章节二

其实找找家里关系，安排个工作也不是什么太大的难事。

In fact, finding some connections at home to arrange a job isn't too difficult.

只是当时我高估了自己，所以压根没想走这条路。

But at that time, I overestimated myself and didn't even consider taking that path.

现在感觉到形势严峻，又不想凑合了事。

Now, feeling the situation is severe, I don't want to just make do.

于是我选择了出国留学。

So I chose to study abroad.

最近这几年确实很流行留学，留学回来身价就高了，先不管你之后是海归海待，总之带了个海字，比土特产就金贵点。

In recent years, studying abroad has indeed become very popular; coming back after studying abroad increases one's value. Regardless of whether you're a "sea turtle" or staying at home afterwards, just having that "sea" character is a bit more valuable than local specialties.

不过说实在的，出国留学不见得是多出息的事。

But to be honest, studying abroad isn’t necessarily a big deal.

家里有权的，孩子都当公务员了。

Families with power have children working as civil servants.

家里有钱的，孩子都直接继承家族产业了。

Families with wealth have children who inherit family businesses directly.

家里有权有钱的，孩子在我未知的想象不到的领域自由发展。

Families with both power and wealth allow their children to freely develop in fields I can't even imagine.

家里没钱没权的，孩子都考研了，如果不争气点就去服务大众了。

Families with neither money nor power have children taking postgraduate exams; if they're not good enough, they'll serve the public.

家里有点小钱小权的，不太缺孩子这份工资，又对未来有美好的设想，对未知的高级世界有憧憬的，就像我一样，飘洋过海了。

Families with a bit of money and power, who aren't particularly reliant on their child's salary, and have beautiful expectations for the future, yearning for the unknown higher world—end up like me, crossing oceans.

公平的愿望是美好的，现实的表现是残酷的。

The desire for fairness is beautiful, but reality is cruel.

我们很幼稚，但我们明白事理。

We are immature, but we understand reason.

后来我报了新东方，考了雅思，和同学吃了散伙饭，带上老爸老妈的血汗钱，收拾了大小行李箱，在鞋磕里装上黄连素和牛黄解毒丸，穿着羽绒服所有兜都塞的满满的，飞向了地球另一边。

Later, I enrolled in New Oriental, took the IELTS, had a farewell meal with my classmates, packed up all my luggage with my parents' hard-earned money, stuffed my pockets full with medicine like Huanglian Su and Niu Huang Jie Du Wan, and flew to the other side of the Earth in a down jacket.

那个时候我并不能看清未来，我想可能同代的我们都这样，从选文理科开始，一直到选专业留学，我觉得我没能掌握自己的人生，是人生在掌握我，他蒙着脸向我招手，我就懵懂的跟去。

At that time, I couldn’t see the future clearly. I think my peers were similar: from choosing between arts and sciences to picking majors for studying abroad, I felt that I hadn’t taken control of my life; instead, life was controlling me, beckoning me with a veiled face, and I blindly followed.

因为看不清他的表情，所以我不知道前方到底是劫是缘。

Since I couldn't see its expression, I didn't know if what lay ahead was disaster or fate.

初到澳洲的日子五味陈杂。

The days after arriving in Australia were mixed.

我迷过路，丢过包，最惨的时候每天吃三个面包却不想再伸手向家里要钱。

I got lost, lost my bag, and at my lowest point, I ate three loaves of bread a day without wanting to reach out to my family for money.

上课不敢开口说话，下课急匆匆的打工，站在明媚的阳光下仰望蓝天，看着现代都市看着不同种族的人悠闲走过，觉得自己很茫然，很悲哀……

I was afraid to speak in class, hurriedly worked after class, stood under the bright sun gazing at the blue sky, watching modern cities and people of different races strolling leisurely, feeling lost and sad...

现在回想那时，我也不会抱怨遗憾，至少我没趴下，没去骗别人的钱，没待在华人的圈子里沉沦，没被学校赶出去，没丢脸。

Now looking back at that time, I wouldn’t complain or regret; at least I didn’t collapse, didn’t cheat others out of their money, didn’t drown in the Chinese community, wasn’t expelled from school, and didn’t lose face.

有些矫情，但这也是一种PRIDE。

It sounds a bit pretentious, but it's also a kind of PRIDE.

也许长大就在一瞬之间。

Maybe growing up happens in an instant.

之所以认识方茴，是因为欢欢。

I got to know Fang Rui through Huan Huan.

欢欢是我女朋友，比我早一年到澳洲。

Huan Huan is my girlfriend, who arrived in Australia a year earlier than me.

其实留学生谈恋爱挺简单的，异国他乡好象就更需要人陪伴，所以爱情也顺理成章的速食，从认识到同居，我们总共花了28天的时间。

Actually, dating as a foreign student is quite straightforward; being in another country seems to require companionship even more, so love became a fast-food affair. From meeting to cohabitation, it took us just 28 days.

欢欢已经有了自己的朋友圈，我的生活随之丰富多彩了起来。

Huan Huan already had her circle of friends, which enriched my life.

