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Chapter 23: I felt like I might have known you in a previous life.
Two people were stuck in their conversation:
“It might be because his son would attract too much attention and he was afraid of being reported, so he gave it to his adopted son instead…”
You Ying was doubtful: “This weak logic is hard to convince me. Who came up with such nonsense? It’s really boring.”
A team member chuckled dryly, “Well, I don’t know; maybe someone is familiar with him. We melon-eaters just watch casually.”
“Isn’t this kind of casual digging a violation of privacy?”
“I don’t think so. We just discussed it on the internal forum; it’s not public.”
“Isn’t the forum a public place? How is that not a violation of privacy?”
“If you put it that way… the administrators haven’t deleted those posts, which means they allow these threads to exist.”
You Ying responded with an “Oh,” showing a lazy expression, not wanting to argue further.
The other two lost interest in the conversation and continued to focus on their work.
You Ying opened her computer and logged into the chat software, sending a message to a friend: “I have to say, the jealous face of a man is really ugly.”
The friend replied with a string of hahas, asking what happened and why such a precise life insight suddenly emerged.
They chatted for a while, and the friend, who usually followed the school forum more closely than You Ying, said:
“As for the posts about digging into Chen Wengang, I know about that. Actually, I suspect he offended someone. With so many students and teachers in the whole school, how many are constantly being criticized like this? I recognize a few nicknames, and I’ve felt it’s the person for a while.”
“What kind of person are they? Isn’t this sick?”
“Maybe it’s not sickness, but a grudge.”
“Intentional? That changes the nature of it.”
“Sigh, there’s no evidence; it’s just a woman’s intuition. If someone is really targeting him, it’s quite scary.”
You Ying seemed to be pondering, then opened the forum on her computer, as if wanting to personally verify something.
At that moment, the electronic voice from the coffee shop sign announced, “Welcome.”
She looked up and saw the subject of the rumors entering the cafe. Despite the gossip surrounding him, he looked refined, fair-skinned, and cultured—a type that many girls liked.
Chen Wengang ordered a drink at the counter, scanned the surroundings, spotted their table, and quickly approached, carrying his laptop in his arms.
He sincerely admitted his mistake and apologized, and as for You Ying, she didn’t want to escalate the situation further. She urged him to quickly finish the assignment.
The other three members cleared a seat for him. Chen Wengang sat down and plugged in his laptop.
The two male team members, with a different demeanor this time, warmly greeted him in front of everyone.
You Ying observed them coldly, hoping they would quickly submit the assignment.
By noon, the two male team members had finished their tasks, sent the PPT to the team leader, and left.
You Ying sighed while glancing at the scene: “Our school is considered a prestigious institution, right?”
Chen Wengang looked up, somewhat unsure: “I guess?”
You Ying said, “I can only say that when it comes to group assignments, I see how many people in prestigious institutions are just slacking off.”
She was a sharp-tongued girl. Chen Wengang could only force a smile, knowing he was in the wrong, and he tried to do a little more.
They spent the entire afternoon finally completing the assignment together, even skipping meals. At this point, You Ying’s mood finally improved.
In fact, Chen Wengang’s attitude was better than she had imagined. Moreover, he had solid professional knowledge, provided constructive opinions, and the cooperation was smooth. This made You Ying believe he was genuinely busy and had unintentionally neglected the task, rather than deliberately playing with people’s emotions.
With this understanding, she let go of the grudge and gave him a smile.
The two of them packed up and went to the student cafeteria together to have a meal.
On the table, You Ying seemed to have a hint of explanation: “I know many people don’t take elective courses seriously. I don’t care about others, but this group project accounts for 30% of the final grade. My minimum requirement for it is not to drag down my GPA.”
Chen Wengang smiled, indicating his understanding.
His understanding wasn’t just a perfunctory gesture but more like the mutual recognition between top students—a GPA of 3.8 and 3.9 might not seem much different, but the gap between 3.9 and a perfect 4.0 is qualitative. Chen Wengang himself belonged to the 4.0 kind.
Having an excellent academic record was just the first step, and such individuals often have higher goals.
So Chen Wengang asked knowingly, “Are you planning to apply for overseas studies with this GPA?”
You Ying indeed aimed for Ivy League schools: “I want to study business. The competition is fierce, so I want to make my profile stand out as much as possible.”
Chen Wengang nodded, understanding this as well. Academic performance is only one factor in success or failure. Proficiency in languages, awards, personal statements, and even the weight of recommendations in the academic community can all influence the final result, creating significant pressure.
