The Joy Luck Club (1)

  Monday, April 26, 2010 sunny

  Wei Xingyun has been leaving early and returning late for many days in a row.

  If I were still alive, he would have said so, and I would have gotten angry a long time ago.

  Luckily I can follow him now.

  He walked along the road I took that day, visiting all the shops and supermarkets with surveillance cameras installed, hoping they could find the video footage of that day and lend it or even sell it to him.

  Some stores were very cooperative, but the surveillance footage had been deleted; some stores had cameras that were just for show, either not turned on or without a storage card installed; one supermarket refused to cooperate no matter what and insisted that Weihang Yun call the police.

  I stood by and watched him rush about, watched him suffer hardship, watched him be rejected, yet was unable to help in any way, feeling only heartache.

  Fortunately, in these days, it's not without gain.

  Weixingyun found a classmate from the university dormitory next door, helped to recover the video surveillance data that had been washed away by several stores, and also optimized a few unclear segments to make them clearer. In this way, Weixingyun finally got 9 copies of the surveillance footage.

  A plot that would only appear in a hacker TV series has actually appeared right before my eyes, and as a small-time ghost, I'm extremely surprised.

  I also had a nodding acquaintance with that classmate of his, who looked ordinary and unremarkable, but was said to have played dota in the dormitory for three days and three nights. I didn't have a good impression of him, because I always felt that Wei Xingyun would become an otaku and couldn't tell him apart from this kind of person.

  Now I just feel extremely ashamed, jealous of women, jealous of games, and even jealous of men... If I were in ancient times, wouldn't someone like me be thrown into a pig cage?

  As I watched Wei Xingyun finally succumb to fatigue and fall asleep during the video import process, I suddenly felt that I really didn't understand him at all.

  I've liked someone for so many years, but I still can't figure out what he's thinking. Actually, I'm quite a failure too?

  My fingers lightly brushed against Weixingyun's sleeping face, and I suddenly discovered that he had lost a lot of weight.

  What's wrong, Wei Xingyun? You have to eat well because I don't have any more snacks to send you.

  The spring breeze entered through the window that had never been closed, the curtains fluttering in the wind. The sunset shone through the gap and onto Wei Xingyun's body, his hair shining with a warm glow under the golden sunlight.

  No one can tell me how to traverse the vast expanse of time and space, find that road back, and regain that long-lost time when I loved him.

  So I can only greedily recall.

  In the second semester of high school, less than two months after the start of school, news of a spring outing suddenly spread throughout the campus.

  Everyone was energized, and I was no exception.

  In my impression, Wei Xingyun never participated in any spring outing activities during his elementary school days. Every time there was a spring outing, he would always be one of those who stayed home on leave. In junior high school, he did participate once, but he was always wandering around the periphery and not very active. So when this news came out, the first thing I thought of was whether Wei Xingyun would go or not.

  Fortunately, from Zhou Shuangshuang's revealed information, currently no one in their class has proposed not going.

  I secretly fantasize that maybe, as I walk with Wei Xingyun, we'll get lost in the deep mountains. I'll be scared and quickly throw myself into his arms. He'll comfort me and hold me tight. We'll spend the whole day alone in that secluded but picturesque place until evening when we'll finally be found...

  I even secretly pray to God, since you haven't granted me good looks or intelligence, could you just grant this small wish of mine?

  The week before the spring outing, I started actively preparing everything related to it. What bag to carry, what things to bring, what clothes and shoes to wear... how to pretend to be unable to walk and blend in with the 9th grade class...

  But God probably thought I was too self-deprecating, so he gave me a small punishment.

  At first, everything went so smoothly. Although it seemed that I and Wei Xingyun were unlikely to get lost in the deep mountains, however, as I mixed with Wei Xingyun's group and chatted with everyone, it seemed that going on a camping trip together was already a certainty.

  The destination of our spring outing was a famous scenic spot in the suburbs of this city. I have been there at least three or four times since I was young, but none of those times were as memorable as that day, which left me with an unforgettable experience of extreme joy and sorrow.

  Because I fell into the river in front of everyone.

