I'll Wait for You in the Future - Chapter 8: Love Like a Meteor Shower

You smiled faintly, saying nothing.
And I felt, for this,
I’d waited a very, very long time.

“Weixiao, come out for a minute.” Zheng Wei appeared at the liberal arts classroom door during break time.

“What do you want? Don’t you know manners?” Liu Dazhi appeared at the door.

“What’s it to you?” Zheng Wei ignored Liu Dazhi.

“Oh, still trying to chase Weixiao?” Liu Dazhi saw the envelope in Zheng Wei’s hand.

“You don’t even have the courage to chase her!” Zheng Wei sneered.

“Has anyone ever told you you have bad breath?” Liu Dazhi fanned the air in front of his nose.

The classmates laughed. Zheng Wei was furious, grabbing Liu Dazhi’s collar, lifting him up. Liu Dazhi used his knee to push forward, and Zheng Wei yelled, releasing his grip and stepping back.

Liu Dazhi’s anger surged: “Disrespecting me is one thing, but disrespecting my clothes is another! These are more precious than my dignity!”

The two were ready for a fight.

Unfortunately, the bell rang.

“Liu Dazhi, want to fight? After school, behind the teaching building.”

“Who’s afraid of who! See you after school.”

“Dazhi, are you really going to fight Zheng Wei?” Chen Xiaowu was worried.

“Not fighting now is admitting defeat!” Liu Dazhi was confident; he hadn’t been fooling around learning boxing from Chen Tong. Behind the teaching building after school, the liberal arts students silently divided into two groups to watch. No one called out “begin”; the two threw their bags on the ground, and Liu Dazhi charged forward. Zheng Wei raised a hand, pressing down on Liu Dazhi’s face. The liberal arts students closed their eyes. Liu Dazhi, flustered, started throwing wild punches, kicking and hitting, a flurry of blows. Although he didn’t land any serious hits, he made Zheng Wei look disheveled and embarrassed. Zheng Wei threw a punch, hitting Liu Dazhi’s left cheek; Liu Dazhi’s head buzzed. Zheng Wei then kicked Liu Dazhi’s leg; Liu Dazhi stumbled and fell. Seeing this, Chen Xiaowu wanted to help, but Chen Tong stopped him, “Let them fight; it’ll be over afterward.”

Liu Dazhi felt something wet on his nose; he wiped it—it was bl00d. Zheng Wei threw another punch. Liu Dazhi, using his small stature to his advantage, dodged, grabbed Zheng Wei’s arm, and with a skillful over-the-shoulder throw, sent Zheng Wei sprawling. “Wow!” the crowd gasped. Zheng Wei was heavy; Liu Dazhi almost fell too.

Zheng Wei got up and lunged again. Liu Dazhi seized the opportunity, throwing another over-the-shoulder throw. Liu Dazhi raised his eyebrows at Chen Tong. Chen Tong muttered, “Oh no.” Seeing Liu Dazhi kept targeting his arms, Zheng Wei used his legs to kick Liu Dazhi, giving him no chance to attack. Risking being kicked, Liu Dazhi attacked Zheng Wei’s upper body, enduring seven or eight kicks before finding an opening. Liu Dazhi calculated carefully; although he was on the defensive, every time he threw Zheng Wei with an over-the-shoulder throw, he mentally awarded himself ten points; he thought Weixiao would give him twenty. To maintain his image, Liu Dazhi said, “Wait,” then flipped his shirt inside out. They fought for another twenty minutes. Liu Dazhi was injured, but he’d also thrown Zheng Wei four or five times. They sat on the ground, panting.

“Finished? Let’s go home.” Chen Tong walked over, pulling Liu Dazhi and Zheng Wei up.

Zheng Wei, still unconvinced, stood up, “Liu Dazhi, don’t get too cocky. You know you’re a joke, right? Nike on the front, Puma on the back—a fake still wearing it every day, so embarrassing, such a joke.”

The science students laughed.

“You don’t understand anything, four-eyes!” Liu Dazhi was furious.

Chen Tong: “Zheng Wei, the fight’s over; what’s the point of saying this?”

“I’m saying, Chen Tong, why are you so hypocritical? Don’t you know his clothes are fake? Is it you who’s being funny, or me?”

Liu Dazhi looked at Chen Tong. Chen Tong said nothing, pulling Liu Dazhi away. Liu Dazhi shook off Chen Tong’s hand, picking up his bag and walking in another direction. Seeing Chen Tong’s expression, Liu Dazhi knew Zheng Wei was right. He’d not only embarrassed himself but also his friends. Chen Tong was also embarrassed; to avoid affecting Liu Dazhi’s mood, he didn’t mention it.

“Liu Dazhi! Zheng Wei! You both stop!”

A familiar voice. Hao Huigui was walking towards them. Seeing Hao Huigui, everyone froze, involuntarily stepping back. Liu Dazhi reluctantly stopped, lowering his head, turning around, and freezing upon seeing Hao Huigui.

Hao Huigui strolled over, wearing an identical tracksuit to Liu Dazhi’s.

“You two write a self-criticism, no less than 1500 words, and I want to see it tomorrow. If you don’t hand it in, you’ll run 20 laps around the track. And,” Hao Huigui turned to the others, “next time something like this happens, all of you who were just watching, you’ll each run 20 laps for me!”

Liu Dazhi remained motionless. “Teacher Hao, you… how did you get this tracksuit?”

“It looks good, doesn’t it? Just because you can wear it doesn’t mean I can’t.”

“But… it’s a fake.” Liu Dazhi was embarrassed.

“That’s where you’re wrong. In places like Hong Kong and Japan, even if it’s not the real deal, it’s still fashionable. The more brands you have on you, the more fashionable you are. Get it?”

“Huh? Fashionable?” Liu Dazhi looked bewildered.

Hao Huigui didn’t understand fashion; he’d just noticed Liu Dazhi’s reversible tracksuit and remembered being ridiculed by his classmates for wearing a similar one, a memory that had haunted him for a long time. He’d even run home and yelled at his mother, feeling she’d made him lose face by saving money. It was only when he’d fallen short of university admission by a few points, and his mother had unhesitatingly produced 20,000 yuan of savings, that he’d understood her sacrifices. Getting one for himself meant Liu Dazhi wouldn’t feel embarrassed. After all, one person looking bad is one thing; two people looking bad together becomes fearless. Chen Tong and Weixiao laughed at Hao Huigui’s explanation, unsure if it was true, but they felt it was right that he said it.

