Chapter 8, The Mist
Since entering the office, Yun has been feeling anxious, thinking about how to explain and apologize. Unexpectedly, Feino just brushed it off with a light remark. With a heart that was momentarily unsettled, it wasn't until hearing Feino speak again that I realized I had just zoned out.
In the following week, Yunlai encountered Yihua several times after leaving Feino's studio. However, seeing her in a flurry, overwhelmed with stress, he did not have the heart to stop her and truly ask her. This dragged on for several weeks, and as the end of the year approached, there finally came a night when several graduate students and doctoral candidates from different studios stayed up late together, ordering takeout for a midnight snack. It was then that Yunlai found a moment of opportunity to walk to another studio at the end of the same floor and called out to Yihua.
There is something off about this sentence. Yun has been facing the computer all day, and now her mind is not functioning well, making it difficult to think carefully. She simply says: "I have also seen her once in the office of Feino. I used to think she was from our department, but later I found out she wasn't."
I forgot to ask her name
Jiang Zhongwei, who had not spoken much, glanced at him and said, "What is wrong with you again?"
As he watched Pan Xinian return to his own field, Yun Lai suddenly slapped his leg in frustration and whispered, "Oh no"
Jiang Zhongwei frowned, and eventually stopped in his tracks: "Are you referring to Pan Xinian?"
As the door was pushed open, the sunlight at around three or four in the afternoon came pouring in, momentarily blinding Yunlai. However, after a moment of adjustment, Yunlai realized that his eyes were still dazzled: a strange young woman stood by the window, radiant like a flowering tree in spring.
Previously, Mingming had warmly called out, "Why don't you come find me?" Now, however, he adopts a mysterious demeanor, saying, "The Buddha says: it cannot be spoken." This unpredictable attitude, akin to flipping through a book, leaves Yunlai both curious and amused. Nevertheless, it seems that Jiang Zhongwei truly does not wish to engage in this topic. Yunlai, by nature, does not want to put others in a difficult position, and despite having many questions, he ultimately swallowed them down.
Several faces quickly passed before his eyes, yet none could be equated with the one in front of him. He could not recall having seen her anywhere in the school, and while his heart raced like thunder, he feigned calmness and replied, "I have an appointment with Professor Fei at 3:30, is he not here?"
Yunlai was amused by her and was about to explain the origin of his name when the office door was pushed open and someone walked in
Jiang Zhongwei quickly fell asleep, his breathing heavier than usual, clearly exhausted from a long day of work. After hearing his words, Yun Lai instead became more awake, staring at the ceiling that was already tinged with a hint of morning light, gradually feeling a sense of calm settle in her heart
Hearing her say she was a junior, Yun Lai suddenly felt a sense of brightness and hope ahead. His mind raced, and he took a couple of steps closer, saying: "By the way, my name is Yun Lai"
"I know, but I haven't heard her say it herself yet," Yun replied, as if it were only natural.
This statement contains subtle elements that are not entirely benevolent. Not only did Yunlai sense this, but others also became aware of it and reached out to pat the speaker, saying: "Aren't you just causing trouble for Yunlai? He just joined this year and doesn't know about this matter."
She has already left. The clouds come, carrying a sense of melancholy.
This tone of wanting to say something yet holding back only made Yunlai more curious: "Senior brother, is it really necessary to be so secretive? Then I will go find Yihua and tell her that you refuse to speak and are pushing me to find her."
The entire college is abuzz with rumors of Fei Nuo dating a female student, coming and going together. This is indeed the style of someone who stays in Europe; ordinary people would not dare to do such a thing, nor could they pull it off.
In the following days, Yun Lai practiced basketball with his classmates from the department. On Saturday, he played a friendly match across the college, participating for only half the game. Feeling that he had not exercised sufficiently, he dragged Jiang Zhongwei to play tennis on Sunday afternoon
In the upcoming bi-monthly meeting between the mentor and the graduate student, Yun seemed somewhat distracted. After finally enduring a session, Yun sat in the chair for a long time without moving, watching Fei Nuo pack up his things.
He silently let out a sigh of distress, quickly calming the rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath caused by his frantic run. After ensuring that he had all the reports to be submitted for this meeting, he extended his hand and gently knocked on the office door
It is Pan Xinian
Jiang Zhongwei looked at his bright smile and sparkling eyes, yet still chose to sidestep the question: "Are we still going to fight? It's been almost half an hour since then"
Do you not know that her name is Pan Xinian
Upon hearing this, Yun came and scratched his head, honestly saying: "So she is this famous"
Indeed, it was that female student who responded: "If you want me to convey a message to Yunlai, I will wait for him to come here. After chatting for a while, you returned."
