Raindrops pattered against the car window, creating a crisp sound, yet the interior of the car was even quieter. We could even hear each other’s breathing. I looked at her, she just leaned against the seat without answering, as if I shouldn’t have asked her to sell me that old house.
Still, I insisted and asked again, “It’s just sitting there empty. Are you going to sell it or not?”
“No.”
Mi Cai gave me a resolute answer, one I had expected, but my expression darkened as I said, “You’d rather let the house rot away?”
“I will come back to clean it when I have time.”
“If I had had enough money this time last year, you wouldn’t have had the chance to buy this house.”
“But it’s not last year anymore, and I’ve already bought the house.”
“A true gentleman helps others achieve their wishes.”
“I’m just a woman, not a gentleman… Do you have anything else? If not, I need to go.”
I chuckled, “I’ve seen right through you. Ruthlessness is in your nature, even when I had nowhere else to go in this city, you still heartlessly pushed me out. Just because you own a house now, you think you’re so great?”
“I don’t quite understand what you’re trying to say now?”
I really wanted to angrily tell her that I couldn’t forget her, which is why I was being so petty. Yet the rain outside was falling so quietly, so coldly, instantly extinguishing my anger. After a while, I said, “Just consider me rambling, this rain is making me a bit restless.”
“Then I’ll go. You should go back and rest early too.”
“Yeah, drive safely.”
“You too.”
As Mi Cai drove away, my world fell silent once again. I wanted to light a cigarette but was afraid the smoke would dissipate the faint fragrance she had left in the car. So I held back, listening to the sound of the rain, recalling the events that had happened here. When I left, there was no longer any trace of her in the car.
…
Back in my small apartment, I lay on the bed listening to the rain, immersed in solitude. I couldn’t remember the plan I had a few days ago to register on a dating site. I just kept thinking about the past, then picked up my phone, found those photos I hadn’t yet deleted, and looked at them under the dim yellow light.
I felt like sending her a message, but another emotion held me back, making it hard for me to actually type out that line of greeting in the message box.
But the sound of the rain always made me sensitive, making me uncomfortable with loneliness. Thus, I was torn between two emotions.
In the end, I chose to abandon the greeting, turned off the light, and lay tossing and turning. Unexpectedly, my phone rang. I turned over and picked it up from the table. It was a message from Mi Cai.
“Zhaoyang, why did you hide the guitar and the go-kart under the bed? I looked for them for a long time…”
I was silent for a moment before replying, “But you found them now, so why are you asking me?”
“I couldn’t lift the bedboard. Can you come tomorrow and help me take them out?”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? Now I have to make a special trip tomorrow!”
“You seemed to be in a bad mood just now, so I didn’t want to bother you then!”
“Please, as if I’m in such a good mood now… Is the key still under the door frame? I’ll go help you move tomorrow after work.”
“I took the key with me. I’ll bring it to you at 8 tomorrow night.”
“Fine. Are you planning to return those things to me? After all, you’re getting married soon. It’s not good to keep things from your ex.”
My resentful message received no reply from Mi Cai. She didn’t respond anymore, and eventually, I fell asleep while waiting.
…
The next morning, the rain was still drizzling, giving the entire city a hint of autumn. While driving to work, the roads were covered with yellowing leaves. People with umbrellas had already put on thick coats to protect themselves from the wind.
I stopped my car at a breakfast stall, bought my breakfast, and then a red Cadillac pulled up behind my car. It was Jian Wei. Our companies were close, so we happened to meet on the way.
Jian Wei came to my side, took out one hundred yuan from her wallet, and handed it to the vendor, ordering a bottle of milk and two slices of bread. I quickly signaled to the vendor not to give me any change, covering both of our breakfast costs.
But Jian Wei didn’t accept my gesture. She gave me a glare and pushed the money again towards the vendor. Of course, I knew she was still upset with me for not showing enough sincerity when I invited her company to dinner yesterday.
The vendor, claiming they couldn’t break a hundred-yuan bill, naturally let me treat Jian Wei to breakfast, so I smirked triumphantly at her.
She looked helplessly at me, finally calming down a bit, and asked, “How did yesterday’s blind date go?”
“Sigh, don’t even ask!”
“What, didn’t you like her?”
“She didn’t even show up…”
Jian Wei laughed mockingly, as if getting sweet revenge, saying, “Serves you right for being so picky!”
“You’re being unfair now. I’m at the age where I should get married, so what’s wrong with going on a blind date? And what’s wrong with a little mishap? You people who have partners always like to mock us single guys with such a high-and-mighty attitude.”
Jian Wei frowned, “What do you mean by ‘single guys’? That sounds so vulgar. Don’t refer to yourself like that.”
I smiled and looked at the still-raining sky, sighing, “Another autumn. I need to remember to dress warmer when I go out…”
“Don’t get all sentimental now. Hurry up and go to work. If I remember correctly, you have a regular morning meeting at 9 a.m. today, right?”
Reminded by Jian Wei, I checked the time. It was already 8:45. I quickly said goodbye and rushed to work. Her car followed mine all the way until we reached an intersection with traffic lights, where we parted ways. In fact, our two companies were separated only by this intersection.
…
After attending the regular morning meeting at the company, I kept Liu Yishan, the marketing manager, and we discussed the unique positioning for the inn and bar we were developing in Xuzhou. Ultimately, based on Xuzhou’s characteristics as a railway hub city, I proposed the theme “After the Long Journey,” implying that this place would be a comfortable resting spot after a long trip.
Liu Yishan immediately agreed and then left my office to gather the marketing team to develop promotional plans for the inn and bar based on this theme. I didn’t idle either, continuing to handle various complicated tasks. At dusk, I visited both the “Empty City” music restaurant and the “Fifth Season” bar.
It was already 7:30 PM. The autumn rain hadn’t stopped, falling gently, just like my mood. I stood under the eaves for a long time before finally driving toward the old house. Mi Cai and I had agreed to meet at eight o’clock, just to help her lift the bedboard and retrieve the guitar and go-kart I had hidden beneath it.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage