A Cold and Aloof Top Student Is Relied Upon - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Return Home

◎Old Friend◎

Two days later, according to their original plan, Gu Zhu bought a ticket and returned to Litchi Town. She had told Chang Yuehua in advance. When she arrived at the high-speed rail station, Chang Xiling was there to pick her up in the family’s new car. As soon as she saw her, she immediately got out and ran over.

“My dear older sister, you’re finally back! I missed you so much!” Chang Xiling gave her a bear hug, clinging to her affectionately. She was already in her second year of university and had gotten her driver’s license after graduating high school. Now, she was as tall as Gu Zhu’s ear and still loved to be pampered.

She went to school in the same province and had previously visited Gu Zhu in the capital. During the winter break, she had even gone to see Gu Baozhi. She had wanted to go again this summer, but since it was the year Gu Zhu was graduating with her doctorate and had new projects to complete, she couldn’t take care of her. So, she had to give up on the idea.

Now, the person she thought she wouldn’t see had come back home, which made Chang Xiling overjoyed. “Let’s go, let’s go! Mom has already cooked dinner at home. Let’s hurry back!”

She reached out to grab Gu Zhu’s luggage, only to discover that someone was following behind her. She had been so excited that she hadn’t paid much attention, thinking it was just someone else on the same route. Now, seeing the person standing a short distance away, she finally took a closer look.

She was a very tall and beautiful woman, wearing a V-neck satin shirt, wide-leg pants, and flat sandals. Because the sun was so bright, she was also wearing a pair of sunglasses. The small part of her face that was visible had nude-colored lipstick, and she looked fashionable and sophisticated.

There was a sense of familiarity she couldn’t place. She felt like she had seen her before but didn’t know where. She tilted her head, thinking for a long time.

Seeing the little kid who had only been waist-high back then had now grown into a graceful young woman, Bai Tan also felt a little sentimental. Seeing that the other person hadn’t recognized her, she took off her sunglasses, revealing her beautiful face, and with a teasing smile, said, “Little rascal, you don’t recognize me? Do you still play guitar?”

As soon as she mentioned the guitar, Chang Xiling’s memory finally clicked. She remembered a person who had taught her guitar, but so much time had passed that her childhood memories had been covered by her later life. Her vivid memories belonged to her current friends, her studies, her life, and the family she had spent so much time with.

Those people she had only met once or twice, or the people and things she thought were important as a child, those experiences she thought she would never forget, had long since been cast away in the rushing river of time.

“Oh, oh! It’s you, big sister!” So she had to use a vague term, greeting her awkwardly but politely. “Long time no see! Did you come with my sister Gu Zhu? Welcome to our home!”

At this moment, Bai Tan felt a sense of loss and melancholy. The “little rascal” was no longer the willful and arrogant child she used to be but had grown into a polite and courteous person. In this moment, she had a strong realization:

She and Gu Zhu had really been apart for so many years. The time she had filled with busyness still had many, many gaps in memories that could have belonged to them.

The familiar road had become strange, but Litchi Town’s coastline was still endless.

In the car, Chang Xiling chattered away while driving. She had affectionate conversations and jokes with her sister and also made a conscious effort to include Bai Tan, trying to not make her feel left out.

This made Bai Tan both amused and a little speechless. She secretly leaned closer to Gu Zhu and whispered in her ear, “If I told her we were girlfriends now, would she throw me into the ocean?”

Gu Zhu glanced at her sideways, letting her take the opportunity to hold her hand. The back of her hand tingled a little as Bai Tan’s thumb rubbed against it. Seeing the mischievous glint in her eyes, Gu Zhu also smiled faintly. “You can try.”

Maybe not for now. It seemed that the little rascal’s “sister complex” hadn’t diminished from when she was a child. Bai Tan didn’t know how much Chang Yuehua knew about what had happened that year, so she decided to hold back, not wanting to add too many unnecessary surprises to this rare trip together.

When they arrived at Chang Yuehua’s house, not only was her uncle there, but there was also an unexpected person: L-N.

“Auntie, Uncle, Auntie L-N.”

Just as she finished greeting them, Gu Zhu was held tightly in Chang Yuehua’s embrace. She complained that Gu Zhu hadn’t come back to see this old lady in so long. Without waiting for her to speak, she impatiently asked about Gu Baozhi. “Your mom only ever says she’s ‘very good,’ ‘not bad,’ ‘won a few dollars playing cards with her roommate yesterday,’ or ‘made a new friend on a walk today.’ She never says anything bad. Of course, I hope it’s really the case, but without a definite answer, my heart is always uneasy.”

Gu Zhu hugged her back. Chang Yuehua had also started to get white hair, but she was still the same straightforward and warm-hearted person. Her aunt’s family was the best family she had besides Gu Baozhi. Gu Zhu was always very grateful and cherished them. She didn’t hide Gu Baozhi’s true condition. “The radiation therapy is working well for now, and Mom really misses you, too.” Without dwelling on it for too long, she straightened up and introduced the person behind her to Chang Yuehua. “Auntie, this is Bai Tan. I’ve brought her to bother you again this time.”

