106 (Part 1) | Re-challenging the Entrance Exam
I said I wasn’t black bellied. Everything I said was true.
As she headed down to the parking lot with Gu Mingxi, Pang Qian couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said earlier. And then she burst out laughing.
He looked at her suspiciously and asked, “What are you laughing about?”
She cleared her throat, and then mimicked him, “Not big, 138 sqm. When we’re better off, we can buy a bigger one.” She laughed out joyously again. “Hahaha, Gu Mingxi, you’re so black bellied!”
He didn’t understand. “What’s black bellied mean?”
“Black bellied is, uh… On the surface, you seem really harmless, but you’re actually full of tricks.” Her lousy explanation left Gu Mingxi unhappy. “What do you mean I’m full of tricks?”
Pang Qian hugged him, and looked up at him cutely. “Okay, no tricks. Just a few thoughts.”
He looked down at her and laughed gently. “What I said was true.”
His expression was so warm, Pang Qian’s heart calmed. They stood at the exit to the hotel as the cold wind blew against their face. Pang Qian held him a bit more and said, “Gu Mingxi, don’t hold onto all those things that just happened.”
He nodded. “I know, I don’t mind about those things.”
But Pang Qian still didn’t quite understand. “But why do they treat you like that? Why do they go so overboard?”
“Don’t you work in finance? Can’t you tell?” Gu Mingxi used his nose to rub her forehead. Her skin was cold and his nose was cold too. “They think that right now, I have nothing. I didn’t come back for several years, but now that my dad’s divorced, I’m suddenly back. And I’m even saying that I’m getting married. To my family, it’s obvious that I’m here to get some family property.”
Pang Qian thought it was unimaginable. “Even if you were back for that, it’s got nothing to do with them! It’s your dad’s money, so what business is it of theirs?!”
“How can it be none of their business?” Gu Mingxi asked. “I’ve never been close to them, and they know that my dad didn’t like me much. My dad’s all about keeping face. Whenever my aunt goes to him with troubles, he’ll always help out, whether he’s got to spend money or connections. When my grandparents were sick, my dad was the one who payed for all the hospital fees, and of course, the doctors and nurses all praised him for being a dutiful son. Do you think my aunt and grandpa would be happy to see my dad giving me money?”
Living in a large and harmonious family, Pang Qian couldn’t understand this situation. She asked, “Gu Mingxi, why don’t they like you? You’re your dad’s son!”
He laughed. “You don’t know, but in the past, they never liked my mom because she was an outsider (from a different city/district). My grandpa always thought that my dad married my mom because he’d been entranced by her beauty. My grandpa always said that if my dad had found a wife with a better family and better qualifications, he’d be a lot better off now.”
Pang Qian was dumbstruck. “But I remember that your grandparents liked you a lot when you were little. Every time they came over to your house, they would bring toys and snacks.”
“That’s when I still had arms. After my amputation, how many times did you see them visit?” Gu Mingxi’s tone was even, as if he were talking about something very normal. “Pang Pang, I didn’t use to understand. I always wanted to do better, to be more outstanding, and then maybe my dad would like me, maybe my grandparents and aunt wouldn’t dislike me. When I was in high school, I finally realized that no matter how hard you tried, there were just some people’s opinions that you couldn’t change. If they were certain that you were a loser and a failure, certain that you had no prospects, certain that you were a disgrace that they couldn’t show to anyone, no matter what you did, they wouldn’t change their minds. They wouldn’t change the way they thought about you. So then, I came to accept (the unpleasant truth).”
Pang Qian’s heart ached. For all the years of torture he went through, for the fact that she never picked up on his feelings back then. And she felt guilty. She said, “When we were younger, you never told me any of this. You’re always like this, always keeping everything inside and not letting anyone know. You can’t keep doing that anymore.”
He responded, “I won’t. I’ll definitely tell you everything.”
Actually, Pang Qian didn’t know, but there were two people who helped him through his bitter adolescence. One was Li Han, and the other was her.
Gu Mingxi had done all he could and was unable to receive any sense of belonging, closeness, or recognition from Gu Guoxiang. The things he wanted – respect, reliance, trust, encouragement, and concern – he was able to get each and every one from Pang Qian.
That boisterous little girl was the person who’d relied on him the most in this world. When he was together with her, Gu Mingxi always felt needed. Even when things were difficult, he would turn to see Pang Qian’s timid expression, and then he wouldn’t be scared anymore. He bravely stood up straight to stand in front of her.
A couple pa.s.sed by them on the street, holding hands and slowly swinging them. Gu Mingxi’s gaze landed on their hands. This was his biggest regret, that he was unable to hold her hand. He was unable to hug her. And in the future, he would be unable to hug his child.
