A Peach Wood Comb

Xie Jiayi had returned to City A for a week, maintaining a normal routine of work, handling affairs with order, and tenderly reminding his girlfriend, “I’ve been very busy lately; take care of yourself, and remember to bring an umbrella when it rains!” To prove he wasn’t lying to Xiao Yu, he was sweating in the air-conditioned office, with the phone in the secretary’s room ringing incessantly—”Please have Manager Li from the Marketing Department report the projected sales for this quarter!” “Notify the Overseas Market Department for an afternoon meeting!” “Notify HR Manager Zhang, I want to discuss employee morale after work!” … He was genuinely busy, the first to arrive and the last to leave, with endless tasks. He couldn’t understand why he still had time to call Lai Hui—in the empty office, the ceiling lights as bright as daylight, everything seemed white, except for the blue light of his phone showing the number being dialed. The receiver emitted a “beep—beep—beep.” “Hello, who’s this?” He hurriedly picked up the phone, forgetting what to say. “Hello, who’s speaking?” What to say? To say I’m Xie Jiayi, the jerk who slapped you? “Hello, please speak!” Ah, he could say he wanted to visit Auntie Yun. He was ecstatic to find an excuse and quickly said, “It’s Jiayi.” “Beep beep beep…” The office returned to its initial silence, and he stared at his phone, which wouldn’t give him another second, the crisp, slightly annoyed voice echoing in his ears, his heart filled with a tide of disappointment, ebbing and flowing like the sea. When would the calm deep sea see another storm? Xie Jiayi didn’t know; he hoped it would never come, yet secretly wished for a typhoon, a fierce storm to engulf him and Lai Hui, taking them to the depths of the sea—just the two of them! But the typhoon didn’t come, just a small whirlwind. Neither Xie Jiayi nor Lai Hui expected to encounter each other on Qixi Festival at the STARBUCKS on the first floor of the mall. Lai Hui, in a black and white checked casual outfit, was reading a book under a sun hat that covered her face. Despite the hat brim, Xie Jiayi recognized her. “What a coincidence! Are you alone?” Xie Jiayi didn’t wait for Lai Hui to respond before sitting down. Lai Hui lifted her head from the book, a flash of astonishment in her eyes, her fingers trembling slightly as they held the pages. She saw Xie Jiayi sitting there, seemingly oblivious to her presence, as if they were old friends. The thought brought a bitter realization that they had indeed been close once, but time had diluted their bond. A surge of complex emotions overwhelmed her, and she felt a sudden irritation. She had planned to enjoy some leisure time and watch a movie while Zhou Yuqian was away on business, but she hadn’t expected to encounter him here! “Yes, did you come with friends?” she feigned looking around and asked calmly. “I came to buy some things with a friend, but she had something to do and left first!” Was that friend his girlfriend? Lai Hui thought to herself, unsure how to respond, she just nodded and said, “Then, please go ahead with your business!” She then lowered her head to continue reading, not out of kindness to buy him coffee. Seeing her cold attitude, Xie Jiayi felt a pang of sorrow. Without much thought, he pulled the book from her hands, completely disregarding that such an action was beyond their current relationship. Lai Hui snatched the book back, stood up to leave, but behind her, Xie Jiayi’s voice, heavy with sorrow, resonated, “During those brief moments when you loved me, I might have been the happiest person in the world, but those days are gone, and they can’t be held onto.” He grabbed her wrist, his eyes fixed on the table, his face etched with the pain of memories. “Lai Hui, do you still enjoy reading Eileen Chang’s books?” In the unnoticed corner of the cafe, Lai Hui turned her face away, trying to keep her composure, “Sorry, the movie is about to start, don’t make me waste a VIP ticket!” With that, she forcefully pulled her hand away and dashed out of the cafe like she was fleeing from him. As if afraid he would chase after her, she stumbled to the escalator area of the mall, pushed open the safety door, and was hit by a wave of heat. In the dim stairwell, only her footsteps echoed, one after another — in this empty world, she listened to the hollow beat of her heart, grabbed the handrail, and ascended step by step, with tears glistening in her eyes. Upon reaching the third floor, her hand was on the safety