An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“If” is just “if.”

Where in this world are there so many “ifs”?

Humans are nothing more than a part of an arranged plan.

All morning, Huang Xiaozhi seemed to have forgotten the dream she had last night.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a mottled light on the floor.

She had pretty much learned the dance and felt she could take a break. The music on her phone didn’t stop.

A soothing, warm melody flowed through the quiet living room, gently brushing her ears.

As soon as she sat down, she thought of Yu Wen. What was Yu Wen doing right now? Was she also catching up on homework? She wanted to send her a message to bother her.

Her heartache for her was a heartache for her as a person. She had been through so much. She didn’t want to stay away from her; she just needed to get over it herself.

Huang Xiaozhi held her phone, her fingertips hovering over the screen. She fell into thought, looking at the familiar name. Would she be bothering her?

Forget it, why overthink it? She steeled her heart and opened the chat box.

WeChat:

Little One: Ms. Yu, are you free to come over?

Wen: Inviting me over?

Little One: Yeah, are you coming, Ms. Yu?

Wen: I’ll come after lunch. Is Auntie Wei not home?

Little One: She went out early this morning. Why? Is there something you need my dear mother for?

Wen: No, just asking.

Little One: I thought you needed something.

Wen: I can’t just ask?

Little One: You can. I’m not that possessive.

Wen: If you’re bothered by what happened last night, you can pretend I never said anything.

Little One: ?

Little One: What for? What am I bothered by?

Wen: Some of my experiences and…

Little One: Don’t be like that. You are very, very good. This is not your fault. You are the victim.

Wen: Mm, I know.

Little One: You can come down later and we can chat. I can… you can tell me your story, and I can tell you mine. I know you didn’t tell me everything last night. It’s okay. Whenever you want to tell me, you can. As long as you want to, I’m willing to listen.

Wen: Okay.

Little One: (Hugging emoji)

In front of the screen, Yu Wen looked at the long string of messages from Huang Xiaozhi. Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of her phone.

She seemed to know something. She wouldn’t leave her, right? A hint of warmth quietly crept into her heart.

Yu Wen’s expression was a little unnatural. Looking at these messages, she felt a strange, warm sensation.

She felt like she was loved. She let out a soft breath.

Downstairs, Huang Xiaozhi’s cheeks felt a little warm as she looked at the messages on her phone.

She suddenly wanted to delete the long string of messages she just sent. It felt so awkward now. Forget it, what you don’t see won’t bother you. She backed out of the chat.

She threw her phone on the sofa in annoyance.

She looked at the homework on the table. I’ll do it tomorrow.

She didn’t really have to do it. Old He didn’t check homework much. The best class was managed loosely, but their grades were still there. As a good student, she would at least do a little tomorrow.

Both of them were looking forward to meeting in the afternoon.

But Huang Xiaozhi was a little scared. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes. She didn’t know how she would react when Yu Wen told her story. It probably wouldn’t be good.

Her own story was much simpler.

When Huang Xiaozhi was a child, many people said that a child without a father was trash.

When she was a child, she foolishly blamed her mother. At that time, how could she have known that her mother was the one who was hurting the most?

It wasn’t until Huang Xiaozhi started elementary school that she was surrounded by people at the school gate who said she didn’t have a father, that her mother was a prostitute, and that she was an accident. Rumors.

Pure rumors.

Kids these days are so full of nonsense.

That time, Wei Qingwen wasn’t affected by those words. Instead, she smiled and greeted her daughter. The sunlight shone on her slightly tired but exceptionally determined face.

She crouched down and gently held Huang Xiaozhi, walking through the crowd.

When they got to the car, Wei Qingwen knelt there, cupped Huang Xiaozhi’s little face, and her eyes were gentle but complicated.

“Little One, you have to know that in your world, you have Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, and your uncle. That’s enough. Maybe your father would be a good father, but you don’t need one,” Wei Qingwen’s voice had a hint of an almost unnoticeable tremor. She hugged her daughter tightly.

She felt she had let her daughter down.

At that time, Huang Xiaozhi started to have a clue. She began to guess that her father had done something bad.

In the sixth grade.

Wei Qingwen told Huang Xiaozhi about the past. She would find out sooner or later, and it was better to know sooner.

So her father was that kind of person. Now that she thought about it, the role of a father was truly unnecessary. Not at all.

Her story might have been complete even with a missing father figure. But she felt very complete now.

Many people loved her, and she was very happy.

