Father Ban looked at both of us again, me and Mi Cai, making us even more embarrassed. Finally, I broke the silence with an air of righteousness and explained, “Father Ban, Comrade Xiaomi has a bit of a cold, so I was just showing some consideration…”
I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence, as it was rather awkward to say out loud.
Father Ban nodded and said, “I thought she had sprained her ankle.”
His words made Mi Cai and me feel even more ashamed. His meaning was clear: it’s just a cold, why carry her at all?
We stood there awkwardly while Father Ban kindly said, “I’ve made some late-night snacks for you two, come in and eat.”
Finally, it was just the two of us. I complained, “I told you to walk down yourself, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you see how embarrassing it is.”
“You pervert…”
“First, tell me clearly—are you cursing me or my dad?”
“I curse whoever carries me!”
“Well, I did carry you down, but did I say I would carry you upstairs too?”
As Mi Cai and I argued, Father Ban called from inside, “What are you two still doing outside? Comrade Xiaomi has a cold, don’t let her catch another chill!”
Back inside, Father Ban had already served us sweet rice balls. He asked, “Do you have any cold medicine at home? If not, I’ll go buy some.”
I asked Mi Cai, “Did you finish the cold medicine I bought you last time?”
“There’s still some left,” she replied softly, still keeping her head down, not yet recovered from the embarrassment. After all, in Father Ban’s eyes, she was a very proper girl, yet he had just witnessed her clinging tightly to me.
Father Ban nodded and said, “Alright then, you two eat. I’ll go stay in a hotel. Zhaoyang, after you finish eating, remember to make her a bowl of ginger soup.”
“Father Ban, won’t you stay a while longer? I want to talk to you,” I said, standing up. I felt guilty because of Li Xiaoyun, and wanted to say something to make him feel better.
“Tomorrow. I’ll come cook for you at noon tomorrow.”
“Okay, then let me walk you out.”
“No need. The hotel is right across from your apartment complex. Just remember to make Xiaomi ginger soup after she finishes eating. If you don’t take a cold seriously, it can leave a lasting illness!” With that, he turned and walked out.
I whispered to Mi Cai, “Won’t you come downstairs with me to see my dad off?”
“You go yourself… I can’t imagine what he must think of me now! So embarrassing!”
“Good, at least you know it’s embarrassing. You’ve completely shattered my dad’s worldview. He must think so little of you now… so undignified!” I exaggerated deliberately.
Mi Cai remained silent, then sighed softly, and again… regretting her actions.
After seeing Father Ban downstairs, I returned to the apartment, but Mi Cai had already gone to her room, leaving the bowls unwashed. I approached her door, opened it slightly, and peeked inside. The room was dimly lit by a small nightlight. Mi Cai was already in bed wrapped in the blanket, probably without even washing up.
I walked in and asked, “Haven’t you washed up yet? Why are you lying down already?”
“No mood.”
I said sternly, “Not washing up is bad behavior… you’re supposed to be a goddess!”
“I’m not a goddess, I’m a crazy girl!”
“Why say that about yourself?”
“If I weren’t crazy, why would I let you carry me!”
“Oh, you’re still thinking about that? Although you were clinging tightly to me and just happened to be seen by my dad, he didn’t actually say anything bad about you. Don’t take it so seriously!”
“It’s all your fault!”
Helpless against Mi Cai’s childish temper, I finally said, “Okay, okay, okay, it’s all my fault! Anyway, don’t fall asleep yet. I’m going to make you some ginger soup. Drink it before sleeping.”
“I already took cold medicine.”
“You caught a chill, so you need ginger soup to drive out the cold. Combined with the medicine, it’s safer.”
“I don’t like the taste of ginger soup, it’s too strong.”
“You don’t catch colds every day. One cup won’t kill you.”
“I don’t want to drink it.”
I coaxed her like a child, “Be good. After you drink it, I’ll give you something fun.”
Mi Cai finally showed interest, “What fun thing?”
“You’ll definitely like it,” I said confidently, because she certainly would, otherwise she wouldn’t have asked me to buy her a gas-powered racing car last time.
“Okay, I’ll drink it then.”
“That’s the way to go. After all, your health is your own responsibility. Lie down first, I’ll go make it for you now.”
Mi Cai reminded me, “Don’t forget to give me the fun thing afterwards.”
I was speechless, amazed at how playful she was, making it seem like fun stuff was even more important than her life itself. I thought back to when we first met, how cold and distant she had been. I couldn’t help but marvel at the power of time. We had both become more genuine, more like ourselves as time passed. This applies particularly to Mi Cai and me. Compared to her previous coldness, I preferred this real her now, at least no longer so distant and unapproachable. I didn’t have to stand at a faraway corner watching her from across the sea anymore.
Half an hour later, I brought the freshly made ginger soup to Mi Cai’s room. She was on the phone. From the conversation, I could tell she was talking to Weiran. She said she had a cold and couldn’t return to Shanghai, promising to spend time with him another day.
After she finished the call, I handed her the ginger soup and casually asked, “So, is the little turtle upset you didn’t return to Shanghai?”
“He’s not upset. He has other friends in Shanghai.”
“Really? I told you there was no need to rush back. He’s probably at some club right now, surrounded by friends on both sides, living a luxurious life!”
Mi Cai frowned, “What do you mean by ‘surrounded by friends’!”
“Don’t misunderstand me. What I meant was simple—friends on his left and friends on his right, just friends. I didn’t say they were those special service girls!”
“Dirty, boring, not funny at all!”
“Drink the ginger soup first. Once you’re better, you can scold me more vividly!”
“How noble of you.”
“Without my nobility, how could your sharp tongue shine?”
Mi Cai didn’t want to argue with me anymore. She took the ginger soup from me and reluctantly drank a few sips before asking, “Where’s the fun thing you promised me? Shouldn’t you give it to me now?”
“Finish it first, then I’ll give it to you.”
“Let me see it first. Who knows if you’re just teasing me.”
“No bargaining. I said after you finish, I’ll give it to you. With my noble character and honesty, I wouldn’t deceive a sick woman.”
“I’d say you’re more like someone who lies with every word.”
“If I can lie nine times in one sentence, are you complimenting me? Even a language master couldn’t be that impressive!”
“Don’t argue. Unless you show it to me first, I won’t drink.”
I didn’t want to argue with a woman throwing a tantrum, so I gave in, “Fine, fine, fine, I’ll go get it. I hope you won’t be moved to tears when you see it.”
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