He Will Come Back Before Dawn

24

Pei Chuan ended the call immediately. After a short pause, he mentioned to the taxi driver, “Drive to the Third High School.”

The first autumn rain of September caught everyone off-guard. The pitter-patter of raindrops on the vehicles was irritating. He didn’t turn back to witness her expression. In reality, this was the first time in more than a decade that Pei Chuan had spoken to her this way.

Bei Yao stood beside the bus stop, with what seemed to be a blank stare.

She had her eyes fixated on her brand-new pink phone, and thought the way Pei Chuan spoke was nostalgic yet unfamiliar. At a place where she couldn’t see, he grew up in another cruel way, too.

Bei Yao watched the raindrops fall to the ground, upset. Though her mental capabilities were slower than others by a little, she wasn’t stupid. He lied to herself. He was not going to study at the Sixth High School with Bei Yao. Only she believed that both of them would study there.

Bus 522 had arrived. This time, she could no longer wait for him and immediately boarded it, heading towards the direction of the Sixth High School.

Within half an hour, the bus arrived in front of the Sixth High School.

Bei Yao saw the gate of the Sixth High School. Everything was still the same as it was in her memories. The silver fence gave off a huge aura, a new semester banner was hung on top of it -

”Warm Welcome to All New Students!”

Inside the school, an enormous LED screen could be seen, where main events and announcements would be frequently displayed. It was hung at a spot visible to students entering the campus so that it would be the first thing they see.

Two rows of willow trees welcomed them upon entering the school gate.

The teachers used to say that willow trees have the symbolic meaning of ‘stay’, in hopes that students would have a sentimental attachment to their past institutions, even after many years after graduating.

TL note: ‘stay’ in Chinese has the same pronunciation as ‘willow’ tree

Bei Yao gripped an umbrella in one hand and a heavy bag filled with clothes in another. Her school bag sat on her shoulders.

Bei LiCai was planning to send Bei Yao since Zhao ZhiLan had to look after the children at home. However, Bei Yao rejected her offer. She reasoned, “I register myself every year. This isn't a problem, so don’t worry. Pei Chuan wanted to go with me, and it’d be awkward if Dad followed us.”

Bei LiCai then gave up. However, he did not expect that in this year of high school, Bei Yao had no one to accompany her.

He heard that Fang MinJun also got into the Sixth High School, but Bei Yao didn’t meet her. Hua Ting got into the First High School, and Chen Hu left after middle school for a vocational school. Growing up can be harsh at times, and the first thing it teaches children is how to say ‘Goodbye’.

Bei Yao took a great effort in carrying those clothes while registering. She could only stay in the school dorm this year since her residence was too far from the school. One benefit of the Sixth High School’s management was that it was the most reasonable among the three high schools. Unlike them, her school allowed students to leave the premises.

The new form teacher has a surname of Li, full name Li FangQun. She looked like she was in her thirties, her hair tied up high. Her sleeve was rolled up to her elbow and she had a professional and respectable aura surrounding her.

When Bai Yao was registering, Li FangQun was first astonished by this new student’s beauty, while thinking about how their school didn’t separate practical classes from normal classes that year. It was the country's first year of conducting free-styled education. This radiant girl was the most attractive-looking student Li FangQun had ever set her gaze upon, and according to Teacher Li’s experience, these kinds of students usually have the worst grades.