…

The sky outside the window was like a child’s face, changing in an instant.

It had been sunny just a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, a light rain began to fall, leaving winding trails on the windowpanes.

Huang Xiaozhi looked out the window and muttered, “The weather is so strange.”

She was home alone. Her mom had also gone out, probably for something related to the company.

She had a simple lunch and then tidied up the house. She wanted it to be clean and neat since someone was coming over.

She carefully wiped the coffee table and straightened the sofa cushions.

After she finished, she sat on the sofa with her phone charging. The air was filled with a quiet sense of waiting.

A clear knock came from the door. “Knock, knock, knock.”

Although Huang Xiaozhi knew Yu Wen would come in the afternoon, she didn’t expect her to be this early. She still instinctively got up and looked through the peephole.

It was Yu Wen.

She had a smile on her face, but Huang Xiaozhi always felt that a subtle tension was hidden beneath that smile.

She opened the door, and Yu Wen’s smiling face was in front of her. “Come in and have a seat. You don’t need to change your shoes.” Huang Xiaozhi stepped aside and smoothly pulled Yu Wen’s arm to bring her in. She then closed the door.

This wasn’t Yu Wen’s first time at Huang Xiaozhi’s house, but she had never spent much time in the living room.

The living room was spacious and bright, with a beige sofa and neat decorations. In short, it looked much more comfortable than her own small home.

She cautiously sat on the edge of the sofa.

Huang Xiaozhi went to get her a drink. It was peach-flavored. The cool drink bottle was handed to Yu Wen, bringing a touch of coolness. “Here you go.” She also grabbed one for herself.

She kicked off her slippers, comfortably curled up on the sofa with her legs crossed, and asked with a smile, “Ms. Yu Wen, have you finished your homework?” Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the other girl.

“I have. Is there someone who hasn’t finished yet?” Yu Wen twisted off the cap, took a sip, and her tone was a little teasing. She had indeed finished it, a long time ago.

What? Finished?! Huang Xiaozhi’s eyes widened. She still couldn’t believe it.

They took the same time off, so why was the homework completion different? Is this what a top student is like? Well, she hadn’t finished for a good reason. It was for the show.

She had to close the bottle cap and sit up straight, saying very seriously, “Tsk, so fast! I haven’t finished, but I have a show to prepare for. I’ve been working on my show all morning. How about you lend me your homework to copy, Ms. Yu?” She clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, her eyes filled with anticipation.

If she could avoid using her brain, she definitely would. Her brain was too valuable.

“Ah… is it for the arts festival next Friday? Sure. I’ll get the homework for you when I go back.” Yu Wen’s lips curved as she looked at the little girl’s lively expression.

When Huang Xiaozhi heard this, her heart blossomed.

This is what it feels like to be pampered, isn’t it? “Okay! Do you want me to perform a peacock dance for you?” She really wanted to show off, but as soon as the words left her mouth, the movements she had just learned felt a little blurry. Don’t say yes, she prayed silently.

“Sure. Why don’t you perform a section for me? I’ve never seen you dance,” Yu Wen put down her drink, adjusted her posture, crossed her legs, and leaned forward slightly. Her eyes were a little playful and curious as she looked at Huang Xiaozhi, as if to say, “Go on, I’m waiting to watch.”

Go on and dance. She was watching. She had never seen a live performance before, so she was a little curious.

Huang Xiaozhi felt a little weak inside, looking at Yu Wen’s expression. “Ah… ahem, well,” she said, unconsciously touching her ear. Her eyes darted away. “How about later? I’m a little… a little rusty on the moves…”

Yu Wen saw her embarrassed look and couldn’t help but laugh softly. She wouldn’t give her a hard time. “Okay, what should we talk about? Or is there something you want to say?” She proactively changed the subject.

She got straight to the point.

Huang Xiaozhi let out a sigh of relief and crossed her legs again.

“You can say whatever you want to say. I’m the listener. As long as you’re willing to talk, I’m willing to listen. Once you’re done, we can switch roles. How’s that?” She looked into Yu Wen’s eyes with encouragement, also wanting to see what Yu Wen would say.

“Actually, I’d rather listen to you. My story isn’t that interesting,” Yu Wen leaned back against the sofa. Her eyes were calm as she looked at Huang Xiaozhi. Her posture hadn’t changed, but there was a hint of avoidance in her expression.

