Winter Returns

Chapter 148 "Crazy Wednesday"

Zhang Shutong recalled that he had sat on the sofa for a while, and that's probably when he slipped off.

“I’m on the night shift for the next two days. How about I give the key to my colleague and tell her to give it to that handsome kid with the cast on?”

"That's too much trouble." Zhang Shutong pretended not to hear the second half of the sentence. He glanced at the rain outside the window and said, "I'll go tonight."

"Okay, I don't change shifts until eight o'clock, so let's not stay out too late."

Zhang Shutong thanked him and hung up the phone.

He pressed the lock screen button on his iPhone, and the phone's built-in lock screen sound was something he never tired of hearing.

"Lu Qinglian, there's actually a question I've wanted to ask for a long time."

Zhang Shutong looked at the password on the lock screen and said:

"During the avalanche, you used my phone to call Ruoping. How did you know the password?"

Modern mobile phones don't have fingerprint unlocking.

Lu Qinglian inserted the straw without even looking, the strawberry milk in her hand like a toy:
"That time I went fishing."

"When?" Zhang Shutong thought she would say a different date, but she didn't expect it to be the first day of the retrospective.

"That day, when we were hiding in the reeds, you unlocked your phone and wrote something in your notes app to tell everyone to hide. I happened to be standing behind you." Lu Qinglian said softly, biting her straw.

Zhang Shutong was genuinely shocked. Just how much had she accomplished that day? She had gone to find the clay figure, dealt with the poachers, and even caught a basket of fish. But then she thought about it again. If it weren't for all that, she wouldn't have been able to get to the hospital in time. It was a case of "a blessing in disguise."

Zhang Shutong then stopped trying to change the password:
"What else did your homeroom teacher say to you?"

"I will tell you if necessary; if I don't, don't keep asking."

"Yes, yes." Zhang Shutong felt awkward.

After returning to school, Lu Qinglian resumed her aloof and unapproachable demeanor.

It seems that their "cooperation" is limited to special matters, and they still don't have much interaction in their daily lives.

She was still that girl who worked as a temple keeper, going up and down the mountain to school every day, quietly doing everything she did. It wasn't necessarily because she was particularly interested in any particular thing; it was just a habit.

Zhang Shutong even suspected that, in her eyes, even the casual conversations along the way were just exchanges that had to be made to get something done, and that once the task was completed, most of the conversations would be better left unsaid.

Lu Qinglian only does what is necessary.

Just like now, the sky outside the window is gloomy, and all the lights inside are on, the LED tubes shining bright white light, illuminating the scene inside the classroom in the window glass. Zhang Shutong turned her head to look at the glass, and there was Lu Qinglian's reflection, who was taking out a thick English book, the New Concept English book she had subscribed to in the second year of junior high school. She lowered her eyes, and even while drinking her milk, she did not forget to open one of the texts to read.

Just a few minutes earlier, Zhang Shutong had seen her put a flat, wet object into her backpack. It turned out that she had gone to the rooftop before leaving the office. There were lunchboxes and lids scattered on the rooftop. They had left in a hurry, and the food inside was no longer edible after the freezing rain.

Zhang Shutong had gained some new understanding of Lu Qinglian, so he stopped bothering her and said "excuse me" as he left through the back door of the classroom.

The long break between classes is usually a time for students to go out and have fun, but today it rained and all outdoor activities were canceled. All the students were stuck in the four-story teaching building. Every floor was filled with noise, and the windows were shaking slightly.

When it rains, the rooftop becomes a place that cannot be visited, so Zhang Shutong occasionally likes to come to the corridor to watch the rain.

Many people rushed past him, laughing and joking. The lights in the corridor were old, and the light was much dimmer. The indoor atmosphere on a rainy day could give people a sense of security, but people themselves couldn't explain where it came from. Perhaps it could be traced back to the beginning of evolution, when a group of apes were sheltering from the rain in a cave.

He was standing right in front of the back door of Class 1. Zhang Shutong watched the raindrops slide down the glass, drinking very sweet student milk. If he had a vivid imagination, he could imagine himself in a coffee shop with floor-to-ceiling windows, strawberry latte in his hand, and in a bustling downtown area... How could a high-end coffee shop not have some perfume?

Then a familiar fragrance entered my nostrils.

The differences between people are so great. Some people only have sweet student milk to drink during afternoon breaks, while others hold a box of Mengniu milk. Some people hide from the freezing rain in the corridor, while others are like the continuous autumn rain.

