When The Snow Falls In Autumn Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The air under the corridor was filled with the smell of rainwater and mud washed away.The dripping water from the corners of the eaves formed intermittent bead curtains, hitting the depressions paved with bluestones below, splashing away fine cold water droplets.Ye Qiulan stood motionless, his eyes still fixed on the white rain curtain where Ling Xueqing’s figure disappeared, as if the dark blue umbrella shadow and the wet shoulder line still left burning marks on his retinas.

The sound of rain gradually fell, no longer violent, but more dense, blurring all distant sounds into a chaotic background sound.At the other end of the corridor, a few students taking shelter from the rain were chatting and laughing in a low voice. Their voices were diluted by water vapor, making them seem distant and unreal.Ye Qiulan lowered his eyes and looked at the dark water marks spreading on the edges of his canvas shoes, and there were still a few bits of mud on the toes.

She slowly sat down on the stone railing under the corridor.The cold stone surface seeped through the thin fabric of his pants.She hugged the canvas bag on her shoulder to her knees, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the rough canvas surface.The bag contained all the papers discussed in the afternoon, and the copy of the tree diagram where Ling Xueqing wrote “Local Chronicle Clues (Leaves)” was sandwiched at the top.It’s as if your fingertips can still feel the subtle weight of the line of writing transmitted through the paper.

“This discovery is very valuable.”

Ling Xueqing’s tone when she said this was calm, but with an unquestionable certainty.This is not a perfunctory encouragement, but a professional recognition given after a quick evaluation.Just like her judging the fiber state of ancient book paper or analyzing the composition of the cinnabar covering, she is precise and calm.

But it was this accurate and calm recognition that shook Ye Qiulan’s heart more than any enthusiastic praise.Because this means that in Ling Xueqing’s strict value system based on facts and logic, the faint clue she accidentally caught was given real coordinates and meaning.Not because of who she is, but because of the clue itself.

Being “seen” in this way made her chest feel swollen, and there was a faint soreness that was almost painful.Because she suddenly realized very clearly that the relationship between her and Ling Xueqing might always be like this – separated by clear rules and boundaries, every time she got close, every time she tried to understand, she had to go through such a “value” bridge.Just like when restoring ancient books, they must follow strict procedures; just like during academic discussions, they must rely on solid evidence.

And what about those things that cannot be defined by rules or supported by evidence?For example, where should I place this heavy torrent of gratitude, dependence, admiration, and more indescribable emotions in my heart at this moment on this precise value map?

She doesn’t know.

The fingers tightened, and the rough texture of the canvas bag touched the palm of the hand.She suddenly thought of Ling Xueqing’s shoulders that were wet by the rain.The fabric of the shirt clings tightly to the skin, outlining the clear and thin outline of the shoulder blades.She should have insisted on pushing the umbrella over.But Ling Xueqing’s movements were so natural, so unquestionable that she tilted the umbrella towards her, as if it was a matter of course.

It was like handing over the half glass of warm water, like catching the almost dripping reinforcement fluid, like taking a step forward in front of the window of the school hospital.

It’s always like this.In her own way, Ling Xueqing silently and firmly circled a small safe area to protect her inside.And she seemed to always be just the protected one, passively accepting this silent gift, but unable to find anything equivalent or something to give back to.

Except… a chance discovery of a possibly useless local chronicle clue.

There was a hint of self-deprecation at the corner of his mouth.She gently buried her face in her arms, resting her forehead on the cold canvas bag on her knees.The smell of rain, old book paper, and a very faint scent of cedar that seemed to have long dissipated from the cardigan on her shoulders mixed together and entangled her breath.

The students’ chatter and laughter at the other end of the corridor stopped, probably because the rain had subsided, and they left one after another.The surroundings were even quieter, except for the monotonous sound of water dripping from the eaves, pat, pat, pat, pat.

I don’t know how much time passed, but the sound of rain seemed to become fainter.Ye Qiulan raised his head and looked outside the corridor.The raindrops became sparse and transparent, and the leaden gray of the sky faded a bit, revealing the soft grayish white of the underlying layer.The leaves of the camphor tree washed by rain in the distance were shiny green, with drops of water dripping down.

It’s time for her to go.Go back to the dormitory, change out of your wet shoes and socks, and then… start sorting out the local chronicles.Ling Xueqing said “there’s no rush”, but she wanted to do it as soon as possible.Not just for a group presentation, but more like a… clumsy effort to prove that I wasn’t completely useless.

She stood up, her legs feeling numb.Holding the canvas bag in his arms, he was about to take a step forward when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a person standing in the shadow at the entrance to the corridor.

She turned her head.

Ling Xueqing stood there.It was the same dark blue straight-bone umbrella, folded up, with the tip downward, dripping water, and formed a small puddle at her feet.She changed into a dry light gray hooded sweatshirt, and her hair seemed to have been combed again, except that a few strands of broken hair in front of her forehead were wet from the moisture after the rain, and stuck softly to her smooth forehead.Her face looked paler than when she was in the library in the afternoon, her lips were light pink, she had no expression, she just looked at Ye Qiulan quietly.

Ye Qiulan was completely stunned. His heart seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand, and suddenly stopped beating, and then started making noises crazily again.Why is she here?Didn’t you leave?Are… coming back to find her?

“The rain has subsided,” Ling Xueqing spoke first, her voice steady and without any emotion, “but there is still water on the road.” She paused and her eyes fell on the canvas bag held in Ye Qiulan’s arms, “Your information… it’s best not to get wet.”

Is she worried that the papers discussed will get wet from the rain?Or… just looking for a reasonable-sounding reason?

Ye Qiulan’s throat was a little dry. She opened her mouth, but only came out a vague syllable: “…Hmm.”

