【022——-】
For a whole week, Zhuang Yiyi hadn’t received many messages from Chen Ding on WeChat.
Meanwhile, Fang Zhile had spotted Chen Ding at the bar on several occasions.
“Why have you been coming round so often lately?” Fang Zhile asked.
“Does it not do the business any good?”
Fang Zhile actually thought it was rather good. With Chen Ding hanging around here every night, the bar’s takings had improved considerably. He asked seriously, “Is there trouble with your wife?”
Chen Ding shot him a dismissive glance. “Got nothing better to do than pry into my married life?”
Fang Zhilue chuckled. “Hit a nerve, didn’t I? Remember, someone once said that once you’ve got a wife, you won’t have time to come to the bar. Yet here you are, back at the bar less than six months later.”
Chen Ding gave a faint smile. “Without me, would your business be doing this well lately?”
“That’s not necessarily the case.”
“Right.” Chen Ding stood up. “I’m off.”
“Hey!” Fang Zhile hurriedly grabbed hold of this ‘money-maker’ and pleaded earnestly, “I’m just looking out for you. We’re good mates; when it comes to your affairs, I’d do anything for you.”
“No need.” Chen Ding sat back down. “I know my limits.”
Hearing this, Fang Zhile relaxed. He then asked Chen Ding if he was free next Wednesday, explaining that he was planning a music night at the bar and wanted to invite a few bands to perform, and suggested Chen Ding might sing a song too.
“No thanks.”
“Why don’t you bring your wife along then? Let her admire your singing prowess.”
Chen Ding chuckled softly. “That’s a nice thought, but I’m not interested.”
Seeing that Fang Zhile was about to persuade him further, Chen Ding continued, “Anyway, I’m off.”
Fang Zhile dared not say another word.
By the time Zhuang Yiyi got home from work, it was already 8 o’clock in the evening. When she opened the door, the flat was pitch black, with the bright lights of distant buildings glimmering in the distance. As she switched on the lights, the evening breeze blew in through the open balcony, causing the clothes hanging there to sway in the darkness.
Chen Ding hadn’t come home.
She felt that Chen Ding should be home by now.
As usual, she went to her room first to change into her pyjamas, took a shower, and then went to the kitchen to cook some noodles.
The water in the pan was bubbling. Zhuang Yiyi stared at the bubbles for nearly half a minute, as if only then realising she was boiling noodles; she hurriedly dropped the noodles into the pan and put the lid on.
She went to knock on Chen Ding’s door.
Once, twice, three times—no one answered.
She stood at the door in silence for two seconds, then turned and went back to the kitchen.
Sitting at the table with her bowl of noodles, Zhuang Yiyi ate listlessly. Finding the house too quiet, she got up and switched on the television.
With the sound of the TV in the background, she finished her noodles, washed the bowl, and went to the study.
She had originally intended to find a couple of books to read, but Zhuang Yiyi noticed the photographs on the desk. They were all pictures of Chen Ding, with different landscapes in the background.
These landscapes were all unfamiliar to Zhuang Yiyi.
She happened to notice some writing on the back of the photos.
She paused for a moment, then smiled.
“XX/XX/XX, Nanjing Hongshan Zoo, saw a rather unusual monkey.”
“XX/XX/XX, by West Lake in Hangzhou, too many people, it was crowded.”
……
Zhuang Yiyi flipped through the notes on the back of each photograph one by one, gradually piecing together Chen Ding’s experiences during this period.
Chen Ding was truly clever.
Since she hadn’t replied to his messages, he’d made her wait for his. Yet he’d left her this pile of photographs, prompting her to take the initiative—and even find pleasure—in discovering what had happened to him during this time.
What a clever ploy.
Zhuang Yiyi felt inexplicably cheerful, her heart racing, as if she’d met her match.
She pondered for a moment, then pulled a pen from the penholder on the desk and began to write her replies, one by one, beneath Chen Ding’s notes.
When Chen Ding returned home that evening, he spotted Zhuang Yiyi’s shoes.
He hadn’t even checked the time; he knew full well that Zhuang Yiyi must already be asleep.
He pushed open the study door and saw that the photographs on the desk had been rearranged, neatly stacked in a row.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, stepped closer, and picked up a photograph at random. As if by some unspoken understanding, he turned it over and saw Zhuang Yiyi’s handwriting.
“Monkey is thinking, this person is rather unique.”
“Going to Jiuxi this weekend.”
……
Chen Ding quickly flipped through the photos one by one. The moment he finished, he’d forgotten why he’d come to the study in the first place and dashed to Zhuang Yiyi’s door. It was only when his hand touched the door handle that he remembered she was already asleep.
He stood at the door, unable to stop himself from smiling.
Chen Ding spent the whole night in the living room, hoping to see Zhuang Yiyi when she woke up the next morning.
But having had a drink, and not being one to stay up late, he had drifted off to sleep without realising it. When Zhuang Yiyi woke up the next day, she found Chen Ding lying on the living room sofa, still reeking of alcohol.
It was nearly the end of October; although the temperature was still in the high twenties, it was a bit chilly in the morning. Zhuang Yiyi fetched a blanket from her bedroom and tiptoed over to tuck it around Chen Ding.
Zhuang Yiyi had misunderstood; she’d assumed Chen Ding had deliberately got her drunk so he could pass out on the sofa. Could something have happened?
When Chen Ding woke up and found the extra blanket on him, he immediately realised Zhuang Yiyi was awake. As he pushed the door open, sunlight was streaming onto the clean, tidy bed.
Chen Ding rang Zhuang Yiyi.
“Hello.”