Gu Qiumian was standing directly opposite the front door of Class Two. She looked at the rain outside the window, rested her arm on the windowsill, breathed on it, cupped her face in one hand, and used the other hand to draw a few random lines on the glass.

However, her place wasn't as quiet as Zhang Shutong's. People would come out of the classroom from time to time, mostly girls, in groups of three or five, laughing and joking as they greeted each other. Zhang Shutong belatedly realized that she was a very busy person now.

Many people greeted Gu Qiu Mian, but some people did nothing or said anything extra while watching the rain. Gu Qiu Mian would often just give a casual "hmm" without even turning her head, taking it as a response.

How could a busy person have time to come out and watch the rain?

The world is so vast that hundreds of people can pass through this narrow space at the same time, creating a dense flow of people.

The world is so small, it seems like there are only two people left, and the world falls silent in that instant.

"Squad leader, what a coincidence."

"Who's your class monitor? Don't try to claim kinship with me." The class monitor blinked his thick eyelashes, admiring the freshly created artwork on the glass.

Zhang Shutong stopped talking. Since the avalanche, he felt that it was good to just stay quietly by her side without saying anything. Anyway, he wasn't very good at talking. Raindrops pattered downstairs, turning the gray cement ground black.

The dim light reflected her face on the glass. Zhang Shutong would occasionally glance at it. She didn't know what she was thinking, and she could never guess what was on her mind. She only knew that she was always in a good mood when she drew funny faces.

Now they were in two different classes, so they walked out of the front and back doors of their respective classrooms, idly watching the rain outside the window until the straws in their mouths made a hissing sound, until the school bell rang.

"I'm leaving now." The young lady wiped the fog off the glass and waved her hand contentedly.

"Goodbye." The henchman squeezed the empty milk carton into a single piece and took it back to the classroom.

The long break between classes is thirty minutes.

This means that he and Gu Qiumian stood together and watched the rain for thirty minutes without realizing it.

……

The fourth period is a self-study period.

The teachers went to a meeting.

The new class monitor sat on the podium, and the only sound in the classroom was the swishing of pens across paper.

Zhang Shutong continued working on math problems when his phone, which was in his desk drawer, rang, indicating that someone had tagged him in a group chat.

In his obsession with fishing, Zhang Shutong completely lost.

It was normal for them to discuss after-school activities in the group chat every day, but he didn't expect that the three of them would still be discussing where to go fishing on a rainy day. When he picked up his phone, he found that it wasn't fishing, but that Ruoping had grabbed a stack of coupons.

"My mom's friend owns a restaurant, and they're having a promotion today, Wednesday. Want to go eat there?"

Her manicured hands were tucked into the sleeves of her sweater, clutching several coupons with a picture of a fried chicken burger called "Kende Chicken" printed on them. They were indeed very cheap, with the usual 12-yuan combo meals all 50% off, and a free serving of chicken nuggets included.

After finishing the last major question, Zhang Shutong signed up to participate.

Not going fishing is due to physical constraints, but not eating fried chicken is a sign of a problem with one's mindset.

He had almost finished his evening homework and gradually regained his old rhythm. In junior high school, he basically didn't do his homework at home; he did it all at school.

Du Kang said, "Hey, you nouveau riche, please take me with you!" These days, "nouveau riche" is a buzzword. He then asked:
How do I get there?

"Let's ride our bikes. My dad just asked if I needed a ride, but I don't think it's raining that hard, so I'll pass."

Where is Shutong?

"I'll take him," Qingyi chimed in.

Zhang Shutong first sent the picture to her mother, along with a line of text:

"I have a dinner party tonight, don't worry about me."

He then said in the group:

"But I need to go to the hospital to pick something up; I forgot about it before."

"Let's go together then. I checked the weather forecast; it won't rain too much." Ruoping typed at a speed equivalent to three Gu Qiumian's. Zhang Shutong didn't know why she came up with such a description. "Why don't you ask Qinglian if she's going?"

Zhang Shutong was too lazy to write another note, so he simply handed his phone screen to Lu Qinglian.

"Some students should stop whispering to each other."

The class monitor coughed, carrying on the homeroom teacher's wishes.

Lu Qinglian shook her head.

Zhang Shutong continued doing her homework.

When the school bell rang, he waited for his best friends to come to the classroom to meet him.

Zhang Shutong lazily propped her chin up, watching Lu Qinglian tidy up the desk. She basically didn't bring homework home, so she always went to and from school lightly.

Zhang Shutong looked downstairs again. Although they didn't need their parents to pick them up, adults were always pouring into the school with umbrellas. Zhang Shutong even saw a Volkswagen car in the distance at the school gate, the one he had ridden in for lunch.

