Chapter 45: Shangxie and the Thorn Bird

That year, she was in her youth, her talent renowned across the world. It was also that year when a man entered her life.

They met in a small studio at the school. He was her art instructor, a professor at the university.

From the first sight of him, she felt this man was different. His eyes were full of the weariness of having seen through worldly glory; being with him, she felt safe.

The first lesson the man gave her was drawing a small bird without feet.

The man said, this small bird is called the Thorn Bird, a bird that can soar through the forest. It has no feet, no home; it spends its life freely, only able to glide in the wind, drifting everywhere, and when tired it can only rest in dreams. Its body can touch the ground only once, and that moment is the end of its life.

This was the first lesson the man gave her; she etched it forever in her heart. At the same time, the man left an indelible mark in her heart. She was deeply impressed by his talent, longing to stay by his side, hoping to see him at all times.

Later, she fell in love, the object being this man, her teacher. Although she knew he had a family and children, she still threw herself into his embrace without regard for anything, like a moth flying into fire, devoting everything to the man she loved most.

Taking the bell as token and Shangxie as oath, they agreed to never part in this life. He said he would treat her well for a lifetime; she believed it, and from then on, a generation of talented woman willingly became his third party, not hoping for a title from him, only wishing to stay together in this life, even if it meant living like a mouse in a dark dry well, never seeing daylight, unknown to the world. She was also willing.

But worldly good matches always meet obstacles; this second they swore eternal vows, the next second who could guarantee they wouldn't become strangers? On a rainy night, the man wrote her a letter. In the letter, the man had a fatal illness; the doctor said he would not live a month. So the man wanted to travel, to tread every corner of the mountains and rivers in his limited time, letting his body follow his footsteps and quietly return to nature.

This was a suicide note, also a wordless letter of severing affection. That night she wept until her heart felt torn apart; she could not believe the man would just leave her like that. His coldness only made her love deeper. She conceived a thought no one could understand: she wanted to die, to go with him to the underworld.

In this life, loving you, yet destined not to continue our affection. After death, I am willing to be a pair of lonely souls with you.

That same evening, she went to the art building where she first met him; before dying, she wrote a blood letter, carrying it she went to the roof of the art building and leapt down.

Along with her jump came a blood‑stained handkerchief, inscribed:

Shangxie,

I wish to know you,

May our lives know no end.

May mountains have no ridges,

May rivers run dry,

May winter thunder rumble,

May summer rain snow,

May heaven and earth unite,

Then I dare to sever ties with you.

This was the oath they set when they fell in love; now that the man has gone, she also wholeheartedly follows him.

But she did not know that a suicide's ghost cannot be reborn, only wandering in the place of unjust death. Month after month, day after day, she wandered around the small building, yet never saw the man's ghost.

Until one day, a girl appeared, making her feel genuine anger.

This girl sat in the seat right before her and even stole her bell.

She grew angry; this was the love token the man gave her, which she forgot to take when dying, leaving it in the studio where she first met him.

When the girl put her bell into her pocket, she emerged from the darkness, chased after the girl, wanting her bell back.

The girl was chased downstairs by her, hit a pillar and fainted. But she forgot she was a ghost; even if the bell lay there, she could not take it.

Thus she could only leave unwillingly. Until the next night, two men returned to the studio, one of them still holding her bell in his hand.

These two men are undoubtedly me and Pangzi. The two main characters in the story are Gan Su Xin and Su Zhiyuan.

After she finished telling all the story, everything became clear. Meng Xue must have seen her bell while drawing, thought it pretty, and took it. When she chased Meng Xue to get the bell back, Meng Xue was frightened and hit the pillar, fainting.

The second night, I and Pangzi returned to the studio, wanting to vent for Meng Xue. While downstairs, I picked up the bell again. I finally understand why I and Pangzi waited in the studio so long and she never appeared, yet as soon as the bell rang she showed up. It turns out the bell is that important to her.

"Sniff… really moving, senior sister you're so foolish." After the whole story was told, Pangzi also became a tearful person.

"Asking the world what love is, that directly teaches life and death to be pledged, travelers flying together from south to north, old wings how many times have known cold and heat…" Shen Yuan Ning, inspired by the scene, actually… recited the Yan Qiu Ci as if no one else were there.

