Chapter Six: Until Death

Although I never truly liked Qiu Jieqin, and her toying with and deceiving me did not leave me brokenhearted or in unbearable pain, I was nevertheless furious beyond measure! I felt deeply insulted. As I mocked myself, I trembled all over with anger.

In my nineteen years of life, I had never truly hated anyone, but that day I felt, from the bottom of my heart, a sense of loathing and hatred toward Qiu Jieqin. Such intense emotions were unprecedented for someone as naturally indifferent as me. Even later, I was astonished by my own reaction.

Much later, when I recalled that day, I was surprised at how upset I had become. Upon reflection, it was probably because I had been basking in the thought that the beautiful campus belle liked me—only to discover it was all a lie, and that she actually looked down on me. Such a drastic reversal was a heavy blow to my self-esteem. By the time I truly examined my feelings, I no longer hated Qiu Jieqin.

But at the time, I was utterly enraged. When the bell rang for class, I returned to the classroom with a grim face, silent and determined. In my heart, I swore: if I ever speak to Qiu Jieqin again, I am no man!

So, when class ended and she came over, as usual, to chat, I buried myself in a book, reading intently without even glancing at her. No matter how many times she spoke to me, I pretended not to hear, ignoring her completely. Puzzled, she snatched the book from my hands, asking, “What are you reading that has you so absorbed you can’t even hear me talking?”

Before she could look at the book, I took it back, tossed it into my desk, and walked out without a word. Qiu Jieqin, bewildered and hurt, muttered in a small voice, “What’s wrong? Are you really so angry over this?”

After school, I saw her waiting for me at the school gate. When she noticed me, she greeted me with a charming smile. You have to admit, this girl’s beauty could bewitch anyone—just that smile was enough to make heads turn. The boys around me all glanced her way.

As the ancients said: a single smile from a beauty can topple a city, another smile a nation. Qiu Jieqin’s smile might not topple a nation, but it was more than enough to captivate these young boys. I once saw a boy so entranced by her as he walked that he crashed hard into a lamppost, which made her laugh gleefully.

The only one who didn’t look was me. I treated her as if she were invisible, walking past without so much as a glance.

She hesitated for a moment, then caught up with me, grinning mischievously. “Still angry? Fine, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have grabbed your precious book. I promise I won’t do it again, okay?”

I ignored her and kept walking forward.

Seeing no response, she pressed on, “Really? I’ve apologized, why the long face? Trying to act cool?”

I…

“Hey! Are you really that petty? You’re a guy! Can’t you let a girl off just once?”

I…

“If you don’t talk to me, I’ll get angry!”

I…

“I’m really getting angry now!”

I…

“Tang Qian! Stop right there! What’s your problem? I’m telling you, I’m already angry! If you keep ignoring me, don’t blame me if I start ignoring you too!”

I kept walking, treating her words as nothing more than the wind.

At this, Qiu Jieqin, exasperated, stamped her foot and cried, “Fine, Tang! You win! I’ll never bother you again; go be cool by yourself. Goodbye!”

I was glad to be rid of her—nothing would please me more than for her to leave me alone. From her footsteps, I could tell she really did turn away, taking another path.

I let out a long sigh—finally, some peace and quiet. But it didn’t last long. I had barely walked twenty meters when I heard her familiar footsteps racing after me. She darted past to block my way, grabbed my right hand, and with a worried face pleaded, “Tang Qian, don’t be like this. What happened? Please, tell me! Don’t torment me like this. I’m really upset.”

Internally, I sneered. Stop acting in front of me—I know exactly what you’re up to. There’s no way I’d fall for your tricks again.

I yanked my hand free, smiling coldly, and walked on in silence.

I figured Qiu Jieqin had never experienced such coldness before. Her pretty face flushed red, tears of grievance and anger brimming in her eyes—she bit her lip hard to stop them from falling.

She stared after me, lost in a swirl of complicated emotions.