Huang Xiaozhi immediately noticed and respected her wishes. “Okay, then I’ll talk,” she leaned forward slightly, her eyes focused on Yu Wen. “I bet you’re curious about my father, right?” She guessed, but she wasn’t sure. It felt like she was very curious but didn’t want to ask.

“I am. I’ve been curious for a long time,” Yu Wen nodded, gently tapping the drink bottle with her finger, as if she had made up her mind. “When you’re done, I can tell you a secret of mine.” She suddenly thought of something. We’re pretty good friends now, so it shouldn’t matter if she knows, right?

…

The living room was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of rain outside the window.

“First of all, I’m an only child. My name is Huang Xiaozhi. Of course, I can also be called Wei Xiaozhi,” Huang Xiaozhi’s voice was clear and calm.

“Many people are curious why I only have a mother and no father. It’s because he’s a despicable animal.” Her tone was a little cold.

“My mother fell in love with him at first sight. He just used her and then left me behind. He disappeared. No, he ran away.”

“My mother was in the hospital alone. My uncle was only two years old. I’m only two years older than my uncle. In the end, my grandparents came to the hospital to take care of my mother. Can I say that I was an accident?”

Yu Wen listened quietly. Her body was slightly relaxed, and her eyes were focused. She was a quiet listener.

“Even if I was an accident, I was lucky enough to come into this world. Although along the way, I was told by many of my peers that I didn’t have a father, and they said some very ugly things,” Huang Xiaozhi’s voice got a little louder, carrying a stubborn strength. “My life isn’t missing a father. It’s that this father doesn’t deserve my life.”

“I might be sounding a bit arrogant. Don’t mind me,” she smiled a little awkwardly, then became serious again. “My family gave me as much love as they could. Haha, I’m a very happy little girl.” Her smile was very bright.

“When I was a kid and didn’t know any better, I blamed them. But now, I realize I was a total idiot back then. I’m very happy now,” she concluded, then tilted her head to look at Yu Wen. “What do you think, Yu, my deskmate?”

Yu Wen was a little entranced. Her eyes showed understanding and a hint of almost unnoticeable envy. So that’s how it is?

What she had guessed was probably right. To her, Huang Xiaozhi’s life was tough enough, and she was already a sparkling person.

“I think you’re right,” Yu Wen’s voice was very soft, but very firm. “The role of father in your life really doesn’t deserve you.”

She looked at her, as if she could see the little girl who was once surrounded by rumors but was still stubborn, through the present Huang Xiaozhi.

But what did it matter? She was just that amazing and strong.

Huang Xiaozhi proudly lifted her head. Her face was radiant with confidence. She was just that amazing.

She adjusted her posture, crossed her legs, sat sideways, and placed her hand casually on her knee, as if it were a casual starting pose.

“My name isn’t Yu Wen. My name is Yu Wen.”

That was… a zero-frame start.

“Wha… what? What are you saying?” Huang Xiaozhi was completely stunned. Her body froze. What do you mean Yu Wen isn’t Yu Wen?

“My name’s ‘Wen’ is the one with ‘ear’ inside ‘door.’ Do you get it?” Yu Wen’s (or rather, Yu Wen’s) expression was very calm. She crossed her arms, her tone casual, as if she was saying something very ordinary.

Ah— Yu Wen— Yu Wen. So her WeChat name had a reason. A single “Wen” character. Huang Xiaozhi suddenly understood, and then her curiosity came back.

“Why that ‘Wen’?” She leaned forward. She was really curious.

“I like to use the ‘Wen’ with the rain radical outside, but my real name is Yu Wen,” Yu Wen smiled slightly, her smile a little complex.

“Haha, it might be a little sudden. I changed my name myself. The name my mother gave me, ‘Wen,’ probably means don’t relax about anything inside the door. With ears, you will hear the truth. So it fits me now,” she paused, her voice lower.

“I changed my name to survive at the Zhang family’s. So I used a homophone with a different character. They were suspicious of me, but I was still a little lucky.” After she finished, she lifted her previously lowered eyes and looked at Huang Xiaozhi frankly, observing her reaction.

“I see,” Huang Xiaozhi processed the information, her fingers unconsciously tapping on the armrest of the sofa. “This character ‘Wen’ has a lot of meaning. Although it’s on the surface, it does fit you back then. ‘Ear inside door,’ the ‘ear’ is you, right?”

Her eyes lit up, as if she had solved a puzzle.

It was indeed a good name. Wen. Ear inside door.

