Chapter 58 A Love Letter

Translated by Twelve_Months_of_May

Part 2. Love Letter from That Year

Since you think I’m so good, why don’t you like me?

Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian stayed at Shark’s shop for dinner. The workers hadn’t yet arrived in large groups, so the area was pretty deserted. There were very few patrons in Shark’s shop, so he called for Clam and Oyster to join Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian for dinner.

Shark heard that Pang Qian really liked to eat meat, so he personally grilled a big platter of lamb skewers, chicken wings, and lamb ribs for her. Pang Qian ate until she was hooked and her hands ended up covered in oil. Pang Qian’s wariness towards Shark, Clam, and Oyster gradually wore off. She could tell that these few guys genuinely treated Gu Mingxi well.

Clam treated Pang Qian with great care. He kept fawning over her, asking if she wanted to eat this or drink that. It was the first time in Pang Qian’s life that she’d been treated like that by a male stranger. She was a bit embarrassed and blushed, unsure how to deal with the situation.

Gu Mingxi watched all this happen, and then he acted very cooly(?).

Cooly. Original text says niubi, which I find kind of hard or strange to translate. It sometimes sort of means cool and awesome, but also kind of arrogant or without care for consequences.

He had Pang Qian feed him.

Pang Qian couldn’t believe her ears. Quietly, she said, “Eat by yourself. Still making me feed you even when we’re outside…”

Gu Mingxi said completely seriously, “The skewers are too oily. I don’t want to get my feet dirty.”

Pang Qian felt that he made some sense, so without saying any more, she silently fed Gu Mingxi.

She put the lamb on the skewer into a bowl, and then used chopsticks to feed Gu Mingxi. She even cupped her left hand beneath his chin as she said, “Open.”

Gu Mingxi obediently opened his mouth and ate the meat. Pang Qian used a napkin to wipe away the oil around his mouth. Gu Mingxi smiled at her, his eyes so tender.

Or more literally, “his eyes were so tender that they’d take your life.” It’s not the first time a phrase like this has come up (though I usually don’t translate it literally), but I thought I’d just mention it this time. I think this is a common metaphor in Chinese, and there are a few different ways it gets expressed. There are sayings like “scared me to death,” which translate fine that way. But “so tender that they’d take your life” sounds weird. Basically, it means his gaze was extremely tender and gentle. One more thing lost in translation, I guess.

Oyster’s eyes were going to be blinded by this kind of scene. Student Ge Xiaozhuang (by the way, the word for clam is geli which might be where his nickname came from) said indignantly, “Xiao Gu, I understand how you feel. The first time my brother-in-law came home for dinner, I covered his food with pepper. But now, we have a great relationship. I’m sure that one day, you’ll be able to accept me as your brother-in-law!”

Shark put down another platter of barbecued lamb in front of them and knocked Clam on the back of his head. “What are you saying! How old is Little Crab? She still has to go to Shanghai for university!”

Pang Qian didn’t dare to speak to Clam, so she stuck to Gu Mingxi’s side the whole time. Before they left, Clam handed her a piece of paper with his phone number and QQ (instant messenger) number. He asked Pang Qian for her contact information and her face reddened. “I don’t have a phone, and I don’t use QQ.”

Clam piped up, “This weekend, I’ll go to the internet cafe to help you register for a QQ account! Then we can chat every day!”

Gu Mingxi heard this, and when they got home, he had Pang Qian go to his room. He helped her setup a QQ account and even added each other as friends.

Pang Qian was very interested in QQ. She saw the rat icon for Gu Mingxi’s name and asked, “What’s this mean?”

“I was born in the year of the rat.”

“I mean the English part (his username).”

“Mister Ostrich.” Gu Mingxi chuckled. “Did you forget my introduction during the military training when Year 1 started?”

“I didn’t forget. I just don’t recognize these words.” Pang Qian took another look at his username and silently memorized it. Then she started worrying about what she should choose for her own username.

