Chapter 84 The Past
Master Qi Mo is a top intangible cultural heritage inheritor and arts and crafts master in China.
The university that Qu He attended was his alma mater.
In my junior year, Master Qi Mo was invited back to the school to conduct a six-month in-depth exchange program on ceramic design. Qu He, Chen Li, and several other classmates were very honored to be selected.
Teacher Qi Mo has high professional standards, but he is very kind and meticulous in private, and he teaches them everything he knows.
During those six months, Qu He made great progress under his guidance.
As the exchange was drawing to a close, Mr. Qi Mo told everyone that he and his child would soon be settling in the UK, and that he wanted to bring Chinese ceramic art to a wider audience.
Professor Qi Mo said that he has been hired as a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art in the UK. Before taking up his post, he specially secured a government-sponsored study abroad opportunity for his alma mater. This student will become his last disciple.
Qu He was very excited when she heard the news. The ceramics program at the Royal College of Art in the UK is excellent, and it is a great honor to become Professor Qi Mo's last disciple.
But at that time she was already with Qian Zhaoye, and if she went to England, it would mean starting a long-distance relationship.
She told Qian Zhaoye what she was thinking, and after listening, he said, "This is a rare opportunity. Go ahead, I'll wait for you."
With his "support," Qu He devoted herself wholeheartedly to the final group creation.
Teacher Qi's teaching methods have returned to tradition.
He taught everyone to use the old-fashioned mortise and tenon wheel for throwing clay, requiring them to do every step personally, from digging the soil, sifting the clay, and kneading it. Even the wolfberry grass used for mixing the glaze had to be picked personally from the mountains in the neighboring city.
She still remembers the rainy season in June and July, when she carried a bag full of wolfberry grass down the mountain in the rain, getting completely soaked.
Later, many students dropped out halfway, but Qu He was inspired and became more courageous despite setbacks.
Her efforts paid off, and she later became the only member of the team to participate in the "0715 tableware" project designed for important leaders.
At that time, all the classmates thought that the spot was rightfully hers and were genuinely happy for her.
However, even after the six-month exchange period ended and Professor Qi Mo left, Qu He still hadn't received that spot.
She was down for several days, but could only attribute it to the fact that she wasn't good enough.
She later told Qian Zhaoye about it, and he comforted her, saying, "It's okay, you still have me. That industry is too tough. Come to the company and help me, let's fight together."
When she heard Qian Zhaoye's words, she thought she had found someone to rely on.
But now, Chen Li's words pierced his heart.
Qu He grabbed Chen Li's arm, her voice trembling: "You just said that Teacher Qi gave you an offer? When was that?"
Chen Li was startled by her and recalled: "It was just two days before Teacher Qi left! He said he sent you an email but you didn't reply, and he couldn't reach you by phone, so he asked me to give you that paper invitation letter."
“I even went to your dorm room, but your roommate said you had to go out. I remember you were dating Qian Zhaoye from the Computer Science department at that time, right? So I went to their department and gave the letter to your boyfriend, making sure he gave it to you. Your boyfriend was so happy!”
Chen Li sighed, saying regretfully, "We were all very surprised when you turned down the offer. Later, your boyfriend even treated our entire team to a meal in your name, asking us not to mention it in front of you again, because he didn't want you to feel bad..."
Qu He felt a sudden dizziness, and she couldn't hear a word Chen Li said after that. She felt like she had lost her soul.
She vaguely said goodbye to Chen Li, walked to the visitor center, and found a corner to sit down.
She bought a bottle of water, and the ice water stung her stomach as she poured it down her throat, but the pain made her a little more awake.
It turns out that it wasn't that she wasn't good enough; all her hard work and effort over the past six months had paid off.
Qu He gripped the mineral water bottle tightly.
She remembered that Qian Zhaoye's company was just starting out that year, and he often asked her to help out. At that time, Chen Li was helping with recruitment every day, her feet barely touching the ground, let alone looking at her phone.
That day, after Qian Zhaoye returned from school, he also borrowed her cell phone and computer.
So... he went to delete emails and call logs.
His later comfort and reliance were nothing but a premeditated deception!
Qian Zhaoye not only ruined seven years of her youth, but also personally extinguished her dreams.
The kiln opening ceremony was still going on, but Qu He had lost interest in it. She made a phone call to the driver and soon went home.
When they finished eating, Zhuang Bieyan noticed that Qu He was not in a good mood. She barely ate any of her favorite plum-flavored pork ribs before going back to her room.
When he came out after taking a shower, Qu He was already lying down with her back to him.
Zhuang Bieyan knew she wasn't asleep yet, so he lifted the covers and lay down, gently wrapping his arms around her waist. "Today is the kiln opening festival. Did something happen? You don't seem to be in a good mood."