Pang Qian seemed to sense something and she tightened her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his warm chest. “It’s cold. I want to go home.”
Another gust of wind blew by. Pang Qian wasn’t wearing much, so she couldn’t help but s.h.i.+ver. Gu Mingxi pulled out of her arms and walked to the other side of her to block the wind. “Pang Pang, we can’t go home yet. Come with me to meet Qi jie at the tea house.”
She was doubtful. “Ah? Qi jie? She’s in E City?”
“Yeah. She’s on vacation with her husband and kid. They got into E City today and she invited me out.”
“I thought you were just making up an excuse.”
Gu Mingxi laughed. “I said I wasn’t black bellied. Everything I said was true.”
He really was a clever kid.
Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian hurred over to the tea house. Jiang Qi was already there, and she was extremely happy to see Gu Mingxi. She hugged him and then she hugged Pang Qian. The three of them sat down.
“Xiao Gu, you seem to be doing well.” Jiang Qi lamented, looking at Gu Mingxi across the table. “You really did head back to your hometown and you found your love. Right now, you’re so handsome that you’re even captivating a married woman like me.”
“Qi jie, don’t make fun of me.” Gu Mingxi’s face reddened and he glanced at Pang Qian. She rested her head in her hands as she smiled at him.
Jiang Qi brought some good news. The new book he put out last summer was selling really well. The first printing was nearly sold out, and they’d be doing a second print after the New Year holidays.
Jiang Qi asked, “What did you decide about the film rights we spoke about last time? Four companies, four plans. Did you compare them?”
Gu Mingxi apologized, “I’m really sorry, Qi jie. Pang Qian and I were really busy with exams last month. I still haven’t looked over the papers. I’ll definitely go over it in the next few days. After I discuss it with Pang Qian, I’ll get back to you with an answer.”
Jiang Qi glared at him. “Your efficiency’s really dropped.”
“I’m really sorry. You know, I’m busy with exams this year.” Gu Mingxi felt troubled. “After the college entrance exam is over, I’ll start working on my new draft right away. I’ll give you the synopsis next month and then we can discuss it then.”
Jiang Qi laughed. “Alright, I was just kidding. Your career’s on the rise, so you shouldn’t put out too many works all at once.” She paused a moment. “By the way, when are you and Pang Qian getting married?”
“After we get our acceptance letters.” Gu Mingxi glanced at Pang Qian and then laughed. “Qi jie, you don’t have to rush me. The exam is really important. Pang Qian said that I’ll only have a wife if I get into a school. If I don’t get in, I’ll just have to live as a bachelor.”
“Gu Mingxi!” Pang Qian’s face burned with embarra.s.sment and she smacked him in the side. “Don’t distort my words!”
Jiang Qi laughed out loud. “I used to think that someone as introverted as Xiao Gu would surely find a gentle and tender girlfriend. Now I realize that actually he changes when he dates. It’s really so unexpected.”
The three of them spent two hours at the tea house chatting very happily. When they were about to part, Jiang Qi told Gu Mingxi that the movie script for My Miss Crab had already been completed and all the investments were in place as well. They were currently casting and would start filming soon.
“Wow!” Pang Qian asked excitedly, “Who’s acting in it?”
“We don’t know yet. The actors auditioning are mostly unknowns.” Jiang Qi glanced over at Gu Mingxi and said, “Originally, the production company wanted to bring on the original writer to help with the script, but Xiao Gu declined. The two of you could have come by the set otherwise.”
After saying goodbye to Jiang Qi, Pang Qian went home with Gu Mingxi. On the way, she asked, “Why didn’t you agree to work together for the script?”
“I don’t have any experience with it and I was busy studying. Moreover, when the adaptation rights for the movie turned into money, I told myself that this story would have nothing else to do with us,” he answered very seriously. “Our story only exists in the book that I drew. The one that’s going to get filmed is a different story. No matter how the adaptation turns out, I won’t express any opinions on it.”
Pang Qian suddenly thought up another question. “In the movie, what are our names?”
“I don’t know either.” Gu Mingxi laughed. “When it starts airing in theaters, we’ll find out.”
The car arrived at the Prosperous North and Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi took the elevator up to the 22nd floor. She pulled out the keys and opened the door. Then she turned on the living room light.
A warm yellow glow lit up the living room. Pang Qian took off her shoes and immediately went to help Gu Mingxi who was trying to take his off. She had him sit down and then she crouched down to help him take off his shoes. “One pair of these costs more than 2000 dollars. If you take them off like that, they’ll get ruined very quickly.”
He muttered, “How petty.”
