A slender hand rested on her shoulder. She turned around, and cold lips had already descended, exhaling cold air over her forehead, eyes, and cheeks, leaving countless cool kisses. Finally, they landed on her lips, fervently intertwining and nipping. Her body went limp in his embrace… She didn’t know why he kissed her, nor why he changed his mind to visit her. Although this kiss was part of a business transaction, devoid of any tender emotion, she didn’t care anymore. At least, his embrace was warm, something she needed, especially after her reunion with Xie Jiayi, to help her through the sleepless, long nights… Chapter 5 In the same beautiful, desolate night, Xie Jiayi parked his car in front of an old apartment building. The red bricks were covered with lush green vines, tangled and intertwined, with a branch of bright red cotton tree extending outside the courtyard wall. He embraced the woman beside him, gently kissing the top of her head. “Goodnight!” he said. “Goodnight!” The woman did not get out of the car; instead, she stared at him with her clear eyes for a long time before hesitantly asking, “You accepted the invitation from the banquet host because she was going, right?” His chin rested on her head, silent for a long time. When she nudged him with her small hand, he finally said, “Is that possible? If it were for her, why would I bring you? Xiao Yu…” He lifted her chin. “She died in my heart years ago. Now, the one living in my heart is you! Do you understand?” “She cried today, hid in the bathroom to cry!” Xiao Yu leaned back against the seat with a look of frustration. “Before I saw her, I thought — this woman is so hateful, materialistic and heartless. I hated how she hurt you back then, and I despised her for selling herself. But after seeing her today, I realized she’s not hateful at all, even… even found her straightforwardness kind of cute, making me want to be friends with her, sigh…” She sighed heavily. “I should hate her, but now I’m jealous of her. You love me now, yet I still consider her a rival. Jiayi, I shouldn’t have met her. That way, I could still hate her and look down on her righteously!” Xie Jiayi chuckled and smoothed her furrowed brows. Such a childish temper, both laughable and adorable, just like Lai Yun seven years ago. No wonder she couldn’t hate her; who could hate another version of themselves? “Alright, stop thinking about her. Why worry over someone who doesn’t matter to us? Go upstairs and rest early!” Xiao Yu pouted and said, “Yeah, you’re right. I won’t think about it anymore; I don’t want to kill my precious brain cells! Goodnight!” She got out of the car, rang the doorbell, and as the beautiful music floated through the night, she waved goodbye to Xie Jiayi, watching his car disappear around the corner before pushing the door open to enter.
The text continues with descriptions and reflections by Xie Jiayi, showcasing his complex feelings about his past relationship with Lai Yun, their financial struggles, and the emotional turmoil of their reunion.
Their weekend dates were limited to him visiting Lai Hui’s school or Lai Hui coming to his. They would wander around the campus for a day. When it was hot, he’d buy her a bottle of soda; when it was cold, he’d get her a bowl of soy milk. If he received a scholarship, he would treat her to a meal at KFC, watching her close her eyes in delight as she savored the fries as if they were a delicacy. He thought to himself that once he was working, he’d buy her fries every day. Later, he realized how ridiculous he was. Zhou Yuqian scoffed at him, demanding two million yuan, enough to buy several KFC outlets, enough fries to fill a train car. Yet, he was so poor he could barely afford a fast-food meal for her, let alone two million. It was then he understood that the poor couldn’t afford extravagant love. Time passed, and now he was wealthy, but with Xiao Yu by his side. He could produce the two million, but he no longer wanted to win her back. It was all in the past; now, she was just a high school classmate. After parking his car in his private spot, he looked up. The gloomy clouds and smog were dispersing, revealing a sky as clear as diluted ink, but the moon of seven years ago, and the Lai Hui on the back seat of his bike under that moonlight, were long gone…
At Nanling Sea View Villa, Zhou Yuqian, leaning against the bed, lit a cigarette. Lai Hui, curled up like a cat beside him, the high ceiling echoing with the slightest cough. The room was filled with a faint scent of women’s perfume, mixed with cigarette smoke, reminiscent of a rotting apple hidden under the bed, emitting a pungent odor of decay. Suddenly, Zhou Yuqian lost his desire to smoke; after a few puffs, he extinguished the cigarette.
“How’s your mother doing?” he asked.
“Same old, don’t expect any improvement,” Lai Hui replied disheartenedly.
“Should we consider treatment abroad? I can arrange it for you.”
“No need, now it’s all about money keeping her alive. Every extra day is earned by me and my mom. Moving her around would just tire her out more,” Lai Hui said, sitting up and cautiously asking a question that had puzzled her all night. “Why are you cooperating with Xie Jiayi?”
“One of my factories has been manufacturing for the American MOIO company for a long time. He’s the newly appointed general manager of the Chinese region for MOIO. Unless he terminates our cooperation, we are in a supply and demand relationship,” Zhou Yuqian explained.
Lai Hui was taken aback. Given how he treated Xie Jiayi back then, why didn’t he cancel their cooperation? Zhou Yuqian seemed to read her thoughts and added, “He’s young to be MOIO’s head in China. Without some tolerance, could he have achieved this? People grow up. Compared to his past frivolity, he’s now more stable. How could he mix personal and professional affairs?” He glanced at Lai Hui, his eyes seeming to say, “See, women are just women.”
Lai Hui fell silent. He had indeed changed. She knew his once insufferably arrogant nature from their three years together, which was why he could still be polite to Zhou Yuqian at the banquet. Reflecting on this, a bitter smile crept onto her lips. Years had passed, and who hadn’t changed? She herself had become a hollow shell, only recognizing money.
Seeing her bitter smile, Zhou Yuqian thought she was regretting her decision from years ago, his face darkening as he sneered, “Speaking of which, his success today owes much to you. You advanced him a million yuan for his studies in the US, didn’t you? I bet he doesn’t even know that the so-called full scholarship was paid out of your pocket.” His words felt like a harsh stamp on her face, the pain searing, her facial muscles twitching grotesquely. She stared at Zhou Yuqian, bewildered. Hadn’t she grown used to his contemptuous looks? Why did she still feel humiliated? Back then, it was guilt towards Xie Jiayi that made her ask Zhou Yuqian for help. She knew her actions were disgraceful, using money from selling herself to send her ex-boyfriend abroad. No, more than disgraceful, it was enough to utterly crush Xie Jiayi’s self-esteem.
She quickly composed herself, pretending indifference, “It was years ago, I’ve forgotten.” Zhou Yuqian gave a scornful laugh. “I’m not a gossip, I don’t have the time to chew over these things with Xie Jiayi. You can rest assured.” It felt like another slap to her already stinging face, and she groaned inwardly, murmuring, “I know you won’t say anything… I just… just think it’s unnecessary…”
“Enough!” Zhou Yuqian interrupted impatiently. “I’m not interested in your thoughts. Feel however you want, just don’t tell me! Go to sleep!” With that, he turned and lay down.