Recalling Shark’s words, Pang Qian pat her chest, “Then I’ll be Miss Crab!”

Gu Mingxi smiled, “Sure.”

He helped her change her username and chose a small cow as her icon.

Pang Qian pulled out the note that Clam gave her and told Gu Mingxi, “Help me add Clam as a friend!”

Gu Mingxi quietly helped her finish this. And then after she left, he immediately opened up her QQ account and blacklisted Clam.

And so, Pang Qian finally had her first QQ account. But in her friends list, there was only the one name, Mister Ostrich.

After school started back up, Pang Qian was adamant in refusing to do her homework at Gu Mingxi’s house. However, Gu Mingxi didn’t give her the chance to refuse. Since she didn’t go over, he carried his backpack to her house.

From this, even the unrefined Pang Shuisheng could see that Gu Mingxi’s feelings towards Pang Qian weren’t ordinary. Jin Ai’hua was worried. Although she had to admit that Gu Mingxi was a good kid, she couldn’t ignore his physical condition. The two kids were still young now, and Gu Mingxi had a sense of propriety. But when they went off to university and lived away from home, who knew what would happen.

Jin Ai’hua told Pang Shuisheng about this. He had a smoke and said, “I only have three conditions for the person Qian Qian wants to date. One, he has to like her. Two, Qian Qian also likes him. Three, the boy has to have ambition. If he doesn’t meet all three of these basic conditions, then I won’t agree (to them dating). If he does fulfill these three things, then the rest will be seen.”

Jin Ai’hua asked, “Then, what if it’s Mingxi? You wouldn’t mind that he doesn’t have arms?”

“Are you saying that Gu Mingxi will never be able to find a wife?” Pang Shuisheng asked. “If every girls’ parents thought the same way you did, then all disabled kids should just leave home to become monks. Wife, look. Even though Mingxi doesn’t have arms, he has a promising future.”

Jin Ai’hua wasn’t satisfied with this. “I want Qian Qian to marry a healthy man. To be spoiled and loved, taken care of. I don’t want Qian Qian to spend the rest of her life taking care of someone else.”

Pang Shuisheng frowned. “Huh, does Mingxi need someone to take special care of him? Moreover, doesn’t Mingxi spoil Pang Qian enough?”

Jin Ai’hua was furious. “What do you mean, Pang Shuisheng?! Have you already taken Gu Mingxi to be your son-in-law?!”

Seeing her grow so angry, Pang Shuisheng immediately started to comfort her. “I was just giving an example. But look at the way our daughter treats Mingxi. The way she is, do you really think her thoughts will turn that way?”

That’s right. The entire world knew that Gu Mingxi liked Pang Qian, and it was only Pang Qian who didn’t know.

This semester, Pang Qian noticed that Xie Yi changed a bit.

First High had class readjustments. After the final exams last semester, there were a few students in the advanced class that couldn’t keep up with the teaching pace of the class. After some discussion, they were moved to the general classes. On the other side, a few students from the general class had performed very well on their exams and were moved up to the advanced class.

Xie Yi seemed to be interested in this, and suddenly started to study rigorously. Even the ping pong practice that he had to go to every day was now only a twice a week practice. He told Pang Qian that he asked his father to get him a tutor, one of those retired teachers from the top schools. Xie Yi’s goal was to get into the advanced class next semester.

Pang Qian didn’t understand what Xie Yi’s motivation was. Maybe he wanted to get into an especially good university?

One day after school, Pang Qian went to the fourth floor to find Gu Mingxi. She stood outside his classroom door. She saw him sitting with his back against the chair, his feet putting things away into his backpack. When he finished, he stood up, bent over, and used his right shoulder to hook onto the backpack strap.

Pang Qian watched him. In the past, when she sat next to him, she would just reach over to help him out. The two of them completely understood each other. Then she saw Xiao Yujing standing in front of Gu Mingxi. She helped him put on his backpack, and even pulled his sleeves through the straps.

