Chapter 1, Meng Ti (Part 2)
It has been three or four years since we last met
"Not for now," Meng Ti said sincerely. Although the Zheng family had never treated her as an outsider, it was clear that they wanted to celebrate together as a family. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to intrude on that. More importantly, she was completely unprepared for the situation.
Indeed, I did not expect Xianwen to return early, and there was no prior notice at all
Mingming felt that she could hardly hold on any longer, yet she pretended to be calm and greeted, "Brother Zheng, you are back."
Zheng Xianwen gently smiled at her while holding the suitcase handle and said, "Yes, I am back"
Meng Timan rode her bike carelessly yet swiftly, unconcerned about the wind tousling her hair. She reached up to tuck the disheveled strands behind her ears, gripping the handlebars with one hand as she turned a corner. She noticed a familiar car in the parking lot beside the tree-lined path had just turned off its engine. Having ridden in it several times before, she recognized it at a glance as the Zheng family's car from downstairs. Shortly after, she saw Zheng Baichang stepping out of the vehicle.
Fan Ye is one of the most renowned writers in the country over the past decade, having passed away three years ago due to illness. Throughout his life, he authored approximately over ten full-length novels and dozens of short and medium-length stories, totaling millions of words. The sheer volume of his works reflects an astonishing diligence on the part of the author, yet for Meng Ti, it is still far from sufficient, vastly inadequate. She has read each of his works multiple times, purchasing all that she could acquire, and even borrowing and photocopying those that were unavailable to compile into volumes. She can recall the titles and plots of each of his novels, and even the protagonists are as familiar to her as her own family. As for the brilliant passages, she can recite them fluently.
She knew that he would return during this period, but she did not expect it to be today. They encountered each other unexpectedly without any mental preparation
The soft glow of the streetlamp illuminated the road, clearly revealing the figure of that person. The dark silhouette moved slowly under the light, first opening the trunk behind, then taking out two suitcases and a travel bag, and suddenly casting a sharp gaze around.
"Just escape, it's only one class, it's not a big deal. If the teacher really wants to deduct your credits, let him come find me." Zheng Baichang waved his hand, and his attitude made it hard to believe that he was the legendary Director Zheng, known for his severe demeanor like that of a fierce demon.
Meng Ti followed the father and son into the corridor, even helping Zheng Xianwen carry the travel bag, which appeared to be stuffed but oddly light. The entire building was not tall, with a maximum of six stories, thus there was no elevator. The footsteps of the three were not too quiet, and with the sound of conversation, the motion-sensor lights responded, casting a quiet orange glow that floated along the handrails and corridor
Meng Ti, feeling somewhat down, bid farewell to the Zheng family father and son. She ascended another floor to her home, took out her keys, and unlocked the door. Naturally, there was no one at home. After taking a shower, she returned to her bedroom, picked up her textbook "Number Theory" and studied for a while. She then pulled out her exercise book and solved a few problems, followed by memorizing some English vocabulary. This helped to calm her slightly turbulent emotions caused by Zheng Xianwen's return to the country. Lying on her bed, she turned on the bedside lamp and continued reading the unfinished story from the previous night on m.hetushu.com.
In her memory, Zheng Bochang had always been punctual in arriving at and leaving work. This evening, however, he returned home so late that Meng Ti was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but take another look at the car, only to see a familiar figure getting out from the passenger seat.
Meng Ti also smiled, not wanting to and not daring to look at his face for long. While pushing the car into the parking shed downstairs, she turned her back to lock the car and glanced at Zheng Bochang, who was getting out of the driver's seat, greeting him and engaging in casual conversation as she usually would.
From childhood to adulthood, the number of times I have dined at the Zheng family is countless, and Meng Ti also fondly remembers Aunt Liu's culinary skills, which rival those of a restaurant chef. However, because Zheng Xianwen is also present, for the first time in her life, Meng Ti feels a sense of dread about going to the Zheng family for dinner. Her first reaction is to refuse, and then to make her words seem credible, she concocts a reason: "Uncle Zheng, I’m afraid I can’t make it; I have an elective class tomorrow evening"
After being away from home for more than three years, Zheng Baichang was very happy that his son finally returned to the country. He said to Meng Ti, "It's too late today. Tomorrow, we will welcome Zheng Xianwen back and have a gathering. Your Aunt Liu will personally cook. Little Ti, come back early for dinner after your class."
As the first significant episode at the beginning of her senior year, Meng Ti was somewhat unsettled by this matter and decided to end her study session early and go home. She generally does not stay in the student dormitory, not because she dislikes it; in fact, she enjoys communal living. However, she was truly left with no choice due to her roommate Qu Chang. Qu Chang is someone who cannot sleep with any light or sound. She detests Meng Ti's habit of reading for half an hour before sleeping and expresses her anger by saying, "Your habits are habits, but my habits are not? Your parents are both professors at the school, and your home is just outside the west gate. Why don't you go back to live there instead of cramming into the dormitory with us outsiders and causing trouble?"
