DXXZL - 40

Zhu Xingyao, Li Xixi, and Lin Jiayu walked out of the exam room. The final test of their high school years was finally over, and they strolled out of the school gate with a sense of relief. Just outside the gate, they overheard people talking.

“Did you hear? There was a student who arrived at the exam venue covered in blood and injuries, brought by a police car. He almost didn’t make it in time!”

“Someone said it was Jiang Tu from our school! The one who ranked first in the city during the last mock exam! They say he got into an accident on the way…”

“Oh my god! Can he still perform well on the exam?”

“He probably bombed it. I heard he looked terrible—when he left the exam room, he was staggering, but he refused help and went straight to the hospital.”

That afternoon, no one could reach Jiang Tu or figure out where he had gone. Zhu Xingyao, Lin Jiayu, and others searched everywhere—from the health clinic to the hospital—but couldn’t find him. They were so worried that they almost called the police.

On her way home, Zhu Xingyao’s eyes reddened. She knew what the college entrance exam meant to Jiang Tu.

At 7 PM, her phone buzzed. Jiang Tu had finally replied to her text!

Jiang Tu: Don’t look for me. I’m fine.

Her fingers trembled as she considered calling him but hesitated and quickly typed back instead: Where are you now?

Jiang Tu: At home. Don’t come see me.

From his words, Zhu Xingyao sensed his rejection. Her eyes watered, and she felt lost. She desperately wanted to see him, to know how badly he was hurt. But should she respect his wishes or follow her heart?

Lin Jiayu answered a call and suddenly burst into tears, furiously wiping her eyes.

On the other end of the line, Jiang Tu’s voice was weary and hoarse. “Lin Jiayu, tell Zhu Xingyao to go home. You return to Hexi Lane. Whatever you hear, don’t say a word about it.”

Under the heavy night sky, the red brick walls of Hexi Lane turned gray and dim. Old Liu parked the car by the roadside, and Lin Jiayu stepped out. Zhu Xingyao watched her walk toward Hexi Lane before suddenly running after her.

Lin Jiayu turned back to look at her. Zhu Xingyao hesitated for a moment near the car before climbing back in.

In the narrow, dim alleyway, voices echoed from various households. Some said Jiang Jinhui had gambled away everything—not just the house but also tens of thousands of yuan in debt, along with smaller amounts owed to relatives. Others cursed Jiang Jinhui, blaming him for nearly ruining Jiang Tu’s chance at the exam. Some claimed Jiang Tu had almost beaten Jiang Jinhui to death, suggesting the two must have been enemies in a past life, repaying debts in this one. Still, others condemned Chen Yi for deliberately causing trouble during the exam period, saying Jiang Tu’s future was now ruined.

Wiping her tears, Lin Jiayu ran inside to ask her father what had happened.

Her father sighed deeply. “At noon, Chen Yi brought a gang to cause trouble. That old Jiang is despicable—he somehow racked up massive debts. When he couldn’t repay them, they forced him to sign over the house. If he refused, they wouldn’t let Jiang Tu take the exam. Even though Jiang Tu fought hard, there were too many of them. Struggling didn’t help…”

With tear-filled eyes, Lin Jiayu ran up to the rooftop. Jiang Tu lay on the dirty ground, his forehead bandaged, his face, neck, and hands covered in cuts and bruises. Without his glasses, his face was smeared with mud and blood, his empty gaze fixed on the starry sky as if his soul had been stripped away.

In that moment, Lin Jiayu had a sudden realization.

Jiang Tu was ready to completely give up on Zhu Xingyao—not because he didn’t care, but because he simply didn’t dare to hold onto her anymore.

…

At the graduation party, Jiang Tu didn’t show up. Many classmates lamented his absence, saying he had been destined to be the provincial top scorer but now stood no chance. Someone remarked, “If only Jiang Tu had participated in the physics competition earlier and secured direct admission to Tsinghua. This tragedy wouldn’t have happened.”

“It’s fate,” someone else murmured.

Zhu Xingyao didn’t want to listen to the gossip. With her small crossbody bag slung over her shoulder, she lowered her head and walked out of the private room.

She was set to begin classes in October, but she would leave in a few days. All students applying to the Berlin University of the Arts were required to first attend a three-month intensive German language course at the Hartnackschule Berlin Language Institute before starting their studies.

Everyone planned to see her off at the airport.

