Chapter 22 Ginkgo Tree

Yang Guohua played mahjong with the professors of the school for a few rounds before they dispersed. Thinking of his wife who was still waiting for him at home on this cold night, and thinking of the two years he had spent studying abroad and how his wife had also been waiting for him alone for two years, a warm smile appeared on his face.

The convex lens flashlight in his hand shone on the two figures in front of him. Yang Guohua quickened his pace and came to the two people's side: "You two, it's getting dark, which courtyard are you going to? I'll give you a ride."

This area is full of independent courtyards. Because it is close to Xihua University, many professors and students rent houses in these courtyards.

"Good evening, Professor Yang." Gong Ruomei saluted, and Zheng Wenjie beside her also called out.

Yang Guohua waved his hand: "Don't get bogged down in these formalities during the break."

With the help of the flickering light of Yang Guohua's flashlight, Gong Ruomei saw that Zheng Wenjie's hands were still stained with blood that had already dried. She couldn't help but reach out and hold Zheng Wenjie's hand, trying to rub the blood away.

Zheng Wenjie felt someone caressing his hand and felt happy. He took the initiative to hold hands in front of the Liu family, but he refused to let anyone hold his hand again on the way back. Now that he met the teacher, Gong Ruomei extended her hand to him again.

Gong Ruomei, whose hand was held from behind, wanted to get angry, but she was concerned about Yang Guohua standing beside her, so she could only look sullen and cold.

"My two classmates, have you ever attended my class?" Yang Guohua glanced at the two men's faces and did not have much impression of them.

Gong Ruomei shook her head and said, "Two months ago, I heard your speech at the conference and was deeply impressed. I agree with what you said."

"It's just my humble opinion. What I've learned and thought about can't change anything. Sorry for the joke." Yang Guohua sighed, and when he saw the two holding hands, he smiled and said, "You two classmates have a good relationship."

Zheng Wenjie smiled and held the hand in front of his chest: "We are inseparable now."

Gong Ruomei sneered without saying anything. She adjusted her breathing for a moment, concentrated all her internal strength on one point, and tightly grasped Zheng Wenjie's hand with her palm. Unexpectedly, Zheng Wenjie's palm also gradually gained strength, and the two hands became more rigidly clenched.

"When I got married, my wife and I were inseparable. Unfortunately, it was a rare opportunity to study abroad at public expense. I went abroad for two years, and my wife waited for me for two years." Yang Guohua looked melancholy.
Zheng Wenjie comforted her, "Everything is fine now. My husband has returned to China and everything is going in a good direction."

"Yes, this separation has made me cherish the present even more. Now I just want to be with my wife peacefully. We will never be separated again." Yang Guohua smiled happily.
"Ah" the pain from her palm made Gong Ruomei unable to bear it any longer and she cried out in pain.

Yang Guohua was startled: "Classmate, what's wrong with you?"

Zheng Wenjie held Gong Ruomei's aching palm with both hands and began to rub it: "It's cold, it's okay, I'll hold it for a while and it will be fine."

Gong Ruomei suppressed her anger with a cold face: "It's okay, sir, there was a cold wind just now."

Yang Guohua tightened his collar and asked, "Don't you feel the wind?"
"Sir, that ginkgo tree must be your home." Zheng Wenjie looked at the still thick branches that were higher than the courtyard wall not far away.

"My wife decided to rent this house because of this ginkgo tree. In the summer, it will be a pleasure to sit in the shade of the tree, drink tea, and read." Thinking of the future, Yang Guohua smiled happily.

"Sir, please go home first. I live not far away." Gong Ruomei said.

Yang Guohua smiled and said, "It's okay. You still have to be careful at night. I'll come back after I send you guys off."

"Thank you, sir." Gong Ruomei refused coldly and quickened her pace. Her palms, which were still aching, made her angrier the more she thought about it.

Zheng Wenjie hurriedly said to Yang Guohua: "Thank you, sir. I will visit you again tomorrow night."

"Ah! Okay." Yang Guohua looked at Zheng Wenjie who was being pulled by Gong Ruomei through the front door of his house. He was puzzled and couldn't understand why Gong Ruomei's attitude suddenly changed and became so ruthless.

