Epilogue
In a parallel universe, we met, fell in love, and stayed together.
Going into senior year, my parents strictly banned electronic devices.
I cried my eyes out. That meant losing contact with my online boyfriend Song Nanzhou for a whole year.
I called him, sobbing. “My mom says no electronics for senior year. What do I do? I’ll miss you so much.”
Song Nanzhou said, “Cheng Zhi, come to my university.”
He sent me the name. I looked—damn, a 985.
“If I get in, my family tree will start a new chapter with me.”
The hope felt tiny. Whimpering.
How much self-control would I need to raise my score a hundred points in one year to reach a 985?
“Cheng Zhi, I want you here.”
Song Nanzhou didn’t sound like he was joking. His words had this strange pull that made me really want to say yes.
But I brushed it off. I didn’t want to make a promise I might not keep.
The day before senior year started,
Song Nanzhou said a lot—that it was okay if I couldn’t, we could do long-distance…
Until the last line.
Cheng Zhi, I’ll wait for you at Fudan University.
I didn’t reply.
2.
Senior year was endless dry textbooks and complicated math. My emotions spiraled.
After midterms, the bad scores made me break down crying.
I couldn’t hold back. I used the phone at the school gate shop to call the number I knew by heart.
“Hello.” Song Nanzhou’s cool voice came through.
“Song Nanzhou.” The tears I’d just stopped burst out again.
“What’s wrong?” His voice softened.
“It’s so hard… so much to memorize… math is impossible. When I tell my parents, they say I’m not paying attention, that I’m stupid.”
I sniffled, wiping tears after every sentence. Classmates nearby gave me weird looks.
“It’s okay. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. If you’re tired today, don’t study. Start again tomorrow. Little Orange isn’t stupid at all…”
His gentle comfort calmed me bit by bit. Finally I said,
“Song Nanzhou, wait for me at Fudan University.”
“Okay. I’ll wait.”