91 | Ends of the Earth
Gu Mingxi, have you gone mad? Why are you crying and laughing at the same time?

A tear fell onto her arm.

Gu Mingxi recalled the words he told Dou Dou earlier that morning. “You’re a boy, you can’t love crying so much.” But now, his own eyes were all red. If Dou Dou saw him, he’d definitely make fun of him.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help laughing. Pang Qian put her face next to his. She said, “Gu Mingxi, have you gone mad? Why are you crying and laughing at the same time?”

Her kiss landed on his eyes. After helping him get rid of his tears, she loosened her embrace and sat down beside him. She turned to look at him.

His head was bowed deeply, his eyes drooping. His body shook a bit. Pang Qian stroked his face and called to him, “Gu Mingxi, Gu Mingxi…”

She held his face in her hand, her thumb wiping away the tears. Finally, her own voice started choking up. “You’re the worst. I already decided that I wasn’t going to cry. And in the end, you actually cried, even though you’re a grown man. Does that make sense?”

Pang Qian’s tears spilled out from her eyes. Gu Mingxi finally lifted his head to look at her. Both of their eyes were red, their faces covered in tears. But in front of each others’ eyes was the face that was engraved deeply into their minds.

“Gu Mingxi, let me take a good look at you.” Her finger gently stroked his face, from his eyebrows to his eyes, and then his nose, lips, chin… He was no longer that fair and pretty youth. But he also didn’t look as dark, thin, or sloppy as he had six years ago. Gu Mingxi had grown into a grown up man now. His complexion was a bit darker and well built. There were distinctive contours on his face. A straight nose, thin lips, a firm and sharp chin. He’d lost the softness and innocence of youth.

But the eyes he used to look at her were still the same as all those years ago. Gentle, pure, as vast as the sea.

Pang Qian smiled through her tears. “Gu Mingxi, it’s really you! How can you be like this, hiding in such a faraway place? Do you know how hard it’s been searching for you?”

He hadn’t spoken yet. At this moment, he opened his mouth and gently called to her, “Pang Pang.”

“Ey!” Pang Qian’s tears started falling again. Gu Mingxi felt it was just incredible. He called her once again, “Pang Pang.”

“Ey! It’s me!”

“Pang Pang, Pang Pang…”

“It’s me, it’s me!”

“Pang Pang.”

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He suddenly straightened up, his chest out, sitting stiffly next to Pang Qian. His shoulders had grown more broad and his chest more thick. He tried his best to embrace her with what was left of his shoulders. She was surrounded by his scent, the very same one in her memories. Pang Qian broke out in tears and immediately held onto him, hugging him tightly in her arms. She called out loudly, “Gu Mingxi! Gu Mingxi! It’s me! It’s me! I’m warning you, this is the last time! If you dare to leave without a sound again, I’m going to post all your private information onto the internet! Your photo too! I’m going to let all your female fans see what an a.s.shole their beloved Mister Ostrich really is!”

Gu Mingxi couldn’t help it and suddenly let out a laugh. He straightened up again, staring at the girl in front of him.

She was very pretty now.

He felt very surprised. It was clearly her face and her facial features, but right now, Pang Qian looked so elegant and beautiful. She had a head of shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, and she wasn’t wearing any makeup. She had on a floral dress, and he could see her elegant shoulders and her delicate collarbone. Her skin was white and pale, her expression still as fresh and lively as before.

Pang Qian crinkled her nose and made a face at him. She said, “What, scared now? Gu Mingxi, I’m telling you, I’m a person who keeps my word. If you play around and go missing again, I’m going to mobilize the entire nation to find you!”

After she finished, she pulled out a napkin and wiped away her own tears along with Gu Mingxi’s. Speaking to herself, she said, “Good thing I had foresight. I knew I would cry when I saw you, so I didn’t put on any makeup. If I had, you’d be laughing so much at me right now.”

Gu Mingxi lips sprang up and he smiled particularly happily.

This was really his Pang Pang. The one always by his side, who loved to make trouble, the girl who loved crying. She’d grown up, but she hadn’t changed.

