Chapter 6, the courage to recall the past is commendable

She lowered her head and remained silent, while everyone eagerly discussed the joke that had occurred during her leave of absence from school. Her seemingly joyful university life had once experienced a serious disruption.

She was in a bad mood and did not speak a word along the way. The cool night breeze gradually dispersed the chaotic memories of the past. Zhang said to her, "We have arrived." She was momentarily taken aback before coming to her senses, suddenly slapping her forehead, "Oh no, how terrible!"

As she became excited, the bamboo raft began to sway back and forth. Zhang, frightened, exclaimed, "Steady yourself, steady yourself." After thinking for a long time, he recalled a widely circulated joke from school.

Seeing him appear indifferent and unconcerned, Zhong Bi felt somewhat disheartened. Wasn't he just a beautiful young man for a day? Why put on such a facade of depth and coldness?

Upon hearing this, Zhong Bi let out a sound of surprise, "Oh? A blank paper?" Many at Peking University regard a score of 84 as a disgrace; submitting a blank paper could make the headlines of the Weiming BBS. He nodded, "This student who submitted a blank paper, due to his connection with Professor Zhou, received a very high score. Later, another student followed suit and also submitted a blank paper, but ended up failing the exam."

Wei Jianping is truly good-natured, and he told her everything in a straightforward manner: "Oh, him? A genius, you know, studying management at Guanghua, majoring in finance. As for his name, you can ask him yourself."

This cannot really be considered a joke; at most, it is merely an interesting story. However, Zhong Bi found it quite dramatic, laughing so hard that she doubled over. In the end, her joy turned to sorrow; her movements were too exaggerated, causing the bamboo raft to sway violently. With one misstep, she fell into the water. Before she fell, in a state of panic, she reached out to grab Zhang Shuo, who stumbled, resulting in both of them taking a "couple's bath" together.

Zhong Bi requested dried fruits made from roses, candied plums, pea cake, and blueberry cake, and her winking expression was quite mischievous. "Boss, I forgot to bring money, can I have it on credit?"

Zhong Bi said to herself that he was truly perceptive and considerate. She quickly bypassed Wei Jianping, patted Zhang Shuo on the shoulder, and asked, "Classmate, I am a new member, my name is Zhong Bi, what is your name?" Seeing her leaning against Wei Jianping in such a familiar manner, Zhang Shuo felt a bit displeased with her casualness and did not respond, instead handing her a book.

Wei Jianping and Zhang Shuo were also unaware of the location, having inquired all the way from the Information Building to the East Gate, ultimately finding it in a corner of a newly constructed building. Everyone complained about how difficult it was to find the classroom and questioned why the lecture was held in such a remote place. Zhang Shuo sat down at the edge, and Wei Jianping followed suit. Zhong Bi, unfamiliar with anyone, stood there unsure of where to go, looking around in confusion and feeling anxious. Upon seeing this, Wei Jianping quickly waved, "Come over and sit with us." He was thoughtful, gentle, and considerate, very attentive to others, in stark contrast to Zhang Shuo's personality. Zhong Bi, unfamiliar with anyone, stood there unsure of where to go, looking around in confusion and feeling anxious. Upon seeing this, Wei Jianping quickly waved, "Come over and sit with us." He was thoughtful, gentle, and considerate, very attentive to others, in stark contrast to Zhang Shuo's personality.

After many years of absence, the surrounding buildings have undergone significant changes. She is draped in a suit that Zhang mentioned, her large eyes scanning the area, momentarily unsure of her whereabouts, feeling somewhat lost and bewildered. The flickering neon lights above emit a kaleidoscope of colors, her gaze traversing the geometrically patterned vibrant flowers and green grass across the street, landing on a few golden characters at the school gate, reminding her that this is Peking University. Old scenes and old acquaintances suddenly evoke an indescribable joy within her. Looking at the familiar shop signs under the streetlights, she pushes open the glass door with determination and cheerfully calls out: "Boss!"

Still with such temperament, such leisure and ease, unchanged for over a decade. Zhong Bi, for some reason, felt as if encountering an old friend in a foreign land, grasping something familiar yet eternal, and felt extremely delighted. She rushed over, dancing with excitement, shouting: "Boss, I want to buy something to eat!" So excited that she almost wanted to lift the roof off.

By the time she recovered from her illness, her arm had already become a swollen mass resembling a wasp's nest, significantly bruised and swollen. Moreover, the semester was nearing its end, and the intense final examinations were approaching.