“Hello, Auntie. It’s been a while. I’m bothering you again!” Bai Tan went up and greeted Chang Yuehua, then nodded to L-N. “Long time no see, Auntie L-N.”

A few years ago, L-N had quit her job and returned to her hometown to become an elementary school art teacher. Her job was, of course, much more relaxed than before. When Gu Baozhi fainted, it was L-N who helped contact the hospital and get her to the provincial hospital in time for treatment.

Since she was the same age as Chang Yuehua, Bai Tan also followed Gu Zhu’s lead and called her “Auntie L-N.”

Chang Yuehua still remembered Bai Tan. As one of Gu Zhu’s rare good friends from her youth, she had left a very deep impression. When Gu Zhu called, she had told her she would bring a friend, but she didn’t expect it to be a familiar face. Her already happy mood became even more elevated. She felt a sense of joy, knowing that a precious friendship had continued for so many years without her knowing. She was genuinely happy for her junior. “Don’t be a stranger! I’m so happy you’re here! You can stay in that room you used to. It’s more convenient than having to clean up the old house.”

The old house was next door and had been empty for a long time. Although Chang Yuehua would tidy it up from time to time, as she said, it wasn’t as convenient as staying where they were. Gu Zhu didn’t refuse. She was only able to stay for two or three days before she had to go back. Gu Baozhi was still in the capital, and she couldn’t feel at ease.

After a lively meal, they settled into the familiar room. The layout of the room hadn’t changed, but the bedding and sheets were new. While Gu Zhu was in the shower, Bai Tan sat at the desk in the room, flipping through the books whose pages had yellowed a bit.

She even found a draft paper tucked inside one of the books. On the paper was a chemistry problem Gu Zhu had given her back then. She had used it to do the calculations but, unable to solve it, had drawn a little person with smoke coming out of its head.

Bai Tan silently smiled, as if she had seen the frantic version of herself who had been struggling with problems. Just then, the bathroom door opened. She looked over and saw a person in shorts and a T-shirt walking out.

As Gu Zhu came out, wiping her hair, her eyes paused on the draft paper in Bai Tan’s hand for a second. Her eyes flickered away, pretending not to see Bai Tan’s raised eyebrow and the meaningful smile in her eyes.

“I’m done. You can go wash up.”

Bai Tan put the draft paper back in the book, returned the book to its original position, and as she went to get her pajamas, she suddenly moved closer to Gu Zhu. “Oh, so you were interested in me back then?”

Gu Zhu lowered her eyes, grabbing the towel she was holding and throwing it over her head, not wanting her to get too smug. “No, it just got stuck in there by accident.”

Pulling the towel from her head, Bai Tan took another step closer. Afraid of offending her since she hadn’t showered yet, she maintained a respectful distance of one fist. Her gaze was intentionally slow, moving from Gu Zhu’s face down to her chest. Gu Zhu, who was not wearing a bra after her shower, had a distinct silhouette that lightly moved with her breathing.

Perhaps her gaze was too fiery, but the two points on her chest became even more prominent.

Gu Zhu’s fingers curled. Under Bai Tan’s teasing gaze, the tips of her ears, hidden under her wet hair, turned bright red. She pursed her lips, glaring at the culprit as if in playful anger.

Bai Tan covered her mouth and chuckled. Seeing her embarrassment, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed the corner of her mouth. “I was already bewitched by you back then.”

Compared to the present, where she could openly tease her, back then, when she didn’t yet understand love, she had been uncontrollably restless because of Gu Zhu.

In that youthful dream, she had long since fallen into a game of capturing a heart that could only belong to Gu Zhu and no one else.

So much so that today, she was still restless because of this person. Blood surged through every inch of her body, shouting that she had to possess that person.

That dream from eighteen years ago had come true.

The next morning, they went to eat the local breakfast. The usual breakfast spot, Changlai Breakfast, was gone, replaced by a dessert shop. Chang Ruzhen had truly left the town. After graduation, she worked at a large company with a high salary. After her father passed away, she took her mother and sister to live in another city.

Occasionally, she would come back, but only once every two or three years. Every time, she would come to visit the long-gone family members, and after she was done, she would leave without spending the night.

They had never run into each other. Chang Xiling was the one who told her. Their childhood friendship had continued, a true connection between childhood friends. To this day, they still made plans to meet and hang out every year.

After breakfast, they bought a bouquet of flowers at a flower shop and a cup of milk tea. This time, Bai Tan was driving. Gu Zhu sat in the passenger seat, holding the flowers and looking out at the mountains and reservoirs outside the window.

The weather was beautiful today. The trees in the cemetery had thick green leaves, reflecting the bright sunlight. In the nine years that had passed, Gu Zhu hadn’t walked down this road many times. In the first two years, she was actually afraid to come back. It was a kind of neurological stress response. As soon as she set foot on this path, she would be reminded of that chaotic afternoon and the rainy day she told Bai Tan they should break up.