Looking at the door of his house, Yang Guohua went up the stairs without thinking any more and knocked on the door.

In the yard, Liu Xiangju sat in front of the tea table, staring at the ginkgo leaves on the table. Opposite her, there was a cup of tea. Forcing his way into Gong Ruomei's yard, Zheng Wenjie ignored Gong Ruomei's rejection and her cold voice, and ran to the kitchen to light a charcoal fire.

Seeing that there was still some noodles in the kitchen, he made a ball of dough while the charcoal was burning and waited for it to rise.

Zheng Wenjie carried the brazier out of the kitchen and was a little surprised to see that the door of the main house was open. He thought Gong Ruomei would lock him in the yard, but he didn't expect the door to be left open.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Gong Ruomei's cold face that kept people away from him. She sat upright on the main seat, with a pair of cold eyes staring at him since he entered the room. Zheng Wenjie smiled bitterly and said, "Gong Er, stop it. It doesn't look good with a cold face."

Staring at Zheng Wenjie placing the brazier next to her feet, Gong Ruomei said in a slightly hoarse voice: "What do you want to do?"

Zheng Wenjie thought that Gong Ruomei was talking about what happened in the Liu family mansion today, so he squatted beside the brazier and started a fire: "Help you make up your mind to do what you want to do."

"Whatever I want to do, I can do it by myself. I don't need your help. I'm asking why you want to be my disciple." Gong Ruomei stared at Zheng Wenjie without blinking.

"Yesterday I came here for kung fu, but now I don't want to become your disciple." Zheng Wenjie raised his head and looked at Gong Ruomei.

"You have already received a master."

"There was no apprenticeship ceremony, not even a witness, so it doesn't count."

"You call me Master, and I answer. Then I will be your Master."

"I call you Gong Er now, not Master anymore."

Gong Ruomei stretched out her slightly swollen hand hidden in her sleeve and said, "What do you want to do?"

Zheng Wenjie smiled awkwardly and reached out to touch the red hand, but was dodged: "Didn't you make the first move?"

"I just want you to let me go. I used my strength because I know you are strong." As she spoke, Gong Ruomei's eyes began to turn red.

"But I just didn't want to let go of your hand, so I used more force." Zheng Wenjie looked at Gong Ruomei who looked aggrieved and continued, "Look at you, you're about to cry. Wait for me, I'll be back soon."

Watching Zheng Wenjie leave the main house, Gong Ruomei took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes. She stroked the handkerchief, but there was no trace of tears. What a liar.

Why did he pester me? Was it just to learn martial arts? But did he need to learn martial arts? He was so strong, who could stand up to him? Even if he wanted to learn martial arts, he should learn the martial arts of a big school. Why would he want to learn Bagua from me?

Gong Ruomei became more and more absent-minded as she kept folding the handkerchief in her hand: I just wanted him to give up, but he doesn't even want to be a policeman or have a job and wants to follow me. Why?
Looking at his still red and swollen palms: Today he helped me make up my mind to break off the engagement, and he held my hand the whole time. After the breakup, he no longer called me Master. He must like me, so he did so many things for me.

As Gong Ruomei thought about it, all she could think of was Zheng Wenjie's figure, the sweet crystal cake, and the dusk just now, when it seemed as if there were only the two of them left in the world.

It was not until she heard a noise outside the house that Gong Ruomei came to her senses and her cheeks suddenly turned hot.

Zheng Wenjie entered the room carrying a bowl of noodles, gave Gong Ruomei a strange look, and put the noodles on the table: "Eat quickly to warm up your body, and then go to bed early. You still have to go to school tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah." Gong Ruomei responded in a low voice, took the chopsticks and mixed the noodles. "There's only one bowl, don't you want to eat it?"

Zheng Wenjie, who was sitting on a chair nearby, shook his head and propped up his chin while looking at Gong Ruomei: "Didn't you say it yourself? You are my ginseng fruit. You will be full after taking a sip."

Gong Ruomei lowered her head and ate noodles silently, not wanting Zheng Wenjie to see her blushing face.

(End of this chapter)