“Yes. Your logic is really good,” Yu Wen’s compliment was sincere.

The corners of Huang Xiaozhi’s mouth immediately curved up.

She complimented her. Sure enough, she’s a genius! The little bit of pride in her heart made her temporarily forget everything else.

“Why don’t you go get your homework now?” Huang Xiaozhi looked at Yu Wen. Her eyes were filled with nothing but sincere anticipation.

Yu Wen nodded and stood up.

Huang Xiaozhi didn’t move. She clearly planned to sit there and wait.

But Yu Wen didn’t move immediately.

She stood still, her head slightly lowered, her gaze on Huang Xiaozhi. Her voice had a hint of an almost unnoticeable tension. “Will you tell them my name?” She didn’t want to ask, but she did in the end.

Huang Xiaozhi felt a little strange. Why would she think I’d tell those people? Was she stabbed in the back before?

She looked up at Yu Wen, who was standing in front of her. The light from the side made Yu Wen’s features look a little sharp. At this moment, she looked like a rose with thorns but was seeking confirmation.

“No,” Huang Xiaozhi’s answer was firm. Her eyes were clear and determined. “Because I will only remember it in my heart. You told me, so only I will know. It means you trust me a lot to tell me.” She firmly believed this.

This was a piece of information that someone she trusted would tell her. And this “Wen” should have a special meaning.

Yu Wen looked at Huang Xiaozhi, who was speaking so seriously and sincerely. Her tense shoulders seemed to relax a little. She raised her eyebrows and walked toward the door. “Indeed, I trust you,” she put her hand on the doorknob and paused, without turning around. Her voice was clear. “Remember my name with your heart.”

“Click—.” The door closed gently.

Remember my name with your heart.

What a smooth talker… Huang Xiaozhi stared blankly at the closed door. Her heart felt as if something had gently bumped it.

For a woman to say something like that, it was so moving. Was that a love confession? Her cheeks felt a little warm.

She would. She would remember her name with her locked-up heart.

Huang Xiaozhi started to think that Yu Wen was a true romantic.

She was so good with words. Every word she said landed right on her heart. She was beautiful and a good talker. Who wouldn’t love her? If no one else loved her, she would.

She immediately took out her phone and quickly typed. She posted something on her social media, like a response, and also a declaration:

I will remember your name with my locked-up heart, and it will never be opened for a lifetime.

There.

She was even better with words. “Never to be opened for a lifetime.” Looking at the successful post notification, she smiled with satisfaction. The curve of her lips couldn’t be held back.

After posting, she got up to open the door. Although Yu Wen hadn’t arrived yet, it was good to have the door open. She was too lazy to go open it again later.

She opened the door, patted the non-existent dust from her hands, and went back to her seat. She was still immersed in the words she had just written.

She looked down at the words on her phone screen, not noticing that the door had been quietly pushed open.

Yu Wen walked in gently with a few books in her arms. She closed the door and looked at Huang Xiaozhi, who was sitting on the sofa, looking down at her phone with her back to her. She smiled silently.

“What are you doing? Are you a caterpillar?” Yu Wen’s voice was filled with laughter.

Huang Xiaozhi was startled. She suddenly looked up and saw that Yu Wen was already in the living room.

As for why she was moving—she had just wanted to make a more spacious spot for her deskmate.

“I’m making a space for you,” Huang Xiaozhi immediately replied. That playful, a-little-bit-of-a-jerk expression was back on her face. “So what if I’m a caterpillar? Are you going to slap me to death?”

Yu Wen looked at her, walked over with the books, placed them on the coffee table, and then reached out her finger to gently touch the tip of her nose. The gesture was a little intimate and playful. “A caterpillar can move a little. It’s not a big deal.” With that, she naturally sat in the spot that Huang Xiaozhi had made for her, habitually crossing her legs.

To her surprise, there was a thick photo album on the edge of the sofa. When she sat down, it was knocked over and fell onto the carpet at her feet with a “thud.”

She turned around, bent down, picked up the photo album, and handed it to Huang Xiaozhi.

It was someone else’s stuff. She wouldn’t look at it without permission. Although, deep down, she really wanted to see what little Huang Xiaozhi looked like.

Huang Xiaozhi didn’t immediately take the photo album. Instead, she laughed when she saw it. Her white teeth shone brightly. “You can look. It’s mostly pictures of me when I was a kid.”

Hearing this, Yu Wen was no longer polite. She nodded and opened the first page of the album.

