Chapter 104: Waiting in the capital and a Night Visit to the Cemetery
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“Teacher, I’m done.”
These three words were like a curse that had already struck in the morning and was now repeating itself in the afternoon.
Everyone in the entire examination hall stared at her as if she were some kind of anomaly.
It was currently 1:18 PM, with twenty minutes remaining until the end of the examination.
While it was common for people to submit their papers early in the morning session, the afternoon’s programming exam was different.
This year’s test seemed to be more challenging than the previous year, making it visibly difficult.
Given this situation, the first reaction of most people was, “Is it even possible?”
The second reaction was, “Did they give up since they couldn’t figure out the questions?”
This included Lin Yuan and Keran, among others. Thinking of this, both of them became even more focused, striving to achieve the highest possible scores, completely ignoring Jiang Fuyue.
No matter what others were thinking, after clicking the “submit” option under the supervision of the invigilator, Jiang Fuyue quietly left the examination room.
Twenty minutes later, Fanye submitted her paper, followed by Huang Hui and Gao Zhaoming.
The group of four was reunited, happily returning to the hotel for dinner.
By the time the other participants finished their exams and were bussed back to the hotel, the food had grown cold.
Originally, the plan was to disperse and return home after the exams. However, due to security concerns, the organizers extended everyone’s stay by one night. Participants would only be allowed to leave the following day after the results were announced.
Just as everyone was preparing to book their return tickets, they received a message stating that the results would be released in three days. All candidates were required to remain in the capital. During this time, the list of those accepted into the summer camp would also be announced.
“…Did you guys receive the message?”
“We just got it. What’s going on? Results are usually released after a month or so. Three days seems too short, doesn’t it? Are we sure this isn’t some kind of prank?”
“Everyone received it, so it can’t be fake.”
“Does anyone have insider information? Can someone tell us what’s going on right now?”
“….I heard that it’s because the summer camp will start a month earlier this year, so they rushed to announce the results. Maybe they want to start the closed training right after confirming the list in three days.”
“What the h*ck! Is it that urgent? I was planning to go home for a half-month break, and now it seems like I won’t have a summer vacation.”
“Psh, you act like you’re guaranteed to make it. According to reliable information, this year’s summer camp entry requirements are the highest they’ve been in nearly five years.”
“…..”
A message sparked many speculations and discussions.
Upon receiving it, Jiang Fuyue immediately exited the ticket booking app and called home to explain the situation.
“…Then take care of yourself. Spend what you need to, don’t be too frugal.”
“Alright.”
After ending the call, Jiang Fuyue turned off the lights and closed her eyes, entering the realm of dreams.
The next day, the organizers arrived at the hotel early to gather everyone and explain the situation: “…Because we were concerned that you might get bored these three days, we’ve organized a tour of the area around the capital, free of charge. If you’re interested, you can come to me later to register.”
Fanye asked, “Sister Yue, are you going?”
Jiang Fuyue: “No.”
Fanye looked conflicted, “I see…”
Fanye wanted to go; she was born and raised on Fu Island, and this was her first time in the capital. She was curious about everything, but it felt somewhat meaningless to go alone.
Fortunately, Huang Hui and Gao Zhaoming were going as well.
Fanye said, “Alright, Sister Yue, I’ll go with them!”
“Okay.”
That afternoon, this group of people left the hotel, forming an impromptu tour group.
…
As night fell, Jiang Fuyue changed into different clothes and hailed a taxi.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
Jiang Fuyue lowered her hat, concealing half of her face in the shadows. Her expression was unreadable, and she replied, “Rose Garden Cemetery.”
The driver felt a chill on the back of his neck and couldn’t help but glance at the back seat through the rearview mirror. Why was someone going to a graveyard late at night?
“I’m sorry, but I…” he started to decline the ride.
Suddenly, a slender, all-white hand held a one-hundred yuan bill and handed it to him. “Is the tip enough?”
“But…”
“The complaint hotline is right by your hand.”
The driver relented, “I’ll just stop at the entrance, not go inside.”
Jiang Fuyue agreed, “That’s fine.”
In the night, the streets all around the city were still crowded with traffic.
An hour later, the taxi stopped at the entrance to the cemetery.
Jiang Fuyue paid the fare and walked over to a nearby flower shop that was about to close. She asked, “Madam, one bouquet of red roses and one bouquet of daisies.”
The middle-aged woman was taken aback. “Are you… going into the cemetery at this hour?”
“Yes.”
“It’s already so late… Aren’t you afraid?”
In the dark of the night, spirits roamed.
Even though the woman had run the flower shop here for more than twenty years, she didn’t have the courage to go to the cemetery at this hour.
Jiang Fuyue responded with composure, “It’s alright. Do you have the flowers?”
“We do, we do!” The shopkeeper couldn’t help but look at her curiously, but the duckbill cap obscured her face, and only a delicate, fair chin was visible. “What flowers did you ask for?”
“Red roses and daisies.”
“Okay…” Her voice faltered, then suddenly stopped.
The shopkeeper realized, “You want… red roses?”
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “Do you have them?”
“We do…” But she couldn’t help but wonder, who sends roses to mourn the dead?
Jiang Fuyue paid for the flowers, took them, and turned to walk towards the cemetery.
The shopkeeper murmured to herself, and her husband, who had come out when he heard the commotion, asked, “What are you talking about? Babbling to yourself at this hour…”
“Hey, Old Xiao, do you remember there used to be a girl who came to our shop to buy red roses every time?”
“Was there?”
“Yes! It was a long time ago… probably more than twenty years…”
“Who remembers something from so long ago? Close up shop, and if you’re late, our son will complain…”
The moonlight was ethereal, and the cool night was like water.
Jiang Fuyue walked through the narrow pathways, ascending the steps, surrounded by orderly tombstones. The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers mixed with the scent of candle wax.
A gentle breeze carried a faint, almost imperceptible aroma.
In the end, she stopped at a particular spot, turned around, and faced a pair of tombstones.
To be precise, it was two tombstones, but they were so close together that they seemed like one.
She carelessly dropped the bouquet of daisies and then knelt down, placing the roses at the foot of the other tombstone and adjusting their angle.
The slanted daisies and the upright red roses, one appearing desolate and scattered, the other in full bloom, the pale yellow contrasting sharply with the vibrant red.
Jiang Fuyue stood up and gazed at the photo on the tombstone, which had already turned yellow. The beautiful woman’s features were blurred, leaving only a mottled shadow.
Beneath the photo, the inscription read:
Wife: Zhao Chuxiu
Beside it was another tombstone, with the name: Husband: Lou Yunzhong.
She stood there for five minutes, then turned and walked away.
As she descended, another figure was ascending the steps.
On the same path, there was no way to avoid each other.
Jiang Fuyue kept her head down the entire time, her hat covering her entire face. She relied on the concealment of the night, making it unlikely that even someone who knew her well would recognize her.
But in the next second—
“How coincidental, we meet again, Jiang Fuyue.” A deep and serene voice called out her name, one word at a time.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t stop walking, as if the person didn’t call her name.
The man chuckled softly and swiftly reached out to grab her…
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Thanks, translator!