BSS - Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Deng Chuan took her earphones from her pocket and put them on. She wasn't used to carrying a bag. All her jackets and pants had large pockets, big enough to hold lots of small items, like a small pack of tissues, earphones, bus and subway cards, and things like that.
Every day, she left the house with these pockets full, as if she were hiding countless treasures on her person.
The dial tone looped mechanically in her earphones, while her other ear was filled with the sound of Pei Qingyu's spray paint hitting the wall. The street was lined with tutoring centers, their gates shut tight and windows dark during the Spring Festival holiday. Only the streetlights were still on.
Deng Chuan scuffed at her shadow with her foot.
Pei Qingyu shook the spray can, the rattling sound carrying far. It came again and again, repeating like the dial tone-crisp and clear, like a bowling ball striking nine pins, or a perfect shot in snooker sinking the black ball.
Deng Chuan felt it was like some kind of countdown.
Amid the monotonous rattling, the dial tone suddenly stopped. The call she had placed was answered.
Xu Wei said, "Hello."
Even through the phone, her voice sounded very close. Her tone was clear, and even her breathing seemed to whisper right in Deng Chuan's ear.
This sense of realism instantly closed the distance between them. For a moment, Deng Chuan felt that text chats were incredibly cold and impersonal compared to a voice call.
Before Xu Wei could say anything else, Deng Chuan spoke up, "Teacher Xu, Happy New Year."
On the other end, Xu Wei gave a very light laugh. "It's not the new year yet."
Her soft laughter was like a fine thread, making the heart of the fish on this end of the line itch with longing.
Before the fish could speak, Xu Wei asked, "It's so quiet. Are you outside?"
"Mhm," Deng Chuan nodded instinctively, then remembered the person on the other end couldn't see her. She stared at the distant rooftops where they met the sky-the city center, ablaze with brilliant lights. "I'm outside doing graffiti with a friend."
Xu Wei was quiet for a moment, then said, "Hmm..."
Gazing at the sky, Deng Chuan said out of the blue, "The moon is so bright tonight..."
A faint sound of a sliding door came from the other end, and then Xu Wei said, "It really is bright."
Perhaps they were looking at the same moon. A flurry of ambiguous poetic verses instantly flooded Deng Chuan's mind. Throughout the ages, countless poets had been aware of this synchronicity. The moon had become a medium; if their gazes could meet upon it, could their emotions resonate through it as well?
The ambiguous moon left Deng Chuan's thoughts in a stir. But Xu Wei simply asked, "Is it cold outside?"
The tip of Deng Chuan's nose felt the cold air, but she said the opposite of what she felt, "It's fine, not too cold."
Her heart was burning hot, warming her entire body. She didn't feel cold at all.
"You're out so late. Doesn't your family mind?"
Was it that late? Deng Chuan glanced at her phone screen, which displayed 11:51 PM. Without realizing it, she and Pei Qingyu had spent the entire evening here.
She stopped looking at the moon and turned back to look at Pei Qingyu, whose back was to her. She was holding a can of paint, outlining the silhouette of a lion.
She said, "My family... doesn't really keep a tight rein on me."
Xu Wei laughed. "But you seem like the kind of kid who has a very strict upbringing."
It was the first time Deng Chuan had heard Xu Wei's impression of her. "Why?"
Perhaps not expecting the question, Xu Wei's voice took a small, hesitant turn. "You just... seem that way..."
She rarely spoke like that. It held a hint of coquettishness, as if showing vulnerability or letting down her guard.
Deng Chuan picked up on this subtle difference and felt a surge of happiness. She added earnestly, "My family isn't strict. Really."
"Ever since I was little, they've always trusted me and respected my choices."
She spoke with great deliberation, as if making a kind of promise.
Deng Chuan was sure Xu Wei understood, because they fell into a brief silence. After a moment, however, Xu Wei only said softly, "Then you're truly... a lucky kid."
Deng Chuan had realized this too, and her voice softened. "I didn't used to think so, but I do now."
Pei Qingyu walked back over and picked another can of paint from her messenger bag. Noticing Deng Chuan watching her, she called out, "Just a second, I'm almost done. Let's see if we can buy some fireworks later-"
Deng Chuan poured cold water on the idea. "Forget it. There won't be any fireworks."
Pei Qingyu said as she applied the paint, "There will be! Trust me."
She turned back to her graffiti, and Deng Chuan recognized her focused state. Having heard their conversation, Xu Wei said from the other end, "Maybe you should hang up. You two have fun, and be safe."
Deng Chuan drew out the word petulantly. "No-"
She rarely acted so openly cute with Xu Wei, who was momentarily unsure how to respond. Playing along, she asked, "Then what do you want to do?"
Deng Chuan glanced at the time again to confirm. "It's almost midnight. You have to at least let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year before we hang up."
"...Alright, Kid." Xu Wei's voice was tinged with a smile. "So, should we just wait in silence?"
"Of course not. Can we have a little talk show segment?"
"What kind of segment?" she asked.
Deng Chuan said, "You still haven't given me your critique of the drawing I made for you."
She'd been waiting for this opening.
