The Silent World And Him - Chapter 14

On the evening of the holiday, Pu Chen was added to a WeChat group by Zhao Shu, who pulled her into a small group of four, with Peng Jingyang and Qin Yu. The group was named ‘Just Us.’

Pu Chen changed her nickname in the group to her real name, so that others would know it was her. Meanwhile, Zhao Shu changed her nickname to ‘Zhao Little Cutie.’

The group was quiet, and Pu Chen waited for a while without anyone speaking. She put down her phone and continued reading the book she hadn’t finished yet from the bookshelf.

Ten minutes later, Zhao Shu finished eating melon and mentioned in the group, “When should we have a meal together?”

“Think about where to go for fun? I’ll arrange it in advance. I didn’t rank last in the final exam this time, and my dad rewarded me with a big red envelope (grinning). Let’s agree now that I’ll treat you all that day.”

Qin Yu glanced at the group message, afraid that Zhao Shu would suggest going to the arcade. Last time Pu Chen didn’t enjoy herself at the arcade, feeling guilty for spending money recklessly. He expressed first, “I’m busy during the winter vacation, no time to play.”

Peng Jingyang saw Zhao Shu’s message and got a headache, especially when Zhao Shu left him speechless. He echoed Qin Yu, “I’m busy too, I have classes almost every day during the holiday, preparing for competitions.”

Zhao Shu sighed, realizing it might not work out. She mentioned Pu Chen, “Chen Chen, what are you doing? Want to play games to relax?”

Pu Chen replied, “Just reading a book, I don’t know how to play games, never played before.”

Zhao Shu thought for a moment, “Forget it then, your main task now is to study. After the college entrance examination, I’ll teach you.” She followed up on Pu Chen’s statement, “Chen Chen, what book are you reading, textbooks for next semester?”

Pu Chen replied, “No, it’s a book Director Sun lent me.”

Zhao Shu, bored, suggested, “After you finish reading it, do you want to go to the bookstore and pick up a few more books? I have nothing to do at home. If you want to go to the bookstore, I’m available to accompany you anytime. It happens that I’ll take some photos in the bookstore and post them on Moments, to show my family how much I love studying and to make my dad feel that his big red envelope was worth it (grinning).”

Before Pu Chen could respond, Peng Jingyang’s message came in. He mentioned Pu Chen, “No need to go to the bookstore to buy, if you finish reading it, just go to my uncle’s house to borrow. You might not necessarily want to read the ones you buy, but borrowed ones are different.”

Peng Jingyang was speaking the truth, but Pu Chen didn’t want to read extracurricular books for the time being. She replied to Peng Jingyang, “I’ll go borrow after the college entrance examination. During the winter vacation, I want to do more practice questions.”

Qin Yu, seeing her feeble excuse, couldn’t help but laugh. Who would remember whether she wanted to borrow books after the college entrance examination, which was two and a half years later? She just didn’t like reading books and justified it grandly.

He didn’t post in the group, instead privately chatting with her, “You really don’t like reading?”

Pu Chen hesitated, “I do, just don’t have time.” This was her last bit of stubbornness.

Qin Yu suggested, “Spend twenty minutes reading magazines every day, and in the future, read Nature with me.”

Pu Chen replied truthfully, “I can’t understand English magazines.”

Qin Yu said, “That’s exactly why you should read them.”

Pu Chen: “…”

The group chat continued, but Qin Yu didn’t message again. Pu Chen didn’t know what to talk to him about, so she didn’t reply to him individually, instead, she scrolled through the messages in the group.

Peng Jingyang and Zhao Shu were discussing Director Sun, saying that he would be transferred next semester.

Pu Chen mentioned Peng Jingyang, “Is it confirmed?”

Peng Jingyang replied, “Confirmed, a new head teacher is coming.”

He asked her, “Are you going to return the book to my uncle?”

Pu Chen replied, “Yeah. I’ll finish reading it all tonight.”

Having such a precious book in her possession was always a psychological burden. She wanted to return it as soon as possible.

Peng Jingyang said, “I’ll go to the library reading room tomorrow to find some reference books. It’s on the way to the school gate, so I’ll find you then.”

Pu Chen thanked him repeatedly.

The group chat didn’t suit Zhao Shu, so she went to play games.

Without her lively atmosphere, the group quickly quieted down.

Pu Chen privately messaged Peng Jingyang, “There are a few math problems I don’t understand, and I couldn’t find the answers online. Can I ask you for help? Are you available now?”