Pang Qian finally calmed herself. She was a bit thirsty when she spotted the iced coffee on the table. She grabbed it and took a sip. Gu Mingxi said, “I already drank from it.”

Pang Qian gulped down half the cup and put it back on the table. She bent over, closed her eyes, and kissed him on the lips.

He immediately tasted the thick scent of coffee from her mouth. Cold and sweet. As she pecked his lips, she said, “I drank some too. Do you mind?”

Their foreheads touched, and he smiled and shook his head.

Pang Qian looked at him playfully and stuck out her tongue. “Then that’s fine.”

In order to give them ample time to get reacquainted, Jiang Qi stayed away from the terrace for half an hour. Seeing Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi sitting side by side, smiling happily, Jiang Qi also felt very happy. She sat across from them. “This is the most beautiful Christmas I’ve ever had. After I read Xiao Gu’s story for the first time, I cried for half a day. I kept thinking, how could Miss Crab bear to live this kid? Now, the stone weighing my heart down has finally been released. Seeing you two reunite because of the book I put out makes me really happy. Working as Xiao Gu’s editor for four years, watching him all by himself, I really wanted to see him get his happy ending.”

The three of them had lunch together. Jiang Qi and Gu Mingxi also discussed work. It was nearly the new year. Jiang Qi told Gu Mingxi that with the new year, the company hoped that Gu Mingxi would be able to put out two books. One in the summer, and another at the end of the year.

“I know that you have a heavy workload, but Xiao Gu, considering how popular “Crab” is right now, we really should strike while the iron’s hot. I know that there are a lot of companies trying to sign your next book now, and their royalties might be higher. But the Team Leader said that if your new book is published with us, your royalties will definitely go up, and you’ll definitely be satisfied. The Team Leader means for you to be at ease. Since we’ve worked together for so many years now, from when you were unknown to all your fame now, I hope that I’ll be able to keep working with you. And you know the att.i.tude of our publis.h.i.+ng house. Our production and promotion are both industry-leading. So, Xiao Gu, I hope that as you develop ideas for your new book, you’ll be able to continue discussing them with me.”

Pang Qian was having pasta as she listened from the side. She asked, “Gu Mingxi, how much do you get in royalties for a book?”

Gu Mingxi turned to look at her, his expression a bit shy. He said, “Not much.”

Jiang Qi covered her mouth and laughed. “This, it’s an industry secret. We signed a confidentiality agreement with Xiao Gu, so he can’t leak that information.”

“So mysterious?” Pang Qian was surprised. “Even family can’t know?”

Jiang Qi said, “That’s not entirely the case. If a wife and husband discuss things in their own private time, you and I both know, there’s naturally nothing we can do.”

Gu Mingxi’s face reddened and he lowered his head. His foot grabbed onto his fork and twisted up his pasta. Pang Qian glanced over at him and said quietly, “He and I… rarely have secrets.”

After lunch, the sun was s.h.i.+ning down strongly. The boss put up an umbrella for shade. Pang Qian went inside to look at the magazines, leaving Gu Mingxi and Jiang Qi to chat on the terrace. The air conditioning was on inside the cafe. She sat by the window, the warm sun s.h.i.+ning on her making her sleepy. Not long after, she fell asleep on the sofa.

Sleeping for some time, she suddenly felt a gentle touch on her ankle. Pang Qian opened her eyes and saw Gu Mingxi sitting beside her, reaching over to her ankle with his foot.

“You’re done?” Pang Qian sat up and looked over to the terrace. Jiang Qi was already gone. She asked, “Where’s Qi?”

“She went to the airport.” Gu Mingxi smiled slightly.

“How long did I sleep for?”

“Not long, about an hour.” He looked at her and said, “Pang Pang, let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“To the school where I work.” As he spoke, he gently caressed her smooth leg with his foot. Pang Qian looked down at the chain around his right ankle. It was the small stone she’d gifted him.

Such a (monetarily) worthless chain, and he actually wore it for so many years.

He said, “Did Qi tell you that I’m working as a teacher now?”

Pang Qian nodded. “She mentioned it to me. You live at the school?”

