Chapter 15: Hupo’s Spring Festival
The third day of the third lunar month, under the spring breeze and by the willow trees. The painted bridge and fragrant grass, so delicate and green. Children of seven or eight could no longer see their breath in the cold air, and fishermen no longer had to endure the cold by the river, waiting for carp to bite. The biggest regret of winter in Chuanhai was the snow. Even the most beautiful snow scene would only last for one night, melting away almost completely by the next morning. Even the poets who loved winter had to change the titles of their poems to “Spring Verse.”
Lu Li arrived at school early, asking Chu Jingyi to supervise An Baili’s studying, while he wrapped a scarf around his neck and headed towards Building Three. The temperature fluctuated the most during the change of seasons, and it was easy to catch a cold. But Wen Hupo was still wearing her long skirt that reached her ankles, standing quietly by the window, gazing at the melting snowflakes on the pine needles.
“Your paintings are amazing.” Lu Li said, his hands in his pockets.
“Mm.” Although it was still a casual reply, Lu Li noticed that Wen Hupo puffed out her chest slightly. She must be feeling a bit proud, right? What else was hidden beneath this girl’s cold and frosty exterior?
“I’m planning to hold a club meeting this afternoon. You should join us.” Lu Li’s game was almost finished, and it was time for release. “And, this is a small gift for you.”
Lu Li handed her a snow globe, nothing special. Wen Hupo raised her delicate eyebrows slightly and said with a hint of displeasure, “Save your gifts for them.” She wanted to add that she wasn’t interested in dating and that Lu Li shouldn’t waste his time on her. But considering their collaboration, she held back those harsh words.
When a boy of the same age gave a girl a gift, it was usually out of romantic interest.
Lu Li chuckled. “It’s just a small gift for the club members. I have other gifts for Baili and Jingyi. Just take it.”
So it was just a generic club gift? Thinking this, Wen Hupo subconsciously accepted the snow globe. Her slender wrist felt its weight, and her heart sank. An inexplicable sense of disappointment washed over her. Women were like that. They didn’t appreciate something when it was easily obtainable, but yearned for it when it was out of reach. She clearly didn’t want Lu Li to give her a gift, but knowing that she wasn’t special in his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a knot in her stomach.
She let out a soft hum, turned back to her corner, and started painting.
Wen Hupo was actually a very proud person. She was different from Chu Jingyi and An Baili. The two girls would be embarrassed and self-conscious about their shortcomings, but Wen Hupo never felt inferior about her inability to express herself. She firmly believed that her thoughts and abilities were far more noble than her physical body and disdained conforming to social norms. In Lu Li’s words, she was a woman with integrity.
She wanted to have deep and meaningful conversations, like discussing the philosophy of aesthetics or the origins of society, not about what gifts to give.
But just as she was about to speak, after carefully considering her words, she saw An Baili and Chu Jingyi walk in hand-in-hand. As they entered, Silly Goose was still chattering, “Lu Li, you skipped class again! Skipping class on the first day of school, I must punish you…” An Baili giggled. “Jingyi, how are you going to punish him?” “Punish him… punish him by not letting him touch any other girl’s hand.” Silly Goose said sullenly.
Lu Li’s attention had been on Wen Hupo’s canvas. Hearing their voices, a bright smile bloomed on his face. Before his mind could even process it, his body had already moved towards the two girls. Wen Hupo only managed to utter a “You,” before swallowing the rest of her sentence. She swore to herself that she would never initiate a conversation again.
How embarrassing. She finally decided to speak, and he just walked away. She was always the one giving others the cold shoulder, this was the first time she had been ignored. Honestly, it didn’t feel good.
She glanced at Lu Li, chatting happily between the two pretty girls, and wondered if he had ever smiled so brightly when talking to her.
She patted her cheeks lightly and took a deep breath. What’s wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking about these things? When did it start… Right, it was during the Spring Festival. Mr. Diplomat called and said he was busy with work and couldn’t celebrate the most important holiday in the East with her. She was alone in the huge villa with only a timid and cowardly maid. Just like at school, she sat by the window and painted, and just like at school, she vaguely hoped that someone familiar would walk in and talk to her. Perhaps Chu Jingyi, who would greet her politely and wish her a Happy New Year. She was truly the most adorable girl in Chuanhai. Perhaps An Baili, who would still be her timid and hesitant self. Hupo planned to hire her as a maid after she graduated. The most likely person to enter the classroom was still Lu Li, who would shamelessly come over and comment on her paintings.
She was used to being alone, but during these few months in Chuanhai, she had become afraid of this pitiful loneliness.
In the end, it was only the timid maid who entered the room. She softly reported her tasks for the day, her voice so soft that it couldn’t even reach Wen Hupo’s ears in the empty room. The firewood in the fireplace crackled, occasionally spitting out sparks. In the entire room, there was only her, and a maid who spoke in whispers.
It was at this time that she started thinking about Lu Li.
If the outstanding representative were here, perhaps it wouldn’t be so boring.
With this thought in mind, she started working seriously on the character designs for Lu Li’s game, looking forward to seeing his admiration and respect when school started.
She heard Lu Li say to An Baili, “Thanks to Wen Hupo, without her help, our game wouldn’t have been released so soon.”
She pretended to be focused on her painting, but her heart soared. She had been waiting for these words for the entire holiday, waiting for forty days in that cold and empty villa.
However, Lu Li immediately changed the subject. “Of course, your contributions are also significant. We couldn’t have done it without any of you.”
“Hehe… Then how are you going to thank Jingyi and me?”
“I, I don’t need any thanks, as long as you don’t skip class…”
“I’ll take you both out for hot pot!”
The three of them started chatting and laughing again, their praise for her fading away like footprints in the sand. Wen Hupo felt a pang of displeasure, a strange discomfort. She was a solitary observer, a thinker delving into profound thoughts, but why did she envy them so much, chatting about such silly things? Envious to the point of jealousy?
She rubbed her shoulder, which was sore from holding her arm up for so long.
What’s wrong with me?
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