Pang Qian’s mouth twitched, and she immediately turned around and leaned back against the wall, unable to keep watching.

Gu Mingxi and Xiao Yujing walked out of the classroom together. When Xiao Yujing saw Pang Qian, she smiled at her. Then, with a “Bye,” she headed down the stairs. Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi walked together, neither saying anything to the other. When they walked out of the academic building, a girl suddenly appeared in front of him.

She had a baby face, and it had turned bright red like an apple. She walked up to Gu Mingxi with quick steps. Pang Qian watched her. Then she turned around and noticed a cluster of girls in the corner, watching on quietly.

The girl’s hands were held behind her back. She stood in front of Gu Mingxi, and then pulled out a red envelope. With her two hands, she held out the envelope in front of him. “I’m Luo Xin from Year 1 Class 4. (Male) Senior, this is for you.”

There was a boom in Pang Qian’s head. Wah, wah, wah! What was this situation? A confession? The kind that showed up in comics?! The gossip cells inside her started to stir. She waited for Gu Mingxi’s reaction, and she seemed even more tense than him.

“I’m sorry…” Gu Mingxi stood still, speaking calmly. “I’m not considering these kinds of things right now.”

Luo Xin lifted her head to look at him, her eyes red. “Senior, please read this letter first, and then give me an answer, okay?”

Gu Mingxi’s gaze turned serious. He said, “I’m sorry, I don’t have arms. I can’t accept your letter.”

Luo Xin obviously hadn’t expected this kind of answer. She stood still, forgetting to pull her hands back. Suddenly, a second pair of hands appeared and took the letter from her hands. Gu Mingxi turned his head, surprised, to look at Pang Qian. He saw her giggling and she said to Luo Xin, “I’ll accept this for him. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he looks at it.”

Luo Xin gave Pang Qian a complicated look. Then she clenched her teeth and said, “Thank you, (Female) Senior.”

When she finished, she ran off. The girls in the corner followed after her. As they ran, they even turned back to look.

Gu Mingxi looked at Pang Qian with a heavy gaze. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” Pang Qian waved the letter in front of him. “A girl wrote this for you, so I helped you accept it.”

“Who told you to accept it?” Although Gu Mingxi was unhappy, he still didn’t speak harshly to Pang Qian. He started walking, “Let’s go home.”

Pang Qian watched his back, her curiosity about this letter growing more and more. She ran over to him and asked, “Aren’t you going to look at what that girl wrote for you?”

“No.”

“You’re not at all interested in it?”

“No.”

“…” Pang Qian said, “Why don’t I help you read it?”

As she said that, she’s already started opening the letter.

In that moment, Gu Mingxi grew angry. He shouted out, “Pang Qian!”

Pang Qian had a fright. She’d already torn open the envelope. Seeing the way Gu Mingxi glared at her, she was a bit afraid, and also a bit upset. Suddenly, with letter in hand, she ran to the school field.

Gu Mingxi hadn’t expected her to run. He started to chase after her, but if he kept running, his backpack would fall off his shoulders. He had to stop to adjust them, deciding to carry only one strap, and then continued chasing after Pang Qian.

Pang Qian had run up the cement bleachers, huffing as she climbed higher. She dropped her backpack and pulled the letter out of its envelope. Shua! Then she started reading out loud, “Senior Gu Mingxi, I hope this letter finds you well!”

Gu Mingxi had also dropped his backpack. He climbed the steps two at a time and ran over to Pang Qian, who was still reading. “You don’t know who I am, so let me introduce myself. I’m Year 1 Class 4’s Luo Xin, and I’m 16 years old this year…”

Gu Mingxi was right next to Pang Qian but he couldn’t snatch the letter back. She purposely held the letter up high towards the sky as she read. She was dodging Gu Mingxi at her side, so even though he’d caught up to her, he still couldn’t take the letter back.

