Chapter 1 – Song Jintang

In “I’m Leaving”, it’s different from midsummer, stop at the night, and never stop at the intersection of Nanjing.

The parasol trees in Nanjing and the winter snow in Beijing must be watched by a person in the end.

–

In the dim box, the unknown “friend” Yang Mai sang. Although his tone was incomplete and his voice was hoarse, he couldn’t stop himself from being enthusiastic. The “Leaving Song” that was “moving” made him tear his heart out.

Yao Shu raised her hand, looked at the glass of juice on the table, covered her mouth, and coughed twice.

She was also very puzzled. At this sensual and smoky farewell party, she only knew two people, so why did she agree to come?

“Does it hurt?” Song Jingtang handed her a glass of water and said with a smile, “Don’t worry about them. If you feel uncomfortable, you can go first.”

She took the cup, shook her head, and took a sip. All the emotions were hidden in the dark corner where they won’t be seen.

Why did she agree to come?

Probably because of this person who was going to be sent off. This may be the last time they meet.

December 24, 2018, Christmas Eve

“Xiao Shu!” Wen Yang stood at the door of the dormitory and shouted towards the balcony, “Are you okay? We’re going to be late!”

“Hey! I’m okay!” Yao Shu put on her boots, pulled the zipper, tucked her scarf randomly, picked up her school bag, and followed Wen Yang out the door.

The Christmas Carnival was held at the Cultural Plaza on the main campus.

They rushed so they could catch up with the opening show. Throwing away the school bag, they hurriedly started to take charge of the admission work.

Wen Yang is a new recruit to the Department of Literature and Art this year. She is very lively and cheerful, actively working hard, sweet-looking, and very cute. All the seniors like her very much. The department appointed her to organize this carnival night. However, due to a lack of manpower, she asked Yao Shu to help out.

Yao Shu didn’t like these occasions and couldn’t do this kind of work. She has a sharp appearance and a stiff personality. She is not as lovable as Wen Yang so it is quite difficult to do the charming smiling face. She smiled politely, and when she was greeting people, Yao Shu caught a glimpse of Wen Yang chatting and laughing with the seniors and sisters in between work, which made Yao Shu feel a little envious.

She doesn’t know how to be as likable as Wen Yang.

Tonight’s carnival night is worthy of the word “carnival”, and when the rhythm of the best dance music reached a climax, the atmosphere of the scene burned to a boiling point.

As usual, Yao Shu hid in the last corner of the auditorium. The darkest one.

In such a noisy environment, there was nothing to watch on the phone.

She looked up at the darkness in front of her. The colorful glow sticks and light signs were so bright that her eyes hurt. She simply crossed the sea of lights and focused her attention on someone on the stage in a daze.

The noisy atmosphere did not affect her at all. She hid in the corner like an outsider. She glanced over the excited crowd, heard the most ear-splitting shouting, and suddenly remembered a lyric:

Carnival is the loneliness of a group of people.

Whether they are alone or not, Yao Shu doesn’t know. All she knew was that she was bored now.

After staring at the stage for a long time, she changed her focus again. She raised her head slightly and looked at the bright, low-hanging star above the stage. Suddenly she remembered Mr. Lu Xun’s words:

The sorrow and happiness of those people are not related. (1)

I only find them noisy.

She was amused by herself.

She didn’t think they were noisy, she just thought that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn’t be able to hear Wen Yang’s wonderful chatter tomorrow. (T/N: because she will become deaf)

She got up and picked up her school bag and slipped out quietly through the back door of the auditorium. She made a circle around the auditorium, took a walk, and when she came to the main entrance, she coincidentally bumped into Wen Yang, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“Where have you been?” Wen Yang pulled her over and stood between the backstage entrance and the auditorium’s main entrance, rubbing her hands in the cold.

“I’m still asking you. Didn’t we mean to watch the show together? You’re gone in the middle of the show. I thought the moon suddenly turned dark and the wind was strong, so what happened?” Yao Shu put her hand inside her jacket’s pocket. Her chin was buried in her scarf.

Wen Yang sighed in the palm of her hands and complained in a low voice, “Who knew that I would be called to work suddenly.” She smiled, ignorantly, “But the work is worth it.”

“Why do you think so?” Yao Shu asked.

She took a step toward Yao Shu, pointed to the boy in costume backstage, and whispered, “Did you see that boy in black overalls?”

“Yeah.” Yao Shu nodded, “I see.”

Wen Yang smiled again and said like a nympho: “That’s the president of our current student union. The term just changed a while ago so the new student union took office.”

“Oh~~~ Did he praise you?” Yao Shu asked.

“Eh~” Wen Yang waved her hand and lowered her voice: “He’s single.”

Yao Shu couldn’t help laughing and followed her to lower her voice: “So, you’re interested in him?”

Wen Yang shook her head and said seriously: “I’m still watching.” After speaking, she poked Yao Shu with her elbow and said, “We’ll have dinner after the show, which is estimated to be overnight. Come with me.”

“Me? What am I going to do?” Yao Shu refused. “I’m not going. I’m not a member of your student union.”

Wen Yang stared at the president and analyzed carefully: “You’re single, and I’m single too. The president is handsome, studies well, and has a great personality. He’s so good. Xiao Shu, you can’t let the opportunity slips out. Either it will fall into my hands or it will fall into yours, and nobody loses.”

Yao Shu was speechless and wanted to laugh: “What kind of logic is that? Don’t talk nonsense, go for it yourself.”

“Don’t you like someone mature, prudent, gentle, kind, and caring for people?” She pointed to the president and smiled maliciously, “Isn’t this ready-made? What a pity to let it go.”

Yao Shu looked at her and said: “…You look like a wretched hungry wolf now.”

“I don’t care, you have to accompany me.” She sighed and said, ” All night, by myself, are you sure?”

Yao Shu: “…” I really don’t feel assured.

“Okay, let’s go.”

It would have been better if she hadn’t gone to the dinner that time.

After drinking the glass of water, she looked at Wen Yang. The woman was drowsy and was playing cards with the president’s friend. The person who said she was going to take down the president just let her president go away.

It’s very disrespectful. Wen Yang threw Yao Shu into the president’s pit and went away on her own.

They stood for a long time in the cold wind that day. When the show was over, Yao Shu had a face-to-face with the president. The president looked at the two of them – mostly Wen Yang, who was so numb from the cold that he gave them two coats. For a long time after that, Wen Yang said that his random act of kindness was a sign that he was interested in her or Yao Shu.

At the dinner table during the party, Yao Shu sat across from him and learned his name.

Song Jingtang.

The name is so nice. For someone with such a poor memory, after hearing it once, she couldn’t forget it, as if it was tattooed in her heart. If she wants to forget it, does she have to take out her heart?

T/N note:

Mr. Lu Xun was a Chinese writer, essayist, poet, and literary critic. Here is the link to his wikipage and here is a link to an article explaining more about the quote if you’re interested.

Mr. Lu Xun