Just asking, that’s all. Wu Qingyi glanced at Fu Xizhi, bending two fingers upward.
Fu Xizhi quickly pulled out the cigarette pack she had put away yesterday from her backpack, tapped out a cigarette to hand to Wu Qingyi, and flicked the flint wheel to light it.
Mom, next time I’ll bring you thin cigarettes.
You don’t smoke, yet you carry them around with you, Wu Qingyi said, leaning back against the seat with the cigarette between her lips, her eyes heavy as she looked at Fu Xizhi.
They’re for someone else.
Fu Xizhi kept her head down, taking small bites of the food one by one. Her mother’s cooking had always tasted good, even if it had turned into lukewarm leftovers.
When she was seven years old, shortly after her maternal grandmother passed away, her mother, Wu Qingyi, took her to another city, Chicheng. Entering a new primary school, the teacher handed out a family information registration form to every student.
She brought it home and asked her mother for her Mami’s name and occupation details, only to be harshly scolded by her mother, who tore up the form on the spot.
Only when she grew up did she realize that the Mami she barely saw a few times a year was already married elsewhere, and her mother was merely that woman’s mistress.
Back then, Wu Qingyi was a college student born into a poor family, pure, beautiful, and utterly unsophisticated. She couldn’t resist Fu Yaqun, who put on a facade of being rich and deeply affectionate; with just a few sweet words, Wu Qingyi fell head over heels and sank completely into the trap.
Once she experienced the dizzying luxury of high society, and especially with her own birth family constantly pulling her down, Wu Qingyi was unwilling to return to the days of relying on part-time jobs and scholarships just to get by, even if Fu Yaqun had a lawful wife and a daughter.
In truth, it was only natural for Wu Qingyi to care about money and her career. But past the age of forty, she actually still harbored the pipe dream that Fu Yaqun would divorce her wife.
Therefore, that phone call just now was almost certainly about a domestic matter in Fu Yaqun’s household, summoning her back.
Mom, eat a little more, Fu Xizhi snapped out of her memories and asked out of concern. She was the only person who cared about Wu Qingyi unconditionally.
Looking up, however, she noticed the glistening tears in Wu Qingyi’s eyes. Under the low-wattage lampshade, she looked pitiably vulnerable, leaving Fu Xizhi feeling at a complete loss.
Wu Qingyi sniffed, flicked the cigarette ash into her bowl, and said impatiently, Can you stop talking? And stop hovering in front of me.
Fu Xizhi still persisted: Some people are just capable of loving two or more people at the same time. At the end of the day, they love themselves the most.
Wu Qingyi sneered, You think I still love her? I hate her.
Fu Xizhi felt a complex surge of emotions. She looked at her in silence for a moment before saying, How much of it is hate, and how much of it is love?
Save it, Wu Qingyi frowned and said. What right do you have to judge me? Aren’t you also using Fu Yaqun’s black card to fund those little lovers of yours?
Her mother had always believed she was two-timing multiple people. Fu Xizhi didn’t deny it: It’s different. Every extra dollar I spend is one less dollar for her wife and daughter to spend.
Wu Qingyi exhaled a cloud of smoke and casually wiped away her tears. Just wait and see. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
The food in Fu Xizhi’s mouth suddenly tasted dull and flavorless. She silently gathered the dishes and ran the water to rinse them.
Are you going back to school, or staying? Wu Qingyi threw away the cigarette butt and looked at her daughter’s diligent back. Having not seen her for several months, her daughter looked in good spirits; at least she hadn’t mistreated herself.
Of course I’m staying to keep you company. I already asked my counselor for leave.
Fu Xizhi spoke without hesitation. Her mother was a well-known photographer. Although she had relied on her Mami’s influence, Fu Xizhi had always felt that luck was a part of one’s strength.
Wu Qingyi gestured for her to come over. Before Fu Xizhi could stand firm, Wu Qingyi pulled her close, looked at her face, and wrapped her into a hug with a sigh, her tone filled with a guilt that sounded like a dutiful, loving mother.
Mom didn’t mean to lose her temper at you. Mom just wants what’s best for you. Where you go for your internship or who you spend your money on, decide for yourself. I’m very happy to have you here with me.
Mom, I love you so much. Fu Xizhi bent her back, tightening her arms around her, her nostrils filled with the soft, sweet fragrance of her mother’s body.
Mm, Mom loves you too, Wu Qingyi said, kissing the top of her head before cupping her face to kiss her cheek. Go to sleep early. Tomorrow you’re coming with me to arrange the exhibition.
Okay. Fu Xizhi held back the spoiled urge to ask to sleep in the same bed with her mother, because she was already twenty years old.
Over the next few days, Wu Qingyi managed to avoid being swayed by love, steadily balancing her career. Fu Xizhi was delighted to see her mother so passionately devoted to her work.
Wu Qingyi had a photography exhibition scheduled in Hailin City a few months later, and she had specially returned this time to bring her team to meet with the curator.
Fu Xizhi played a role akin to her mother’s little darling.
Hearing the compliments from outsiders, she used rhetoric that was half professional and half amateurish to deflect them, occasionally acting spoiled toward her mother so as not to steal her spotlight.