那天我们和她几个朋友一起去钱柜唱歌，唱到半截的时候，又来了两个人。

That day, we went to a karaoke place with her friends. Halfway through the singing, two more people arrived.

“AIBA！你们怎么这么慢啊！”欢欢说。

“AIBA! Why are you so slow?” Huan Huan said.

“狗没拿伞！（日语，对不起的意思。）”那个叫AIBA的仿佛是日本人的女孩说，“塞车塞车！”

“Dog didn't bring an umbrella! (Japanese for "Sorry.")” A girl named AIBA who seemed to be Japanese replied, “Stuck in traffic!”

其实形容AIBA的这几个词当时我是拿不准的，因为她虽然头一句说的是很标准的日语，但后来的中国话也特别利索，还有，在她没张嘴之前，我还以为她是男孩呢！

Actually, I couldn't quite pin down how to describe AIBA at that moment, because although her first line was in very standard Japanese, her later Chinese was particularly fluent. Moreover, before she opened her mouth, I thought she was a boy!

AIBA个子很高也很瘦，穿了件大花T恤，工装裤，还带着顶歪歪的棒球帽，不仔细看绝对认为她是个俊俏的小男生。

AIBA was tall and slender, wearing a big floral T-shirt and cargo pants, and a crooked baseball cap. If you didn’t look closely, you would definitely think she was a handsome young boy.

以至于后来我看到李宇春，顿时觉得特亲切。

So later when I saw Li Yuchun, I immediately felt a sense of familiarity.

“这就是你新找的那个啊？”AIBA坐到欢欢旁边打量着我说。

“So this is your new one?” AIBA sat down next to Huan Huan and sized me up.

“对，这是AIBA和方茴，这是我DARLING，张楠。”欢欢笑着介绍。

“Yes, this is AIBA and Fang Rui, and this is my darling, Zhang Nan,” Huan Huan introduced with a smile.

这时我才注意到在AIBA身后进来的那个女孩。

It was then that I noticed the girl who had walked in behind AIBA.

第一眼看方茴的感觉，我说不清楚。

At first glance, I couldn't quite describe how I felt about Fang Rui.

她长发披肩，耳朵上戴了一对大银环，不是漂亮的扎眼的女生，但仿佛又有本事让人过目不忘。

She had long hair, wearing large silver hoop earrings. She wasn't the typical pretty girl, but somehow had an ability to make her unforgettable.

我印象最深的是她那天穿了件鲜红的长裙，裙摆很大，到脚踝，把她纤细的腰和完美的臀线尽显无遗。

What impressed me most was that she was wearing a bright red long dress that flared out to her ankles, perfectly showcasing her slender waist and perfect curves.

“你好。”方茴冲我笑了笑，她笑起来眼睛弯弯的，很有风情。

“Hello.” Fang Rui smiled at me, her eyes crescent-shaped when she smiled, which was quite charming.

“HI！”我挥了挥手。

“HI!” I waved my hand.

她们没再理我，上另一边点歌去了。

They didn't pay attention to me and went to order songs at the other side.

AIBA插播了几首日文歌，方茴坐在一旁，静静的听。

AIBA played a few Japanese songs, while Fang Rui sat quietly beside, listening.

因为方茴装扮特殊，我又偷瞄了她几眼，她身材娇好，眉目妩媚，但不知道为什么，浑身却有一种禁欲的味道。

Because Fang Rui had a unique style, I stole a few glances at her. She had a beautiful figure and alluring features, but for some reason, there was a kind of ascetic vibe about her.

“嘿！看什么呢？”女生最敏感，欢欢很快发现了我的眼神有异。

“Hey! What are you looking at?” Girls are sensitive, and Huan Huan quickly noticed my gaze was strange.

“没。”我忙说。

“Nothing.” I hurriedly said.

“看上人家啦？”她掐了我一把。

“Do you have a crush on her?” she pinched me.

“哪儿呀！”我搂过她说，“谁看上她了！有你我一生足以！”

“Where?!” I wrapped my arms around her and said, “Who has a crush on her! You are enough for me in this life!”

当时我真谈不上看上方茴，就觉得这女孩骨子里透着一股和别人不一样的劲儿。

At that moment, I really wasn’t infatuated with Fang Rui; I just felt that this girl had a vibe that was different from others, deep down.

“切！看上我也不怕，你，没戏！”欢欢笑了笑，笑得很有内容，让我隐隐感到不寻常。

“Ha! Even if you liked me, you’d have no chance!” Huan Huan laughed, a smile meaningful enough to make me feel something unusual.

“人家喜欢女的，她和AIBA是一对儿。”

“She's into girls; she and AIBA are a couple.”

欢欢得意的看着我。

Huan Huan looked at me triumphantly.

“啊？”我大叫一声。

“Ah?” I exclaimed.

方茴往我们这边瞥了一眼，我急忙别过了头。

Fang Rui glanced our way, and I quickly turned my head away.

就算我对她有点想法，在那一刻，也立马烟消云散了。

Even if I had a little thought about her, at that moment, it disappeared in a flash.