He Lindi went abroad, and the two officially began a ten-day long-distance relationship.
It seemed that ever since getting together with He Lindi, whether working or on holiday, they were always separating and reuniting, because He Lindi’s job was different. She was a photographer who needed to travel for work, not like Chi Shuo, a junior clerk who rarely went on business trips.
With He Lindi abroad, they had a time difference, which was hard to adjust to at first, but they gradually got used to it.
On the fifth day of their separation, Chi Shuo finished two drawings. She was truly bored, feeling the company holiday was too long.
But something happened today: Tong Jinjin and his father returned from Liucheng.
They had been gone for over a week. The Tong family hadn’t had a good New Year, all worried about Tong Jinjin’s situation. Chi Shuo had heard Grandpa Tong sigh countless times.
The outcome of the matter was also decided—the child must be aborted, and the Tong family would compensate.
Hearing this result, Chi Shuo wasn’t surprised. Tong Jinjin wasn’t even nineteen. Having him take responsibility just meant financial responsibility. At his age, the extent of responsibility in this situation was limited to accompanying the girl for the abortion.
During their absence, Chi Shuo also learned about the other person involved from Grandma Tong.
The girl was Tong Jinjin’s classmate. Since military training, she had been expressing her feelings for him. Tong Jinjin had rejected her from the first confession. The girl was pretty and lively, but Tong Jinjin just didn’t like her. Until two months ago, when Tong Jinjin was drunk… They had gone out together, stayed at a hotel. After he returned to the hotel, the girl brought him water.
Then that accident happened.
Grandma Tong’s eyes teared up as she spoke: “Our Xiao Tong… who did he mistake her for?”
Chi Shuo patted the back of her hand to comfort her: “Grandma Tong, it’s okay, it’ll be handled.”
As for who Tong Jinjin had mistaken the girl for, Chi Shuo didn’t assume it was her, nor did she think it was necessarily related to her.
Besides, even if it were her, it had nothing to do with her. She was the innocent one, okay?
Chi Shuo told He Lindi about the outcome. He Lindi replied: “That’s good. They’re still young. Having the child would be irresponsible.”
Chi Shuo wholeheartedly agreed: “Yeah.” She thought of herself. “When my parents got married, they were also very young. I was conceived by accident.”
He Lindi was surprised: “Really?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“My dad wasn’t a good person. During that time, he was restless, cheated multiple times.”
“Later, they divorced. He quickly left with a young, rich woman.”
Chi Shuo’s tone was very calm when saying this. He Lindi, hearing this, was about to comfort her when Chi Shuo continued, “I just don’t understand. A young, rich woman in her twenties, why would she find an uncle? What does a thirty- or forty-year-old uncle have besides maybe some mature charm? Is his back okay? Are his kidneys good?”
He Lindi was silent for a few seconds, then changed the subject: “My back is good, my kidneys are good. Why isn’t Sister Shuo a rich woman yet?”
Chi Shuo: “…Your back is good?”
“Isn’t it?”
Chi Shuo: “I have the right to remain silent.”
“Heh.”
This kind of conversation made Chi Shuo feel like they were back to the days when they’d bicker upon meeting.
She smiled, her lips curving. She said into the phone, “See you when you get back.”
February 16th. It was already the 12th day of the Lunar New Year. They had to go back to work the day after tomorrow. Chi Shuo started packing in the morning, preparing to return to her rented apartment this afternoon.
Her mother entered the bedroom, watched her busy, and asked, “When are you coming back next time?”
Chi Shuo stopped folding clothes and replied, “It depends. Maybe once a month, or maybe I’ll come back for every holiday.”
Her mother’s change in attitude had made Chi Shuo enjoy this Spring Festival immensely. It was the happiest one she’d had in recent years.
Her mother smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
She walked over and helped Chi Shuo pack. With their combined efforts, the efficiency increased considerably.
That afternoon, Chi Shuo got into a taxi again. Before leaving, she met the Tong family one last time.
Tong Jinjin looked haggard. The dark circles under his eyes and his pale complexion made it clear he hadn’t been doing well lately.
He was sent by Grandpa Tong to carry Chi Shuo’s things. Chi Shuo couldn’t refuse, and Tong Jinjin carried her suitcase downstairs.
They walked side by side. Tong Jinjin was silent. Children played roller skating in the complex, their happy laughter echoing in the wind.
Nearing the complex entrance, Tong Jinjin stopped. He turned to look at Chi Shuo, his dry lips parting. “Sister Shuo, am I a terrible person?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I’ve been having nightmares these past two days.” Tong Jinjin looked pained. “I dream about a baby asking me why I, his dad, didn’t want him.”
As he spoke, a thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead, and his eyes teared up.
