Chapter 2: Awakening from a Dream (Part 2)

  Ciji Primary School was founded in 1939, and its predecessor was a temple built during the Ming Dynasty. This primary school is not only rich in history but also ranks among the top in terms of scale, teaching equipment, teacher strength, and promotion rate in the city. Moreover, it has incorporated advanced international teaching concepts into its teaching methods, making it the first choice for many parents.

  Moreover, the life of Tzu Chi Primary School can be said to be colorful. In addition to the subjects that need to be studied for promotion, the school also offers courses such as handicrafts, art, music, sports, piano, dance, etiquette and so on. On ordinary days, some activities will also be organized, such as visiting museums, zoos, outdoor outings, botanical gardens, summer camps, winter camps, and exchanges between sister schools. The purpose is to stimulate students' interest and attention in a relaxed atmosphere, broaden their horizons, and teach them to explore independently, think independently, and innovate.

  However, to get into Ciji Primary School, either the student is extremely intelligent or has a good background and social status. If neither of these conditions are met, the teacher in the admissions office will smile and tell the parents that there are still several primary schools with good reputations within the school district, and they might have a chance if they try.

  While teaching at Tzu Chi Primary School, teachers not only need to have excellent teaching skills but also pay attention to the changes in students' emotions, attitudes and values. More importantly, the final exams of each semester are not only a test of students' learning outcomes for the semester but also an evaluation of the teacher's work during this period.

  Today is the last day of the third-grade final exam at Tzu Chi Primary School, subject - English.

  At this moment, Su Lianyu, the head teacher of Class 1, Grade 3, had been staring at Gu Huanli who was dazing off by the window for a full twenty minutes. She thought to herself: Could it be that this exam's questions are very difficult? Or is Gu Huanli not feeling well? Except for when the exam started and she wrote for a bit, for the rest of the time, she had been dazing off.

  To be honest, Gu Huanli is the most well-behaved child Su Lianyu has met since graduating from university and starting work. Not only is she cute, but also excellent in her studies, sports, and plays the piano exceptionally well. What's more heart-wrenching is that Gu Huanli's parents and brother are all abroad, and she has been living with her aunt. Although Gu Huanli's life can be considered carefree, Su Lianyu noticed that compared to other students of the same age, Gu Huanli has an extra layer of quietness and sensitivity.

  So, for various reasons, Su Lingyu always paid extra attention to Gu Huanli.

  This morning, Su Lingyu carried the test paper into the classroom and habitually glanced around, only to find that Gu Huanli sitting by the window seemed a bit off. Her ink-like eyes were as calm as a pool of water, silently watching the crowd busy opening pencil cases and checking pencils and erasers.

  Perhaps this is another manifestation of the child's tension! Su Lingyu thought, handing out the test papers. But now it seems that she is a bit uncertain. After hesitating for a moment, Su Lingyu walked to Gu Huanli's side, gently knocked on the desk, and saw Gu Huanli slowly turn around, before softly saying, "If you're not feeling well, go to the infirmary and have the school doctor take a look at you, don't try to tough it out."

  Gu Huanli hesitated for a moment, shaking her head, and the sight of her slightly furrowed eyebrows made Su Lianyu's heart ache again. Su Lianyu knew she was still invigilating and didn't dare say much, so she kept it in mind to take Gu Huanli to see the school doctor after the exam. Children are always slow to realize when they're sick, and since she was living with others, it was better for her to pay more attention to Gu Huanli herself, lest something irreparable happen.

  Gu Huanli saw Su Lianyu turn and walk away, only then did she flip over the test paper, pick up her pencil and continue to answer the remaining questions. She deliberately wrote very slowly, after all, there were still nearly half an hour before the exam ended, and she couldn't just hand in her paper now. Not to mention that it would scare the class teacher, but she herself didn't have the nerve to pretend to be a genius girl.

  It's interesting to note that this world is weird. On one hand, everyone wants to be unique and different from others; on the other hand, no one wants to stand out too much. It's a delicate balance between maintaining individuality and conforming to societal norms...

  Gu Huanli slowly and leisurely answered the questions on her paper, as if she was writing each letter with the precision of a printed font. Yet time continued to tick away, neither fast nor slow. Gu Huanli glanced up at the clock beside the blackboard and let out a silent sigh. It was easy enough to turn back the hands of time, but how could one simple enter key turn back her entire life?

  Although she was thinking hard in her room last night, this kind of problem about the intersection of time and space is not what she's good at. It wasn't until dawn that Gu Huanli gave up thinking; since it's not something she's good at, she might as well wait for someone who is good at it to explain it to her sometime.

  For now, let's just get through this torturous exam first.

  The clock ticked away, and as the bell rang to signal the end of the exam, everyone in the classroom cheered excitedly. Only Gu Huanlin silently packed up her stationery, then picked up her bag, preparing to slip away quietly.

  "Gu Huanli." Su Lianyu rushed back to the office with the test papers, and then hurriedly ran back to the classroom, startling the students who were preparing to go home.

  Gu Huanli raised her head and called out softly, "Teacher Su."

  "Do you feel a bit better?" Su Lianyu looked at Gu Huanli's somewhat pale face, and was even more certain that she must be uncomfortable somewhere. She suddenly remembered that a student in the next class had appendicitis during class, and couldn't help but become even more anxious.

  Gu Huanli's eyes blinked, and she said in a low voice, "Teacher Su, I had a dream last night that there was a huge white dog, just like the one in the advertisement, chasing me. It was so scary!"

  Dreaming? Su Lianyu was stunned for a moment, and it took her half a day to realize that Gu Huanli had had a nightmare and hadn't slept well all night. She stretched out her hand and gently stroked Gu Huanli's forehead, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."

