Chapter 54

As for whether Lu Zhen eventually told Lu Yan the truth, Liang Ting never knew.

It seemed like father and daughter had an unspoken agreement to remain tight-lipped about it, never mentioning the matter again.

They didn’t talk about it, so naturally, Liang Ting didn’t ask. He was always the kind of person who knew when to keep his distance.

In September, when the whole city was filled with the fragrance of ^[1]Osmanthus is a type of flowering plant, often associated with the genus Osmanthus in the family Oleaceae. The flowers of osmanthus plants are known for their sweet, fragrant scent. In many parts of … Continue readingosmanthus, Liang Ting and Lu Zhen entered Q University, becoming freshmen in the class of 2002.

That year, they also faced their first round of military training for new students.

The beautiful and passionate university life didn’t seem as perfect as imagined.

During the day, they were subjected to brutal military training under the hot sun and endured their first experience of being “tortured” by instructors new to teaching. At night, they wore flip-flops and went out for late-night snacks and beer with a few friends, and everything seemed calm.

Shen Kuo and Lu Zhen no longer clashed as they did in high school. After entering university, both boys seemed to have grown up a lot.

Indeed, they were now adults, and they couldn’t continue behaving like children, with one hitting the other and then kicking back.

Life began to feel more mundane and boring.

However, Liang Ting knew that Shen Kuo’s life was anything but ordinary.

An outstanding person is always eye-catching, no matter where they are. Shen Kuo’s reputation as the provincial top scorer from Beicheng made him shine brightly as soon as he entered the university.

During military training, his class happened to be positioned near the entrance of the training ground. He stood at the front of the line, wearing his camouflage shirt with perfect posture, his tall and straight figure drawing attention. His back was slender and upright, and his handsome features stood out.

He was practically irresistible and grabbed everyone’s attention.

Every time girls passed by him, they would unconsciously adjust their hair or steal a few shy glances at him.

His dark eyes were hidden under the shadow of his camouflage cap, and his gaze was straight ahead. Everything about him screamed “don’t get too close.”

This silent, aloof, and cold demeanor only heightened the girls’ desire to win him over.

There were countless girls confessing to him. After every training session, or during evening assemblies and sing-alongs, he always received love letters.

This made Lu Zhen very annoyed, so there was no need for Shen Kuo to reject the girls himself. Lu Zhen would excitedly run over to block them away—

“Go away, go away! This guy is a liar! He’s a scumbag, don’t be fooled by his hypocritical appearance!”

“Don’t look at how proper he seems now, deep down he’s rotten to the core. He’s the definition of ‘^[2]“All that glitters is not gold” means that appearances can be deceiving; just because something looks valuable or attractive on the outside doesn’t necessarily mean it is. In other … Continue readingall that glitters is not gold!‘”

“Why don’t you believe me, little girl? Oh, I see, you’ve never seen a tall guy before. I know a lot of handsome guys, if you want to date, I can introduce you. This guy is no good! No, no, no! How about Ye Jiaqi from the next class? He’s my buddy. Want me to introduce him?”

Over time, rumors started to spread among the girls about Lu Zhen and Shen Kuo.

Sometimes, when Liang Ting watched Lu Zhen act so fiercely, he began to wonder if Lu Zhen didn’t really dislike Shen Kuo. Maybe he was just trying to sabotage his chances with the girls to protect his daughter.

On a hot afternoon, Lu Yan walked out of the senior high school building and stood under the camphor tree, holding the letter Liang Ting had sent her from university.

The paper was thin, and when held up to the light, the sunlight passed through it—

“Your dad is really trying to pick the stars for you.”

Everything Lu Yan longed for, her father was doing his best to protect.

Lu Yan and Liang Ting became pen pals, which was quite magical.

Such a gentle and understanding uncle had become a close friend, far beyond her years, in Lu Yan’s journey of growing up.

Many times, when Lu Yan couldn’t talk to Lu Zhen about something, she would write to Liang Ting, especially during her senior year of high school, when they corresponded frequently.

She could have sent Liang Ting a text, but a text didn’t feel the same as a letter. The old-fashioned form of writing a letter brought with it a sense of calm and solemnity, a quiet time that was hard to find in the modern world.

She touched the letter that had traveled from the southern region to the north, sniffing it gently as if she could smell the warm sun, light breeze, and the fragrance of flowers from Nancheng.

And most of all, she could almost feel the presence of the person she missed.

Liang Ting understood the little girl’s feelings. From time to time, he would subtly mention Shen Kuo in his letters, casually, without leaving a trace.

It seemed unintentional, yet it felt deliberate.

“He was chosen as the flag bearer during military training. He looked very impressive.”

“He works hard. Whenever he has time, he’s in the library.”

“I don’t know if it’s just me, but it seems like he’s grown taller again. How does he still grow at this age?”

“I heard the basketball team invited him to join. Lu Zhen also wanted to join, but he was rejected.”

