“Teacher Xiao Wei, I know I was wrong, I won’t sleep in class again,” the girl in front of me timidly promised. I put on a stern face, saying, “Don’t let it happen again.” The girl sweetly smiled, “I won’t!” “Alright, you can go. Oh, and while you’re at it, write on the blackboard that next class we’ll be discussing Chapter Eight of Decorative Arts, and tell everyone to prepare.” “Yes, Teacher Xiao Wei!!” ANN pushed up her pink-framed retro glasses and pouted, “These students nowadays, they’re getting more and more unruly, half of them are sleeping in class. If it were me, I’d make them copy plane geometry at least, something related to their major. Just letting her go like this won’t do any good!” Her tone turned earnest by the end. I smiled, “Kids, just let them be.” Who would have thought that the unkempt Zhou Wei from back then would become a university lecturer and a colleague of ANN. I really couldn’t bear to leave this school; every small path, every corner held my beautiful memories. On this very desk, I shamelessly slept until ANN flew into a rage. At this spot in the coffee shop, I read “THE CITY” while being on guard for Qi Qi’s bread flying at me. In front of this bulletin board, I first saw Ah Xin’s paintings. In this freshman auditorium, Monster took a stand for me without a second thought. On this path, it was the route Yi Da and I took from life drawing class to the cafeteria. I gradually understood that my reluctance to let go was because everything from the past shone with such beautiful brilliance. Qing and Xuan must have felt the same way back then. Below the podium, those young, proud faces, just like us back in the day, innocent, confused, helpless, indifferent, proud… Their youthful, unrestrained laughter so vividly carved out the time of youth that everyone cherishes. “Today is a special day, how about coming home early for dinner?” Ah Xin’s voice on the other end of the phone was hesitant. “What special day? I’m afraid not, I have to work on the exhibition design late into the night, and there’s a TV interview after. Maybe you could wait a bit, and we’ll celebrate later?” “Oh, alright.” Hanging up, I couldn’t block out the deep sense of loneliness in my heart. I looked around the room; this off-campus apartment, every piece of furniture was just like it was back then, every corner held the laughter left by Monster and Yi Da. Ah Xin, today marks the 2,599th day since we met, would you say it’s a special day? On a summer afternoon 2,599 days ago, you embraced the sun-struck me and led me into your world.
Monster has been promoted to a first-level engineer and mentioned he wants to start his own company in China. Yida now has his own recording studio in the US, offering free album recording opportunities to some underground bands. A-Xin has been busy organizing his art exhibition. Everyone is living quite comfortably. To celebrate this special day today, I even bought a fridge full of food. Well, it’s so much that four people couldn’t possibly finish it. Of course, Zhou Wei isn’t the same Wei who only knew how to cook egg dishes anymore. For A-Xin’s hard-to-please stomach, I’ve suffered a lot. With my hands on the table, watching the hot dishes on the table gradually cool down and then turn cold, the clock on the wall showed that the hour and minute hands had overlapped at 12. Twelve o’clock, both a beginning and an end. Suddenly, the phone rang, and at the same time, fireworks burst outside the window. The entire glass was intermittently lit up by the dazzling fireworks, and there was a noisy crowd downstairs. I was puzzled, went to answer the phone, and the sound of fireworks outside merged with the voice on the phone. I heard the unrestrained laughter of children in the background. “Hello,” I cautiously answered. Hello, hello; hello—, hello… On the other end, I heard heavy breathing, and suddenly, laughter erupted as if it had been held back for too long, then I heard a familiar yet strange voice laughing and shouting, “Hurry up and bring her out, what’s with this anniversary surprise!” Then, a warm voice came through, Monster said, “We’re back.” I walked down the stairs, step by step into the yard, where Monster, Yida, and A-Xin stood together, laughing triumphantly at my bewilderment. Yida had grown a full beard, quite fitting for his image as a producer; Monster seemed a bit plump, oh dear, all thanks to bread and butter. A-Xin had his hands in his pockets, smiling slyly. My students were setting off fireworks behind them, shouting and cheering, with the leading boy shouting, “Teacher Wei, we envy you!” Everyone burst into laughter, and my tears nearly fell. The children released balloons, and as we looked up, we saw balloons of all colors with names written on them—Monster, Yida, Yu, Wei, Xin… so many balloons, so many names. I later learned that they were sleeping in class because they were staying up late to write our names on these balloons. I have no idea what tricks A-Xin used to bribe them. Fireworks bloomed in the sky, though fleeting, enough to astonish the night momentarily. ANN’s theory that students are becoming increasingly lawless had new evidence, but who cares? Back then, didn’t I also get punished to clean the new student hall for a month? Yida nudged A-Xin, saying, “You’re not jealous, are you?” A-Xin shrugged, “It’s not like I haven’t been.” Monster laughed, they approached, and we hugged tightly. I didn’t know whose collar I smeared with my snot, whose shoulder my tears fell upon, or who wiped the tears from the corner of my eye. I just wanted to say, those youthful days, thankfully, had all of you by my side. (The end)
Extra: Monster’s Letter to Xiao Wei:
Xiao Wei,