  So warm palm...

  Gu Huanli nodded and said seriously, "Although Xiaoli is a little scared now, she will definitely not be afraid when she grows up. Because the teacher said that dogs are human's good friends."

  "So, we should treat the small animals around us well." Su Lianyu heard Gu Huanli's childish words and a big stone in her heart finally fell to the ground. "Don't go to the piano club today, just go home and rest early, okay?"

  "Uh-huh!" Gu Huanli nodded and turned to run away, ran a few steps, then turned back to wave at Su Lianyu and shouted, "Goodbye, teacher!"

  It wasn't until she ran out of the teaching building that Gu Huanli slowed down her pace, and shook off the goosebumps on her body. Although it's said that people do things according to their age, but for someone in her 20s to act coquettishly with someone around the same age as her, it really was quite strange!

  "Huanli!" A clear male voice shouted from behind her, "Aren't you going to practice piano today?"

  Gu Huanli stopped in her tracks, slowly turned around, and looked at the boy with shining eyes across from her. She said calmly, "Tianbo, I want to take a walk today. Can you... help me ask Dong Laoshi for leave?"

  Mo Tianbo walked a few steps forward, looking at her with concern, "Huan Li, are you not feeling well? I've been thinking you're acting strange all day today."

  "I'm fine!" If she had to say something, it was just that she wasn't used to going back to being a kid, whether it was throwing tantrums or taking exams, neither of which suited her. So, she went back to the third grade in elementary school. This time's exam should still be able to maintain her good grades!

  Mo Tianbo scratched his head in confusion, then let out a pretentious sigh. "Alright, I'll ask for leave on your behalf. But... did Uncle Chu agree to this overseas exchange?"

  "Teacher Su will help me ask for leave, and before the exam, I have already handed in the parental consent form to the head teacher." Gu Huanli smoothed out her hair, which was slightly disheveled from the wind, and said softly, "Auntie is still waiting for my cousin and me at home. If we return late, Auntie will worry. So... goodbye."

  "See you again..." Mo Tianbo muttered, watching Gu Huan's slender back.

  The small path in the campus is lined with ginkgo trees and phoenix trees, and when walking under the trees, you can hear the rustling of leaves. The bright sunlight filters through the gaps between the leaves and falls on the flying skirt, mottled and scattered, like a slow bloom of ink dyeing.

  Gu Huan Lian quietly thought, if she were to be reborn again, what should she do?

  Regret? If one's whole life is spent in regret, can there still be any joy?

  Revenge? If she avenges those who have hurt her with foreknowledge, wouldn't this chance to relive be wasted?

  She Gu Huanli, what does she really want?

  The whole family's worries and troubles?

  Is she still as free as a bird flying high in the sky?

  Towards Chu Lianyou, she has confusion and resentment. If Chu Lianyou were willing to confide in her about her feelings, perhaps the tragedy of two sisters loving the same person could have been avoided. If Chu Lianyou had been honest with her, then this younger sister would only have experienced unrequited love, and wouldn't have lost the fingers that danced nimbly on the keyboard, lost her dreams, and ultimately shattered her life.

  She has resentment and grievances towards that person. Love is love, not loving is not loving. Eternal love is indeed beautiful, but if it can't be achieved, why hide it? If the heart is no longer there, what's the use of being tied together? Torturing each other?

  Is it right to simply shift all the blame onto others? Wrongdoing is never one-sided, she should think more about why tragedy befell her. Doesn't she have any fault herself?

  Her mistake comes from trusting too much? Or does it come from extreme self-righteousness?

  Maybe she should reflect on herself first.

  Towards her brother, she felt not only guilt but also heartache. She had never known that he loved her; she had never known that this troublesome little sister of his was so important in her brother's heart. All she knew... was that in the past years, there were too many times when she had unintentionally, intentionally, and even maliciously hurt her brother.

  Gu Huanli was thinking again, the two men closest to her, her husband and her brother, one deeply hurt her but said nothing, the other quietly cared for her but said nothing, then let things develop to an irreparable stage.

  No, the most foolish person should be her!

  Gu Huan was thinking of her brother's tears, thinking of the unreachable distance, and suddenly wanted to hear her brother's voice, even if it was just a simple "hello".

  Distracted, Shui Yue left school and wandered onto the streets. The crowds and cars passing before her eyes were no match for the dense longing in her heart. She saw a phone booth by the side of the road and couldn't help but walk over to it.

  The phone number of brother's dormitory is...

  At this moment, Gu Huanli had already forgotten about the time difference and etiquette. She calmed down a bit, picked up the receiver and put it to her ear, her fingers lightly moving as she slowly dialed the familiar phone number.

  "I am Gu Tian Xi, may I ask who you are?"

  A tender voice, familiar words, and a sense of distance and remoteness similar to that of the past.

  "Older brother."

  Gu Huanli's heart suddenly ached, and with a faint sound, a tear fell down.

  Xiao Li?

  “…I'm sorry…” After saying that, Gu Huanli suddenly realized that she had spoken out the three words that had been lingering in her mind but were not suitable for this moment. She rubbed her eyes, wanting to explain, just as a car whizzed by from beside her, stirring up waves of cold wind, and blowing away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes like rain.

  "Xiao Li? Xiao Li! Are you still there? Why did you say sorry? Why aren't you speaking? Is something wrong? Xiao Li?......"

  The voice on the other end of the receiver grew increasingly anxious, but at this end of the phone line, the receiver hung limply in mid-air, swaying gently in the wind, and Gu Huanlin seemed to have vanished into thin air.