The Fading Away of Our Youth (So Young)

To Our Youth That is Fading Away: Chapter 5

In her dreams, Lin Jing pulled her along the streets full of food stalls. She shamelessly approached every stall. When she had eaten all the different types of food he said, “It’s too late, let’s return now.”

Zheng Wei shook his hand, “I don’t want to return,  I’m not tired at all.”

However, disappointed, she heard Zhu Xiao Bei’s voice,  “Of course you’re not tired at all. I am tired from calling and calling you. Wake up quickly, did you forget that you have classes during periods one and two? Ruan Ruan has waited for you for a long time.”

There was class! Oh no, oh no. Zheng Wei sat up immediately like a spring, pushing aside her blankets and got off the bed immediately. She heard a “bang” sound. When she had got off of the bed, she had been hit by a metal barrier, and abruptly bounced back. Dizzy, she saw stars.

A pair of hands steadied her, Ruan Ruan cried with laughter saying, “Your directions are wrong. That side is the wall, this side is supposed to be the place to get off the bed. You’ve been hit stupid right?”

She screamed loudly, rubbing her forehead hard, not knowing if last night’s alcohol hurt her brain or if she got a concussion. In short, she felt very ill.

Finally, managing to wear slippers, she saw Zhu Xiao Bei distressed, stroking the wall, “What did the poor wall do?”

“You have no heart!” She stared at Zhu Xiao Bei, and then grabbed her slippers to go wash up.

At the other side, Ruan Ruan, who had already finished dressing, urged her, “I’ve already grabbed your books. Hurry up, or else we’ll be late.”

“Coming, coming, I’ll be ready soon.” She stuck her head from the washing room patio, just happening to hear a phone ring “Ding ling ling.” Zhuo Mei, the person closest to the phone, was still snoring loudly.

Zhu Xiao Bei, who didn’t have class in the morning  muttered, “Who calls so early in the morning?” She reached out her hand to answer it. She asked two questions and yelled, “Zheng Wei, it’s for you!”

Zheng Wei, who was midway through brushing her teeth, sped over, “Quick, give it to me, it must be Lin Jing.”

“It’s a woman, your mom.” Zhu Xiao Bei looked at her from the corner of her eye, rolled her eyes and gave the phone to her.

“Mom, it’s so early what are you doing?” Zheng Wei said, her mouth filled with bubbles.

On the other end, her mom said to her, “Wei Wei, can you take a trip home?”

“Why? I haven’t come to the school for a long time.” Zheng Wei was confused. Thinking, she laughed again saying, “Mom, you wouldn’t be thinking that I’m too great right? I still have to go to class.”

Her mom paused, then said, “Come back, there’s something up at home.”

“What happened?” Zheng Wei said distracted.

“I divorced your dad.”

Zheng Wei sat on the familiar sofa at home, while her mom and dad flanked her on her left and right, by her side. Her grandma sat opposite from her, dabbing at her own tears. Their mouths opened and closed simultaneously, but even as they talked, she didn’t process anything. They had sat for about 20 minutes in the train going home. Facing all of these things before her eyes made her only feel tired, and she didn’t want to say anything.