章节六

方茴说，她是陈寻的所有红颜中最不像红颜的一位。

Fang Hui said she was the least like a romantic interest among Chen Xun's many beautiful friends.

如果非说个形容词，她充其量算是清秀可人。

If one had to use an adjective, she was at best delicate and pleasant.

我很明白，一般清秀可人都是礼貌性的夸奖。

I understood very well that "delicate and pleasant" is typically a polite compliment.

这句话的潜台词就是，这姑娘不漂亮，一般人，很一般的那种。

The underlying message of this phrase is that this girl is not beautiful, just average, quite ordinary.

当然，我觉得她这么说比较谦虚。

Of course, I think her humility in saying this is commendable.

方茴虽然不是明眸皓齿的美人，但是很有味儿。

Although Fang Hui is not a stunning beauty with bright eyes and pearly teeth, she has her own charm.

不过我觉得她的这种美丽多是源于她的过往，那些情感沉淀下来，自然而然的在她身上产生了幻化。

However, I believe her beauty mostly stems from her past; those emotional experiences have naturally transformed her over time.

我没见过她十几岁的样子，不知道在没经历这场恋爱之前，她是不是也这么别致。

I have not seen her as a teenager, so I don't know whether she was unique even before experiencing this romantic relationship.

而陈寻呢，据我分析就是一命犯桃花，祸水红颜的主儿。

As for Chen Xun, I analyze him as someone who is destined to encounter romantic troubles, a classic case of a charming disaster.

那时候北京的每个高中都可能会有这么个人，长得帅，个高，打球好，有点小聪明，你说什么他都知道，有的学习还不赖。

At that time, in every high school in Beijing, there could always be such a person: good-looking, tall, good at basketball, a bit clever, seemingly knowledgeable about everything, and not bad at studying.

他们为女同学提供梦想的空间，为男同学提供不错的玩伴。

They provide a space for female classmates to dream and good companionship for male classmates.

总之，就是危害人间来了。

In short, he is a danger to society.

陈寻的初恋就是方茴这么一个相貌平平的姑娘，方茴自嘲说以至于后来人们都会以一种奇怪的口气问：“啊？她就是方茴？”

Chen Xun's first love happened to be a rather plain girl named Fang Hui, who jokingly said that later on people would ask in a strange tone, "Oh? She is Fang Hui?"

但我想这种事都是没道理的，如果真琢磨出因果来，那不是看破红尘，就是命不久已了。

But I believe such things do not have a rationale; if one really figured out the cause and effect, that would mean either enlightenment or a short life.

反正，方茴是陈寻爱过的女人，虽然这么说有点酸，但是结合我的切身感受，我认为他的确深深的爱过。

In any case, Fang Hui was a woman Chen Xun had loved, and even though it sounds a bit bitter, based on my own experiences, I believe he did love deeply.

他们两人的名字第一次被联系在一起，是在90年代末北京晚报某版下面的一角公告上。

The first time their names were linked together was in a small announcement at the bottom corner of a certain page in the Beijing Evening News at the end of the 90s.

当时北京有名或有钱的高中通常会在报纸上刊登中考入榜学生名单。

At that time, well-known or wealthy high schools in Beijing would usually publish the names of students who did well in the high school entrance examinations in the newspaper.

他们都被F中录取，名字上下一排。

They were both admitted to F School, their names aligned in a row.

继而，他们同时分在高一（1）班，真正彼此面对面的时候，大概15、6岁。

Subsequently, they were placed in the first class of their first year of high school, and they faced each other for the first time, probably around the age of 15 or 16.

最先开始，陈寻根本没注意过班里还有这么一个人。

Initially, Chen Xun hardly noticed that there was such a person in his class.

方茴太默默无闻了，属于那种她就是不来上课，也只有班主任和考勤员知道的人。

Fang Hui was too inconspicuous, the kind of student whose absence from class would only be known by the homeroom teacher and the attendance clerk.

陈寻是本校直升上来的，因为成绩突出而且有过干部经验，所以被年级主任钦点当了班长。

Chen Xun progressed directly from junior high to high school and, due to his outstanding grades and some experience as a school leader, was appointed by the grade director as the class monitor.

