Yu Lingshan fell silent again. She gave Xu Shi a faint glance and walked ahead on her own.
After two steps, Xu Shi called out to her, “You’re going the wrong way.”
Yu Lingshan’s steps paused for a moment, but only a moment. She continued forward, and only after another two steps did she abruptly turn around and enter Hall 1, which was right next to Xu Shi.
Xu Shi, trailing behind, really wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, afraid that Yu Lingshan would notice.
Xu Shi quickly followed and took Yu Lingshan’s hand.
She let her hold it, didn’t pull away. There was still hope.
But she didn’t squeeze Xu Shi’s hand back, either.
“She was here for sales,” Xu Shi told Yu Lingshan. “I used to do this too. If a customer is interested, you add them on WeChat, then send them ads later. It counts towards your performance.”
Yu Lingshan: “Oh.”
Xu Shi added, “It wasn’t a pickup attempt.”
Yu Lingshan scoffed. “You’re both quite good with compliments.”
Xu Shi immediately knew she was talking about her complimenting the young girl’s pretty eyes.
To be fair, the young girl’s eyes really were very pretty, but Xu Shi felt that if she told the truth right now, she would die in this movie theater.
“It’s just a script,” Xu Shi said, leaning a little closer to Yu Lingshan. “You get trained when you join a company. Everyone knows how to do it.”
Yu Lingshan turned her head and gave Xu Shi a faint look. “Aren’t you socially anxious?”
Xu Shi felt it. Yu Lingshan squeezed her hand back.
Whether it was subconscious or intentional, Xu Shi understood.
“Heh,” Xu Shi smiled. “I’m not that socially anxious.”
Yu Lingshan said sarcastically, “I see. You’re only socially anxious with me.”
Xu Shi laughed. “Noo, it’s not.”
Once they entered the seating area, the two stopped talking. As soon as they got to their seats, Xu Shi immediately leaned over.
Yu Lingshan: “What are you doing, what are you doing.”
Xu Shi: “The most beautiful wife in the whole world.”
Yu Lingshan let out a chuckle. She had just raised her hand when Xu Shi’s face automatically leaned into it.
So, Yu Lingshan reluctantly gave her a little pinch.
Having placated Yu Lingshan, Xu Shi was happier than anyone. She cheerfully got the drinks and snacks, and without letting Yu Lingshan lift a finger, she opened a snack and held a piece up to Yu Lingshan’s lips.
“No, no.” Yu Lingshan dodged.
Xu Shi took it back. “If you don’t eat it, I will.”
Yu Lingshan was completely amused.
But then again, this older sister was truly sleepy anytime, anywhere. The movie had been playing for less than ten minutes before Yu Lingshan fell asleep.
She drifted in and out of sleep until twenty minutes before the movie ended.
She had missed all the exciting parts of the plot. She groggily lifted her head from Xu Shi’s shoulder, tidied her slightly messy hair, and glanced at the time.
“Pretty good.”
Yu Lingshan said to herself.
Xu Shi started laughing. “Want me to tell you the plot?”
Yu Lingshan shook her head. “No need.”
Just as Xu Shi was about to ask if coming was a waste, Yu Lingshan added, “Come with me to see it again next time.”
Xu Shi smiled. “Okay.”
Xu Shi then asked, “What if you fall asleep again next time?”
Yu Lingshan: “Then we’ll come the time after that.”
Xu Shi: “Are you friends with the director?”
Yu Lingshan quickly turned to look at Xu Shi, her eyes smiling too. “What are you trying to say?”
Xu Shi pursed her lips. “Nothing, nothing.”
Yu Lingshan pinched Xu Shi’s lips. “Say it.”
Xu Shi: “Contributing to the box office.”
Yu Lingshan laughed. “Xu Xiao Zhi, why are you always speaking with hidden meanings now?” Yu Lingshan’s grip tightened. “What’s gotten into you?”
Xu Shi said, “Severe Yu-ification.”