Weixiao asked Dingdang, “What kind of person do you think Teacher Hao is?” Dingdang immediately gushed, “Teacher Hao is so handsome! My brother wore the same tracksuit and got ridiculed, but Teacher Hao wears it, and everyone shuts up. A man who can turn things around like that… I really want to marry him!”

Weixiao said questioningly, “I just feel like he always seems to appear and solve problems whenever something happens.”

Dingdang immediately replied, “That’s fate! Look, the Leo meteor shower is coming next week, once every 33 years, and it’s happening just when I have someone I like! That’s fate, it means heaven wants me to confess!”

Weixiao was surprised, “You’re not going to…?”

“Shh! Don’t say it.”

Returning home, Liu Dazhi stood before the mirror, examining his reversible tracksuit, thinking it looked really cool, not at all low-class! His mother returned from shopping; Liu Dazhi blurted out, “Mom, you’re so fashionable!”

Chen Xiaowu’s seven-year-old brother struggled to change the bean sprout water. Chen Xiaowu quickly went to help. The familiar voice came from the radio: “Hello, host! The meteor shower is coming tomorrow; do you think confessing to someone I like will come true?”

“Whether it comes true or not isn’t important; what matters is that you dare to express your feelings on this special day. If you succeed, you’ve seized a confession opportunity that only comes once every 33 years. If you fail, it’s okay; at least you don’t have to wait another 33 years!”

The voice was familiar. Chen Xiaowu sat by the radio, feeling heavy. He also wanted to confess to someone he liked. Chen Xiaowu felt sad, glancing at his brother changing the bean sprout water, then looking around, then thinking of himself: Am I really worthy of liking someone?

“Does wishing on a meteor shower really work?
Or is it just a reason to express your wish?”

The next morning, Hao Huigui entered the classroom. Everyone looked at him quietly. Hao Huigui found it strange; was it a special day?

Feng Meili stood up, “Teacher Hao, your final evaluation is this afternoon. We hope you do your best, and we hope to see you tomorrow.”

“Are you holding a memorial service for me? Everyone’s so serious. Shi Tou, you’re also serious; that’s rare! What good does it do for you if I stay?” A chuckle rippled through the class. Shi Tou, a little embarrassed, scratched his head, “It’s good. No one’s ever scolded me like that before.”

The class erupted in laughter. Shi Tou’s face reddened, “What’s so funny? It’s true!”

Chen Xiaowu also stood up, “Teacher Hao, I also like it when you scold me.”

The laughter intensified. Hao Huigui couldn’t help but laugh along. Liu Dazhi cleared his throat, “Teacher Hao, do your best; we’ll wish on the meteor shower tonight.”

“Liu Dazhi, do you know what constellation the meteor shower is in?”

“Huh? Are there different constellations?”

“You’re so uncultured; not only won’t the meteor shower grant your wish, but you’ll also get me killed. Don’t even bother wishing.” Hao Huigui gestured for Liu Dazhi to sit down, “I understand your feelings; I’ll do my best, and I hope you will too.” With that, Hao Huigui opened his textbook and began the lesson.

After class, Wang Pangzi nudged Dingdang.

“The meteor shower tonight is said to be very effective for confessions.”

“You’re not going to confess to someone, are you?” Dingdang felt Wang Pangzi had been acting strangely lately.

“Dingdang, have you noticed anything different about me recently?” Wang Pangzi smiled at Dingdang.

“Stop! Enough! We have absolutely no chance! Just pretend I didn’t ask.” Dingdang disliked fat guys, especially Wang Pangzi.

“No, no, I don’t like you, but do you think I’ve become more competitive recently?”

“You… seem… a little thinner?” Dingdang said uncertainly.

“This isn’t thin; I’ve lost a lot of weight; look.” Wang Pangzi stood up, revealing a significantly slimmer figure.

“What happened?” Dingdang was surprised.

“I’ve barely eaten anything for a month, just drinking water, and only half a fruit when I’m really hungry. I’ve lost over thirty jin [jin – a Chinese unit of weight, approximately 500 grams].” Wang Pangzi was quite proud of his achievement.

“Why did you suddenly lose weight? Could it be… for someone?”

“Sigh, I can’t say. But do you know that feeling? Just seeing that person every day, even when you’re really hungry, you feel energized.”

Dingdang recalled her feelings for Hao Huigui and immediately felt Wang Pangzi was her kindred spirit. For Dingdang, the Leo meteor shower, which only comes once every 33 years, happening just when she has someone she likes, was fate; she felt heaven wanted her to confess.

The bell rang; Wang Pangzi returned to his seat with a smile. Dingdang carefully observed him; he was truly different from before. Before, the bell would make him slump; now, he was smiling.

It seems love really can change a person.

Miss Yang, wearing a particularly well-fitting suit, walked into the classroom: “Hello, everyone.”

“Hello, Miss Yang!” Wang Pangzi’s voice was exceptionally loud.

Dingdang shivered; could it be…?

Miss Yang asked, “Who can introduce in English what we can do during a meteor shower?”

Wang Pangzi immediately raised his hand. Miss Yang pointed at him, “Wang Pang, you’re very proactive; you go.” Wang Pangzi stood up abruptly but didn’t speak immediately, remaining silent for a while. Dingdang thought he was thinking, but unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, he started swaying, then suddenly fell to the side. Chen Tong immediately stood up to help him but was too late. Wang Pangzi fell like a building undergoing controlled demolition, instantly collapsing. Miss Yang and the students were terrified; the few male students in the class rushed over, flustered, unsure how to lift him. Wang Pangzi still weighed over 180 jin; he was like a mountain. They couldn’t move him. Some female students started crying. Miss Yang, in her high heels, ran out of the classroom, into the hallway, and spotted Wang Weiguo, the PE teacher, leading students in exercises on the playground. Ignoring the classes in nearby rooms, Miss Yang shouted, “Weiguo! Come quickly! Come quickly!”

Wang Weiguo thought he was dreaming when he heard Miss Yang call him; it was the kind of urgent call a female protagonist would make to a male protagonist. Wang Weiguo turned, seeing Miss Yang frantically waving from the third-floor hallway. He didn’t know what had happened and ran towards the third floor. Several PE students were also at a loss and followed him.

