Chapter 32.1 - Wake up from a Long Dream (1)
The relaxed dinner atmosphere was still disrupted by that inexplicable memory from Luo Zhi. But unlike their first meal together, the silence this time wasn't awkward — rather, it carried a sort of leisurely, tacit understanding.
“Speaking of essays, I remember you were really good at writing them in high school.”
Luo Zhi suddenly looked up, startling Sheng Huainan.
“Come on, I just praised you once — are you really that excited?” he laughed.
Luo Zhi withdrew her gaze and asked softly, “Did you ever read them? Be honest.”
Sheng Huainan was a bit confused but still answered truthfully, “Back then, the school’s language department often handed out model essays for us to read. I honestly didn’t read a single one — I used them all as scratch paper since the backs were blank. Sorry.”
“What’s there to apologize for? Essays are all the same — fake and cliché,” Luo Zhi lowered her head and said hurriedly.
“I skipped class today and also postponed the meeting with Tiffany and Jake. If you’re free tomorrow night, could you go see Jake? He really misses you.”
“Sure,” Sheng Huainan smiled.
Under the streetlamp near the dorm building, he suddenly stopped and pulled out a large paper bag from his backpack.
“I bought this the other day when I passed by a bookstore. I was going to give it to you another time, but I got excited this morning and just brought it along. Carrying it all day nearly killed me.”
Luo Zhi’s eyes widened as she took the heavy paper bag — six thick volumes: the complete works of Kahlil Gibran.
He carried them all day? Is he out of his mind? She was speechless and didn’t know whether to act angry or happy.
“I... I really like Gibran... I love Sand and Foam... Is your back okay?”
Her stammering seemed to make Sheng Huainan particularly happy. He affectionately ruffled her hair, not caring whether the gesture made her even more shy.
“As long as you like it.”
Suddenly, the sound of clattering came from behind. Luo Zhi turned around and saw a girl in a purple wool coat kicking a bicycle.
The girl looked up — it was Zheng Wenrui.
Luo Zhi became a little uneasy and asked softly, “Your bike broke?”
“The chain came off,” Zheng Wenrui didn’t look at her and kept fiercely kicking the bike’s rear wheel, making loud clattering noises.
“This is the first time I’ve seen someone try to kick the chain back on,” Sheng Huainan was still smiling, but his eyes narrowed slightly — for the first time, Luo Zhi realized how intimidating he could be when his demeanor turned cold. Zheng Wenrui took a deep breath and raised her head. In the moment her eyes met Luo Zhi’s, Sheng Huainan suddenly put his arm around Luo Zhi’s shoulders and led her away, turning the corner straight toward the dorm entrance.
Luo Zhi stood on the steps in front of the dorm. Not far away, Zheng Wenrui was still furiously kicking the bicycle, as if it had become a stand-in for someone she wanted to kick. Saying goodbye suddenly felt awkward. Luo Zhi averted her gaze from Zheng Wenrui and saw Sheng Huainan looking at her with concern.
“Don’t be scared,” he said.
His warmth instantly lifted her spirits. She nodded, hugged the paper bag tighter — the sharp corners of the books dug into her stomach, but she didn’t feel any pain. Smiling, she nodded again and said, “Really, thank you so much.”
He stood there leisurely with his hands in his pockets. “I should be the one thanking you. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time. We’ll go see Jake tomorrow afternoon, right? You must be tired too — go get some rest.”
The dormitory’s main door clicked shut and automatically locked, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he gestured with his mouth for Luo Zhi to go in first. She clasped her hands behind her back, lowered her head and smiled like a shy bride, then looked up and nodded at him before turning and walking away in big strides.
However, the rattling sound of the bicycle chain still clung to her relentlessly as she turned the corner and ran into the hallway.
She closed her eyes and told herself:
You did nothing wrong.
The next day at noon, just as she was about to text Sheng Huainan to tell him the meeting time for the afternoon, he texted her first:
“Something came up. I can’t make it. Sorry.”
Abrupt and brief. Luo Zhi stared at the message for a long time, feeling a bit troubled. She replied with a simple, “It’s okay, take care of your things,” then began to worry — if she bailed on Jake again, those two kids might just drag her into their little storage room at home and let the dogs loose on her.
She made a phone call. Zhu Yan had gone to Shanghai, and Mya told her she was just about to get in touch. The two kids had slight fevers and were already at the clinic with the nanny. She didn’t need to go over that afternoon.
