HomeSniper ButterflyChapter 42: The Forty-Second Wing Beat

Chapter 42: The Forty-Second Wing Beat

At the start of senior year, Li Wu officially entered Class 3(1), becoming classmates with his three new roommates. He no longer traveled to and from school alone, usually walking together with them.

The atmosphere in the new class was different from before. If Class 10 had been like cubs playing around, this was a jungle full of carnivores, with natural selection churning silently beneath the calm surface.

Li Wu felt the urgency and pressure within. He loved this uncompromising atmosphere, his heart filled only with excitement and belonging.

Qi Sixian was the homeroom teacher of the reorganized science experimental class. He didn’t have a long heart-to-heart talk with Li Wu; on the first day, he just gave a simple greeting at the classroom door: “Kid, I knew we’d meet again.”

The first monthly test of senior year was a battle of the gods, and Li Wu fell out of the class top ten for the first time in his life.

His total score of 687 was higher than before, but at the pyramid’s peak, it only ranked fifteenth.

Returning home on the weekend, he handed his score sheet to Cen Jin as usual.

Cen Jin was dumbfounded, exclaiming: “Wow, with these scores you’d probably be the top scholar in liberal arts!”

But Li Wu wasn’t satisfied, his face clouded over. He muttered “I’m going to study” and shut himself in the study room for self-reflection.

Watching him leave, Cen Jin pondered for a while. She opened WeChat, thinking to send some encouraging words, when unexpectedly Teacher Qi messaged her about Li Wu’s student registration. He said the administration hoped parents could find time soon to transfer Li Wu’s registration to Yi Middle School, ending his visiting student status to become an official student.

This was undoubtedly a form of recognition.

Outstanding students were precious medals for any school, each one to be firmly pinned to their chest.

Cen Jin said: I’ll ask him later. He seems to be in a bad mood because of this test.

Teacher Qi wasn’t surprised: That’s normal. Among students like Li Wu that I’ve encountered, none are content being the head of chickens when they could be the tail of phoenixes. He won’t be satisfied with this. The competition pressure in my class is indeed intense—all top students aiming for Peking and Tsinghua Universities, and no one is willing to give way. You need to guide him well. Some kids might become discouraged from such a setback, others grow stronger from adversity—it’s hard to say.

Teacher Qi’s advice was worth pondering.

That night, Cen Jin tossed and turned, forming an idea.

Senior year only had three days of National Day holiday, so they were released early. Cen Jin called Li Wu at the perfect time.

After the youth answered, the receiver was quiet. Cen Jin asked, “Are you home?”

Li Wu replied: “In a vehicle.”

Cen Jin heard something off: “On the subway?”

“No, long-distance bus.”

Cen Jin: “Huh? Where are you going?”

Li Wu said: “Back to the village for a bit. It’s almost the anniversary of my grandfather’s death, and I only have this holiday.”

Cen Jin paused: “Sudden decision?”

Li Wu replied: “No, booked the ticket mid-month.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Didn’t want to trouble you.”

Puzzlement escalated to anger as Cen Jin raised her voice with three rapid questions: “So I’m supposed to feel better with you going alone? How old are you to be taking long-distance buses by yourself? What if your aunt catches you and takes you back?”

Her tone dropped to freezing: “Still treating me like an outsider, not saying a word about something like this?”

Li Wu was silent for a moment: “You didn’t want to come either.”

Cen Jin found it incomprehensible: “How do you know I didn’t want to go?”

Li Wu replied: “You said so the day you came to pick me up.”

“What?”

He said solemnly: “You said you didn’t want to come to this place again.”

Cen Jin paused, searching her memories but finding nothing: “I said that?”

Li Wu was certain: “You did.”

Cen Jin had no recollection: “I don’t remember at all, I didn’t say that!”

“Mm…” the youth didn’t know how to respond, only answering softly.

Cen Jin asked: “Where are you now?”

Li Wu said: “Just left fifteen minutes ago.”

Cen Jin glanced at her wristwatch: “Which terminal are you heading to?”

“Nongxi.”

“Then what, how will you get back?”

“Walk, or find a tricycle.”

“And then what, sleep rough?” she said sarcastically.

“Find a place to stay down the mountain, take the bus back tomorrow.”

