Together Forever - Chapter 25
Volume 2, Chapter 25: I Can Hear You (1)
During the last week of exams, people gradually started heading home.
Every year, the Beijing fellowship association was responsible for booking train tickets for the winter and summer breaks. Usually, most of the train carriages would be filled with familiar faces, chatting and laughing all the way until the next morning. This year, she had booked her ticket early. When Gu Pingsheng asked if she wanted to go back with him, she suddenly realized they were returning to the same city.
She crossed out the last day of the semester on her calendar.
19 weeks, 113 days.
Gu Pingsheng had arrived on the first day of the new semester, for the first class of the morning.
She still remembered the beautiful weather that day, the morning sunlight streaming through the windows, illuminating him as he casually wrote his name on the board with a piece of chalk: Gu Pingsheng.
Her pen traced across the yearly calendar, stopping on a small square.
Inside the December 24th square, she drew a hollow heart, then filled it in.
“Tong Yan, are you there?” Jing Jing's voice called from outside, followed by a knock.
Shen Yao had initially complained about Tong Yan changing dorms, but eventually, she'd forgotten about it.
University wasn't like high school, where they spent every waking moment together. Shen Yao and Xiao Ru rarely attended classes, and since they no longer lived together, their relationship had gradually drifted. In contrast, after their heart-to-heart talk that night, Jing Jing had remained close to Tong Yan.
Tong Yan put down her pen and opened the door, smiling at Jing Jing. “How did you know I was here?”
Jing Jing smiled mysteriously. “Don’t you do this every year? You always leave a bit later than everyone else.”
“I’m traveling with the fellowship association; I have to wait until everyone’s finished their exams.” Tong Yan turned back into the room, rummaged through her snacks to find something to share, and was about to offer them to Jing Jing when she saw Gu Pingsheng and their class advisor walk in…
“The advisor was checking on the remaining students and ran into Teacher Gu, so they came in together,” Jing Jing explained.
The class advisor was a recent graduate who had stayed on at the school as an administrative staff member.
A shy young man with a bright smile, he entered the room earnestly, asking about their well-being. Tong Yan, holding a handful of lollipops, couldn't find an opportunity to put them down or offer them to Jing Jing in front of Gu Pingsheng.
Gu Pingsheng was equally composed, simply removing his black lambskin gloves and placing them in his coat pocket.
As if remembering something, Tong Yan thrust the lollipops at Jing Jing, urging her to help herself, then casually leaned against the desk, reaching behind her to retrieve a pair of light blue gloves, which she slipped into her drawer.
The two pairs of gloves were a matching set, a New Year's gift from him.
“Is your dorm… always this messy?” the advisor cleared his throat, his question carefully phrased.
Tong Yan looked around. Her roommates, in their haste to leave, had left a mess behind: slippers scattered everywhere, clothes draped over chairs, a thermos left open with its stopper on the table, the water inside probably having been there for who knows how long… “They were in a hurry and didn’t have time to tidy up.”
She quickly shoved a few stray clothes into Shen Yao's wardrobe.
This was the typical pre-holiday state of their dorm, and she was used to it, but it felt awkward having two male teachers see it, especially with him being one of them.
The advisor, probably unaccustomed to being inside a girls' dorm, excused himself after three minutes to check on other rooms. As Jing Jing and the advisor left, Gu Pingsheng calmly told them to go ahead, saying he needed to stop by the department office. Tong Yan discreetly glanced at him, politely said goodbye, and closed the door, leaving it slightly ajar.
Not ten seconds later, the door opened again. She stood there, grinning as Gu Pingsheng closed the door behind him.
He smiled, reaching out to touch her face. His hand was cold.
Tong Yan winced at the icy touch but didn’t pull away. “It’s that cold outside?”
“Is your phone off again?” he asked suddenly.
“No way?” Tong Yan turned to grab her phone, but he stopped her, scooping her up into his arms. Fearing she might fall, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, clinging to him like a koala.
“Don't bother checking; it’s definitely dead again,” he continued. “I stood outside for an hour, being bombarded with questions about exam scores by your classmates. Weren't you curious?”
“Keep your voice down; the door’s thin,” she whispered, worried someone might overhear. “Even if they asked, you wouldn’t have given me any special treatment.”
He chuckled, his dimples prominent.
“But I worked hard in your class,” she said confidently. “I’m sure I got above a 90.”
“94.” He lowered his voice.
“Really?”
“Really,” he carried her to the desk and set her down. “I even recalculated your score. It’s definitely a 94.”
“You recalculated it?”
He hummed in agreement. “Don't forget, at the beginning of the semester, you didn't even know the concept of ‘commercial arbitration’ in my class…”
They kept their voices low, fearing eavesdroppers. As he spoke, he examined the small trinkets on her desk, picking up a pink photo frame with interest. It was a handmade frame filled with sticker photos. He pointed to one where she had short, ear-length hair. “How old were you here?”
“Thirteen. The year I met you.”
He peeled off the sticker photo and took out his wallet.
Inside was a picture of himself. He carefully stuck her photo over his. Curious, Tong Yan took the wallet and looked at his picture. “Is this you at the University of London?”
“Penn Law. The year I met you.”
She nodded, studying his younger self. Light-wash jeans, a dark blue polo shirt, no tattoo on his arm… It must have been taken before his mother passed away.
