While Li Chuan was working in the study, I took a serious look at his living room for the first time, and found that one wall was hung with large and small photo frames, which were full of pictures related to buildings: football stadiums, theaters, airports, stadiums, museums, Consulates, government offices, skyscrapers are the most common, and there are also a few houses with strange styles and indescribable uses.
Come to think of it, he is an architect. What is the English for architect? I'm thinking about the words I've memorized—Architect.
In fact, my first reaction to the word architecture is bricks, wheelbarrows, wood, lime, firecrackers set off when the beams are raised, and those masons who squatted on the side of the street to eat in my hometown. My uncle is a mason, and now he has become a contractor. He helped build our house.
I don't want to see architecture, I just want to see him—his photos, photos of his life. Looking around, I used my eyes to search for walls, tables, window sills, and all places where photos could be placed. I found the bedroom all the way, but there was no one.
His bedroom is as spacious as the living room, with a set of red sofas near the window. Oak floors, spotless. There is a small bookshelf next to the bed, with a stack of architectural magazines and several huge architectural picture books on it. Only two books look old and probably have nothing to do with architecture. I picked it up casually, and found that the book was very heavy. It was an old-fashioned hardcover book, on paper like a dictionary, thin and white, and not bad for years. The title is in French: A La Recherche Du Temps erdu.
I heard his footsteps.
"Did you like this book?" His voice came from behind me.
"I don't know French."
"What's your second foreign language?"
"It hasn't been decided yet."
"Is there a goal?"
"Besides English and Chinese, what languages do you know?" I turned and asked, looking into his eyes.
"French and German. Japanese can only handle simple conversations, 'Hajimema Sid.' Kind of thing."
"I might choose Arabic." In short, don't choose the one he is familiar with, so as not to be laughed at in the future.
He looked at my face, guessed what I meant, and smiled slyly.
"The title of the book in English is 'Remembrance of Things ast.' If you study literature, you must have heard of it."
"It's called "Reminiscing Things Past" in Chinese."
"Remembrance of Things Past? Well, the translation is beautiful. If you can't sleep at night, let me read this book to you in French. After reading the first page, you will fall asleep." He whispered in my ear Whispering, the tone is calm and slow, the head is tilted, and the breath is blowing, sweeping over my earlobe.
"really? Why?"
"Because the first page of the book tells about a person lying in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep." He had a teasing smile on his face: "The first two sentences are like this—Longtepms, je me suis couché de bonne heure. arfois, à peine ma bougie éteinte, mes yeux se fermaient si vite que je n'avais pas le temps de me dire: Je m'endors."
He read it to me in French with a natural, hazy accent, as if dreaming. Seeing my confused face, he explained in English: "It says: I have long had the habit of going to bed early. Sometimes, hen I had put out my candle, my eyes ould close so quickly that I had not even time to say: I'm going to sleep." up.")"
"Excuse me, why don't you just translate it into Chinese..." His Chinese is also very pleasant.
"I don't speak Chinese very well... I can only recognize 950 Chinese characters. My grandfather said that I only need to know that many characters."
"What? What?" I said loudly, "The culture of the motherland is extensive and profound, how can nine hundred and fifty characters be enough?"
"So, I dare not translate into Chinese, lest you laugh at me."
"I'm not kidding you, really." I looked at him, "We never set too high a standard on the Chinese proficiency of overseas Chinese. However, if you don't confess like this, I really can't see that you are illiterate."
"Illiterate?" He was taken aback for a moment, probably no one in this world had ever made fun of him so boldly, so he couldn't help laughing.
"Why is there no picture of you here?" I suddenly asked. Li Chuan is so handsome, no matter how many photos he takes, he can't get enough of them.
"I don't like taking pictures," he said.
"But...there are so many casual photos on the wall..." I pointed to the architectural pictures on that wall. Although each piece is very beautiful, it still feels messy when put together.