Ling Xueqing came over.The pace is still steady, with her unique kind of undeniable calmness.She stopped in front of Ye Qiulan, not too far or too close, just enough for Ye Qiulan to smell the fresher scent of cedar on her body, as if washed by rain, mixed with the faint warmth of clean cotton clothes after they had been dried.

She stretched out her hand, not handing over the umbrella, but gently picked up the somewhat bulging canvas bag in Ye Qiulan’s arms.

Ye Qiulan subconsciously let go of his hand.

Ling Xueqing held the canvas bag in her hand, weighed it, and then looked at Ye Qiulan: “I’ll take you downstairs to the dormitory.” Her tone was still a statement, not a question.

“No, no need,” Ye Qiulan said hurriedly, “The rain has stopped almost, I can do it myself…” Her voice became smaller and smaller under Ling Xueqing’s calm gaze.

“On the way.” Ling Xueqing only said these two words, then turned around and walked first towards the corridor leading to the dormitory area.After taking two steps, he stopped, turned sideways, and waited for her.

Ye Qiulan looked at her back, at the canvas bag she was holding in her hand, at her slightly thin but straight shoulder line wrapped in a gray sweatshirt, and all the words of rejection dissipated in his throat.She followed silently.

The two of them walked one behind the other under the eaves after the gradually drizzling rain.The air is moist and slightly cool, with the freshness of washed vegetation.The water-logged ground reflected the gray skylight and blurred reflections of the pillars.Footsteps echoed softly in the empty corridor.

Ling Xueqing didn’t walk fast, but her pace was just right for Ye Qiulan to keep up easily.She didn’t look back or speak, she just guided the way silently.The canvas bag swayed slightly with her steps.

Ye Qiulan walked half a step behind her, his eyes falling on her back, the end of her ponytail that swayed slightly as she walked, and her hands with clear knuckles holding an umbrella and bag.That hand had steadily caught a drop of falling reinforcement fluid that morning, and the fingertips were stained with cold moisture.Now, it’s dry, stable, and holds her bag.

A strange, full emotion, mixed with the lingering sourness and a hint of unexpected sweetness, slowly spread in her heart.It’s sour because it’s still a passive acceptance, because there are rules and distances between them that she can’t overcome.Sweet, but because Ling Xueqing left and came back, because of this silent but stubborn “coming along”, because of the weight that was lifted up by nature and belonged to her.

The corridor winds through a small bamboo forest.The rainwater accumulated on the bamboo leaves was blown by the wind and fell, with a few drops splashing coldly on Ye Qiulan’s face.She winced.

Ling Xueqing, who was walking in front, seemed to notice it. She paused slightly, glanced sideways at the bamboo forest, then looked at Ye Qiulan, and then handed over the umbrella in her hand.”Take it.”

Ye Qiulan took the umbrella.The umbrella handle was still slightly warm from the warmth of Ling Xueqing’s palm.

Ling Xueqing’s free hand reached over naturally, pulled up the hood of her sweatshirt, and gently put it on her head.The wide hat instantly blocked most of Ye Qiulan’s sight, and also blocked the scattered cold water drops.

The movements were quick and light, almost a touch.Ling Xueqing’s fingers didn’t even touch her hair or cheeks.But the breath approaching instantly, the subtle air flow brought by the fingers, and the shadow that covered Ling Xueqing’s refreshing breath when the hat fell, made Ye Qiulan freeze in place, and the blood seemed to rush to the top of his head.

Ling Xueqing had already retracted her hand and continued to walk forward, as if she had just brushed away a fallen leaf.

Ye Qiulan was wearing a hat that was too wide, and his vision was blocked. He could only see Ling Xueqing’s blurred back in front of him and the wet ground under his feet.On the inside of the hat brim, there still seems to be a very light, clean and warm fabric smell belonging to Ling Xueqing.Her cheeks burned hot under her hat, and her heart beat like thunder.

Neither of them spoke again on the way.There were only the sounds of footsteps, dripping water, and Ye Qiulan’s own heartbeat like a drum.

Finally, the familiar, slightly dated gray walls of the old dormitory building in the West End appeared at the end of the line of sight.Ling Xueqing stopped at the front steps of the building and turned around.

Ye Qiulan quickly took off his hat and handed it back to her.The movements were a little panicked.

Ling Xueqing took the hat and didn’t put it on again, but just held it in her hand.She also handed the canvas bag back to Ye Qiulan.”Arrived.”

“…Thank you.” Ye Qiulan took the bag, his voice as thin as a gnat.

Ling Xueqing looked at her slightly red cheeks and evasive eyes, and was silent for a few seconds.”Local chronicle information,” she said suddenly, “don’t be in a hurry. Let’s sort out the other divisions of labor at hand first.”

Ye Qiulan nodded.”…Okay.”

“Then I’m leaving.” After Ling Xueqing finished speaking, he nodded slightly to her, then turned around and walked in the direction he came from.The pace was still steady, and his back quickly disappeared into the growing twilight and intertwined shadows of the buildings.

Ye Qiulan stood in front of the dormitory building, holding a canvas bag in his arms and holding the dark blue umbrella in his hand.The water dripping from the tip of the umbrella formed a small puddle at my feet.

As dusk fell, the street lights came on one after another, casting a halo of yellow light on the damp ground.The air is filled with the crisp breath after the rain.

She lowered her head, looked at the umbrella in her hand, and then looked up in the direction where Ling Xueqing disappeared.In her chest, the complex taste of sourness and slight sweetness did not dissipate with the departure of that person. Instead, like the moist air after the rain, it became heavier, heavier, and more ubiquitous, surrounding her.

She slowly turned around and went upstairs.Footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell.In the canvas bag on her shoulder, the tree diagram marked with the word “leaf” and the umbrella that did not belong to her became the clearest and most silent coordinates in this humid dusk.