Chapter 14: Encounter Is a Song

Some bonds, once let go, may never be seen again in a lifetime. Some encounters, however, always form a circle, impossible to avoid or escape.

Zhao Fusheng had perhaps never imagined that his life would have a day of restart, just as he had never imagined that one day he would be cornered in a restaurant by a literary young woman.

In this era, the mobile phone, as a luxury item, was not something students could afford; for those from well-off families, having a pager was already considered decent.

In a good mood after confessing his feelings to Hu Xia, Tan Kaixuan returned to the dorm and immediately organized a dinner treat. He called Wen Yu and Wang Zhen, who had just come back from playing basketball, and the four of them went to a hotpot restaurant near the school.

They had just sat down when Tan Kaixuan's pager went off. He went out to return the call and came back beaming, winking and grinning, as excited as Sun Wukong when he first got the title of Protector of the Horses.

Then, less than ten minutes later, Hu Xia arrived, accompanied by another girl.

In the vast and endless ocean of words, some people become passersby of words, and some words become passersby of life.

Some people feel like old friends at first sight, naturally drawn to each other.

Others, even if they travel a hundred thousand miles, it's useless, because the body moves but the heart does not.

Zhao Fusheng looked in surprise at the girl standing beside Hu Xia. If he remembered correctly, her name was Mu Qingqing—Mu as in admire, Qingqing as in the green grass by the river.

In Zhao Fusheng's memory, if there was such a thing as a campus belle at this time, Mu Qingqing should be the公认 first choice of Ninghai Normal University.

Beautiful, intellectual, gentle as water—all the positive adjectives used to describe a girl of this age could be applied to her without exaggeration.

She was like a night-blooming jasmine blossoming in the dead of night, warming the youth of countless people.

If he remembered correctly, after graduating from university, Mu Qingqing had been admitted to a publicly funded graduate program, reportedly married a foreigner, divorced a few years later, and returned to the country with her child.

As for later, he had heard Tan Kaixuan mention that she seemed to have met a scumbag. The specifics, due to the passage of time, Zhao Fusheng himself couldn't quite recall.

Now, Mu Qingqing was still the admired campus belle of the normal university, the deputy minister of the student union's entertainment department, and the vice president of Ninghai Normal University's Chunhui Poetry Society.

Mottled sunlight fell on her face through the gaps in the branches outside the window. Mu Qingqing stood there quietly, like a lotus emerging from clear water. At that moment, Zhao Fusheng felt that the phrase 'a beauty is like jade' might indeed be true.

'Hu Xia, you all know her, right?' Tan Kaixuan introduced them: 'This is Mu Qingqing, from the Chinese Department.'

Wen Yu and Wang Zhen looked at each other in bewilderment. They didn't yet know about Tan Kaixuan's confession to Hu Xia; they only knew that Tan Kaixuan liked Hu Xia, but what was going on now?

'This is Wang Zhen, and this is Wen Yu,' Tan Kaixuan said to Mu Qingqing and Hu Xia.

Then, pointing to Zhao Fusheng, he said, 'This is Zhao Fusheng. He wrote that poem.'

Everyone was taken aback. Hu Xia wasn't surprised, as she knew Tan Kaixuan probably didn't have that ability. But Mu Qingqing's eyes flashed with a glint, her gaze lingering on Zhao Fusheng.

Even Wen Yu and Wang Zhen looked at Zhao Fusheng in astonishment, clearly not expecting that he had such skills.

Zhao Fusheng quickly waved his hand: 'I didn't write it, I didn't write it. I heard it from someone else.'

'Who?'

Almost everyone asked in unison.

'A friend,' Zhao Fusheng said quietly, swallowing under the intense gaze of the crowd.

'A friend?' Tan Kaixuan and the others exchanged glances. His roommates were somewhat inclined to believe him, but Mu Qingqing was clearly skeptical.

Zhao Fusheng nodded calmly: 'An uncle who used to be our neighbor. He loved writing poetry and wrote it in his spare time. I just remembered it.'

No way was he going to be the one sticking his neck out, becoming a target for everyone to gawk at.

Whatever the reason, Zhao Fusheng didn't like it.

Vision is actually a person's foundation, witnessing the two most important yet easily overlooked things for success—horizon and breadth of mind. Zhao Fusheng didn't consider himself a person of great vision, but he well understood the principle that the tallest tree is the first to be felled by the wind.

Keep a low profile and make a fortune quietly—this was the rule Zhao Fusheng had set for himself after careful consideration.

As for stealing the spotlight, he'd leave that to those who enjoyed it.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng also knew that if he admitted the poem was his, he would surely catch Mu Qingqing's attention and might even win her favor.

But what would be the point?

So-called compatibility means understanding each other and having good conversations; sometimes, understanding others is a joy, and being understood is a happiness.

Zhao Fusheng didn't think that Mu Qingqing, as she was now, could understand his thoughts.

'Classmate Zhao, I'd like to discuss something with you,' Mu Qingqing said softly, her target clearly Zhao Fusheng.

'Please go ahead,' Zhao Fusheng replied.

'It's like this. I think this poem is very good and would like to publish it in our poetry society's school magazine. Would you agree?' Mu Qingqing wore a faint smile, giving a particularly warm impression.

'No problem, as long as the author is credited.'

Without any hesitation, Zhao Fusheng nodded. As long as it wasn't under his name, everything was negotiable.

Mu Qingqing nodded. Though a bit puzzled, she remembered this male student. Someone who didn't want to be famous was an interesting person.

'Then I won't disturb you any longer,' Mu Qingqing seemed not inclined to stay. She nodded to Hu Xia, indicating she wanted to leave.

Hu Xia was naturally shy. If it were just her and Tan Kaixuan, it might be okay, but with Wen Yu and Zhao Fusheng around, she didn't dare stay. She shook her head at Tan Kaixuan, got up, and left with Mu Qingqing.

Someone happily saw the lady to the door, then returned with a smug expression.

'Look at you, not a bit like a man,' Wen Yu shook his head disdainfully, clearly annoyed by Tan Kaixuan's bootlicking demeanor.

'What do you know? This is called respecting women,' Tan Kaixuan said with a proud look. 'Just wait. In a few days, I'll be holding Hu Xia's hand and making you jealous.'

These words, like a steel knife, instantly dealt ten thousand points of critical damage to the other single men at the table. Even Zhao Fusheng, who was usually as calm as still water, couldn't stay composed. He tapped the table and looked at Tan Kaixuan: 'Comrade, I think you're getting a bit cocky?'

'Brother Fusheng, how can you say that? How would I dare?'

Tan Kaixuan instantly turned into a coward, pouring Zhao Fusheng a drink: 'I was talking about those two guys. In my heart, you've always been the one I respect most.'

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. In Tan Kaixuan's view, since Zhao Fusheng could 'remember' one poem, he could surely remember a second. If he shared it with him, catching Hu Xia would be just around the corner.

Seeing him act so sycophantic, Wen Yu and Wang Zhen were dumbfounded. Zhao Fusheng, however, remained calm. He glanced at Tan Kaixuan, then at Wen Yu and Wang Zhen, and took a small sip of his drink.

'I don't know if you two can stand it, but if it were me, I definitely couldn't.'

With that understated remark, Tan Kaixuan's vision suddenly darkened. He saw Wen Yu and Wang Zhen wave their hands: 'Waiter, another case of beer here.'

Tan Kaixuan had a feeling that he'd be carried back to the dorm today.

As for Zhao Fusheng, he was very happy. This was the life he wanted.