33: Chapter 29: Funeral Matters 33: Chapter 29: Funeral Matters Half a year passed, and sumr’s heat gave way to the winter solstice.
The cold wind, laden with a drizzle, forced each student to don their thick winter school uniforms.
The first sester of senior year had co to an end,
and students, each holding an umbrella, left the campus at a trot.
As usual, Luo Di left school at the last minute.
He wasn’t in the habit of carrying an umbrella, using the hood that ca with his school uniform to cover his head instead, departing under the watchful eye of the security guard, the last to leave.
So ti had passed since school let out, and a familiar voice unexpectedly rose at the usually quiet school gate,
“Luo Di, hey!”
Looking up,
the class president, her face half-buried in a scarf, was standing by the curb, waving frantically.
Seeing Luo Di continue his sluggish pace, she took the initiative to co over with her umbrella, which was just big enough to cover them both.
Luo Di asked quietly, “Isn’t there a car picking you up?”
“Today the driver took a leave for personal matters, so I have to take a taxi ho.
But we got out an hour early today so I can go ho a bit later.
My place seems to be on the way to yours, so I thought I might as well wait and go with you!
I haven’t taken the bus in so long, it’ll be a nice change.”
“You really sound like a spoiled young lady.”
“Hey~ At least I can get you to talk more.”
The winter bus was half-empty, and Luo Di, as was his habit, took a window seat at the very back.
Only this ti, the seat beside him felt a bit cramped.
“How’s that ‘Knife’ of yours holding up?”
“It’s fine, I sotis hear zombies gnashing their teeth, but the monthly checks by the research bureau are all clear.”
“That’s good.
There’s only half a year left until the admissions exams.
I can already imagine the surprise on all the students’ faces when you show off that thing during the physical tests.
Maybe you’ll even top the whole school.”
“It doesn’t matter.
As long as I can get a normal job in a company, that’s enough.”
Luo Di gazed out the window, as if sothing had crossed his mind, but was quickly yanked back by a gentle elbow nudge.
“Do you have any plans for the winter vacation?
My family will probably give three days to myself.
Want to organize sothing for everyone to do?”
“Not going.” Luo Di decisively declined.
He had already scheduled a thirty-day movie plan and didn’t want it disturbed.
“Ah~ If Little Gao asked you, would you go?
Lately, you two are always together doing push-ups, and you talk all the way back to the classroom after als.”
“Not going.”
“Fine.”
The conversation died there, and the whole back row fell into silence.
The class president followed Luo Di’s gaze out the window, and though she didn’t see anything particularly interesting, she gradually felt a calmness inside.
“No.
13 Settlent District is up ahead, the door will close in ten seconds.”
“Let’s go.”
Luo Di squeezed past the class president’s legs and got off the bus with practiced ease.
Oddly enough, upon stepping off, Luo Di felt sothing he’d never felt before—this perfunctory winter vacation farewell didn’t seem quite right.
He turned to look back at the rear window of the bus, ready to give the class president a more formal goodbye.
But before he could wave, he found the class president, who had gotten off with him, standing right behind him.
“Why did you get off?”
“Ah?
I told you, I could go ho later.
Plus, it looks like you didn’t bring an umbrella, so I thought I’d walk you ho.”
“You should go ho first.
I don’t need an umbrella.”
“No.” Wu Wen was also determined to refuse, seriousness written in her eyes.
“Just to the ground floor then.”
“Yay!” The stern class president instantly reverted to her usual self and walked ahead with light steps.
They hadn’t gone far into the Settlent District when they heard the wailing of mourners and saw yellow ritual papers fluttering in their direction.
Looking ahead,
right beside the residential building next to Luo Di’s ho, a funeral was taking place.
The two stopped chatting, quietly walking past.
It seed to be a recent event; relatives in black grieved, tears streaming down their faces.
As Luo Di passed in front of the Spirit Hall, he brought his palms together, bowed his head in respect, and the class president beside him mimicked the gesture.
