The Road Home

Chapter 22

Most of the time during that summer break after they started dating, the two of them had hung out in either the town's arcade or the billiards hall.

In those days, there had been no air conditioning. The arcade would have many people in it and was very stuffy.

The odours of cigarettes and sweat would meld together in that mucky air and mingle with the deafening music coming from the various big and small arcade game machines. Shadows and silhouettes would rock and sway, and from time to time, laughter would burst out from one of the corners. She was wearing shorts, and, having perspired quite a bit, the undersides of her legs were sticky and it was uncomfortable to be sitting. After shifting about for a little while, she thought of something that had been on her heart but had never been resolved, and so she tilted her head to look back at the person who was at a slight diagonal to her. "Lu Chen?"

He gave her a look, waiting for her to speak.

"That day in the billiards hall, why did you want to play pool with me?"

Far away, a roar of laughter suddenly erupted. Lu Chen turned his eyes in that direction, replying, "Who knows?"

She tugged his arm. " 'Fess up. Did you fall for me at first sight?"

Bringing his face in closer, Lu Chen countered in a low voice, "How is that even possible?"

Her face turning crimson, Gui Xiao bit down on her lower lip. Without saying anything else, she pressed "Start" to begin a new game. When she had nearly lost everything and was about ready to go, a large box of newly purchased video game tokens was unexpectedly set down in front of her...

She grew even more piqued, and grabbing a handful of tokens, she stuffed them all into the coin slot. The stuffing of coins continued—and the losing also continued.

Lu Chen, in contrast, did not really mind and chatted behind her with Hai Dong. Occasionally, when he was bored, he would hum a couple of lines from a song. At first Gui Xiao had not paid attention, but later, after losing several games in a row, she had secretly listened to a few lines of what he was singing. Immediately, she had become elated... To date, she could still recite from memory, without missing a single word, the lyrics of that song: "Why did I become enthralled by you?" I ask myself. I can give up anything, yet today, it is so difficult to leave. You are not beautiful, but you are so extremely adorable, Cinderella, my Cinderella..."

✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻

His singing cut across those lengthy years.

There was the drawn cry of a car horn.

Turning her head, Gui Xiao saw a stark light enveloping that lonely, dark-red umbrella.

The scene in this moment was an exact reflection of that saying, "Life is like a journey, and I, too, am a passing traveller[1]." Actually, that was not right either. It should be this: "All beings are passing travellers."

A driver who was passing by noticed their car forlornly stopped on the road, and so stepping on the brakes, he inquired, "Do you need help?"

As if these words had scalded her, Gui Xiao hastily struggled off from atop Lu Yanchen. "It's all fixed, it's all fixed already."

That driver was a kindhearted person, telling them that if they drove onwards for another half an hour, they would see Erenhot, and since their car was fixed, they should not delay as roads at night nevertheless were not too safe. Gui Xiao smilingly agreed and said that they would not delay. Seeing that the man had left, Lu Yanchen also stood and packed away their bags and tools. Then they continued on their way.