A group of people hired a vehicle to the suburbs of Beijing. On the way, everyone played a card game called "tractor." She lost to Wei Jianping and was punished to sing a love song together. The two sang "You Are a Song in My Heart," and the crowd cheered, repeatedly expressing their approval, suggesting a desire to pair the two together. At that time, Xiao Wei had not yet become Wei Jianping's girlfriend. Zhang said to pull down the hat to cover his eyes, leaning there to sleep, ignoring the lively scene before him, both sight and sound.

A very cold joke. Zhang said that geniuses use their talents for the right purposes, and when it comes to being unproductive, they have no talent at all. After a long pause, he finally reacted, thought for a long time, and seriously said: "This joke is not funny." Not only is it not funny, but it is also extremely boring, and it is simply a waste of time

Zhong Bi was overjoyed and hurriedly ran over to sit down. As the lecture began, everyone appeared somewhat distracted. Zhong Bi casually exchanged a few pleasantries and pointed at Zhang, saying to start the conversation, "Wei Jianping, what is his name? What year is he in? What is he studying?"

Later, someone asked them how they ended up in the water. Zhong Bi complained, "It was all because of a joke Zhang told." Everyone then inquired what kind of joke had such a powerful effect, causing the two to jump into the water to cool off. Zhong Bi then recounted the joke, and everyone displayed looks of disdain, saying, "You've never heard this joke? Are you from Peking University?"

Zhong Bi noticed that he did not cooperate and asked, "What was the outcome?" It felt like a one-man show, so he had no choice but to brace himself and continue, "As a result, the big bad wolf ate the little lamb"

The boss certainly did not recognize her, swaying as he walked over, not even looking at anyone, and immediately said: "Classmate, what do you want to buy?"

Fortunately, the water was shallow near the shore, only reaching Zhang Shuo's mouth, but just enough to submerge the tip of Zhong Bi's head. Zhang Shuo supported her under her armpit, doing his best to hold her up. The two stood in the water, drenched, bracing themselves against the curious and amused gazes of those around them. Zhong Bi was shivering all over, her lips turning blue, wishing she could transform into a water ghost to avoid the embarrassment of being seen in broad daylight, far from the enchanting and romantic scene she had previously imagined.

She is best at telling cold jokes, and she was the first to say: "Once upon a time, there was a little lamb. One day, it went out to play and ended up encountering a big bad wolf. The big bad wolf said, 'Little lamb, I am going to eat you!' Guess what happened next?" Zhang thought to himself, could it be that the little lamb ate the big bad wolf? But that outcome was too unreasonable, so he continued to remain silent

Zhong Bi believed that he looked down on speaking with her, and in her eagerness to please him, she said: "Since there is nothing to do, let's tell jokes to pass the time"

Zhong Bi laughed upon hearing this, ha ha ha, taking the exam as it comes, truly the style of Professor Zhou. Zhang said to continue: "There was a student who did not prepare for the exam, and thus submitted a blank paper..."

When she came out, she had already regained her composure, but her eyes were still red and swollen

Zhang ordered snow cream and durian pastry again, took out his wallet, and paid the money

One often comes to deep reflection and introspection only through humiliation and contempt

The sight evokes emotions, and fragments of the past surge forth one after another before my eyes

Zhong Bi originally wanted to tell a cold joke that started with "Once upon a time, there was a eunuch..." and ended with "That's all there is to it." Considering that his sense of humor was not very developed, he decided to tell a slightly more normal one: "The teacher asked Xiao Ming to use the Great Wall in a sentence. Xiao Ming said, 'The Great Wall is very long.' The teacher was not satisfied and said, 'No, make another one.' Xiao Ming huffed and replied, 'I am not Qin Shi Huang.'"

Wei Jianping asked amicably, "Classmate, are you a new member? I am the president of this club, my name is Wei Jianping, with 'Jian' meaning to build and 'Ping' meaning peace."

Due to catching a chill, coupled with embarrassment and indignation, she fell ill after returning home, and her condition was serious enough that she could not get out of bed. She spent her days lying in bed, groaning and tossing about, with a persistent low fever. When she arrived at the school clinic, the doctor confirmed after examination that it was not "SARS" and casually prescribed some medication before sending her on her way. She took the pills in large quantities as if they were food, consuming them for a week, but not only did they prove ineffective, she ultimately developed pneumonia instead.

