After I sent Mi Cai a message showing my fearless attitude, she immediately called me back, which surprised me a bit. Ever since she moved to the U.S., we had an unspoken understanding: we wouldn’t call each other unless it was something particularly important.
I answered the call without saying a word, just waiting for Mi Cai to speak first.
“Zhaoyang, why have you suddenly become so aggressive?”
I almost blurted out, “This phase is just too difficult. I need this kind of aggression to break through the ice blocking my way.”
“Business environments are ever-changing. Too much aggression can cause one to lose sight of the bigger picture, which is not conducive to a boss’s growth.”
I smiled and said, “From your perspective, having a big-picture mindset is certainly important, because you not only face fierce market competition but also internal conflicts within the company. However, I’m only managing a small inn now. My environment isn’t as complicated as yours. My biggest enemy is myself. I really need this kind of aggression to maintain my edge over myself.”
Mi Cai was silent for a moment before she said, “Maybe I’m overthinking.”
“You called just to remind me about this?”
“Not entirely… I also wanted to hear your voice.”
I was taken aback. It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t been in much contact with Mi Cai these past couple of days, maybe even neglecting her. I couldn’t help but wonder: Was this neglect related to my intense desire for success?
I couldn’t quite answer that, but I indeed had been very busy these past few days, hardly finding any free time. All my energy had been devoted to preparing for the meeting with Yang Congrong. But wasn’t Mi Cai busy too?
“Why aren’t you speaking?”
I snapped out of my thoughts and apologetically said, “I was just thinking about how busy I’ve been—I haven’t contacted you in two whole days!”
Mi Cai didn’t hold it against me. She changed the subject with a smile, saying, “Sing me a song, okay?”
“What song?”
“I have horns on my head, and a tail behind me. Nobody knows how many secrets I keep… Okay, I’ve started it for you. Now it’s your turn to continue.”
I smiled helplessly. This was a children’s song that had once made me feel quite embarrassed. Now Mi Cai wanted me to sing it again—most likely a small punishment from her. That’s why I always thought she was a very smart woman; she could remind me while also saving my face.
I pinched my voice and sang in a childlike tone, while Mi Cai listened and laughed…
After I finished singing, she said, “Thanks for singing that song for me. I feel much more relaxed now and will be in a good state for work this afternoon.”
“I thought you were using a children’s song to punish me for not contacting you these past two days!”
“Overthinking again?”
“Who made you act so mischievously before and made me suffer so much? That’s why I developed this habitual thinking…”
Before I could finish my sentence, I faintly heard her assistant reminding her to attend a business meeting on time.
Mi Cai acknowledged and hurriedly said to me, “Zhaoyang, I have a meeting right now. Let’s talk tonight.”
“Okay.”
But before hanging up, Mi Cai quickly hummed a few more lines of the children’s song, making me both laugh and cry. In fact, she wasn’t as indifferent as she seemed. Sometimes she was lively and full of childlike wonder.
After ending the call, I placed my phone aside, savoring Mi Cai’s singing from just before she hung up. For a moment, I forgot the pressure I would face tomorrow, and it suddenly dawned on me—perhaps this was the real reason Mi Cai had me sing the children’s song, not the punishment I had imagined.
…
It wasn’t yet very late at night when I sat up from bed, somewhat absentmindedly staring out the window. It took me a while to notice how many stars were shining in the sky tonight.
I lit a cigarette and took several slow drags before trying to locate the mythical Sky City among the bright stars.
Soon I gave up, because I clearly knew that city had drifted further and further away from me. But was it me who had gotten lost, or had the city itself drifted away? I couldn’t tell.
I stubbed out the cigarette butt, but just before the smoke completely dissipated, I seemed to catch sight of a beautiful woman with long hair cascading over her shoulders. I stared at her for a long while and asked myself: Was this vision a consolation or a gift from the city before it vanished?
There was no more complicated question in my life than this one. I needed to think carefully… really think carefully.
…
The next day, I got up early, freshened up, and drove to the breakfast place where I had agreed to meet Jian Wei.
Inside the restaurant, I ordered breakfast and waited about five minutes before Jian Wei arrived right on time. She sat down across from me.
I passed a steamer basket of soup dumplings to her, and she politely thanked me before asking, “So, how are you feeling now?”
“Ready to face whatever comes my way. I feel quite calm.”
Jian Wei smiled and said, “That’s good to hear.”
I nodded and began eating breakfast with chopsticks, though inside I wasn’t as calm as I claimed. Actually, I was reluctant to meet Jian Boyu. However, Jian Wei had already given me a compelling reason why I must go, and I really couldn’t refuse. I could only hope that during our meeting at noon, I would be able to treat him as just another business contact, without recalling how he had once rejected me from his lofty position.
Jian Wei’s appetite didn’t seem as good as it had been last night. She only ate one soup dumpling and drank a glass of soy milk before finishing her meal.
Not wanting to keep her waiting, I sped up my eating pace.
“Zhaoyang, we don’t have to meet until 11:30 a.m. Eat slowly; we’re not in a rush.”
“Then have some more. It’s still several hours until noon.”
“I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“Why not?”
“Just thinking about meeting Jian Boyu makes me lose my appetite.”
I smiled and said, “You’re joking, right?”
“Who’s joking with you? I haven’t returned to Shanghai in over a month.”
I teased her in a playful tone, “Honestly, I also dislike your father, but do you still need to share this hatred with me now?”
“You’re not phrasing it right. The reason I don’t want to see him is because when I was little, he gave me a life that wasn’t what I wanted for myself.”
Jian Wei’s explanation was flawless. I nodded and stopped thinking about the issue.
…
After a while, I finished my breakfast. Since we still had plenty of time, I didn’t leave the restaurant immediately with Jian Wei, but instead we took a short break.
I checked the time—it was just past eight in the morning. Mi Cai in New York should have already finished work, so I playfully sent her a WeChat message: “I’m about to head to Shanghai and suddenly feel very nervous. Quickly sing me a song to help me relax.”
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