NB Chapter54

I pushed his hand away with such force that the handkerchief fluttered from his palm and landed on the dusty pavement. Zhang Mingsheng’s eyes flickered, a subtle ripple of surprise crossing his features.

He bent down and retrieved the cloth before shaking it off. “You seem a bit heated, Officer. Perhaps ice-cold water would do you good.”

Li Yi was chatting with the patrol officers who had just arrived nearby. They were whispering among themselves, nodding occasionally and casting quick glances in my direction. When I caught them looking, they snapped their heads away in unison. The thief was a regular; the colleagues recognized him instantly, handed him a tissue for his nose, and led him away with a few mocking remarks.

The stolen wallet was returned to its owner. It was a young man in a shirt and tie with sweat dampening his neck and underarms. He looked like someone drowning in work, hastily offering a word of thanks before rushing off.

Once the chaos settled, Li Yi slung an arm around my shoulder. “Alright, Senior, it’s no big deal. Let’s get going.”

“Yeah.”

“Officer… ah, no, it’s Officer Yu. I remember now; you’re Yu Fuchao. We’ve met before. Does Officer Yu does not recall?” Zhang Mingsheng called out, halting my steps.

I turned to him, my expression was flat and cold. “Sorry, I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

A crack slipped through his composure, a faint fracture in his usual unflappability. He covered it with a smile, though in his youth, he was far less skilled at concealing his emotions than he would one day become. Seeing that face made me grit my teeth so hard they ached. I had killed him once with my own hands; if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a single second.

“I’m not sure what I did wrong,” Zhang Mingsheng said, his expression projecting a practice sincerity. “Is there any chance for me to make amends?”

“We are total strangers,” I replied. “There is nothing to amend.”

“Officer Yu…”

Zhan Weiqing was dressed in a loose, lotus-colored top, his features appearing deceptively meek as he looped his arm through Zhang Mingsheng’s. “Brother Mingsheng,” he purred, “you’ve been fretting over someone from a chance encounter, yet he doesn’t even remember you. Perhaps this officer simply isn’t our kind of person.”

So, Zhan Weiqing had already latched onto Zhang Mingsheng back then. No, perhaps it was even earlier.

Watching him like this and remembering how Keke’s face was nearly scalded, I clenched my fists. He hated Keke; he hated that Zhang Mingsheng had a biological child. He couldn’t accept that Zhang Mingsheng had a family. That was why he’d exhausted himself with secret paternity tests and marriage contracts hidden in files, never realizing that Zhang Mingsheng didn’t care in the slightest whether the child was his or not.

Zhan Weiqing continued, “People who can’t hold their place in high society are always this ungrateful, living in places like these slums…”

“Have you said enough?” Zhang Mingsheng’s voice was frigid as he pulled his arm away from Zhan Weiqing’s grasp.

By then, Li Yi and I had already put some distance between us and them. Li Yi leaned in, looking utterly bewildered. “Are those two a couple?”

I laughed. “It’s very likely.”

“I saw someone at the corner with a camera just now. From the angle, they were definitely snapping photos of those two. We might see some big news tomorrow.”

“What kind of big news?”

“The Zhang-Zhan Union: A Wedding Night Standoff at Gunpoint.” Li Yi joked with a mischievous grin, tightening his grip on my shoulder.

The crude humor was lowbrow, but it had a strange efficacy; my mood lifted significantly.

Back at our table, my bowl had already vanished. Li Yi went to investigate only to be rebuffed by the proprietress and a series of sharp glares. “You both bolted! How was I supposed to know if you were coming back? You’re taking up two seats, what if other customers wanted to eat!”

“What other customers? We’re the only ones here!” Li Yi shot back, refusing to give ground.

I signaled for Li Yi to sit down and turned to the woman. “We’ll take another order, same as before. We’ll pay for it.”

“I don’t have that kind of money!” Li Yi hissed at me with his eyes wide.

“My treat.” I said, picking up a pair of fresh wooden chopsticks and rubbing them together to smooth out the splinters.

Li Yi’s indignation evaporated instantly.

When the shrimp dumplings arrived, they were accompanied by the bills we had originally put down. The proprietress lifted her chin proudly, her plump face glistening with sweat and flushed from the kitchen heat. She spoke brusquely, “Hmph. Nice move back there. This one’s on the house.”

She turned and marched away before we even had a chance to express our surprise or offer our thanks.

