Layers of Healing

Someone once said, UNIVERSITY, which sounds like “you play for four years.” It truly hits the nail on the head, revealing the essence of university life. Standing at the gates of Renfu University, I was even more convinced of this thought. This school, with an aristocratic air, had cafes, shopping malls, boutiques, large supermarkets… even ancient pavilions, terraces, and towers said to have been used by scholars preparing for their imperial examinations centuries ago. I dragged my large suitcase alone down the long, wide, and impressive school path. Forgive my vulgar language, but amidst the scent of LV bags and CHANEL perfumes, this was the best description I could muster. On the first day of freshman registration, parents of all sorts brought their precious daughters and sons to report. Various luxury cars lined up in front of the grand teaching buildings. Passing by a majestic building supposedly designed by some notable figure who studied abroad, you might suddenly hear, “Isn’t that Chairman Chen? Your daughter studies here too?” “You flatter me, Mr. Zhang, my clumsy son is studying design here. How can it compare to your daughter’s major?” “Not at all, design has such a bright future!” … … Listening to this, I couldn’t help but laugh as I walked. However, two hours later, I wasn’t laughing anymore. Amidst the bustling crowd, I couldn’t find the freshman reception anywhere. I asked a senior with a purple silk armband, who pointed east; at the east side, a handsome senior with a blue headscarf gestured south; at the south, an old man earnestly said, “The freshman reception is right at the main entrance.” It was hot in September, and I felt like I saw countless stars swirling above my head. I found a spot under a French sycamore, sat on my huge coffee-colored suitcase, and wiped the sweat from my forehead. It wasn’t intentional exaggeration, but I felt a bit dizzy. Oh heavens, was I going to fall sick on such a nice day? This French sycamore, praised so much in literature, why grow so tall and offer no shade? No, no, my head felt heavy, my feet lifted, my vision darkened, and I fell backward. Did I fall onto the soft grass? Whew, at least it wasn’t like last time when I collapsed on the hard asphalt while crossing the road. This strange illness of mine, one day it will be the death of me. Before I opened my eyes, I had a vivid dream. In the dream, I was running with all my might, and words like “full of vigor,” “agile,” “striking a dashing figure” floated like duckweed in my dark mind. It wasn’t the year of the dragon or tiger, so why the term “full of vigor”? I opened my eyes in a daze and saw a pair of curious eyes through the haze. “Haha, she’s awake!” the voice shouted, fully waking me up. Actually, I wouldn’t have minded lying in this soft bed for a couple more hours. Strange, I was lying in a soft bed, covered with a blanket. Then I saw another pair of eyes, cold and slightly annoyed. “Who are you?” I asked, startled by my own hoarse, weak voice. Had I become seriously ill? “Haha, you don’t even know who we are? You must be a freshman then.” The curious eyes asked in a lively tone. “Look at that big suitcase, definitely a freshman,” a faint voice came from beside my ear. “Zhou Yu, you’re Zhou Yu?”