It was almost midnight when Chu Yulan finished copying the math problems. He pinched his sore shoulders, stretched his body to relax his muscles, then hurriedly put away the papers, closed the windows, and prepared to wash up and rest.
There was no place to boil water for a bath, so he could only use the water in the dormitory to wash his face and rinse his mouth. Chu Yulan decided to get up early and take a bath tomorrow, as he couldn't stand being sticky.
When she was taking off her clothes, a dark red pregnancy mole appeared at the end of her collarbone. Chu Yulan raised her hand and touched it. There was a little ink mark on her hand, which should have been discolored by the friction of the clothes.
Chu Yulan was extremely thankful that her pregnancy mole was on her collarbone, which could be covered by clothes. No one noticed when she dressed as a man to study at the academy. However, just in case, she still covered it with ink every morning, although it would always be rubbed off by clothes.
The academy was full of nerds. He covered his pregnancy mole, changed into academy clothes, drew his eyebrows thicker, and spoke in a raised voice. Everyone thought he was just a thin man.
He blew out the oil lamp and saw the slightly worn cloth tiger on the bed in the moonlight, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
*
"Lan'er, when are you planning to go back? Your grandmother wrote to me yesterday, saying she missed you."
In the dean's study, Chu Yulan lay carelessly on the table, looking at his father who was correcting essays at the other end of the desk, without saying a word.
"Don't think I can't do anything to you if you don't say anything. I don't care that you sneaked into the academy, but you stayed for so long. What? Are you trying to rebel?" The dean raised his eyebrows and almost slammed the table.
"Dad, I don't want to go back yet." Chu Yulan muttered softly.
"You're not going back? What good will this academy have for you?" The dean angrily threw down the pen in his hand. Chu Yulan sat up straight and said with courage, "Father, I can learn a lot in the academy, and... and I have friends here."
"Friends? What friends can I have? Do you think I don't know why you stayed here for so long? Isn't it because of that kid Zhao Yuansheng?" The dean became furious when he mentioned Zhao Yuansheng.
Chu Yulan blushed and argued, "Zhao Yuansheng is very good. He helps me a lot and teaches me homework. We study and discuss knowledge together and we get along very well."
The dean snorted coldly, "Huh, you get along? Wasn't that your initiative? You're just a kid, and you don't even know how to be ashamed. Aren't you afraid that he'll find out who you are one day? I don't care, you must return to the capital as soon as possible."
Chu Yulan's eyes were red with anxiety. "Father, please let me stay for a while. Just a little while. I promise not to let him find out. I'll definitely go back with you after a while." The dean felt a little sorry for him when he saw him like this, but he still said with a stern face, "I'll give you another month at most. You must come with me then." Chu Yulan smiled and burst into tears when she heard this. "Okay, thank you, Father."
*
Chu Yulan came out of the dean's study and paced dejectedly in the corridor. The osmanthus flowers beside the corridor were in full bloom, emitting a rich fragrance. Although it was August, it was still hot, and the cicadas in the trees were noisy, just like Chu Yulan's heart at the moment.
"Chu Lan?" The familiar voice startled him, and he hurriedly turned around, meeting Zhao Yuansheng's clear gaze. His usually dull features were now shrouded in a thin mist, and the wind blew a corner of his moon-white robe, making him look like an ink painting that had lost its color.
Chu Yulan, or Chu Lan as Zhao Yuansheng called her, forced a calm smile and said, "Brother Zhao, how come you have time to come here?"
Zhao Yuansheng regretted his words immediately. Ever since his deliberate prying a few days ago, the friendship they once shared had shattered into pieces. He didn't know how to get along with Chu Lan anymore. These days, he could only avoid him under the pretext of heavy schoolwork. When they occasionally met at the academy, he would cast a cold glance, as if he were passing strangers.
Just now, I just couldn't bear to see the sadness between his brows, so I asked impulsively. Now I don't know what to do.
Chu Yulan sat down on the corridor railing, leaning against the pillar. He stared at the scattered osmanthus flowers at his feet for a long while before he slowly said, "My father asked me to go back."
"Where to go back? The provincial capital?" Zhao Yuansheng paused, feeling a little overwhelmed.
Chu Yulan nodded. His family lived in the prefectural capital, but he only came to stay for a few days occasionally because his father was the dean of the academy in the county. His father had not purchased a new property in the county and had always lived in the academy, so he lived with his father in the prefectural capital. His grandmother's house was not far away, and he had been raised by her since he was a child. Now that his grandmother said she missed him, how could he not go back?
Suddenly, tiny osmanthus petals fell on her shoulders, carrying a sweet fragrance. Chu Yulan carefully picked up the osmanthus petals on her shoulders, put them to her nose and sniffed, "What a fragrant smell."
The young man's cheerful and cheerful words actually struck a chord with Zhao Yuansheng. He raised his hand to his heart, forcing himself to remain calm. After a moment, he spoke in a distant tone, "In that case, it's better to clean up as soon as possible."
Chu Yulan never thought that Zhao Yuansheng would say such words. These words were like a thorn piercing his heart. He stood up suddenly and accused: "Zhao Yuansheng! Are you hoping for me to leave?" Tears welled up in his eyes uncontrollably, about to fall but didn't.
Silence stretched between the two until the cicadas' chirping became piercing. Zhao Yuansheng stammered, "I, I didn't mean that. You're not a student of our academy. I'm sure you have a teacher in the capital, so it's not good for you to stay too long. Besides, my elders miss you, so you should go back."
Chu Yulan looked at his increasingly mature and handsome face, and her thoughts gradually returned to when she was eight years old.
That year, he grew tired of staying at home and followed his father to the academy for a short stay. At that time, the academy was not located in the suburbs, but closer to the downtown area. His father forbade him to wander around, but he was attracted by the hawking of small vendors coming from outside the wall and slipped out through the corner gate.
The county town in late spring resembled a smoky ink painting, its bluestone alleys winding and twisting. Chu Yulan chased the candy figurine vendor down three streets, only to find himself surrounded by unfamiliar gray-tiled, whitewashed walls. Dusk deepened, copper bells tinkled from the eaves, and he huddled under a locust tree, his embroidered handkerchief wrinkled.
"Don't be afraid."
The cold, clear voice startled him, causing him to look up. The young man was dressed in a dark robe, a pouch at his waist swaying slightly as he moved. The Analects in his hands was curled up at the edges, and it was unclear what he was doing, even carrying a backpack. When he squatted, half of his moon-white lining peeked out, like a magnolia suddenly blooming in the twilight.
"Where do you live? I'll take you home." The young man took off his cloak and wrapped it around Chu Yulan's trembling shoulders, the warmth of his palm radiating through the fabric. He led Chu Yulan through the streets and alleys, gently reciting various intricacies to him along the way, as if he was afraid he would get bored.
A quarter of an hour later, he sent him to the entrance of the academy. When he turned to leave, he was stopped again. The little boy blushed and tugged at the corner of his clothes, looking up with wet eyes: "Big brother, what's your name?"
He squatted down, took out a cloth tiger from his backpack, and handed it to Chu Yulan with a smile, "My name is Zhao Yuansheng, go back quickly, this is for you."
"Big brother, can we meet again in the future?"
"Yes, when I pass the examination to become a student, I might come to Baishan Academy to study." Zhao Yuansheng smiled slightly and left with Chu Yulan's eyes.
After Chu Yulan returned to the academy, he was severely beaten several times by his father who he could not find anywhere, and was sent back to the provincial capital the next day. This experience became an unforgettable memory for Chu Yulan.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
