The car driven by Fang Yuan had completely disappeared from my sight along with the neon lights of the city. I stood somewhat dazed under the streetlight, and suddenly the entire city seemed unreal.
I threw away the plastic bag in my hand and took out a tissue from my pocket to wipe the oil off my hands, but I couldn’t erase the dust that had settled in my heart.
The city lights grew brighter and brighter. I lost my direction forward and stood there aimlessly, watching the traffic pass by as an observer and listening to the shattered sounds of car horns…
In the distance, the clock tower rang out a sound of redemption, finally bringing me back to my senses. I took out my phone again, wanting to call Yan Yan, but after thinking for a long time, I gave up. Eventually, I dialed Jian Wei’s number.
After a while, Jian Wei answered the phone. Her tone was somewhat surprised as she asked, “Zhao Yang, why are you calling me?”
“I’m in Suzhou. Are you free now?”
“I’m about to finish work.”
“Then great, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Let me treat you to dinner.”
“Okay, let’s have some dry pot. It’s been a long time since we’ve had it.”
…
In front of a restaurant specializing in dry pot dishes, I waited for Jian Wei. She arrived ten minutes later, but she didn’t drive; she took a taxi, apparently planning to drink some alcohol later.
After getting out of the taxi, Jian Wei came to my side and asked me with surprise, “Are you calling me just to treat me to dinner, or do you have other reasons?”
“There is something…”
Jian Wei stopped me from continuing, “Then let’s talk after we finish eating.”
Inside the restaurant, Jian Wei and I sat silently. I just watched her eat. Finally noticing my unusual behavior, she put down her chopsticks and asked me, “Why are you staring at me like this without eating yourself?”
“I’ve already eaten. I had a steamer of soup dumplings.”
“So you really have something to talk about.” Jian Wei said lightly, then picked up her chopsticks again to continue eating, while I remained silent until she finished.
…
After dinner, Jian Wei said she was a bit full, so we walked together under the city lights. The noise of traffic seemed to disturb us, and neither of us spoke until we approached her residence by the moat. Then I finally spoke, “I don’t spend much time in Suzhou. There’s something I need your help to verify.”
Jian Wei stopped walking and looked at me, asking, “What is it?”
Suddenly, my heart felt heavy. I lit a cigarette before saying, “…Fang Yuan might… might be having an affair!”
Jian Wei’s expression immediately darkened, “Are you sure?”
“Not yet. That’s why I need your help to confirm… I hope what I saw was just a false impression.”
Jian Wei’s expression turned even colder, “Who is he having the affair with?”
I was silent for a moment, then replied, “The daughter of Zhuo Meimi Zhongde—the cousin of Mi Cai.”
Jian Wei didn’t say anything else. She avoided the swaying willow branches blown by the wind and walked toward the riverbank ahead of me. I followed her footsteps, and we stood by the mottled railing.
The wind, carrying the scent of grass and trees, blew her long hair. She tucked a strand behind her ear and looked at me with a stern expression, saying, “If Fang Yuan really betrays Yan Yan, I will definitely make him pay.”
I tried my best to remain calm before replying, “If it’s true, nothing would sadden me more than this!”
Jian Wei seemed to agree with silence, because among all our mutual friends, only Fang Yuan and Yan Yan had maintained their college romance until now.
I reminded Jian Wei again, “Before we confirm the truth, don’t tell Yan Yan yet.”
Jian Wei nodded, “I know how to handle it…” Then she added sarcastically, “Are women from the Mi family really that attractive to you men?”
“Mi Cai and Mi Lan are different…”
“Yes, you and Fang Yuan are different too!”
I deeply exhaled the smoke from my mouth, then turned around, leaning against the railing, gazing up at the heavy night sky, recalling the scene when Fang Yuan met Mi Lan that day… Sometimes people are complicated, but sometimes love is simple. Perhaps Fang Yuan and Mi Lan’s feelings had begun during that life-saving moment.
If that was indeed the case, then this ill-fated relationship was also caused by me… Therefore, I prayed in my heart that what I saw was just an illusion, otherwise I would have no face to face Yan Yan.
Jian Wei and I stood in the same posture, watching the rippling river under the streetlights. After a long while, she finally temporarily set aside the distressing topic and asked me, “How is your inn doing lately?”
“I’m waiting for an opportunity.”
“You should work more efficiently. Uncle Yang Congrong has been watching your performance.”
I nodded, suddenly longing even more for Zhou Zhaokun to transfer his inn to me according to the proposal I had made, which would make the possibility of success infinitely greater.
…
After saying goodbye to Jian Wei and returning to the old house, it was already ten o’clock at night. I felt somewhat tired but couldn’t sleep. After washing up, I lay on the sofa and finally took out my phone to send a message to Mi Cai: “Are you available for a video call now? I want to see you.”
A short while later, Mi Cai replied: “I only have ten minutes. Is that okay?”
I replied “Okay” and hurriedly ran to the computer desk in Mi Cai’s room. After turning on the computer, I immediately sent her a video call.
After a short wait, Mi Cai answered the video call. Finally, after a long separation, we saw each other’s faces.
In the video, Mi Cai wore no makeup but was still as beautiful as ever. Looking at the thick stacks of work documents beside her, I asked with concern, “Have you been very busy at work lately?”
“Yes, there’s a lot to integrate before the IPO.”
“Then you must pay more attention to your quality of life. I’m still counting on you to give me a healthy, lively child!”
Mi Cai blushed slightly and picked up a stack of documents beside her, flipping through them as if to hide her embarrassment.
So I teased her… and she let me tease her without saying a word.
Finally, I turned serious and said, “…I have an idea.”
“Go ahead.”
“When I can afford my own car and house in Suzhou, will you marry me?”
Mi Cai looked at me without responding, so I gazed at her nervously.
Finally, she smiled and said, “Okay.”
I was overjoyed by these simple two words. She then asked me, “Why did you suddenly want to get married?”
I thought for a long time before replying, “We met when we were both 26 years old, and now we’re already 27. Thinking about it, maybe it’s time for us to get married… But if you think it’s too soon, I can wait.”
“Getting married at 27 is fine.”
I nodded in agreement. Suddenly, someone entered Mi Cai’s office from the other side of the screen, though they didn’t appear in the frame. I could already hear Weiran’s voice and a few Americans speaking.
Mi Cai closed the video window and quickly sent me a text message: “I need to work now. Let’s chat later.”
I felt somewhat down and remained in a daze for a long time before hugging the guitar I had given Mi Cai from the computer desk and singing her favorite song, “Past Glories.” I also recalled the scene of our first meeting…
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