"Xianza?" He was taken aback, he didn't expect me to use this word, so he had to explain: "Architecture is also an art, Xiaoqiu."
I pointed to one of the photo frames, and the buildings inside looked familiar: "I heard from Ji Huan that you designed this building?"
He nodded: "Do you like it?"
"I like it." I looked at him and said softly, "However, in comparison, I like your body and your face more."
"My body is disabled." He stared at me with unpredictable and profound eyes.
"I like the crippled one too." I looked at him with innocent eyes.
His lips were very close to mine. He had just taken a shower, and his body was covered with mist. I like his breath, stand on tiptoe, want to kiss him. He avoided it and said, "I'm hungry, let's go."
Li Chuan didn't like chili, so he missed several chef's delicacies. But he likes to eat fried bait slices, and also likes "ants climbing trees". We only had three dishes and we were full in no time.
Li Chuan said that he hadn't had a meal like this for a long time. Every day is too busy to eat sandwiches.
"Strangely," he said, "I don't feel hungry either."
"Why do you feel hungry today?" I asked, not counting the snacks we ate in the dormitory, we had already had two meals this afternoon.
"The physical exertion is relatively high today." He admitted honestly.
I said casually, "What did we do?"
He looked at me silently, his eyes full of meaning, and my face suddenly turned red.
"What do you want to do after dinner?"
"I have to go back to the dormitory and prepare for the exam."
His tone was a little regretful: "Okay, I'll see you off."
"I don't want you to send me, and it's not too late. I'll go back by car." When he sent me off, he would definitely be sent to the dormitory. He would have to put in several times the effort of ordinary people to walk such a long distance.
"I'll see you off." He paid the bill and took my schoolbag with an unquestionable tone.
"Then send it to the school gate. It's still early. There is a school bus at the gate, and it will take the students to the dormitory."
"NO."
"Then I'd rather you park your car at the principal's building." I sighed.
"good idea."
He parked the car at the principal's building and took me to the door of the dormitory: "Do you have a phone in your dormitory?"
"No."
"This is my number." He took out a ballpoint pen and wrote the number on my palm.
"Goodbye." I said.
"goodbye."
I lay down as soon as I got back to my bedroom. I don't want to take a bath, I would rather his smell stay on me forever. I turned on the Walkman and put on Faye Wong's tape, and I saw An An push the door open and come in.
"God, you're back so early?"
"Well, tired."
"Where did you go with Prince Charming?" She looked gossipy.
"Just walk around."
"Come on, Xiaoqiu, tell me the truth." She poured me a cup of tea, moved a chair, and sat under my bed. "Everyone says you are capable. You have only been in school for two months, and you don't know the place well. But he quietly caught a wealthy son-in-law back."
An An is the only person I can ask her for help in this dormitory. Others, although they see each other every day, their friendship is shallow. Xiao Rui also likes me, but she is very busy with making boyfriends, so she doesn't care much about girls' friendship.
"Just general knowledge," I said.
"He has a lot of background." An An looked old-fashioned.
This sentence is true, so I have to tell the truth: "I don't know his origin."
"Where is he from?"
"have no idea."
"How old are you?"
"have no idea."
"Who are the parents?"
"have no idea."
Anna glared at me: "Hey, why don't you know anything? If this is called falling in love, you've got the wrong idea!"
This person has watched too many Hong Kong and Taiwan dramas. He is obviously from Beijing, but he speaks Hong Kong-style Mandarin.
"Meeting by chance, there is a beginning and no end, why bother to inquire about someone's background."
"He is not a child of ordinary people. You only look at his temperament, and several generations can't cultivate him like this."
I totally agree with that.
"What else do you know about him?"
"He is an architect, and he studied economics before. He graduated from the University of Chicago." I said, "You guys came up with these questions."
"Of course we're asking substantive questions. What's his income?"
I laughed: "I don't know, I don't pay him a salary."
"Have you had dinner yet?"
"Please."