To be frank, after hearing Gan Su Xin's story, I also felt uneasy, even sympathized with her, thought her foolish, and I could not even understand how deep her love for Su Zhiyuan was, leading her to make the decision to die for love.

I admire her unwavering affection unto death, but I do not approve of her actions. Her parents gave her life; has she repaid them? Now for a man she forgets her parents' kindness. She willingly gave up her life. Has she considered how sorrowful it is for white‑haired parents to send off black‑haired children? She is deep in feeling, yet selfish; she recklessly tramples her own life, yet does not consider the feelings of her friends and family, causing everyone to suffer grief because of her sorrow. Her fault outweighs her love for Su Zhiyuan.

Of course, the dead are gone; I can only keep these words forever hidden, never to use them to provoke her.

But now I have a greater doubt in my heart.

She clearly said Su Zhiyuan left her a letter, in which he suffered a fatal illness. Yet I and Pangzi only recently saw this Su Zhiyuan—no sickness, no pain, vigorous as a dragon, in perfect health—how could he be a terminal patient?

To uncover the truth, I and Pangzi decided to bring Gan Su Xin to ask Su Zhiyuan for clarification. Whether we mistook the person or there is some hidden matter, if we do not go, Gan Su Xin will never give up.

But we do not know where Su Zhiyuan lives; how can we bring Gan Su Qin to find him?

Just when everyone was in a dilemma, I suggested to Pangzi that he ask that older sister Jingjing for a casual excuse to obtain Su Zhiyuan's address.

Naturally, Pangzi was delighted, he clumsily picked up the phone and called Silijing. The process went smoothly, with no obstacles, and we obtained Su Zhiyuan's address.

After knowing Su Zhiyuan's address, I and Pangzi put Gan Su Xin into an umbrella.

With him, we went to the place where Su Zhiyuan lives.

…………

"Is this the place, Pangzi?"

Before us stood three apartment blocks, but I did not know exactly which one.

Pangzi lowered his head to look at the noted address, nodded and said, "This is it, no mistake."

Then, I and Pangzi went to Su Zhiyuan's front door according to the address on the paper.

Su Zhiyuan's home is in one of the three blocks, on the fourth floor.

We knocked on the door; the one who opened was a middle‑aged man wearing glasses.

This middle‑aged man is exactly the art instructor from the school, the Su Zhiyuan we know. But we cannot be sure whether he is the one Gan Su Xin knew.

"What do you want from me?" Su Zhiyuan asked after opening the door; evidently he still had some impression of us two.

Pangzi was about to open the umbrella when I pressed it down with my hand. I gave him a look; we still could not confirm whether Gan Su Xin knew this Su Zhiyuan, so we could not rashly open the umbrella.

I feigned a laugh and said, "Professor Su, we are here to ask you some questions about painting."

Only then did Su Zhiyuan open the door and welcome us in.

While Su Zhiyuan went to make tea, I carefully observed his room. The place is not large, yet quite poetic. The walls hung several oil paintings, all signed by Su Zhiyuan.

I do not understand painting, but I think his work is truly good.

On a table, I saw a photo; the photo had Su Zhiyuan, plus another woman and a child. The woman looked a bit plump, even somewhat ugly. But the three people in the photo were smiling brightly; from the photo it seems like a family portrait of three.

"Come, come, try my brewed Iron Goddess, fragrant and pleasant." Su Zhiyuan walked out of the kitchen and handed me and Pangzi two cups of tea.

After we three sat down, Su Zhiyuan asked us

"What problems have you encountered in your drawing? Feel free to speak up, let's see…"

"I don't know if Teacher Su knows this person Gan Su Xin?" As soon as we sat down, I directly interrupted Su Zhiyuan's words, catching him off guard.

When I said those words, Su Zhiyuan's expression changed; it had been a gentle March sky, but instantly turned into a gloomy May downpour.

"I don't know what you're talking about? I also don't know any Su Xin or not Su Xin. If you're not here to discuss something related to painting with me, then please leave immediately, don't stay here,"

After saying that, he immediately stood up, preparing to drive us out.

Seeing his nervous expression, I knew he definitely had something on his mind.

I smiled, calmly saying, "Teacher Su doesn't want to see us; then I wonder if Teacher Su wants to see this 'person'?"

After saying that, I opened the umbrella and released Gan Su Xin's ghost from inside.

"Ah……you……you, ……you, this is impossible." Su Zhiyuan fell to the ground in terror, his expression panicked.