What caught her eye was a photo of a three- or four-year-old girl. She was wearing a little red dress, her hair was down, and she had a sparkly hairpin on her head. Her smile was bright, and her features already showed a hint of what she looked like now. She was very pretty and cute.

Huang Xiaozhi also leaned in closer, pointing with her finger as she explained, “This was taken in my grandma’s backyard. I think it’s pretty cute. I’m not cute anymore.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Wen responded. Her gaze was still on the photo. Her voice was very soft but clear. “You were cute. You were cute when you were a kid, and you’re still… cute.” Her fingertips gently traced the little girl’s cheek in the photo.

Huang Xiaozhi’s heart skipped a beat again, and she felt a little giddy from the compliment. “Okay, I’ll take it.” She laughed, her gaze also falling on the photo album. Suddenly, she noticed that Yu Wen had stopped turning the pages. She was stuck on a certain page, and she didn’t say anything for a long time, just quietly looking.

Huang Xiaozhi was a little confused. She leaned over to look.

It was a group photo. In the photo, there was a kind-looking uncle, a gentle-looking aunt, and the aunt was holding a little girl with a low ponytail who looked to be only one or two years old.

Wei Qingwen was in the photo, sitting on a chair, holding the little girl, who was Huang Xiaozhi herself. She didn’t remember the exact scene.

But seeing that Yu Wen had been staring for so long, her eyes so focused that they were almost frozen, Huang Xiaozhi couldn’t help but ask softly, “What’s wrong with this photo…?”

Yu Wen stopped because she saw her own parents in this photo—the man and woman with kind smiles.

She saw them smiling so happily and so blissfully. This long-lost, almost forgotten image made her emotions surge.

She forced herself to calm down and shook her head slightly. Her gaze still didn’t leave the photo. “Nothing. Looking at this photo, I can tell you’re very happy.” This was the truth. The little Huang Xiaozhi in the photo was surrounded by love.

Huang Xiaozhi didn’t notice the subtle changes in her emotions. She smiled. “Yeah, I am very happy,” she paused, her tone carrying a definite comfort. “You will be, too.” She believed that Yu Wen would be happy.

Yu Wen didn’t respond. She just continued to flip the pages silently. Huang Xiaozhi also watched with her, page by page, seeing her own moments of crying, laughing, and being silly when she was a child. She would occasionally explain, “This one was in a park, I think…” “This one is my uncle holding me. He was only this tall back then…” Time flowed through the yellowing photo paper.

After they finished looking, Yu Wen closed the photo album but didn’t put it down immediately.

She looked up at Huang Xiaozhi, a hint of a request in her eyes. “Can I take two pictures to remember?”

Huh? Take pictures? Of me when I was a kid? Of course, she could.

Huang Xiaozhi nodded generously.

Yu Wen first flipped to the group photo and carefully took a picture with her phone. Then she flipped back to the first page and also took a picture of little Huang Xiaozhi in the little red dress with the bright smile.

After taking the photos, she gently closed the album and carefully put it back in its original place.

“Thank you.” Her voice was very soft, carrying a heavy emotion.

Thank you for letting me see them in the past, and also for letting me see you in the past.

Huang Xiaozhi looked into her eyes and saw that Yu Wen’s eyes seemed a little red, but her gaze was very bright, as if it was filled with tears. It was very beautiful.

She couldn’t control herself. It was almost a subconscious action. She reached out her finger and gently, with a hint of curiosity and intimacy, touched Yu Wen’s cheek.

The warm touch of her fingertip made both of them slightly freeze.

Yu Wen then laughed. Her laugh was more relaxed and genuine than ever before. She also reached out her hand and, with a bit of a joke and affection, rubbed Huang Xiaozhi’s face.

“Ouch!” Huang Xiaozhi laughed and dodged.

The two of them laughed and played in the living room filled with the afternoon light.

At that moment, it was as if all the heaviness had been temporarily cast aside, leaving only pure, warm happiness. The sound of their happy laughter echoed in the air.

Happy times are always beautiful.

Yu Wen said to herself in her heart: She lied. She did want to take that group photo at first to investigate some things. But looking at the smiles of her parents in the photo and the little Huang Xiaozhi, that selfish thought had already been covered by more complex emotions.

As for her eyes not lying—it was because the Huang Xiaozhi with the gentle smile in Yu Wen’s eyes had already taken the most important place.

Her eyes were already hers.

Exclusively hers.