Chapter 6 (5)

  Qian Rong: "In that case, it doesn't make much sense. What's done cannot be undone, things are already set in stone. It's like a wooden boat has already been built, might as well break up, Truth!" He directly praised his own words as the truth, fortunately his dad's power and authority were slightly lacking, otherwise this statement might have become law.

  "What did she bring up?"

  Qian Rong hastily said: "Of course, I dumped her." The biggest difference between today's love and the past is that life is short. However, although sparrows are small, they have all five internal organs; today's love may be short-lived, but it doesn't lack any necessary steps. Another difference is breaking up. In the past, people were afraid of being heartless, even if the bird had flown away, they didn't want to speak out. But modern people all vie to be heartless, so as to boast about being the proactive dumper, rather than being the unfortunate one who was dumped.

  Yu Xiang secretly admired Qian Rong, while he himself was forced to be meticulous and had a feeling of being deceived.

  Qian Rong asked: "Go for a stroll, fishing net, how about it?"

  Yu Xiang deeply knows that Qian Rong will definitely say he didn't bring money when it's time to pay, and let others pay first. Moreover, Qian Rong is more adept at evading debts than the US government. He makes excuses saying: "The city is strictly controlled now."

  "Whatever, just pretend, who cares?"

  Yu Xiang thought so too, nowadays as an official, apart from eating and drinking well, they also need to socialize extensively. In their busy schedule, where is the time for leisure activities like cutting off financial resources? It's too tiring for them to handle such trivial matters. This lie is a big loss of face.

  "No, I'm feeling a bit unwell in my stomach."

  "Never mind, I'll go."

  After Qian Rong left, the dormitory returned to silence, and it was unbearable. Yu Xiang decided to go out of the campus for a walk. The sky had already darkened, and the wind outside began to carry a chill, piercing through Yu Xiang's heart with coldness. The long road in front of Shi Nan San Zhong seemed endless, and as Yu Xiang walked, it was as if he was treading on memories, his thoughts surging like a tide with every step.

  The wind grew stronger and the night darker. The campus was desolate, making one not want to make a sound. The books in Zhongshu Building had not been sorted out yet, so it couldn't be opened, and it's said that Nansan Middle School is going to set up a campus network, requiring all book titles to be input into the computer, but the staff typed extremely slowly with five strokes, and by the time they finished typing one character, the computer could have been updated several generations. By the time they finish typing and it's open, I'm afraid computers will have evolved to fly. The only place in school that can provide students with a weekend retreat was closed, like a dark underworld, of course no one would stay behind - except for those lovers, who found the environment of the dark underworld most suitable for them, because the campus couples were like medieval vampires from ghost stories, fond of running into the darkness. Yu Xiang happened to be on his anniversary of losing love, and had no heart to play the role of vampire count, nor was he interested in being a clock spirit, so he just walked silently with his head down.

  As soon as he walked out of the school gate, everything around him lit up, and he was surrounded by lights. The high school inside seemed to be separated from the outside world by a generation gap. There were not many shops on this street, but there were many lights and cars, making it seem lively. Yu Xiang sat under the streetlight, listening to the sound of cars whizzing by, feeling lost in thought.

  Three or four students started running towards the computer room. Those poor computers, in order to avoid being caught, had to learn from prostitutes and operate at night. There were five computer rooms near the Third Middle School of Shicheng District that operated openly, not counting those called "study centers" and "network paradise". The people who inspected them could tell at a glance that they were victims of China's rigid education system back then, and only sealed off places with signs saying "computer game hall". It was as if they saw Mao Zedong and knew he was the chairman, but when they saw Mao Runze, they didn't recognize him, let alone Mao Shisan. Yu Xiang gazed at the students rushing past him, envying their happiness to death.

  The night begins with a gentle and deep tone. The autumn nights are the most urgent, as if they were going to buy tickets for a Class A football match, always having to wait in line for several hours in advance. The big clock at the customs house strikes "dong dong" incessantly. The sound disperses into the night sky, making it even more desolate and empty. The orange-yellow streetlights reflect off the streets, evoking a sense of coldness and isolation in Rui Xiang's heart.

  A person carrying a large bag with a student-like appearance stopped in front of Yu Xiang and asked, "Classmate, do you want earphones, portable music players, or wallets?"

  Yu Xiang originally wanted to hurry away, but when he lifted his head and saw that person's tired face, he slowed down and said: "What's wrong, let me take a look."

  That person was delighted and took out a portable radio, his eyes shining as he said: "This is the real Sony, made in Malaysia, it's great!"

  "I'll give it a try."

  That person saw Yu Xiang had the desire to buy, and quickly got busy putting on a good show, picking out a decent-looking pair of headphones after half a day. He tried to plug them in twice, but they ended up crooked outside the hole, his technique even more awkward than the Chinese men's soccer team's footwork. On the third try, he finally managed to get them plugged in, and put on a test track. To prevent the machine from getting pre-exam jitters, he listened to it himself first, making sure there was sound before handing the earbuds over to Yu Xiang to wear.

  The lyrics inside moved his heart again. The voice was really too broken, and with the machine being broken, many words couldn't be understood, only fragments could be made out: "I saw...the lamp in the distance, disappearing into the sky in an instant...all the bridges leading to you are not connected...my face washed by the rain, can't see a familiar scene...strange...strange people with strange faces...a strange city and a strange sky...can't find a familiar corner for my heart to settle...your brilliant lamp in the distance...when will it shine in my sky..."

  That person's heart ached and said: "How is it? Is it clear?"

  "Okay."

  He turned off his Walkman and asked, "Want one?"

  "How much?"

  "One hundred and sixty yuan."

  Yu Xiang repeated in surprise. The man misunderstood, thinking it was too expensive, and then seemed to be afraid of being heard by the streetlights, leaning down and whispering: "This is smuggled goods, this price is already very cheap, if you want it, I'll make it a bit cheaper."

  Yu Xiang originally had no intention of buying, but after that person's words, his heart was itching to move, and he casually said: "One hundred and fifty."

  That man pretended to think for a long time and finally said with great pain, as if cutting off a piece of flesh: "One hundred and fifty - just one hundred and fifty."

  Yu Xiang had no choice but to fork out the cash, spending one and a half weeks' worth of living expenses. The man thanked him profusely before turning around and disappearing into the night.

  At this time, Yu Xiang began to carefully examine the machine. It looked like it had escaped from Bosnia, with scratches and bruises all over its body - its appearance was ugly, but what Chinese people value most is inner beauty. Unfortunately, the machine's interior was not beautiful either. As soon as it started playing a tune, it went out of tune. The machine seemed to have gained human-like qualities, feeling embarrassed by its own unpleasant sound and refusing to make another peep.

  Yu Xiang sighed, thinking that 150 yuan had gone like this, the heartache of losing love turned into the heartache of losing money. After a while, both of them fell ill at the same time, and Yu Xiang was so worried that he became anxious and flustered.

  So close to the streetlight. The people on the street began to thin out, and Rain also started to feel a little empty in the world.