickly. In the afternoon, Ms. Cheng led them through impromptu commentary practice. Lin Jiang did well on the current affairs and political topics, but when it came to interpreting famous quotes, she suddenly hit a wall.
The prompt was: *"The setting sun and the lone duck fly together; the autumn water and the vast sky share the same hue."*
Lin Jiang froze. For some reason, she thought of the twilight when she first saw Jiang Weifeng, and the lingering glow in the sky when she rushed to the alley yesterday evening.
She inadvertently spaced out, and her response was stilted and clumsy.
Ms. Cheng was notoriously strict. She snapped, "How have you been studying? Your analysis is like a pile of garbage. If this is your state of mind, you might as well not take the exam at all."
Lin Jiang was too intimidated by the scolding to speak. She forced herself to focus and listen to the teacher's analysis.
After class, Ms. Cheng kept her behind for a private talk, speaking with earnest concern. "In impromptu commentary, your personal opinion isn't the most important thing. As long as your values are correct and you stay on topic, it's fine. I'm mainly looking for your ability to make a self-consistent argument and your psychological resilience under pressure. Do you understand?"
Lin Jiang had been worn down by the afternoon's training and quickly said she understood.
Ms. Cheng was about to say more when someone called out from the doorway, "Mom, is it okay if I go to Auntie Zheng's for dinner tonight?"
Lin Jiang and Ms. Cheng turned together to see a person leaning against the doorframe, hunched over to peer into the classroom. A head of chestnut-colored hair was particularly eye-catching.
Ms. Cheng’s expression remained flat. Without a second thought, she replied, "In your dreams."
"Why?" the person asked, sounding frantic.
"You tell me why. Don't you know how late you were out fooling around last night?"
The person deflated, scratching his head. "Aiya, your student is right here. Can't you maintain your image as a role model teacher?"
His eyes had been darting toward Lin Jiang from the start. Now, he shifted the conversation to her. "Isn't your Ms. Cheng super scary?"
"Huh?" Lin Jiang was caught off guard. Ms. Cheng, however, flared up. She stood up abruptly and marched toward the door. "Are you looking for a beating?"
"Murder!" Seeing things go south, the person bolted.
Ms. Cheng shouted into the hallway, "Don't you run! Sit in the office and wait for me!"
Returning to the classroom, Ms. Cheng said to Lin Jiang apologetically, "That's my son. He's studying directing. He's a senior but doesn't act like one at all. He's playful and irritating." Despite her words, the corners of her eyes softened considerably.
Lin Jiang smiled. She suddenly remembered a classmate from her private lessons saying that Ms. Cheng’s husband had died in a car accident over ten years ago, and she had been alone all these years. It seemed that while she was strict, she doted on her son.
*A parent’s love for their child is shown in the long-term plans they make for them.*
Lin Jiang thought that in this regard, Ms. Cheng and Xu Mingjuan were exactly the same.
After school, Xu Mingjuan was a bit late picking her up. She explained that she had lost track of time while balancing the accounts at the restaurant that afternoon, but added that she had already sent someone to buy the pork ribs.
Lin Jiang felt another surge of gratitude.
Lin Wei’s travel agency was growing larger and larger. He had to handle everything from tour guides and flights to accommodations, making him so busy he was rarely home. Xu Mingjuan had to balance both her career and the family. Although the Western restaurant had a manager, she still oversaw all matters large and small. During the restaurant's busiest evening hours, she was usually at home cooking for Lin Jiang.
In the past, various homeroom teachers would ask during class meetings, "Who are you really studying for?" The teachers said the standard answer was "yourself."
But Lin Jiang always felt that wasn't quite right.
At least in her heart, a huge part of her motivation came from her parents. It was undeniable that in this age where she was powerless to do much else, her grades were the most concrete way she could repay them.
The pork rib soup that night fueled Lin Jiang’s inner drive, and she studied straight through until 11:00 PM.
Before bed, Wang Jiaqian called her. "Is your injury okay? How did things go with Jiang Weifeng yesterday?"
Lin Jiang rolled her eyes to herself. "I think your concern for my injury is secondary to your thirst for gossip."
Wang Jiaqian laughed. "How could that be? Well, I originally wanted to play matchmaker for you two, but then I got home and realized—wait, Jiang Weifeng is already taken! That whole fight was basically a 'furious rage for the sake of a beauty.' Look at my pig-brain; I must have been driven stupid by you yesterday..."
As Wang Jiaqian continued to laugh on the other end, Lin Jiang curled her lips, but she couldn't force out a smile.
She tossed and turned all night.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 慕容云海 | Murong Yunhai | Male lead character from the popular Chinese drama "Meteor Shower." |
| 绿岛 | Green Island | Name of the bar. |
| 石头 | Shi Tou | Literally "Stone," a nickname for one of Jiang Weifeng's friends. |
| 成明昊 | Cheng Minghao | Ms. Cheng's son and Jiang Weifeng's friend. |
| 编导 | Directing and Editing | A major/subject for the Chinese arts entrance exam (Yikao). |
| 出早功 | Morning Exercises | Routine vocal or physical practice for performing arts students. |
| 即兴评述 | Impromptu Commentary | A specific test format for broadcast/hosting students. |
| 落霞与孤鹜齐飞，秋水共长天一色 | The setting sun and the lone duck fly together; the autumn water and the vast sky share the same hue | A famous line from "Tengwang Ge Xu" by Wang Bo. |
| 蓝竟宇 | Lan Jingyu | The person Jiang Weifeng fought with in the previous chapter. |
| 冲冠一怒为红颜 | A furious rage for the sake of a beauty | A classic idiom referring to a man fighting or starting a war over a woman. |
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