Yan Heqing took the room card, turned left and entered the elevator. When he arrived at the 3rd floor, the enclosed corridor smelled damp. The carpet had been used for many years and turned a dark red. He found room 306 and was about to swipe his card when his phone rang.
The call came from an unfamiliar number, but Yan Heqing knew it was his mentor's number.
On the first day of school, the professor left his phone number on the blackboard.
Yan Heqing answered the phone first, "Hello."
" Yan Heqing," the tutor said with a smile, "Would it be convenient for you to come to the school now? I need to speak with you."
"Convenient." Yan Heqing put away the room key and turned back to the elevator.
No sooner had Yan Heqing left the Human World Cottage than a group of housekeepers carrying large and small bags entered the Human World Cottage.
The Human World Cottage was a 20-minute walk from Beijing University, but Yan Heqing ran there in half the time. After arriving at the college, Yan Heqing first went to the restroom to wash her hands and face, and then tidied her hair before hurrying to her office.
The door was ajar, and Yan Heqing knocked on it with his fingers.
" Professor Zhang, I am Yan Heqing."
"Come in."
Yan Heqing pushed open the door and went in. In addition to his mentor, there was another person in the office. Yan Heqing's pupils contracted slightly. It was Professor Yang Rucheng from the School of Biology!
His dream major was biology. Back in high school, he had read books by Professor Yang Rucheng and watched his lectures online.
Yang Rucheng smiled and beckoned him over, "Come, come, don't be shy. My name is Yang Rucheng, and I'm the biology teacher next door."
Yan Heqing nodded politely, "Hello, Professor Yang."
"Oh, you know me?" Yang Rucheng laughed heartily. "That makes things easier. I won't interfere with your weekend rest. I'll be frank, I've seen your performance and grades in high school, and I'd like to recruit you into the biology department."
Yan Heqing's heart raced. Just then, Yang Rucheng patted him on the shoulder, "No need to decide immediately. To be honest, biology doesn't make money, and it won't make money. This is a big deal, haha. Think it over carefully and then get back to me."
Yan Heqing came out of the office, looked up at the lit streetlights, and felt that everything today was so unreal.
He loved biology so much that if he didn't want to earn money quickly to find Yan Mingsong, he would have been willing to pursue his dream even if he had to eat only steamed buns and pickled vegetables.
The light in his eyes dimmed again.
Yan Mingsong...
Just then, a sharp siren pierced the air above the campus, interrupting Yan Heqing's thoughts.
Looking in the opposite direction, it's heading towards the boys' dormitory.
Yan Heqing never watched spectators. He hadn't eaten all day, but considering it was his coming-of-age birthday, he decided to splurge.
The food street was even more lively on weekend evenings, with queues at every shop, including the boiled meatball shop, which was almost entirely filled with students from Beijing University.
Yan Heqing was at the back of the line. A boy in front of him turned around and looked at Yan Heqing several times, then called out uncertainly, " Yan Heqing?"
Yan Heqing responded politely.
He knew this boy; they were classmates.
The boy then moved to stand in front of Yan Heqing in line and initiated a conversation with him.
"Have you heard? Zhao Weifang, a third-year student in our department, has been arrested."
Yan Heqing's brow twitched slightly. "No."
The boy showed him a video in the group chat, saying, "Just caught them!"
Yan Heqing watched the screen as Zhao Weifang, wearing only a vest and shorts, was escorted out of the dormitory building by the police, surrounded by onlookers.
The boy lowered his voice, "You don't live in the dorms, so you wouldn't know, but there's been a lot of rumors in our department about Zhao Weifang secretly filming girls. Tsk, he's finally been caught red-handed this time, and he's definitely going to be expelled."
Yan Heqing ordered 10 skewers of boiled meatballs, and the owner ladled out a full cup of hot bone broth for him, which felt especially comforting in his stomach.
After filling his stomach, he prepared to return to the small hotel, but after walking only a few steps, his phone rang again.
A phone number from out of town, Twenty Bridges?
Yan Heqing had no recollection of this.
Several unexpected things happened in succession today. Yan Heqing thought for a moment before answering the phone.
A gentle female voice came from the other end of the phone, "Is this Yan Heqing?"
Yan Heqing remained noncommittal, first asking, "And you are?"
"I am your cousin, Qin Shuqi."
Yan Heqing stopped abruptly.
The meeting place was a milk tea shop in the food street.
There were no customers in the shop, only two employees. The shop was decorated very warmly. When Qin Shuqi arrived, she was carrying a cake box and a paper bag. She looked Yan Heqing up and down, her eyes glistening with tears, "You've grown so much, it's wonderful."
Next came some reminiscences, mentioning her childhood with Yan Qiushuang. Qin Shuqi wiped away her tears and took out a round tin box from the paper bag.
The box is quite old; the butterfly and flower pattern on the box has faded.
Yan Heqing's gaze settled on the round box.
His hands, resting on his knees, clenched tightly in tension. He had a premonition that the box was related to Yan Qiushuang.
Sure enough, Qin Shuqi continued, "It contains some things your mother left behind, which I've kept all these years. Now I'm returning them to you."
Yan Heqing snapped out of her daze and was already clutching the round box tightly to her chest.
My mother's only keepsake.
"Thank you."
Qin Shuqi waved her hand, "Of course." She then began to mention the second thing Lu Lin had told her, "Don't look for your brother."
Yan Heqing paused for a second, "What do you mean?"
"The family that adopted him contacted me," Qin Shuqi sighed. "My brother has forgotten everything from the past and is living a very happy life now. They even sent him abroad to settle down. I hope our relatives here won't look for him anymore."
The joy came to an abrupt end at that moment.
Yan Heqing fell silent.
Forgot everything from the past...
He gripped the round box tightly, remained silent for a long time, and then he felt relieved.
His mother, father, and he all hoped that Yan Mingsong would be happy. Now that he knew Yan Mingsong was happy, he no longer worried.
He should pursue his own life.
"I understand." Yan Heqing smiled. "Thank you for telling me, Aunt. I won't bother them."
Seeing how sensible Yan Heqing was, Qin Shuqi couldn't help but feel a little more genuine. She untied the light purple ribbon on the cake box, "Let's not talk about the past. Today is your 18th birthday, your aunt is celebrating with you."