You Ying asked in return, “What about you? Are you going abroad? Have you decided on a country?”
Chen Wengang joked, “I applied for a research project at our university.”
You Ying exclaimed, “Why not go out and see the world?”
Chen Wengang chuckled, “My roots are firmly planted in this small area of Jin City, so I can’t go far.”
Somehow, this made You Ying recall the words of those two team members—something about a foster father, an adopted son, and an unclear relationship with Young Master Zheng. How should she interpret all these pieces of information?
Does it mean he can’t go far or doesn’t want to?
She wasn’t sure if she should continue discussing this.
To change the topic, You Ying earnestly shared a dry joke related to their major with Chen Wengang.
After the meal, one headed back to the dormitory, and the other went to the parking lot, both heading toward the east gate of the school.
Taking a shortcut and passing behind the engineering and technology building, they were stopped by an elderly man who looked like a retired faculty member, seeking their help.
The old man was breathing heavily. Chen Wengang rushed forward and helped the elderly man before he strained his back: “Professor Huang, what are you doing?”
Professor Huang was short and thin, with signs of aging. He was trying to move a large cardboard box filled with books. However, he clearly overestimated his physical abilities. If they had arrived a moment later, You Ying would have been worried about the condition of his old arms and legs.
“I’m old and unable to do it. It’s the young ones who have the strength.”
“These books, what are they for?”
“Graduation is approaching; class students don’t want them anymore. I happened to pass by and saw the janitor of this building gathering so many.”
The old man picked up a book and wiped the cover with his sleeve. “Respect the written word, students. Look, they’re all still in good condition.”
In front of him was a pile of books on the floor, and three cardboard boxes lay beside his feet. The books in the boxes were picked one by one from the pile. Under the yellow streetlight, the old man wore the glory of a scavenger.
You Ying squatted down beside the pile of books, using the light from the streetlamp and the faint glow from the teaching building to barely make out the words on the covers.
In her view, it was a mishmash of everything, including quite a few blank sheets of draft paper and drawing paper.
Chen Wengang also leaned over to look into the box, seemingly familiar with Professor Huang. Suddenly, he asked, “Can I have these draft papers?”
“Do you need them?”
“I have a sister preparing for exams; she might find them useful.”
“Take them, take them.” Professor Huang picked up a bunch and stuffed them into his arms. “Take them if they’re useful; don’t waste them.”
In You Ying’s eyes, these two people strangely overlapped on the channel of being frugal.
Since they were there, it wasn’t easy to pretend not to see him. They stayed to help Professor Huang pick through the books.
With two young people joining, the efficiency was undoubtedly higher than that of an elderly person alone. The box quickly filled up.
Heavily damaged books and used draft papers were gathered in a corner, waiting for the janitor to take them away for disposal.
The three of them worked up a sweat, and Professor Huang held a tattered notebook in his hands, using it as a fan to cool himself.
After the cleanup, You Ying remained squatting on the ground, hugging her knees. She looked up and asked, “How are you going to deal with these things?”
The old man looked over at her words.
While helping, she bluntly poured cold water: “Are you picking up books whenever you see someone throwing them away? Even if you pick them up, there’s nowhere to put them, right?”
Professor Huang wasn’t angry. He sat down on the steps, supporting his knees: “Yes, I was just passing by today and couldn’t help but meddle.”
He still looked cheerful but somewhat troubled, and these two expressions mixed on his face, creating a slightly comical feeling.
You Ying moved closer, rifling through the box of teaching materials: “The school’s activity center has a flea market where many people sell textbooks. These can be taken there. But I don’t have time; I can arrange for the staff to handle it. How does that sound to you?”
Professor Huang praised her, “Very clever, not letting others labor in vain.”
Chen Wengang, who had been standing on the side playing with his phone, suddenly said, “Give me the rest of these; I can take care of it.”
Both the old and the young looked at him.
He smiled and said, “I volunteer at an orphanage. The director has been wanting to bring in a batch of new books for the library since last year, but the funds are always insufficient, and buying books has been delayed for a long time. I just asked the director, and she agreed. I can take them there.”
You Ying stared at him with wide eyes, seemingly having many questions: “Can those kids understand these books?”
Chen Wengang said, “The older ones can understand.”
Professor Huang chuckled, “That’s right, reading is always beneficial.”
You Ying nodded.
Chen Wengang went to the parking lot and, in no time, moved his Lexus here.