It was probably the applause or his posture as he paused that caught Pan Xinian's attention to Yun Lai not long after. He dropped the ball in his hand, turned his face with a smile, and walked towards them
Yun instinctively wanted to say, "Wasn't it scheduled for 3:30?" Fortunately, she quickly realized that this remark was not directed at him and immediately refrained from speaking further
The words that are completely unrelated made Yun feel as if he were engulfed in fog. With a sigh of "Ah," the other party did not stop due to the reminders from others, but instead continued, "Yun, you have a keen eye, having immediately recognized the heart of your mentor."
She wore light-colored pants and a dark blue top, which, in this desolate late autumn, did not seem bleak; rather, it appeared exquisite and well-fitted. On her right wrist, resting on the windowsill, she wore a golden bracelet, which shone brightly, even more dazzling than her skin, which was as white as snow under the sunlight. Her hair was long, cascading down to her waist, and framed half of her face turned towards the clouds, creating a smooth arc.
Feino is not only his teacher but also a close friend of Yunlai's father. This additional relationship is likely known to very few people in the entire institution
The words were spoken with great restraint, taking into account both Fei Nuo's status as a mentor and Yun Lai's feelings. Yun Lai understood: "Thank you, Brother Zhongwei"
Fino also noticed this and looked up to ask, "What’s wrong? Is there something else?"
As Yu Guanggang glanced over at the figure of the newcomer, Yun Lai's smile diminished significantly, and in an instant, he stood a bit straighter, as if he were a wind-up doll. The moment the hand that wound his spring released, he would be able to dance on the smooth tabletop with a delightful chirping sound
He also noticed that the woman beside him was casting a glance in his direction, seemingly smiling. Yunlai found it amusing as well, but with the mentor right beside him, he dared not laugh. He secretly composed himself and turned to Feino, saying: "I apologize for being late today; Professor He’s class ran a bit longer than expected."
Yi Hua also seemed taken aback by these three words: "Which Pan Xinian?"
Yunlai lived with him and naturally knew that Jiang Zhongwei was the president of the student union during his undergraduate years. Over the five years of university and the subsequent two years of graduate study, he was not only well-known within the School of Architecture but also a prominent figure throughout the entire T University.
On the other side, Jiang Zhongwei suddenly stopped serving as he looked at the clouds, turned his face to watch the girls playing on the other court, and was about to mock them, but soon recognized Pan Xinian, leaving him momentarily stunned
is from the Department of Cultural Heritage
Due to the previous class running over time, Yun arrived outside Feino's office, ten minutes past the scheduled meeting time.
Jiang Zhongwei is in his first year, and Yi Hua, who comes from the Department of Literature, has the same mentor. Yun Lai always remembers the female student "Xi Nian" he saw earlier in Feino's office, so he brought her up briefly, and the conversation shifted to Yi Hua: "I haven't seen Senior Yi for quite some time."
He just smiled and said: "I know that you have extensive connections, there is no one you do not know, but the person I want to ask is in the Department of Cultural Heritage."
He stayed up all night in the studio before returning to the dormitory. Jiang Zhongwei also seemed to have just come back not long ago, his hair still wet, sitting in front of the computer writing emails. Yunlai felt nauseous just looking at the computer screen, so he took off his outerwear and shoes and collapsed directly onto the bed
At this moment, she had changed into sportswear, her long hair tied up in a high ponytail, and while running and exercising, she was not easily recognizable at first glance. However, Yunlai immediately confirmed it was her upon seeing the gold bracelet on her wrist
At that moment, a familiar acquaintance came over to greet Jiang Zhongwei. After the greeting, he turned his face back to continue the previous topic: "Anyway, I advise you not to bring these matters up with Yi Hua right now. I'm afraid she might come over and bite me due to the pressure. Who from the Cultural Studies Department, you tell me, we few have had some dealings with the Cultural Studies Department, if we really want to find someone, we can still manage to do so. But you, my friend, have gone over the wall of the college and out into the outside world."
She has been busy following her mentor to complete the drawings recently, nervously pulling her hair every day, so it is quite normal for her to be hard to find. What happened?
Upon hearing this, a slight curve appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she turned to face Yun Lai: "I know your name"
Pan Xinian is a petite and graceful girl, yet her playing style is quite robust: she plays beautifully with her left hand, her backhand is impressive, and her slicing and smashing skills are quite good. Her footwork is also remarkably agile, and there were several serves that scored points, prompting even the spectators to applaud enthusiastically.
