余生， 请多指教 - Please Guide Me for the Rest of My Life (English Translation)

Chapter 7: Where The Heart Belongs

Let yourself become better. Then meet the one right for you.

On a weekend in September 2011, I went to the town's library to help Xiao Cao find two books that were about to be discontinued. Gu Wei only had half a day of work. I was guessing he would be here soon so I slowly came out and was thinking about whether to bring him to a wild mushroom noodle shop I just discovered. When I looked up, I saw Shao Jiang.

He slowly walked up the steps. He looked just like before. I first met him six years ago, and it was also at the front steps of the school's library.

"Lin Zhixiao?" He obviously was a bit surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Hi." Shao Jiang is a grade higher than me, and also went to graduate school in Town X. Counting, we haven't seen each other in three years.

"You came here to borrow books?"

"Was searching for a few things."

"Graduation thesis?"

"Mn. You can say that." I felt that it's only normal to have this sentence as an opening remark.

Then there was silence.

I felt that this silence is a bit weird so I started the conversation, "You're studying to get a PhD?"

"No. I'm working at a television station now."

"Good department. Congratulations."

"It actually isn't as good as I expected." After that, he talked about the hardships and dullness of working in documentary news. I actually wanted to say that working in the news department is pretty good, the other programs might be more chaotic. For example, entertainment programs do not have high reliability. The state of the recording process would always be changing, from content to layout. For instance, life-related programs, there are various complicated details. If you come across something you're interested in, then it's alright. But if you came across something you're not interested in, then it would be a kind of a torture.

Shao Jiang looked at the books in my hands and said, "Are you going back to school by yourself?"

"No, I'm waiting for someone."

We chatted to each other briefly until Gu Wei appeared. Gu Wei and Shao Jiang nodded and greeted each other. I bid Shao Jiang goodbye.

At lunch, Gu Wei asked, "The person you were just with...."

He rarely gossiped. I smiled, "He was my one-sided crush during undergraduate."

Sansan who came along lifted her head, eyes shining, "You bumped into that male senior that you liked?"

Gu Wei's expression was calm, "No wonder you're absent-mindedly eating."

Since when was I absent-minded? I was just remembering the times in undergrad.... "He was a grade higher than me. I met him when I was a sophomore at a school celebration party. My department does not have any friendly relations so we didn't really interact after that."

"Ee, oh yea, " Sansan who was chowing down her food said, "I always felt that you two are pretty alike."

Gu Wei laughed and lowered his head to eat. I felt the atmosphere was a bit strange but could not pinpoint where.

Sansan was only halfway through eating when she was called back to work. After lunch, Gu Wei silently sat on the sofa to read. I went to cook eight-treasures congee. I moved the spoon while staring at Gu Wei's side-profile in a daze, I really can never get tired of seeing it. I even felt that I'm beginning to act like a psychopath.....until now I am still unable to comprehend why no one thinks Gu Wei is extremely good-looking. This skin, eyebrows, nose, eyes, voice, plus the temperament — totally fit to act in a movie. I didn't know if it was because beauty is the eyes of the beholder or my taste in beauty is different. The kind of men I like are those who are elegant and composed. I think they are unbelievably good-looking. But others all think "He's ok, but not that good-looking." For example, Gu Wei, for example, Shao Jiang.