“Senior, the first time I saw you was last May, when they awarded the district’s outstanding students. I knew you studied at First High, so I didn’t hesitate to test into that school. I wanted to […] with you… Aiya, don’t hit me!”

Pang Qian jumped around the stands, trying to avoid him. Gu Mingxi felt that this was really dangerous, so he couldn’t keep pushing her. But he was also unable to stop her from reading out the rest of the letter.

“This half year that I’ve spent at the same school as you, I’ve stood in the corners watching you countless times. Now, I’m unable to endure this inner turmoil any longer, and I have to tell you. Senior Gu Mingxi, I… Hey!”

Gu Mingxi forced Pang Qian into the corner, and snatched the letter out of her hands with his mouth.

Pang Qian reflexively reached out to grab it back, but Gu Mingxi turned his head. He didn’t bite tightly enough onto the paper, so it started to drop to the ground. Just then, a gust of wind blew past them, carrying the letter down the stands, before it landed in a puddle.

Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi stood on the stands, staring down at that puddle. That pink piece of paper would be soaked through with dark, muddy water. There probably wouldn’t be much left after that.

With the empty envelope in her hand, Pang Qian dropped her head. “Gu Mingxi, I’m sorry.”

Gu Mingxi’s mouth was clenched tightly. He stared at her, his face pale. “Pang Qian, you really went too far.”

Pang Qian knew that she’d gone way overboard. She wasn’t sure why she’d gone so out of control just then. She wanted to see the letter. And because of the way Gu Mingxi always spoiled (cared for?) her, she acted brazenly, thinking that he wouldn’t get angry.

But he was angry. Shamefaced, Pang Qian said, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”

Gu Mingxi’s anger wasn’t just a little. He hated that Pang Qian bullied him because he had no arms. Even though he knew she was just playing and had no ill-intentions, the fact that she opened his letter without his consent really made him disappointed.

He turned around and walked off, leaving Pang Qian to watch his receding figure. It was early April, so winter had already passed. He was wearing a thin sports jacket. As he walked down the steep stairs, his jacket sleeves flung about.

Pang Qian chased after him, and pulled onto his clothes from behind. “Gu Mingxi!”

Gu Mingxi stopped in his steps, but he didn’t turn back.

The stands were empty but for the two of them. A light breeze blew past their cheeks. Pang Qian saw Gu Mingxi’s hair flutter in the wind. She apologized once more, her voice very timid. “Gu Mingxi, I know that I was wrong.”

When he still didn’t turn around, Pang Qian knew that she’d really made him angry. Her heart started to quiver. She clenched her teeth and immediately spoke the truth. “Gu Mingxi, I knew that you have someone you like. I also have someone I like. But, I don’t know why, when I see other girls liking you, I-I-I just…”

Gu Mingxi turned around to look at her, his eyes dark. He asked. “You what?”

Pang Qian pouted and said with a low voice, “I’m just a bit unhappy.”

Gu Mingxi’s eyes lit up a little. With a bowed head, Pang Qian spoke slowly, “Sometimes I think that it’s good that you won’t introduce that girl you like from your drawing class to me. Maybe if you introduced us, I wouldn’t like her. And maybe she and I would fight and cause trouble for you.”

She lifted her head back up and looked at him. “Gu Mingxi, you’re my bestest best friend. I hate those girls who lightly say they like you because you’re good looking or because you get good grades. I hope that the person you like can genuinely see why you’re so great, and from that understanding, they like you. I know what kind of person you are. I know that if you like a girl, you’ll really, really like her. I can’t help but wonder how the girl you like doesn’t like you back. You’re clearly so great. Look, there’s even a Year 1 girl who wrote you a love letter. That girl (that you like), how can she not like you?!”

Gu Mingxi looked into Pang Qian’s eyes and said, “Pang Pang, you’re a girl too. Since you think I’m so good, why don’t you like me?”