Hmph, it all planned out so nicely.

Cen Jin closed her eyes briefly, taking deep breaths to filter out her anger: “Did you know I was planning to take you to Shengzhou this holiday for a change of scenery?”

She tried to keep calm: “One is your grandfather’s death anniversary, and one is wanting to transfer your student registration—you’ve completely disrupted all my plans now.”

She had wanted to give him a surprise but didn’t expect this kid to be so deep in thought, already having his plans.

Li Wu knew his mistake, remaining silent for a long while.

“Can you stop being so sensible?” Cen Jin had no choice but to change her plans on the spot: “I’m leaving shortly. It’s peak travel time, the highway will probably be jammed, don’t know when I’ll arrive. Wait for me in Nongxi, find a restaurant or guesthouse.”

Li Wu felt guilty: “Don’t go to such trou—”

Cen Jin cut him off decisively: “I’ll decide what’s trouble and what’s not.”

At five-thirty in the afternoon, Li Wu got off at the Nongxi Health Center.

It was like entering another world. Instead of towering buildings, there were rows of low houses. The roads were patchy, with few cars in sight.

In the orange-red sunset glow, life flourished in all its forms: women sat gathered in front of shops, chatting idly; children wearing red scarves jumped down from high platforms one by one on their way home, chasing and playing, startling several chickens pecking for food at the alley entrance.

Returning to this place after nearly a year, Li Wu felt somewhat disconnected from it all.

He stood staring in a daze until a clear bell chime startled him. Li Wu hurriedly moved aside as a middle-aged man leisurely passed by on an old bicycle.

Li Wu put his hands in his hoodie pockets and walked unhurriedly toward his former school.

Nongxi High School was already on holiday, with no one visible inside. An old man was locking the gate, and after finishing, he turned around and noticed Li Wu. Seeing his clear features and decent clothes, unlike local people, he asked uncertainly: “Are you a student here?”

Li Wu paused: “I used to be.”

His eyes flickered slightly as he called out in the local dialect: “Grandpa Zhang.”

The old man was in his eighties, his memory not what it used to be. He hadn’t expected this boy to recognize him and was somewhat surprised, responding in confusion before uncomfortably scratching his wood-like neck, saying “I’ll go first.”

Li Wu said: “Alright, take care.”

After he left, the school gate became empty again.

The small playground grew dim in the deepening dusk, the classroom windows like several gray eyes, vastly different from the year-round bright lights of Yi Middle School.

Li Wu stood there gazing at it for a while, exhaled, and then sat down on the stone steps nearby.

He stretched one leg while bending the other, took out his phone, and called Cen Jin to report his whereabouts.

The woman also checked her navigation: “I’m in Shengzhou territory now, should reach your area in about half an hour.”

“Mm.”

She asked again: “Where are you?”

Li Wu said: “At my old high school entrance.”

Cen Jin: “What are you doing there?”

Li Wu: “Just looking.”

“What are you thinking?” She suddenly became interested.

Li Wu replied: “Don’t know.”

Cen Jin took it upon herself to summarize his post-viewing feelings: “Feel like a top scholar returning home in glory?”

“…”

“I’m joking. Send me your location and wait properly.”

“Okay.”

When the distance changed from yellow-red to deep blue and gray-black, the road beside Li Wu was illuminated by headlights.

He stood up; the white car dimmed, and a slender shadow stepped out, pausing as if to identify him, then walked closer. A slightly surprised feminine voice came with the wind: “You were sitting here?”

Li Wu walked forward too, stopping in front of her.

Cen Jin looked him over: “Are you hungry?”

Li Wu didn’t want to provoke her again: “Hungry.”

Cen Jin chuckled lightly: “Oh, so you do know hunger.”

“Mm.”

“Come on, let’s eat.”

“Mm.”

They found a casual roadside restaurant to fill their stomachs, bought some fresh fruit, and then set off again, heading south toward Yunfeng Village.

Osmanthus flowers bloomed across the mountains, their subtle fragrance drifting into the car. Cen Jin couldn’t help but inhale deeply.

“There are so many osmanthus trees here,” she turned to look out the window.

“It’s even more fragrant outside,” Li Wu said. “So fragrant it makes you sneeze.”