No, I do not recognize them; I have only seen them from a distance a few times and have heard of them only slightly. The exchange was remarkably quick, and the dismissal was equally thorough.
Perhaps there is some unknown misunderstanding involved. Holding onto this thought, Yun decided that he must uncover the truth, for himself and for Feino's reputation. Thus, he temporarily set aside his thoughts, took a few deep breaths, closed his eyes, and sank into a sweet dream.
Perhaps sensing Yunlai's gaze, she turned her head; Yunlai was caught off guard but did not shy away: "Are you also a student in our department? How come I have never seen you before?" It turned out that she had a pair of naturally smiling brows and eyes, which made Yunlai's heart bloom uncontrollably, and following that, she smiled, revealing a pair of dimples and two small canine teeth.
There seems to be a slight noise coming from inside the door, indicating that someone is present. Indeed, the next moment, a voice came through the door: "Please come in"
The extent of the friendship between the father and Feino was unclear to Yunlai. It was only after he decided to focus his future graduate studies on landscape architecture rather than the family tradition of bridge engineering that he made a phone call home to inform his father of this decision. At that moment, both father and son remained silent on either end of the line for a long time. Just when Yunlai thought his decision had disappointed his father, he suddenly heard his father say: "There is a teacher named Feino at T University’s School of Architecture, who is an outstanding person both in knowledge and character, and he happens to specialize in this field. I suggest you consider applying for his graduate program." At that moment, both father and son remained silent on either end of the line for a long time. Just when Yunlai thought his decision had disappointed his father, he suddenly heard his father say: "There is a teacher named Feino at T University’s School of Architecture, who is an outstanding person both in knowledge and character, and he happens to specialize in this field. I suggest you consider applying for his graduate program."
Yun Lai's father was often away from home, which led Yun Lai to feel more reverence than closeness towards him. However, his father's words ultimately affirmed his choices. Initially, he had his preferred mentor and school, but due to his father's opinion, he researched the direction of Feino's studies, which unexpectedly aligned with his interests. Thus, he ultimately decided to attend T University.
By the time he came out of Feino's office, it was already time for dinner. On the way to the cafeteria, he happened to run into his roommate Jiang Zhongwei, who was also heading to the cafeteria, and they chatted and laughed all the way there
That is clearly the voice of a woman
Indeed. It is still said openly and honestly
These three words fell like a bucket of cold water poured from the sky, one moment everyone was still laughing and joking, the next moment their smiles faded, and those who couldn't hide their expressions turned mocking, creating a moment of silence.
Yun did not expect that she still remembered her, and for a moment, she felt a surge of joy. When she approached, she raised her hand to greet her: "Hello"
Pan Xinian raised his face to look at Jiang Zhongwei: "So you are roommates."
She nodded slightly, then turned her face to look out the window, her gaze likely resting on the tall magnolia tree in the yard. Yun stared at the back of her hand for quite a while, lost in thought, but ultimately unable to contain herself, she lifted her head to scrutinize her.
The sunlight at around three or four in the afternoon came directly at me, making it impossible to open my eyes for a moment. However, after a brief adjustment, I realized that my eyes were still dazzled: a young woman, unfamiliar to me, stood by the window, as radiant as a flowering tree in spring.
After all, it was a late arrival. Yun Lai was only slightly surprised and knocked on the door again, saying: "Professor Fei?"
It is already early winter, but the weather is clear, and there are quite a few people on the court. As they arrived at the reserved venue and were about to serve, Yu Guang caught sight of a figure at the same moment; the ball bounced on the court and was caught back into his hand.
After speaking, she picked up the coat that was resting on the sofa and put it on, then adjusted her scarf and gloves. At first glance, she looked as lively and adorable as a Russian doll. Fino stood by, watching her get dressed, and naturally helped her straighten the collar of her coat, saying, "Aunt Xu mentioned you last week, saying she hasn't seen Xinian for a long time."
No, no. Yun quickly said, "It's just a minor injury, a couple more days of medication and it will be fine. I still have to play in the match for the institute next month."
His mentor, who holds a doctor's degree and returned from Germany, exhibits a distinctly German style in both academic and personal life, particularly in terms of punctuality, which is adhered to with great rigor. Since the beginning of the graduate program, Yun has been by his side for more than half a semester, and there has never been an instance where he was not present in the office at the agreed-upon time.
Without the obstruction of the thick door, her voice sounded crisp and bright. Yun nodded to her and said, "Alright, I will wait for him here"
No one responded
Feino smiled at him and said, "Next time, take it easy. Don't go home for the winter break. If your father sees that you haven't finished your studies, he will be the one to suffer the consequences. I would be failing to live up to his expectations."