Standing in front of the restroom mirror at the KTV, Zhu Xingyao zoned out while washing her hands. After a while, she ran out of the KTV. Something told her Jiang Tu wouldn’t come to the airport to see her off.

Half an hour later, she stood outside the red brick wall and dialed Jiang Tu’s number. It took a long time for him to pick up.

The other end of the line was eerily quiet, with only faint breathing audible.

Zhu Xingyao looked down at her toes and softly said, “Jiang Tu, I’m outside the red brick wall. Can you come out for a moment?”

After a brief silence, he replied, “Wait for me outside.”

Soon, a tall youth emerged from the dark alley. Dressed in a black T-shirt and black sweatpants, he approached her. Without his glasses, his dark eyes focused on her as he quietly asked, “Is the party over already?”

Zhu Xingyao noticed the bandage still on his forehead and the unhealed wounds on his face. Though not disheveled, he appeared colder and harder than before. Her lips tightened, and though she tried to hide it, she still looked distressed. Shaking her head, she murmured, “No, it’s not over yet. I just wanted to see you.” Lowering her lashes, she added, “I’m leaving in a couple of days.”

Jiang Tu gazed at the girl before him and softly said, “I know.”

Zhu Xingyao fiddled with her bag strap, unsure of what to say next. She wanted to ask if he was feeling sad, what he planned to do… but ultimately, she asked nothing. Instead, she tilted her head and inquired, “Is your glasses broken?”

Jiang Tu replied, “Yes, they were crushed under a car wheel.”

Zhu Xingyao wanted to ask how he ended up getting hit by a car, but she bit her lip and held back.

Instead, she smiled faintly. “Let me accompany you to get new glasses.”

Ten minutes later, they stood in a budget eyewear store. It was almost 10 PM, and the owner, preparing to close, warmly welcomed them inside. “Here for glasses? Come in and take a look.”

Jiang Tu stood expressionless by the counter. Zhu Xingyao glanced at him, then leaned her elbows on the display case, scanning through frames. Her slender, pale fingers traced across the counter before pointing to a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

His skin was fair; these would suit him well. Over the past two years, his features had grown sharper, and his demeanor carried a more masculine edge.

Noticing the price tag—230 yuan—Jiang Tu glanced at Zhu Xingyao and said, “Wait here for a moment.” Without giving her a chance to respond, he turned and left. By the time Zhu Xingyao followed, bewildered, he was already out of sight.

Jiang Tu stood in front of the ATM, staring at the balance in his bank account. He withdrew all 600 yuan. Passing by the square, he spotted a cotton candy vendor. Narrowing his eyes, he bought a pink cotton candy stick.

Zhu Xingyao waited outside the shop. As Jiang Tu approached, she stared wide-eyed at the cotton candy in his hand. He handed it to her, calmly saying, “I picked it up along the way.”

Zhu Xingyao was momentarily stunned. Taking the cotton candy, she looked up at him. Jiang Tu turned and walked back into the store, prompting her to hurry after him. Hearing him directly recite his prescription numbers, she quickly interjected, “We should still measure your vision—it’s been years since high school!”

The shopkeeper chuckled. “Right! You can’t skip the vision test when buying glasses. Listen to your girlfriend.”

Jiang Tu paused, his tone indifferent. “She’s not my girlfriend. Just a classmate.”

The shopkeeper awkwardly laughed it off, apologizing for the misunderstanding. Holding the cotton candy, Zhu Xingyao bit her lip and took a small bite. Jiang Tu glanced at her, bitterness welling up inside. He turned to follow the shopkeeper for the vision test.

Jiang Tu’s vision remained stable at -3.5 diopters for both eyes. The glasses were made quickly. Once he put them on, Zhu Xingyao had already eaten half the cotton candy. It was too sweet. Looking at him, she smiled mischievously. “You look like a sophisticated villain from the movies. Very handsome.” His injuries even added a touch of rugged charm.

Jiang Tu gave a faint smile and looked down at her. “Let’s go.”

The two walked out of the eyewear store. The surroundings hadn’t changed much in the past two years. Zhu Xingyao finished eating her cotton candy, broke the stick in half, and tossed it into the trash bin. Jiang Tu glanced back, his gaze lingering on the small mole near her nostril. Softly, he asked, “Where else do you want to go?”

Zhu Xingyao stood by the trash bin, about to reply, when her phone rang.

It was Li Xixi calling. “Where did you run off to? Xu Xiangyang and I went to visit another private room, and when we came back, you were gone!”

