The gathering was set for Xinya Tea House, Saturday afternoon at three.
Hearing that the tea gathering had a number of specific topics planned, Hongdou’s interest was thoroughly piqued, and she readily agreed. “All right then, as long as nothing comes up at home, I’ll be at the gathering.”
Qin Xuekai’s face flushed with delight. “Then it’s settled—Saturday afternoon, we won’t leave without seeing you.”
The two parties went their separate ways, and Hongdou and Gu Yun continued on toward class.
Along the way, Gu Yun offered her opinion. “Hongdou, what do you think of Qin Xuekai? Surely you know he’s fond of you.”
Hongdou idly straightened the textbooks in her arms. “My opinion of him has never changed, from start to finish.”
“Not your cup of tea?” This was Reverend Lin’s catchphrase—once in literature class, Reverend Lin had lectured on the tea culture that arose during the Victorian era, expounding at length on how the English so loved their tea, even risking maritime trade for tea leaves during the World War, tea cup never leaving their hand from morning to night, and sincerely praised how “tea and porcelain are among the greatest contributions the Chinese have made to the world.”
It was still early for class, so the two strolled slowly along the path beside the lawn. The roadside sycamores had taken on a thin layer of autumn color; with each gust of wind, countless leaves left their branches, drifting down all around.
Hongdou puffed at a strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek, finding it more interesting than Qin Xuekai by far.
Gu Yun nodded. “Actually, Qin Xuekai really is quite something—good grades, outstanding ability. Just to catch your attention, he’s always thinking up ways to arrange gatherings. Did you see the new poem he published in the school magazine? Very romantic writing. If it were any other female classmate, she’d probably have accepted his pursuit long ago.”
Hongdou made a sound of disapproval. “Gu Yun, even you’re being so vulgar about this now? Aren’t you the one always championing free love? Isn’t the very premise of romance that two people should be mutually drawn to each other? Even if Qin Xuekai were as flawless as a Roman statue, as far as I’m concerned, no interest is no interest.”
Gu Yun sighed helplessly. “I guess there’s just nothing to be done about it. Hongdou, you’re so particular and difficult to please, I don’t even know what kind of person could ever catch your eye in the future.”
Hongdou narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You’re acting strange today, not at all like your usual self. Honestly, speaking up for Qin Xuekai like this—did he give you something?”
Gu Yun’s shoulders drooped, and she confessed. “Qin Xuekai really did ask me to find out your opinion of him. At first I refused, but he kept coming back to ask again and again, and hearing that I’m doing research on Ming-Qing culture with my father, he somehow got hold of a small painting, ‘Folded Plum Blossoms,’ supposedly by Zhu Da—though I could tell at a glance it was a later imitation, it’s still at least a hundred years old. You can see how much effort he’s put in, just to pursue you.”
Hongdou was thoroughly exasperated. “A fake painting nearly got me sold out!”
Gu Yun clutched her books tightly to her chest. “I never accepted the painting—I know love should be built on freedom, how could I not respect your wishes? I only agreed to help Qin Xuekai find out how you felt. I promise I didn’t agree to anything else.”
She bowed formally. “Classmate Hongdou, I’ll never do this again.”
Hongdou kept her face utterly straight, without a trace of a smile. “Never again? You mean there might be a next time?”
“Absolutely not, never again,” Gu Yun said, straightening her back. “This time I just wasn’t thinking clearly. From now on, no matter which male classmate asks me to find out your feelings, I will never agree again. Hongdou, please forgive me.”
Hongdou gave a snort and set off walking. “If you don’t treat me to Xiaoyoutian ten times over for this, don’t even talk to me about forgiveness.”
Gu Yun’s family was quite well-off; she clapped her hands and laughed. “Ten trips to Xiaoyoutian is nothing—how about I throw in two movie tickets at the Great World and a set of original Shakespeare volumes as well?”
Hongdou stopped and turned to look at Gu Yun, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly, wearing an air as though she could lift the whole earth. “Then it’s settled.”
School let out, and a few classmates said their goodbyes at the school gate. Gu Yun’s family had a car come to pick her up; Xiao Xichun and Mei Lizhen each rode off on their own bicycles. Hongdou looked around at the gate but didn’t see her brother, figuring he was likely too busy with work to come pick her up, so she prepared to say goodbye to her classmates and take the tram home herself.
Just then, the Indian doorman leaned out and called to her in half-fluent Shanghainese, “Missy Yu, here, this is your bicycle. At noon, your brother brought it over.”
Yu Hongdou ran over to look, and sure enough, her bicycle was stored at the gatehouse, a card hanging from the handlebars reading: “Please deliver to Miss Yu Hongdou, second-year Education department.” It was her brother’s handwriting.