She saw the steep, undulating mountain peaks across from her, as if they had been cleaved apart, standing tall and perilous, stirring her emotions and igniting her imagination. The whimsical nature of wind, flowers, snow, and the moon took hold of her once again, and she spoke: "I see the green mountains are so charming, I believe the green mountains must see me in the same way. Emotion and appearance are somewhat similar." Upon hearing her recite, Zhang felt a chill in his heart. Yet, she tilted her head and asked, "Have you heard this saying before?" He did not answer, having never heard it and would not say so.

Zhong Bi nodded, saying "Hmm." Her voice still carried a hint of sobbing, and her small face was tear-streaked like a pear blossom in the rain, looking quite ghostly. After crying heartily without any regard for her appearance, her mood improved significantly. Zhang said he would take her to the restroom door, "Go clean yourself up, you look terrible."

Unrepentant, yet commendable in courage

The boss, dressed in a white cotton vest, with a protruding beer belly, sat there listening to the radio while shaking a banana fan that was missing a corner. His flip-flops seemed on the verge of falling off. Upon seeing someone enter the store, he lazily responded, "Take what you want yourself, the money is in the shoebox, find your own change"

Zhang asked busily what was wrong. She mentioned that Zuo Xue wanted snow cream and durian pastries. This kid Zuo Xue, if he forgets what he promised, will never let it go, acting entirely like a supreme emperor

The green mountains and clear waters, the blue sky and white clouds, and the fresh air invigorated her spirit. She couldn't help but take a deep breath, spread her arms, and recite: "The gentle breeze arrives, and the water ripples not." Zhang observed that she seemed overly joyful and, for some reason, felt a sense of unfairness. Why should he be the one to do the hard labor? Intending to dampen her spirits, he asked, "Can you swim?" Zhong stuck out her tongue and shook her head. He nodded and, as if it were none of his business, said, "I can't swim either." Then he added, "I can't row a boat either." Intending to dampen her spirits, he asked, "Can you swim?" Zhong stuck out her tongue and shook her head. He nodded and, as if it were none of his business, said, "I can't swim either." Then he added, "I can't row a boat either."

"Suicide Society?" She listened with a bewildered expression.

Two people entered along the tree-lined path at the South Gate. On both sides of the road were tall and lush French sycamores, dense and impenetrable. The night was deep, and occasionally a few late-returning students hurried by, brushing past them. The school year had not yet begun, and the vast campus was very quiet, surrounded by flourishing flowers and trees, with the sounds of insects and cicadas enhancing the tranquility. Things have changed, yet the scenery remains the same, the sky is the same, the faces are the same, and you, just like before, are right in front of me

Zhong Bi pointed his lips and said, "What about him?" while pointing at Zhang, with a name that sounds quite outdated

However, not only did she fail to learn her lesson, but she also continued to flirt in the next semester

Professor Zhou is well-versed in Buddhism and has opened a course titled "History of Chinese Buddhism." When students asked him how the exam would be conducted, he replied, "It depends on the circumstances"

Zhang noticed that they were whispering to each other with their heads close together, which made him somewhat displeased. He scolded them in a low voice, "Are you still listening to the lecture?" The two of them thought he had overheard them talking about him, exchanged a glance, and quickly ceased their inappropriate behavior of gossiping behind his back

This is the consequence of her flirting with men, and the consequences are severe

Zhang's indifference towards Zhong Bi's advances is precisely because Zhong Bi always seeks excuses involving Wei Jianping or others, which makes him hesitant to entertain any inappropriate thoughts. On the other hand, although Zhong Bi has a thick skin, she still feels embarrassed about actively flirting with men, so she naturally prepares various excuses in advance, allowing her to have a way out if her attempts at flirting fail. The two of them are separated by a wall, testing each other, making it even harder to gauge each other's feelings, thus remaining in a state of ambiguous uncertainty.

She rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment in the middle of the night, had X-rays taken and received an IV drip, causing a commotion all night long. She thought she would finally be better, but to her surprise, the doctor, with a blank expression, wrote a prescription and said, "Remember to come every day." Zhong Bixin was taken aback, what? Every day?

The incident of "falling into the water" has become widely known within the "Society for the Study of Suicide Social Issues," to the extent that other organizations are aware of it. A member of the Eagle Society approached her and said, "Hey, you are the one from the suicide society who fell into the water while listening to jokes, right? This information was distributed by the school’s student union..."

She was even more astonished, unable to close her mouth for a long time. Wei Jianping sighed and said, "Thus, there are indeed geniuses in this world; it is just that we are too ordinary to be compared. Peking University is one of the best higher education institutions in the country, and it is not surprising that there are hidden talents; genius youths are not rare.