"Which restaurant? What level? This is very telling. Seafood restaurants on East Street usually cost 2,000 yuan for a meal. Small restaurants on West Street cost only 200 yuan..."
"I've been to a Yunnan restaurant, and the food is very cheap."
"Have you googled him?"
"What is Google?" Internet cafes are so expensive, I never go.
"Search his name as a keyword, and all the information about him will come up. You don't have time, let me look it up for you. What are the three words of his name? Young, outstanding, promising, such a person, You should have been watched by someone long ago." She took out her pen and took notes.
"I won't tell you."
"Then where does he live? Where he lives can also explain the problem!"
"I don't know, we only met each other in... the coffee shop." When I thought about what I did in Li Chuan's apartment today, I dared not tell the truth lest she ask endless questions.
"Does he have a car? What brand is it? You must know that architects in Beijing are divided into different grades, and most of his age are not considered high-income earners."
I covered my head with a quilt: "An'an, please forgive me."
"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle."
"One last question," she said, "why is he lame?"
"Congenital disability?"
"The way of heaven is forbidden, as long as you have sexual ability."
"An'an, stop asking." I lifted the quilt, "Let me sleep, I'm really sleepy."
"Wait, the last question!" She pushed back my quilt, "Did he ask you for your phone number?"
I nod.
"yeah!"
That night, the whole night, I couldn't sleep. His breath, my passion, scene after scene reappeared in my mind: Li Chuan, I love you, but I don't want to know you. The more I get to know you, the farther away I will be from you.
Life is back to normal. I take classes during the day and go to coffee shops at night. When I saw Xiaoye, I felt a little guilty. I know what love is, so I can feel her pain; I know my recklessness, so I can forgive her anger.
I said to Xiaoye: "Hi!"
She gave me a cold look and turned around.
Xiao Tong greeted me: "Xiao Qiu, come and talk."
I went to change my work clothes first, and then followed Xiaotong into the office.
"From today onwards, you only have to work the night shift until eight o'clock. If you want to switch to the morning or afternoon shift, I can talk to other managers."
I'm a student, and it's impossible to come to the morning and afternoon classes. That means my income will be cut in half.
I guessed the reason, but still refused to give up: "Why?"
"The words sent by the general manager."
"It was Xiaoye who said something, right?"
"The boss wants you to leave. I won these three hours of work for you. Miss, you will learn your wisdom from a pitfall. What you earn is what you earn. We don't have to deal with money."
I know Xiaoye's intentions. Li Chuan usually doesn't come to the cafe until nine o'clock, and if he gets off work at eight o'clock, I'm unlikely to see him.
I did not say anything. Keep working and get off work on time at eight o'clock.
I went back to the dormitory at 8:30 and saw 301 brothers sitting in the room full.
"Hey, why did you come back so early today?" Feng Jinger said.
"Study is important, safety is important, and I will leave work earlier." I said, put down my bag, and found that I was still wearing work clothes, and I was embarrassed to change them in front of a group of men.
"Someone brought the boiling water for you." An An glanced at Xiu Yue.
"Thank you." I originally asked An An to turn on the water for me, but she quickly assigned the job to someone else.
"It's rare to come back early, let's go dancing together." An An said, "It's not good to let Xiu Yue take orders every time."
"Okay, I want to relax too," I said, "I'm going to change."
I went to the bathroom to change clothes, and when I came back, only Xiu Yue was left in the dormitory.
"They went first, I have to wait for you here, men pay, women are free, but you have to take one."
"Wait a minute," I put on my makeup—heavy makeup, deep red lips, black brows, dark blue eye shadow. The hair was combed to the top, revealing the bare neck, and then sprayed toilet water on the neck. This cheap toilet water has a pungent fragrance, and most people will feel dizzy after smelling it continuously for ten minutes.
"Why does it look like a giant panda?" Xiu Yue was taken aback.