“I’m already outside,” Zhu Xingyao said as she looked at Jiang Tu.

“Are you heading back?”

Li Xixi shouted loudly; the background noise on her end was overwhelming.

Zhu Xingyao lowered her head, staring at her toes. “I’m near Hexi Lane. I’ll head back in a bit.”

“What?” Li Xixi yelled again. “Did you say you’re going back? I couldn’t hear clearly. Lu Ji just came looking for you!”

The other end was chaotic. Zhu Xingyao heard someone shout, “Li Xixi, your song is up next!” Li Xixi quickly responded, “I’m coming, don’t skip it!” Then she turned back to the phone. “Stars, I’m hanging up now. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

After the call ended, Zhu Xingyao looked up at Jiang Tu and softly asked, “You really won’t come to the class gathering? It’ll be hard for everyone to meet again after this.”

Jiang Tu’s expression remained blank. “It makes no difference. I wasn’t close to anyone in the first place.”

Zhu Xingyao couldn’t argue with that. His cold demeanor meant he barely interacted with anyone in the class except her, Li Xixi, Ding Xiang, and perhaps Xu Xiangyang. Suddenly, sadness washed over her. Would he end up friendless in college because of his reserved nature? She looked at him. “I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. Will you still come to see me off?”

If she hadn’t sought him out tonight, Jiang Tu wouldn’t have gone.

He gazed at her beautiful eyes, then nodded. “I will.”

If you want me to go, I’ll go.

Jiang Tu walked to the roadside and hailed a taxi. Turning to Zhu Xingyao, he said, “I’ll take you back.”

Hadn’t he just asked where else she wanted to go? Zhu Xingyao looked at him, lowered her head, and got into the car, scooting to the side. Jiang Tu followed, closing the door behind him. He told the driver, “To Xingyuan Villa.”

As they passed the red brick walls of Hexi Lane, Zhu Xingyao stared out the window. Turning back, she asked, “Hexi Lane is about to be demolished. When are you moving?”

In the dimly lit car, Jiang Tu’s expression was unreadable. “We’ll move once we find a place.”

The driver, an older man, chuckled. “Young man, you live in Hexi Lane? Lucky you! Each household there will get at least one to two million yuan from the demolition compensation. Families with more people can get several million. How many people are in your family?”

Jiang Tu’s tone was flat. “Four.”

The driver sighed enviously. “Even so, that’s close to two million. You could buy a big house. That’s great!”

Zhu Xingyao looked at Jiang Tu. She knew their family couldn’t afford a big house—most of the money would go toward repaying debts. Still, she thought, once the debts were settled, Jiang Tu wouldn’t have to work so hard anymore.

________________________________________

Two days later, at Jiangcheng International Airport, Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu went to handle the procedures while giving Zhu Xingyao space to say goodbye to her friends.

Seven people had come: Jiang Tu, Lu Ji, Li Xixi, Lin Jiayu, Xu Xiangyang, Zhou Yuan, and Ding Xiang. Li Xixi clung to Zhu Xingyao, refusing to let go. Sobbing, she said, “I don’t want you to leave…”

Zhu Xingyao patted her back, comforting her. “It’s not like I’m never coming back…”

Jiang Tu stood furthest away, his face expressionless, silently watching her.

Xu Xiangyang pulled Li Xixi aside and roughly wiped her tears with his hand.

Goodbyes were always emotional. Zhu Xingyao’s eyes were red too. Lu Ji withdrew his hands from his pockets and stepped forward. Suddenly, he leaned down and hugged Zhu Xingyao tightly. Startled, Zhu Xingyao froze. Lu Ji quickly released her and smiled. “We won’t see each other for nearly half a year. Just a hug.”

Lin Jiayu blinked. Once Lu Ji stepped back, she approached and hugged Zhu Xingyao too. “Right, it’ll be a long time before we see each other again. I need a hug too.”

After she stepped back, Ding Xiang scratched his head. “Goddess, can I hug you too?”

The somber mood lightened as everyone chuckled at his words.

Zhu Xingyao smiled. “Sure.”

One by one, Ding Xiang, Zhou Yuan, and Xu Xiangyang stepped forward to give her light, simple farewell hugs, patting her back gently.

Finally, all eyes turned to Jiang Tu, who stood at the edge of the group.

