Cynical Romantics - Chapter 19 I Am Song Mei
A week had passed and the new school term began.
In the early morning, Su Feng picked up Song Ren and took her to her morning classes at her University.
Qian Meigui ate breakfast and changed into her uniform. She placed on a white-collared long-sleeve shirt with a dark blue tie over her neck. She then placed a black blazer with golden cufflinks over her shirt and wriggled into a black skirt. She rolled up the waistband of the skirt and tucked it under her blazer, pinning it tightly above her knees.
Qian Meigui placed on light makeup and curled her light brown hair into soft waves, the way Song Ren taught her.
When she was ready, she went to the kitchen where Song Jinyi and Song Jun were eating late, as they slept in.
Song Sheng also sat on a stool by the kitchen island and read over some pdf document’s from his tablet. He wore a gray collared long sleeve shirt with sandy-brown trousers and a black tie around his neck. It appeared he was going somewhere.
“Where are you going?” Song Jinyi asked curiously, a question Qian Mei wondered.
“I am now a student professor at Fudan,” said Song Sheng.
Qian Meigui wasn’t surprised. Song Sheng was an alumni from Fudan, a prestiguous school in Shanghai and graduated with exceptional grades.
“Congratulations, brother Sheng,” Qian Meigui said. Song Sheng glanced at her, “Thank you,” he said deeply.
Qian Mei grabbed her leather school bag from the foyer closet and placed it over her shoulder.
The driver was waiting outside for the three of them. The twins waved Song Sheng a wave of good-bye before going outside and Qian Mei followed them closely behind them. Before she left the front door, she glanced back at the kitchen and waved at Song Sheng. Song Sheng lifted his hand and crossed his fingers, as to tell her ‘good luck’. She responded with the same gesture and he smiled.
In her heart, she already knew now how she feels about Song Sheng, and perhaps even though he treats her as a sister, she thought it would be better than losing him entirely. If he knew how she really felt, he may feel disgusted. And then he would definitely be lost to her.
When Qian Mei was dropped off, she went to her first period class early and sat on a desk by the window. She stared out, enjoying the view of the quad, deep in thought.
It was her last year of Senior High school, and Qian Mei had spent the last of the month studying for her entrance exams, in between the time’s she wasn’t involved with Song Sheng. Now thinking about how much her life has changed since he came back, she thought that she would have to do something about her feelings.
Suddenly, two girls approached her with their blazers tied around their waist. They had furrowed brows and crossed arms. They seemed to be angry with her.
Qian Meigui stared at them, and after a few moments of silence, they all broke into smiles. They were her friends, Mo Sying and Yue Xia.
Mo Sying and Yue Xia grabbed chairs and sat in front of her. “Mei Mei, how was your break?” asked Yue Xia.
Qian Meigui sighed, “It was both eventful and uneventful,” she said as she crossed her arms on her desk and laid her head down on top.
Mo Sying exhaled, “How is your family? We heard what happened to Song Ren, is she all right?” she asked with genuine concern.
“She’s doing better, nothing can stand in Ren’s way,” Qian Meigui responded in admiration for her sister.
Yue Xia placed her hand on Qian Mei’s and said, “We are here for you, if you need anything.”
Qian Meigui pouted, “I missed you guys!” she said as she tackled both of them with an embrace.
The teacher walked in, and everyone rearranged their chairs in an orderly fashion and placed their uniforms correctly.
It was Mr. Ming.
Mr. Ming began the class by introducing the course. Qian Meigui did not pay much attention to the introduction, so she began doodling on her notebook. She was so engrossed that she didn’t know someone had walked into the class mid-lecture, right before their individual study period.
“Ah,” Mr. Ming said. “Everyone, this is our new student Zheng Minzhe.”
Qian Meigui’s hand trembled at the mention of ‘Zheng Minzhe.’
She didn’t dare look up. But her eyes betrayed her. She slowly glanced up from her notebook and saw the familiar looking person. The person she saw more than a week ago, the person who knew her since childhood, the person that doesn’t know what happened to her, as she left without a word.
When she looked up, her eyes locked with Zheng Minzhe, who equally looked surprised to see her, as she saw him.
Yue Xia turned around and gave her a look and mouthed, ‘Who is that?’
Qian Meigui shook her head, and tilted her head, as a gesture to say, ‘I will tell you later.’
Mr. Ming then said, “Please welcome Zheng Minzhe, as it is difficult to transition in a new school during the last year.”
“Mr. Zheng, you can sit in the empty seat next to Miss Song Mei, at the back of the classroom.”
“Song Mei? Who is that?” asked Zheng Minzhe.
Mr. Ming looked over at Qian Meigui and asked, “Miss Song, can you please raise your hand, so Zheng Minzhe can sit in his seat.”
