Chapter 66 Fang Minzhou had a dream, a dream...
Fang Minzhou had a dream; it was during the second semester of her freshman year.
The first semester of freshman year is probably one of the best times in college. You adapt to college life but are still a freshman. The city changes from winter to spring, and you see scenery you've never seen before.
With spring in full bloom, Jin Ying enthusiastically bought bleach, intending to bleach her hair herself, but it would be best to have someone help her. Meng Yujun was hesitant, Luo Jia felt clumsy, leaving only Fang Minzhou, who asked, "...What if I don't do it right?"
"fine!"
The final result was pretty good, though a little frizzy, but Jin Ying didn't mind. "Actually, I think it's quite fun to dye my own hair. Besides, if you go to a salon, you have to sit for several hours. Last time, my butt hurt from sitting so long."
Fang Minzhou was indeed a little unsatisfied; the whole process of DIY hair dyeing was a bit like a witch in a fairy tale brewing a color-changing potion.
She followed Jin Ying's advice and wore an old T-shirt, which, as expected, stained her hair purple. She soaked the stained T-shirt in water and added bleach. A week later, she put the shirt back on and had Jin Ying dye her hair.
Fang Minzhou wasn't that daring. She wanted her straight black hair to show through the dye, so on Jin Ying's suggestion, she chose a burgundy color. Although she didn't really like the color, Jin Ying said it wouldn't be visible in dim indoor lighting, only showing a reddish tinge in sunlight. However, whether it was the dye, the long waiting time, or her hair type, Fang Minzhou ended up with a noticeable reddish hue after washing.
Jin Ying exclaimed that she looked beautiful, but Fang Minzhou was on the verge of tears. She thought she was too flamboyant and out of place with her personality. And she had an appointment to meet Wang Kan the following week. She was doomed.
She wanted to tell Wang Kan not to come, but she couldn't come up with a suitable reason, and she was afraid of breaking their rare record of not arguing for several months. She wanted to go to the hair salon to dye her hair black, but Jin Ying strongly dissuaded her, saying that it would definitely be a decision she would regret even more, "You're just not used to it, you'll be fine in a few days."
She had to wear a hat to hide her face when she went to class, but everyone praised how good she looked. Fang Minzhou herself also found it hard to accept, and finally decided to go to see Wang Kan with a new look.
But a hat is a must, and her hair was also braided into two pigtails.
They agreed to meet by the lake. Wang Kan arrived first, and Fang Minzhou saw him from afar standing under a willow tree, wearing a white shirt and jeans, leisurely watching the lake and fish.
As she walked toward him, he glanced over as if sensing something, grinned, and waved at her, his arm swaying more freely than the willow branches swaying in the breeze along the riverbank. But when she reached him, Fang Minzhou noticed that Wang Kan had a strange expression on his face. He looked her up and down, and then, like a dog that didn't recognize its owner, he circled around her once.
The spring sunshine was warm and cozy, and Fang Minzhou's face flushed red under the 360-degree gaze.
Fang Minzhou pushed him in embarrassment and anger. Wang Kan was caught off guard and stumbled, almost falling into the lake. Fang Minzhou was also startled, but he reacted quickly and regained his balance. He then grabbed her, as if they were going to die together. "Isn't it just because I took off your hat? You're trying to murder your husband!"
The second half of his sentence was spoken so intimately, almost touching Fang Minzhou's face. Fang Minzhou was still shaken, but she couldn't help but glare at him: "What are you laughing at?"
Wang Kan's attention was completely drawn to Fang Minzhou's red braids. She lowered her eyes and played with the end of one of the braids, absentmindedly asking, "Hmm?"
Fang Minzhou broke free from him, and Wang Kan said "Hey," gently tugging at Fang Minzhou's braid, "What's wrong?"
Fang Minzhou tossed her head, snatching her hair back. "What's so funny?"
Although she kept her voice very low, as if she was deliberately teasing her, Fang Minzhou was still so nervous that she stepped forward to cover Wang Kan's mouth. Wang Kan laughed and dodged, instead holding her hand firmly in her own.