–

These few words, most of the time, Lu Yan would directly avoid or ignore. But one winter, when she received the last letter of the semester from Liang Ting, it said—

“Everyone gathered on the playground for a party, and it was rare that Shen Kuo actually sang a song.”

When Lu Yan saw this sentence, she responded to Liang Ting’s kindness for the first time. She gave him a call.

On the phone, she first politely greeted the uncles and older brothers in his dorm, then casually asked, “Can he still sing? What did he sing?”

Liang Ting gave a light smile and walked over to the balcony.

Outside the balcony, the green leaves rustled in the cold wind. Liang Ting turned on the speakerphone and said, “Listen.”

“Listen to what?”

“The sound of the wind blowing through the leaves.”

In the southern winter, the green leaves remain fresh, never withering or falling.

“I can hear it. You said Shen Kuo sang a song—what was it?”

Liang Ting, having teased her enough, slowly answered, “‘The Distant Her,’ it felt as if the wind was speaking to me.”

He softly began to sing.

Lu Yan sat by the window, hugging her knees, watching the snowflakes fall like goose feathers outside.

“The distant her, never able to return home, yet in my dreams, she is always the one.”

Lu Yan covered her mouth, and tears flowed through her fingers.

The emotions she had buried deep inside poured out like a tidal wave.

Liang Ting, being considerate, didn’t speak again. He heard the disturbed breathing of the little girl on the other end of the line.

“Good night.”

“Mm.”

He hung up the phone, standing alone at the balcony, gazing at the misty night outside. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm the bittersweet emotions in his heart.

He had a secret that he had never spoken aloud.

He looked up at the deep blue night sky.

Tonight’s moon should understand his feelings.

–

At the end of 2002, a terrifying SARS virus swept through mainland China. The first case was discovered in Nancheng, and it later spread nationwide and throughout Southeast Asia.

During that time, people in both the southern and northern regions were filled with fear, and everyone wore masks when they went outside.

Lu Jian also had the maid thoroughly disinfect the entire house with disinfectant. The goji berries and red dates in Lu Yan’s thermos were replaced with ^[3]Ban Lan Gen (板蓝根), also known as Isatis root, is a traditional Chinese herb commonly used in Chinese medicine. It is derived from the root of the plant Isatis indigotica and is known for its … Continue readingBan Lan Gen, a traditional Chinese remedy.

By the end of the year, twelve confirmed cases of SARS had been reported in Beicheng, with three deaths, and the numbers were still rising.

Unfortunately, as the temperature dropped, Lu Yan seemed to have caught something, showing symptoms of fever and cough.

She was diagnosed with a fever when she went to the school hospital for medicine, and the nurse immediately contacted the People’s Hospital in Beicheng.

Before Lu Yan could even contact Lu Zhen, she was hurriedly placed in a car and isolated by panicked doctors and nurses.

Far away in Nancheng, Lu Zhen received a call from his father, telling him that Lu Yan had been isolated due to a fever. He had ^[4]“pulled all strings” means to use all available influence, connections, or resources to achieve a goal, often in a situation where one needs to manipulate or leverage relationships or … Continue readingpulled all strings but was still not allowed to see her.

Now, Lu Jian was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and he felt like he might go mad at the thought of his precious daughter being confined in such a place, surrounded by suspected patients.

Despite the doctors repeatedly explaining that there was no risk of cross-infection and that the patients were isolated separately, Lu Jian couldn’t calm down. Eventually, he told the doctors, “How much do you want? How much will it take to release my daughter? I’ll pay whatever it is!”

The doctors were almost ready to call the police.

In this situation, Lu Jian, who had seen countless storms in his life, could no longer stay calm.

The number of people who came out alive from isolation was few.

It was Meng Zhining who remained calm and took Lu Jian out of the doctor’s office, advising him to not panic, to use his connections, and to spend whatever was necessary. The most important thing was—

He had to find a way to see Lu Yan.

So, when Lu Zhen received the call, he was stunned. He dropped the phone, didn’t even pack his luggage, and ran out of the school, heading straight to the airport to catch the next flight home.

However, at the school gate, he was stopped by the security guard.

“Student, the school is locked down. You need to stay here for the next few days. No one is allowed to leave.”

“I have an urgent matter!”

“No matter what, we can’t let anyone out. Two people just died yesterday at the city hospital. The school is locked down temporarily, and no one is allowed to enter or exit. Please understand.”

“I really have an urgent matter! I must go back!”

The security guard didn’t let him leave. “If it’s really an emergency, you need to get a leave pass from your counselor. Only with the pass will we let you go.”

“There’s no time! Our counselor is a jerk. He won’t give me a leave pass!”

“Hey, watch your language, student.”

Lu Zhen saw that they really weren’t planning to let him go, and since soft tactics weren’t working, he decided to take a more forceful approach.