At that moment, Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu returned after finishing the procedures. They stood beside Zhu Xingyao, noticing the girls’ tearful eyes. Ding Yu smiled softly. “It’s not like she’s never coming back. When she has vacation, invite everyone over to our place.”

Zhu Yunping ruffled Zhu Xingyao’s hair and leaned down to say, “Alright, it’s time for us to go.”

Zhu Xingyao was stunningly beautiful, and her parents were equally attractive. The three of them standing together were a sight to behold, both in appearance and demeanor. Jiang Tu thought of his own gambler father, his weak-willed mother, his mischievous younger brother, and the mountain of debt he carried. His life was a muddy swamp, while she lived in a happy, perfect family. She was the cherished star in her parents’ hands—pure, kind, and free from worries.

Between them lay an unbridgeable chasm.

He couldn’t cross it.

Zhu Xingyao bit her lip and looked at Jiang Tu. He hadn’t yet hugged her to say goodbye.

Jiang Tu locked eyes with Zhu Xingyao. Taking long strides, he approached her. Just as Zhu Xingyao raised her head, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. She stumbled forward two small steps, colliding into his chest. He held her tightly—so tightly that she struggled to breathe. Burying his chin in her hair, he inhaled her sweet scent. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Zhu Xingyao, goodbye.”

Tears welled up in Zhu Xingyao’s eyes, spilling down her cheeks without warning.

Jiang Tu released her, turned, and walked away.

The group exited the airport, with Jiang Tu leading the way. He walked briskly, and Lin Jiayu jogged behind him. “Jiang Tu, let’s take the bus.”

Lu Ji, Xu Xiangyang, and the others planned to take a taxi. Seeing Jiang Tu and Lin Jiayu head toward the bus stop, Zhou Yuan opened the taxi door and called out, “Hey, where are you going?”

Lu Ji didn’t respond. He hurried to stand behind Jiang Tu and Lin Jiayu, his voice cold. “Jiang Tu.”

Jiang Tu and Lin Jiayu turned around. Jiang Tu looked at Lu Ji indifferently.

“What do you want?” Lu Ji frowned. “If you’re too afraid to pursue her, stop secretly meddling.”

Jiang Tu narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Lu Ji grew irritated. With a bitter laugh, he snapped, “Zhu Xingyao and I never broke up. We’re still together.”

Jiang Tu fell silent. Without a word, he turned and boarded a bus. Lin Jiayu stood rooted in place, biting her lip as she watched Lu Ji. Then she turned and ran after Jiang Tu, boarding the bus behind him.

Lu Ji returned to the taxi with a dark expression.

Zhou Yuan asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Lu Ji snapped impatiently, “Nothing.”

On the plane, Zhu Xingyao stared out the window at the tarmac. Her damp lashes hung low, her expression sorrowful. Zhu Yunping gently ruffled her hair and spoke warmly. “Stars, the older we grow, the more farewells we face. Society has many layers, and some people will inevitably drift apart. If fate allows, you’ll meet again someday.”

________________________________________

By the end of June, Jiang Tu received his acceptance letter from University H. He forced Jiang Jinhui to divorce Shu Xian. Jiang Jinhui pointed at Shu Xian and Jiang Tu, threatening, “Divorce won’t save you. Even if you change your name, you’re still my ex-wife, and he’s still my son. Do you think the debt collectors won’t find you?”

In early July, Jiang Tu, Shu Xian, and thirteen-year-old Jiang Lu left Hexi Lane. They moved into a house even shabbier than their previous one.

In early August, Lin Jiayu and her parents moved out of Hexi Lane into their newly purchased home. Behind Lin Jiayu’s mother’s back, Lin Jiayu’s father secretly handed Jiang Tu 150,000 yuan. Jiang Tu refused to accept it, but Lin Jiayu’s father sighed, patting his shoulder. “Uncle can only help this much. Use this to pay off the debt to Chen Yi first. Otherwise, when you leave for university next month, what will happen to your mom and little brother? They can’t withstand being beaten, and no one will protect them. I’ve watched you grow up since you were a child. If I don’t help, my conscience won’t allow it. You can repay me after you graduate and start earning money. Focus on your studies, alright?”

Jiang Tu’s eyes reddened. After a moment of silence, he said, “Thank you, Uncle Lin.”

Those months were the darkest and hardest days of Jiang Tu’s life.

Jiang Tu and Zhu Xingyao were like two parallel lines. He had tried desperately to intersect, only to stop reluctantly. Eventually, the two lines drifted back into parallel paths.