The Silent World And Him - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Today, Lu Baisheng changed his car again. Pu Chen didn’t recognize what series it was, but it was definitely expensive. When he closed the car door, all the noise near the station was instantly cut off, leaving only the slight hum of Lu Baisheng’s laptop. Lu Baisheng didn’t make her feel uncomfortable and continued with his work.

Pu Chen sat upright, just like she did in high school English class. Lu Baisheng didn’t have time to chat with her. She looked out the car window, her hands resting on her knees, her right index finger involuntarily bending back and forth, picking at the fabric of her pants on her knee. The car moved slowly in the sea of ​​cars, and the driver was completely impatient with the traffic jam. Pu Chen didn’t feel impatient at all, quietly watching the roadside. Beijing was still unfamiliar to her, she only remembered the places she had been with Qin Yu.

After the college entrance examination, Qin Yu took her to Beijing for a week. At that time, the scores hadn’t come out yet, and Peng Jingyang and Zhao Shu were also with them. It was their graduation trip. It was during the trip that she and Qin Yu officially established a relationship. During those days, Qin Yu never let go of her hand. In her heart, she told her mother that she didn’t need to worry anymore. There would be someone to buy her candy to eat in the future, and someone to buy her Japanese hot pot. The brief happy time ended, and the day to check the scores came in the blink of an eye.

On the night the scores came out, Zhao Shu, who had been optimistic for three years, couldn’t hold back her tears. Zhao Shu said to her, “Starry, I really tried hard. I’ve been studying day and night for the past two years, but I still ended up like this.” After Zhao Shu calmed down, Peng Jingyang asked her if she had thought about repeating the year. Zhao Shu replied, “No, it’s not worth it. School without you is not worth it.” However, Peng Jingyang didn’t understand the other meaning in Zhao Shu’s words at the time, nor did she and Qin Yu.

Later, Zhao Shu changed the name of their four-person group from “just the two of us” to “going our separate ways”. During the National Day holiday, Zhao Shu suddenly disbanded the group of four. As for the reason, Zhao Shu didn’t say, just saying that they all had each other’s WeChat, so it was fine to chat privately.

“Pu Chen.” Lu Baisheng closed his laptop, and the slight hum disappeared. Pu Chen’s thoughts returned. She turned around and asked, “Teacher Lu, are you done?”

“Hmm.” Lu Baisheng put away his computer and instructed the driver to stop near the dessert shop. The driver responded and quickly parked the car. Lu Baisheng asked her, “What flavor of ice cream do you want?”

Pu Chen shook her head hurriedly. “Your aunt loves the ice cream from this shop. She buys one every time we pass by. So, I’ll buy you the flavor your aunt likes.” Leaving this sentence behind, Lu Baisheng opened the door and got out of the car. Pu Chen’s gaze followed Lu Baisheng closely as he entered the shop.

She was puzzled. Why did Teacher Lu suddenly mention her aunt? Did Teacher Lu know that her aunt loved the ice cream from this shop? He even used words like “every time we pass by”. Did Teacher Lu and her aunt already know each other? What is their relationship? Are they dating, or is Teacher Lu pursuing her aunt? Her nerves were entangled with excitement and excitement, and finally entangled into a messy thread. She still didn’t figure out what was going on.

Lu Baisheng came back with a box of ice cream. Buying ice cream for Pu Chen was just a prelude to starting a conversation. He had wanted to be honest with Pu Chen about his relationship with Pu Wenxin, but he had been putting it off until now. “Try the taste.” He handed her the ice cream.

Pu Chen urgently wanted to know the truth: “Teacher Lu, are you with my aunt?”

Lu Baisheng leaned back in his seat, trying to look normal. He explained straightforwardly, “Your aunt was my first love. We got married right after graduating from college, but later… we got divorced. Those rumors circulating in the school are mostly true.”

He and Pu Wenxin had a college classmate who was also from Sucheng. In his first year in Sucheng, he met that classmate on the road and chatted briefly. That classmate had relatives studying in the school’s first year, and those rumors were probably spread inadvertently like that. “My care for you is not only because you are my student, nor is it because of your special situation. The most important reason is that you are Pu Wenxin’s niece. The only thing she can’t let go of is you. I came to Sucheng to teach just to help you gradually come out of your self-imposed isolation.”

“My divorce with your aunt was not because we didn’t have feelings for each other.” He looked at the windshield in front of him and remained silent for a long time before saying, “It was because my family didn’t agree.”

