I stared at the message for a long time, and then suddenly laughed at myself. I certainly knew why Mi Cai had come to Xuzhou, and my earlier suspicions seemed more like a self-mocking jest amidst all the confusion.
Finally, I replied to Mi Cai’s message: “Tell me, why exactly did you come to Xuzhou? Is it to play video games, eat di guo (a local dish), or do you have another purpose?”
Mi Cai didn’t reply immediately. I thought again about Leyao’s suggestion that I go to Lijiang for a change of scenery, and for a moment, I felt conflicted.
After a while, I replied to Leyao: “Never mind, I won’t go.”
Leyao didn’t ask why I had changed my mind. She simply sent a disdainful emoji, followed by “Good night,” ending our conversation.
I asked myself—if it weren’t for Mi Cai coming to Xuzhou, would I have accepted Leyao’s invitation? In reality, I would never have gone to Lijiang, because it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me and Leyao, a single man and a single woman, to be alone together in Lijiang, a city known for romantic encounters.
Lying flat on the bed, I continued staring at the ceiling, wondering what kind of reply Mi Cai would give me.
A moment later, I finally received Mi Cai’s reply: “Of course I have another purpose, but playing video games and eating di guo are also essential parts of the plan.”
“What other purpose?” I replied almost instantly.
I waited a long time again before receiving Mi Cai’s reply: “I want to see you…”
Those three simple words caused the flower in my heart, long since withered, to bloom miraculously again. I felt that if we removed the word “see” from those three characters, it would be more direct and more penetrating. So I replied: “Can you take out the word ‘see’?”
Mi Cai sent me a voice message: “You really know how to come up with topics… Go to sleep now, I’m not talking to you anymore. I have to get up early tomorrow.”
I didn’t mind that Mi Cai had avoided my teasing with a touch of ambiguity. I replied: “Fine, don’t talk then… Would you like to come to my house for lunch?”
This time Mi Cai replied quickly: “Do you think that’s okay?”
I thought for a moment, slightly worried that my mother might not welcome Mi Cai because of my relationship with Li Xiaoyun. I decided to talk to Baidie about this. If Baidie thought it was okay, I would feel more at ease.
I immediately sent a message to Baidie: “Dad, are you asleep yet?”
“About to sleep.”
“I’m a bit insomnia. Take out that aged wine and have a few drinks with me, okay?”
…
In the living room, Baidie brought out a bottle of aged wine, poured a small glass for each of us, and we began to chat.
“Dad, I need to tell you something.”
“Mm, go ahead.”
“You must know that the reason I’m drinking with you now isn’t really because of insomnia, right?”
“Mm.”
I instinctively touched my nose before saying: “Comrade Xiao Mi will come to Xuzhou tomorrow… Do you think it’s appropriate for her to come to our house for lunch?”
Baidie took a sip of wine and asked in return: “Does she have other relatives or friends in Xuzhou?”
I hurriedly shook my head and answered: “No, she really doesn’t…”
Baidie didn’t say anything, and I suddenly realized: “You think it’s okay, right?”
“Well, since she came all the way to Xuzhou to see you, how could she eat out at a restaurant during the New Year? Come to our house.”
I felt a weight lifted from my heart. I clinked glasses with Baidie and smiled: “With your words, I’m reassured. But you need to handle my mom’s side. You know Xiao Mi is shy. Don’t let my mom give her the cold shoulder, that would be awkward!”
Baidie nodded, agreeing to the matter.
After returning to my room, I immediately replied to Mi Cai with confidence: “There’s nothing wrong with that. Tomorrow I’ll pick you up at the highway exit and then we’ll go to my house for lunch.”
“No need, I know where your house is.”
“Oh right, you’ve been here before…”
“Okay, then see you tomorrow.”
“Alright, drive safely on your way!”
…
The next day, I got up early and chatted with my mother, who was preparing breakfast. I cautiously asked: “Mom, do you know that I have a friend coming to Xuzhou today?”
“Your father told me.”
Her indifferent tone made me a bit worried, so I asked again: “What do you think about it?”
“What do you mean? I’m just going to buy vegetables and cook.”
I felt slightly relieved and reminded her: “This is a visit from another city. You must show the warmth of Xuzhou people!”
“I know what I’m doing.”
I smiled at my mother, thanking her for her cooperation. As I was about to leave, my mother suddenly stopped me and asked: “Tell me honestly, what exactly is your relationship with that girl from Suzhou?”
“Didn’t I just say? She’s just a friend! The house I lived in Suzhou was hers. We’re just good friends.”
My mother looked dissatisfied and said: “I knew I couldn’t get any truth from you… If you could really settle down and find a girlfriend, I wouldn’t force you to be with Xiaoyun. But… just look at yourself now, what is this?”
“Mom, can we not talk about Xiaoyun first? Can you just treat her as a visiting friend, regardless of her gender? Let me tell you honestly, right now there’s really nothing between us. If you have to describe our relationship, it’s like CC, you’ve met CC before, right? She came to our house two years ago. Just treat her like CC, smile when you should, and welcome her properly, okay?”
“I have no problem cooperating with you, but you need to think carefully yourself. How old are you now! Isn’t it time for you to find a girl so your father and I can feel at ease?”
“You’re right. I promise I’ll work hard this year and won’t disappoint you and Dad’s expectations!”
“I hope you’re not just saying that.”
“You can rest assured. If I could find a suitable girl, who would want to stay single forever!”
…
After breakfast, I took a pack of cigarettes and brewed a cup of tea, sitting on the balcony, afraid to miss Mi Cai’s arrival, though I didn’t think about how long it would take to drive from Shanghai to Xuzhou.
Around 11:30 a.m., I finally saw Mi Cai’s red Q7 driving into the neighborhood. I rushed downstairs immediately.
After I guided Mi Cai to park, she got out of the car with her handbag. We stood close to each other, looking into each other’s eyes, feeling as if we hadn’t seen each other for years instead of just a few days.
Finally, I said: “I’m really happy to see you.”
“Me too.”
After another moment of silence, I said to Mi Cai: “Let’s go upstairs for lunch. Baidie has personally cooked for us.”
“Wait, I brought some gifts for your parents. Help me take them out from the trunk.”
“Why did you bring gifts? The ones you bought last year are still in the old house, and they haven’t even been brought back to Xuzhou.”
“Be a good boy and go help me take them out.”
Because Mi Cai used the word “good boy,” our relationship instantly became more intimate, so I stared at her for a long time.
Smiling, Mi Cai asked: “Why are you looking at me like that? Are you going to ask me why my skin is so fair again?”
“Exactly, why is your skin so fair, and why are you so pretty?”
“Take the stuff first, and then we can talk more.” Mi Cai continued to urge me cheerfully.
I took the items from her trunk and curiously asked: “What did you buy?”
“I bought your mom a bag, and since your dad loves fishing, I bought him a fishing rod!”
I peeked into the shopping bag and saw a Prada bag inside. I couldn’t help but laugh and said: “Do you really think my mom will use this bag to carry vegetables at the market? You really didn’t need to spend so much!… I bet that fishing rod for my dad wasn’t cheap either?”
Mi Cai didn’t seem to care and deliberately changed the subject: “Didn’t you just ask me why my skin is so fair? Do you still want the answer?”
While leading Mi Cai toward the stairwell, I said: “Of course I do! Tell me, why is your skin so fair?”
Mi Cai pretended to be mysterious but finally gave me a dismissive answer: “Because I’m a girl from the water town of Jiangnan… Haha!”
“Come on, that’s such a lazy answer! There are countless girls from Jiangnan, and none of them have skin as fair as yours!… You must be a fairy in disguise!”
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