“Yeah, the school dorms.” Gu Mingxi stood up and looked at Pang Qian’s luggage. He said, “Pang Pang, let’s go. I’ll take you to see the school. It’s Christmas today, and a few of the teachers agreed to have a party tonight.”

Pang Qian dragged her luggage along. Gu Mingxi said they ought to take a taxi, and Pang Qian asked, “How did you get here?”

Gu Mingxi smiled, “I took the bus.”

“Then we can just take the bus back.” Pang Qian wore a large straw hat and looked around excitedly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve taken the bus with you. We’re not in a rush anyway. No need to take a taxi.”

Gu Mingxi had no other option, so he the two of them took the bus back. Luckily, the bus wasn’t crowded. They still sat at the very back.

Hainan’s sky was ridiculously blue, and the air was especially nice. Pang Qian sat by the window and watched the beautiful Sanya scenery pa.s.sing by. She felt very relaxed and pleasant. It was the week of Christmas, and though it wasn’t cold at all, many shops still hung up Christmas decorations. Having come from the cold E City, Pang Qian felt like she was dreaming here, with the warm winter outside and the warm Gu Mingxi beside her.

The bus swayed and started up as Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi started chatting. She asked, “When did you come to Sanya?”

Gu Mingxi answered, “Three years ago, at the end of ’07.”

“Why did you decide to come here?”

“Because it’s very warm here. I don’t have to wear thick clothes all year long.” He lifted his foot for her to see. “Look, I can wear sandals in December. It’s much more convenient for me.”

Pang Qian looked at his feet and then curled her lips. Actually, she’d noticed it earlier when they were eating. His feet weren’t the way she remembered them.

His feet were very big. Pang Qian remembered that, even though he used his feet for many things, like eating, writing, putting on his clothes, and picking things up, his feet were always clean and white. He would keep his toenails short. If his feet got dirty, he would wash them at the first opportunity he got.

But now, his feet were dark, rough, and even covered with scars.

Pang Qian couldn’t imagine how he got those scars. She looked at bone protruding out beside his big toe, the obvious veins on the back of his foot, the cracks and calluses, and she felt such heartache.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was probably his toenails. They were still cut short and neat, rectangular with a small half sun. Pang Qian recalled that her dad had said that it meant that Gu Mingxi was very healthy.

Pang Qian lowered her head onto Gu Mingxi’s shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. She asked, “Gu Mingxi, when did Auntie pa.s.s away?”

Gu Mingxi looked down and said, “2006, in May.”

“Where did you go after that?”

“S City.”

“Did you ever return to E City?”

He turned to look at her and nodded. “After my mom pa.s.sed away, I went back to E City once to take care of some formalities.”

“By yourself?”

“I went by myself, but Shark helped me take care of some things.”

“Why didn’t you look for me to help you?”

“Pang Pang…” He didn’t really know how to explain. Pang Qian would never know how far he’d fallen at that time. After Li Han pa.s.sed away, he sold the house and returned all the money and favors he owed. He was neatly penniless and homeless at that point.

He was completely unable to take care of himself. But even then, he didn’t go to Gu Guoxiang for help.

Shark and Xu Shuanghua lent Gu Mingxi two pairs of helping hands. After careful consideration, Gu Mingxi decided to accept Xu Shuanghua’s help. He followed Xu Shuanghua to S City and moved into his house.

Xu Shuanghua was a very busy person. Aside from when there was cla.s.s, he was flying all across the country. Gu Mingxi mostly stayed at home by himself.

When Xu Shuanghua returned, he’d teach Gu Mingxi about drawing. Sometimes, he would let him go to S City’s Art Inst.i.tute to listen in on a lecture.

The teachers and students at the school quickly took notice of this special boy. He carried his backpack and walked around the campus. He knew the curriculum for all the school disciplines. Often, he would silently enter a room before a cla.s.s started and sit in the corner to observe.

All the teachers knew his relation to Xu Shuanghua, so they never made him leave. Gu Mingxi didn’t disturb others either. During sketching cla.s.ses, he didn’t draw, but instead listened, watched, and thought. When he returned home, he would practice drawing.