Chen Tong and the others still couldn’t move Wang Pangzi; they were all sweating profusely. Wang Weiguo walked over, observed the situation, gestured for everyone to move aside, then squatted down, placing his hands around Wang Pangzi’s neck and legs, gauging his weight, then with a powerful lift, used a princess carry to lift him up.

The whole class gasped.

“Wow, Mr. Wang is amazing!”

“He’s the runner-up in the provincial weightlifting competition…”

Miss Yang was excited, “Quickly, quickly, Weiguo, let’s take him to the hospital. I’ll call for an ambulance.” Miss Yang ran out again, encountering Hao Huigui.

“What happened?”

“Wang Pang fainted; Weiguo is carrying him downstairs. I’ll call for an ambulance; you manage the other students.” Miss Yang took off her high heels, carrying them as she ran downstairs behind Wang Weiguo. Wang Pangzi was quickly taken to the hospital. Standing in the hospital corridor, Miss Yang was flustered, hands on her hips, panting. Thinking of Wang Weiguo rushing into the classroom and effortlessly lifting Wang Pangzi, whom no one else could move, she was incredibly grateful, “Weiguo, if it weren’t for you, I’d have been terrified to death.” Wang Weiguo was a little shy, looking away, “Don’t worry; as long as I’m here, you won’t be scared.”

Wang Pangzi fainting from weight loss was like a wave in the ocean, disappearing as quickly as it appeared. During adolescence, everyone does silly things. These small waves don’t affect the direction of the tide; each one is just a desire to be different, to prove one’s existence. Wang Pangzi fainting from weight loss for his English teacher wouldn’t be the most sensational event at their high school reunion. Xie Qiuhua and Li Daman’s early romance, using 502 glue to stick their fingers together to prove their love; Guo Shengli being late and writing Jacky Cheung’s name instead of his own at the attendance office; Chen Xiaowu bringing a watermelon to class, sharing it during evening self-study, one bite each…

Looking back, these things were silly, but silly doesn’t mean bad; only then, with those people, could you do such things. Seventeen wasn’t all about worries; you just forgot. Leaving the teacher evaluation classroom, Hao Huigui was confident, but the results were only announced the next day, so he was still a little uneasy. After school, He Shifu invited him to dinner with the Education Bureau leaders; Miss Yang was also invited.

Hao Huigui asked, “What’s up?”

He Shifu said, “You’ll know when you get there; it’s good news. Since there are teachers from other schools, we have to make a good impression.”

Hao Huigui hated having dinner with leaders; watching his colleagues constantly flatter them felt like a waste of time. Seeing Hao Huigui hesitate, He Shifu joked, “Teacher Hao, don’t think you can be so casual now that you’re a regular teacher; dinner is also part of the job, understand?” Miss Yang was more tactful than Hao Huigui; as soon as He Shifu mentioned dinner, she said, “It’s great to have dinner with the director; what good news!”

Hao Huigui glared at her. As soon as He Shifu left, Miss Yang confided in Hao Huigui, “Teacher Hao, you’re like a child. You need to change your personality.” Me? A child? He hated being called a child. Weixiao said Liu Dazhi was like a child; Miss Yang said he was like a child; he was 36 years old! Seeing Hao Huigui’s expression change, Miss Yang laughed, “Teacher Hao, look, if you don’t want to go, just refuse immediately, no matter what others say. I hate people who pretend they don’t want to go but end up compromising. We all know you’ll go in the end, so why put on a sad face and make everyone uncomfortable? Since the director invited me, I can’t refuse, so I’ll just be straightforward.”

Hao Huigui was speechless, “Why would I definitely go?”

“Teacher Hao, you really don’t understand yourself. Although you have your own ideas, you always try to consider everyone’s feelings.”

“Is that so? Even if I’ll go in the end, it’s better than pretending to be happy, right?”

“Since you’re not happy, why make us unhappy? Only someone who can make a decision can also refuse one. If you always hesitate, people will think you’re easily persuaded, and your decisions are meaningless.” Miss Yang smiled and left the office.

Hao Huigui stood there; Miss Yang was right; he was always hesitant. He always considered everyone’s feelings, ignoring his own. This hesitation had led him to where he was today; seemingly making the best decisions, but actually settling for second best.

“Let’s go; Director He’s waiting.” Miss Yang poked her head back in.

“Oh.”

Liu Dazhi and the others rushed home for a quick dinner, then returned to school to meet. He took them to the rooftop of the broadcasting station. Few people came here; it was his secret spot for enjoying the scenery. Liu Dazhi led them upstairs, carrying a piece of wire. The door lock was rusty and worn from years of rain. Liu Dazhi crouched by the door, fiddling with the wire for a long time, but the lock wouldn’t budge.

“Brother, are you going to open it or not? The meteor shower is almost over!” Dingdang sat in the hallway, sweating profusely.

“Wait, wait, let my wire get familiar with the lock.” Liu Dazhi continued fiddling.

“Move aside; let me try.” Chen Xiaowu pushed Liu Dazhi aside, crouched down, listened carefully, then with a “click,” the lock opened. Chen Xiaowu looked smug.

Pushing open the door, a cool breeze blew in. A few chairs were scattered on the empty rooftop; a few weeds grew in the ground, but it was quite clean. Liu Dazhi told them to stay on the rooftop while he closed the door again; he’d looked clumsy earlier and needed to try again. They placed their snacks on the ground. Chen Xiaowu took out a colorful sheet: “Wait, let’s put them on this.”

Chen Tong, “Xiaowu, you’re surprisingly thoughtful.”

Dingdang looked at the sheet, “Gross. Is it clean? Have you used it before?”

Weixiao smiled, “It looks clean, and sheets are for sitting on anyway.”

“Xiaowu, it’s okay if we made a mess,” Chen Xiaowu quickly waved his hands, “It’s fine, it’s fine, I cleaned it up specially…”

Dingdang still looked disgusted.

Everyone started taking out the food they’d brought.

“Help me open the door, I give up! I can’t open this lock!” Liu Dazhi shouted from outside. Chen Tong ran over to open the door, turning the doorknob twice, but it wouldn’t budge. He squatted down and observed for a while, saying to Liu Dazhi, “This door lock is broken; you have to open it from your side. I’ll get Xiaowu to teach you.”