Kindness from a stranger makes a meal taste even better. Li Yi let out a childish “Thank you!” before diving back into his food. I started eating as well.

Just then, the proprietress’s child wandered over. She looked to be about the same age as Keke, well-cared for with chubby little hands and large, round eyes. She stood on her tiptoes while peering over the edge of our table with pure curiosity. When I caught her eye, she grew bashful and scurried away, burying her face in her mother’s apron.

“Senior, do you like kids?” Li Yi asked with his mouth full.

I was silent for a few seconds. “Not particularly.”

But my mind was still on that child from just now. As I thought about it, the person leaning against the table seemed to turn into Keke. Her face was so clear, and her growing up was vivid in my mind.

I don’t like kids that much.

But I really do like Keke.

She is my child.

But what good is realizing any of these now?

My phone rang.

Caller ID: David.

I hesitated for a few seconds, then hung up.

Li Yi asked doubtfully, “Why didn’t you answer? Who is it?”

“Ex-boyfriend.” I said succinctly.

The sound of something dropping came from the kitchen.

“…Do you have any plans for later?” Li Yi changed the subject.

Though he was open-minded, he still avoided the topic of my sexual orientation as if it were contagious the moment it was mentioned.

“No plans. I’m giving you the day off.”

“Yes, sir!” Li Yi stood up, snapped his heels together, and gave me a salute. Then he sat back down with a grin and finished the last shrimp dumpling.

“Are you going on a date?” I asked.

“What? What date? Senior, what are you talking about!” Li Yi’s cheek bulged out, and his eyes widened.

“Ah,” I said, acting as if I’d simply misspoken. “My mistake. Go chat with Shanshan then.”

“Mm.” Li Yi mumbled while burying his head.

If he had a dog tail, it would be wagging right now.

“What about you? What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to see Shimu[mfn]Shimu basically refers to the mentor’s wife. Could also be mistress (I guess?) sounds unnatural regardless, so I’m using Shimu instead.[/mfn],” I pulled out a tissue to wipe my mouth. “I’ve been telling her to get a check-up, but every time I ask, she says ‘next time.’ This time, I’m going with her.”

Shimu health had been weighing on my mind.

Regardless of whether it was a dream or not, I had to be sure she was healthy.

“Then we’re going the same way,” Li Yi said. “I’ll stay for dinner tonight, saves me the cost of a meal.”

“If Shimu knew you only came over to save money, she’d be furious.”

“Shimu isn’t stingy like you.”

“I’m stingy? Li Yi, I’m stingy?”

Li Yi threw his arm around me as usual. “My senior is the most generous person ever. It’s my birthday next month, and I just happened to see a tie clip I like.”

We bickered all the way, taking the tram and climbing the stairs.

When we reached out mentor’s house, before the door even opened, Li Yi quickly tidied his appearance.

Shanshan came out to greet us, looking at about seventeen or eighteen, her face lighting up with surprise.

For some reason, I always felt she was still just a child. If it weren’t for the fact that she and Li Yi grew up together and knew each other inside out, I wouldn’t have allowed this relationship to happen.

“Shanshan, who is it?” Shimu’s voice came from a distance.

Shanshan had her hair in a high ponytail, a common style for college girls. She turned her head, “It’s Senior!”

“Is he alone?” Shimu asked again.

Shanshan leaned against the doorframe, looking at Li Yi triumphantly. “And another one here to scrounge a meal!”

Li Yi furrowed his brows, appearing dissatisfied with this differential treatment.

But both Shanshan and I knew he was faking it.

As soon as they stepped inside, the two of them started whispering and disappeared into Shanshan’s room, leaving me standing there holding a fruit plate Shanshan had shoved into my hands.

“Ah Chao, Ah Chao,” Shimu called to me. “Come look, I’ve planted a new pot of flowers.”

I walked toward the balcony.

Passing the massive fish tank, goldfish drifted through the deep blue water. The old wall calendar, the dark green wooden window frames… Shimu’s balcony gradually came into view before me. It was lush and vibrant filled with pots and jars blooming with all kinds of flowers. The leaves were broad or thin in varying shades of green.

Shimu wore silver spectacles with her hair pulled back.

She had always dressed simply; a white set of pajamas dotted with red polka dots, as she bent over to loosen the soil in her flowerpots.

Without realizing it, my face was wet with tears.

For all these years, how I’ve wished that a world existed after death.

---

Unlock the complete translation HERE!