  When a person is in an overly excited state, it's inevitable to forget oneself, but I swear, I absolutely didn't become like a clown because of being too pleased and ended up with a tragic outcome.

  The place where we had a barbecue was next to a small lake, with a large area of greenery, and the scenery was beautiful. I was happily running back and forth between the two classes, seemingly getting along well with everyone, but only Zhou Shuangshuang knew that my attention was all on Wei Xingyun, as if I had grown two antennae on my head, stretching them all the way to his side.

  Zhou Shuangshuang, who was squatting on the ground washing vegetables, gave me a white eye and said, "Idiot, go talk to him."

  "Uh...it's a bit awkward."

  "You were chatting and laughing with everyone along the way, but deliberately skipped Wei Xingyun. Isn't that even more conspicuous?"

  I was shocked, "Ah, really? I just didn't want everyone to see that I'm treating you differently..."

  Zhou Shuangshuang helplessly said, "Xia Miomi, you've really got a clever face, but you're actually an idiot~ Believe me, everyone can see that you're treating people differently. Just now someone even asked me if I had any prejudice against Wei Xingyun."

  I was petrified on the spot.

  Woe is me, Wei Xingyun, others may misunderstand, but you mustn't misunderstand...

  The next second, I jumped like a rabbit to the side of Wei Xingyun who was building the stove, "Wei Xingyun, Wei Xingyun, let me help you!"

  He raised his head, showing no emotion, "Oh, then help me gather some dry firewood over here."

  Okay okay, I nodded desperately, and just happened to see a withered branch by the lake, so I rushed over excitedly.

  I'm still struggling with the withered branch, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Li Xue walking over there too. I vaguely hear them exchanging a few words, then Wei Xingyun gets up, seemingly to help her carry kitchen utensils.

  I'm furious, why should I be ordered around by you to do chores, while Li Xue can order you around and you're so annoying, Wei Xingyun! Completely forgot that I was the one who actively applied for this job myself.

  I glared at the withered branch of some unknown plant in front of me, gritting my teeth and tugging hard, but one branch still refused to come down. My temper flared up, and I completely forgot that I was by the lake shore. I changed my angle and continued to exert force, refusing to let go of this stubborn withered branch.

  I had completely forgotten about the small lake behind me, and with a sudden jerk, I finally managed to dislodge this stubborn dry branch from the trunk. But because I used too much force, I stumbled a few steps, my foot slipped, and suddenly I felt something was off. My heart skipped a beat, and before I could react, I fell down.

  The whole process was like a slow-motion replay for me, how I fell backwards, when I screamed out loud, the shocked gaze of my classmates around me... and even several thoughts flashed through my mind: 1. Don't let Mom and Dad know; 2. Wei Xingyun, hurry up and save me; 3. From now on, when writing essays about "the most unforgettable thing", I finally have material to write about...

  The next moment, I was in close contact with the lake water, and a large amount of water poured into my mouth. I didn't have time to be frightened, and what came to mind first was: Wow, I wonder how many people have washed their feet in this lake...

  Then, someone "splashed" out of the water and I was picked up like a little chick, quickly swimming to the shore. The surrounding classmates and teachers rushed over and pulled me up with all their might.

  Damn it, I still tightly grasped that withered branch in my hand!

  The one who saved me was not Wei Xingyun, but a physical education teacher who accompanied us on the trip.

  What's even more infuriating is that according to the movie plot, I should have fainted and lost consciousness, avoiding that embarrassing situation. But at this moment, I showed a tenacious vitality like a weed, was slapped by the teacher a few times, spat out some water, and sat up.

  Hundreds of eyes were staring at me, and our teacher kept asking: "Mengmeng, Mengmeng are you okay? Don't scare the teacher!"

  I remained silent for three seconds before bursting into loud wails and shouting "Mom!"

  I wept with hysterics, my heart torn apart, you can never imagine how desperate I was in front of hundreds of people, especially Wei Xingyun, after making such a big fool of myself. At that moment, my biggest thought was: I want to go home, I don't want to see these people again!

  I'm so useless...

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