“A year after the divorce, I found out that during the time we had just divorced, your situation was the worst. Wenxin had to run between Shanghai and Sucheng, taking care of work, you, and your father. She had to pretend that nothing had happened in front of your father, pretending to be happy.”

When Lu Baisheng saw Pu Chen, he was stunned for a moment, and quickly took out tissue paper for her. “Don’t cry, it’s all in the past.”

Pu Chen felt embarrassed, turned her face away, sniffed, and the joy and excitement in her chest disappeared, replaced by a sour and swollen feeling. She thought of her aunt going through so much alone and felt sad to the point where even breathing hurt a little. She wiped away her tears and asked, “Does my aunt know you’re a teacher because of the parent-teacher meeting in the first year?”

Lu Baisheng nodded, “Your aunt has been abroad for the past two years, and whenever I have time, I visit her.” She’s still single, and he mistakenly thinks she still has feelings for him.

Pu Chen couldn’t digest the news about Lu Baisheng and his aunt for a while, clutching her phone, wanting to ask so much but not knowing where to start.

Lu Baisheng asked her, “What dishes do you want for lunch? I’ll take you back to school after we eat.”

Pu Chen didn’t want to bother him further. Lu Baisheng came to pick her up today, and she already felt guilty for wasting so much of his time. Even though his relationship with his aunt is special, she couldn’t recklessly waste his time.

“Thank you, Teacher Lu, but it’s okay. I’ll go to the cafeteria with my roommates when I get back to school.”

Lu Baisheng smiled, “You’re not tired of cafeteria food yet?” He made a decision for her, “Let’s go have a buffet lunch.” The dining atmosphere would be more relaxed.

“Feel free to ask me anything about me and your aunt during lunch, I’ll answer any questions you have.”

The driver headed towards the Western restaurant Lu Baisheng used to frequent.

Pu Chen was tactful. During lunch, she only chatted with Lu Baisheng about trivial and easy topics. She didn’t mention a word about his divorce with his aunt. Whether for his aunt or for him, it was surely a painful and unwanted memory.

“Was this restaurant also frequented by Aunt before?”

Lu Baisheng: “Yes.” When Pu Wenzhen was mentioned, he added a few more words, “The project she’s in charge of should be ending around winter break. I used to cover for you and Qin Yu, now it’s time for you to return the favor and help me.”

Mentioning Qin Yu, Pu Chen blushed, feeling embarrassed.

For the sake of Aunt’s happiness, as long as Aunt still liked Teacher Lu, she was obligated to help him pursue her.

It was 4:30 p.m. when they returned to school, and students were gradually coming back.

Pu Chen asked Lu Baisheng to stop the car at the school gate, and she went in by herself.

The car was too conspicuous. Once it stopped near the dormitory building, it would surely attract a lot of attention.

However, Lu Baisheng had no intention of letting the driver stop. His reason was, “There’s still some distance from the school gate to your dormitory, and with so much stuff, it’s inconvenient.”

He wasn’t teasing Pu Chen; he was just being honest. “Qin Yu told me to pick you up today in my most expensive car.”

Pu Chen: “…”

Driving the most expensive car would deter other guys from pursuing Pu Chen. That was Qin Yu’s petty scheme.

Call him childish, but sometimes he had more responsibility than adults.

Lu Baisheng had no choice but to agree to it.

Pu Chen’s phone vibrated, and her roommate Zhuo Xuan sent her a message: [What time will you arrive? I’ll meet you at the school gate.]

Pu Chen: [I’m inside the campus, I’ll be at the dorm soon.]

Zhuo Xuan was squatting on a chair, reading a book. After squatting for a while, her legs went numb. She massaged her calves to relieve the discomfort. [Wait for me, I’ll come downstairs to meet you. Did your uncle bring you here?]

The uncle in Zhuo Xuan’s mouth was Lu Baisheng. When school started, Lu Baisheng and Dad accompanied her to school. Lu Baisheng told her roommates, “I’m Pu Chen’s uncle. Her situation is a bit special, so I might trouble you guys in the future.” Later, Lu Baisheng explained to her that with a blood relation, people wouldn’t ask too many questions, and it would be convenient for him to visit her without gossip.

He always considered things carefully.

Pu Chen replied: [Yes, my uncle isn’t busy today. You don’t need to come downstairs; I don’t have much stuff.]

Zhuo Xuan didn’t reply.

When the car stopped, Pu Chen put her phone in her pocket and picked up her backpack.

The driver got out and took her suitcase and a handbag from the trunk.