door handle. Outside was a bright, bustling world, yet she preferred to stay in this dark, stuffy place, a place without Xie Jiayi. However, she was wrong. When she turned, she was startled to see Xie Jiayi standing on the stairs to the fourth floor. Before she could react, he was in front of her, his hands on the door, trapping her — there was no escape! The familiar yet alien closeness, accompanied by his deep voice, “Lai Hui, today is Qixi Festival!” Qixi Festival? Lai Hui wanted to laugh, but tears fell first. “What about Qixi Festival?” “I just want to watch a movie with you!” he said softly. “It’s a promise I’ve yet to fulfill!” She wanted to sternly refuse, to say she had forgotten his promises, to remind him he had a girlfriend, but what came out was, “The movie I want to watch, you wouldn’t like.” “I watch romance films abroad too!” Lai Hui tried to push him away, but his body was as solid as a mountain. Frustrated, she shouted, “What does it matter what you watch abroad? Can’t you leave me alone? Please, just act like you don’t see me from now on, okay?” Tears rolled down to her lips, forming a line that shimmered. In the dimness, his rationality broke like a dam, he fiercely embraced her, impulsively kissing her tear-stained lips. Xie Jiayi was like a beast trapping its struggling prey, mercilessly devouring her. Her hat fell to the ground, her back pressed against the cold wall, the friction causing a burning pain that spread to her heart. She opened her eyes in hurt, her only form of resistance being tears of indignation. After the fiery passion, Xie Jiayi, realizing the grave mistake he almost committed, was filled with regret. He held the silently weeping Lai Hui, his fingers trembling as he fastened the buttons he had undone. In the dim space, everything seemed blurred, except for Lai Hui’s clear crying. Xie Jiayi couldn’t understand; he only wanted to find her, to watch a movie together, why did things turn out like this, almost forcing her? Thinking this, he tightened his embrace, knowing that once they stepped out into the bright world, his feelings would be suppressed again, and Lai Hui would surely hate him! Lai Hui finally stopped crying, picked up her hat and handbag from the floor, brushed off the dust, and looked at Xie Jiayi with indifference. “Let me go!” “I’m sorry, Lai Hui! I didn’t mean to!” Xie Jiayi wiped her tears with his thumb. “Forgive me, please?” Lai Hui gave a sarcastic smile and said sharply, “Remember when you called me cheap? What’s wrong with doing this to someone you think is cheap?” Xie Jiayi felt as if a sharp knife had pierced his heart, his arms loosening involuntarily. Lai Hui stood up, her eyes empty as she opened the door. The sudden brightness stung her eyes, and she quickly closed them. When she opened them again, the door had closed, and Xie Jiayi looked at her with a pained expression, his long fingers caressing her face. “Lai Hui, it’s me who’s cheap, not you! I deserve this! If you hate me, then I’ll leave, as long as you’re happy!” He hugged her tightly, lingeringly kissing her earlobe and neck, softly reciting a line they once read, “Forgetting is painful, as it was before, and as it is now. But the pain before was because we couldn’t remember, and now, it’s because we’re afraid we can’t forget.” He let her go, opened the safety door, and as the light poured in, he left with one last word, “I am in pain!” Chapter 16 “Xie Jiayi!” “Bang!” The door closed, shutting out the noise outside. Xie Jiayi turned, puzzled, looking at the furious Lai Hui. Didn’t she want him to disappear as far as possible? Why did she close the door? His eyes widened slightly, expecting Lai Hui to say something. “How dare you treat me like this and then think you can just walk away with an apology?” Lai Hui approached him, her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to bend down. She then lifted her knee, striking his abdomen. Xie Jiayi clutched his painful stomach, his brows knotted in pain. Lai Hui stood before him, her tear-streaked face wearing a triumphant cold smile. “Every apology you’ve made was because you hurt me. Before, I loved you, so I could forgive your hurt, but now you have a girlfriend. If you touch me again, the next injury might be lower!” She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Remember that surgery I had? That pain must be thousands of times worse than what you’re feeling now!” Xie Jiayi trembled, and she patted his shoulder with a gentle touch, saying, “Take your time to heal here!”