Yu Lingshan smiled. “Not bad. You’ve finally become the person you like.”
Xu Shi tried her best not to laugh out loud. “Right, right.”
Since Yu Lingshan was awake, Xu Shi showed her phone to her. The young girl from earlier had contacted her over an hour ago, and as expected, had sent an ad and asked her to please like her post on her Moments.
“I deleted her after liking it,” Xu Shi said. “Take a look.”
Yu Lingshan pushed Xu Shi’s phone away. “Knock it off with that.”
After the movie, the two went their separate ways.
It wasn’t that Xu Shi didn’t want to spend more time with Yu Lingshan, but her mother had been passive-aggressive that morning, so she didn’t dare push her luck. She had to get back before her mom went to sleep.
And when she got back, her dear mother continued with the passive-aggressiveness.
The moment she saw her, she let out a “Yo,” and her first sentence was, “So you know how to come home.”
Xu Shi immediately replied, “Of course, of course.”
Her mom added, “Don’t go sneaking out again in the middle of the night. If you’re going to do that, you might as well go now.”
Xu Shi smiled. “I won’t. I’m not going.”
Xu Shi accompanied her mom in the living room for the last half of her TV show. Of course, it wasn’t just about watching TV; they also talked a lot about Yu Lingshan.
It was her mom who initiated it, asking many questions about Yu Lingshan.
Xu Shi answered everything she knew, and her mom went over their entire story.
“So it was just a very ordinary meeting and getting to know each other,” her mom said after listening. “No spectacular story.”
Xu Shi leaned on her mom’s shoulder. “Yeah, it was very normal, just like everyone else.”
“Just like everyone else,” her mom repeated her words. “That’s good too.”
Xu Shi smiled.
Just then, the episode ended. Her mom turned off the TV, and Xu Shi sat up straight.
“See when there’s time,” her mom said, putting down the remote. “Ask her to come over for dinner. She can try my cooking.”
“Okay,” Xu Shi nodded. “I told her my mom is a great cook, a hundred times better than me. She’s been craving it for a long time.”
Her mom looked at her with disdain. “Falling in love has certainly sweetened your words.”
Xu Shi stuck out her tongue.
After her mom went to her room, Xu Shi immediately told Yu Lingshan the news.
Yu Lingshan: You might as well ask if I can move in
Xu Shi: Okay, I’ll go ask right now
Fairy Wife: Go quick
Xu Shi: Remember to call her ‘Mom’ when you come in
Fairy Wife: Does that even need to be said
For the next few days, Xu Shi obediently stayed at home. It wasn’t good to always leave her mom alone.
Three days had passed since the preliminary round. During these three days, Xu Shi received several calls. Some were from design companies wanting to recruit her, some were invitations to small events and banquets for “Teacher Xu,” and, of course, there were sales calls.
After consulting Yu Lingshan, Xu Shi rejected them all.
But at the same time, she also informed her company that she was preparing to resign.
Things, both planned and unplanned, were falling into place with the rhythm of life. It was as if someone had opened a great door to Xu Shi’s future. Behind the door was a radiant light, and Yu Lingshan stood smiling by its side, extending a hand to invite her to walk forward together.
On Saturday morning, amidst the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers, the first thing Xu Shi did upon opening her eyes was check her phone.
No message from Yu Lingshan; she was probably still asleep.
But she had other messages. It was from her university class group chat, which hadn’t been active in ages. Several of her former classmates were tagging her.
Xu Shi squinted and clicked on it. They were all telling her to check Weibo.
This Weibo was, of course, “Reason Only Has a Say.”
Xu Shi opened Weibo, switched to that account, and sure enough, saw many unread messages. She opened them and, seeing the content, immediately sat bolt upright in bed.
It was a post from Ying Jie, tagging her, a long piece published at six-thirty in the morning.
It was a letter of apology.
Xu Shi read it through carefully.
Then she read it through carefully again.
And then she started to smile.
