Winter Time Rendering

Chapter 135: Chapter 56: "Pleased to Meet You" (2)

The plastic bag of snacks sat untouched. He’d gone a little out of his way to get it, supposedly to recapture a bit of that movie-theater atmosphere, but in the end, no one had eaten a thing.

Zhang Shutong stuffed it back into Gu Qiuyan’s desk cubby. He closed the classroom door behind him, descended the stairs, exited the building, and got on his bicycle.

Home was to the east, but Zhang Shutong didn’t head back right away. Instead, he turned his handlebars south.

That plastic bag had made him realize something—

’My pay for the day is still at the supermarket.’

He considered it his payment. He’d spent the entire day with the "young lady," and since she didn’t like being indebted to anyone, the two big bags of snacks were clearly her way of returning the favor.

Zhang Shutong didn’t think it was too little. He hadn’t gone along for any other reason in the first place; he didn’t want money or anything else. Two bags of snacks were just right. One wouldn’t have been enough to share with his best friend, while three would have been impossible to carry home. He’d always been a pragmatist.

Ruoping and the others were all wrong. He wasn’t playing the hero saving the damsel, nor was he some kind of devoted protector. This was just something one ought to do in life—no reason needed, no reward expected.

They were always questioning his motives, and he, in turn, was baffled by their assumptions. This whole affair was more like a rather large stone on the path of life. Before, you’d just walked around it. It was no big deal, really—who doesn’t come across a few stones in their lifetime?

But he’d had the good fortune to return to the start of that path. The stone was still blocking the way, eight years later. Knowing it would trip someone, Zhang Shutong put in a little effort and kicked it to the side of the road.

This regression was simply the process of clearing away the stones.

He quickly rode to Peiyi Mall. It was just a few minutes from closing, and a janitor was already mopping the floor. He muttered an apology as he rushed to the service desk and retrieved the two bags of snacks from behind the counter.

He hung one bag on each handlebar, keeping the bike balanced. Only at this moment did Zhang Shutong feel that "Operation: Forging the Future Goddess" had officially come to an end.

’The henchman has collected his payment. Time to retire and return home.’

The streetlights were still dim, their feeble glow staining the sides of the asphalt road yellow. He pedaled along slowly, feeling a bit thirsty, and decided to rummage through the shopping bags for a bottle of water.

But Gu Qiuyan was a practical girl; she never used drinks to pad out a purchase. The two shopping bags were, regrettably, just as practical. Disappointed, he picked up his pace. It had been a long time since he’d taken this road at night, not that it held any fond memories. Besides, he might not be the only one home tonight; his mom might be there... Speaking of his mother, Zhang Shutong started to worry. His phone was off, so he had no idea if she’d tried to call. He was bound to face an interrogation when he got back. On top of that, he still hadn’t explained why he hadn’t come home last night.

He was getting a headache. Speeding up felt wrong, but so did slowing down. ’I hope Conan is on TV tonight,’ he thought. He could just say he wanted to watch the show, and then no matter what his mom said, he could just lie on the sofa and pretend not to hear.

His shadow stretched out long behind him. And on this deserted path, Zhang Shutong ran into someone unexpected.

"Zhang Shutong."

The person spoke calmly, bringing him to a stop.

Zhang Shutong squeezed his brakes, wondering where on earth Lu Qinglian was going so late. She was still wearing that green robe, but her usual ponytail was undone, her long hair now falling to her waist. She was walking all alone.

’What a coincidence.’ They were standing at an intersection. If he’d ridden just a little faster, or if she’d walked a little slower, they would have missed each other completely.

Zhang Shutong nodded in greeting, though he didn’t have the nerve to tell her she looked like a ghost, wandering around so late at night.

"What are you still doing out so late?"

"Taking a walk."

"Walking off dinner?" Zhang Shutong asked with a laugh, feeling that his sense of humor always returned whenever he ran into this girl.

She gave a faint nod.

"For now, you can think of it that way."

Zhang Shutong bit the inside of his cheek. ’I’ve got to stop doing that.’ He just stared at her, speechless.

’After all, they’d at least shared a milk tea,’ he thought. ’It’s not right to keep treating her like a fool.’

Zhang Shutong wasn’t Du Kang. Du Kang would have rushed over by now, asking, "Where are you going? Want me to walk with you? It’s not safe this late at night..."

Normally, if you saw a girl out alone this late, you’d tell her to be careful. But Zhang Shutong felt that if anyone needed to be careful, it was him. Having run out of things to say, he offered a quick goodbye and started to pedal home.

But Lu Qinglian suddenly asked:

"Are you free tomorrow afternoon? There’s something I need to talk to you about."

"What is it? Just tell me now. I’m not in a big hurry." Zhang Shutong considered setting the shopping bags down. It was difficult to keep the bike balanced with them hanging from the handlebars.

"But I have other business right now. I don’t have time," she said, then thought for a moment. "If you’re free, you can visit me at the temple tomorrow afternoon."

"Then I’m not free," Zhang Shutong refused flatly. ’Are you kidding me? My life is finally starting to get back on track. Who in their right mind would go running back to the temple? What if it triggers another "regression"?’

Lu Qinglian said nothing more. It seemed she really was in a hurry, for upon hearing his refusal, she simply turned and walked away without a backward glance.

Her long, slender legs were hidden beneath her long robe. One couldn’t normally tell, but it became obvious when she walked: though her stride seemed effortless and graceful, her pace was deceptively fast.

Zhang Shutong watched with a puzzled expression as Lu Qinglian headed south. ’That’s not the way to her home,’ he thought.

But that was just how she was. If she didn’t want to tell you something, there was no way you could get it out of her.

And as it happened, Zhang Shutong had no interest in prying.

He was just really tired and wanted to go home and rest. If she truly had something to say, it could wait until Monday at school—that was Zhang Shutong’s take on it, at least. She was the type of person who wouldn’t rest until she got what she wanted. It was just like that time with the fishing; if it were truly urgent, she would have just followed him. Not that Zhang Shutong ever figured out what she was doing there that night, anyway.

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