Deng Chuan had expected to catch Xu Wei off guard, but instead, Xu Wei just chuckled softly and said in a relaxed tone, "So this is the talk show segment? I thought..."
Deng Chuan cut her off. "You thought what?"
"Nothing," Xu Wei said slowly, in the same tone she used to announce exams or holidays. "I saw the drawing. It was very thoughtful, and I like it a lot. Is that sufficient?"
Deng Chuan fired back, "Nope, not good enough. It needs to be more heartfelt."
"Oh..." Xu Wei asked. "Then what would count as heartfelt?"
"Hmm... you could use your own initiative and think about it... Usually, we'd suggest changing your profile picture, or making a post on your Moments, something like that."
Xu Wei scoffed. Changing the subject, she said, "I'm not very good at political science questions-alright, it's almost midnight. The segment is over."
"Oh... alright," Deng Chuan pouted. "But do you like it? Tell me honestly."
...
They were locked in a silent standoff.
"-I like it," Xu Wei said with an almost imperceptible sigh. "Satisfied now?"
"Mhm!" Deng Chuan laughed brightly, restraining the urge to nod. When she saw the time on her phone screen tick over to fifty-nine, she said, "Teacher Xu. It's the last minute-you need to get ready."
"Ready for what?"
"To catch my New Year's wishes."
Her voice was laced with a smile. "Alright."
Right now, the hosts of the Spring Festival Gala must be leading everyone in a countdown, Deng Chuan thought. Over a billion people across the country were counting down the seconds together. Tonight was the liveliest night of the year, a time for joyous gatherings, and she and Xu Wei were part of it.
The countdown jumped from nine to zero. A perfectly symmetrical, complete Arabic numeral. It was a break from the old and the start of something new.
The new year was here.
Pei Qingyu was still putting on the finishing touches, oblivious to the passage of time. Deng Chuan heard Xu Wei's quiet voice in her ear, "Happy New Year, Deng Chuan."
"In the new year, I wish you all the best," her voice was low, "and may all your wishes come true."
"Happy New Year, Teacher Xu." Deng Chuan opened her mouth, but no specific wishes came out. "You too."
Xu Wei didn't laugh at her. Deng Chuan tilted her head back to look at the sky. The moonlight was crystal clear, just like her own thoughts, which Xu Wei could see through at a glance. That was fine, of course. To understand but not to speak of it-there was a certain tacit ambiguity between them, flowing steadily like a gentle stream. Deng Chuan liked that phrase. A gentle, steady stream represented hope, a path to the future.
It represented everything going smoothly, and all wishes coming true.
The distant city center was still bustling with life. In a corner of the sky, illuminated by the city lights, several brilliant fireworks suddenly bloomed.
The distant, muffled boom of fireworks launching into the sky reached her ears, along with the cheers of a crowd.
Colorful fireworks, seemingly endless, bloomed against the deep black canvas of the sky. Deng Chuan had forgotten-New Year's Eve wasn't supposed to be this quiet. It was meant to be a sleepless night, adorned with dazzling lights and fireworks.
At some point, Pei Qingyu had also stopped working, exclaiming loudly, "Whoa-"
Deng Chuan stared, mesmerized. "Teacher Xu, they're setting off fireworks here."
Xu Wei said, "Oh, really?"
She said, "Then make a wish. Maybe they'll help it come true."
Deng Chuan didn't understand the logic behind it, but she found the idea inexplicably romantic and answered softly, "Okay."
The fireworks were the candles of the night. Facing these countless candles, she piously and silently made many wishes. She was too greedy; with the high spirits of youth, she hoped to grasp everything she desired.
The night was so gentle. Even silently formed, her wishes felt tender on her lips. They were filled with the years to come, the future, her desires, and her love. Once wasn't enough, so she repeated them. The affection almost overwhelmed her, but she held back. She couldn't rush this; it had to be a gentle, steady stream. The person on the other end of the line was also silent, creating a sweet, empty space between them.
Deng Chuan said, "-Teacher Xu, there are so many fireworks. Do you have a wish? I'll make it for you."
Xu Wei said, "I wish for you-to have a bright future, to always hold on to the wonderful qualities you have now, and to run toward the tomorrow that belongs to you."
She hadn't mentioned herself. But Deng Chuan insisted, "What about your wish? I want to hear yours."
Xu Wei said, "That is my greatest wish right now."
She let out a low sigh.
She said, "Deng Chuan. I hope you can understand. You do understand, right?"
As she spoke, Xu Wei walked back inside from the balcony, her door shut tight.
Deng Chuan's voice was drowned out by the fireworks; she could barely hear herself. But through the fiber-optic cable, her words landed clearly in the other person's ear. "Xu Wei. I'll grow up fast.
"Wait for me. Don't be in a rush to push me away. I'm not in a rush either, okay?"
It was the first time she had raised the topic of waiting, and she was so nervous her breath caught in her throat. It was a test on a whim, one that felt a little risky. But Xu Wei didn't seem surprised. Her voice was just tight as she said, "You should call me Teacher."
Deng Chuan immediately and obediently complied. "Teacher Xu."
Then she asked again, "Is that okay?"
Late in the night, Xu Wei's voice carried a hint of a resigned smile. "Alright."
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