Volume 9: The Acidity of the Setting Sun
Chapter 6: Winter Camp
What does it feel like to lose something? For the current Lu Li, it was as if a part of his body was slowly draining away like sand, and he could only watch, powerless to stop it. Chu Jingyi still deliberately avoided him at school. Sometimes, a whole day would pass, and they wouldn’t exchange more than three sentences. Some unpleasant rumors began to circulate among the student body.
When Lu Li returned home, he still chatted and laughed with the girls, but everyone knew he was suffering greatly. Even at night, he often spent it alone in Yameng’s bed. Despite An Baili’s countless attempts, Lu Li couldn’t muster any interest. In early November, Lu Li received a call from the Mulan University admissions office, telling him that his Winter Camp application had been approved. Unfortunately, An Baili and Wen Hupo had been screened out. It was understandable that An Baili didn’t pass, and Wen Hupo probably couldn’t produce any decent academic records because she had transferred midway through.
Lu Li hadn’t wanted to go to the Winter Camp, but he suddenly remembered that the Silly Goose had signed up with him at the beginning of the school year. If so, she must have also received an invitation to the Winter Camp. Would Chu Jingyi go? Lu Li felt like he was walking through a chest-deep pool of water. The further he went, the deeper the abyss, yet in the center of the pool was the only life-saving straw.
The Winter Camp began on November 10th, which also happened to be the day Yameng returned to the Capital City. The brother and sister took the bus to the airport together. Before Lu Li dragged his suitcase onto the bus, An Baili was there, wiping her tears and telling him to come back soon. Wen Hupo held Miss Lu’s paw and mimicked a cat’s voice: “Don’t go chasing after other girls this time, okay? Meow~”
Through the rear window, he watched the figures of the two girls seeing him off grow smaller and smaller, eventually shrinking to two small dots. He could still vaguely see An Baili waving her hand nonstop. Lu Li let out a wry laugh. Although it was Baili who was constantly relying on him, wasn’t he also relying on Baili now? If not for Baili’s persistent comfort during this time, he would have definitely been depressed for a long time.
Although, he wasn’t far from depression right now… Lu Li felt it was too pathetic to get depressed just from being dumped. Don’t young people these days treat breakups as casually as eating and drinking? What’s the big deal, just say goodbye to Jingyi… The moment he thought this, Lu Li, who had been trying to find joy in his bitterness, couldn’t even manage that. Would he ever meet another girl like Jingyi in the future? The experience of two lifetimes told him it was absolutely impossible. A treasure is called a treasure not just because of its magnificence, but also because of its rarity.
“Lizi, it’s all my fault.” Yameng, sitting next to him, snuggled against him. Their intimacy was less like siblings and more like lovers. “I came back at the wrong time, I’m sorry… Next time, I’ll send you a message before I come back. I’ll only come back if you let me.”
Lu Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He squeezed his sister’s hand. “I wish you were by my side all the time. Why would you need my permission? Besides, this isn’t your fault. Why are you apologizing, Yameng?”
A young man in the seat in front of them said sourly, “So cheesy for a couple…”
Yameng, who had been tender and gentle just a moment ago, suddenly kicked the back of the front seat. “Is it bothering you?”
The young man mumbled and didn’t dare to speak again.
Lu Li wiped his sweat. Yameng had always been like this with outsiders, very fierce. It had been many years since he had seen her get physical. Compared to his sister, he was much more gentle and scholarly.
After kicking the front seat, Yameng leaned against him softly again. “Mm, I’ll listen to whatever you say, Lizi.”
Worried that his mood would affect his sister’s performance, Lu Li said, “Sis, you don’t have to worry too much about me. It’s not a big deal. I’ve already recovered. You focus on playing well in the Capital City. I heard you talking to Coach Dan on the phone the other day. You might have a chance to move up to the first team next year?”
At the mention of table tennis, Zou Yameng’s expression darkened. “Lizi, do you still remember He Ping?”
“The formidable opponent you met at the Six-Province Tournament?” Lu Li remembered.