He loaded the three cardboard boxes into the trunk. The box with textbooks was to be taken to the student activity center, and You Ying, being the student council president, had the key and could open the door for him. The other two boxes were taken away by Chen Wengang to be delivered to the orphanage.
Professor Huang bent down and happily waved goodbye to the two, saying that today was fortunate to meet these two young students.
With the campus speed limit, Chen Wengang gently pressed the accelerator. You Ying lowered her head, reading messages in the class group. When they passed over a speed bump, she suddenly heard Chen Wengang ask, “By the way, do you know who that Professor Huang was just now?”
“I don’t know; I’ve never seen him.” She shook her head. “Which department does he teach in?”
Chen Wengang whispered, “He is Huang Yanhong.”
You Ying almost jumped in surprise, “Are you serious?”
“Really him.”
In the dim light, not recognizing an unfamiliar faculty member was normal. But when it came to this name—
Since she was considering applying for overseas studies, it was inevitable to do some research. Who hasn’t heard of industry giants in their own field?
You Ying immediately rolled down the car window and turned her head to look back. However, all she could see were rows of trees receding.
Chen Wengang chuckled, “Forget about it. How far have we driven? You won’t be able to find him now.”
“No way…” You Ying almost wanted to jump out of the car and run back, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“It happened too suddenly, and I didn’t have a chance to tell you discreetly,” Chen Wengang explained. “Professor Huang used to teach in Europe and America. Although he has settled in China now and no longer holds a teaching position due to health reasons, he carries weight in the industry. He is also a member of our school’s board of directors. Since you’re interested in applying for business, I think you can try asking him if he would be willing to write you a recommendation letter.”
“This just reminds me that I missed such a big opportunity to build connections.” You Ying snapped out of her shock. “Now my mind is full of what-ifs. If only I had known who he was half an hour earlier, would my life be different now?”
“It’s not that exaggerated.”
“Hard to say. If I had gotten his contact information, we would have a story between us. I could consult him on academic questions, have a reason to ask him about my graduation thesis, get familiar with him, and smoothly ask him to be my recommender… Do you know how much the weight of a recommendation affects the chances of getting into a higher-ranked school? God, how could I not recognize such a big figure?”
Chen Wengang comforted her, saying, “Don’t be too anxious. You just met him today, and there will be another chance.”
The events of that night seemed like a regrettable episode, and You Ying only uttered a few sentences about them, not taking them too seriously.
After all, in the end, she hadn’t done much. She helped with some physical work and couldn’t really expect any substantial favors in return.
Even if she had recognized Huang Yanhong that day, there was no guarantee that the desired benefits would materialize, especially considering that she indeed didn’t recognize him.
Who could she blame?
Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better.
During the “Introduction to Economic Law” class, the group assignment was presented, and You Ying received a message from the student activity guidance teacher notifying her of a meeting.
After class, students poured out of the lecture hall in a dense crowd.
She navigated through the crowd and hurried to the student activity center, where she once again encountered Huang Yanhong in the meeting room.
The old man was chatting and laughing with several school leaders. Chen Wengang was sitting nearby, giving her a smile.
She understood and went over to sit beside him.
The guidance teacher introduced her to the leaders and said, “This is You Ying, the current president of our student council.”
Huang Yanhong, with a smiling expression, leaned over to shake hands with her, “We’ve already met; she is indeed very outstanding.”
It turned out that after that day, Huang Yanhong had contemplated and considered the act of donating books to welfare organizations very meaningful. He proposed that the school organize a book donation event during the graduation season. As a member of the school’s board of directors, his suggestion was positively received and supported by the school’s president.
Upon hearing this news, You Ying’s mind quickly worked:
This is more than just a stroke of luck!
This is like a gift from heaven!
The president suggested trying out this event first. If the publicity was good, it could become a tradition at the school, with graduating students donating unused books every year. This year, the books would go to local welfare organizations, and next year, they could extend to more remote areas.
For the school, this was a good thing. For her, as the president of the student council, it would be a noteworthy addition to her resume.
After the meeting, this matter naturally fell into the hands of the student council, and You Ying took charge.
Chen Wengang walked back with her. The two passed by the artificial lake on campus.
Suddenly, You Ying heard Chen Wengang calling her.
Turning around, Chen Wengang handed her a business card.
She was momentarily stunned but quickly suppressed the urge to smile: “Professor Huang’s?”
Judging by Chen Wengang’s expression, he seemed to find it amusing, “Yes, good luck. He said you can contact him anytime if needed.”
You Ying was pleasantly surprised, “Rest assured, I understood. This time, I really have to thank you.”