Qian Meigui slowly raised her hand. Zheng Minzhe looked puzzled. He then approached his seat, and sat next to her. “Qian” he began.
Before he could finish speaking, Qian Meigui covered his mouth with her hand. Their classmates were looking at them strangely, when Qian Mei said nervously with a smile, “He had some grape juice on his mouth and I am wiping it away.”
Their classmates then turned around and returned to their study period. When everyone looked away, Zheng Minzhe spoke, “Way to make me look uncool on my first day,” he said sarcastically. Qian Mei chuckled before her expression became solemn.
“Zheng Minzhe, I must formally introduce myself. My name is Song Mei,” she said as she stretched out her hand to shake his. Zheng Minzhe followed her gesture and shook her hand, “Zheng Minzhe,” he said with a smile.
They returned to their study period and at lunch, Qian Mei sought out Zheng Min. She held two boxes of strawberry milk and handed one of them over to Zheng Min as he was seating on a spot of the quad, underneath a tree.
“Thank you,” Zheng Minzhe said. Qian Meigui sat next to him and took a sip of her strawberry milk. At this moment she wished it was wine.
“So, Song Mei, how do you do?” asked Zheng Minzhe.
Qian Meigui smiled. “I suppose I should explain myself.”
Zheng Minzhe held a boyish grin.
Qian Meigui exhaled, trying to mentally prepare herself, “Remember what happened to my parents?” she asked.
Zheng Minzhe’s grin died and became earnest. He nodded.
“Well, about a month after they died. A man named Song Rui found me. He was a friend of my father and he offered to look after me. After a year, they adopted me and I became Song Mei.”
“Our classmates don’t know I am Qian Meigui, they believe me to be the real daughter of Song Rui and Song Yin.”
Zheng Minzhe thought for a while, “So that friend of yours, that I met the other day is a relative? He had the same surname. Song Sheng was it?” he asked.
Qian Meigui nodded. “Yes, he’s my older brother,” she said. “I introduced him as a friend, because I wasn’t ready to explain everything yet. You’re the first person I had seen from my past in years. I left behind everything and my new life masked what I wished to escape from. I’m sorry Zheng Min,” Qian Mei continued sorrowfully.
Zheng Minzhe stared at her before he said, “That’s a relief. I was so worried about you. No one knew what happened to you. You just disappeared.”
Qian Meigui felt like crying. Her eyes welled, but she fought it back.
Zheng Minzhe looked gloomy, he then said, “I’m sorry Mei, I know I must be a reminder for something that you want to forget.”
Qian Meigui reached out and grabbed his wrist. She shook her head and said, “No. I could never forget you or my past. I never tried to forget. If anything I thought I would never see you again, and it feels overwhelming to see you, but I am happy.”
Zheng Minzhe smiled. “I’m glad. Song Mei, can we be friends again?”
Qian Meigui smiled at her friend warmly. “Yes,” she said.
Zheng Min looked as if he had something on his mind due to his mischievous grin. “What is it?” Qian Mei asked. Zheng Min smiled, “Aren’t the Song family like super rich scientists?”
Qian Meigui laughed. “I guess, although even though I am registered as one of them. I didn’t inherit their intelligence or super good looks,” she said sarcastically.
Zheng Minzhe responded, “Oh yes, I know who they are. Especially that Song Ren chick, the hot one.”
Qian Mei gave him a push on the shoulder, as they both chuckled. And like that it was a nostalgic feeling. A faint memory of the past skipping through their memories, and it was as if they were fifteen again enjoying their companionship. Although thing’s have changed. Zheng Minzhe very much maintained his charm.
After school ended, Zheng Minzhe walked Qian Meigui home instead of taking the car on their way to Song Mansion. They caught up about what they missed the last three years during their walk. Qian Meigui felt peaceful. She felt like her life was being put together again. When her parent’s died, a part of her died too and she felt empty.
The Song family was able to fill in the gap of the emptinessbut she could not help but feel like it was an illusion. That if she were to wake up any moment, she would be alone again.
Zheng Min stilled next to Qian Mei at the front steps of her home. He gave her an impressive look of her mansion, and she pushed him. He then caught her arm and asked her, “Do you still play the violin? I would like to hear you play sometime.”
Qian Meigui opened her mouth to say something, but she closed it again with a tight line. “I have not picked up a bow and violin in years,” she said with a sad smile.
His grip let go of her and he said, “I’m sorry.”
Qian Meigui shook her head, “It’s no worry. It’s late you should get going. I will see you tomorrow?”
Zheng Min grinned, “I will see you tomorrow,” he said as they parted.
Song Sheng was walking outside of the parking garage, when he saw Zheng Minzhe part with Qian Meigui.
She walked straight to the front door when she heard Song Sheng call out her name, “Xiao Mei.”