Peng Jingyang replied, “Sure, from now on, we four don’t need to be so polite to each other.”

He asked, “What problems?”

Pu Chen took pictures of several questions and sent them to him.

Peng Jingyang stared at the messages on the screen for a few seconds. Thinking about how Qin Yu had tried so hard to invite Pu Chen to the arcade earlier, he decided to help Qin Yu now that he had a good opportunity.

He said to Pu Chen, “I’ll be in the library all day tomorrow. Do you want to come over? I’ll explain it to you in person, it might be more effective.”

Pu Chen was delighted to have a study session with a top student. Not only math, but also physics and chemistry had questions she couldn’t understand. Before, she had a laissez-faire attitude towards problems she couldn’t solve, never troubling herself. Now her attitude had changed.

She also worried, “Will it disturb your study?”

Peng Jingyang said, “No, I’ll allocate some time from playing games to explain problems to you.”

That’s how the happy decision was made.

Peng Jingyang immediately contacted Qin Yu, “Going to the library tomorrow, Pu Chen will also come. I’ll find her to return the book, and she happens to have some questions she wants to ask me. You can’t indulge yourself in idleness all the time. Come with me to discuss competition questions.”

He didn’t make his intention too obvious. Qin Yu wasn’t stupid, and if he heard that Pu Chen was going too, he would be more active than anyone else. If he went over and disturbed Pu Chen’s time alone with Peng Jingyang, Pu Chen probably wouldn’t want anyone else to disturb her.

Qin Yu declined Peng Jingyang’s invitation, casually making up an excuse: “Teacher Lu asked me to go to his house tomorrow.”

Peng Jingyang: “…”

Unfortunately, it’s really inconvenient. He definitely can’t stand up the class teacher. If Qin Yu doesn’t go, he feels a bit awkward about hanging out in the library with Pu Chen, after all, Pu Chen is the girl Qin Yu likes. But he’s already made plans with Pu Chen, so he can’t just back out. With no other choice, Peng Jingyang reluctantly messages Zhao Shu, asking her to go to the library tomorrow.

Zhao Shu: “Hey, are you asking me out?”

Peng Jingyang is irritated: “If it weren’t for Qin Yu having something come up, and I’m not that close to Pu Chen, do you think I’d want you to go? Are you going or not?”

Zhao Shu isn’t easy to deal with: “Apologize to me and I’ll go.”

Peng Jingyang chuckles: “How did I provoke you again?”

Zhao Shu reminds him: “The beds in kindergarten are so low, even if I kicked you off, you wouldn’t get hurt. But you cried all afternoon, causing me to get in trouble at kindergarten. When I got home, I had to face the wall and reflect. Do you think you should apologize?”

It’s never-ending. But with no other choice, Peng Jingyang can only swallow his pride: “Fine, fine, it’s all my fault. I was young and didn’t know any better back then. I shouldn’t have bothered you, Mr. Zhao. I should have rolled off the bed myself.”

Zhao Shu laughs, “I’ve already screenshot this :).” Feeling relieved, Peng Jingyang readily agrees to go to the library.

—

Next day.

Pu Chen gets up early and arranges to meet Peng Jingyang at 8:30 a.m. at the school gate. Last night she set aside the questions she wanted to ask today. Pu Wanli asks his daughter, “Will you come back for lunch?”

Pu Chen nods, “Yes, I can’t keep bothering Peng Jingyang. He needs to prepare for the competition, and time is precious.”

Pu Wanli says, “Then when you come back, we’ll go to the supermarket and buy the New Year goods.”

Pu Chen replies, “Okay.”

She links arms with her father and heads downstairs. Just as they reach the ground floor, Peng Jingyang sends her a red envelope. Pu Chen is puzzled and doesn’t open it, thinking he might have sent it by mistake while still half asleep.

Peng Jingyang’s message quickly follows: “Helping out in the alley with breakfast, milk, and a rice ball.” He tells her which store in the alley has delicious rice balls and the money he sent is just enough to buy breakfast, neither more nor less.

Pu Chen doesn’t refuse and graciously accepts the red envelope. She tells her father that she’ll go to the breakfast shop first to buy breakfast for Peng Jingyang.

Pu Wanli remembers that Peng Jingyang was first in the grade in the last final exam. He looks at his daughter and sees her visibly brightening up, especially in the past month. She’s willing to go out with classmates and go to the library to study with them.