那会他正是前有老师垂青，后有同学追捧，左右逢源的时候。所以他没空观察这种女生。

At that time, he was in a position where teachers favored him, and fellow students adored him, making it impossible for him to pay attention to such a girl.

陈寻之所以注意方茴还是因为好朋友赵烨和乔燃。

Chen Xun only took notice of Fang Hui because of his good friends Zhao Ye and Qiao Ran.

赵烨是班里的篮球特长生，1米9几的个儿，头发有点自来卷，长得跟樱木花道似的，一口白牙，笑起来特灿烂。

Zhao Ye was the basketball star of the class, standing at nearly 1.9 meters, with slightly curly hair, looking a bit like Sakuragi Hanamichi, and flashing a brilliant smile with bright white teeth.

按陈寻的话说，他不应该打篮球，应该去拍高露洁广告，那就不用每年都敲不同品种的贝壳了，可以随着他的成长直接往他牙上敲，效果一目了然，比贝壳真实可信多了。

In Chen Xun's words, he shouldn't play basketball; he should audition for Colgate commercials so he wouldn’t have to knock various types of shells every year, and could just knock them directly onto his own teeth as he grows, making the effect evident, way more convincing than shells.

乔燃是个文质彬彬的男孩，任班里的生活委员兼考勤员，这是当初开学的时候陈寻向班主任推荐的。

Qiao Ran was a refined boy, the life committee member and attendance clerk of the class, a position Chen Xun had recommended him for at the start of the term.

他细心又安静，在男生女生里人缘都好。而且，陈寻认为，在班里，赵烨绝对是帮不上忙的，所有兄弟中，只有乔燃还靠点谱。

He was thoughtful and quiet, well-liked among both boys and girls. Moreover, Chen Xun believed that Zhao Ye wouldn't be of much help, while only Qiao Ran could truly be relied upon among all the friends.

陈寻，赵烨，乔燃三人个都高，一字排开，坐最后一排，上课的时候经常说话，搞小动作什么的。

The three of them—Chen Xun, Zhao Ye, and Qiao Ran—were all tall, sitting in the last row, often chatting and causing small disruptions during class.

那天上课，老师点名叫方茴回答问题，赵烨捅捅陈寻说：“嘿，你和这女生说过话么？”

One day during class, the teacher called Fang Hui to answer a question, and Zhao Ye poked Chen Xun, saying, "Hey, have you ever talked to this girl?"

陈寻抬头看了看，说：“好像没有，记不清楚了。”

Chen Xun looked up and said, "It seems I haven't, I can't remember."

“你呢？你呢？说过么？”赵烨又问乔燃。

"And you? Have you talked to her?" Zhao Ye asked Qiao Ran again.

“说过吧，前几天和她们组一起做过扫除，怎么了？”乔燃说。

"I think so. A few days ago, we worked together with her group for clean-up duty. Why?" Qiao Ran replied.

“特绝！开学1个月了，咱们班女生就她没跟我说过话！”赵烨说。

"That's amazing! It's been a month since school started, and she’s the only girl in our class who hasn't talked to me!" Zhao Ye exclaimed.

“哦，是吗？”陈寻扫了方茴一圈，这个女孩他也仅仅有一点模糊的印象。

"Oh, really?" Chen Xun scanned Fang Hui with his eyes, and he only had a vague impression of this girl.

那次是他第一次仔细看她，然而也只看清楚了她瘦削的背影。

That was the first time he seriously looked at her, and yet all he could see was her slender back.

我们的高中时代，北京还没扩展得这么大，北四环是一片村庄土路，三环边上算住的远的。

During our high school days, Beijing hadn’t expanded as it has now; the North Fourth Ring was still a rural area with dirt roads, and living on the Third Ring was considered quite far.

而且那会生活水平也没现在这么高，私家车是极少数家庭才拥有的奢侈品。

At that time, the standard of living wasn’t as high as it is now, with private cars being a luxury only a small number of families could afford.

所以不会一到放学时间，校门口就围满了车，等着接孩子。

So, when school let out, you wouldn’t see a crowd of cars outside waiting to pick up children.

