The Missing Piece: 貌合神离
Extra Story 7: The Past
“Shen Mo! Shen Mo!”
A-Wen, Shen Mo’s roommate, stood beside the bunk bed and called Shen Mo’s name again and again.
Shen Mo poked his head out of the blanket, glancing at the time on his phone. It was only half past nine.
“I haven’t got any classes today. Why are you waking me up so early?”
Below him, A-Wen laughed sheepishly. “I know you don’t have class today. That’s why I wanted to ask you for a favour.”
Shen Mo sat up, his short hair dishevelled.
He asked, “What is it?”
“Our department will be holding a lecture right this afternoon. Could you attend it for me?”
“Hey, you study economics, and I study art. Do you think I can attend it for you?”
“Just show up and take some notes for me. It’ll be really easy. Do you know who’s invited for the lecture? A young entrepreneur, a successful man who has shown up many times in finance magazines—my idol.”
“Then why aren’t you going on your own?”
“I’d definitely go if I could, but I have a test, you see?” A-Wen put his hands together, pleading cheekily, “Shen Mo, please, please. I’ll treat you to a big meal tonight.”
Shen Mo was good-tempered, a nice guy acknowledged by everyone. He’d always found it difficult to turn down others’ requests, and this time was no different.
He rubbed his hair and sighed. “Alright. Send me the time and place.”
A-Wen cheered. After thanking Shen Mo, he hurried off to study for the test.
Now that Shen Mo had been woken up anyway, he didn’t go back to sleep. He got out of bed and went to the bathroom.
After he washed himself and came out, there were already two new messages on his phone. One was the time and place of the afternoon lecture; the other was from Zhou Yang, inviting him to have lunch together.
Zhou Yang had been Shen Mo’s high school classmate. The two had the same interests and both loved painting. But while Shen Mo was studying art at university, Zhou Yang was studying financial management under his family's pressure. Even so, they were still close friends who talked about just anything, and they’d agreed on going abroad to study art after they graduated.
Zhou Yang had gone home last week. They hadn’t seen each other in several days by now, so the two of them went to a small restaurant off campus and ordered a few dishes.
Zhou Yang said as he ate, “You don’t have class this afternoon, do you? Let’s go watch a movie together?”
“I can’t this afternoon. I promised A-Wen from our dorm to attend a lecture for him.”
“Why does he always ask you to help him? You’re too soft-hearted.”
“We’re roommates after all. We should help each other.”
Zhou Yang could only shake his head.
Shen Mo asked, “What about you? Have you decided yet?”
“Decided what?”
“To study abroad with me, of course. You didn’t forget about it, did you?”
“Oh, that…” Zhou Yang paused, still holding his chopsticks. He seemed somewhat hesitant. “I’ll think about it some more.”
Shen Mo knew Zhou Yang too well.
Observing Zhou Yang, he guessed, “Are there any difficulties? Your parents disapprove?”
Zhou Yang’s family ran quite a big business, and Zhou Yang was an only child, too. His parents wanted him to take over the family business. They’d never approved of him studying art.
Zhou Yang frowned as if he had many things on his mind. “It’s okay. I’ll handle them.”
Seeing how Zhou Yang refused to say anything, Shen Mo said somewhat impulsively, “I’ve already been in contact with a company for my internship. If you’re not studying abroad, I’ll go get a job.”
Zhou Yang waved his hand. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll work something out. Let’s eat first.”
The atmosphere of the meal immediately dulled.
After the meal, the two parted ways in quite a bad mood. With this matter on his mind, Shen Mo strolled aimlessly around campus, and when his attention returned, it was already time for the lecture.
He quickly collected himself and hurried over. When he arrived, the economics department’s large classroom was already filled with people. Only the first row had a few seats left.
Shen Mo looked inside through the door, wondering if he should go in. The guest invited by the college was already standing at the podium. Shen Mo took a glance; the man at the podium was young indeed. He also looked handsome and had a charming air about him, making an impression on anyone who caught sight of him.
For a moment, Shen Mo’s mind wandered. He thought the man looked completely different from how he’d imagined a successful entrepreneur to look.
As he thought about it, he saw the man turn around and smile at him. “For how long are you planning to stand at the door?”
Right after the man spoke, Shen Mo became the room’s centre of attention.
“Sorry for being late…”
Shen Mo’s face flushed as he gathered up his courage and walked in. There weren’t many empty seats left in the classroom, though. Looking around, he could only take a seat in the first row.
As soon as Shen Mo sat down, the girl sitting next to him poked him in the shoulder with her pen.
“Yes?”
“This classroom has a back door.” Holding back giggles, the girl whispered, “You could’ve come in through the back door.”
Shen Mo gave an awkward smile, his cheeks burning even more as he cursed his roommate A-Wen in silence.
No other incidents occurred afterwards, but it was a bit too hard for Shen Mo to attend an economics lecture.
He listened for a long time and still felt confused, and he didn’t know how to take notes either. He could only jot down a few points to fulfil his promise.
After the lecture, A-Wen’s exam was also coming to an end. Keeping his word, he treated Shen Mo to a big meal. But when he saw Shen Mo’s notes, he couldn’t help but shake his head.
“Shen Mo, you really don’t have a talent for this, huh.”
“Of course not. I’m not an economics major.”
“What a shame,” A-Wen exclaimed, heartbroken. “I missed the chance to connect with my idol in person.”
Remembering the man at the podium, Shen Mo couldn’t help but ask, “Is he really successful?”
“Of course! He’s what I strive to be.”
Now that the subject had come to this, A-Wen started rambling on and on, praising the man nonstop, almost as if he were an alien that nobody on Earth could compare to.
Shen Mo didn’t want to upset A-Wen, but he still told the truth, “If he became so successful, he must’ve been born to a wealthy and influential family. You won’t be able to catch up to him no matter how hard you work.”
After a pause, A-Wen continued regardless, “I don’t care. He’s my idol anyway.”
“Right, what’s your idol’s name again?”
“You attended the whole lecture, and you don’t even remember his name?” A-Wen widened his eyes.
Shen Mo felt a little embarrassed. “I was late, okay? I missed the introduction in the beginning.”
A-Wen tossed Shen Mo a brochure. “See for yourself.”
Only then did Shen Mo find out the man’s name.
His name was Ji Mingxuan.