Heart Flutter

Chapter 40

Tang Yan continued attending her classes as usual. After military training ended, college life suddenly sped up, rushing her onto the stage of adulthood. She found herself, like the older students, clutching textbooks as she hurried between each teaching building, trying to make it to the next class in the brief 15–20 minutes between periods. During those breaks, every path on campus was filled with people hustling to their next destination.

The university was large, and aside from professional courses held at the School of Computer Science, each general class had its own building. Going back and forth inevitably involved a lot of running around. By the end of the first day, Tang Yan’s mind was in a fog. She still had not figured out the locations of each building. She knew she would need more time to familiarize herself, to practice, and to walk these routes a few more times before she could navigate them with ease.

“Hey, our class is having a get-together. Are you coming?” asked Xia Zihan. She was sitting on a stool, small mirror in one hand and a compact in the other, lightly patting powder onto her face.

Tang Yan had just changed into a loose tracksuit in the dorm, tying her hair back into a neat ponytail. She propped her left foot on the stool leg to tie her shoelaces. “No, I am not going. Have fun, though.”

“If you keep this up, you might drift apart from your classmates, you know. This is the best chance for everyone to get to know each other,” Xia Zihan pointed out.

“It will be fine.” Tang Yan tightened her sneakers and stood up. “I have to go now.”

Watching her head for the door, Xia Zihan quickly called out, “Where are you off to?”

“The club.” Tang Yan tossed back those two words and disappeared before anyone could say more.

A moment later, another roommate poked her head out of the bathroom door and could not help commenting, “Do you think Tang Yan is a bit antisocial?”

Xia Zihan shrugged, not particularly bothered. “I think she is okay. Everyone has their own way of living, and some people just do not like noisy gatherings.”

Tang Yan’s club met in an older part of the library building that housed many well-known university clubs. Within that space, they had a dedicated room for activities. Tang Yan had passed by earlier on her way to class and remembered where it was, so she found it without much difficulty.

The club door stood open, so she entered cautiously. There was a second-year student inside on duty, a female senior responsible for signing people in and locking up at night.

“Hey, are you in our club?” the senior asked on instinct.

“Yes, I am,” Tang Yan replied promptly. When the senior pulled out the roster, Tang Yan quickly gave her name. “My name is Tang Yan, freshman in Computer Science, Class of 19.”

“Oh, that explains why I did not recognize you. You are a new member. We do not have any group activities today. Are you here to train on your own?”

Tang Yan nodded. “Yes, I wanted to get in some practice.”

“Got it. Please just sign in on this sheet,” the senior said, handing over a logbook.

Tang Yan wrote down her name and the time as instructed.

There were not many people around that day. In fact, aside from Tang Yan, she only saw two rather short guys practicing together. The large, open space contained various types of fitness equipment the club had pooled funds to purchase.

Tang Yan had very clear goals for her four years of college: to master her major and to build a stronger body. She no longer wanted people to look down on her as weak and delicate. She refused to remain a frail girl who could only rely on others’ pity.

Conveniently, there happened to be a punching bag and gloves right in front of her, so she gave it a try. She realized after only a few hits that it took tremendous effort.

Meanwhile, the two boys who had been practicing walked toward the door and chatted briefly with the senior on duty as they left.

“Was that girl new? She is really going at it.”

“I was thinking about saying hi, but she looked a bit intense, so I thought I’d better not.”

“Oh, spare me. She probably would not even look your way. Quit blocking my view—off you go.”

Laughing and joking around, the two left.

A phone rang on the desk, and the senior answered it with a bright smile. “Vice President, everything is fine here. Yes, there is a new student inside, seems to be practicing boxing. Her name? Let me check… Tang Yan, from the Computer Science Department. Alright, bye.”

Inside her own mind, Tang Yan again recalled the threatening messages her cousin had sent her the previous night. The more she thought about them, the angrier she became, so she funneled all that anger into her fists and hit the bag hard. The sense of release was exhilarating. Although she had never received any formal training, she had seen enough on TV to emulate some basic moves, punching away until she was drenched in sweat. The pent-up frustration in her heart gradually dissipated.

She did not know how much time passed before a voice called out behind her, “Why are you boxing here all by yourself?”

Tang Yan jumped and spun around in a fluster. “Se… Senior… Sorry, Vice President.”

Shen Yuyin strolled over, smiling. “Just call me ‘Senior.’ There are no strict formalities with me.”

“In a couple of days, our club is going to hold an event where senior members teach new members the basics. But it looks like you could not wait. Since we happen to run into each other today, why do I not teach you a few moves first?”

“Sure!” Tang Yan immediately tried to calm her excitement, replying more evenly. “That would be great.”