“Ah, what if I can’t open it? Will I miss the meteor shower…?”

Dingdang, Weixiao, and Chen Tong continued chatting, while Chen Xiaowu squatted by the door, teaching Liu Dazhi how to open the lock. Liu Dazhi was anxious; they’d agreed to watch the meteor shower together, but now Weixiao and Chen Tong were chatting. Chen Xiaowu was also anxious; they’d agreed to watch the meteor shower together, but now Dingdang and Chen Tong were chatting.

Upon arriving at the dinner location, Hao Huigui learned that He Shifu had brought them here to compete for a portion of the education fund the Education Bureau was about to allocate—every school received some, but the amounts varied. The Education Bureau had arranged a private meeting with key personnel from several schools, planning to discuss and allocate the funds directly. This was the last chance to secure a share. Besides Director Li from the Education Bureau, the dinner also included principals and directors from other schools. As soon as they sat down, everyone was a little reserved. A principal from a private school, Principal Yang, saw He Shifu and his group and exclaimed, “I’ve heard so much about you! The most capable director of Hunan No. 5 High, the most highly regarded homeroom teacher, and the female teacher who returned from studying abroad to build her hometown—three esteemed teachers, I offer you a toast!”

He Shifu had been worried about how to introduce Hao Huigui and Miss Yang, but Principal Yang’s introduction made He Shifu beam. He usually looked down on teachers from private schools, but at this moment, he felt quite fond of Principal Yang. Hao Huigui sat at the table, watching the various displays of “inner strength” [内功 (neigong) – a term from wuxia novels, referring to internal martial arts cultivation; here, it refers to subtle social maneuvering], unable to get a word in edgewise. Some used gestures, some used eye contact, some simply raised a corner of their mouth, their words subtly persuasive, discussing the private allocation of the education fund—it was a battle of wits. He Shifu kept using eye contact to signal Hao Huigui and Miss Yang to impress Director Li with Hunan No. 5 High tonight. Principal Yang kept laughing heartily, as if he didn’t care about the fund at all, as if he were genuinely here for dinner. Although Hao Huigui met Principal Yang for the first time, he vaguely felt he’d seen him before. Director Li smiled subtly at everyone, making each person feel particularly appreciated. Hao Huigui observed for a while longer. He noticed that no one’s sentences had endings, because someone would always interrupt mid-sentence, unceremoniously inserting their own topic. Only Director Li listened attentively to everyone, nodding in agreement.

Suddenly, Miss Yang stood up, interrupting everyone’s performance. Raising her glass, she said, “Good things come in threes! Having dinner with Director Li and witnessing a once-in-a-decade meteor shower—I offer you a toast, Director Li. Please feel free; I’ll drink mine first.” Seeing this, everyone felt regret; they’d been busy introducing their schools and forgotten to toast Director Li first. He Shifu nodded in satisfaction, feeling Miss Yang had secured another 10% of the funding for Hunan No. 5 High. Director Li still smiled subtly, saying “Thank you,” then raised his glass. Everyone watched how much Director Li would drink. Miss Yang downed her baijiu in one go, while Director Li took a small sip. Director He’s heart sank; this was a clear sign of disapproval! The other schools were secretly pleased; Hunan No. 5 High hadn’t gained any advantage this round. As soon as Miss Yang put down her glass, the others started toasting, and the room became noisy again.

Hearing Miss Yang mention the once-in-a-decade Leo meteor shower, Hao Huigui suddenly remembered taking everyone to watch a meteor shower years ago… and the incident that followed… He suddenly felt anxious.

“Teacher Hao, come, Director Huang was very impressed with your last lesson, praising it highly. I offer you a toast.” Director Li from the Education Bureau raised his glass to Hao Huigui.

Everyone knew that lesson had been exposed as fabricated, so Hao Huigui could only raise his glass and drink. He Shifu saw Hao Huigui’s embarrassment and sensed he might want to leave, subtly signaling him not to leave, determined to impress Director Li; they couldn’t retreat at this crucial moment.

“Everyone, I heard Miss Yang sings English songs beautifully. After dinner, let’s go karaoke!” Director Li suggested.

“That would be wonderful! And we’ve heard Director Li sings beautifully too!” everyone chimed in. Miss Yang walked over and whispered, “Teacher Hao, let’s go together. I’ve never heard you sing; let’s sing a few songs before we leave. Are you also waiting for the meteor shower?” Miss Yang glanced at her watch, “It’s still early; it’s not even nine o’clock; wishes made too early don’t come true.” Director Li seemed to treat every school the same. Hao Huigui couldn’t tell if he had any special feelings towards Hunan No. 5 High. But Miss Yang had impressed him; in such a setting, every word was tactful and appropriate. Hao Huigui genuinely admired Miss Yang. If others were just socializing, she was genuinely making friends. It seemed to her that since they were here, they should enjoy themselves and have fun. Infected by Miss Yang’s enthusiasm, Director Li gradually drank more, his face flushed, and he started learning English from Miss Yang.

Principal Yang had somehow sat next to Director He, the two chatting animatedly. Director He listened attentively and nodded happily. Suddenly, Hao Huigui slapped his forehead; he remembered why Principal Yang looked familiar. He recalled that the year after he graduated, Director He had taken a large group of teachers to Principal Yang’s private school, causing many students to transfer, and Hunan No. 5 High’s college entrance exam results plummeted afterward. It turned out Director Li’s invitation had led to Director He’s job change. Hao Huigui’s mind raced; how much did this matter affect him? Should he intervene? Maybe it wouldn’t work, but maybe it could change something. But seeing Principal Yang and Director He chatting so enthusiastically, he couldn’t interrupt. Then he thought, it would happen a year or two later anyway; it had nothing to do with him. That’s right, he wouldn’t interfere with things that didn’t concern him. So whether Director He took teachers and students away didn’t really matter to him. Besides, he didn’t know how long he’d be in this era; let them poach if they wanted; it had nothing to do with him. Director He was still talking. Hao Huigui directly raised his glass, “Thank you, Principal Yang, I’ll drink first.” Director He was stunned; when had Hao Huigui become so bold? Hao Huigui felt Miss Yang was right; since they were here, they should enjoy themselves; he’d let go of things that didn’t concern him. No one could do everything well, but everyone could make their own decisions. Since Director He’s job change didn’t affect him, he knew Director He had been scolded by parents and teachers afterward, called money-hungry and unfit to be a teacher, disregarding students’ futures… It was Director He’s decision, so he should be responsible for it.