Holding the business card in her hand and looking at it, she found herself not feeling as inclined to smile as before.
Clearing her throat, she said, “Actually… you’re a bit different from what I imagined.”
Chen Wengang chuckled, “Different in what way?”
You Ying said, “Subconsciously, I didn’t think you were the type to ‘meddle in other people’s affairs.’ Of course, don’t get me wrong, it’s meant as a compliment.”
She placed the business card into her wallet, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “To be honest, I did consider it before—how you had the opportunity to become so close to Professor Huang; having connections is a stroke of luck… But the way you handled it makes me feel a bit embarrassed.”
Chen Wengang just smiled, “He has always enjoyed interacting with students. Seizing the opportunity is because of your own excellence.”
The two bid farewell downstairs at the student dormitory.
***
You Ying took this matter to heart and hastily drafted an event proposal, submitting it to the guidance teacher overnight.
Normal student activities required approval time, but due to the school leaders’ endorsement, the time for this event was compressed.
After all, all processes had to be completed before the arrival of summer, or else the graduating students would have left the campus.
In less than a week, the initial version of the “Graduation Season Book Donation” posters were successively posted on various bulletin boards around the school.
The student activity center allocated a temporary activity room, serving as a makeshift storage room.
On the first day of the donation event, You Ying naturally had to be present throughout, arriving early to make preparations.
The guidance teacher presided over the event, and both school leaders and Huang Yanhong made appearances. A school media journalist, carrying a camera, was incessantly snapping photos.
The Children’s Foundation, collaborating with the school, sent a person named Ma Wen, a middle-aged man with a beard. Unexpectedly, Chen Wengang was quite familiar with him, and the two chatted as if they had known each other for a long time.
Watching from a distance, You Ying suddenly had a thought. It was no wonder he didn’t interact much with other students and didn’t often appear on campus.
Chen Wengang exuded a sense of mature competence, seeming more seasoned than the students with their youthful freshness. He looked like someone who had been through the trials of life. With abundant experience and a wide circle of acquaintances, his network couldn’t solely be attributed to his background; it was evidently a result of his interpersonal skills.
Before she could dwell on these thoughts too much, more students arrived with rolling suitcases full of books.
You Ying snapped back to reality.
The event had been publicized for only a short while, and although the participating students today didn’t reach overwhelming numbers, there was a continuous flow, creating a lively atmosphere. However, the work of receiving the books turned out to be more laborious than she had imagined. It wasn’t as simple as just tossing them onto a pile.
Volunteers had to be responsible for inspecting each book. For educational materials, they directed the donors to the flea market for selling. For other categories, they checked for stains, missing pages, and a condition of at least 70-80% suitability for donation. After inspection, they recorded the details by hand, registered them, and then moved the books into storage.
The students were initially a bit chaotic as they were getting used to the process.
After a while, the guidance teacher and others left, and Chen Wengang walked over, asking, “Do you still have those vests?”
He was referring to the volunteer vests, bright red, worn to distinguish the staff.
Stopping her subordinates, You Ying hesitated for a moment and then said, “We do. Why do you need it… Do you want to help?”
Chen Wengang smiled and asked, “Is it inconvenient? Because it seems like you guys are a bit short-staffed.”
“Not just a bit, but severely short-staffed!” You Ying responded quickly, immediately agreeing and handing him a piece of clothing. “However, this round of volunteers is selected from members of the student union, and our members can count this as social practice credit. But for you…”
She wanted to say that she would try to fight for him, but she wasn’t entirely sure. In the end, it depended on the opinions of the school teachers.
Chen Wengang wasn’t bothered and smiled, “It’s okay. I’ve already fulfilled my social practice credits.”
So he was purely doing voluntary work.
For people like him, the students could only warmly welcome him. The boxes of books were heavy as mountains, and moving them around was indeed a physically demanding job. Having an additional, diligent, and hardworking labor force was undoubtedly a welcome addition.
For almost a month, Chen Wengang often had spare time to accompany You Ying and the members of the student union in their activities.
Actually, he didn’t need to do these things. Huang Yanhong had already communicated with the school’s guidance teacher, and Chen Wengang was only designated to act as an external liaison, coordinating with the institutions receiving the donations. There was no obligation for him to engage in this physical labor, and no one could say anything even if he didn’t.
But Chen Wengang was willing to do it himself.
He had become accustomed to doing these things.
Sometimes, while wearing gloves and ticking off items on the list, he would feel as if he were back in a warehouse of the Foundation for the Educational and Cultural Development of Children from his previous life.
