Chapter 16
The students were busy doing their homework, and no one noticed the small corner next to the podium.
After listening to Chen Aimei's words, Guan Nan held the water glass without saying anything more, only the sound of water dripping in her ears.
After a few seconds, Chen Aimei filled the water container and said directly:
"Anyway, you don't like to drink it."
"If he gives it to you again next time, you should give it all to me."
After hearing this, Guan Nan was stunned for a moment, and then weakly said "Ah".
Chen Aimei said earnestly, "Don't worry, I definitely won't mind."
Guan Nan was speechless.
That's not what she meant...
......
Before we knew it, it was Friday.
At 4:20 PM, after the teacher announced the holiday homework, the holiday officially began amidst a chorus of complaints after the second period.
Fuling implements a holiday system with two days off every two weeks, on Saturday and Sunday.
Guan Nan packed her things, knowing she was going directly to Hecangyuan in a little while. She stuffed the secret hidden at the very back of her desk into her schoolbag, checked her keys one last time, and then slowly walked out of the classroom.
"Guan Nan," she heard someone call her as soon as she turned the corner, "It's your turn to clean today, the banyan tree path and the office, don't forget."
Guan Nan was embarrassed.
She really forgot.
"Okay, I understand." Guan Nan stopped and put down her schoolbag in the classroom. After learning that someone was already in charge of the office, she took a broom and went downstairs.
As her classmate left, she reminded her, "Don't forget to lock the door when you're the last to leave."
Guan Nan nodded: "Okay, thank you."
The banyan tree path is very long; it stretches all the way down from Mingde Building and seems to have no end in sight.
Guan Nan lowered her head, sweeping with a broom in one hand and a dustpan in the other. By the time she reached the administration building, everyone had already left, leaving her all alone on the road, half-bent over.
As I passed the red trash can, the dustpan was still stuck on top of it, and I heard a series of rapid footsteps coming from the direction of the small playground.
Guan Nan looked over in that direction.
The person who disappeared after school was now running back quickly, broom and dustpan in hand. His hair was disheveled, and fine beads of sweat covered his temples. "Sorry I'm late."
Guan Nan paused for a moment, then shook her head: "It's nothing."
Jiang Li's suggestion that "let her rest aside and he will take care of the rest" had no effect. Guan Nan kept her head down and worked with him to clean up the remaining half of the road.
However, looking back, the leaves of the banyan tree were scattered all over the ground, as if they could never be swept away.
Around 5 p.m., the two put down their tools, put on their backpacks, and left the classroom.
As they approached the art building, Guan Nan called his name: "Jiang Li".
"Hmm?" He looked over, a faint smile on his face, still with that carefree and nonchalant demeanor.
Guan Nan raised her hand and pointed to the top of his head, "Your hair..."
Just then, Jiang Li handed him a tissue. He casually wiped the sweat from his forehead, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What happened to your hair?"
“There’s something.” Guan Nan paused, then said slowly.
Jiang Li leaned closer, as if he didn't understand what she meant: "What?"
"There are... there are leaves." The two were very close, as if they would touch faces at any moment. His body was burning hot, which was transmitted to Guan Nan from a distance. Guan Nan's face flushed, she pursed her lips, and silently stepped back a little.
"Oh," Jiang Li leaned down slightly and said nonchalantly, "Can you help me with this?"
Guan Nan tightened her grip, but didn't take it.
Jiang Li didn't get up either.
The two remained motionless in their original positions.
"Not taking it?" After a few seconds, Jiang Li tilted his head slightly.
Guan Nan hesitated for a moment, then took the leaf and quickly stuffed it into his hand.
After a while, Jiang Li caught up and walked slowly behind her.
The two walked quietly, one after the other, until they stood in front of the bus stop. Although Guan Nan did not want to be presumptuous, Jiang Li, who rode his bicycle every day, was not by her side.
After hesitating for two seconds, Guan Nan finally spoke, "Jiang Li."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li turned his head and looked over.
Aren't you going to ride your bike today?
“I’m not riding today,” Jiang Li said lazily, his eyes downcast. “I’m too lazy to move.”
"..." Guessing that Yu Shu and the others had left first, he probably didn't want to ride his bike alone. Guan Nan didn't call him out on it. "Oh."
Just then, bus number 625 stopped.
Bus route 625 does not detour; it goes directly from the suburbs to the busiest part of the city center, and then returns to the suburban terminal three stops ahead of Fuzhong.
The two got on the bus at the same time, and Jiang Li reminded her, "You really got on the wrong bus this time."
"No," Guan Nan said gently.
There weren't many people in the car at the moment, so the two walked to the back and found seats.