That belongs to Gu Qiumian's family.

She keeps a low profile when going to school, only taking a car.

Not long after, Ruoping leaned out:
"Let's go, don't forget to take your umbrella."

Hearing her mention it, Zhang Shutong remembered that Lu Qinglian hadn't brought an umbrella, but she was already far away. He remembered there was a spare one for teachers in the office, and she would always tell Lao Song before going. She must have brought one this time too. Thinking of this, he looked out the window and sure enough, he saw the figure in the green robe in the crowd. She was holding a red umbrella with a beer advertisement printed on it, walking against the surging crowd towards the school gate.

Zhang Shutong withdrew his gaze, left the classroom, and asked Ruoping:
"Would you like to come with me to the hospital later to get something upstairs?"

"Okay, is it heavy?"

"It's not sinking." Zhang Shutong thought to himself, "I'm going to give the nurse a scare."

Qingyi and Dukang followed behind. It happened to be their turn to be on duty today. The students were divided into those who brought umbrellas and those who didn't. The latter usually kept a spare umbrella at school. They were both from the latter group, each holding a black umbrella and slowly tapping it on the ground.

Boys can live a rough life, but they are often very particular about things. For example, who doesn't have a black, long-handled, big umbrella?
It can be used as a scabbard for a rapier, a gentleman's cane, and when necessary, it can also completely cover the girl under the umbrella. Zhang Shutong was wondering where his very cool umbrella had gone when someone bumped into him.

There were quite a few people in the corridor, but not so many that they were shoulder to shoulder. Moreover, he and Ruoping were waiting for Qingyi and the others to catch up, so they didn't move. To be precise, the other person bumped into them, and, to make matters worse, bumped into their left hand that was hanging in front of their chest. Zhang Shutong hissed and looked up. It turned out that a tall man had brushed past them.

The man had a thick beard and was wearing a black suit; he looked more like he was attending a funeral than picking someone up from school.

"Watch where you're going! Didn't you see his injured hand?" Ruoping said unhappily.

The man turned and glanced at them upon hearing this, but didn't speak. His eyes were mostly white, lacking any expression; he merely glanced at them indifferently before turning back, continuing on his way. Ruoping immediately became annoyed, and Zhang Shutong patted her on the shoulder.
"Gu Qiumian's family."

"How did you know him?"

“Her family members all dress very flamboyantly,” Zhang Shutong joked. “Let me tell you another little detail: if the bodyguards only wear suits, the driver will also wear white gloves. Look at his hands.”

"But the driver wasn't him. The person who picked us up for lunch was quite young and seemed nice. He even gave us Kunlun Mountain tea to drink."

"They have a lot of drivers at home."

Ruoping pursed her lips and stopped talking.

Zhang Shutong praised her for her broad-mindedness, only to be met with a glare from Ruoping:
When have I ever been anything but generous?

Zhang Shutong thought about it and realized that it made sense. This time, Ruoping accepted the chocolate and did a perfect job in every aspect.

"But what were you thinking at the time?" He was still a little puzzled by this butterfly effect.

"What do you mean, what are you thinking? Your question is so strange. So you think I have to hold a grudge against Gu Qiu Mian?" Ruoping revealed a witch-like smile. "Fine, I'll hold a grudge against you first. Tonight, I'll treat them to dinner, and you can eat by yourself."

Zhang Shutong hurriedly said he dared not, because he had used his last bit of money to buy medicine and now he really had no money in his pocket.

Ruoping was also one of those who didn't bring an umbrella. As the two walked out of the teaching building, Zhang Shutong held an umbrella for her, which he had borrowed from the hospital.

"Get closer, don't get your shoulders wet."

Ruoping moved closer to him. Ruoping was also a pretty girl, the kind with a heroic and spirited air. The reason I noticed her was because someone had pursued her when she was in the fourth year of junior high school.

I don't remember the details, but I didn't manage to catch up with her. Zhang Shutong only remembers that the ending wasn't very pleasant.

He decided to avoid thinking about unpleasant things altogether, and asked:

What's your mom's relationship with the owner of that KFC restaurant?

"You used to run a business, what happened?"

“I don’t think this event is eye-catching enough,” Zhang Shutong said earnestly, pointing to the coupon. “Could you ask your mom to suggest that it be renamed Crazy Wednesday?”

……

This Wednesday was truly crazy.

They were so crazy that the four of them braved the rain just to eat a pirated KFC.

Zhang Shutong remembers that the salad dressing used in that shop was very sweet. Every time he went there, he would tell the owner not to add the dressing and to eat the two slices of bread separately. Ruoping even asked him if he wanted a set of knife and fork.