The label on the door clearly bore the name "Feino," indicating that he had not mistakenly entered the wrong office, and the voice he had heard earlier could not possibly have been a figment of his imagination in broad daylight. Yunlai hesitated for a moment as he reached for the doorknob, but the voice was so gentle and pleasant that he could not help but push the door open to catch a glimpse of its owner
A person had been tossing and turning in bed for an unknown duration, finally exhausting themselves to the point of near unconsciousness. At that moment, another person in the room spoke up: "Yun, are you feeling unwell?"
The eyelids feel as heavy as if burdened by a thousand pounds, while the mind is in a chaotic state, and the stomach is also quite uncomfortable. After tossing and turning for a long time, I am utterly exhausted yet unable to fall asleep
Jiang Zhongwei waited for a long time, but hearing no sound, he assumed he had fallen asleep. After sending the email, he shut down his computer and also prepared to sleep. However, there was movement on the bed on the other side of the room: "So it wasn't actually a joke?"
He and Yihua are not very familiar with each other, and given the private nature of the matter, he inevitably feels a bit shy. However, Yunlai stands out among the new graduate students in both appearance and personality, excelling in his major as well. Additionally, living with Jiang Zhongwei, he has a particularly good rapport with the senior students, especially the senior sisters. When he expressed his desire to inquire about someone, Yihua initially just smiled and asked, "Who do you want to ask about?"
Yun was about to say, "I don't know which one either, but it's definitely the one I recognize from Feino." However, at that moment, someone had already spoken up: "Hey, is there a second Pan Xinian in the Department of Literature and History? Even if there is, the only one with such a deep connection to our college is her."
She looks very young, indeed not much like a graduate student. Yun noticed that as long as he looked into her eyes, he couldn't help but smile: "Undergraduate?"
He originally intended to ask about "Xinian," and just as the words were about to leave his mouth, he suddenly remembered that since she was a major in cultural relics and museology, he could ask that senior sister instead. He quickly seized the opportunity to change the subject: "It's nothing, I just overdid it playing basketball a couple of days ago and pulled a muscle in my leg."
I would like to inquire about something from her
Are you also coming to play ball
Yi Hua appeared somewhat embarrassed, turning to the student who had just spoken and retorting, "Don't speak carelessly." She then continued to address Yun, saying, "She is a junior in the Cultural Heritage major of the Cultural Heritage Department. I am not very familiar with other details. I had already switched majors to graduate studies when she entered the school, and I only saw her in our college."
Yunlai felt as if he had become a bit more awake, and his mind was not so foggy anymore. As soon as he opened his mouth, he realized that his throat was hoarse: "No, I stared at the computer for too long, my mind is filled with things, and I can't fall asleep all of a sudden"
He then recalled that he seemed to have heard of such a department before. After thinking deeply, he remembered that a senior sister had mentioned she came from that department. He smiled again and said, "I remember now, a senior sister of mine used to be from your department, and she specialized in classical garden design"
Yun did not overlook Jiang Zhongwei's suddenly cold tone: "I don't know if her surname is Pan"
Her voice was clear and bright, and half the people in the room heard it, bursting into laughter all at once. Late at night is the hardest time to endure, and people suddenly gathered around, teasing and joking while grinding their teeth. The room, which had been lifeless just moments before, instantly became lively.
Thinking that Pan Xinian might be watching, Yunlai played this match with more dedication than usual. Jiang Zhongwei is also an excellent athlete, and seeing Yunlai exerting himself to the fullest, he naturally gave his all as well. After the match, the two of them, equally drenched in sweat, smiled and shook hands across the net, only to realize that a considerable number of people had gathered around the court. However, upon closer inspection, they found that Pan Xinian was nowhere to be seen.
Grade 3
Before I could say anything, Yihua interjected, "Oh, no wonder the little girl in the courtyard was pursuing you and you remained unmoved; it turns out you have your eyes on a girl from our Cultural Heritage Department, huh?"
I thought you had already left, is there anything else?
It seems that the two individuals are acquainted with each other. Yun nodded and said, "After enrolling in September, I was assigned to live with my senior brother."
The teasing tone in the last sentence suddenly intensified, but Jiang Zhongwei has never been at a disadvantage in words. Yun Lai also smiled along, not taking it to heart: "I just heard others call her 'Xinian'."
The young man in front of me is tall and thin, with clear features and tousled hair that looks soft like clouds in the sky. The girl shakes her head and says, "No, I study cultural relics and museums."