Halley, sticking out its tongue, crouched beside him. With a command, it turned around and brought him the registration form he needed.
Many tabloids claimed he was putting on a show, and even employees of the foundation didn’t entirely understand. They came up with reasonable explanations themselves, telling the newly recruited colleagues that the boss was leading by example. Only Chen Wengang knew what was going on—he could only use work to numb himself.
This was the way out he had found for himself. If he kept himself busy, he wouldn’t have time to dwell on the past.
People often say that time can heal everything, and time can turn everything into a habit.
He had to find a way to “live well.”
As the students and Chen Wengang spent more time together, everyone became familiar with him, and they also became more relaxed. Surprisingly, Chen Wengang was quite popular.
A few junior colleagues even came to You Ying with anticipation and asked, “Is Senior Chen planning to join us?”
You Ying raised her head from the form and asked knowingly, “Are you interested in pursuing him?”
The junior students giggled and playfully pushed each other, saying, “No, just feel that he’s a good person and want to bring him into the group.”
“Little ones, let me remind you that our class will graduate next year. Who would join the student union at this point?”
“Ah…” They dragged out their disappointed tones, “True…”
You Ying couldn’t bear to see them disappointed and added, “But Senior Chen said he would stay at our school for postgraduate studies. So, there’s still a chance to meet him.”
The wilted little colleagues suddenly came alive again, as if revitalized by this possibility.
***
Chen Wengang was content with his current state of life; at least he was calm.
Even though Huo Niansheng had mentioned giving him a pocket watch and deliberately keeping him hanging, they hadn’t been in contact for over a month.
Since the seven million was spent and since he received an answer at Sky Garden that wasn’t really an answer, Chen Wengang became less anxious.
Compared to his previous life, the time had not come yet. If Huo Niansheng wasn’t ready to love him, he could wait.
He had waited for a decade; a month or two, or even half a year, were all acceptable.
Jin City belonged to Chen Wengang, and he had lived on this land for decades. He was familiar with every blade of grass and every tree. As long as Huo Niansheng stayed safely in this territory, his heart would be at ease.
One day, Chen Wengang came to the Student Activity Center, and from a distance, he saw a group of junior students playing with a large dog at the entrance of the building.
Seeing the German Shepherd, he was momentarily stunned, and a junior student immediately said, “Senior, don’t be afraid; Xiao Hei doesn’t bite.”
Another junior chuckled, “Looks handsome, doesn’t it? But in reality, it’s quite mischievous—just a Husky disguised in a German Shepherd’s skin.”
Chen Wengang approached and asked, “Whose dog is this?”
It turned out to be a dog owned by a faculty member living nearby. Sometimes, they would bring it to the campus for a walk.
The German Shepherd named “Xiao Hei,” despite having the physique of a large breed, had a docile and easy-going nature. It was said to have a record of being frightened by geese in the countryside, breaking free from its iron chain, and running rampant throughout the village. Additionally, it was very affectionate and friendly. Students familiar with it considered it the campus mascot.
With the owner’s permission, Chen Wengang approached and patted its head.
The German Shepherd wagged its tail and lifted its head, pressing its chin into Chen Wengang’s palm. Chen Wengang crouched in front of it, stroking it, and whispered “Halley” in a low voice that no one could hear.
It looked at him with innocent eyes, tilting its sharp ears.
Naturally, there was no reaction whatsoever.
Chen Wengang chuckled and scratched the dog’s chin.
Xiao Hei, in bliss from the scratches, had its eyes narrowed. However, its enjoyment was disrupted by Chen Wengang’s suddenly vibrating phone.
Chen Wengang gave up the dog-scratching spot to other students, moved away from the crowd, and answered the call.
“Wengang, long time no see,” teased Huo Niansheng with his usual playful tone. “Do you still remember who I am?”
The sky was clear, and glaring sunlight suddenly shone into his eyes.
Chen Wengang looked up and realized the sunlight was reflecting from the windows of the opposite building, casting light onto his face.
Dazzled by the light, he smiled with the sunlight on his face, and his voice involuntarily carried a hint of nostalgia.
He gently placed the phone to his ear and said, “Niansheng.”
The endearment in his tone was sweet, but there was no response from the other end, as if the connection had suddenly been cut.
Only the call duration continued to tick away on the screen.
After a while, Huo Niansheng’s soft laughter came through, “Just now, I felt like I might have known you in my previous life.”
This time, it was Chen Wengang who couldn’t find words to respond.
Huo Niansheng continued, “Really, it feels very familiar.”
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