She recalled that he’d told her that he footed the bill at the restaurant and then glared at him. “You’re the one who’s too generous!”
The two of them changed into slippers, a pair of fuzzy monkey couple slippers. Pang Qian turned on the heat and helped Gu Mingxi take off his coat and told him to go wash up.
After Gu Mingxi showered, he changed into a pair of velvet pajamas. When he stepped out of the bathroom, he heard the whirring of the kitchen exhaust fan. He walked over and then saw Pang Qian with an ap.r.o.n on, cooking noodles in the brightly lit kitchen.
A pot of noodles was bubbling on the stove, and on the counter, there were two bowls with fried eggs. One bowl had one, and the other had two.
Pang Qian cut up some vegetables and dumped them into the pot. After awhile, she turned off the stove and turned to look at Gu Mingxi who was standing at the door.
She laughed. “I didn’t really eat anything for dinner, so I’m starving. I figured it was the same for you.”
He nodded. “I am pretty hungry.”
“Taste what I made!” She waved the soup spoon in an arc through the air. “If it’s too bland, you can add salt. If it’s too salty, you can add water. In any case, you can’t say it tastes bad!”
Of course he wouldn’t say it tasted bad. Not only did he finish the noodles, vegetables, and eggs, he even drank all the soup in the bowl.
Pang Qian cleaned up the kitchen and then showered before heading to the bedroom. Gu Mingxi was already lying on the bed, watching TV.
She climbed into the bed and then Gu Mingxi moved over slightly. “The bed’s all warm now.”
“Good boy.” She hugged him and with a soft voice, she said, “Gu Mingxi, sometimes I really wonder if we’ve already gotten married.”
“Huh?” He didn’t seem to understand.
“What’s the difference between us and a married couple?” Pang Qian curled her lips. “Did you hypnotize me, and we’ve actually already registered our marriage?”
“No.” He raised his chin to look at her. “We can register our marriage anytime. You’re the one who said we had to wait until after he entrance exams.”
She pouted and murmured, “How insincere.”
“Mm? What did you say?”
“Nothing.” She suddenly straddled him and started unb.u.t.toning his pajamas. “What I was saying is that we should get started on homework.”
Startled, he gaped at her without saying a single thing. She’d already leaned in for a deep kiss.
……
After the Spring Festival, by the suggestion of his ‘manager’ Pang Qian, Gu Mingxi sold the full rights to another book. He handed the 800 thousand dollar bank card over to Pang Qian and said that it was a late Valentine’s Day present, and that his manager should take care of the finances.
She was unhappy. “Why did the price drop for this? Is it because they don’t like you?”
Gu Mingxi smiled. “No, this just isn’t as popular as My Miss Crab.”
“Oh!” She held her face shyly.” I know, it’s because I’m just too cute!”
She suddenly gave him a nonsense suggestion. “Actually, you can draw the sequel to My Miss Crab, and you can call it My Crab Wife. And then you can do My Crab Son, My Crab Grandson… Then we’ll never run out of money!”
Gu Mingxi, “…”
At the start of March, Fudan released the score cutoff for the first exam. Pang Qian successfully pa.s.sed and received the opportunity to take the second round exam in Shanghai at the end of March.
Zou Liwen gave Pang Qian a call and told her to arrange a weekend for him to take her to Shanghai.
“I’ll introduce you to an advisor,” he said. “The next exam also has an interview portion. Discussing things with an advisor first is really important.”
Pang Qian was so touched she nearly cried. On the day they set out, Zou Liwen drove to their building. Through his rearview mirror, he saw Pang Qian and a young man walking over.
The man was pretty tall and compared to that photo, he seemed to have matured greatly. Zou Liwen’s gaze swept over the man’s empty s.h.i.+rt sleeves and then he lowered the car window.
Pang Qian had already bent over and said, “Team Leader, I’m bringing a family member along today. That’s not a problem, right?”
Zou Liwen helplessly shook his head. “Would I be able to send your boyfriend back upstairs?”
“No.” Pang Qian giggled as she opened the back door and got in with Gu Mingxi. She said, “Team Leader, let me give an introduction. Gu Mingxi, my boyfriend. Zou Liwen, my team leader.”
“Former team leader,” Zou Liwen added as he started the car.
“No, no, no. You’ll still be my team leader in the future.” Pang Qian’s mouth seemed like it was covered in honey. “Team Leader, I don’t want to be jobless after graduation. Please take care of me in the future.”
Gu Mingxi couldn’t help laughing. “Mr Zou, h.e.l.lo.”
“h.e.l.lo.”