One day, Chang Xiling suddenly bought her a cup of milk tea, the exact same one Su Li had bought her. She held the cup for a long, long time, then asked Chang Xiling for the shop’s address. She went and bought two more cups and drove to the cemetery alone.

Since then, she would come once a year whenever she went home. It was only these past two years, with her and Gu Baozhi in the capital, that she hadn’t come.

The photo of the girl on the tombstone had faded a little, but her youthful shyness seemed to be etched into time, still allowing Gu Zhu to clearly remember the person she had met that year.

She placed the flowers in front of the tombstone and, with Bai Tan, cleared away some weeds. She used the wet wipes they brought to wipe off the dust. Then she squatted down, and as if reminiscing, she slowly told her about her past two years:

“The old milk tea shop is gone. This is a new brand. Xiling said it’s very good, so I brought some for you to try.”

“Two months ago, I graduated with my doctorate. I’m finally not a student anymore.”

She paused, seeming to think her life was boring and hard to talk about. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like all she could say were similar things she had already said before. After a few seconds, she saw the person behind her and finally smiled a little. “Oh, that’s right. She and I made up. We’re back together now.”

“I think I’m really getting better. This time, I will get better.”

Gu Zhu touched the girl on the tombstone. A breeze blew, and the leaves swayed. A single four-leaf clover, from who knows where, suddenly fell in front of the stone. She picked it up, and with her fluttering eyelids lowered, a gentle light flowed from her eyes. “Goodbye. Next time, I’ll buy you a new milk tea.”

Picking up the cup she had placed in front of the tombstone, she gently clinked it against the stone. “Let’s pretend you finished it,” she said, then put in the straw and started drinking it herself.

Bai Tan held her free hand. When she looked back, she saw the girl on the tombstone as if she were watching them leave, and she said goodbye in her heart as well:

Until next time, my dear old friend.

On their way back, they met L-N at an intersection. She was also carrying a bamboo basket with the ends of some long incense sticks sticking out, probably containing some offerings.

Gu Zhu rolled down the car window and invited her to get in and go back with them. She didn’t ask where L-N had been or who she had visited, and L-N, by mutual understanding, didn’t say.

It was very hot in the summer. L-N wiped the sweat from her forehead. The air conditioning in the car wasn’t set too cold, so it didn’t feel like a sudden shock.

Time had made her gentler. L-N looked at the two people in front of her, then turned her head to look at the road she had come from. The mountains stretched on, and the forests were lush, enough to release a free soul.

The atmosphere in the car was peaceful. Their occasional conversations were about the young women’s work, Gu Baozhi’s condition, and when they would be leaving and how they would return.

Gu Zhu said, “We have to leave tomorrow morning. The new project is still in discussion. Whether it will be approved is something we have to discuss after we go back.”

“Our company is 100% sincerely inviting you and is very optimistic about the project’s development. Please go back and put in a good word for us, Dr. Gu. We really need your team’s technical support,” Bai Tan said with a laugh. When Gu Zhu looked at her, she cleared her throat. “Cough, after all, we’re family. Just put in a good word for me.”

Hearing the words “family members,” Gu Zhu flicked her hair and pursed her lips. “Family members also have to be fair and just.”

Seeing that she didn’t deny their status as family, Bai Tan laughed out loud.

Gu Zhu glanced at her and was too shy to say anything else.

Behind her, L-N’s face was always filled with a gentle smile. Her gaze was like that of a person watching two beloved juniors playfully bickering, filled with comfort and affection.

She was very happy to see that Gu Zhu was so cheerful. She hoped that Gu Zhu and the person she loved would live their lives happily and playfully like this.

The next morning, after saying goodbye to Chang Yuehua, Chang Xiling still drove them to the high-speed rail station. Chang Xiling waved and said with a smile, “Be careful on the road! See you next time, big sister. I’ll come find you soon!”

She no longer cried like she used to as a child after seeing someone off. She now knew very well which high-speed rail and which plane could take her to the person she missed.

Maybe she would still feel a little bit of loss right after they left, but as soon as she got home and lay down for a while and played a game with her friends, she would be the happy Chang Xiling again.

Anyway, they would see each other again, so there was no need to be sad, right?

…

Gu Zhu had to transfer in Yue City, so she and Bai Tan traveled together for a while. They stayed together until they had to go through security at the airport, and only then did they prepare to part ways.

As she pulled her luggage forward, Gu Zhu closed her eyes. The airport was filled with the sound of a bustling crowd, yet her heart still felt empty and lonely, like a lingering effect of that long separation from her youth. It made her unable to move forward.

She turned around and saw Bai Tan, who was also standing there, unwilling to leave.

Their gazes were locked on each other from a short distance. As if by a tacit understanding, they both suddenly quickened their pace, and just before they were about to run into each other, they reached out and embraced each other tightly.

“You have to come find me.”

“I’ll be waiting for you to find me.”

As soon as the words were spoken, one looked up and the other leaned down. Amidst the noisy crowd and the airport announcements, in a corner where no one lingered, they gently shared a kiss.

Support A Cold and Aloof Top Student Is Relied Upon