Li Baolong lay on his bed in the small hotel, deep in thought. He knew all too well that the secret of the space within him was like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment and shatter him into pieces. In order to better conceal himself in the city and balance his studies with his work at the dance hall, he decided to find a place of his own.
As dawn broke, he wandered around the university town area. A morning passed, and Li Baolong's eyes showed a mixture of weariness and determination. The few apartments he looked at were all shared, the cramped and noisy living conditions failing to meet his demand for privacy. Finally, at the entrance of a somewhat dilapidated residential complex, he asked an elderly woman sitting at the door, clinging to his last hope, if she had any apartments for rent.
A smug look appeared on the weathered face of the middle-aged woman: "You've come to the right person. The house across from mine is for rent. A family of three moved to a new house, and this old house is empty. It's over 50 square meters, with two bedrooms, fully furnished and equipped with appliances. The rent is 200 yuan, not a penny less. Someone offered 180 yuan yesterday, but they couldn't rent it out."
Li Baolong followed the older woman into the fourth-floor apartment. The furnishings were somewhat old, but everything was neat and tidy, and the size was just right. He immediately decided to rent it, and the older woman across the hall hurriedly ran to the shop at the entrance of the complex to call the landlord.
An hour later, the landlord, Uncle Li, rushed over. Upon learning that Li Baolong was a college student, Uncle Li's eyes showed more approval: "It's good to be a college student; he's sensible and won't cause trouble."
Li Baolong paid 800 yuan as a deposit and three months' rent in advance, and took the key to his own little apartment, his heart filled with mixed emotions. In this strange and challenging big city, he finally had a haven where he could shelter from the wind and rain and keep his secrets.
That night, Li Baolong lay on his bed in his new room, his thoughts drifting to Honghong. Those moments in the dance hall—Honghong's gaze, their interactions—played out in his mind like a movie. He knew he had special feelings for Honghong, yet his cousin's figure loomed between them like a ghost.
Meanwhile, Honghong tossed and turned, unable to sleep, in her own apartment. She thought of Li Baolong's youthful yet handsome face, and a wave of emotion washed over her. She knew her relationship with Huang Jian was in the past, and Li Baolong's appearance was like a ray of light shining into her mundane life. But she also understood Li Baolong's hesitation and concerns; this damned fate left her feeling both helpless and resentful.
That day, Li Baolong stood on the streets of Jianzhou, gazing at the familiar city, his heart filled with melancholy. He had just finished settling his rental matters and was moving in two days. This small house, which had once held countless thoughts and secrets of his, was now a thing of the past. Next, he would face an even more difficult farewell—saying goodbye to his uncle's family.
As night fell, he slowly walked into his uncle's house, enveloped by warm lights and a familiar atmosphere. His uncle's family greeted him warmly, and the table was laden with his favorite dishes. At the table, Li Baolong mustered his courage and told them his plans: "Uncle, I've rented a place in Rongcheng. I want to study while working part-time on weekends to support myself." His uncle nodded slightly, his eyes filled with understanding and support: "Baolong, it's good that you have this ambition. I support you."
Dinner proceeded in a seemingly peaceful atmosphere, yet a sense of reluctance lingered in everyone's hearts. As they parted, his uncle and aunt insisted on giving Li Baolong five hundred yuan. His aunt held his hand, saying, "Baolong, getting into university is our family's pride. This is a reward for you; don't mistreat yourself while you're away." Li Baolong's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He knew this wasn't just money, but also the profound love and care his uncle's family had for him. He gratefully accepted the money, his voice slightly choked with emotion, "Uncle, Aunt, thank you. I will definitely work hard."
Leaving his uncle's house, Li Baolong walked alone back to his lodgings. Moonlight bathed him, casting a long shadow, much like the complex and lingering thoughts in his mind. Returning to the house he had lived in for three years, he gently pushed open the door, a familiar yet comforting atmosphere enveloping him. He slowly sat down on the bed that had been his constant companion through countless days and nights, his gaze inadvertently falling on a small item that had once belonged to Zhou Jie in the corner. His thoughts were instantly drawn back to the time he spent with her.
He recalled Zhou Jie's radiant smile, which illuminated his world like the warm spring sun; time had flown by, and the months of separation seemed like an invisible chasm between them. His heart was filled with worry and longing: "Zhou Jie, where are you now? Are you doing well? Have you already forgotten me?"
Li Baolong knew that his life was heading in a new direction. In the quiet night, in this house filled with memories, Li Baolong, with his longing for the past and his uncertainty about the future, couldn't fall asleep for a long time. Only his longing spread wildly in his heart like a tide, waiting for the dawn to perhaps illuminate his unknown emotional journey.
As dawn broke, Li Baolong's heart was filled with an intense longing. He hurried to the phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed Zhou Jie's pager—126. That string of numbers seemed like a key to their relationship, each press accompanied by a throbbing in his heart.
However, time ticked by, and the phone remained unanswered, like a stone sinking into the sea. Li Baolong paced back and forth in the room, his eyes shimmering with anxiety and longing. An hour later, he dialed again, this time leaving his heartfelt message: "I've gone to Chengdu to study at Western Jiaotong University, a first-year student majoring in Computer Science. See you again someday." His words were filled with his reluctance to let go of this relationship and his anticipation. That simple message was like a carrier pigeon released into the wind, carrying his longing as he searched for Zhou Jie's whereabouts in the unknown distance.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