"How about it, do you still want to dance with me?" I rolled my eyes, if it wasn't for the sake of him fetching water for me, I wouldn't risk my life to accompany Junzi like this. When Xiuyue jumped up, his movements were very big. He threw me out, pulled me back, and stomped on his feet.
"I am from Sichuan, and I like giant pandas the most." He said, and handed me a book: "The school bookstore has reduced the price. If you find an English book, I will give it to you."
When I saw it, it was Maugham's "The Moon and Sixpence".
"Have you seen it?" he asked.
"No."
"It's a good story. In fact, we can organize a reading club, meet regularly, and discuss our favorite books together." His tone was flat but his eyes were bright, and I heard some expectations. That's the impression that Xiu Yue gave me, he saw the stitches carefully and planned very well. I took a look at him. Among the 301 brothers, he is considered outstanding in appearance, and his studies are even top-notch. His tutor is the principal. I am only interested in his simplicity, and think of him whenever there is heavy work, and send him to carry boxes, connect wires, and turn on water at every turn. He is the most talkative among the 301 brothers, and the one who accepts the "task" most willingly.
"Let's talk about it later." Looking at his earnest smile, I felt a little uncomfortable.
The school ballroom is lackluster. While I was dancing, I thought about it, losing half of my income, what to do with my living expenses, what to do with tuition fees, what to do with my younger brother after the college entrance examination, and what to do with my father’s hepatitis. My dad never let me worry about his health, but the medical conditions in his hometown are limited. I sent him medicine from Beijing, a bottle of seventy-five yuan, but I dare not tell the real price, so I can only lie about five yuan a bottle.
I finished the dance absent-mindedly and skilfully, and lowered my head to pretend to be concentrating on my studies, taking the opportunity to save the time of chatting with Xiu Yue. We exchanged dance partners on the way, and I danced with every brother in 301. Only Lu Jie made fun of me: "Miss Xie is very unusual in her dress today."
"Really? How unusual?"
"The eyes and lips are painted so black."
"In the Tang Dynasty, it was called 'cry makeup', you know? It's called style, it's called retro!"
"When will you go out to eat together? Jing'er always said that it's not easy for you to go out alone."
"Why did you think of inviting me to dinner?"
"Your elder brother Wang sent me an email today, promising to help me revise my application letter for studying abroad."
"It's still up to you, I don't even know his email address."
"Saturday night at 7:00, how about Jiu Wei Xuan on West Street? Li Chuan, please come with me?"
"Please invite yourself, I will not accompany you." I smiled, this group of users.
I danced with Xiu Yue and the others until the end of the dance, Ming Jin retreated, everyone drank soy milk at the door, Lu Jie, An An and the others were going to watch the video, only Xiu Yue and I walked back slowly. It has just rained lightly, and the night flowers are like water, and the flowers are astounding. In the dark night, I saw a white figure beside the dormitory building from a distance, appearing like a ghost in the night fog.
My heart pounded, and I couldn't help but quicken my pace. When they came to the door, the figure raised his hand first to say hello: "Hi."
"Hi."
Then he stretched out his hand politely, and said to Xiu Yue with extraordinary bearing: "Student, what's your name?"
"Xiu Yue."
"Xiu Yue, thank you for dancing with Xiaoqiu, thank you for sending her back."
The two powerhouses compete with each other and the brave wins. Xiu Yue's face paled instantly, and he involuntarily stepped back half a step. He raised his hand and looked at his watch: "Xiaoqiu said she was tired and wanted to rest early."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of her." He smiled calmly while holding my hand.
"It's so late, you... are still going out?" Xiu Yue's tone was trembling.
"Just walk around the campus." He smiled.
Li Chuan's hands are always cold, like cold-blooded animals, we aimlessly walked deep into the campus.
"I'm sorry I can't dance with you," he said softly beside me, "but I'd like to see you happy."
I looked at him: "Li Chuan, have you been waiting for me outside?"
"Not long."