The content was comprehensive. She had disclosed almost all the works she had stolen back then, added her thought process, and concluded with a three-paragraph apology. The entire piece was exceedingly sincere.
But even so, it couldn’t stop Ying Jie from getting flamed in the comments.
This apology felt like it had extracted that period of memory from Xu Shi’s university days, making her walk through those experiences one more time.
She had actually dreamed about this back then, dreamed that Ying Jie had a change of heart.
But even in such dreams, Xu Shi only dared to imagine Ying Jie speaking up for her, not making things difficult. She never dared to imagine that Ying Jie would return her work, explain things in such detail, and finally apologize.
But it was clear that today wasn’t about Ying Jie having a change of heart.
It was a lie to say she wasn’t happy. At this moment, Xu Shi felt as if a great stone that had been buried deep in her heart, one that had probably taken root, had suddenly been dug up and thrown far away.
Xu Shi was so happy she rolled around in bed several times. Forgetting about going back to sleep, she immediately got up to make breakfast for her mom.
She also made a portion for Yu Lingshan to deliver later.
She must have replied in the class group chat, because less than two minutes later, her phone rang.
She answered the phone. Her first word was a friendly “Hello,” but her second, “It’s you?”, was delivered with a sharp drop in tone.
The call was from Ying Jie. Her voice sounded very weak as she asked, “Did you see it?”
Xu Shi was direct: “What do you want?”
Ying Jie: “Xu Shi, I’ve apologized, my place in the competition is gone, my job is gone, and my dad doesn’t want to deal with me anymore. Are you satisfied now?”
Xu Shi: “That’s hilarious. You brought this on yourself, and now you’re asking me if I’m satisfied? Why didn’t you think about the consequences when you were doing those bad things?”
Ying Jie: “Would I have ended up like this if you weren’t scheming against me behind my back?”
Xu Shi: “Wow, I must be pretty impressive then.”
Ying Jie: “I’ve apologized now. I don’t owe you anything anymore. Let’s not contact each other ever again.”
“That’s rich. Weren’t you the one following me around from the very beginning? Who the fuck wants to contact you,” Xu Shi said into the mouthpiece. “Fuck off, okay?”
After saying that, Xu Shi hung up the phone.
Then she turned her head and saw her mom standing at the kitchen entrance.
Xu Shi froze.
Her mom also looked a bit stunned, the cup in her hand tilted as if she was hesitating to drink from it.
Xu Shi screamed “Oh no” in her head.
The good girl just cursed.
“Mom,” Xu Shi gave a dry laugh. “I’m making sandwiches.”
Her mom said, “Oh,” and asked, “Who were you arguing with?”
Xu Shi: “A classmate from university.” She thought for a moment and added, “A very annoying one.”
“I’ve never seen you talk to anyone like that. She must be very annoying then.” Her mom’s words sounded like she didn’t know what to say but felt compelled to say something.
Xu Shi gave another dry laugh. “Yes.”
Was there anything more embarrassing than your mom hearing you curse?
Well, maybe. For example, being seen kissing your girlfriend downstairs.
Her mom walked a little closer, looking at the ingredients in the bowl. “A portion for three.”
Xu Shi: “Mhm.”
Her mom took a sip of water, an “I knew it” expression written all over her face.
Xu Shi had messaged Yu Lingshan when she woke up. Just as she finished wrapping the sandwiches, Yu Lingshan replied.
Fairy Wife: Baby you’re up so early
Xu Shi: You’re up early too
Yu Lingshan sent a sighing emoji.
Fairy Wife: You know
Fairy Wife: It’s so early in the morning
Fairy Wife: Sigh…
Xu Shi knew at once that Yu Lingshan was getting at something.
So Xu Shi asked: What’s wrong?
Fairy Wife: Your wife is sending you an invitation
Xu Shi: What invitation?
Fairy Wife: Come over and have sex with me
Xu Shi instantly flushed, almost unable to type properly.
Xu Shi: Coming coming coming!
