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墨書 Inktalez
The weekend has always been a difficult time for me. It used to be because of Song Yuegui, and now it's because of Xu Xiaoran; she has returned home.
Around nine in the morning, with nothing to do at school, I was too lazy to get up. I held the copy of The Decameron that I had bought six months ago but never opened, leaning it against the headboard and flipping through it absentmindedly.
"My sister just called and said we should go over and have a meal together," Song Yuegui said, peeking her head in.
"I'm not going," I immediately refused. Song Yuegui's daily complaints were already annoying enough, but compared to her sister Song Yuetian's incessant chatter, it was nothing. I firmly believed she could make a president feel utterly embarrassed and ashamed in person.
"Alright then, I'll make something for lunch myself. I'm leaving now." Song Yuegui was somewhat intimidated by her sister, so she understood my feelings and didn't press the issue further.
After Song Yuegui left, I lay down for another half hour until my neck couldn't take it anymore. I got dressed and wandered around the room aimlessly, thinking about heading to school. During my free time, the male teachers from the staff quarters often gathered on the playground to play basketball. I rarely participated; partly out of embarrassment, partly because I wasn't in good shape, and besides, they wouldn't feel comfortable with me around.
"Principal Liu," the gatekeeper Ding greeted me.
"Yeah, reading the newspaper. Have Xiao Wang and the others come?"
"They're here, playing basketball on the playground. The Vice Principal is also here; he should be in the administrative building."
"Okay, you take a break."
As I walked toward the administrative building, I couldn't help but wonder about Chen Lianqing. He was usually late and left early, avoiding various school matters whenever possible, spending his days idling away. But he was an elder statesman of sorts; I couldn't say much as long as he didn't cause trouble. Why would he come to school on a weekend?
Out of pure curiosity, I approached the Vice Principal's office and saw that the door was tightly closed. Just as I was about to quietly leave, I heard faint voices coming from inside.
"Xiao Li, although your class has produced the top student in the city, there is still a significant overall gap. Look at this: seven students failed Chinese, thirteen failed math, and don't even get me started on English—fifteen failures! What’s going on? As a homeroom teacher, you can't just focus on the good students! The underperformers are failing because you neglect them; that's why they give up and can't achieve good results. This is irresponsible behavior! Do you understand?" Chen Lianqing said sternly.
"Yes, Principal Chen, I understand. I'll make sure to improve in the future," came a voice that I recognized as Li Hua's.
"We'll talk about future matters later; as for your bonus this month, I'm afraid it's gone." Chen Lianqing was banging on the table.
Li Hua fell silent. I could imagine her expression at that moment; she was an orphan who lost her parents early on and had returned from studying abroad to struggle alone in Wushi. The bonus meant more to her than it did to other teachers due to its impact on her life.
Although I didn't agree with her teaching methods, I felt some sympathy for this young woman.
"Since I'm responsible for overseeing staff salaries, I must be impartial; you understand that, right?" Chen Lianqing paused as if waiting for Li Hua's response. Whether she nodded or remained silent was unclear; Chen Lianqing continued, "If you can show me your determination and sincerity, there might still be room for negotiation."
Chen Lianqing's words were strange—serious phrases delivered in a teasing tone. As a man, I immediately understood his underlying meaning.
That bastard!
I grasped the doorknob tightly, wanting to burst in and interrupt this unfair conversation, but just before doing so, I hesitated again.
Chen Lianqing's brother-in-law worked at the Ministry of Education.
"How is it?" he knocked on the table again.
Li Hua did not respond, which disappointed me. I had always thought she was strong-willed and noble in character, yet in this situation, she hesitated.
After two minutes, I was sweating; my hair that hung over my right ear fell back to the left. Li Hua moved, and I heard the sound of fabric rubbing as it was thrown onto the sofa.
What happened next was only natural.
Chen Lianqing thought there was no one on the third floor where the leadership was located, but the noise was quite loud, and Li Hua was groaning in pain.
Sighing silently in my heart, I chose not to listen any longer and left the administrative building.
Back home, I rode my bicycle toward the park.
I felt very down, unable to tell whether I was angry at Li Hua for being indecisive or furious at Chen Lianqing for showing his true colors.
Upon arriving at the park, I locked my bike and paid two dimes to the elderly lady at the parking area before strolling inside leisurely.
Around the central lake, elderly men were playing chess, little girls were skipping rope, and in the English corner, several middle school students were conversing in foreign languages. On the dating chairs, pairs of men and women were blushing as they tentatively explored their feelings for each other.
The lake was green with blooming flowers, willows swayed gently in the breeze—how beautiful everything was.
I paused by the lakeside, gazing at the rippling water, and couldn't help but think of Xu Xiaoran. The lake water was too dirty compared to her bright eyes; if those eyes could one day gaze at me affectionately and longingly, oh my God, I think I would be willing to die on the spot.
But would that day really come?
Melancholy rose again in my heart as I tiredly shifted my gaze and inadvertently spotted a little girl wearing a plaid shirt with a ponytail squatting under a pavilion in the distance. She leaned forward over a stone bench, writing something.
My heart skipped a beat; I felt an exhilarating rush—was this fate? To see her here?
I quietly approached her from behind and peeked at her actions.
She was working on an Olympiad math paper and encountered difficulties; the pencil tip left a deep black mark on the scratch paper. She furrowed her brows, her gaze focused and determined, her whole being quiet like a perfect statue.
Not wanting to disturb her, I leaned forward and waited patiently.
I didn't know how long she had been squatting; eventually, her legs went numb. She supported herself on the stone bench and stood up unsteadily. When she turned around and noticed someone watching her, she gasped in surprise upon realizing it was me, then relaxed slightly. She tried to stand up straight to greet me but lost her balance due to her numb legs and nearly toppled over.
I reacted quickly and caught her in my arms.
At that moment, I felt completely overwhelmed; her soft body nestled against my side, her silky hair brushing against my hand. The fragrance of youth emanating from her was more exquisite than the finest aged wine—I felt almost intoxicated.
In the next second, she struggled to escape my embrace and anxiously called out, "Principal."
My ears burned with heat; my heart raced like thunder as I exerted all my strength to maintain a calm facade. "Why are you writing papers in the park? The environment here is noisy and not conducive to concentration."
Her eyes flickered, and after a moment of hesitation, she said, "Dad lives at the company, and I'm scared being home alone."
"What about your mom?" I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Does she really spend every weekend by herself?
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