There were a fair number of people by the lake, neither too many nor too few. Fang Minzhou was too embarrassed to be cuddling with Wang Kan in public, so she tried to hide. But the willow catkins were drifting by, and she unexpectedly sneezed, leaving her momentarily stunned, which amused Wang Kan greatly.
After they'd had their fun, he pulled her to sit down on a nearby bench. "Why did you suddenly dye your hair? Was it to surprise you?"
Fang Minzhou touched her nose and glanced at him: "As long as you weren't frightened."
"No, I'm serious, it's really pretty, like the Little Mermaid," Wang Kan said. "What's with that expression? Isn't the Little Mermaid red-haired? Oh no, the Little Mermaid didn't end up with the prince."
Fang Minzhou: "..."
There are countless versions and interpretations of a story.
Fang Minzhou explained to Wang Kan that the Little Mermaid's true wish was to become an angel. Wang Kan listened, but seemed not to be paying attention, and discussed with her which other characters had red hair, saying, "I can't exactly say you look like Sakuragi Hanamichi, can I?"
"...Can you shut up?"
“I could dye my hair red, then we’d have matching hair colors.”
It was a sweet memory; Fang Minzhou was always smiling in her dream. Unfortunately, the dream suddenly and unexpectedly turned into chaos at the end, and she became the current Wang Kan, who told her that her hair was ugly.
When Fang Minzhou woke up and thought back, she realized that Wang Kan's harshness last night had made her feel unfamiliar. Whether it was when they couldn't stand each other in high school, or when they argued frequently later, or even when they finally broke up, he was just tired and didn't have such a cold expression.
Fang Minzhou was a little emotional. It was surprising that they hadn't seen each other for so long and were still like this. Perhaps it was a good thing that she had missed those high school reunions, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Fang Minzhou got up and drew back the curtains. It was a gloomy, overcast day. Thinking about how she had promised He Wenlun that she would be their tour guide, Fang Minzhou couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
The first stop for most people visiting Shuangxi Town is Shuangxi Reservoir, where they can hike a short loop. It's not difficult and takes less than two hours. However, He Wenlun and his group weren't prepared, so after breakfast, Fang Minzhou borrowed a van from the neighbor and drove them directly to the vicinity of the tourist spot.
Joyce, who is prone to motion sickness, was sitting next to her.
The reservoir, viewed from afar, resembles a reclining crescent moon, its blue surface like a gemstone. In late spring and early summer, when the temperature in the mountains is relatively low, standing on the dam, the strong and refreshing wind feels very comfortable.
This place is already a relatively well-established landmark in the village. The public facilities, including parking lots, viewing platforms, and surrounding greenways, have all been designed by site-specific designers. That was when Fang Minzhou was in high school. She knew the world was changing rapidly, but at the time she didn't know that her grandmother's house would also undergo such a big change, and that the development of a village is measured in years.
The viewing platform, resembling a bridge, spans the water and blends seamlessly into the surrounding mountains and bamboo groves. Fang Minzhou noticed Wang Kan and He Wenlun chatting, seemingly discussing the platform's design. Being architecture students, they likely had a better grasp of its intricacies.
To be honest, Fang Minzhou didn't expect that Wang Kan would actually go back to inherit the family business. Although he had joked about this back in college, she knew that he was serious about becoming a great architect.
Fang Minzhou also asked him why and when he became interested in architecture.
Wang Kan imitated the tone of a storyteller. Ignoring his antics, he said that the famous historical sites he saw when he traveled as a child had left a deep impression on him. When his father took him fishing at the reservoir, he was also amazed by the reservoir's engineering and thought it was amazing. He also wanted to do something amazing.
Fang Minzhou seems to have never told Wang Kan that she was once "jealous" of him: jealous that he had a career he loved and worked hard for, jealous that he could pursue his dreams without distraction. During her university years, her tireless efforts to find her own passion were, in fact, influenced by him.
Before Wang Kan looked over, Fang Minzhou casually looked away.
