“How should I respond to that? She’s not exactly new, nor exactly a friend, but someone I’m willing to spend time with! Friend?” He snorted coldly. “Such a vague and time-wasting term has long been absent from my vocabulary. I have things to do; if you need money, contact my secretary.” With that, he turned to leave, but Li Yueqin maneuvered in front of him, unwilling to be outdone by others. She looked up and asked, “Who is she?”
Zhou Yuqian gave her a disdainful glance. “She’s someone you don’t know, not from your social circle, just an ordinary person.” Li Yueqin exhaled in relief and sneered, “One of your many, huh!” Her throat felt like it was filled with vinegar, sourness welling up. “Someone who can keep you entertained for a long time and is willing to spend time with you must have some skills.” Before she could fully express her smugness, she was forcefully pushed onto the sofa. Zhou Yuqian bent over, grabbed her sweater’s collar, and warned, “Remember this, she’s mine, Zhou Yuqian’s! No one dares to insult her, including you, an ex with no connection to me.” He straightened up, shook his jacket, ignoring Li Yueqin’s pale face, and walked to the threshold. Turning back, he said, “It’s a pity you never truly understood me in seven years, Li Yueqin. If you had just asked for money, I might have thought higher of you!” Stepping out into the sunlight, the cherry leaves glistened. He glanced at them briefly before getting into his car. It was just a tree, after all, whether it bore fruit or not didn’t matter. He casually took out his phone and dialed a number, softly saying, “I have a sore throat, could you make some mint tea for me… I just lost my temper with an employee… Yes, I’ll be back in half an hour.”
Men are better at forgetting. When hurt, they don’t hold grudges; they cut ties clean and clear, especially after finding new love. If you say they are friends, they are friends; if you say they are unrelated, there will be no further connection, like Li Yueqin, just an ex with no connection to Zhou Yuqian. If she tried to return now and cling on, she’d only humiliate herself. Through the window, she watched the sports car drive away, feeling like a wounded beast had taken residence in her heart, howling in pain but still eyeing the one who hurt her, waiting for a chance to strike.
“Here’s your mint tea!” Lai Fen brought out the tea tray, poured a cup, and handed it to Zhou Yuqian. As he took the cup, he also grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto his lap, and kissed the top of her head. “Have you showered?”
“I was cooking; I smell like grease. It’s awful.” She ruffled her hair and tactfully said, “Okay, you work, I’ll leave.” As she stood up, Zhou Yuqian pulled her back, his arm encircling her slender waist. Glancing at his computer, he lazily asked, “What did you do at home today?”
“Nothing much, I slept until noon, watched some TV, then went out to buy groceries.” Lai Fen leaned over the desk, clicking through Minesweeper, playing skillfully. “You’re quite the fox!”
“What fox? I was just bored, not sleeping, what else to do?” She clicked the mouse, focusing on the screen, responding sporadically.
“Didn’t I tell you to go out for a walk?”
“Walk? Where to? …Ah! Damn it!” She looked despondently at the little crying face and the mines that had exploded, lamenting, “Just three mines away from breaking my record.” She clicked Restart, ready for another round, but Zhou Yuqian pulled her back. Closing the laptop, he pinched her ear, repeating, “Why didn’t you go for a walk?”
Lai Fen was still lamenting her loss, distractedly answering, “Nowhere to go. Xu Nuo and Cheng Lan are working, and mom’s mood isn’t great these days; I didn’t dare to visit!”
Zhou Yuqian pondered for a moment, then asked, “Do you want to work?”
Lai Fen didn’t hide her desire, looking at him for a long time before softly saying, “Not for now!”
“Why? If you want to work, I can arrange something for you!” He actually wasn’t too keen on the idea. But he couldn’t be too selfish, binding her too long, leaving her isolated for years with no one to talk to. The thought made his heart ache. If working would make her happy, he’d arrange it; it wasn’t a big deal.
Lai Fen shook her head. “Not yet!” Once the contract ends, they’ll be completely apart. These two months, she wants to spend with him. “It’s almost the New Year; are you going back to China this year?”
“Probably not, why?”
“Can we spend the New Year together? I’ll spend the eve with mom, then come back to make dinner, and we can stay up together, right?” She snuggled into his chest, seeking approval.
Zhou Yuqian’s heart warmed, nodding, “Okay, whatever you want!”
Zhang Zongxiang paced outside the hospital room, his forehead creased like dried elm bark, with dark brown cracks and patches of brown spots. Stooped with age or worry, his steps were uneven. His attire had improved since arriving in City A, now sporting a respectable striped black suit, round-toed leather shoes, hair slicked back with gel, his temples looking like winter ear muffs with their white streaks. His hands were stuffed into his suit jacket pockets, incongruous with his outfit. After another turn, he stopped, knocking on the door, but there was no answer. After a while, he noticed a doorbell and pressed it without thinking.
It was Xiao Yu who opened the door, having met him a few times before, and led him in without much question. Seeing him, Lai Ru Yun was surprised, then invited him to sit. Xiao Yu went to make tea, and Zhang Zongxiang, taking out a hundred yuan, pressed it into her hand, saying, “Ah! Ah! Little miss, for your trouble, take this to buy something to eat!”
Xiao Yu, as if holding a hot potato, hurriedly pushed it back, waving her hands to refuse, “Old sir, you’re too kind, I can’t accept this money!”
Zhang Zongxiang pouted unhappily. “Little girl, do you think the money is too little? Look at me, I’ve lost my head; I came to visit a patient without bringing anything. Old man, could you do me a favor and go downstairs to buy some fruit?” Xiao Yu, with years of caregiving experience, knew immediately that he wanted to send her away. She glanced at Lai Ru Yun for confirmation, saw her blink, then took the money, grabbed her coat from the hanger, and said to Zhang Zong Xiang with a smile, “I’ll go buy it right away!”
“Are you feeling okay? Any sudden pains?” he asked Lai Ru Yun.
“Pain would be better!” Lai Ru Yun shot him a glance.
Zhang Zong Xiang choked on his saliva, coughing several times. “Oh, look at me, talking nonsense. I deserve a slap.” Lai Ru Yun didn’t mind; having someone new to talk to was more than she could ask for.
“Alright, I’ll take it as you mean well. Why did you think to come here? Does Xiao Hui know?”
Zhang Zong Xiang’s eyes flickered. “Oh—she doesn’t know.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
“It’s about Xiao Hui.” His voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum, inaudible to anyone but himself.
On a holiday morning, when busy people could sleep in, waking up to a rich breakfast and strong coffee might easily lead one into a life of indulgence. Zhou Yuqian had indulged for a week straight and showed no signs of stopping. Xiao Hui, finishing washing the last dish under the tap, helplessly watched Zhou Yuqian at the doorway, his eyes half-closed, and pulled him into the elevator, untying her apron. “Why don’t you sleep a bit more?” Her suggestion carried a hint of sarcasm.
“Hmm?” Zhou Yuqian opened his eyes, rubbing his ears vigorously before responding, “No more sleep!”
“Are your ears itchy?” She tiptoed, pulled his ears to look closer. “Really dirty!”
