In June 2009, 20-year-old Wang Yitong graduated from junior college. Meanwhile, she had also suffered a breakup in late 2008. Born in a small mountain valley in southern Sichuan, Wang Yitong's parents had fostered her from a young age with her aunt and uncle, who taught high school. While still in high school, she met her boyfriend, Lin Mu, a student at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, through QQ. Unfortunately, despite having previously excelled in her freshman year, Wang Yitong ultimately relented and chose the liberal arts major, which she loathed. Her liberal arts scores were abysmal on the Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination), but she performed well in Chinese, math, and English, ultimately earning admission to a junior college. By the time Wang Yitong entered her freshman year, Lin Mu had already been recommended for graduate school. Their relationship came to an end when Wang Yitong graduated from junior college.
Wang Yitong contacted a close senior, Chen Dong, who said he could share an apartment with them. He also had several roommates who were also alumni, and there happened to be a vacant room. Wang Yitong packed some luggage and boarded a train to Chengdu, the provincial capital, and walked out of the North Railway Station.
Coming to this familiar place again, Wang Yitong thought of Lin Mu. Every time she took the train to Chengdu, no matter how late it was, Lin Mu would come to pick her up. However, the sweetness of the past has now turned into sadness. Wang Yitong told herself in her heart: "It's all in the past. I'm not worthy of him at all."
"Yitong, Yitong."
Wang Yitong listened to the voice and saw that it was her senior brother Chen Dong calling her.
"I saw the train you sent me. It just so happens that I'm visiting clients at work and have more free time. I'll pick you up in the morning." After saying that, Chen Dong took Wang Yitong's suitcase.
"Senior, I'm really sorry to bother you. Apart from you and one roommate, I'm really not doing well at school and I don't have many good friends in school," Wang Yitong said self-deprecatingly.
"It's your fault that you're usually quiet and stay at home. Whenever you have time, you're not at school. You're either working part-time or going to Chengdu to accompany your boyfriend." After speaking, Chen Dong stopped talking when he saw that Wang Yitong looked unhappy.
Chen Dong took Wang Yitong aboard the bus. Wang Yitong gazed at the familiar No. 27 bus and the scenery along the way, her heart filled with unspeakable pain. She couldn't let go of the forest, and this city filled with memories seemed to have trapped her in a cage of memories.
Arriving at the house Chen Dong and other alumni share, it's a duplex on the top floor of an old residential complex. There are three rooms on the sixth floor, and one room and a bathroom on the seventh floor, with a small garden outside. Chen Dong explained, "We all rented this house together for 1,800 yuan. Li Cheng and his girlfriend live in the upstairs room, which costs 600 yuan per room. They use the upstairs bathroom, and we use the downstairs bathroom. Li Cheng works in technical support at an internet company. His girlfriend is graduating next year and usually comes over during her holidays. Zhang Ping lives in the downstairs master bedroom with a balcony. He rents 500 yuan a month. He works at a real estate agency and helped rent this house. The remaining two small rooms are 350 yuan a month. This one is for you; I used to live there. The other one was occupied by Ah Huang. You're just in time. I'll move in with Ah Huang and save some money."
After hearing Chen Dong's introduction, Wang Yitong suddenly understood. She had previously mentioned on QQ that she wanted to move to Chengdu to find a job but hadn't found a suitable apartment. Chen Dong had mentioned that there was a vacant room nearby. It turned out that Chen Dong had given her his own room.
"Thank you. Without your help, I don't know where to live now. I heard that the rent is paid for three months at a time. I'll give you 1,050 yuan first, but I don't have that much cash on me, so I have to go to the bank to withdraw money before I can give it to you." Wang Yitong said to Chen Dong gratefully.
Chen Dong smiled and replied, "You don't need to give me 1,050 yuan. You just arrived in Chengdu, so one month's rent will be enough. We've already paid a quarter's rent. Find a job first, and then pay me when you get paid. It's right not to bring money when you go out, especially on the train. There are a lot of pickpockets around the North Railway Station."
Chen Dong then enthusiastically arranged Wang Yitong's daily life. He said, "You can clean up your room first. I'll take you out for lunch later. When you come back, you can take a shower and rest. Later, I'll take you for a walk around the area to familiarize you with the surroundings. Then we'll go buy some groceries. Ah Huang and I will pool our money to buy the groceries. I'll cook and he'll wash the dishes. The other alumni eat on their own. You can eat with us. You're so thin, you probably won't eat much. One more person will just be an extra pair of chopsticks."
Chen Dong also gave Wang Yitong the three keys to the room and said she could change the lock cylinder as needed. He then took Wang Yitong to get a copy of the key for the front door.
Wang Yitong trusted Chen Dong greatly; their acquaintance dates back to their college days. Back then, Chen Dong worked part-time on campus selling phone cards and recharge cards. His short stature and withered, sandy hair gave him the appearance of malnutrition, and his quiet devotion to selling goods remains vivid in people's minds. Later, they worked together in an association. Wang Yitong majored in e-commerce, a broad range of subjects she possessed, yet seemed to have no particular specialization. Sometimes, when she needed a computer for homework, she didn't have one, and there were no internet cafes near the school. She turned to Chen Dong, who happened to have a computer and was studying software, for help. Through these interactions, the two grew acquainted and eventually became friends.
After Wang Yitong put her luggage into the room, the school-issued sheets and quilts were just right for her. Although the room was small in an older neighborhood, it was fully furnished. There was a desk, a wardrobe, and a window, which the landlord had installed with a guardrail for hanging clothes. Chen Dong had kept the room immaculately tidy. There was a bouquet of flowers on the desk, and a bedspread on the mattress to provide some seclusion. Wang Yitong thought Chen Dong was a truly thoughtful person. After finishing her tidying, Wang Yitong decided to invite Chen Dong to lunch.
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