In the days that followed, neither of us spoke to the other. We became like strangers. During that time, Qian Xiaolei approached me once or twice, clearly sent by Qiu Jieqin to probe for information. But I was careful not to let on that I had overheard their conversation, and she got nothing from me.

A few days later, I guessed it must be the last day of their bet. During the first class of the morning, Qiu Jieqin passed by my desk and tossed a crumpled note onto it before walking away.

I opened the note with a cold smile, curious what trick she’d try next. It read:

Tang Qian: At noon, I’ll be waiting for you under the old locust tree by the field. I have something important to tell you. If you don’t come, I’ll wait there until I die!

I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Did she think such a childish ploy would work on me? I tossed the note in my desk and thought no more of it.

At noon, after lunch, I simply napped in the classroom until the afternoon bell rang. When I woke, Qian Xiaolei and Sun Li entered the room, shooting me strange, angry looks.

I pretended not to notice, turning away. I knew Qiu Jieqin hadn’t returned.

When the teacher arrived, Qian Xiaolei claimed Qiu Jieqin felt ill and requested a half-day leave for her. The teacher, suspecting nothing, began the lesson.

Between classes, Qian Xiaolei and Sun Li ran out to the field every time. But I was unmoved—I didn’t glance that way once.

Finally, school was over. On my way home, Qian Xiaolei caught up with me, breathless, and shouted, “Tang Qian! What’s wrong with you? Qiu Jieqin has been waiting for you for five hours—why won’t you go meet her?”

I answered coldly, “Did I ever promise I’d go? If she wants to wait, that’s her choice. Tell her there’s no need; I’m not going to meet her.”

With that, I turned and left, thinking: They really put on quite the act. If I hadn’t known about their scheme, I might have believed it. People really can be devious!

Behind me, I heard Qian Xiaolei’s furious shout: “Tang Qian! You’re not human! Is your heart made of stone?”

I pressed my lips together, head held high, and walked on in silence…

That night, after dinner, a light rain began to fall outside, and I started to feel unsettled. Could Qiu Jieqin still be waiting for me?

Impossible! I immediately dismissed the thought.

Qiu Jieqin had said herself that she didn’t think much of me. If she was putting on a show of suffering, it was probably just in hopes of winning her bet. It was late, raining, and I’d clearly told Qian Xiaolei to pass on my refusal. She couldn’t possibly still be there.

But the rain kept pouring down. For some reason, I couldn’t shake a strange sense of unease and found it impossible to focus on my studies.

Finally, I gave up and went to the living room to watch cartoons with my little sister. Soon, I heard someone calling outside, “Tang Qian! Tang Qian! Are you there? Come out!”

I recognized Qian Xiaolei’s voice and frowned in annoyance. When would this end? Coming to my house now?

My sister, with her big, innocent eyes, said, “Brother, I think there’s a girl calling for you outside?”

My mother poked her head out of her room, asking curiously, “Xiao Qian, is someone looking for you?”

Outside, Qian Xiaolei kept calling my name. Annoyed, I strode out of the living room and opened the door to find her standing in the rain, soaked to the skin, calling for me.

Startled, I quickly grabbed an umbrella and ran to shield her from the rain. “Qian Xiaolei, are you crazy? It’s pouring and you don’t even have an umbrella!”

Suddenly, she burst into tears, clutching my arm and sobbing, “Tang Qian, please, I beg you, go see her. Qiu Jieqin can’t hold out much longer—she hasn’t even eaten, she’s just been crying under that tree. If you don’t go, she’ll fall seriously ill!”

I was stunned. I shouted, “Is she stupid? Didn’t I tell you to tell her not to wait? Why is she still there? Why didn’t you persuade her to leave?”

Qian Xiaolei sobbed, “I tried, but she’s so stubborn. She refuses to leave until you come. Please, I beg you, go see her—don’t torment her anymore. She’s… she’s truly pitiful.”

A sudden, inexplicable pang gripped my heart. My mind went blank, and, thrusting the umbrella into Qian Xiaolei’s hands, I dashed madly toward the school…