Chi Shuo grabbed his arm, offering comfort. “You’re not a terrible person.” She softened her voice. “Really.”
After getting into the taxi, Chi Shuo still hadn’t fully recovered. She felt things were truly unpredictable. She had initially thought Tong Jinjin wanted to talk to her about being in a relationship.
On the way, Chi Shuo contacted Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai. They would leave Chi Shuo’s home later and go to her apartment to wrap up the New Year.
Shops on the street had reopened since the 8th day of the Lunar New Year. When Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai arrived, they carried groceries they had just bought from the market.
“Crab, shrimp, chicken, ribs…” Chi Shuo counted the groceries on the dining table. “I can cook them, but can you finish it all?”
Zeng Guai shook her head. “You don’t have to cook everything. I bought other dishes for you too. Look how thin you’ve gotten.”
She finished speaking, reached out to pinch Chi Shuo’s chin, then immediately retracted her words. “Oh, not thin, your double chin is almost visible.”
Xia Zhou chuckled twice. While picking vegetables, she said, “Anyone who doesn’t gain three jin during the holidays is a traitor.”
Chi Shuo took some of the meat into the kitchen and started preparing dinner seriously.
At 8 PM, the three of them were full and lying on Chi Shuo’s sofa.
They had all had some alcohol. Chi Shuo knew she wasn’t entirely sober. Zeng Guai smacked her lips and asked, “When are we going to Alex’s bar again?” She counted on her fingers, then dropped her hand after a couple of seconds. “I can’t even remember how long it’s been.”
Chi Shuo closed her eyes, placing her hand on her forehead. Her head felt a bit dizzy. She said, “Weren’t we busy with work before? Where would we find the time? And we have so much work piled up after the holidays, we’ll be busy again. We won’t get a proper break for ten days or half a month.”
Xia Zhou asked, “What about Didi?”
Chi Shuo calculated the time. “It’s probably four or five AM over there now.”
“No.”
“I mean, when is she coming back?”
“Tomorrow night.” Chi Shuo answered, then grinned. Because of the alcohol, the smile looked a bit silly, but mostly cute.
Hearing this, Zeng Guai stood up, swaying slightly, and collapsed onto the other sofa. “Sigh, I’m still single. I don’t want to be around you two.”
Chi Shuo and Xia Zhou laughed. Zeng Guai frowned slightly, expressing her concern. “Shuo Shuo, have you thought about what to do with Didi later?”
Chi Shuo’s mind was a bit slow. “What do you mean, ‘what to do’?”
Xia Zhou clarified for Zeng Guai, “Aren’t you and Didi a couple? Two girls, families might not be so accepting.”
Chi Shuo shook her head. “Haven’t thought about it.” She exhaled. “What’s there to think about? Let it be.”
Xia Zhou glanced at her and sighed. “I have that mindset now too, but I’m also a bit pessimistic. I’ve been dating Yue Ke for over half a year. It’s been smooth sailing; we haven’t even argued. We’re probably the couple others envy. But sometimes, I can’t help but think, if one day we have to break up because of our families… what attitude will he and I have? My family’s situation is vastly different from his, including Didi’s. Their families are just not ordinary. Even though it’s 2019, there are still many people who insist on ‘matching social status’.” Xia Zhou sighed deeply. “So I haven’t really wanted to see him lately. That time when he was preparing for finals, I thought maybe seeing each other less would make our feelings fade, and if we broke up, we wouldn’t have to face all sorts of problems.”
Zeng Guai felt Xia Zhou’s words had sobered her up. “Holy crap, you’re already thinking about breaking up after less than a year of dating?”
“No.”
“I’m just lacking confidence in this relationship.”
“Later, I thought about it. It’s not bad to just be in love in the present moment. If that day really comes, we’ll deal with it then.”
Xia Zhou finished speaking and asked, “Shuo Shuo, what do you think?”
But she didn’t get a reply. Zeng Guai opened her eyes and looked towards Chi Shuo, realizing Chi Shuo had fallen asleep.
Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai sighed softly. One got up to go to the bedroom and bring a blanket for Chi Shuo, while the other went to the kitchen to clear the trash.
They sat on the sofa for a bit longer, until they felt sober enough, then quietly closed the door and left with the trash bag.
Because of the alcohol, Chi Shuo slept soundly. When she woke up in the morning, she was still a bit disoriented, unsure where she was.
Only after seeing her bedroom did she realize she had already moved back, and today was the last day of the holiday.
Her hair was a bit messy. Chi Shuo tidied it while leaving the bedroom to wash up.
She had just opened the door, hadn’t even stepped out, when she froze on the spot.
He Lindi was by the living room window, holding her DSLR. Seeing Chi Shuo emerge, she aimed the lens at her, grinning. “Another photo for the album.”
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