Zou Liwen felt that he was a professional driver. The entire drive, sitting in the backseat, Pang Qian prattled on nonstop. Gu Mingxi occasionally said a few things, but Zou Liwen concentrated on driving and didn’t say a single thing. After driving for half an hour, Pang Qian suddenly said, “Aiya, I forgot to eat the breakfast I brought.” She pulled out a plastic bag and asked Zou Liwen, “Team Leader, do you want some pancakes? My boyfriend made them. They’re really good.”
Zou Liwen, “No, thanks, I’ve already eaten.”
Pang Qian didn’t continue the courtesies and just ate the pancakes. She also fed Gu Mingxi two pieces.
The car was filled with the smell of scallion pancakes. Zou Liwen took off his sungla.s.ses. When it came to Pang Qian, he was always at his wits’ end.
When they arrived in Shanghai, Zou Liwen drove to his alma mater, Fudan University. He contacted the advisor and brought Pang Qian to his office. Gu Mingxi waited downstairs for them. After awhile, he suddenly grew curious about the campus, so he started strolling around on his own.
He walked down the street and pa.s.sed by a school building. There were lush trees growing by the road, and then groups of young students pa.s.sed by him. Some of them noticed his distinctness, but they didn’t show surprise. Instead, they smiled slightly at him, and Gu Mingxi returned their smiles. He continued walking until he saw the Fudan landmark– the 142m tall Guanghua Building.
“As the dawn comes again, so does the sun s.h.i.+ne and the moon glow.”
–Each and every day, the light of the sun and moon s.h.i.+nes on this place.
Gu Mingxi stood in front of the Guanghua building and looked up at it. This was a pretty new buliding, but standing before it, Gu Mingxi felt so very small.
He suddenly felt very jealous that Pang Qian would have the chance to study at this place of higher education, to become a part of this school’s legacy. He recalled many years ago that he and Pang Qian had sat side by side on a park bench. She told him that she wanted to go to school in Shanghai. Gu Mingxi laughed and asked if there was a school she wanted to go do.
Her eyes lit up as she said, “Yes! Fudan!”
At the time, they were so very young.
Pang Qian and Zou Liwen walked out of the advisor’s office and gave Gu Mingxi a call. He said he was at the school motto wall.
The two of them headed over to find him. As they walked around the campus, Pang Qian took in the unfamiliar scenery and atmosphere of the school and she grew excited.
Meanwhile, Zou Liwen’s expression was very light. His hands were hooked at his pants pockets as he pointed out the things Pang Qian had to remember for the second round exam. When they pa.s.sed the basketball court, he suddenly stopped and looked that way a moment before walking on with Pang Qian.
Pang Qian turned to look at him and asked curiously, “Team Leader, did you suddenly remember your college girlfriend?”
Zou Liwen glanced at her. “You seem to be very interested in my love life.”
“Of course not!” Pang Qian cried out innocently. “All the female employees at Jialai know that I’m your disciple, so they kept asking me about it.”
Zou Liwen smiled.
Pang Qian asked gutsily, “Team Leader, you’re already 36. Why don’t you get a girlfriend?”
“None of your business.” Zou Liwen asked, “You know, Yu Jialei’s getting married next month.”
Pang Qian’s eyes widened. “Really? Tell him I said congratulations, but I won’t make it to his wedding.”
“I might not go to the wedding.”
“Ah? Why not? Yu Jialei said that you two were best friends for many years.”
“…” He paused for a moment and then said, “I just don’t want to run into my ex-girlfriend.”
Dark lines crossed Pang Qian’s face. (Note: The expression alludes to those black lines that drop down on someone’s face in cartoons and stuff)
When they were nearly at the school motto wall, Pang Qian saw that particular figure in the distance and her eyes immediately lit up. Her expression softened as well.
Zou Liwen looked at her. Quickly and quietly, he said, “Pang Qian, do you remember when you first showed me the picture of you and your boyfriend? At the time, I just felt that you’d end up with him in the end.”
Pang Qian turned and looked at him with surprise. Zou Liwen had never smiled so warmly before. “My ex-girlfriend and I were childhood friends too, but we weren’t as fortunate as you two.”
Pang Qian walked over to Gu Mingxi who was still staring at the school motto wall.
“Rich in knowledge and tenacious of purposes, inquiring with earnestness and reflecting with self-practice.”
Pang Qian hugged Gu Mingxi and asked, “What’s this mean?”
Gu Mingxi thought for a moment and then said, “Probably something like people should study extensively and have a firm goal in mind. You have to be curious and ask questions. You shouldn’t have unrealistic fantasies, but rather consider things from your situation.”
She frowned. “Why are you being so profound?”
“It’s not being profound.” Gu Mingxi laughed. “Pang Pang, I wish you success in your next exam. When you become a part of this school, all of your history will embody this motto.