On the rooftop, Liu Dazhi finally opened the lock and slumped onto the bench beside Chen Tong.

“There will be so many shooting stars; which one should we make a wish on?”

“Whichever one you see first.”

“What if many people wish on the same star? The stars are so small; how can they handle so many wishes?”

“They can definitely handle it.”

“Don’t worry, think about the temples; there are only a few Buddhas, yet so many people make wishes every day; how do they handle it? They’ll sort it out themselves at night.”

Actually, after a certain point in life, you can no longer find someone to talk about such nonsense with you so seriously. If you can find a few friends who are willing to talk nonsense with you, you should consider yourself lucky.

“If our wishes come true, how do we repay the stars? They’ll burn up.”

“Everyone whose wish is granted will become a star after they die, helping others make their wishes come true.”

“Wow, really? Even death is so beautiful.”

“So… the meteor shower tonight is all dead people?”

“Chen Xiaowu! Shut your mouth! Can’t you be quiet?!” Dingdang was furious.

Chen Tong and Liu Dazhi couldn’t help but laugh. Dingdang was really angry; she’d finally prepared to confess to Teacher Hao, and Chen Xiaowu had ruined her mood.

“Ah! The meteor shower!” Liu Dazhi pointed to the sky.

Everyone looked up, closing their eyes, making wishes. They would never forget this scene. The entire sky was filled with shimmering trails, first five or six, then dozens of shooting stars appearing simultaneously, illuminating the sky.

“So beautiful!” the five teenagers exclaimed.

Liu Dazhi closed his eyes and shouted, “Don’t forget to make a wish for Teacher Hao, hoping he stays!”

After making his first wish, Liu Dazhi secretly opened his eyes, walking to Weixiao, leaning his ear close to her mouth.

“Brother! What are you doing?!” Dingdang watched Liu Dazhi.

Weixiao was startled, seeing a large head suddenly appear before her; without hesitation, she grabbed him and did an over-the-shoulder throw. Instantly, Liu Dazhi felt dizzy, seeing stars, no need to look at the meteor shower anymore.

“Liu Dazhi, what are you doing?!” Weixiao asked vigilantly.

“I… I just wanted to hear what wish you made.” Liu Dazhi couldn’t stand up from the pain.

“My wish has nothing to do with you! If you do this again, I’ll make sure your wish doesn’t come true!” Weixiao raised her arm, pretending to hit him again. Liu Dazhi quickly covered his face with his arms.

“Ah, such a big one!”

Everyone immediately ignored Liu Dazhi. Lying on the ground, Liu Dazhi looked at the stars, countless shooting stars streaking across the sky. He also closed his eyes, hands on his chest. “Shooting stars, everyone else makes wishes standing up; you can only see their faces. But I’m making a wish lying down; you can see my whole body. I want to become better, I want the girl I like…” Liu Dazhi secretly opened his eyes, glancing at Weixiao, continuing his wish, “I want Weixiao to like me too, I hope I get into a good university, I hope you remember me—the only one who made a wish lying down, Liu Dazhi, Class 1, Senior Three, Hunan No. 5 High!”

Chen Xiaowu also clasped his hands, imitating Dingdang, closing his eyes, making a wish: “Shooting stars, please do me a favor. There’s a girl beside me who likes someone else; she’s making a wish right now. If you hear my wish, can you make her wish fail? I’ll thank you every day. After I die, I’ll also become a shooting star, bringing hope to more children. Thank you, shooting stars.”

After making her wish, Dingdang smiled.

Chen Xiaowu also smiled.

Dingdang felt her wish would definitely come true.

Chen Xiaowu also felt his wish would come true.

“Thump!” A gust of wind blew shut the door, which had been propped open with a piece of wood.

The air instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at each other; Liu Dazhi yelled and ran to the door. He turned the doorknob several times and kicked the door twice, but it wouldn’t budge.

The three boys stood at the door, making futile efforts.

Weixiao said, “We can’t go back; we’ll have to sleep outside tonight.”

Dingdang said, “I’ve never slept outside before; it should be interesting.”

Half an hour later, the two girls stood on the rooftop, shouting, “Help! Help us!”

“It’s over, it’s over, we can’t go back. My parents will kill me.”

“My parents too.”

“My parents are even scarier.”

The meteor shower ended; the moon grew brighter, the temperature dropped, and the two girls shivered. The boys took off their thin jackets and gave them to the girls, but it still wasn’t enough. Chen Xiaowu thought for a moment and took out his colorful sheet, brushing off the dust. He hesitated, unsure whether to give it to Dingdang.

“Hurry up, we’re freezing!” Dingdang snatched the sheet.

Weixiao secretly smiled, “What about you guys? You’re all wearing short sleeves; what are you going to do?”

“Don’t worry, remember, we’re long-distance runners.”

Liu Dazhi and the other two started running around the rooftop.

“We’re going to freeze to death on this rooftop tonight!” Dingdang cried.

“Don’t talk nonsense; after midnight, our parents will come looking for us.”

Outside, the temperature had dropped significantly; their breath formed white clouds.

“Tap tap tap!” Someone was banging hard on the iron door. The five shivering teenagers, already despairing, rushed to the door.

“Are you all in there?”

“Teacher Hao, is that you?!” Dingdang yelled.

“It’s me, it’s me, don’t worry, I’ll open the door.”

“Oh my god! My wish came true!” Dingdang looked at Weixiao, incredibly excited.

“Liu Dazhi, slide your wire under the door.” Hao Huigui said from outside. Liu Dazhi didn’t know how Hao Huigui knew he had wire; he didn’t care and slid it under. “Teacher Hao, you know how to open locks? This lock has a…” Before Liu Dazhi could finish, “Click!” the door opened.

Hao Huigui, breathless, stood at the doorway, looking at the five shivering teenagers. Although they’d seen each other just that day, everyone looked overjoyed, as if they’d escaped a disaster; even Weixiao and Chen Tong rushed towards Hao Huigui. Everyone hugged each other.