Most of the time, Gu Mingxi was very calm. But occasionally, he would become a bit fidgety. Whenever that happened, he would head over to the talent market at the bridge in S City and have a chat with Cannon.

Cannon was a good guy. When they were together, Gu Mingxi felt completely at ease. Cannon taught Gu Mingxi how to make the small straw figures. Frogs, crabs, b.u.t.terflies, gra.s.shoppers, rabbits… He worked very slowly and clumsily with his feet, and sometimes he just leaned against the bridge railing and daydreamed.

The winters in S City were just as intolerably cold as those in Z City. The temperatures outside were extremely low and the people on the road would rush by in their thick coats. Gu Mingxi wore a lot of clothes. Bundled up like a big cotton ball, he sat on the bridge as the winter wind blew through his hair. Then he looked up silently at the dark gray sky.

One time, someone pa.s.sed by him and then walked back, leaving five dollars on the floor in front of him before walking away.

Gu Mingxi stared at that five dollars and Cannon laughed crazily beside him. After he finished laughing, he asked Gu Mingxi, “Xiao Gu, do you have any difficulties right now?”

Gu Mingxi shook his head, “No, I’m doing well.”

Cannon pulled out 500 dollars from his pocket. Ignoring Gu Mingxi’s protests, he stuffed it into Gu Mingxi’s pocket. “Go buy something good to eat. You’re too thin.”

At the time, Gu Mingxi was still drawing for other artists, one book after another, working hard to earn money. In early 2007, Xu Shuanghua gave Gu Mingxi Jiang Qi’s business card and told him that there was a publis.h.i.+ng company that was very interested in his works.

At the end of 2007, Gu Mingxi decided move down south. Before leaving, he went to the bridge to see Cannon. But even after several days, Cannon didn’t show up.

The woman who sold lighters to the side of him told Gu Mingxi that Cannon’s kid had gotten sick, so they went away for treatment.

From then on, Gu Mingxi never met Cannon again.

When the bus arrived at their stop, Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian got off together. They were in a place pretty far away from the city. The streets were lined with tropical trees, but Pang Qian didn’t know if they were palm trees or coconut trees. She just dragged her luggage along behind Gu Mingxi, asking one question after another.

“Gu Mingxi, what cla.s.s do you teach at school?”

“Guess.” Gu Mingxi turned to her and smiled.

She thought for a moment. “Art?”

“That’s right. But not just that.”

“What else?”

“Math and English.” Gu Mingxi said, “There aren’t many teachers here, so each one teaches several cla.s.ses.”

“And you still have time to draw?”

“My schedule is really tight, but you make time. On the weekends, during summer and winter breaks, in the evenings. I can draw at those times.” He shrugged. “I don’t really have any other recreational activities.”

Pang Qian asked, “Living in the dorms, is there anything that’s inconvenient for you?”

“Naturally,” Gu Mingxi said. “No matter how amazing my feet are, they still won’t be as good as hands.”

He spoke very clearly, but Pang Qian felt terrible about it. She pulled off her straw hat and put it on his head. The she said angrily, “Who told you to hide yourself away somewhere? Who told you not to look for me?! When you were in E City, where you ever alone? I-I definitely would have helped you.”

Her hat was sky blue, with trimmed edges and a pink bow. Gu Mingxi shook his head, but not only didn’t the hat fall off, it fit his head even more. Helplessly, he said, “Pang Pang…”

Pang Qian laughed nonstop. Gu Mingxi had her help him take the had off, but she didn’t want to. Gu Mingxi blocked her path and grabbed at her skirt. Pang Qian laughed happily and jumped away.

They’d already walked onto the school grounds. The two of them were playing around when a voice sounded from the side, “Teacher Xiao Gu’s back? Ah? Who’s the pretty lady?”

Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi turned their heads and saw five people, three young men and a young woman. There were also six of seven little boys.

Gu Mingxi was still wearing the straw hat with a pink bow, and his face turned red with embarra.s.sment. He shouted at Pang Qian again, “Pang Pang, hurry and take the hat off!”