Hearing Zhuang Yiyi’s voice, the corners of Chen Ding’s mouth curled upwards involuntarily. “Fancy having lunch together today?”
“Lunch? Don’t you usually ask me to have dinner with you?”
“I want to see you.”
Zhuang Yiyi lifted her eyes and glanced at Qian Zhang, who was leafing through medical records opposite her; he’d also just asked her to have lunch with him.
Zhuang Yiyi declined, “I’ve already made plans for lunch.”
Chen Ding didn’t think twice, “Right. I’ll pick you up tonight.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Which hotel are you planning to stay at tonight?”
“I’m going home.”
“Then I’ll come and pick you up.”
After hanging up, Qian Zhang asked her, “Who was that on the phone? Your aunt?”
“No,” Zhuang Yiyi replied. “Chen Ding.”
Qian Zhang recalled the time Chen Ding had suddenly video-called him. “Has he been in touch with you since? Shall I ask him to join Qian Yi and the others for group therapy?”
“No need.” Chen Ding wasn’t ill at all—he was perfectly fine—but Qian Zhang’s reminder made her think of how Chen Ding had got drunk the night before.
Her memory really was getting worse and worse. Zhuang Yiyi sent Chen Ding a message: “Why did you drink so much last night?”
After sending it, Zhuang Yiyi didn’t give it another thought.
It wasn’t until half an hour later that she had time to check her phone. Chen Ding replied instantly with a voice message.
“I didn’t drink that much. I was planning to wait until you woke up this morning, but I couldn’t stay awake and just fell asleep. Don’t worry.”
Chen Ding’s deep voice, tinged with a hint of boyishness, came through the phone.
Zhuang Yiyi heard it clearly.
She tapped to play it again.
As usual, Chen Ding was waiting for Zhuang Yiyi at the crossroads not far from the hospital.
From a distance, he saw Zhuang Yiyi and Qian Zhang walking towards him. About a hundred metres away, his wife parted ways with Qian Zhang, then made her way over, scanning the area as she came.
As soon as she got into the car, Zhuang Yiyi noticed that Chen Ding had made a special effort with his appearance. He was dressed in a suit and tie, his hair parted in a neat side-part, as if set with hairspray, and he was wearing a new fragrance.
Chen Ding was, without a doubt, the most immaculate young man Zhuang Yiyi had ever seen.
Zhuang Yiyi asked, “Dressed like this, are we off to some posh restaurant for dinner?”
“This is just what I wear to work.”
Zhuang Yiyi didn’t call him out on it. Chen Ding did indeed only wear a suit to work, but he certainly didn’t usually sport such a meticulously styled hairdo, let alone a new fragrance.
“So where are we going?”
“To Fang Zhile’s place. He’s planning a music festival soon and has been having some bands do soundchecks at the bar.”
“Did you get this drunk at his place?”
A chill ran down Chen Ding’s spine. “Darling, I was just having a drink.”
“Hmm.” Zhuang Yiyi paid no mind to that and explained, “I’m not telling you what to do.”
“I’d actually quite like you to tell me off.”
Yao Mu had been dragged out by Fang Zhixi.
This girl really was like a leech clinging to him. She’d been blocking him at the door with unrelenting persistence.
Yao Mu said, “What will it take for you to stop pestering me?”
Fang Zhixi said, “You’re coming to the bar with me tonight.”
Yao Mu naturally felt a sense of revulsion towards such a seedy establishment, but seeing Fang Zhixi’s adorable expression, he reckoned she probably wouldn’t go too far.
“All right.” He added, “Once we’ve been there, don’t block me in the car park afterwards.”
So Yao Mu went to the bar with Fang Zhixi. There, he spotted Zhuang Yiyi entering with Chen Ding.
Ever since Fang Zhixi had called her into the bar, she hadn’t spoken a word to her, just staring at her like a dog fixated on a bone. Yao Mu had tried to strike up a conversation, but since the other girl wasn’t willing to speak, Yao Mu had simply left her be.
Now, seeing Zhuang Yiyi enter with Chen Ding, he couldn’t help but ask, “Has Yiyi been coming here with Chen Ding a lot lately?”
Fang Zhixi didn’t reply.
Yao Mu waited for two minutes, then gave up.
Zhuang Yiyi followed Chen Ding to a private booth. Before she could say a word, a rather stylish young woman sashayed over and asked Chen Ding for his WeChat.
“Sorry, I’m already married.” Zhuang Yiyi hadn’t realised when Chen Ding had slipped his wedding ring on.
“Handsome,” the woman said, unconvinced. “I’m being so sincere asking for your WeChat, so be a bit sincere yourself. You come here every night—even if you really do have a wife, you must be in the process of getting a divorce.”
Chen Ding looked at Zhuang Yiyi, and Zhuang Yiyi looked back at him, clearly not wanting to get involved.
Chen Ding asked, “Darling, she says we’re getting a divorce.”
The beauty turned her gaze to the girl standing nearby. “Darling, are you his wife?”
“No,” Zhuang Yiyi denied.
“Darling,” Chen Ding said, sounding aggrieved, “how could you do this?”
The beauty had now realised that even if they weren’t a couple, there was something fishy going on between them. She had no interest in people who were already at the stage of a budding romance. “Darling, let me give you a word of warning. With a man, looking good is important. But if he’s in a hotel every night, that won’t do. Who knows, he might cheat on you one of these nights.”
“I know, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Once the beautiful woman had left, Zhuang Yiyi didn’t say much either. Chen Ding said, “I was just at the bar. I didn’t do anything. Fang Zhile can vouch for me.”
“I didn’t say anything. Why are you getting so worked up?”