Chapter 3: Tutoring

The empty cemetery felt exceptionally cold during the dead silence of autumn and winter. It was permeated with the heavy weight of life and death, isolating the noise of the outside world, desolate and bleak.

Gu Yu looked at the neat words carved into the black tombstone and set down the white chrysanthemums he had brought. His thick eyelashes cast a sliver of shadow.

He usually scrimped and saved, never buying anything unnecessary. Only these white chrysanthemums were indispensable. Whenever he came here, he always brought one.

During these moments of mourning and grief, Gu Yu merely watched in silence. Usually outgoing and cheerful, he was so quiet that he didn’t seem like himself.

It was as if the bandages covering a wound had been unwrapped, revealing the thick, dripping blood underneath, drowning the once sunny boy.

Light footsteps approached and stopped behind him. No sound was made, as if the person were reluctant to disturb him.

This was the place where the two of them had first met. That day had been the funeral of Aunt Luo. Many people had come, the sound of weeping like a drizzle, with yellow and white paper money scattered everywhere.

Standing in the crowd, Luo Ming felt a piercing pain in her heart, but she shed no tears.

Her aunt was the last person in Luo Ming’s life who had loved her. She was kind to a fault and had helped many people, yet she was not favored by fate. She was killed in a sudden car accident at 30-some years old.

On the day of the funeral, Luo Ming wore a white dress. When her aunt was still alive, she always praised her, saying she looked beautiful in white dresses, so she wore it for her.

She stood there for a long time, even after the funeral procession had left and the surroundings had fallen silent. She remained there, trying to stop the bleeding of her heart.

Eventually, another mourner arrived at a nearby tombstone.

The boy was dressed in all black, holding a bouquet of white chrysanthemums. He looked lonesome, his knuckles distinct. Their eyes happened to meet, and she saw a dense sorrow and… endurance… in his gaze.

One in black and one in white — the two of them stood out clearly in the same frame, yet they lacked any sense of opposition. They blended together harmoniously, looking like a pair.

Luo Ming respected the act of mourning and would not easily interrupt others. She stood there silently, waiting for the boy to compose his emotions.

The change in his expression was completed early. When he turned his head, he looked natural and optimistic once more.

“Is it over?” Luo Ming asked softly, her voice warm and gentle.

“Yes. It wasn’t something that would take much time anyway. It’s time to head back.”

“Let’s go.”

Today’s sunlight was unexpectedly intense. Warm rays spilled across the ground and climbed onto his pair of faded white canvas shoes.

“As for the tutoring… should we go to your house?”

Luo Ming asked in a flat tone, as if it were a matter of course.

Going to a classmate’s house for tutoring… there really wasn’t any other place to choose. Since Gu Yu lived alone, his home was actually the most suitable.

However, the tips of his ears burned slightly. He hadn’t expected Luo Ming to suggest it so openly. Her guard against him was so low…

Gu Yu was indeed harmless, and he would never harbor any inappropriate thoughts.

“If you don’t mind, then let’s go to my place. Sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s fine. I don’t have work right now, so I have nothing else to do.”

—

The key was inserted into the lock and turned, producing a crisp metallic click. Upon opening the door, a simple and cramped living room came into view.

An old house in disrepair, it contained only essential furniture with nothing extra. The chairs and appliances showed signs of age, creating a depressing atmosphere that made it somewhat difficult to breathe.

There was a worn-out wooden table that served as both a dining table and a desk. Gu Yu pulled out a chair and gestured for Luo Ming to sit. “I’ll go get the textbooks. Have a seat first.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

The cold, hard surface of the chair seemed to sap her body heat. Luo Ming watched him enter a room in the corner before scanning the house. It was dark, narrow, and devoid of any hope.

No wonder his inferiority complex was impossible to hide. How much confidence could someone living in such a crude and dilapidated house possess?

Before long, Gu Yu returned with several books and notebooks. He pulled out the chair opposite her, sat down, and began flipping through a book.

“There were a few questions from last time, as well as that grammar point. Let me find them…”

Tutoring should ideally be done sitting side-by-side to make explaining easier. Sitting face-to-face only exposed his discomfort and his attempt to maintain distance.

Luo Ming pulled her chair over and sat next to Gu Yu.

After moving closer, the presence of another person became impossible to ignore. A light fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose. With just a slight turn of his head, he could see her fair, delicate skin and her beautiful face.

Luo Ming smiled at him, appearing normal and calm without any hint of shyness.

Gu Yu felt embarrassed by his momentary attempt at distance. Since they were far apart, their relationship as friends and classmates allowed for a closer distance. If he didn’t manage the space well, it might hurt her feelings.

No suspicious romantic feelings would arise between them. Gu Yu cursed his own silliness born of bashfulness, calmed his heart, and focused.

“Here. I don’t quite understand the grammar for this question.”

“This part? This is the past continuous tense…”

Leaning over with her finger on the page, Luo Ming explained it to him seriously. She used the simplest words, as if treating him like a primary school student who had just started learning English.

Strands of long, thin black hair fell down, dangling by the corner of her eye and obscuring the peripheral vision she used to glance at the boy from time to time.

Gu Yu listened intently, his mind entirely on her voice. At this moment, the boy possessed a quality that particularly attracted her. It was as if he treated her words as mandatory commands, making him easy to manipulate and lead into a trap.

Luo Ming unintentionally moved her finger and tucked the obstructing hair behind her ear, revealing her soft, beautiful profile again. Gu Yu’s gaze finally wavered for a split second.

This small movement carried a mature beauty that was even more intoxicating on a young girl. The boy couldn’t help but look.

His gaze lingered for only a very brief moment before immediately returning to the book along with Luo Ming’s finger.

She noticed that he had been attracted by her action and had peeked at her profile before instantly recovering.

‘How silly…’

The explanation was detailed and thorough. When it was over, Gu Yu pulled the book toward himself and applied Luo Ming’s explanation to the question. His confused thoughts suddenly became clear.

“I see. I should note this down.” Gu Yu added a notation next to the question and looked down at another mistake. “And here. Isn’t this question supposed to use…”

Luo Ming looked over. It was also a fairly difficult question, one that a student with average English grades like Gu Yu would easily get wrong.

There was no sign that he had deliberately sought out extra mistakes to ask about. Gu Yu did not have the ulterior motive of using this to interact with her more; he was truly just studying.

Gu Yu’s comprehension was quite good. He didn’t actually need such a detailed explanation from Luo Ming, but her own hidden thoughts urged her to explain everything meticulously, even providing extra context.

“Your foundation is pretty good, Gu Yu. If you study hard, you can improve a lot,” Luo Ming suddenly said, her tone carrying a faint hint of concern.

“You’re overestimating me. This is already the result of my best efforts.” Gu Yu sighed, as if he had a clear understanding of himself. “But thanks anyway. If I have time, I’ll try to work harder.”

“Okay, then you should manage it well. Are there any other questions you don’t understand?”

Gu Yu flipped forward a few pages. “Nothing else in the back. The difficult questions in the last few assignments weren’t that many. I can handle most of them.”

After hearing this, Luo Ming sat up straight. The midday sun climbed onto the table and covered her face, bathing her in a golden light. She looked like a noble, pure saint, untouchable.

“Then I’ll head out. If you need anything next time, you can tell me directly.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Luo Ming stood to leave. Gu Yu looked at the kitchen. There were ingredients piled on the floor that he had bought on sale a few days ago; they wouldn’t stay fresh if left much longer.

But it was truly a bit shabby… After thinking for a few seconds, out of the politeness of a host, Gu Yu asked anyway.

“It’s almost noon. Why don’t you have lunch first?”