Girls entering and exiting the dormitory building couldn’t help but cast curious glances at Pu Chen and Lu Baisheng. Some girls who knew Pu Chen from the same department whispered to each other. Pu Chen was recognized as the most elegant and beautiful girl in their college, probably the first student in the history of the Law School who couldn’t speak.

They also heard that she had an unbelievably handsome uncle. Some of them didn’t see him on the day of enrollment, but today they finally saw him, as if they were seeing the male lead in a novel.

They finally understood why Pu Chen was so good-looking; it turned out she inherited good genes.

Lu Baisheng lifted the suitcase, tested its weight, and made sure she could carry it. He put the handbag on top of the suitcase. “When you talk to your aunt, mention me a couple more times.”

Pu Chen laughed and made an OK gesture.

Lu Baisheng nodded, “Go in.” Pu Chen hadn’t entered the dormitory building yet when he suddenly remembered, “Don’t forget to let your dad know you’re safe.”

Pu Chen nodded and waved goodbye to him.

Zhuo Xuan stood inside the dormitory building’s gate, waiting quietly for Pu Chen and her uncle to bid farewell outside the gate.

After Pu Chen entered the dormitory building, Zhuo Xuan helped carry the handbag and said, “I arrived late on the enrollment day and didn’t see your uncle. You really look like your uncle.”

Pu Chen: “…”

She felt a bit guilty; she didn’t resemble him at all.

Their dormitory was on the third floor. They struggled to carry the suitcase and finally made it to the dormitory.

Zhuo Xuan’s bed was a bit messy, with the blanket piled up without folding. There were professional books on her desk, along with a half-eaten bag of soda crackers. Beside the books was an empty mineral water bottle with a rose inside, and a few drops of water were rolling on the petals.

[You came in the morning?] Pu Chen took out a glass and took a few sips of water, asking.

“I didn’t go home during the break.” Zhuo Xuan squatted on the chair again, just like before. Her butt hurt from sitting too long. She picked up a piece of biscuit and ate it, then handed the bag of biscuits to Pu Chen.

Pu Chen took a piece of biscuit absentmindedly. She remembered: [Didn’t you buy a ticket?]

“The ticket’s been refunded.” Zhuoxuan crunched on a biscuit, feeling a bit down, and said, “My mom wants me to find another part-time job to earn money. She says it’s a waste of money to come home without doing anything but spending on train tickets.”

She worked six days part-time, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable alone in the dorm at night, and cried several times.

Puchen knew Zhuoxuan had two younger sisters, the older one in junior high and the youngest just starting elementary school. Their family wasn’t well off.

Words of comfort seemed unnecessary as she put the remaining half of the biscuit in her mouth, opened her handbag, full of braised dishes made by her dad. She took out a few containers, opening them and placing them on the table.

Zhuoxuan swallowed her bitterness and forced a smile, “I just love gnawing on chicken feet.” She was straightforward, taking a chicken foot and eating it.

Puchen asked her, “Are you still going to the study room tonight?”

“Not going.” Zhuoxuan signaled with the chicken foot in her hand, “I’ll nibble on this in the dorm.”

While chatting with Puchen, the class monitor messaged her: “Are you free tonight? Let’s have dinner together.”

Zhuoxuan hesitated, swiping her screen with her fingers, and politely declined, “Sorry, I have plans tonight.”

* * *

As it was getting dark, the other two roommates returned to the dorm.

They brought back a lot of delicious food from home to share.

Puchen didn’t eat greasy food at night, so they waved duck necks in front of her teasingly. Puchen could only smile helplessly.

They chatted casually, “Hey, Puchen, when is your boyfriend coming back? You’re the first one in our dorm to have a boyfriend. Bring him to meet our family.”

Puchen shook her head. She didn’t know when Qin Yu would be back, probably not until winter vacation at the earliest. He was busy every day now.

“Good guys like him are hard to find. You have to hold on tight.”

Puchen smiled back. She wanted to hug Qin Yu every day, but they were too far apart, and the time difference made it difficult for them to communicate normally.

She missed the days in high school when they were together all the time. Even after they were separated into different classes in the second year, they still sat together, and Mr. Lu was still their homeroom teacher, and nothing had changed.

During class or breaks, as long as both of them were seated, their elbows would always be touching under their uniforms. Only the two of them knew about that little excitement and ambiguity.

Qin Yu never allowed her to be far from him. Sometimes when she forgot to keep her elbow touching his, he would kick her under the table until their arms were snug together again.

