In the days before the treasure hunt, the university organised a training session to explain to each contestant how to navigate a map using a compass. Shen Lie asked He Luo and Zhou Xing Yan, “Do you two girls know how to use a compass properly?”
He Luo glanced at him. “Are you looking down on us? This is the most basic knowledge when it comes to outdoor activities. I might even know more about it than you.”
“I really don’t know anything.” Shen Lie chuckled. “I didn’t expect that such a quiet person like you would enjoy these things.”
“That’s because Zhang Yuan likes these things a lot, that’s why I know some of it,” He Luo replied. “And it’s true that they’re also interesting.”
“Mainly because of lovey-dovey reasons.”
“Mainly because it’s interesting.”
“Lovey-dovey reasons.”
“Because it’s interesting!”
“You’re really stubborn, lovey-dovey!”
He Luo waved her hand. “Forget it. What’s wrong with being lovey-dovey?”
“Of course there’s nothing wrong!” Shen Lie said, a little flatly, “Why aren’t there any girls who would be this dedicated to me?”
Zhou Xing Yan leaned over. “That’s because you’re not as handsome as her boyfriend.”
“A man doesn’t live by his face.”
“What do you mean?” He Luo glared at him.
“Ay, what I mean is that I’m not popular not because I’m not good looking enough. It’s also because my other qualities aren’t up to standard,” Shen Lie hurriedly explained. “I didn’t say that your boyfriend only has a good face going for him.”
“Hng. Zhang Yuan’s entrance examination score isn’t lower than yours, it just so happens because you’re from Beijing.”
“I know, I know,” Shen Lie said. “What’s wrong with you today? So prickly and sensitive. I don’t have any other meaning.”
Yes, what was wrong with her? He Luo had to ask that herself. Why did she act like she had a bone to pick with everyone?
On the way back to the dormitory, Zhou Xing Yan asked her, “You were so fierce earlier. Was that even necessary?”
“I just don’t want to hear anyone criticise him,” she replied. “I think I can understand his feelings. To be looked at and contemplated by others that way is a disgraceful feeling.”
“But Zhang Yuan wasn’t there earlier and he doesn’t have a million-miles ears either.” Zhou Xing Yan smiled. “Are you perhaps worried that if your boyfriend only has a good look, other people would call you boy-crazed? And worried it’ll embarrass you?”
He Luo’s footsteps slowed. Her heart shook as realisation dawned on her. Was this really true? Perhaps it was… Back then she was courageous to go against her parents’ wishes and was able to hold her head high to meet the eyes of others. That wasn’t because she was really brave. That was because she and Zhang Yuan were remarkable. As long as they didn’t go over the line, no teacher or parent would interfere with their relationship. And she herself was not fearless as she had thought. Zhang Yuan was still the Zhang Yuan from the past. Not only was he unable to accept his defeat, he was unable to frankly face such a reality.
She liked Zhang Yuan, but what she liked even more was the Zhang Yuan with his aura of untouchable confidence.
Zhou Xing Yan had moved on, this time telling a joke. “Right, right. Speaking of boy-crazed, the other day I watched a variety show. There was a female guest who said her wish is to marry a Prince Charming wearing a white wedding dress and holding a white bouquet. The host told her, ‘Oh you’re a white [bai] lover, I’ll abbreviate that and call you a idiot [bai chi].” She giggled over the joke, but He Luo merely tugged at the corners of her lips.
She was frightened by her thoughts.
She always believed that her love for Zhang Yuan was unshakable but how was it that their relationship was wavering in front of a little thing like the college entrance examination?
I believe in Zhang Yuan, I also believe in his ability. She believed that everything would turn out to be fine in the end.
He Luo knew that Zhou Xing Yan was someone who spoke her mind and wouldn’t think too much about what she had just said. So after washing up at night, He Luo asked her fellow upper bunk mate Ye Zhi, “Are you asleep?”
“No, I’m writing to my family. What’s up?”
He Luo climbed up to join her. The two girls sat with their backs against the wall. Ye Zhi pulled the quilt to cover their legs. He Luo repeated what happened during the day and said, “I know Xing Yan didn’t intentionally say those things but my heart still feels uneasy.”