Qu He felt a tightness in her chest, with many words stuck in her throat, but in the end she said in a low voice, "It's nothing, I'm just a little envious and a little disappointed to see everyone else exhibiting their works."
Zhuang Bieyan tightened his arms around her. "Ahe will have one too."
Qu He didn't respond, but buried her face deeper into the pillow, and didn't sleep all night.
The following evening, Qu He received another message from Zhou Shi'an:
[Qu He, my teacher is attending a celebration banquet at Zun Yue tonight and is flying back to England tomorrow morning. I hope you can come and meet with him to clear up the misunderstanding from back then. I believe you are not that kind of person.]
The room number was attached.
Qu He stared at the message, her fingertips tightening.
She replied: "Teacher Qi, would you still like to see me?"
Zhou Shi'an: [I've already explained the situation to the teacher, and he didn't explicitly refuse, so this is an opportunity. Come on.]
Qu He took a deep breath: [Okay.]
She grabbed her car keys, went out, and sent Zhuang Bieyan a text message: "Going shopping and having dinner with Siyue tonight, will be back late."
She parked her car downstairs at the Zunyue Hotel and sat in it for nearly two hours until she figured the celebration banquet was about to end before going upstairs.
As soon as she stepped into the hotel, a black Maybach slowly pulled up in front of the VIP area.
Following Zhou Shi'an's directions, Qu He found the private room on the third floor and saw people gradually leaving from afar.
She messaged Zhou Shi'an to say that she had arrived.
Zhou Shi'an came out quickly and comforted her, "My teacher told me about what happened back then. There must be some misunderstanding. There's only my teacher inside now. Go in and talk it over."
"Thank you, Brother Shi An," Qu He said gratefully.
Zhou Shi'an knocked on the door and went in, with Qu He following behind him.
Master Qi Mo, his face slightly flushed from drinking, stood with his hands behind his back in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the city's night view.
Hearing the noise, he turned around and looked at Qu He with a scrutinizing and indifferent gaze.
Qu He stood awkwardly in place, unsure of what to say.
"Didn't you want to see me? Why didn't you say anything after we met?" Master Qi's voice was hoarse from drinking, but it still carried an air of authority.
Zhou Shi'an tried to smooth things over: "Teacher, Qu He, she..."
"Are you a mind reader? Let her talk for herself." Qi Mo interrupted him without any politeness.
Qu He stepped forward and bowed: "Teacher Qi, first of all, I would like to sincerely apologize to you for the misunderstanding caused by my failure to reply to you in time back then."
She composed herself and recounted Chen Li's words and the events of that year in their entirety.
Qi Mo squinted his eyes upon hearing this and remained silent.
After she finished speaking, he slowly said, "Many opportunities are lost once missed. Life is full of ups and downs, and you have to bear the consequences yourself. I've said everything I needed to say. You can go now."
Qu He's heart sank, knowing that she had absolutely no chance.
"Teacher Qi, I have another request."
Qi Mo coughed twice arrogantly, "What's done is done. Don't waste your energy. I will not take you as my disciple!"
Qu He smiled bitterly, "I understand. Teacher Qi, I'd like to see the email you sent me back then, and 'my' reply to you."
She spent the whole day online searching for ways to recover emails that had been deleted years ago. Although the chances were slim, she still wanted to know what Qian Zhaoye had said in her name back then that made Teacher Qi hate her so much.
Qi Mo was stunned for a moment, a little choked up, seemingly not expecting this request. He gestured to Zhou Shi'an.
Zhou Shi'an immediately brought out his computer and retrieved the email records he had saved long ago.
When she saw the few lines of text that Qian Zhaoye had impersonated her to reply, Qu He was so angry that she trembled all over and was momentarily stunned.
In the email, Qian Zhaoye impersonated her and replied: "Teacher Qi, I've decided to give up this opportunity. I believe that ceramics is ultimately just a vague dream, and it's unrealistic to consider it a lifelong career or even take it worldwide. I choose to stay in China to help my boyfriend run his company, and please don't contact me again."
His words were full of disdain for the pottery industry.
Qu He finally understood why Master Qi Mo was so disappointed and disgusted with her.
It would be hard for anyone to forgive someone who cherishes their passion and is willing to give everything for it, especially when it is belittled and defiled by a student who once placed high hopes on them!
"May I take a picture?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Zhou Shi'an glanced at the teacher, and Qi Mo snorted, "Unnecessary." But he didn't stop him.
After taking a picture with her phone, Qu He bowed to Qi Mo again, saying, "Thank you, Teacher Qi. I'm sorry to have bothered you."
Then he turned and left.
After the door closed, Qi Mo looked at it and suddenly snorted, asking Zhou Shi'an, "She just left like that?"
Zhou Shi'an, confused, said, "...They're gone."
Qi Mo: "..."
He stared at the door panel, his brows furrowing even more deeply.
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