Remembering Li Chuan: Chapter 3
Since Remembering Li Chuan is a memoir of sorts, it's actually made up of interwoven flashbacks, which can sometimes be hard to follow when translating chapter by chapter, and for that I apologize. This chapter, as it happens, is a short flashback... easy for me, more painful for you ^_^;;
3
He looked for a free parking space, parked, and then got out with me: “If you don’t mind it too much, can I walk you to your dorm? It’s pretty late at night, and I fear it’s pretty late.”If anyone else had ever uttered such a thing, I would have suspected them of being artificially attentive, but when he says it, it sounds perfectly normal, perfectly confident and perfectly gentlemanly
“No need, no need! Honestly” I’ve never been on the receiving end of such attentiveness. I feel extremely flattered, , and I playfully made shooing motions at him.
“You know, if I am the one whose driven you uptil here here. Now if you suddenly disappeared while walking to your dorm, from a investigative perspective, I would be the prime suspect.”
I look at him and silently laugh.
After a few steps, he spoke again: “I walk a bit slower than average, do you mind terribly? If you take of running, I’ll lose track of you immediately, especially since this avenue is really dark, and lined with large trees on both sides. And I’d definitely rather that you accompany me down it, walking with some patience.”
I mentally wondered “Why the hell is he always so polite?”
Out loud, I said “Of course I don’t mind.”
His walk isn’t all that slow as he makes it out to be, it’s just not as fast as a normal person who would walk down a dark road.
“Did you attend this university?” I asked.
“No, I haven’t.”
“But you’ve definitely attended a university?” I went on.
“Why do you say so? Do I look extremely knowledgeable?”
“Hmm… it’s not that, exactly. It’s more that your English is really good.”
“I studied overseas.”
“Ah. Then why did you come back? As far as I know, there are many people here who want to go abroad, but can’t.”
“Then I suppose I am amongst the ones who don’t.”
I have many questions that I want to ask him, but they’re all inappropriate for someone I’ve met only once before. Therefore I restrain my curiosity.
I wished that the avenue, and the walk, would never end. And as big a pity as it was, it eventually did.
“Thank you for walking me to my dorm.” My gratitude as I thanked him was especially sincere.
“Good night.”He said softly.
He watched me until I entered through the front door, then turned around to depart. I knew that he would have to walk for at least half an hour to get to the front gate.
I had a sudden strong impulse to accompany him back, but once again, I restrained myself.
[Comments:]
So so so?? What do you all think? C'mon, I needs someone to spazz with~
3
He looked for a free parking space, parked, and then got out with me: “If you don’t mind it too much, can I walk you to your dorm? It’s pretty late at night, and I fear it’s pretty late.”If anyone else had ever uttered such a thing, I would have suspected them of being artificially attentive, but when he says it, it sounds perfectly normal, perfectly confident and perfectly gentlemanly
“No need, no need! Honestly” I’ve never been on the receiving end of such attentiveness. I feel extremely flattered, , and I playfully made shooing motions at him.
“You know, if I am the one whose driven you uptil here here. Now if you suddenly disappeared while walking to your dorm, from a investigative perspective, I would be the prime suspect.”
I look at him and silently laugh.
After a few steps, he spoke again: “I walk a bit slower than average, do you mind terribly? If you take of running, I’ll lose track of you immediately, especially since this avenue is really dark, and lined with large trees on both sides. And I’d definitely rather that you accompany me down it, walking with some patience.”
I mentally wondered “Why the hell is he always so polite?”
Out loud, I said “Of course I don’t mind.”
His walk isn’t all that slow as he makes it out to be, it’s just not as fast as a normal person who would walk down a dark road.
“Did you attend this university?” I asked.
“No, I haven’t.”
“But you’ve definitely attended a university?” I went on.
“Why do you say so? Do I look extremely knowledgeable?”
“Hmm… it’s not that, exactly. It’s more that your English is really good.”
“I studied overseas.”
“Ah. Then why did you come back? As far as I know, there are many people here who want to go abroad, but can’t.”
“Then I suppose I am amongst the ones who don’t.”
I have many questions that I want to ask him, but they’re all inappropriate for someone I’ve met only once before. Therefore I restrain my curiosity.
I wished that the avenue, and the walk, would never end. And as big a pity as it was, it eventually did.
“Thank you for walking me to my dorm.” My gratitude as I thanked him was especially sincere.
“Good night.”He said softly.
He watched me until I entered through the front door, then turned around to depart. I knew that he would have to walk for at least half an hour to get to the front gate.
I had a sudden strong impulse to accompany him back, but once again, I restrained myself.
[Comments:]
So so so?? What do you all think? C'mon, I needs someone to spazz with~