After sitting down, Guan Nan lowered her head and texted Qi Yang, saying that she was on her way. She didn't notice the subtle expression on Jiang Li's face.
Jiang Li: "Where are you going?"
Guan Nan hesitated before saying, "Something's wrong."
"Okay." Jiang Li raised an eyebrow and wisely kept quiet, not asking any further questions.
Before we knew it, the car arrived at Hecangyuan Station.
Guan Nan got out of the car, walked to the outside of Hecangyuan, and glanced back at him.
“Jiang Li,” Guan Nan said, “I’ve arrived.”
Jiang Li put one hand in his pocket, showing no intention of leaving, and slowly hummed in agreement.
After taking two more steps, Guan Nan stopped, gripped the strap of her backpack tightly, and said in a muffled voice, "You go first."
“No.” Jiang Li raised his eyebrows. “I have to protect you.”
Before Guan Nan could speak, he said reassuringly, "My deskmate is so good to me, I can't let anyone bully him."
......
"My daughter can't be bullied."
"I only have one daughter."
......
Hearing this, Guan Nan pursed her lips and remained silent.
Since she was ten years old, she has lived with a tough exterior but a soft attitude.
Knowing that no one would help her, and that even the prince in the fairy tale couldn't save Cinderella, she got used to avoiding trouble, swallowing her anger, and always appearing mild-mannered.
Guan Nan knew that her temperament and personality were not suited to her, and had always known that.
She never expected that she would hear those words again from Jiang Li.
Guan Nan forced a smile but couldn't manage it. She said quietly, "Thank you, Jiang Li."
Thank you for your kindness, I will remember you.
I will always remember you.
Just then, an old woman walked up and, after seeing Guan Nan's face clearly, called out with a kind smile, "Ah Guan."
"!" Guan Nan was startled, turned around, recognized the person, and called out softly, "Grandma Wang."
Jiang Li lifted his eyelids, abandoning his usual carefree and nonchalant attitude, and stood obediently to the side like a good student.
During their brief conversation, they learned that Hecangyuan used to be Guan Nan's home, and she hadn't been back for a long time. When they talked about her sudden return today, Grandma Wang glanced at him but didn't continue.
Grandma Wang asked with a smile, "Whose son is this handsome little boy?"
“Yes…” Guan Nan answered her, “He’s my cousin.”
"Oh, from your mother's side, no wonder she's so pretty and well-behaved," Grandma Wang said. "I was wondering why you, at such a young age, were bringing boys home."
Guan Nan smiled and obediently said goodbye to Grandma Wang.
After everyone left, Guan Nan looked up at him and saw him with a half-smile on his lips.
Guan Nan was embarrassed.
"Cousin?" Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, a slight smile on his face.
"Um..." Guan Nan blushed slightly as she lied to his face, explaining awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Grandma Wang watched me grow up. If I hadn't said that, they would have overthinked it."
"Oh," Jiang Li was still smiling, "and then I became your cousin?"
Guan Nan's ears turned red, and she stammered, "...Mmm."
He looked relaxed, as if he genuinely found the word "cousin" amusing, yet there was a distinct hint of amusement in his subtle smile.
“Well, if you mind,” Guan Nan thought for a moment, “my cousin is fine too.”
"That would be too embarrassing," Jiang Li said casually, pulling on his backpack. "I'm not interested in being someone else's older brother."
"......"
Two seconds later, I heard her mutter softly, "You don't have the qualities to be an older sister either."
Jiang Li found it somewhat absurd, "Does it have to be that I'm related to you by blood?"
What else can we say?
Guan Nan was somewhat bewildered.
"Can't you have something else?"
Guan Nan suddenly felt puzzled: "What other?"
Jiang Li stared at her thoughtfully for a long time before sighing, "Fine, cousin it is then."
Knowing that she had gone home, Jiang Li did not linger. He stood outside the guardhouse fence, watched her go in, and then slowly turned and walked out.
After walking around the gate, Guan Nan suddenly turned around and said, "Jiang Li, goodbye."
Jiang Li also smiled and waved his hand.
Hecangyuan is quite large, with old-style residential buildings standing side by side, leaving narrow alleys between them. Clothes and quilts are hung out to dry on ropes hanging from the banyan trees. Guan Nan passed by and politely greeted the people who were taking shelter under the banyan trees.
As they approached the grocery store, Qi Yang sat on a stone bench doing his homework, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.
"Brother Qiyang." Guan Nan called out to him and smiled.
"You're here," Qi Yang said, immediately standing up and accompanying her to the opposite corner. "Do you remember the number?"
Guan Nan nodded. "I remember."