“Here I thought what big issue has happened. That’s just normal.” Ye Zhi laughed. “If Zhang Yuan is just a good-for-nothing pretty boy, would you have liked him? You’re moved because he’s good in all aspects. And you think he’s wasting his talents and hopes he can do better. That’s not an unreasonable illusion.”
“I’m worried he’ll always be unable to face defeats frankly.”
“That’s why you need to guide and comfort him.”
“How can I do that?”
“How do I know? I’ve never been in love,” Ye Zhi replied.
“Hurry up and sleep, we still have class tomorrow.” Tong Jia Ying’s voice came in a daze.
He Luo sighed and climbed down the side ladder.
Lately all she wanted to talk about was concerning Zhang Yuan. If she had the opportunity, she would capture Tian Xin or Ye Zhi and pour her feelings out to them. Or she will recall the fun moments from when they first met and dated or think about their future together.
A relationship is between two persons. Why did she now required someone else’s approval? He Luo was a little disappointed in herself. She raised the torchlight and wrote the following line in her diary: “Is our love too perfect that we cannot even bear a grain of sand [a third person]?”
*
After receiving a parcel from home, Zhang Wei Rui went to the campus post office during lunch time to send her reply. The tiny hall was packed with people and she was squeezed to a small corner. She suddenly heard the clear, deep voice of a boy. “Shifu [master], please help me nail down these boxes and give me a parcel delivery form.”
“Wait, wait a minute. Don’t you see I’m swamped?”
Tall stature, navy blue short coat. “Ge [brother]!” Zhang Wei Rui yelled, waving her hand. “Hey, Zhang Yuan!”
He turned around, eyebrows knitted, and slowly walked over. His steps were large, so in a short moment he was already in front of her. “I didn’t say you can call me that.”
“My mouth is mine, your ear is yours. I’ll shout your name all I like, you can choose not to listen.” Zhang Wei grinned. She glanced at the two wooden boxes in his hands. “Eh? What is this?” She looked up at him. “Ah, are they presents?” She can’t help but take them to see for herself. Inside were four CDs. “Gigi Leung, Karen Mok, Xu Huai Yu…” She looked up again. “These are all the latest albums. Your music taste is really diverse.”
“There’s someone who likes them.” Zhang Yuan took the boxes back from her.
“And they don’t sell these in Beijing?”
“They sell pirated CDs there at the price of the original.”
“Right. Then she might as well just get pirated CDs.”
Zhang Yuan made a sound of agreement and turned towards the staff. “Excuse me…”
“Here you go, the hammer and nails. Do it yourself.”
“Why are you using a wooden box? Don’t paper boxes work?” Zhang Wei Rui asked.
“It will crush the albums inside.” Zhang Yuan took the hammer and nails over to a more isolated corner. He kneeled down and began hammering away.
Zhang Wei Rui followed him. “Hey, you look pretty professional. If it’s me, I would definitely hammer the nails crookedly.”
“Step away. Be careful of the wood splinter getting into your eye,” he warned. “Come, student Zhang Chao Chao [grass]. Stand a little further away.”
“What, Chao Chao? I have such a nice name, you dare call me Chao Chao?” Zhang Wei Rui protested. “Wei Rui is meant to describe a lush vegetation.”
“It’s still Chao Chao,” he replied. “In this country, how many people will be able to write that name of yours?”
“You can really divine your way out of this.” Zhang Wei Rui giggled. “When I was still learning how to write in primary school, I can never remember how to write my name. Even my teachers aren’t familiar with the word ‘Wei’. So in all my homework, it’s written Zhang Chao Chao.” She accented this with writing gestures. Zhang Yuan laughed as he shook his head helplessly.
“Who wants their delivery packages?” The staff called, shaking a stack of the folded packages. “These are we have for today. Those who don’t get one will have to come back tomorrow!”
“Me, me!” Zhang Yuan got up and rushed forwards. Relying on his long arms, he successfully wresled two of the staff. When he turned around, he saw Zhang Wei Rui playing with the hammer and nails. With every sound of bang, it felt like she was aiming the hammer at her fingers.
“Put it down.” He can’t help but stop her.
“Ah! Aiya…” She stopped at a slight slant, hitting herself, and tossed the hammer in pain.
“Are you okay?” Zhang Yuan pushed the crowd away and worriedly squatted next to her.