Whenever she gets nervous, she exhibits this restless demeanor. Years have passed, yet these small details remain unchanged. Zheng Xianwen patted her shoulder, reached out to take the bag from her hand, and pointed to his front door: "We have arrived. A Ti, would you like to come in and sit for a while"
The novel is titled "The Reverse Journey" and is said to be one of the works by the author Fan Ye, whom she is infatuated with. It is also a book she purchased online just yesterday
Zheng Baichang is the dean of the School of Arts at this university, in his early fifties, yet he does not appear old. He wears glasses and, due to his extensive reading, exudes the refined elegance of a seasoned intellectual. He is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose, and his cultivation is undoubtedly of the highest standard. Since the beginning of their memories, the two families have lived in close proximity, with the Zheng family on the third floor and the Meng family on the fourth. They frequently communicate and share an exceptionally good relationship. During the time when Meng Ti's parents are abroad, they have entrusted their care to the Zheng family.
Finally, she found this book "The Reverse Journey" on a website specializing in used books. She negotiated with the seller for a long time and ended up paying ten times the listed price to acquire it. Now, holding this precious book in her arms, she feels a deep sense of her own wisdom—just one glance, and she was captivated.
Several minutes after Zhao Chunian left, Meng Ti was still in a daze, unable to regain her composure. At times, she thought about Zhao Chunian's departing figure, and at other times, she instinctively looked down at the row of blue-black ink characters on the paper. The saying that 'the handwriting reflects the person' may not apply to everyone, but it was indeed quite fitting for Zhao Chunian. Not only was the handwriting elegant and pleasing to the eye, but the string of phone numbers was clearly chosen with care, making it very easy to remember. She was not without curiosity; what exactly did Zhao Chunian's actions mean? The behavior was indeed too conspicuous. While she was not unfamiliar with being approached, it was her first time being approached by a man who was not only handsome but also a teacher to this extent.
Uncle Zheng, I was just wondering why you are back now. It turns out you went to the airport to pick up Brother Zheng
Meng Ti could only return home in a dejected manner one month after the start of the school year. The greatest consequence of growing up and studying in the same place is that one becomes more familiar with every blade of grass and tree in the school than with the lines on one's own palm. She even felt that she could ride back to the faculty dormitory area from the teaching building with her eyes closed
A melodious male voice, carrying a crystalline quality, came through.
Upon receiving this news, Meng Ti began to search the world for a novelist named Ku Huai. Unfortunately, there were too few leads. Even with the internet being so accessible and libraries being well-equipped with resources, it was still difficult to find relevant clues
Zheng Xianwen glanced at her; the young girl stared rigidly ahead, shifting her travel bag from her left hand to her right hand intermittently. Her fingers were tightly clenched together, gripping the bag without letting go, applying so much force that several of her fingers turned pale.
Well, alright
The dormitory buildings are all identical, neat and uniform, creating a maze-like effect. Even someone as clever as Wang Xiru, who first visited, nearly got lost.
The building is not tall, not exceeding six stories, and is nestled among patches of trees. The road is exceptionally quiet, contrasting completely with the bustling atmosphere of the school at this time, with the occasional sound of a bicycle passing by.
"That's fine, I am also in a mess right now," Zheng Xianwen said after noticing her shiver slightly, as if trying to escape the warmth of his own palm. He paused for a moment before saying, "Remember to come early tomorrow; I have a gift for you."
Meng Ti suddenly felt a jolt, her entire body thawing out at once, as she attempted to display a beautiful smile. She took a few deep breaths, pushing her bicycle forward, her palms sweating so much that she could barely grip the handlebars. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest, as if it were about to shatter her eardrums.
She was completely frozen in shock and disbelief, instinctively gripping the brake on the handlebars, standing dazed in the middle of the road
It was essentially a tone of finality. Meng Ti remained silent for a moment and then said, "Alright"
In the information age, understanding a person is not difficult. While Meng Ti is obsessed with Fan Ye's works, she naturally does not miss the opportunity to learn about him personally. She believes she has come to know Fan Ye thoroughly, yet recently, while researching in the library, she stumbled upon an article in a literary magazine that had only published five issues three years ago. The article surprisingly mentioned that he has a pen name for his writing, called Ku Huai, and that several works under this name are, in fact, the most sincere creations of his life.
Suddenly, I feel fortunate that there are not many people in the classroom; if classmate Wang Xiru were present, she would probably have been so excited that she would have been shouting and cheering.