"You sit down first, I'll go plug in the fan." Hearing that she remembered, Qi Yang stopped standing beside her and, after turning on the fan, said, "You watch the shop for me for a while, I'm going upstairs."
"Okay, thank you, Brother Qiyang," Guan Nan said.
He always does this; if he knows where she's calling, he'll avoid her to prevent her from feeling embarrassed.
The area in front of the grocery store was empty, with only the occasional bark of a dog startling the trees.
The call was dialed, but it took a long time for the hospital to answer. A very calm female voice came through the receiver: "Hello."
"Auntie Dean, I am Ran Mingju's daughter, Guan Nan." Fearing that the other party might not remember her, Guan Nan introduced herself as soon as she stepped forward.
Clearly, the other person remembered her: "Is this Nan Nan?"
Guan Nan immediately replied, "Yes."
“I called a few days ago and a boy answered. That’s when I remembered you left the phone number for the neighborhood grocery store,” the headmistress said softly. “Aunt Li didn’t see you last time she came. How are you doing now?”
"Everything's fine," Guan Nan said, her eyes lowered, her hair fluttering under the fan. "Auntie Dean, is my mother's condition any better now?"
“She’s much better now. I called to talk to you about this. I hope you can visit her more often in the future. I want to see how your mother is when you meet her, and whether she’s stable.”
"Well..." Guan Nan was undoubtedly relieved by the dean's words. She paused for a moment and asked cautiously, "When is the earliest she can go home?"
Upon hearing this, Guan Nan immediately held her breath so as not to miss the sound coming from the receiver.
"Well, the caregiver can't guarantee that. It all depends on how she reacts to your emotional fluctuations," the caregiver said.
As if sensing the immense anticipation she was carefully concealing, he added, "But it will be soon."
It will be soon.
This means there is hope.
Hope seemed so close.
Guan Nan swallowed hard and said in a tight voice, "Thank you, Dean."
At that moment, the pounding heart slammed against my ribs, deafeningly loud.
Before hanging up the phone, the two arranged to meet at noon on the Mid-Autumn Festival. Even if it was only for twenty minutes, she wanted to spend a less disappointing reunion festival with her mother.
......
I don't know whether to praise her for her good attitude or what.
When Qi Yang came down with the apple, she was already hunched over the stone table doing her homework, and she didn't know when she had hung up the phone.
Taking the apple from Qi Yang, Guan Nan said, "Thank you."
Aunt Ran was well-mannered, and Qi Yang was already used to her thanking him. He asked gently, "How difficult was the test? Was it okay?"
After finishing the last question, Guan Nan put away her homework. "It's alright, it's acceptable."
“Okay,” Qi Yang said, “If you have any questions, send me a message. If I don’t reply in time, call me if you’re in a hurry.”
Guan Nan: "Okay, I remember."
She always agreed and promised everything, but when the time came, she was too shy to ask for help, afraid of causing unnecessary trouble for others.
Qi Yang was used to her empty promises and didn't press the issue: "Don't forget your part-time job tomorrow. New City Plaza."
"I remember, Brother Qiyang." Guan Nan smiled, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and headed upstairs, when she heard...
He said, "Let's go, I'll see you out."
Guan Nan declined his offer and pointed to the residential building behind her, indicating that she wanted to go up there herself.
Seeing this, Qi Yang didn't say anything more.
Turning the corner and walking in, Guan Nan suddenly saw the pomegranate tree that had grown for as many years as she had lived. Its branches stretched out, with red flowers and green leaves, and its extended trunk was covered with the marks of time.
The pomegranate blossoms slowly fell, leaving behind tiny buds, which Guan Nan stared at for a long time.
Spring goes and autumn comes, flowers bloom and wither, and several years have passed.
I stood in front of the pomegranate tree again, gazing at the pomegranate blossoms.
It feels like yesterday, yet like a lifetime ago.
Ran Mingju used to tease her, saying that other people bury daughters with red wine when they have daughters, but she planted pomegranate trees when she had daughters.
Thinking of this, Guan Nan's eyes welled up with tears; she missed her mother again.
She went upstairs, opened the door, and found the DV camera in the cabinet.
Because it hadn't been used for a long time, the battery was dead. Guan Nan plugged in the charger and went back to her room, opening the wardrobe in her bedroom.
The adjacent floor, neither too big nor too small, contains all her treasures from her childhood to the present.
Hair clips, a princess crown, a single earring, a plastic ring, and pink candy wrappers folded into butterflies. And this time, a new member was carefully added.
A piece of wedding candy, a coin, and a pink strawberry band-aid.
And two bottles of Sprite.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