Zhang Wei Rui looked up and met his clear, bottomless eyes. She bit her lip to hide the smile that was coming. “I’m fine [there’s nothing wrong with me].” She couldn’t hide the traces of laughter in her voice.
“You still say nothing.” Zhang Yuan reached out his hand.
Ah, it can’t be he wants to pull me up? Zhang Wei Rui’s heart drummed.
“You.... the more you help, the more mess you create.” Zhang Yuan examined the boxes in his hand. There was a long split caused by the crooked nail on one side. “This is called nothing? How can I use this?”
“Why are you losing your temper at me! So what, I’ll just compensate you.” Zhang Wei Rui pursed her lips. “Did you buy them here?”
“Forget it. You can’t make it in time.” Zhang Yuan said, “They don’t have the right sizes here. These two are my handiwork.”
“Ah, such a big project!” Zhang Wei Rui shouted. She grabbed the box and inspected it. Sure enough, there were fresh cuts on the wood, revealing its lighter core. “You spent this much time, this much effort, this much money for delivery. With all these effort, how many CDs can you buy in Beijing?”
*
Zhou Xing Yan also said the same thing. “Truly, China is packed with people. The labour of college students are close to worthless. With this labour, how many CDs can you buy with it?”
“But the worth of such thoughtfulness is priceless.” Ye Zhi smiled. “Look at He Luo. She’s been hiding in a corner listening to the CDs since she got them. Earlier I wanted to open one of the CDs but she resisted like it’s a life-or-death matter.”
“Sending goose feathers through a thousand of miles [even if the present is insignificant, the deep affection persists],” Tong Jia Ying concluded.
Shen Lie went and looked for He Luo. “There’s no class tomorrow noon, are we still going to check out the venue? The competition is this weekend.”
He Luo shook her head. “No, I’ve already been there twice. The fun in going to a new place is exploring. If it’s a familiar place like your backyard, where is the fun in that?”
Shen Lie was bemused. “This doesn’t sound like you. Aren’t you the type who likes to make sure everything is within your grasp?”
“There are things where you can’t lose no matter what. But the joy in this competition is in participating. I don’t intend to win anything, I just want to have fun.” He Luo smiled. “I don’t hope to win, I only hope not to make mistakes.”
Shen Lie said, “Then are you planning not to prepare at all? That’s just trying your luck.”
“Who said? There’s still the issue of my speed. I’ve been training my run.”
“Earlier you said the joy is in participation and you just want to have fun.”
“Aside from having fun, isn’t it even better to get a prize?” He Luo grinned. “To check out your competition is speculation, the true test of your ability is whether you’re fast enough.”
This was something Zhang Yuan once said, which she found very logical. This guy would sometimes come up with the most brilliant phrases and she would write them down and memorise them. Sometimes when he heard her repeating his words, he would say, “Did I say something like that?”
He Luo had flipped her book and said, “In a certain year, certain month, certain day, The Esteemed Zhang Yuan made the following speech.”
“This is how great men are born. What they don’t remember saying will be jotted down by their admirers as record.”
“Exactly. This is Quotations of Zhang.”
“Good. Then I’ll also write Quotations of He.” Zhang Yuan had laughed. “Ah, that’s not right. It should be Quotations of Zhang and He.”
As she ran, He Luo couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The air was cold and refreshing, reminiscence of her hometown. She shouldn’t be laughing, she would be breathless. So she decided to relax her footsteps and listened to Xu Huai Yu’s cheerful singing in her earphones:
Ring-aling, ding dong, please hurry up and open the door.
Ring-aling, ding dong, be my hero, be my knight.
Ring-aling, ding dong, please listen to my confession.
Ring-aling, ding dong, I want to start a relationship with you.
*
Zhang Wei Rui was also listening to music as she shook her head passionately. The sight shocked Zhu Ning Li who had just entered the room. “I heard there are a lot of drugging going on in discos. You’re not on ecstasy, are you?” she asked. Zhang Wei Rui shook her finger at her and got closer, dancing beside her. She even sang the absurd lines of whatever she was listening to.
“Ah, shut it! It’s really awful, it’s like an out-of-battery recorder.” Zhu Ning Li, who had picked up Zhang Wei Rui’s earphones, laughed at her.