基本上，大家都结伴骑车或者坐车上下学，学校里有自行车棚，按班级划定区域，每天有人值日负责码车，统一存放。

Basically, everyone rode bikes or took public transport to school, and there were bike racks at school divided by class, where students took turns maintaining order and storing the bikes.

放学取车的时候，方茴的自行车正好放在赵烨和陈寻中间，她看见两个高大的男生站在那就没凑过来。

When school ended, Fang Hui’s bicycle happened to be placed between Zhao Ye and Chen Xun; seeing the two tall boys standing there, she didn't come over.

赵烨却很热情，他推开陈寻，主动错开了一块地，露出他的白牙，使劲笑了笑说：“方茴，你先取吧。”

However, Zhao Ye was very friendly. He pushed Chen Xun aside, creating some space, flashed his white teeth, and said with a big smile, "Fang Hui, you can go first."

方茴诧异的看了看他，轻声说：“谢谢。”

Fang Hui looked at him in surprise and softly said, "Thank you."

“来来，我帮你。”方茴刚开完锁，赵烨就冲了上来，还没等她说话，把她的捷安特推了出来。

"Come on, let me help you." As soon as Fang Hui unlocked her bike, Zhao Ye rushed over and, before she could say anything, pushed her Giant bicycle out.

“麻烦你了。”方茴很客气，客气的显示出了距离感。

"Thanks for your help." Fang Hui was very polite, her politeness showing a sense of distance.

可是赵烨仿佛没想客气，他问：“方茴，你家住哪啊？”

But Zhao Ye seemed unfazed by the politeness; he asked, "Fang Hui, where do you live?"

“双安。”

"Shuang'an."

“这么远啊！出校门往东骑吧？我家住德外！咱俩顺路！”赵烨惊喜的说。

"That's so far! You should ride east out of school, right? I live in Dewai! We’re on the way!" Zhao Ye said excitedly.

陈寻狠狠的瞪了他一眼，心里想你们家什么时候跑德外去了？明明在朝外！整个一南辕北辙！

Chen Xun shot him a fierce glare, thinking to himself, when did your family move to Dewai? It’s clearly in Chaowai! Totally in the wrong direction!

“哦。”方茴好像没受启发，仍旧平淡。

"Oh." Fang Hui seemed unfazed, remaining quite indifferent.

陈寻歹毒的笑了笑，偷偷竖起了中指。

Chen Xun sneered secretly, giving a subtle gesture of disapproval.

他暗想赵烨，你小子折了吧？人家不吃那套！

He thought, Zhao Ye, are you out of your mind? She’s clearly not interested!

不过他也瞄了方茴一眼，总体说来赵烨不惹人讨厌，也算半个帅哥，一般这时候，女孩都应该可爱点，说“是吗？好巧！”或者笑笑说“竟然顺路呢！”什么的，可她呢，就“哦”了一声，躲躲闪闪的，像是被惊吓的小猫，明显的不自在。

Yet he also glanced at Fang Hui; generally speaking, Zhao Ye wasn’t unlikable and could be considered a semi-handsome guy. Normally at this point, a girl would be a bit charming, saying something like, "Really? What a coincidence!" or laughingly adding, "What a coincidence that we're on the way!" But she just said, "Oh," and was evasive, like a frightened little cat, clearly uncomfortable.

“咱们……一块回家吧？行吗？”赵烨明显受挫，说话都没底气了。

"Wanna... go home together? Is that okay?" Zhao Ye seemed clearly frustrated, lacking confidence in his voice.

“那……好吧。”方茴犹豫了一下，点点头说。

"Well... okay." Fang Hui hesitated for a moment and nodded.

赵烨如释重负，忙推着车赶了过去，临走之前还挑衅的冲陈寻挤眉弄眼了一番。

Zhao Ye was visibly relieved and hurried to push his bike over, throwing a playful wink at Chen Xun before leaving.

陈寻望着他们的背影，确切的说是望着方茴的背影，发了会呆。

Chen Xun watched their retreating figures, or rather, watched Fang Hui's back, and was lost in thought for a while.

他突然发现，在这个过程中，方茴一句话都没跟他说，甚至没抬头看他一眼。

He suddenly realized that throughout this whole process, Fang Hui hadn’t said a word to him, not even glancing at him.