Tong Yan peeled her sticker photo off his picture and offered it back to him, but he left it in her hand. “Can I keep this?”
He smiled, noncommittal.
Later, they ate in the city center, and he drove her to the train station.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the station was packed. Not wanting to be seen with him by her classmates, she said goodbye in an inconspicuous corner near the entrance.
Once on board, someone asked gossipingly, “Tong Yan, I thought I saw you just now. Was that your boyfriend seeing you off?”
Tong Yan gave a vague hum and sat down.
The train carriage was filled with familiar faces, standing and sitting. The first and second-year students were buzzing with excitement, while the upperclassmen were considerably quieter. She sat near a group of seniors discussing job prospects, the term “Big Four” frequently cropping up in their conversation.
“Four years ago, when I was a freshman, it was still the ‘Big Five’ accounting firms,” a business student reminisced with a smile. “Then, that year, one of them collapsed, and it became the ‘Big Four.’ Back then, it felt so distant, but now that we're looking for jobs, it seems so close.”
“Yeah, I’m numb to all those career fairs by now.”
“Tong Yan, shouldn’t you be starting your internship soon?” someone asked her.
Tong Yan nodded. “I’ll intern next semester, but I don’t know where yet.”
In high school, getting into university had felt like the ultimate goal. But now, halfway through her third year, she realized her student life was coming to an end, and she had no clear direction for the future.
By late night, many people had fallen asleep. A freshman, looking every bit the artsy type, had brought a guitar and was softly strumming, surrounded by a group of admiring girls.
The unique atmosphere of the train made the scene seem incredibly romantic.
Looking out at the darkness, she remembered Lu Bei doing the same thing years ago. At that year’s New Year's party, while every class was celebrating separately, he had walked in with his guitar, announcing he was there to pay his respects to his “wife’s” family, causing chaos and cheers that almost brought the entire high school building down…
She’d found it amusing back then and had even asked Lu Bei to teach her. She’d only learned a few of her favorite songs, though.
Talent was something you couldn't force.
The freshman seemed to have changed songs.
Tong Yan glanced at her phone; it was past three in the morning. He was probably asleep.
Just then, a text message arrived: Asleep? TK
What a coincidence.
Smiling, she quickly replied: No, there’s a junior playing guitar next to me. He’s much better than I am.
You play guitar? TK
Yeah, not really. Just a few simple chords.
I have a girlfriend who plays guitar? Sounds nice. TK
She couldn’t help but smile again. The senior sister next to her, half-asleep, opened her eyes and, seeing Tong Yan’s expression, chuckled. “Look at you, practically radiating lovesickness. Young love is bliss.”
Tong Yan didn't respond, her head resting against the cool glass. A thought suddenly occurred to her. She hesitated for a few minutes before typing: Have you had girlfriends before?
The moment she sent it, she regretted it. It was such a thoughtless question.
A long time passed before he replied: Yes. Do you need a detailed account? TK
A detailed account?
Tong Yan felt both annoyed and amused, but her curiosity won out. Yes.
How detailed? TK
…Up to you.
She waited a long time, but he didn't reply.
Tong Yan felt a pang of jealousy, no, a huge pang of jealousy.
More time passed, still no message. Just how much history did he have to recall? Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she sent another message: Does it take that long to remember?
This time, the reply came quickly: Making coffee. TK
Don't you dislike coffee?
Occasionally, I do. Like tonight, I need the energy to keep you company. TK
Simple words, but Tong Yan read them several times.
“Senior sister,” one of the girls asked, “Would you like to request a song?”
“Me?” Tong Yan shook her head.
“Senior sister, your ‘Without You’ at the welcome party was amazing; I was totally blown away,” another girl gushed. “How about a live encore?”
Tong Yan quickly declined. “Let’s not. If I wake them up, they'll never let me live it down.”
Before she could finish, the senior sister next to her opened her eyes, sleepily joining the chorus. “My back is killing me; no one can sleep anyway. Go on, sing us a lullaby. Maybe not ‘Without You,’ though, or the conductor will lock you up.”
As soon as she said that, the others who had appeared to be asleep started chiming in.
Trapped, Tong Yan placed her phone on the table and said, “Let me try the guitar.”
The freshman looked at her in surprise, handing over the guitar. Tong Yan strummed a few chords, then said shyly, “I only know a few simple accompaniments; I haven't played in years.”
She chose “My All,” a song she was most familiar with, and began to hum softly. Thankfully, almost everyone here knew each other, so there was no risk of complaints. The rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks served as a natural accompaniment, masking the occasional missed note. When she finally returned the guitar to the freshman, he peppered her with questions.
Tong Yan hurriedly explained, “I really only know one or two songs, I can’t do any solos or anything like that. Please don’t ask any more questions.”
“You definitely shouldn’t be studying law,” the senior sister chuckled, pointing to her phone on the table. “Looks like you have a message.”
The senior sister took their cups to refill them with hot water.
Tong Yan picked up her phone. There was indeed an unread message: Angry? TK
No. I was just pressured into performing…
What? TK
Singing and playing guitar. My All.
The senior sister handed her a cup of hot water, and Tong Yan took a sip.
She opened the next unread message: You’re in my sleepless solitude tonight. TK
It was the first line of “My All.” Thinking he was confirming the song, she casually replied, “Yeah.”
Only after sending it did she realize how suggestive the lyric was…
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