Xi Nian revealed a smile that appeared to be extremely sincere and said in a cheerful tone: "I have to submit two reports in the next two weeks, I'm so busy that I wish there were forty-eight hours in a day, with no nights at all. That way, the library wouldn't close, how wonderful that would be"
I thought you would leave a note at the door Fino looked at her and smiled
Upon hearing the name Feino, someone laughed again: "It's strange, you met someone in your mentor's office, why would you ask your senior sister Yi? Why not just ask your mentor directly?"
"Forget about this matter. In fact, he came over shortly after you left," she glanced at Yun Lai and continued, "Alright, I will take my leave now"
Jiang Zhongwei moved his lips, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back, his expression quite peculiar. Yun Lai had never seen such a "remarkable" facial expression from him, and couldn't help but ask: "Hmm? So you know her too?"
She nodded and walked towards the door. Feino followed closely behind her, only turning back to sit in his own seat after seeing her to the entrance. He slightly inclined his head and directly asked: "Where is the report?"
The clouds came but became frozen
It was quite easy to manage the current bizarre atmosphere, and the steaming late-night snacks successfully diverted the attention of the majority. However, regarding the taste of this meal, Yun Lai was none the wiser.
This sentence instantly exploded in Yun Lai's mind, leaving him dazed for a long time. Even after regaining his senses, he could only utter one phrase: "Huh?"
These two characters glide over the tip of the tongue, evoking an inexplicable sweetness. The clouds remind me of a figure under the sunlight, and I can't help but smile slightly, my steps unconsciously slowing down
Cultural Relics and Museums
Yun Lai has a gentle personality, and even when teased in public, he still smiles and continues to say: "My name is Pan Xinian"
Yunlai recalled that the first thing she had said to him was, "Oh, you are Yunlai," and only then did she realize she had acted foolishly. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she scratched her head but continued to smile. Perhaps influenced by his smile, her own smile deepened: "Your name is quite interesting. Do you have a twin brother? Is he called Yunqi?"
Oh, are you Yun Lai? He waited for you for five minutes but didn't see you, and was called away by another teacher from your college. He asked me to pass a message to you, to wait for him here for a while
Yun's undergraduate degree was obtained from another university, and only for graduate studies did he take the entrance exam to T University's School of Architecture. Upon hearing this, I was momentarily taken aback: "Wenbo?"
Yunlai felt that her movements seemed to stiffen for a moment, but it was not clear; she could only think back and forth, realizing that her name was "Xinian"
The cloud came without making a sound
Pan Xinian smiled and said, "Alright, I will just come over to say hello. My friend is still waiting for me. Next time, if there is an opportunity, we can have a match together."
"Well, I booked the venue for two hours with my roommate." Yun turned around to look for Jiang Zhongwei, just as Jiang Zhongwei was slowly walking around the net. Yun then said, "This is my roommate, Jiang Zhongwei."
Fei Nuo did not say much more: "Take care of your health, and remember to come home and take a look after you finish your work"
She and Feino were very close, and last year around this time, everyone saw her come to the courtyard to find Feino and leave together in his car more than once. However, this semester, she has hardly been seen, so no one knows what is going on.
"Oh, if you're not feeling well, you should speak up." Jiang Zhongwei paused for a moment, "I came back with Yi Hua, and she wants you not to take what was said tonight to heart; a few senior sisters were just teasing you"
Jiang Zhongwei glanced at him and, seeing his expression, immediately broke into a smile: "Is it a matter? You are not inquiring about someone, are you?"
It is not important, please have a seat first
Yi Hua's face turned slightly pale upon seeing Yun Lai, and even her usually bright eyes dimmed considerably. She quickly changed the subject, saying, "They are both unmarried, so what's the big deal? Yun Lai is just asking a question, what's wrong with that? Hurry downstairs to see if the takeout has arrived; my eyes are so hungry they are turning green."
Two people exchanged a few casual remarks, dispelling the previously serious atmosphere. The most important matter this week is to meet Feino. Now that the mentor has been seen, the weekend has effectively arrived early.
Who knows, Jiang Zhongwei shrugged and said: "Go find her, go find her, otherwise, what kind of situation is it for a big man like me to talk about a young girl? To be honest, Yi Hua really knows Pan Xi Nian, so it is not wrong to look for her."
Oh, I am not very familiar with the people in the graduate school
Who? A graduate student or an undergraduate student? What news are you trying to inquire about? Instead of coming to me, you went to ask her; isn't this seeking the distant while neglecting the near?