“Teacher Hao, how did you know we were trapped?” Dingdang asked.

“There’s nothing I don’t know. Did you make a wish for me?”

“Yes, yes, we did! How did your evaluation go today?” Liu Dazhi suddenly remembered.

“Well, the school notified me; I’m officially your homeroom teacher!”

“Ah! Our wish came true!” Liu Dazhi was overjoyed, rushing forward to hug Hao Huigui again. The others were also ecstatic, hugging and embracing each other, more like friends than teacher and students. It felt wonderful that our fates were intertwined. Accomplishing something, encouraging ourselves, feeling moved by ourselves, and being proud of ourselves—this is what it feels like.

“Teacher Hao, you’re so good,” Dingdang continued staring at Hao Huigui.

Hao Huigui glanced at Weixiao: “Weixiao, you guys should go now.”

Weixiao understood and immediately pulled Dingdang downstairs. Dingdang descended a few steps, then stopped, turning back, tiptoeing to whisper in Hao Huigui’s ear: “Teacher Hao, I like you.”

“Teacher Hao, I like you!”
“Teacher Hao, I like you!”

These seven words echoed in Hao Huigui’s ears like a mountain valley reverberation.

Seeing Hao Huigui blush, Dingdang whispered again: “Teacher Hao, you can think about how to respond; I won’t pressure you.” With that, Dingdang smiled, turned, and went downstairs with the others, leaving behind her silvery laughter.

Seeing Dingdang’s joyful expression, Chen Xiaowu and Weixiao guessed what had happened.

“Let’s go,” Dingdang said cheerfully, walking ahead. Weixiao followed, her feelings indescribable; she wanted to ask but hesitated. Chen Xiaowu walked dejectedly behind, hands in his pockets, clutching an unsent letter, like clutching his own heart—painful, conflicted, wanting to throw it away but lacking the courage, continuing to hold it, a dull ache lingering in his heart.

“Thank you for praising me;
I’ll remember it forever.”

Ten minutes ago, those teenagers were freezing cold. Now, it was Hao Huigui’s turn to feel the chill. He’d anticipated Dingdang might say something excessive, but even so, he was still surprised by her confession. He could understand anything, but he never imagined that returning to 1998 would lead to Dingdang confessing to him—what kind of logical and emotional development was this? Hao Huigui’s brain became a dormant volcano suddenly erupting after ten thousand years, magma gushing out, every fleeting thought burning and stinging his heart.

Hao Huigui reflected on the events. To help Liu Dazhi resolve Dingdang’s long-held feelings, he’d comforted her at her lowest point. In Dingdang’s eyes, at her most helpless moment, the care from a non-bl00d relative felt especially warm. Hao Huigui was more realistic and manly than the “high-jumping Andy Lau.” Hao Huigui was closer and more approachable than Chen Tong. After comparing them, Dingdang felt Hao Huigui was the one she could entrust herself to.

Hao Huigui’s heart sank. He kept berating himself: Who says past regrets must be rectified? After all these years, no one had broken off contact, and no one had died because of this misunderstanding, so why bother? Hao Huigui slapped himself: You’re being self-righteous! You’re being presumptuous! You’re being self-important! Now look what you’ve done! His face burned with pain, self-reproach, shame, and embarrassment. Especially Dingdang’s final words: “Teacher Hao, you can think about how to respond; I won’t pressure you.”

Hao Huigui was extremely anxious, rushing home like the wind. What should I do? Hao Huigui understood Dingdang’s personality. If he didn’t respond directly, she’d use various methods to confess, making a big fuss. Should he directly reject her? But he could already imagine their conversation.

At midnight, someone knocked on Hao Huigui’s dorm room door.

“Who is it?”

“Teacher Hao, it’s me…”

Why would Chen Xiaowu come at this time?

Opening the door, Chen Xiaowu stood dejectedly at the entrance, his father, Chen Shihui, beside him. Hao Huigui quickly invited them in. Under the light, a distinct red handprint was visible on Chen Xiaowu’s face. Chen Shihui rarely came to school, usually reserved even at the market, but he looked particularly angry tonight. He didn’t believe Chen Xiaowu had been locked upstairs; the two had argued, and he’d come to Hao Huigui to confront him.

“Mr. Chen, our school’s astronomy group did organize a meteor shower observation tonight; some students were locked on the roof. Chen Xiaowu wasn’t lying.”

Chen Xiaowu slightly raised his head, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. But Chen Shihui didn’t seem to care whether Chen Xiaowu was lying; he’d wanted to come to school for a long time.

“Teacher Hao, my son is not bright; he won’t learn anything even if he continues studying, always last in exams, bringing shame to the family. I plan to take him home to help with the bean sprouts.”

Chen Xiaowu lowered his head without surprise; he’d known this day would come. Hao Huigui also knew this day would come, but he didn’t want Chen Xiaowu to leave so dejectedly.

“Mr. Chen, although Chen Xiaowu’s grades are poor, he’s reliable among his friends. At school, besides exams, learning how to be a good person is more important. Some students with poor grades try to prove themselves by doing bad things, while others feel inferior. But Chen Xiaowu isn’t like that. Although his grades aren’t good, he’s very motivated in other areas, and he’s popular. He’s not a child who’ll bring shame to the family.”

Chen Xiaowu had never heard Hao Huigui say these things. Hadn’t Teacher Hao always disliked him? Chen Shihui was also stunned; for years, teachers had either scolded Chen Xiaowu or ignored him. Hearing Hao Huigui’s words, Chen Shihui didn’t know what to say. Chen Xiaowu couldn’t help but look at Hao Huigui again, his nose tingling.

In everyone’s growth, the most memorable moments are when teachers praise them in front of their parents, whether accurate or exaggerated. It’s as if the teacher’s words determine their future, motivating them to achieve it, not wanting to disappoint those who trust them.

“Then… Teacher, do you think Chen Xiaowu still has a place at school?” Chen Shihui finally managed to speak.

“Mr. Chen, there are still several months until graduation; let Chen Xiaowu get his diploma. He’ll definitely succeed, even more than you imagine.” Hao Huigui said this, looking at Chen Xiaowu, who remained silent. Although using money to measure success is too simplistic, this seemingly sloppy child would earn so much money in the future. Although people use “nouveau riche” to describe someone wealthy but lacking taste, in this society, someone who doesn’t steal, rob, or break the law, with no family background, achieving success through hard work, step by step, eventually transforming and taking over the entire Hunan vegetable market, is a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Outside the window, the moon hung high, the clouds serene, the quiet campus filled with the sounds of insects.