Cen Jin was unfamiliar with the village roads and joked: “This time we won’t park at the village committee. Guide Li, where do you think we should park?”

Li Wu’s lips curved slightly: “Drive a bit further, there’s an open space.”

“Okay.”

After parking, Li Wu unbuckled his seatbelt: “Are you coming with me, or resting in the car?”

Cen Jin gave him a puzzled look: “Am I your driver?”

Li Wu fell silent, explaining: “It’s dark now, and village graveyards are different from city cemeteries.”

“I haven’t done anything to trouble my conscience.” Cen Jin opened the door without further discussion and walked out with her head held high.

Li Wu smiled, quickly catching up to walk beside her.

The higher they went, the more expansive the view became. Moonlight was like silver gauze, hazily illuminating the leaves and stalks of crops in the fields. The grass beneath their feet was soft, leaving nowhere to hide.

Along the way, Li Wu suddenly stopped, gazing at a spot in the distance.

Cen Jin asked curiously: “What are you looking at?”

Li Wu replied: “You’ve been here before. The house where my grandfather and I used to live—it’s gone now.”

Cen Jin raised an eyebrow: “That small earth house?”

“Mm.”

Cen Jin looked up, following his gaze. This place was faint in her memory, quietly slipping away through time, not enough to leave a deep impression. But now that it was mentioned, she couldn’t help taking out her phone to compare it with that old photo. Indeed, there was no trace left; it had been converted to farmland.

Cen Jin felt a mix of emotions, unable to say if it was good or bad, whether to regret or celebrate, only saying: “Good thing we have a photo to remember it by.”

Li Wu made a sound of agreement and strode forward: “My grandfather’s grave is in that forest behind.”

Cen Jin looked at the pitch-black dense forest, its branches messy like ghostly hands clawing at the sky.

Li Wu walked toward it without changing expression. Cen Jin’s heart tensed as she silently reduced the distance between them.

Crossing the field ridges and approaching the mountain forest, the vegetation beneath their feet grew chaotic, feeling especially unstable. Cen Jin’s heart fluctuated with each step.

The moon hid behind clouds, and the wilderness turned dark, ink seeping between heaven and earth.

Cen Jin turned on her phone’s flashlight: the scene before her eyes exceeded expectations—under the dense tree trunks were graves and tombstones everywhere. Some were neatly tended by family members, standing straight; others tilted and broken, creating an intense horror movie atmosphere.

Cen Jin muttered “No way,” her heart in her throat, unable to look straight ahead, unconsciously asking: “Why did we have to come at night?”

Li Wu turned to look at her: “I don’t know either. During dinner you said you’d delayed me and were worried about me neglecting grandfather, insisting we come today.”

“…” Was this what they called lifting a stone only to drop it on one’s own feet? “Li Wu,” Cen Jin carefully avoided obstacles while urging: “Turn on your flashlight too.”

She sounded urgent, clearly afraid. Li Wu’s lips curved up secretly, made an “Oh” sound, and turned on his phone light too.

The surroundings grew brighter.

The visible range expanded, making it even scarier.

Better not to have turned it on at all. Cen Jin was exhausted.

A tree branch stretched across their path; Li Wu stopped and lifted it.

The woman went first, and only after she passed did he step forward.

Cen Jin suddenly let out a tiny scream: “Li Wu, where are you!”

Li Wu was startled: “…I’m behind you.”

“Don’t walk behind me!” She angrily stuck close to him again.

Their arms pressed together, occasionally brushing against each other. Li Wu’s heart began to itch, his head feeling warm.

Suddenly, there was movement in the grass near Cen Jin’s feet, swift and sharp.

She jumped back, screaming “What was that!” and in her panic grabbed the nearest person’s arm.

Li Wu froze as if locked in place, unable to move. His arm was held tight, pressed close without a gap, the woman’s warmth seeping through the thin cloth, scalding his thoughts.

His ears turned red, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he pretended to be calm, raising his phone to shine light: “Don’t be afraid, it’s probably a weasel.”

The youth’s voice trembled uncontrollably, but fortunately, Cen Jin was already scared half to death and had no attention to spare for anything else.

Cen Jin remained anxious: “Could it be a snake?”

“Snakes don’t make that much noise.”