It feels like having finished a thousand-feet obstacles run, I await outside your door shaking the more time passes. I want to hurry up and remember my favourite movie line, for fear I can’t think of anything to say when I see you.
Ring-aling, ding dong, please hurry up and open the door. Ring-aling, ding dong, be my hero, be my knight.
Woo~ yeah~ don’t let a girl waiting outside your door. Yeah~ even if there’s someone there, at least tell me goodbye~
“It’s good, isn’t it!” Zhang Wei Rui nodded her head to the beat of the song, making some hip-hop gestures. “Ah, be my hero, be my knight [in English]!” She stretched her arms towards Zhu Ning Li, laughing like a maniac.
“Stop! Mad girl, did you take the wrong medicine today?”
After laughing for a moment, Zhang Wei Rui stopped and asked, “Have you met Zhang Yuan’s girlfriend? What does she look like?”
“Nope. But I’ve heard someone saw her photo in the boys’ dorm. Her looks are average, not as pretty as you are.”
“But she should be a very cute girl,” Zhang Wei Rui said. “Someone who blushes as soon as she speaks, very shy, the kind who makes one feel protective of her.”
“Who told you that?”
“I guessed.” Zhang Wei Rui told her about what happened at the post office. “Just look at how Zhang Yuan dotes on her.”
“That’s none of your business. He bought those CDs for his girlfriend, but yours, you can only buy them yourself.” Zhu Ning Li mercilessly told her the truth. “You’re that girl waiting outside the door, waiting to say goodbye.”
“It’s just that I haven’t heard of Xu Huai Yu’s songs and found it interesting. Do you have to speak this way?” Zhang Wei Rui stomped her feet. “I already said, I’m not the kind of little girl who falls in love at first sight.”
“I’m doing this for your good! If not at first sight, then at second sight, at third sight?” Zhu Ning Li said. “Zhang Yuan is immune to little girls like you.”
“Then what about you?”
“Me? I’ll observe this world coolly,” Zhu Ning Li answered. “As long as Zhang Yuan doesn’t argue with me, I’ll be thankful enough.”
*
On the day of the treasure hunt, everyone brought their own maps, numbered banners and competition slips. The two girls in each team were divided into A and B groups. He Luo and Zhou Xing Yan promised that whoever arrived first will wait for the other person. Their classmates also went to support them. Jiang Zhi Yao said, “Can you two do it? You can’t even find your classroom on the first day of school, you even have to ask me in the hallway.”
“That’s because the school map isn’t clear!” Zhou Xing Yan protested.
“Tch, I can find it even with an eye closed.”
“Why didn’t you mention that you went to the high school attached to our university? You must have came over to our campus everyday for food, like one of those brats who crowd our canteens!”
A quarrel ensued.
He Luo and Shen Lie shared the same starting point. While waiting, Shen Lie took out a bar of chocolate. “Our run is going to take an hour, this is enough to supply energy for that long.”
There was a girl nearby who asked, “Shen Lie, it’s only been three days since we last met but you’ve already learned how to dote on girls?”
“I’ve known how to all along but why don’t some people ask whether they’re considered girls?” Shen Lie snickered.
How could she not be considered a girl? And such a beauty at that, He Luo thought. The girl was tall and slender, with thin shoulders. Her delicate skin was like porcelain, fine as ivory. When she was serious, she was as cold as iceberg. When she smiled, it carried a hint of playfulness and a little ridicule. She was like the spring water melted from the snowcaps atop mountains. The girl said, “This Shenyang train! I can’t be bothered to argue with you! Let’s just duel it out on the track.”
“Aiya, isn’t it enough that I’m afraid of you, big sis? You see, I don’t even dare to compete with you directly using the same map.” Shen Lie showed her that he was carrying the team B’s map.
“Fine, fine. I’ll give face to this beauty here and I won’t count with you.” She turned to He Luo and asked, “You’re Shen Lie’s coursemate? I’m Cai Man Xin, his high school classmate.”
“Hello. We’re from the same class. My name is He Luo.”
“You’re He Luo!?” In her deep laughter, there was a hidden meaning. “The top rival today turns out to be you.”
“Me? This is my first time entering this kind of competition. If I can find my way around, that would already be good enough.”
“That’s not what Shen Lie said. He praised you from earth up to the heavens.”