The road was getting darker and darker, without lights, we seemed to have walked into a forest. I led him through the bushes, the leaves hitting his face, as if there was a wild animal chasing him behind him. Li Chuan held my hand tightly, unable to see the direction: "Are we lost?"
There is a grass field in the middle of the bushes, the moonlight is shining down coldly, I think I have found a suitable position, so I stopped under a tree. He hugged me, I leaned against the dry and cracked tree trunk, stepped on a big rock, and kissed him condescendingly. The branches swayed, and the water droplets after the rain fell all over the sky, dripping on my head and his face.
He kissed me intently, the tip of his nose rubbed against his cheeks, the warm breath, the cold rain, the universe intertwined between his lips.
I thought, I have to remember this moment, eleven forty-nine. Beige sweater, blue floral skirt, low-heeled shoes. The weather is a little cold, and the skin is a little hot when they stick together. Li Chuan was wearing a white shirt without a coat. The soil from the tree trunk stained my clothes, and Li Chuan asked me if I had a handkerchief.
Just then, I heard footsteps. In a hurry, we each organized ourselves at a fast speed. Unexpectedly, a beam of electric light shone straight on my face.
"Stop! Campus guards."
Li Chuan pushed me and whispered, "Run."
There was no need to run, but our appearance was too embarrassing and suspicious, and we felt guilty for no reason. If you are caught by the guards, you won't be able to tell if you haven't done anything. I ran quickly, turned around and saw someone chasing quickly; then, Li Chuan stopped that person. Then the leaves shook and they wrestled. I didn't even think about it, so I rushed back. Li Chuan fell to the ground, the guard was almost as big as Schwarzenegger, and he was kicking Li Chuan with his leather boots. I rushed over and pushed him violently: "Stop! Stop! Stop!"
The guard stopped and grabbed my arm: "Little girl is quite courageous! Which department do you belong to?"
"Which one is none of your business, we two are talking here, what's wrong with you?"
"Don't think I don't know what you guys are doing here!"
"Do you have proof? Have you seen it with your own eyes?"
In my excitement, my voice was too high, and it might be that my madness scared him. The guard's tone softened: "Do you think I'm afraid of your little trick? I'll spare you today. Look at your courage, I don’t dare to do anything to that kid. If you want to do something good, you can open a room outside. This is a forest of mandarin ducks, and there are guards patrolling every night.” After saying this, he left.
I knelt down on the ground and gently pushed Li Chuan: "Li Chuan, Li Chuan!"
He lay motionless on the ground.
"Are you hurt?" My body trembled unconsciously.
"It's okay." He barely sat up, his face terribly pale.
"Sit here and don't move, I'll find someone to take you to the hospital!"
He grabbed me: "No, I can go. You... just give me a hand."
I picked him up and handed him the cane. He took the cane and asked, "Did that man... hurt you?"
"Just pinched my arm a few times."
"Let me see." He checked my arm by the moonlight. After watching for a long time, I didn't speak.
"Is it far from the parking lot?" he asked.
"Not far."
Li Chuan was obviously injured, and his steps were very slow, and he had to stop twice to rest on the way. It took us a long time to walk to the parking lot.
"Li Chuan, I'll go to the hospital with you." I said.
"I'm fine, no need to go."
"Then I'll go back to the apartment with you to see your injuries."
"No, I can cook by myself." He looked at me lightly, "Sorry, I have to walk back to the dormitory alone this time, I can't accompany you."
"Li Chuan, no, take me away, I'm not at ease!" I felt that there was a tear in my voice.
"No," he said, "good night. I'll see you again in a few days."
I had no choice but to turn around and leave. After walking a few steps, I heard him call me, and handed me his shirt: "Put on this one. Your sweater is dirty. It's time for your classmates to make fun of you when you go back."
He was wearing a V-neck T-shirt, revealing his slender and graceful upper body.
"Good night." I looked at him tearfully.
"Be careful on the road."