The two of them crawled ashore, drenched from head to toe, and heard someone shouting loudly: "Come and see, come and see, someone has jumped into the water!" It was a sight to behold, how utterly disheveled they looked

On a certain day in late autumn, the sky was clear and the air was refreshing. The club organized an outing for travel. Zhong Bi originally did not plan to go, but later, upon hearing that Zhang Shuo would also be attending, she hurriedly ran to Wei Jianping to register the day before departure, lamenting that the club could not abandon her. Wei Jianping scolded her for not showing up a few days prior, stating that the number of participants had already been determined, and this was putting him in a difficult position. In the end, unable to refuse, he had to add an extra spot. Wei Jianping scolded her for not showing up a few days prior, stating that the number of participants had already been determined, and this was putting him in a difficult position. In the end, unable to refuse, he had to add an extra spot.

Zhang embraced Zhong and said, "I will take you back." His voice was calm, his shoulders broad, his embrace warm, exuding a sense of security that made one feel utterly dependent on him

Zhang referred to the "nearby" area as being near Peking University. The car was parked in front of a shop by the roadside, which was a dim sum shop that Zhong Bi loved to visit the most in the past—offering a variety of dried fruits, candied fruits, biscuits, and pastries... everything one could wish for

There is a water bamboo raft activity, with two people in each team. As the saying goes, when a man and a woman work together, the task becomes less burdensome. Zhong Bi employed a little cleverness and finally got his wish to be paired with Zhang Shuo. Zhang Shuo gently pushed the bamboo pole, and the bamboo raft swayed and floated away. Zhong Bi stood on it, excitedly bouncing around.

She looked at herself in the mirror, her makeup completely ruined, her lips purple, her face devoid of any color, her eyes bloodshot, a sight too tragic to bear. She dried her hair with a tissue, removed her makeup, splashed cold water on her face, and reassured herself: as long as the sky does not fall, the sun will still rise, and nothing is too serious.

Zhang thought for a moment and said, "You haven't had enough to eat, have you? I know a great place nearby that serves Cantonese dim sum." He couldn't help but feel uneasy about letting her go back like this

At that age, we were always cautious, filled with anxiety over gains and losses, yearning for love and to be loved, yet we dared not easily step over the threshold.

Little did one know that the words would come true

Zhong Bi encountered a cold shoulder, feeling somewhat awkward. Upon taking a look, she found it was "Principles of Economics," with the words "Zhang Shuo" written on the inner page. Flipping through, she was overwhelmed by the pages filled with numbers, charts, symbols, and technical terms, and quickly closed the book. The other party's indifference was so apparent that she dared not strike up a conversation again. Deciding to approach indirectly, she asked Wei Jianping, "What year is he in?" Wei Jianping replied with a smile, "He is about to graduate from graduate school." Zhong Bi was quite surprised; she had thought he was still a young boy, but it turned out he was already an older man. Indeed, judging by appearances led to a misjudgment. Wei Jianping added, "Nineteen years old," the same age as Zhong Bi.

Zhang showed a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. Zhong Bi felt a bit relieved; he finally smiled, albeit somewhat forced. Compared to a cold beauty, a smiling beauty is certainly more pleasing to the eye. She clapped her hands and said, "Alright, alright, it's your turn." Zhang shook his head, "I won't." Zhong Bi stamped his foot, "No, no, that's not acceptable. It would be impolite not to reciprocate. You must say something, anything will do."

During her first club activity, she couldn't find the location and asked several people, but no one knew where the Engineering Information Building No. 2 was. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, "Classmate, are you a member of the 'Suicide Social Issues Research Society'?" Zhong Bi turned around, her eyes brightening, ignoring the person's question, and kept staring at the person next to her. Wasn't that the unique and charming boy she had been thinking about? Indeed, fate brought them together from miles away, and they could meet in such a large school.

Zhong Bi was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "What if it falls into the water?" The water looked quite deep. Zhang glanced at her and replied, "We'll figure it out." Zhong Bi was filled with concern.

The boss glanced at her magnificent dress and the diamonds around her neck, realizing she was joking, and readily replied, "Alright." Zhong Bi laughed heartily, feeling as if he had returned to his student days

Zhang interrupted her inquiry, saying, "Time is running out, let's go." Zhong Bi followed behind, preoccupied with how to strike up a conversation with him