He stepped back two steps, then suddenly sprinted, trying to climb over the iron gate.

The gate rattled loudly as he attempted to scale it, his body hanging on like a koala.

The security guards saw that he was truly going to break through and hurriedly grabbed their batons, rushing over to warn him, “Don’t do anything reckless! Special times call for special measures, and we won’t be polite.”

“I also have a special situation—I must go home! If I don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!”

Lu Zhen was so worked up that he no longer cared about their politeness. He climbed up the gate.

At that moment, someone suddenly grabbed his collar and yanked him down with great force.

Lu Zhen nearly lost his balance and fell. When he turned around, his collar was grabbed from the front, and he was pressed hard against the gate.

He saw Shen Kuo’s cold, stern face.

He seemed to sense that something was wrong and urgently asked, “Who’s in trouble?”

“My daughter… no, my sister… she… she’s been isolated.”

Lu Zhen’s eyes went red with anxiety. “She’s been isolated! Suspected of SARS, and now none of us can see her.”

Shen Kuo’s hand suddenly clenched into a fist.

Lu Zhen tried to climb over the school gate again. The security guards were even ready to use their batons. “Student, if you keep doing such dangerous things, we won’t hold back!”

Shen Kuo paused, grabbed Lu Zhen’s collar, and said in a low voice, “Come with me.”

His strength was immense. Lu Zhen couldn’t break free and could only let him drag him to the back of the school by the lake.

The wall here was slightly shorter, about two meters high. The red wall had faded and peeled due to years of wear and tear.

Shen Kuo knelt next to the wall, looked back at Lu Zhen, and said, “Climb up.”

“Climb… up where?”

“Step on my shoulders and climb over.”

Lu Zhen hesitated for a moment, thinking about his daughter’s situation. Finally, he steeled himself and stepped onto Shen Kuo’s shoulders.

Shen Kuo’s stance was steady, and as soon as Lu Zhen stepped on, he stood up and lifted him over the wall.

Once Lu Zhen climbed up, he sat with his legs apart on top of the wall, then turned around and reached out a hand. “Come up, I’ll pull you.”

“No need.” Shen Kuo stood up, took a few steps back, and then suddenly crouched down, using his momentum to leap up and easily scale the top of the wall. Using the strength of his arms, he pulled himself up.

Lu Zhen watched his bulging arm muscles, his gaze changing slightly.

This man really was something.

After they climbed over the school wall, they hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Nancheng airport.

The security checks at the airport were strict, and many doctors in white coats were disinfecting passengers, making Lu Zhen even more nervous. His back was drenched in sweat despite the cold winter air.

He and Shen Kuo went directly to the ticket counter, where the prices for last-minute tickets were much higher, especially since flights were limited during these special times.

“To Beicheng, the next flight at 10:00 PM, 900 yuan, or the 6:00 AM flight tomorrow, which is cheaper.”

Lu Zhen didn’t care at all. His mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Lu Yan. Without hesitation, he said, “900 yuan, whatever. Just buy it, hurry!”

The ticket clerk immediately issued the ticket, then looked at Shen Kuo and asked, “Sir, do you need a ticket too? I’ll arrange for you both to sit together.”

“One ticket,” Shen Kuo replied in a deep, hoarse voice, already handing over his ID.

Lu Zhen suddenly pressed his hand over Shen Kuo’s ID, saying, “You don’t need to go back. It won’t help. My parents can’t see anyone now.”

Shen Kuo shot him a glance. “What do you think I came to the airport for, to send you off?”

“Weren’t you here to send me off?”

“…”

Shen Kuo insisted, “Get me a ticket.”

“Hey, it’s 900 yuan for a ticket! Are you out of your mind? Where are you getting so much money from?”

Lu Zhen knew that Shen Kuo’s tuition was all covered by scholarships.

“Mind your own business,” Shen Kuo said, already pulling out his wallet.

Lu Zhen still felt guilty and said, “I’ll go back and check on the situation, then call you. It won’t help for you to go back now, since everyone’s isolated. No one can see anyone.”

Shen Kuo was impatient. He kicked Lu Zhen away and said, “Go away.”

After being kicked, Lu Zhen finally stopped trying to stop him. He watched as Shen Kuo carefully folded the ticket and tucked it into his chest pocket. With a cold snort, he muttered, “You were the one who wanted to break up, and now you’re the one worrying.”

Shen Kuo stood by the airport’s large windows, occasionally glancing at the setting sun outside or the clock in the terminal. His mind was filled with worry, and he didn’t care to respond.

Lu Zhen crossed his arms and walked over, standing next to him. He muttered, “You got what you deserved.”

“I got what I deserved,” Shen Kuo replied hoarsely, before falling silent.

Thinking about the girl possibly contracting such a terrifying disease, isolated in a cold, sterile hospital, facing the darkness and death alone, his heart felt as if it were breaking.