“Puchen, can I borrow your homework?” Her roommate’s voice brought Puchen back to reality.

Puchen snapped out of her reverie and handed her homework to the roommate.

She slid her fingers back and forth on her phone screen, wanting to send a message to Qin Yu to tell him she had arrived at school, but she was afraid of waking him up if he hadn’t gotten up yet.

After hesitating for a long time, she still turned off her phone and put it aside.

At 8:30 in the evening, Puchen received a message from Qin Yu asking if she was available for a video call.

Puchen was just washing up: “I am.”

With water droplets still on her face, she hurriedly grabbed her laptop, plugged in her earphones, and started the video call.

Both she and Qin Yu were using laptops for the video call, so they could chat via text while seeing each other.

She hadn’t seen him almost the whole day.

Qin Yu didn’t have classes today; he was having breakfast in the apartment, and he turned the camera around to show her the table.

Looking at the not-so-sumptuous breakfast, she asked him, “Did you make it yourself?”

“Well, it’s not that tasty; I’d prefer the breakfast from the alley.” Qin Yu placed his computer on the table, sat down to have breakfast, and brought up the question he’d been holding back for years: “Morning Bao.”

“Hmm?”

Qin Yu said, “I’m not here to settle scores with you; I simply want to know the answer.”

Pu Chen listened in confusion, “What answer?”

Qin Yu looked at the screen, “When I first sat with you, I asked which shop had the best breakfast. You said you’d ask Uncle Pu and let me know when you got home. It’s been two and a half years, did you find out?”

Pu Chen: “…”

She bit her lip, then smiled slightly. She vaguely remembered something about asking about breakfast, but somehow forgot about it later.

Without teasing her further, Qin Yu asked, “What car did Teacher Lu drive today?”

Pu Chen: “…His most expensive one.”

Qin Yu, with an air of certainty, said, “That’s good.” He looked at her in the video, “Baby, are you tired from the ride today?”

Being called ‘Baby’ cured all her longing. She shook her head, “I slept on the high-speed train, not tired.”

Qin Yu knew she must have been bored on the train, “Why didn’t you message me?” There was a hint of reproach in his voice, but more of indulgence.

Because it was nighttime where he was, and he might have been busy with his studies. She didn’t want to bother him with messages.

Pu Chen naturally wouldn’t tell him the truth, pondering how to reply.

As if knowing what she was thinking, Qin Yu said, “Messaging me won’t distract me; not messaging me will.”

She couldn’t argue with him, but felt sweet inside.

Stirring half a carton of milk into his coffee, Qin Yu said, “Learn from me more.”

Pu Chen asked, “Learn what?”

“Learn to do whatever you want, don’t be shy. During high school, every time we had a break, I’d come directly to your house downstairs whenever I missed you.” Qin Yu instructed her again, “I’m your boyfriend; in the future, whenever you want to find me, just do it, no need to worry about timing. And you don’t need to overthink about messaging me, remember that.”

Pu Chen: “Hmm.”

She continued, “The little girl next door to our shop asked about you.”

Qin Yu remembered the little girl who always saved chocolates for Pu Chen whenever there was a birthday party at kindergarten, “When I go back on vacation, I’ll bring her some sweets.”

Pu Chen asked him, “Does your school also have winter break in mid-December?”

Qin Yu hadn’t paid attention to the break time, “Probably, we’ll definitely have it before Christmas.”

Even if there wasn’t a winter break, he could still go back.

After chatting for over half an hour, Pu Chen suggested ending the video call. Even though it was the weekend, she knew he had many things to do, “You should go to school, I’ll read for a while.”

Qin Yu said, “Then say goodnight to me.”

Her biggest wish written in her diary was to call his name. Qin Yu found ways to fulfill it. Every night when he said goodnight, he wouldn’t allow her to type on her phone; she had to say it out loud.

Pu Chen sat up straight, silently mouthed, “Qin Yu, goodnight,” then waved to him.

Qin Yu replied, “Hmm, baby, goodnight.”

After ending the video call, he stared at his phone for a while.

After finishing a cup of milk coffee, Qin Yu messaged his father, “I’ll be back in Beijing for Thanksgiving.”

He Junshuo replied, “You have winter break in December; is there anything important for you to come back at the end of November?”

Qin Yu replied, “Nothing important, just to see Chen Chen.”

He came to school in August and hadn’t returned since then. He had never been away from Pu Chen for such a long time since they met; she definitely wouldn’t be used to it.