Mi Cai was silent for a long time on the other end of the phone call. This silence was clearly due to anger. Suddenly, I felt really guilty for being so mean—stealing her photos was bad enough, but then I also insulted her with personal attacks.
“Zhaoyang, you can mock me however you want, but you better explain the photo stealing properly.”
Facing Mi Cai’s accusation, I felt slightly uneasy. If I didn’t like her, I wouldn’t want her photos even if she gave them to me. But I couldn’t tell her my true motives. After a pause, I said, “As Kong Yiji said, stealing photos isn’t really stealing.”
“Do you think I never went to elementary school? He was talking about stealing books, not photos.” Mi Cai’s tone became increasingly displeased.
“Exactly! Books are printed to be read, and photos are taken to be seen. They’re essentially the same thing!”
Mi Cai: “…”
“Um… I might have gone a bit too far calling your photos poisoned. Actually… you’re really beautiful, and those photos are quite cute… You know, in real life, I never get to see you like that, so those stolen photos mean a lot to me!” After a while, I sincerely said.
Mi Cai fell silent again, finally dropping the subject of the photos. She said, “Remember to bring my lunch over later. Call me when you arrive, and I’ll come pick you up.”
After Mi Cai hung up, I was momentarily stunned. She had just said she would personally pick me up, not send her assistant. I must have heard right—yes, definitely right!
…
A short while later, Ban Die had already prepared lunch. I told him: “Mi Cai is busy at work and can’t come back to eat. I’ll deliver it to her company later.” Ban Die nodded calmly as usual, so I thought Mi Cai was worrying too much. If Ban Die considered her my girlfriend, then even if she hugged me or slept with me in the same bed, he wouldn’t think anything of it. After all, it’s the 21st century, right?
During lunch, I chatted with Ban Die, naturally most concerned about my mom. I asked him, “How has Mom been lately?”
“She plays mahjong less often now.”
This answer, so typical of Ban Die, made me feel a bit sad. I truly disappointed my mother by giving up on Li Xiaoyun. I could better understand her eagerness for me to get married quickly, as she always considered Li Xiaoyun the most suitable person for me to marry.
After a long silence, I finally asked Ban Die, “Have you been fishing less often recently?”
“Who goes fishing in the middle of winter?”
I remained silent. My intention was to lighten the mood with this joke, but instead, it seemed to evoke more emotion from Ban Die.
Ban Die took a sip of wine and asked me, “Zhaoyang, what’s the situation with Xiaomi’s family?”
This question finally confirmed that he truly regarded Mi Cai as my girlfriend, believing that I had given up on Li Xiaoyun for her. Compared to my mother’s reaction at the time, he remained much calmer.
I didn’t mind Ban Die’s assumptions, and since there was no need to hide anything about Mi Cai’s family background, I told him everything I knew.
After listening, Ban Die’s expression turned somewhat serious. After a while, he asked again, “What about her mother?”
I hesitated. It seemed that Mi Cai had never mentioned her mother to me, and I also felt it would be too intrusive to ask. I shook my head and told Ban Die, “I don’t know, she’s never talked about it.”
“Poor Xiaomi. You should treat her well. If you have time during the New Year, bring her back to Xuzhou. It’s better than her being alone and helpless in Suzhou.”
I cautiously asked, “Ban Die, you really don’t mind her family background? And our families aren’t really compatible either!”
“I’ve always believed you should choose your own path in love. So when you went back to Xuzhou for Xiaoyun, I could accept it. And when you moved back to Suzhou to live with Xiaomi, I could accept that too. The key thing is, before making any decision, you must carefully consider whether you can truly walk the path with this girl and build a good life together… Never let something like what happened with Xiaoyun happen again. You hurt Xiaoyun deeply!”
I remained silent. My silence came from guilt. The hastily started relationship with Li Xiaoyun was a major mistake I made in my life. In that relationship, I was extremely selfish—I selfishly hoped Li Xiaoyun would rescue me from my suffering, and I selfishly failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a boyfriend. Thinking back now, Li Xiaoyun was the only woman I’ve ever wronged in my life. So Ban Die was right—I must learn from this and not hurt another woman who might come into my life.
…
After finishing lunch, Ban Die packed another untouched meal into a thermos container and said to me, “You should take this meal to Xiaomi later. I need to catch the 1 PM train to Xuzhou, so I’ll leave first.”
“I thought you would stay in Suzhou for a few more days this time!”
“All the tasks are done. There are other work arrangements at the unit.”
“Oh, then take care on your trip.” I reminded him.
Ban Die nodded, then picked up his old-fashioned briefcase and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, I impulsively called out to him: “Ban Die…”
“What else is there?”
“…Don’t you think I’m not good enough for Comrade Xiaomi? I don’t even have a proper job yet!”
Ban Die looked at me, smiling unusually as he said, “I have confidence in my son. Work hard and become Xiaomi’s support. Don’t let this girl suffer again!”
His words made my eyes well up. It turned out he had never looked down on me, his son who had achieved nothing. His words gave me an inexplicable sense of strength. I would strive hard, striving to bid farewell to my former self through hard work…
And just like that, Ban Die left, carrying a misunderstanding with him. I didn’t explain because all explanations had lost their persuasiveness. After all, Mi Cai had once come to Xuzhou to find me. After all, when I returned to Suzhou, I moved into her house. After all, I secretly kept her photos, and last night she clung to me and was seen by Ban Die.
All these things even made me have illusions—illusions where Mi Cai was truly my legitimate girlfriend.
…
Driving my beloved Alto, the Little Prince, I sped toward Zhuomei. It was just past 12, the lunchtime.
Since I had contacted in advance, when I arrived at Zhuomei’s visitor registration desk, Mi Cai was already there waiting for me.
I quickly completed the registration and walked alongside Mi Cai, chatting as we went, but neither of us mentioned the photos again. I felt that after my confusing and insistent explanation, Mi Cai had given up on confronting me about it. I could finally openly possess those rare photos.
Walking down the corridor toward the general manager’s office, suddenly around a corner, a group of people approached. Leading them was a middle-aged man with some gray hair, sharp features, and an ageless appearance. His presence was very imposing, and those following him seemed timid and deferential.
Soon, we met. He stopped and looked me over, his stern yet gloomy face carrying a hint of a smile as he asked Mi Cai, “Xiaocai, is this your friend?”
From his way of addressing Mi Cai, I immediately realized that this man before me was likely Mi Zhongde, the one whose bad reputation I had long heard of!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage