Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 25

“Don’t cry.”

Wei Chuan was at a loss. Growing up with three older sisters, each fiercer than the last, he had been the one on the receiving end of their beatings, always the one left in tears.

Seeing Meng Tang so upset in front of him now, all he could think to say was, “Don’t cry.”

She had shed tears in front of him before, but for some inexplicable reason, this time it unsettled him deeply.

The torn manuscript bore crumpled marks. Wei Chuan tilted his head, trying to get a clearer look at her.

“Did someone ruin your work?”

Meng Tang wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her voice choked. “And the finished piece for the competition, someone slashed it with a knife.”

Wei Chuan’s handsome face darkened. “Do you know who did it?”

Meng Tang shook her head. “The department is already investigating.”

He reached out and helped her up. “Crouching here won’t solve anything. Come on, tell me what happened.”

Her legs were slightly numb. Clutching her folder, Meng Tang followed Wei Chuan as they turned left into the wisteria-covered corridor.

Once she had calmed down, Wei Chuan asked, “Do you suspect anyone?”

Meng Tang shook her head again. “There’s a girl in my class who doesn’t get along with me, but I don’t want to accuse anyone. I’ll just wait for the department’s findings.”

Her voice was hoarse and subdued from crying. Wei Chuan glanced at her, her eyes were rimmed with red, the tip of her nose tinged pink, and her gaze, though watery, remained clear and bright.

“You really scared me just now, crying like that.” Wei Chuan cleared his throat awkwardly, as though something was stuck in it.

Meng Tang pressed her lips together. “First-year woodcarving classes are all theory. We don’t get to use knives until second year, but I already knew how, so the teacher never restricted me.”

“With all the coursework in first year, I spent my free time carving for an entire semester.”

She had painstakingly shaped it from a rough block, one careful cut at a time. When she sent a photo to her grandfather, even he had praised it, though only for the technique, saying the artistic conception was a bit lacking.

The process of creating a mature, complete piece hadn’t felt like work to her. Instead, she had found endless joy in it.

Whoever had disregarded her effort and callously destroyed her work might as well have taken a knife to her own flesh.

That was why she was so angry. And so hurt.

Wei Chuan’s concern seemed to be the trigger for her tears.

“Don’t worry. If the department is investigating, they’ll find out.” Wei Chuan tried to reassure her. “What’s your plan now?”

“Repair it and submit it for the competition,” Meng Tang said.

She needed to return to her dorm first to put away the manuscript, then retrieve the damaged piece from the exhibition room and take it to the restoration studio.

Wei Chuan arched an eyebrow. “It can still be fixed?”

Meng Tang nodded. “Yes.”

“Even if it can be fixed, it’ll still take a lot of effort,” Wei Chuan said. “I actually came to ask you about the small woodcarving piece, but-”

Meng Tang quickly interjected, “Don’t worry, it won’t delay your confession.”

What he wanted was simple, she could finish it in a few days if she worked on it continuously. Even with her schedule, a month was more than enough time.

“That’s not what I meant,” Wei Chuan said, inexplicably irritated by her words. “With the sports meet, fitness tests, and now this, plus your classes, you’re definitely swamped. I’m in no rush.”

Meng Tang lifted her eyes. “If you’re not in a rush, why did you come to me about it?”

“I-” Wei Chuan faltered. “I… actually came because of the message you sent last night.”

Meng Tang frowned. “Was there something wrong with the message?”

“You’ve mastered the three-step layup?” As he spoke, he reached up and brushed aside a hanging wisteria vine.

Meng Tang nodded. “Pretty much.”

“So…” Wei Chuan rubbed his hands together. “You don’t need me anymore?”

“Alright, I shouldn’t hold you up from your competition.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Wei Chuan replied immediately. “How could you possibly hold me up?”

“But I’ve really learned enough by now. I can practice on my own from here.”

“…Fine.”

“Do you have anything else?” As she spoke, Meng Tang stood up. “I need to take my things back to the dorm. I have a lot to do this afternoon.”

Wei Chuan followed her out and pressed, “Not even a quick meal together?”

Meng Tang shook her head. “No, I have food in the dorm. I’ll just grab something quick.”

“You-”

“I’ll head out first.”

Wei Chuan awkwardly withdrew his outstretched hand.

Back in the dorm, Meng Tang didn’t say a word. She nibbled on two slices of bread, washed an apple, grabbed a bottle of milk, and left.

“Where are you off to?” Xie Lingyin called after her.

“Got some things to take care of. I’m heading out early.”

Xie Lingyin muttered under her breath, “Workaholic.”

Before the wooden sculpture could be moved from the exhibition room, Meng Tang needed to conduct a thorough inspection.

Most student works were stored on temporary racks, but her piece, The Blind Monk Listening to the Qin, had been placed in the exhibition room shortly after completion, her teacher had insisted it be kept for display or competitions.

The exhibition room had protective measures in place, and the environment was temperature-controlled.

Moving it to the restoration room required similar precautions to prevent further damage.

At the door, three of her classmates, two boys and a girl, were waiting.

Meng Tang paused. “What are you all doing here?”

“The dean asked us to help out. Plus, we wanted to learn from you.”

Meng Tang nodded. “Thanks.”

Moving it alone would have been difficult.

One of the boys added, “The restoration room is still a ways off. I borrowed a cart.”

Meng Tang gave a quiet “Mm” and unlocked the exhibition room door.

She removed the glass case covering the sculpture and carefully examined it with a 3D digital magnifier, marking the position, depth, and angle of each scratch.

Turning back, she said, “Could you all help me prepare acid-free paper towels and foam boards for stabilization? I need to hurry to the restoration room for pre-treatment and check for any chemical residue.”

“But it’s just scratches. Why test for chemical residue?”

“The tools used to damage it might have acidic components, like fingerprint oils. The scratches on the monk’s robe folds were made by a low-quality carbon steel blade, iron oxides can cause localized darkening in the wood.”

“Meng Tang, you’re seriously amazing.”

She showed no sign of pleasure at the praise, forcing a faint smile as she replied earnestly, “I appreciate your help.”

“No, no, we’re the ones benefiting.”

They worked quickly, transporting the sculpture before their next class.

Fortunately, the inspection revealed no severe chemical corrosion.

To restore it, she’d need to categorize the treatment based on scratch depth and wood characteristics.

The varying depths meant different pre-treatment methods.

Meng Tang skipped her afternoon class.

With a soft-bristled brush, she gently swept the scratched surfaces to remove dust, then used degreased cotton dipped in a small amount of anhydrous alcohol to wipe along the wood grain, as tenderly as if handling an infant.

Her focus was absolute, her awareness of time lost.

From midday till sunset, the hours crystallized like amber.

Her phone vibrated several times, but she didn’t notice.

After treatment, the wood needed two or three days in a controlled environment to stabilize.

Given her circumstances, the restoration room granted her unrestricted access, but it closed at 9 PM.

By the time she left, it was already 8:30. Her neck and back were stiff with tension.

The evening wind howled as the sky grew dark and overcast.

Meng Tang looked up at the gathering storm clouds, was it about to rain?

After hesitating for two minutes, she turned and headed toward the track. A few laps, then back to sleep, she probably wouldn’t be that unlucky.

When she arrived, quite a few people were still out for a nighttime run. Reassured, Meng Tang started jogging along the outer lane, keeping to her own pace.

Two laps later, her gloom had completely lifted.

Breathing heavily, she kept pace with the others. Most were running at least two kilometers, and she felt too embarrassed to drop out of the pack.

Then the wind howled past the tall lampposts, BANG! a deafening crash, and suddenly, the track plunged into darkness.

“What happened? Did the light fall?”

Runners came to a stop as people turned on their phone flashlights.

A fierce gust swept through, and someone shouted, “Let’s go, it’s about to rain!”

No sooner had the words left their mouth than raindrops began pelting down.

Meng Tang stood frozen for a second, stunned.

“What are you waiting for?” A figure darted up from behind and grabbed her wrist.

Startled, she instinctively tried to pull away.

“Don’t move, I’ll take you somewhere dry.”

Half of his face turned toward her, illuminated by the crisscrossing beams of a dozen phone lights.

It was Wei Chuan.