"Chan'Er" was the nickname this body's parents had given him. Nowadays, besides Yu Wan, only that annoying cousin of his called him that all day long.
Chen Chuan said, "Come in, Auntie. It's nothing, I was just thinking something over."
"You've already graduated high school, Chan'Er, yet you're still studying so hard." Yu Wan walked in. She was not yet forty, with fair skin and rather plain features. Chen Chuan, on the other hand, was handsome and clean-cut, with rosy lips, pearly teeth, and a tall frame. Standing together, their family resemblance was only faintly visible in the contours of their eyes and brows.
Yu Wan said, "Chan'Er, about what happened today... don't blame your uncle. He has his own difficulties. And don't you be stubborn and put on a brave face. I'll go talk to him about it again."
Chen Chuan smiled. "Don't worry, Auntie. I'm not just putting on a brave face. I really do have a plan."
Yu Wan hesitated for a moment before asking tentatively, "Chan'Er... are you planning to go see Miss Meng?"
At the mention of her name, the image of a young girl involuntarily surfaced in Chen Chuan's mind. He shook his head. "I'm not going to see her."
Yu Wan said, "It's for the best. Her family's status is high, and the people around her are all insufferably arrogant. You've been stubborn since you were a child. You two were innocent playmates back then, but you wouldn't get along now that you're older."
Chen Chuan said, "You're right, Auntie. What happened in our childhood doesn't count for anything now. These days, she's always followed by stewards and attendants whenever she goes out. Why would I go looking for a snub?"
Yu Wan was greatly relieved to hear him say that. She held up a small bundle wrapped in a handkerchief that she had been clutching, and in front of Chen Chuan, she unwrapped it layer by layer. Inside was a stack of ten-yuan Jianyuan bills.
The bills featured a blue-green landscape design. The front depicted a round heaven over a square earth, while the back showed stalks of rice and wheat covering a nine-tasseled imperial crown. The watermark was a simple felt hat.
She grabbed Chen Chuan's hand and pressed the money into his palm. "Take it. Use it when you need to, and don't skimp. If it's not enough, I have more."
Chen Chuan asked, "Does Uncle know about this?"
Yu Wan said, "This is money I saved up for you." She gave his arm a light tap. "And don't call him your uncle. He doesn't like it."
Chen Chuan gave a small smile and accepted the money. He said seriously, "Auntie, I'll consider this a loan. I will pay you back."
"Sigh, we're family. There's no need to talk about paying it back. Just keep it safe." Yu Wan waited until Chen Chuan had put the money away before she finally relaxed. "Alright, I'll be going now. You've already graduated, so don't study too hard. And remember to turn on a light when you read. Don't strain your eyes."
"Okay."
Yu Wan gave him a few more reminders before leaving the room.
Chen Chuan closed the door and pulled the light cord beside it. A small pendant lamp on the ceiling flickered on, casting a pale yellow glow.
He walked over to the bookcase, casually pulled out a book, and sat down on the edge of his bed, flipping through it with keen interest.
A long time later, he heard the grandfather clock in the hall outside chime ten times. DONG... DONG... Since he had important things to do the next day, he put the book back, washed up briefly, and then turned off the light to sleep.
But in the pitch-black darkness, the boy who looked exactly like him stood by the bed, still watching him with that same spectral gaze.
In his dream, he seemed to return to his past life. A few years into his career, he had gone on a hiking trip and, while passing through a city, visited a museum's Ancient Mirror exhibition. As he entered the hall, his eyes were immediately drawn to a large, dome-shaped mirror suspended from the ceiling. In that instant, the reflection of himself within it turned to look at him.
The moment their eyes met, his vision swam. His body seemed to revert to that of an infant, and he relived an entire life in a flash—from birth to childhood, from a child to a young man—until one day, the image of a tile-blue car filled his vision. As the sound of the engine faded into the distance, he was plunged into absolute darkness.
Bright light, seeping through a crack in the curtains, sliced through the gloom of the night.
Chen Chuan opened his eyes. He turned to look at the alarm clock on his bedside table: 5:50. Shaking his head to clear it, he got up, dressed, and went to wash his face and rinse his mouth.
Nian Fuli was on duty at the Patrol Bureau and had already left early that morning. His two younger siblings were still asleep, and Yu Wan had gone out to buy groceries, but not before preparing breakfast for him.
After finishing breakfast, he returned to his room and put on his only formal student uniform. It was made of a gray-black woolen fabric, with a crisp, smart cut that made him look sharp and energetic.
He fastened the top button of his collar and put on his student cap, adjusting his appearance in the full-length mirror attached to the wardrobe. Then, he grabbed a gray canvas satchel from behind the door, placed a full water bottle inside, and slung it over his shoulder. He went out to the front yard, found his bicycle, and pushed it through the main gate.
Watching the Sun gradually rise, he thought to himself, 'Alright, for now, I'll stick to the plan.'
He swung a leg over the bicycle and flicked the bell with his thumb, letting out a series of crisp rings. Pushing down on the pedals, he rode out of the small alley where he lived and, after just two turns, emerged onto the main road.
Nian Fuli was an Inspection Captain for a local Patrol Bureau precinct, and this neighborhood was home to many Patrol Officers and their families. As a result, the area was quite safe. The roads were wide, lined with plane trees on both sides. The late-May sunlight filtering through the deep green leaves was enough to lift one's spirits.
After riding along the main road for half an Hour, he entered the central plaza of Yangzhi City. The city's tallest buildings were all concentrated here. Most had been constructed during the Great Expansion, nearly sixty years ago. Because tensions were high at the time, they were built with exceptionally solid materials, and their cool-toned color palette gave them a heavy, imposing feel.
After waiting for a trolleybus to pass, he saw a group of seven or eight unsavory-looking characters walking toward him from the other side of the road.
One of them seemed highly sensitive to being watched and whipped his head around, his gaze fierce. However, upon seeing the satchel on Chen Chuan's shoulder, he muttered a curse, spat on the ground behind Chen Chuan's retreating back, and turned away.
After crossing the plaza, Chen Chuan turned left onto the northbound avenue. About five minutes later, the magnificent corner of a flying eave came into view on the eastern side of the road. As he drew closer, he saw it was the gate of a great academy. The gate had three archways and spanned a hundred paces wide. On the stone plaque above the central arch, the three words "Wuyi University Hall" were inscribed in a forceful yet elegant script. Stately cars could be seen passing in and out of the gates from time to time.
He squeezed the brakes, planting one foot on the ground to stop in front of a stone stele beside the gate. An introduction to the academy was carved upon it: "Wuyi University Hall, founded in the 15th Year of Jianzhi, was formally renamed in the 35th year of Jianzhi. The first headmaster was Cheng Yunbai..."
The academy's main gate faced a wide, flat plaza. The seven or eight o'clock morning Sun was brilliant, casting a light upon the gate and the adjacent buildings that made them appear especially elegant and solemn.
His eyes scanned the area as if searching for something. After a moment, he spotted an inconspicuous sign near a side gate. It read: "Admissions Registration: This Way."
He let out a breath and dismounted. Just then, his eyes flickered to the side, and he saw the figure—his near-perfect double—standing by the main gate, meeting his gaze. He pulled his eyes away and, with a natural expression, pushed his bike through the side gate into the academy grounds.
...
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