Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Chen Nian is back. He’s still just as thickheaded as he was when we were kids.

But talking to him feels like I’ve suddenly returned to those childhood days when I didn’t understand anything.

He said he’s going to stay and study with me from now on, and that he’ll walk me home.

I agreed.

But no matter how I look at it, it feels more like he stayed behind just to cause trouble.

Before I could even finish a single test paper, he’d shove a magazine into my hands. “Time for a break, Gu Pan! You have to balance work and play!”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I handed the magazine back and said, “At least wait until I finish this paper.”

With a look of utmost gravity, he declared, “Gu Pan, you absolutely must not study too hard. It’s easy to break yourself that way.”

Then he took the magazine back and started reading it with great interest. “I haven’t read Story Club in years. It really feels like browsing Zhihu.”

A few days later, he gave me an MP3 player. “Gu Pan, listen to more music when you have nothing to do. It can help you relax and cultivate your mind.”

I was a bit shocked, feeling that this gift might be too expensive.

He just said, “It’s fine. No one’s going to use these things in a few years anyway.”

Though I didn’t know what he was talking about, I still accepted the MP3 player.

There were already many songs stored inside.

I clicked on one; it was Jay Chou’s new song, “Rice Aroma.”

He sang about going home, returning to the original beauty of life.

But what beauty was there in my home?

I couldn’t help but feel my eyes redden. He hurriedly asked me what was wrong.

I told him, “These songs are so beautiful. Chen Nian, thank you.”

That night, we shared a pair of earphones, listening to the songs on the MP3 player one after another.

I felt as if my past life had been like walking while carrying heavy sandbags.

It wasn’t until this moment that I finally caught my breath.

Chen Nian and I talked more and more, becoming increasingly close.

During lunch breaks, we would sneak out of school and wander all over this small city.

I took him to eat the cotton candy I’d grown up eating, telling him that Auntie Cotton Candy was the person closest to me.

Walking home one night, I even told him about my illness.

About the people who were always suddenly appearing before me and then suddenly vanishing.

He froze for a moment, then said, “Have you ever thought that what you’re seeing might be a parallel world?”

I asked him, “Do parallel worlds really exist?”

He said, “Definitely.”

I asked, “Then what is the point of a parallel world’s existence?”

He told me, “It’s probably to make up for the regrets in this world.”

I said, “Then I hope the Gu Pan in the parallel world is happy.”

He said, “Gu Pan, you should be happy now, too.”

I stopped in my tracks, looked at him, and suddenly grabbed his hand. “You’re right, Chen Nian. Since you came back, I’ve been much happier than before!”

He also broke into a joyful smile.

He grabbed my hand and ran down the empty street, shouting as he ran, “Gu Pan, you have to be happy! To hell with exam-oriented education!”

I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I followed him, running happily.

As we ran, I saw a swaying figure appear at the intersection ahead.

The figure saw us and began walking quickly toward us.

It was my father.

“My dad,” I whispered to Chen Nian.

Chen Nian’s smile slowly froze. He greeted the figure ahead enthusiastically, “Hello, Uncle!”

“Hello, your mother’s ass!” the man opposite us cursed.

A beer bottle flew toward us with a loud *crack*.

I pushed Chen Nian away and said, “Run, Chen Nian, run now!”

The man chased Chen Nian for a while before turning back toward me.

He grabbed me by the hair and practically dragged me all the way home.

As soon as we got inside, he started beating me.

The MP3 player Chen Nian gave me was crushed under his feet.

If the neighbors hadn’t knocked on the door later, he might have beaten me to death.

I went to bed clutching the broken MP3 player, softly humming the music I had listened to with Chen Nian.

Later, I had a long dream.

In the dream, Chen Nian was covered in fire.

He shouted to me, “Gu Pan, the world is huge. You have to live well, and live happily!”