Eyeing Tang Yan’s outfit, Shen Yuyin gently reminded her, “That set of clothes is not regulation. You know we gave everyone a club uniform, right?”

“I only planned to come practice alone today, so I did not wear it.”

“It is fine; I am not that strict. Any reasonable excuse works for me. I assume you have already looked up the basics of taekwondo?”

Tang Yan nodded. “Yes, I read about it online.”

“Alright, let us skip the small talk, then. I will show you some self-defense moves the club normally will not teach until later.”

Usually carefree—even a bit roguish—Senior Shen became a totally different person when she switched into instructor mode: professional and serious. She was clever, valued efficient use of time, and had a knack for reading people’s thoughts. She did not bother reteaching what the club would eventually cover. Instead, she showed Tang Yan only the moves she felt were truly practical.

Although Tang Yan was awkward with her movements, she was eager to work hard, repeating the drills over and over until she was drenched in sweat. Sometimes she stayed until just before the dorm curfew, training relentlessly.

On Thursday afternoon, Tang Yan and the other new recruits learned several basic kicks together. Everyone’s enthusiasm ran high, and the overall learning atmosphere was great. Around eight in the evening, they finished training and left the club one by one. Tang Yan, whose body ached from the recent intensity, walked slowly and carefully, her muscles protesting with every step.

The streetlamps along the main campus road glowed with a dim yellow light, not especially bright. Leaves rustled in the autumn breeze. Tang Yan checked the time on her phone, slipped it back into her bag, and looked up to see a shadowy figure coming toward her. She stopped, squinting to make out the person’s face as it became clearer.

It was Tang Yawen.

Her nerves instantly went on high alert. She took two steps back, panic flashing across her features. Why was he here? How could he possibly be here?

Clutching her bag tightly, Tang Yan turned to leave, but he shouted, “Where do you think you are going, you brat?!”

Her teeth clenched so hard that she could hear them grind. She balled her hands into fists, her anger barely in check as she faced him head-on. “What do you want?”

Tang Yawen smirked and moved closer. “You came to Hua Du for school, started seeing more of the world, and now your heart has flown away, is that it? You see me and do not even call me ‘brother’?”

Tang Yan tried to steady her emotions and speak calmly. “I need to get back to the dorm. If there is anything to say, let us talk tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” He laughed coldly. “Did you think I do not know what tricks you are pulling? I have realized your wings have gotten pretty strong now. Did somebody get your back? Is that why you think you can defy me?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Tang Yan said flatly.

He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and sneered, “I know a lot of college girls these days sell themselves for money, all prim and proper on the outside but sneaking around doing dirty deals.”

“Enough, Tang Yawen!” Tang Yan finally lost her temper and shouted at him. Her eyes were red with fury. For the first time in years, she dared to raise her voice at him like this.

He was astonished for a split second, then his anger rose sharply. “So that meek little rabbit act at home was all fake, huh? Today, I am going to teach you a proper lesson. Let you know what it means to respect your elders!”

He lunged and took a swing at her, and she raised her arm to block. They grappled. At first, she managed to use the moves her senior had taught her. However, there was still a wide gap in physical strength, and she began to falter.

Suddenly, a hand and then a foot appeared from nowhere. In just a few swift moves, they knocked Tang Yawen to the ground, pinning him there.

“S… Senior…” Tang Yan was stunned.

Cool as ever, Shen Yuyin scoffed, “You saw those moves, right? This is the way to subdue someone.”

Pinned to the pavement, Tang Yawen roared, “Tang Yan, so you got someone else to help you beat up your own brother? You ungrateful brat!” He yelled at the top of his lungs as if hoping passersby would hear.

With a quick stomp to his chest, Shen Yuyin snapped, “Try shouting again and see what happens.”

He shrank back but continued muttering curses under his breath, spewing vulgar words and insults directed at Tang Yan and her ancestors.

“What a piece of trash. Is this guy some relative of yours?” Shen Yuyin asked.

Tang Yan hugged her arms to her chest, still trembling, and spoke coldly. “I do not know him.”

In the next moment, Shen Yuyin kicked him aside. “Get lost, and do not ever let me catch you lurking around here again.”

Tang Yawen scrambled to his feet, shouting while he staggered away, “I am not letting you off that easily! Just you wait!”

Rolling her eyes, Shen Yuyin turned back to Tang Yan, wanting to comfort her. “Are you alright?”

Tang Yan was still shaky and jerked away instinctively when Shen Yuyin tried to touch her shoulder. She clutched at her own chest, stammering, “I… I am fine. Thank you, Senior.”

Then she spun around and bolted, running as fast as she could. All her painful childhood memories came flooding back, tears stinging her eyes in the wind. She bit down hard on her lip and held onto a single unwavering thought:

I had to become stronger. I had to grow powerful enough that nobody could ever hurt me again.