Bicycles weren’t cheap, and the family had only bought the one—previously her brother had always ridden it, but later, for her convenience getting to school, he’d given the bicycle over to her, taking the tram to and from work himself instead.
Compared to squeezing onto the tram, Hongdou naturally preferred biking home. Delighted, she thanked the doorman and pedaled off quickly to catch up with Xiao Xichun and the others ahead.
Just then, a glossy black Western sedan drove past them. In the back seat, He Zhuyun glanced out the window without thinking and suddenly nudged the man beside her. “Brother, look, quick—that’s the classmate who gave me the osmanthus candy today.”
He Yunqin had been reading the newspaper with his head down; prompted by his sister, he glanced up absently, just in time to see a slender young woman in an egg-yellow wool sweater flash by, riding a bicycle at quite a clip, chatting and laughing along the way, her voice clear and flowing like a string of musical notes.
He nodded absently and returned his attention to the paper, but upon reading a certain line, his brows rose with sudden interest. Clearly, compared to the schoolgirls outside, the contents of the newspaper held his attention far more.
He Zhuyun, however, kept smiling as she watched that receding figure grow smaller in the distance. Though it was nothing more than someone riding a bicycle, from the free, easy manner and bright smile of Yu Hongdou, it seemed almost as if she were riding the wind itself.
That bearing alone was enough to inspire envy.
“I think I was right to take Sister-in-law’s advice and choose St. John’s University,” she said, looking out the window. “The semester’s only just started, and I’ve already met so many interesting people at school—like this Yu Hongdou. Even though we’ve only met once, I keep feeling she must be a really funny person. Too bad she’s not in my department, and she’s a year ahead of me, or else I’d have made a new friend in no time.”
Turning her head, she saw her brother stroking his chin, absorbed in studying the newspaper, and grew a little annoyed, pouting slightly. “Brother, you weren’t even listening to me at all.”
He Yunqin lowered the newspaper, adopting an attentive pose. “I was listening, of course I was. This classmate isn’t in your department, surname Yu, named Yu Hongdou, very funny.”
Then he asked, feigning seriousness, “Funnier than your second brother?”
He Zhuyun covered her mouth and laughed. “No. No one can compare to you, Second Brother.”
He Yunqin smiled, flashing a mouthful of white teeth. “No need to rush about making friends—now that you’re in university, there’ll be plenty of chances to meet new classmates. Besides classes, there are all sorts of activities too—if there’s something that interests you, just go ahead and join. Like this weekend, there’s a gathering at Xinya Tea House—I’ve been invited. Are you interested? Want to come along with me?”
“Sure.” He Zhuyun thought a moment, then added, “Oh, Brother, by the way—you got so many job offers when you came back, why did you end up choosing Aurora University of all places? Sister-in-law told me today that among all these schools, Aurora’s engineering program isn’t exactly top-tier.”
He Yunqin’s smile slowly faded, and he fixed his gaze on He Zhuyun.
He Zhuyun had never seen her brother angry in front of her before; being stared at so quietly by He Yunqin, she wasn’t frightened, only puzzled, looking back at him. “Brother, what’s wrong?”
He Yunqin smiled again and reached out to pat her head. “Nothing. Aurora’s engineering program may not have a top-tier reputation, but it’s not bad by any means either—and the main thing is, the class schedule is light there, giving me plenty of free time. Convenient for courting.”
He Zhuyun’s face flushed. “Brother, can you be a little more serious? If you’re really courting someone, how is it there’s not even a shadow of a girlfriend to be seen?”
He Yunqin, hands tucked in his trouser pockets, answered rather perfunctorily, “Maybe one of these days I’ll bring one home.”
He Zhuyun pursed her lips—her brother loved teasing her, and these words, half true and half false, she didn’t believe a word of. Leaning over, she tugged at He Yunqin’s shirtsleeve, looking down at his wristwatch—only five o’clock. “Brother, when we get home later, help me pick out a few gifts carefully—I want to take them to school to give to the professors in my department.”
He Yunqin straightened his sleeve, laughing in surprise. “The things at home are nothing but gold, silver, and jade ornaments—hardly suitable to give to professors.”
He Zhuyun was momentarily at a loss. “Then what should I give them?”
He Yunqin said, “I have some German fountain pens, and some enamel bookmarks I bought in Ceylon—you can take those to school to give as gifts.”
He Zhuyun thought it over and felt this kind of gift struck just the right balance—dignified without being showy. “Brother, you really do think of everything. Those things at home are precious but rather vulgar, really not suitable to give to professors.”
He Yunqin smiled and pinched her cheek, then casually picked the newspaper back up to read.
Author’s Note: There’ll be another update tonight, but it’ll be very, very late—I’d suggest everyone check back tomorrow morning instead. Mwah mwah mwah mwah.
He Two made an appearance.