Just as both of them bowed their heads,
Whoosh~
A chilly gust swept by, its cold biting under winter’s embrace, as if seeping into their skins and brushing against their bones.
Chilled, they hastened their steps and passed through the mourning region, soon arriving at the deepest building in the Settlent District where Luo Di lived.
The class president showed no intentions of overstepping, and her pace slowed.
The two stood together under the umbrella, arms touching,
and she pulled down the scarf that obscured her face, bringing her moist lips as close as possible, nearly touching Luo Di’s ear, she whispered:
“Hey~ Did you see just now?
The funeral portrait hanging in the Spirit Hall seed like a young girl.”
“I saw it.
Better not to talk about funerals too much.”
Whimpering, the class president quickly covered her mouth, but then quietly said, “What do I do~ I’m a bit scared, can you walk to the bus stop?”
“Shouldn’t you be braver than ?”
“Tch~ I just wanted to talk to you more, after all, I’ll only be with the tutor for the next month, it’s so boring!
By the way, I have a three-day gap during the winter break, can I co to your place to do howork together?
It shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“Don’t.”
“Ah…
bye, see you next sester.”
The class president didn’t insist anymore and pulled her scarf back up, her eyes losing so of their sparkle as she turned and left.
Right after she left, an unclear voice ca from behind,
“We can arrange to do howork at a fast-food restaurant not too far away…
my ho isn’t very convenient.”
“Okay.”
The class president simply replied quietly, without turning back.
On her solitary walk back to the bus stop, she passed in front of the Spirit Hall again, the chill more intense as if sothing was urging her to leave.
anwhile, Luo Di had reached the top floor,
“Dad, Mom, Big Sis, I’m back.”
“How did the exam go?” her father’s voice ca from the kitchen.
“Sa as always.”
“Co eat, we were just waiting for you.”
“I’m going to wash my hands.”
As Luo Di went to the bathroom to wash her hands, she also glanced out the window towards the bus stop outside the No.
13 Settlent District, caught sight of a familiar figure and umbrella, and then turned to leave.
Returning to the dining table to sit with her family.
“Little bro, we’re planning to go out during the holidays, you coming?”
“No.”
“Great!
Then, taking care of the house is all on you.”
“Got it, be safe on your journey.”
Living alone is what Luo Di liked the most; she even began to fantasize the bliss of watching movies, lifting dumbbells, and eating homade pancakes.
[The Tenth Day of the Lunar New Year]
Just ten days left until the end of the winter break,
Yesterday, her family had set off on their trip, and Luo Di officially started her happy solitary life.
Getting up early in the morning, munching on a stead bun while cleaning around the house, just as everything was sorted and she was ready to start howork,
Thump thump!
A series of heavy knocks suddenly ca upon the door,
Luo Di glanced at the ti on her watch[08:40]; the Resident committee starts at nine, they would never co knocking at this hour.
She peeked through the peephole but there was no one outside.
“Did I hear wrong?”
Just as Luo Di turned to leave, planning to continue with her howork,
Thump thump!
The knocking ca again,
Luo Di quickly dashed back to the bedroom, pulling out the machete wrapped in a shroud from under the bed.
Still no one could be seen through the peephole,
But this ti, Luo Di didn’t leave.
Instead, she quietly held the door handle, waiting.
Thump thump!
On the third knock, he abruptly opened the door and swung the blade wrapped in the white cloth.
His movent, however, halted mid-air, as he saw a female high school student crouching at the door, already in a surrendering position.
“Luo Di, do you have to be this cautious…
You scared to death.”
“Class president!?”
Luo Di instinctively pulled the door back to block the view inside.
“Relax~ I won’t enter without your permission.
You said before we could et at a fast-food restaurant to do howork, right?
I guessed you would flatly refuse if I called, so I ca directly.
So, shall we go?
It’s okay if you don’t want to, I’ll just make plans with Anna.”
“Let’s go, just give a mont.”
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