During those junior high school years, he didn’t dare to hope for these things. As long as his daughter is living well, it’s his greatest comfort and joy. “When your aunt comes back, we’ll discuss when to invite Teacher Lu to our house for dinner. He definitely won’t go to a restaurant.”

Pu Chen says, “We’ll have to wait until after the New Year when Teacher Lu comes back from Beijing. I’m afraid when my aunt’s holiday ends, she’ll have to rush back to Shanghai, and the timing won’t match up.”

Pu Wanli nods, seemingly seeing the problem.

Pu Chen adds, “I hope my aunt can find a boyfriend like Teacher Lu, or someone of his type. I think she’d like that.”

Pu Wanli smiles but doesn’t respond. His daughter doesn’t know much about Wenxin’s situation. Wenxin had a previous marriage during college. They got married right after graduation, but Wenxin kept it a secret from him.

It wasn’t until last Chinese New Year when he was chatting with Wenxin that she admitted she had been in a relationship and got married, but it ended. It wasn’t intentional that she hid it from him; she wanted to wait until the other party’s family was no longer upset before telling him.

Since they divorced, it seems the other party’s family ultimately didn’t agree to their marriage. As for what the man does and where he’s from, he has no idea. Given the situation, he didn’t ask his sister any further, afraid of touching on her heartache.

At the entrance of the breakfast shop, Pu Chen buys a rice ball for Peng Jingyang.

Peng Jingyang sends a message: “I’ll be at the school gate in about five minutes.”

Pu Chen replies, “I’m almost there too, buying you a rice ball.”

Peng Jingyang says, “No rush, take your time. I’ll wait for you on the side of the road.”

Pu Chen, holding the rice ball, waves to her father and heads towards the alley.

Looking at the towering apartment building in front of her, she suddenly thinks of Qin Yu and wonders what he’s doing.

Qin just came out of the gym. Because he had too much free time, he became disciplined in morning swimming and always checked in at the gym on time.

Today, Peng Jingyang was going to the library with Pu Chen. Qin couldn’t find anyone to hang out with, and he didn’t know how to pass the long, boring day. Thinking he should encourage Pu Chen to read some extracurricular books, he asked Lu Baisheng, “Do you have any books or magazines at home? Can I borrow a few to read?”

Lu Baisheng replied, “Why suddenly interested in reading?” Qin said, “I want to become more cultured.” It was the first time Qin had been so ruthlessly shot down by someone familiar. Lu Baisheng then said, “Come over, let’s go to the supermarket in the afternoon. Your parents entrusted you to me; I can’t let you go hungry.”

Qin didn’t mind spending New Year’s alone, as long as there was food. He hadn’t planned to stock up for the New Year, but now with one more person, he felt he should show some hospitality. Qin said, “Send me the address.” He opened the ride-hailing app on his phone. His mother had assigned him a full-time driver, but since he didn’t use the car much, the driver had been given an early break, so now Qin had to take a taxi to Lu Baisheng’s house.

As he stepped out of the apartment building, the cold wind hit him, causing him to shiver. Qin zipped up his down jacket, and suddenly he stopped in his tracks. He saw Peng Jingyang across the street, sitting in a taxi with the window rolled down, waving towards the alley. Without thinking, Qin knew Peng Jingyang was waving to Pu Chen.

Soon, that familiar figure appeared in his sight. Pu Chen crossed the zebra crossing and reached the taxi. She handed the package in her hand to Peng Jingyang in the car before getting in herself. From afar, Qin couldn’t make out what breakfast it was. He watched the taxi slowly drive away, still lost in thought.

He had asked her to find out which breakfast place in the alley was good. She had agreed but hadn’t followed up. It had been days, and there was no sign of her looking into it. She probably hadn’t taken it seriously and had completely forgotten about it. It wasn’t until a taxi turned around the corner of the apartment building, and the driver leaned out to ask if he had called for a ride, that Qin snapped out of his thoughts. He nodded and strode towards the back seat of the car.

Sitting in the car, Qin leaned back in the seat, gazing out the window the whole way. He knew she was going to the library with Peng Jingyang today, and he was aware beforehand, but he didn’t want to go himself. She was also bringing breakfast for Peng Jingyang, which was a perfectly normal thing to do. So why wasn’t he happy? Perhaps he just wished she would be kind to him alone, even if it was just something small like bringing breakfast.