It's definitely not that delicious. The so-called taste of childhood is when you buy a skewer of grilled sausage for one yuan from a roadside stall. When you bought it, it was definitely not because it was a delicacy. Who knows what the hell was wrong? Maybe you lost a bet and had to treat others, maybe the stinky tofu stall next door wasn't open, or maybe you just had something in your mouth while talking to your best friends.

Years later, you may still remember the taste of that grilled sausage, but you won't find the person who walked you home from school with you.

It was already dark when they entered the hospital lobby. They shook the water off their umbrellas, and a flash of lightning lit up their backs, making a very cool entrance.

Do you have any chewing gum?

Everyone said no, and Zhang Shutong tied the umbrella back up and handed it back to the receptionist.

They joked that Shutong, you've become quite well-known.

Zhang Shutong said that he would just mention my name when I was hospitalized in the future, even though it wouldn't make a difference.

They went up the stairs, and the three of them wanted to go to the ward together, but Zhang Shutong stopped them when she saw that there were more people.
"Be careful of infection. I'll go by myself and be back soon."

"Waiting for you." Du Kang wandered around the corridor. He first ran to the ward where Zhang Shutong used to stay, and carefully peeked inside, only to find no one there.

"What are you doing?"

Du Kang explained to Ruoping:

"I'm just curious, there's no other reason."

"I am bored……"

“That’s not so bad,” Qingyi said, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. “He’s been jumping up to shoot baskets lately, without any pattern. It’s scary.”

"Don't try to look cool. You're all dirty. Stop leaning against the hospital walls."

"That sounds like something my mom would say..."

"what?"

"nothing."

Qingyi took off his headphones and went to the window in the corridor. He looked at it for a while, lost in thought:
"I've finally figured something out about Shutong."

"You mean why he acted so strangely at noon?" Du Kang asked.

Ruoping also looked over.

"Ah, no." Qingyi shrugged. "Didn't you guys notice that the bandages under his arm were almost completely black?"

"what happened?"

The boy carefully observed the windowsill:

“Look, haven’t he cleaned all the windowsills around here? He must have leaned against them a lot when he was in the hospital.”

"Well, wasn't that a pretty detailed discovery?" Qingyi turned around with a smile, only to find the two of them staring at him speechlessly.

"Uh, isn't that wrong?"

"You're not much better than someone who jumps to shoot."

"Hey, could you please stop accidentally hurting me every time...?"

Three people stood by the window watching the rain, their expressions serene as they observed the scene outside.
"I bet Shutong is looking at that house."

Ruoping followed his gaze and saw a very old house in the darkness. She didn't know how long it had been there. It was surrounded by weeds. The most desolate place is not a place littered with garbage, but a place where no one even throws garbage away.

That old house is one such example. Perhaps its owner neglected to maintain it, or perhaps the house had long been abandoned. Occasionally, when lightning flashes, you can see the dense ivy climbing on the house, which looks like exposed, ferocious veins in the darkness.

"Why is that? How can you deduce something like that?" Although she always pretended not to be interested, she always wanted to ask.

"Because I gave him a copy of Ghost Blows Out the Light."

He was calm, composed, and confident.

"Seriously, stop talking. This isn't deduction at all. I even said I gave him a copy of The Grave Robbers' Chronicles..." The girl sighed, rubbing her forehead. She wondered when she had learned to make sarcastic remarks. But it would be strange not to make sarcastic remarks when surrounded by a chuunibyou. She glanced at the old house again. The ivy, like a wall, swayed in the wind and rain, and the shadows were magnified countless times, like a giant, man-eating net that could rush over the window at any moment.

Ruoping looked away, reluctant to admit that she was a little scared, and muttered:
"What's so interesting about this? I'll go urge Shutong..."

But as soon as she finished speaking, another clap of thunder sounded, and with a loud boom, her vision suddenly brightened, illuminating the darkness before her. At that moment, even the red brick walls of the house were revealed. The girl screamed in fright and even saw her pale face reflected in the glass.

"No, no, I don't want to watch it!"

Ruoping covered her ears and ran away.

Qingyi revealed a victorious smile.

"Hey, look what's that?"

Du Kang suddenly called out to the two of them. Qingyi and Ruoping turned around and saw Du Kang pressed against the glass in surprise, his nose wrinkled. He was staring intently at the old house. It turned out that with the flash of lightning, the ivy had finally given way, and the dense wall of leaves had finally peeled off.

A door was revealed!

(End of this chapter)