But does he still remember?
There were campsites near the reservoir, but they hadn't brought anything, so when it was time to eat, Fang Minzhou took them to a nearby farmhouse restaurant. During the meal, Wang Kan caused a little trouble: he dropped a pair of chopsticks. The waiter was busy, so Fang Minzhou helped him get a new pair.
After dinner, we drove back to the guesthouse, and then it was free time.
"The theater troupe has a puppet show tonight. If you're interested, I'll take you there after dinner," Fang Minzhou said.
Everyone echoed the sentiment, but Wang Kan was not among them, and Fang Minzhou didn't seem to care.
In the afternoon, before it rained, Grandma used a wooden oven in the yard to bake pancakes for everyone. Although there was an electric griddle in the kitchen, Grandma thought the pancakes baked in the old-fashioned oven were still the most fragrant.
Grandpa had always wanted to renovate the old barn in the backyard. Hearing that the young man staying there was an expert in the field, he asked about his ideas. He Wenlun answered the questions, and Wang Kan would occasionally add a few words.
She spoke with great seriousness, while Fang Minzhou assisted her grandmother. The thought that she was the only one among so many people who knew what kind of person Wang Kan was in high school made the whole scene seem very ridiculous.
She went to wash her hands and bumped into Wang Kan. They glanced at each other, and Wang Kan stepped aside to let her go first.
Guan Yang felt a little uneasy seeing this scene.
They went to the reservoir in the morning. He wanted to go too, since he could drive, but he had a vague feeling that he wouldn't be welcomed. Minzhou and the others were all adults and friends, while he was still being treated like a child.
A light rain began to fall from the sky.
The guesthouse is located on higher ground in the village, with a slope leading to the entrance. The activity center is next to the village committee, separated by a shallow stream.
The rain stopped shortly after it started, around dusk, and the group walked to the theater, breathing in the moist and refreshing air.
Fang Minzhou had seen a puppet show once when she was a child, but her memory of it had become hazy after so many years; she only remembered the image of the screen. Tonight's performance was by a troupe invited from a neighboring city, and the program was geared towards children, featuring stories like the King of the Forest and his rivalry, but the performance was so vivid and engaging that it was also entertaining for adults.
During the final audience interaction segment, both Guan Yang and Joyce were chosen to go on stage, but Joyce was too shy, so Xiong Xiong went up instead. Fang Minzhou sat in an empty seat in the front row to record the video for them.
The opera house is the oldest building in the village. It was renovated a few years ago and now serves as the village history museum. After the performance, audience members usually stay to take another look around.
Fang Minzhou accompanied Joyce to the restroom, where she waited outside, looking up at the paper-cut paintings on the wall.
Wooden carved windows and doors separate the interior from the courtyard. On the shelf against the wall are celadon vases, in which pine branches and bamboo leaves are arranged in a pleasingly sparse manner, complementing each other, and a few orchids adorn the bottom.
Fang Minzhou heard He Wenlun's voice outside, "Her ex-boyfriend also studied architecture. He said they broke up because of the long-distance relationship and that they were incompatible. Although I don't know what her ex-boyfriend's personality was like."
Quiet.
He Wenlun spoke again, with a hint of sarcasm: "Seriously, what do you think of people? Let me introduce you two?"
A few seconds later, it was Wang Kan's voice, "How else do you want to help me get acquainted? Haven't we already met?"
"Hey, so what you mean by that..." He Wenlun became excited.
"What I mean is, no thanks, it's not my type."
Fang Minzhou glanced down at the tips of her shoes, then looked up and silently tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Boring? If it's boring, then why were you staring at people like that?"
Does seeing something mean you like it?
Silence fell again.
“Wang Kan, don’t pretend. We’ve known each other for so many years.” He Wenlun said, then changed the subject, “Don’t misunderstand me. We really just had a meal together, and I knew as soon as we met that there was no chance, so we just chatted casually.”
Wang Kan was annoyed and didn't want to say anything more, so he turned away.
Through the windowpane, he saw Fang Minzhou's eyes.
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