One was to Lu Xixiao, sending him a red envelope for the noodles, which he hadn’t accepted yet.
The other was to Guo Xiangling, saying today was her father’s death anniversary and asking if she wanted to visit. She hadn’t replied either.
*
Zhou Wan had asked for leave from her teachers today, leaving school early.
She bought flowers and pastries, then took a bus to the cemetery in the suburbs.
Today was Zhou Jun’s death anniversary.
Zhou Jun had been a liberal arts student and one of the few university graduates of his generation. Later he became a middle school Chinese teacher, cultured and refined.
Guo Xiangling was Zhou Jun’s first blind date. They made a perfect match and quickly began dating. Twenty years ago, they had been a couple that everyone admired.
Guo Xiangling’s education level wasn’t high, but in that era when artistic youth were popular, she was considered one of them.
After Zhou Wan was born, Guo Xiangling quit her job at the clothing store to stay home with the child.
Later, because Zhou Jun was such a strong teacher, he often taught graduating classes, which meant he frequently worked late into the night.
He never noticed that Guo Xiangling also often came home late.
Then gradually, luxury items she couldn’t afford began appearing – necklaces, diamond rings.
Zhou Wan had noticed at the time but only thought they were pretty, not understanding what they meant.
Until Zhou Jun fell ill and passed away, and Guo Xiangling moved out within a month.
Only then did Zhou Wan understand what had been happening.
She had been only ten years old at the time.
Zhou Wan placed the fresh flowers before the grave.
The man in the photo on the tombstone had a gentle smile, looking modest and polite, with a subtle smile in his eyes.
Compared to Guo Xiangling, Zhou Wan looked more like Zhou Jun.
“Dad,” she knelt before the tombstone, placing the newly bought pastries on a small plate, “Grandmother isn’t feeling well lately, so she couldn’t come see you this year.”
“She… didn’t come either.”
“She” referred to Guo Xiangling.
Zhou Jun had loved Guo Xiangling.
He had never dated before, meeting Guo Xiangling on a blind date – it was his first love. After marriage, he cherished and doted on her.
He would buy her flowers on their wedding anniversary, write her love letters on her birthday, and run across half the city late at night to buy fruit she was craving.
“After all these years, do you still think about her?” Zhou Wan looked at the photo and asked softly.
“But I can’t forgive her for betraying you,” Zhou Wan said. “I can understand her abandoning me as a burden for a better life, but I can’t forgive her for betraying you, nor for watching Grandmother suffer without helping.”
“Dad, I’m going to do something wrong.”
Zhou Wan lowered her eyelashes. “Will you forgive me?”
*
After leaving the cemetery, Zhou Wan went to the hospital to get Grandmother’s medicine.
As she got off the bus, Guo Xiangling called.
“Hello?” Zhou Wan answered.
“Wan Wan, I’m so sorry, Mom just saw your message now.” Guo Xiangling’s tone was apologetic.
She was always like this, doing terrible things yet maintaining a facade of being a good person.
But sometimes Zhou Wan felt she was quite similar to Guo Xiangling.
The pedestrian light turned green, and she crossed the road unhurriedly, saying flatly: “It’s fine.”
“Mom’s been too busy lately, really can’t find time to go with you. How about this – I’ll transfer you some money, you can buy more offerings to take to your dad.”
Zhou Wan suddenly felt disgusted and repulsed, but she still didn’t show it, nor did she tell her she had already visited.
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Guo Xiangling quickly transferred her some money.
One hundred yuan.
Zhou Wan walked into the hospital to find Dr. Chen and get Grandmother’s medicine.
“Oh, Wan Wan,” Dr. Chen said, “remind your grandmother to come to the hospital in a few days. It’s time for dialysis again.”
“Okay,” Zhou Wan responded, “Thank you, Dr. Chen.”
Walking out of the office, Zhou Wan took the elevator down.
It was then that she suddenly heard a voice behind her.
Unruly, carrying a casual smile but more importantly, coldness: “So?”
She turned around and saw Lu Xixiao.
He stood not far away, facing a middle-aged man in a suit who looked stern and imposing. Behind him stood Guo Xiangling.
The man exploded in anger: “Lu Xixiao! What kind of attitude is this!”
Guo Xiangling held the man’s arm, saying softly: “It’s okay, Old Lu, he’s still young. Don’t get angry with him.”
“Still young?” These words only made the man angrier. “I’ve given him the best of everything for over ten years, whatever he wanted. And look at him! Constantly embarrassing me. If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I never should have married your mother…”
Before he could finish, Lu Xixiao suddenly erupted in fury.
He grabbed the man’s collar and slammed him against the wall with a “bang.”
Zhou Wan was used to seeing him joking and carefree, but this was the first time she’d seen him so angry, veins standing out on his forehead, chest heaving violently.
“Lu Zhongyue, you’d better not say another word,” Lu Xixiao forced out each word through his throat. “You have no right to mention my mother.”
With that, he turned and strode away, his steps cutting through the air.
He hadn’t noticed Zhou Wan, passing right by her.
But Guo Xiangling had followed his gaze and seen Zhou Wan.
At that moment, panic flashed through her eyes – she didn’t want Zhou Wan to come over now.
Zhou Wan granted her wish, turning to run down the stairs.
The hospital was crowded, full of people, noisy and chaotic. Zhou Wan couldn’t catch up to Lu Xixiao until they reached outside the hospital.
“Lu Xixiao!” she called out.
He didn’t hear, continuing to stride away, his face terrifyingly dark.
Zhou Wan ran until she was out of breath. She reached out to grab his sleeve but was pulled forward by his momentum, stumbling a step before barely managing to steady herself.
Lu Xixiao turned back, looking down.
The young woman’s two fingers tightly gripped his clothes, her hand small, knuckles white from the effort.
Her face was flushed from running, she was panting, her ponytail had come loose, and strands of hair were scattered by the wind.
“Lu Xixiao,” she called his name again, still catching her breath.
Lu Xixiao looked at her without speaking.
Zhou Wan tilted her head up to look at him, the setting sun behind her, her clear eyes completely transparent.
“Would you like some noodles?”