How difficult it must be for someone looked down upon by everyone to succeed. First, they must overcome themselves, not fearing strangers’ judgment, and most importantly, not being influenced by familiar eyes and fixed judgments, protecting that tiny spark of hope within. They must swim against the current of life, shielding their courage from the wind and rain, hiding a determination to never give up, avoiding constant judgment from the world, then leaping forward. This journey requires more than just luck or help; it’s the most difficult acrobatic feat in life, walking a tightrope across mountains and valleys, through winter warmth and summer coolness, amidst morning mist and sunlight, to reach the other side. How many can achieve this?

Hao Huigui wanted to ask Chen Xiaowu’s feelings but didn’t dare disturb the storm brewing within him. Chen Xiaowu kept sniffing. Perhaps because of Hao Huigui’s praise, perhaps because he felt he was so unmotivated, perhaps because his father worked so hard… all his emotions welled up, and tears flowed. Hao Huigui quickly said: “You should study hard, get your high school diploma, otherwise, you won’t even be able to calculate your bean sprout profits in the future.”

“Yes, yes, Teacher Hao, you’re right. I just feel my son isn’t learning anything at school, so I wanted to take him home to teach him something.”

“Perhaps, Mr. Chen, give Chen Xiaowu some more time, see how he performs. At least wait until the high school exams are over.”

“The best way to reject someone is to make them give up,
not make excuses.”

The next day at noon, Hao Huigui called Dingdang into his office. He deliberately left the door open, then changed his mind and closed it. Dingdang was touched.

Hao Huigui’s expression was serious: “Dingdang, I don’t want to talk about the teacher-student relationship…”

Dingdang smiled: “I knew you wouldn’t care about that!”

“Wait, wait, I haven’t finished. I want to say… actually, I have a girlfriend. Look, this is her photo.”

Dingdang glanced at it: “Oh, I know; Liu Dazhi mentioned it before.”

“So I can’t accept you. You’re a good girl.”

“Do you two have a good relationship?” Dingdang asked casually.

“Yes… of course, we’re in the honeymoon phase.”

“Honeymoon phase? Why don’t you ever call or write to her?”

“Ah?”

“Teacher Hao, I asked the delivery room attendant; you’ve never received any letters or made long-distance calls since you came to school. You might be unknowingly being cheated on; she doesn’t care about you at all.”

“You… you investigated me?” Hao Huigui was speechless.

“Look, you don’t have a girlfriend, right? Teacher Hao, what are you afraid of? Tell me; we can solve it together.”

Hao Huigui felt like he’d been flash-frozen, then shattered by a bolt of lightning. Dingdang was truly formidable; she never fought unprepared battles. Hao Huigui realized Dingdang and Chen Xiaowu, seemingly guileless, were actually incredibly perceptive; no wonder they could achieve so much. They should be together; he couldn’t ruin a good marriage.

“Teacher Hao, do you have anything else to say?” Dingdang stood with her hands behind her back.

“Um… let me think about it; I’ll find you tomorrow.”

“Okay, I’ll wait.” With that, Dingdang turned and left.

Hao Huigui was annoyed; he should have said “I don’t like you” directly; “I have a girlfriend” and “you’re a student” were just excuses, fearing he’d hurt her feelings. Would he have accepted her if he didn’t have a girlfriend and she weren’t a student? Many people use kindness as a guise to make things worse.

Hao Huigui sat at his desk, frantic, realizing the only person who could solve this was Hao Tiemei. Hao Huigui stood up; he knew Hao Tiemei had the ability to resolve this discreetly, without causing embarrassment.

Hao Huigui immediately called Liu Dazhi’s house; Hao Tiemei answered.

“Teacher Hao, don’t worry,” Hao Tiemei was always rational and confident in handling such matters. “I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry; I won’t let Dingdang know I told you. That little brat, not studying hard, even bothering her teachers!”

In crucial moments, Mom is always reliable.

“Teacher Hao!” Hao Tiemei called again.

“Mm? Dazhi’s mom, what’s wrong?”

“Teacher Hao, I suddenly remembered… you’re so old, capable, and excellent, yet you’re still single; it’s normal for Dingdang to like you. Let me help you find a few girls. They’re all great, university graduates, with good family backgrounds. Don’t be afraid or nervous; just treat it as meeting new friends.”

In this world, all “sudden recollections” are things “kept in the heart.” Hao Tiemei had clearly thought about this for a long time; she’d just been waiting for Hao Huigui to fall into her trap.

Hao Huigui was completely speechless; he was too familiar with this tone. Before he’d even graduated, Hao Tiemei had been subtly urging him to date. After becoming a university lecturer, she’d constantly worried about his single status. He’d finally escaped from 2017, only to find Hao Tiemei still worrying about his marriage in this world. A mother’s love truly transcends time and space.

He felt that if he didn’t confess everything to Hao Tiemei, she would definitely start arranging blind dates for him the next day.

“Dazhi’s mother, thank you. Actually, actually, I’ve always liked a girl…” This was the first time Hao Huigui had proactively told his mother about these things; he felt a little embarrassed.

“Ah? What do you mean? You like a girl? Are you two together?”

Hao Huigui remembered the ring on Weixiao’s finger, his heart sinking, but he still said, “I don’t know if she’s with someone now, but I know she was single for the past few years.”

Telling his mother these things was really embarrassing. Unexpectedly, after Hao Tiemei finished listening, she immediately said, “Teacher Hao, let me tell you, if you like someone, you must be proactive. If you’re not even brave enough to be proactive, you definitely don’t like that person enough.” This was the first time Hao Huigui had heard Hao Tiemei say these kinds of words; it felt like an old expert selling fake medicine on TV. “Look, you like someone, but you don’t dare confess, are you afraid of being rejected?” Hao Tiemei gently guided him.

“Mm.”

“You’re afraid of being rejected, are you afraid of losing face? Unsure how to be friends with her afterward?”

“Mm…”

“So, you care more about your own face than whether she likes you. Therefore, you don’t like her enough.”