“Mm. Her parents were in a car accident last year. Her father died in the crash, and her mother was left in a vegetative state. I heard last month that she signed the consent form to stop treatment.” Zou Yameng’s tone was sorrowful. “Lizi, I’ve figured it out. You earn money, I play ball, isn’t it all so we can have more time to spend with our families? If we get our priorities mixed up… isn’t this life just full of regrets? I’ve decided. After winning a major international competition, I’ll retire and go home. Anyway, you can afford to support an idle person like me now, Lizi. I don’t need to train with the team anymore. Thinking about it now, all these years of training day and night is really no way for a person to live…”
Perhaps because she had witnessed Lu Li’s recent struggles, or perhaps because of the news she had heard about He Ping, Yameng had re-evaluated her own future. Instead of pouring all her passion onto the competition court, it was better to retire after achieving success and save her remaining passion for her family. No matter how sensible and capable Lizi was, he was still her younger brother, still the same brother who was heartbroken and lost after a breakup. At times like this, she, as the older sister, should be by his side even more.
During low points, this kind of warmth between family members is all the more precious.
“Mm.” Lu Li squeezed her hand tightly. “You have to do your best in the Capital City, Yameng.”
“You too, Lizi.” Zou Yameng kissed his cheek. “From now on, I’ll be the sister of a university student. You won’t look down on me for being uncultured, will you?”
Lu Li put his arm around her waist, turned his head, and kissed Yameng’s fiery red lips. She had deliberately put on fruit-flavored lipstick today, perhaps just for this moment…
Lu Li got off the plane, collected his checked luggage, and then saw a row of university students holding signs at the exit: “Mulan University Social Sciences Winter Camp, campers please gather here!”
Winter Camp… Lu Li pursed his lips. It was basically a way for universities to reserve high-quality new students in advance. A good performance in this Winter Camp could earn extra points in the written exam and interview. Lu Li’s original intention was for An Baili to try for it, but that girl wasn’t up to snuff. Her academic records from the first and second years of high school were too unsightly. Lu Li had her specifically attach her Chuanhai No. 1 High School student ID and her useless old dad’s second-class noble qualification certificate, but she still failed to pass the initial review.
As for him, he didn’t need to attend the Winter Camp at all… If it weren’t for the sake of being alone with Chu Jingyi in a new environment, he absolutely would not have come.
Chu Jingyi…
Thinking of this name, Lu Li’s gaze wandered over the Mulan University reception team. No Chu Jingyi. He dragged his suitcase over, somewhat disappointed. An enthusiastic female Mulan University student asked, “Are you a student participating in this Winter Camp? What’s your name? Sign here, please.”
Lu Li gave his name, signed it, and his gaze swept over the crowd again past the female student… Indeed, no Silly Goose. Did she not come? True, if she had made up her mind to break up with him, there would be no need to apply to Mulan University, and naturally no need to come to this Winter Camp…
This female student’s enthusiasm was a bit excessive. “Wow, you’re from Chuanhai No. 1 High School? You might be my direct junior in the future. Junior Lu, wait here for a bit. There’s one last camper. Once everyone’s here, we’ll drive you to Mulan University.”
It had to be said, having a good appearance was very advantageous in society. Lu Li hadn’t done anything, yet he had reaped some inexplicable kindness.
Lu Li stood in the line of new students. Unfamiliar boys and girls were whispering to each other. A few outgoing boys took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Lu Li. “Bro, where are you from?”
“Chuanhai.” Lu Li was a man of few words. The Silly Goose hadn’t come, and he suddenly felt a wave of apathy, completely uninterested in this Winter Camp.
“See, I told you this bro was from the south,” someone said.
“Wow, bro, did you also apply online? I found out that a lot of people here are from Mulan Affiliated High. We’re the only few high school students from other provinces.” They were indeed very outgoing, with all sorts of topics bubbling up from these few boys.
“Bro, do you have a girlfriend?” Perhaps it was Lu Li’s aura that easily made people think of a scumbag. After someone asked this question, the other new students, both male and female, all turned to look at him, seemingly curious about his answer. At this stage, the matter of boyfriends and girlfriends was still a taboo yet tempting subject for them.
Just as Lu Li was about to answer, he suddenly heard a pleasant voice from the front: “Excuse me, is this the Mulan University reception team?”
The crowd of young men and women all turned their heads. Many of the boys let out a sharp intake of breath. Lu Li heard someone whisper, “What a beautiful girl…” He stretched his neck and could see a slender girl pulling a sky-blue suitcase, her temperament like water, her beauty enough to shame the flowers.
It was the Silly Goose.