Her back was already wet, her whole body trembling. No longer daring to let go, she still maintained her dignity while commanding: “Stay close to me! Don’t get more than ten centimeters away.”

Li Wu pressed his lips together—how would he dare to?

The narrow path, less than a hundred meters long, stumbling over grass and stones, weird and winding, seemed to take an epoch to traverse.

Their hearts were racing.

One from fear, one from joy.

Finally reaching Li Wu’s grandfather’s grave, Cen Jin released Li Wu, panting as if exhausted, finally having the mood to look at the grave.

She didn’t shine her phone directly at it, only borrowing light from the side.

Li Wu’s grandfather had one of the more dignified graves in this cemetery, covered with neat cement, the headstone engraved vertically with the old man’s name in clerical script.

“The Grave of

Li Minghe”

On the left side were small characters:

“Erected 2019”

“Grandson Li Wu”

Li Wu placed his phone aside, bent down to brush away dust and dirt from the headstone, and picked up some fallen leaves.

Perhaps because both grandfather and grandson’s names carried a sense of peace, Cen Jin’s heartbeat slowed slightly: “Your grandfather’s name is very nice too.”

Li Wu arranged the fruit plate and, afraid sudden movements would startle her, warned: “I’m going to kowtow now.”

Cen Jin thought he didn’t want her to see: “Should I turn away?”

“No need.” Li Wu lowered his eyes, knelt, and quietly kowtowed.

The youth bowed low, his back broad, like a strong, silent tree root creeping into the earth. One, two, three times, neither hurried nor slow. The moon emerged at this moment, frost-like spreading across the forest. Cen Jin watched him intently, her heart washing clean, left only with tremendous movement. At this moment, the wilderness was no longer frightening.

When he stood up, Cen Jin finally came back to herself: “Done?”

Li Wu: “Mm.”

Cen Jin said: “Do I need to do anything?”

“No need,” Li Wu picked up his phone: “Let’s go.”

Cen Jin felt a stirring in her heart: “Wait, let me say a few words to your grandfather.”

“Mm?”

Cen Jin thought for a moment, faced the tombstone, and pressed her hands together: “Your grandson is well-fed and clothed now, and his grades are excellent. Please rest assured.”

Li Wu smiled slightly.

“Let’s go.” Cen Jin patted his arm and went first.

“Okay.” Li Wu caught up to her side, not daring to let her be alone anymore.

Cen Jin seemed less afraid now, composed enough for a casual chat: “That time I waited in the car, did you come alone?”

Li Wu: “Mm.”

“Weren’t you scared?”

“I often walk at night.”

“But not on paths leading to graveyards.”

“Maybe because grandfather was there.”

“That’s true…”

Leaving the forest, they turned off their phone lights and walked back.

Trees on one side, osmanthus fragrance everywhere; fields on the other, ten miles of silence. The long sky seemed drowsy as if they were walking in a moon palace.

Cen Jin looked up at the dense clusters of clear yellow flowers: “The osmanthus trees here seem taller than those in Yi City.”

Li Wu looked up too: “Probably because no one manages them.”

“I think it’s a different variety, but they all smell wonderful.” Cen Jin walked past and jumped once trying to reach them, the flower branches swaying, still just out of reach. She couldn’t help sighing.

Li Wu stopped, reached up, and broke off that same branch, offering it to her.

Cen Jin didn’t take it, glaring at him instead: “Who told you to pick it randomly?”

Li Wu said glumly: “I thought you wanted it.”

“If I didn’t pick it myself, I don’t want it anymore.” Cen Jin seemed to sulk, putting her hands back in her cardigan pockets and walking straight ahead without a sideways glance.

Li Wu withdrew his hand regretfully, holding the osmanthus branch down as he walked in silence.

Cen Jin glanced at him, smiled, and held out her hand, curling her fingers a few times: “Give it to me.”

Li Wu’s eyes brightened as he handed the branch over again.

Cen Jin took it, smelled it, then held it across his chest, blocking his path: “Borrowing flowers to make an offering, awarded to the little brother who protected his big sister today.”

Li Wu broke into a smile, obediently accepting it: “Thank you.”

“Is that all you have to say for your acceptance speech? How perfunctory.”

“…”

The woman continued walking;

The youth continued following.

Whenever she needed him, he would stand forth at any moment, with absolute pleasure.

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