Hao Huigui was instantly dumbfounded by Hao Tiemei’s words. My mother is actually a love expert; I really underestimated her before. Do I not like Weixiao enough? Of course not. Hao Huigui immediately replied, “No, I’m not afraid of losing face; I’m afraid that after being rejected, I won’t be able to be friends with her anymore.”

“I really don’t understand you young people. If you like someone, you want to live with that person. If that person doesn’t want to live with you, why would you still want to be friends with that person? Every time you see her, your heart is filled with ripples; isn’t that just making things difficult for yourself?” She’s right, Hao Huigui actually felt Hao Tiemei’s words made a little sense.

“Teacher Hao, let me tell you, don’t look at my relationship with Dazhi’s father now…” Hao Tiemei proactively mentioned Liu Jianguo. Hao Huigui thought: Your relationship is so bad, you’ve already divorced, yet you still say your relationship is just ‘so-so.’

Hao Tiemei continued, “Back when we were sent to the countryside as educated youth [知青 (zhiqing) – educated youth sent to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution], many girls liked Dazhi’s father. They thought he worked hard, was honest, and handsome; I thought so too. Of all the girls, only I waited for him one day after work, directly asking him if he wanted to date. I was prepared; if he didn’t want to, I’d turn my back on him and never contact him again. He half-heartedly agreed, and later, we got along well and got married. So, everyone’s happiness must be fought for. If I hadn’t been proactive back then, Dazhi’s father would never have been with me, right?” Hao Tiemei was particularly proud talking about her past love story.

Somehow, Hao Huigui felt deeply moved listening to Hao Tiemei talk about these things on the phone. He’d never heard his mother talk about these things before, and he didn’t know how his parents had met. He’d always thought his parents’ relationship was bad, that they being together was a mistake. He never expected that it was his mother who had proactively pursued his father. Thinking about this, Hao Huigui felt inexplicably happy. He knew his mother had liked his father, that his father had been proactively pursued by his mother, that they hadn’t gotten married just to have children.

“What are you thinking? Did I say too much?” Hao Tiemei heard no sound from the other end. Hao Huigui rubbed his eyes, smiling, “No, no, compared to Dazhi’s mother, I’m really far behind. Why didn’t I think of this before? I always felt I couldn’t muster the courage; it turns out I hadn’t figured things out.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you solve Dingdang’s problem; I definitely won’t betray you. You also need to work hard. Liking someone is like liking something; once you’ve set your sights on it, you have to buy it. You must believe in your own judgment. The things you like are definitely good things; others will also like them. If you compare too much, someone else will buy it first.” Hao Tiemei is truly a queen of golden sentences. This was the first time Hao Huigui had admired his mother. After hanging up, Hao Huigui happily walked back to the dorm, not only solving a difficult problem but also resolving his own long-standing confusion.

Weixiao stood at the entrance to Hao Huigui’s dorm, holding the books she was returning.

“Teacher Hao, I guessed you were outside, so I waited for a while.” Weixiao smiled.

“How is it? Which book is the best?” Hao Huigui no longer felt nervous talking to Weixiao.

“I like *Gitanjali*; I like many of the sentences in it. ‘The world crushes me, and I sing in return.’”

“‘Only after experiencing hellish trials can one forge the power to create heaven. Only fingers that have bled can play the world’s most exquisite music.’” Hao Huigui also recited his favorite line.

“Yes, yes, yes, and, ‘We’ve misunderstood the world, and it’s deceiving us.’”

Hao Huigui always felt chatting with girls about poetry was incredibly pretentious, but when he and Weixiao truly chatted in the hallway, everything felt beautiful. No afternoon tea, no symphony, no beautiful decorations, no comfortable sofas—the empty hallway was better than anything.

You smiled faintly, saying nothing.
And I felt, for this, I’d waited a very, very long time.

This poem seemed written for Weixiao.

“Teacher Hao, do you know? I think Tagore’s poems are beautiful, and the person is beautiful too. He clearly didn’t have much affection for his wife, yet he constantly cared for and loved her, never betraying her.”

“Because he made sacrifices for his wife?”

“Someone who can make sacrifices for their other half isn’t that selfish, right?”

“Actually, have you ever thought about the meaning of a person’s life? Is it to live for others, proving oneself unselfish, or to live for oneself, finding true value?”

Weixiao frowned, pondering Hao Huigui’s words.

Hao Huigui suddenly asked, “Weixiao, do you really want to see your mother?”

Weixiao was startled, “Who told you? Liu Dazhi?”

Hao Huigui shook his head, “You’re more mature than most of your peers. But chatting with you, I feel you must have many questions you want to ask your mother. Last time I chatted with your father, he said you were very sensible, never mentioning your mother. Actually, you don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself; if you have anything to say, just say it; your father will definitely understand.”

Weixiao hadn’t expected Teacher Hao to say this. She immediately continued the previous topic, “I heard Tagore later fell in love with a widow, but his good friend also liked her, so he wrote a poem for the widow in his friend’s name. He used his influence to change the law at the time, allowing widows to remarry. It’s a pity he gave the woman he liked to his good friend. Teacher Hao, if you liked someone, and your good friend also liked her, what would you do?”

Hao Huigui felt like he’d been electrocuted. He walked behind Weixiao, not wanting her to see his expression, “If it were me, I’d still like her, but I probably wouldn’t tell her, until the day I felt the timing was right.”

“When is the right time?”

“When both people can feel each other’s feelings.”

Thinking about his feelings for Weixiao all these years, had the right time ever truly arrived? Or had it arrived, but he’d missed it? If he’d asked this question earlier, would everything be different? Hao Huigui was silent for a while, then asked, “You girls, don’t you think boys like Chen Tong are more attractive than boys like Liu Dazhi?”

Although unsure why Teacher Hao suddenly asked this question, Weixiao still answered, “Probably. Chen Tong is more in line with girls’ aesthetics, but Liu Dazhi…” she recalled the events of this period, “Liu Dazhi is someone whose changes you can see, someone from whom you can feel many things. He’s very real.”

The setting sun slowly left Weixiao’s face, shadows beginning to cover the campus. Hao Huigui and Weixiao stood in the hallway, chatting like this. He hoped he and Weixiao could chat like this until the end of time. He thought, what if I suddenly leave this place one day?