“What did you say about me?” He Luo asked after Cai Man Xin left.
“She was always boasting that the management faculty has a lot of girls and will definitely win the prize for ladies.” Shen Lie pursed his lips. “I can’t keep insisting that we have very few girls and no talents. So I played you up like you’re the warrioress of the century. You have to live up to your name.”
“That’s too much pressure.” He Luo laughed. “You said she’s from the management faculty? I want to ask a few questions about their graduate program.”
“Is our faculty no good? Are you going to study economy?”
“No, I want to ask on Zhang Yuan’s behalf,” He Luo replied. “There are very few spots for their university’s graduate program. I hope he can apply to ours. I’ll ask about all the relevant programs he can try, including finance, economics, applied mathematics, or even computer technology.”
“Isn’t it too early to ask that?”
“There are only three years left. The earlier we start, the better our chances.” He Luo smiled. “Remember what I told you? There are some things where it’s okay to give up. On the same vein, there are also some things we can’t afford to lose.”
A gunshot rang through the air.
Unlike everyone else who rushed forwards, He Luo stayed back and studied her map. She slowly ran out of the starting point as she looked for the best path for her to finish the course. She then leisurely walked towards that direction. When she looked around, she saw Cai Man Xin also using the same strategy as hers.
Great minds think alike. The two smiled at each other.
Zhou Xing Yan was the unluckiest out of everyone. Just as she was getting out of her starting point, she said, “I’m going to climb this mountain.” As she finally made it up, she accidentally slipped on the slope and stepped into an abandoned tree pit. She cried in pain, unable to move. The rest of the students clamoured to help her. Jiang Zhi Yao laughed. “The contestant next to you must have felt strange to find you suddenly half your height out of the blue. After a closer look, it turns out you’ve fallen into a pit.”
“If you keep laughing, I’ll bury you in that pit!” She threatened without any conviction, forgetting that she herself had just climbed out of the pit.
Jiang Zhi Yao laughed even more loudly but still sent her to the school clinic on bike.
He Luo’s performance was not bad, she was the fourth in individual ranking. But there was one person short for their overall faculty so their ranking plummeted. Cai Man Xin was very fast but because she touched down at two checkpoints in reverse order, her marks were deducted. She waved. “He Luo, there will be more opportunities in the future. We’ll compete again next time.”
“There’s something I need to ask you, about your faculty’s postgraduate program.” He Luo caught up to her.
“I’m really not sure about this.” Cai Man Xin raised her eyebrow. “Just think about it. Every year, 30% of our students would go overseas, 40% go into research, 20% would work at international corporations. The remaining ones would likely be those who are unable to graduate. How many will be taking the postgraduate examination test?”
“Oh… I’m helping a schoolmate to ask but he’s not from our university. He studies mathematical finance. So I was asking to see if there are any postgraduate programs he can choose from.”
“That you have to ask our counselor or those who are taking the test this year.”
“It’s easier to speak to peers…” He Luo frowned. Where can she find this year’s test-takers?
“Right. There’s a test-taker who takes the same mandatory classes with us. I’ll ask her if she has any study materials she can share!” Cai Man Xin raised her chin. “It’s just right to start preparing now. The competition to enter our university is quite stiff.”
“Boastful, isn’t she?” Shen Lie said. “She’s been like this since a long time ago.”
“She’s a very enthusiastic person.” He Luo smiled. “Your high school produces such enthusiastic people. You and her both are.”
“That kid isn’t bad at heart, just a little arrogant.”
“She’s not bad at all. Furthermore she’s a beauty.” He Luo lowered her voice and asked, “Why don’t you consider her?”
“Her? Her standards are too high!” Shen Lie said. “It’ll be a miracle if she can even look at someone like me.”
“Just look at what you’re saying. If you don’t have a girlfriend in the future, it’s your fault.” He Luo laughed. “Whichever girl who falls for you, it doesn’t mean they don’t have taste in men.”
“Her eyesight is so high that her eyes are atop her head [very high standards]!” Shen Lie cried. “Unless I’m an electricity pole, it won’t happen.”
Cai Man Xin overheard parts of their conversation and pinched Shen Lie. “You brat, you’re dead.”
[illustration by Choi Mi Kyung]
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