Today was Sunday. There was one matter that she couldn’t stop brooding over the moment her alarm woke her up.
It was because Rong Xue in her contact list was practically like a corpse, not sending her a single message on WeChat for days. So bad, truly so bad.
She sent a WeChat message to Rong Xue: 【You’re so bad.】
About half an hour later, Rong Xue replied: 【?】
Such a monotonous question mark. Fu Xizhi didn’t reply again; she wasn’t obligated to explain every single thing.
Moreover, two annoying things happened on the same day. Her mother kicked her back to school because she felt Fu Xizhi was like a sticky rice cake, too clingy.
And since Rong Xue didn’t press further on WeChat to ask for the reason, Fu Xizhi, in a fit of pique, blocked Rong Xue and added her to the blacklist.
She sat in a taxi heading back to Hyde Apartments, wearing headphones and watching a low-quality horror movie. Near the ending, her hand slipped, and she accidentally hit the volume button.
The protagonist uttered a sharp scream that nearly split Fu Xizhi’s eardrums, almost making her drop her headphones.
She turned her head, and outside the car window was the unique scenery of the city center, the final revelry of a Sunday night, with loud noises echoing through every street and alley.
A Porsche 911 looked fairly modest among a sea of luxury cars, but the odds of someone parking it right up against the curb like this weren’t high.
She got out of the taxi right there, walked over to the Porsche, tapped on the window, and pressed her face against the glass to peer inside. She couldn’t see clearly; the anti-peeping film was of too high quality.
Passersby kept turning their heads to look at her. She looked secretive and sneaky, like the prelude to someone trying to pose next to a car for clout.
It was late at night, and Rong Xue still hadn’t gone home. This street was packed with the kind of establishments suited for young people staying out all night: bars, inns, late-night food stalls, and fried chicken shops.
Fu Xizhi envisioned a hundred possibilities, almost all of which were linked to cheating.
She pulled out her phone and remembered she had blacklisted Rong Xue. She unblocked her and dialed the number.
The phone rang until it almost timed out before it finally connected.
What’s wrong?
Rong Xue’s voice on the other end sounded a bit echoey and spacious. Fu Xizhi couldn’t identify the location, but she could rule out fried chicken first, Rong Xue rarely ate greasy food, as her stomach was quite picky.
Fu Xizhi: Where are you?
Rong Xue: A Japanese restaurant.
Fu Xizhi: Send me the address.
Rong Xue: Don’t come over, I’m leaving right now. What about you, do you need a ride?
Fu Xizhi said she didn’t need a ride, opening her navigation app to look for nearby Japanese restaurants. Who are you eating with?
Rong Xue: A classmate. She covered the receiver and told Qiao Ye, who had just knocked on the door, that she would be right there.
You have plenty of classmates, and plenty of people pursuing you. When you try to brush me off, could you at least not be so casual about it? Fu Xizhi followed Gaode Maps, turning into a narrow alley, passing the back door of a hotel, and arriving at another street.
Looking from a distance, the Japanese restaurant had two floors. The branches of a sycamore tree brushed against the second-floor windows, where the silhouettes of people passing by flickered between light and shadow.
Feeling an impulse, she hid behind the side rear of the Japanese restaurant. But feeling the overwhelming sensation of being a thief, she went to a nearby convenience store instead, bought a tub of ice cream, and began scooping it out to eat.
Rong Xue walked out of the restroom, returned to the private room, picked up her bag, and was just about to make up a random excuse to Fu Xizhi when she realized the call had long been hung up.
Forget it. Fu Xizhi always did whatever she pleased anyway; there was no need to waste brain cells on her.
Leaving already? Qiao Ye asked.
Rong Xue was aloof most of the time. People like her either had a fixed social circle that often invited her out to join the fun, or they were called pretentious and kept at a distance by everyone.
It all depended on whether she had solid backing. Before her family went bankrupt, her social circle was exceptionally warm; after the bankruptcy, it became equally freezing cold.
However, Qiao Ye wasn’t in her social circle to begin with. She lacked backbone and wore her snobbishness right on her sleeve, which happened to match her own fallen status. She cared even less about Qiao Ye’s clambering nature.
Rong Xue glanced at her: Yeah. Take your time, you guys.
Qiao Ye had just hit it off with a younger female student from a neighboring school, but with Rong Xue leaving now, who was going to pay the bill for her? She hadn’t gotten enough of the vanity that came with riding in a sports car yet.
I’m about done here too. Let’s head out together, Qiao Ye said, and the younger student beside her wanted to follow along as well.
Rong Xue walked to the front desk on the first floor and settled the bill for both Qiao Ye and the younger student. Qiao Ye said with delight, Oh, how embarrassing.
The younger student whispered, Senior Rong, how about I split the money for my share with Senior Qiao via transfer?
We’ll talk about it next time. Rong Xue walked outside. In truth, she had wanted to leave long ago; someone had ordered barbecue, and she just happened to go outside to air out the smell.
Department Head Rong, please wait! Just as Rong Xue stepped out from under the restaurant’s signboard, an anxious voice sounded behind her.
Fu Xizhi had eaten half of her ice cream when she immediately spotted Rong Xue’s tall silhouette, followed by three other people.
One was Qiao Ye, and the other two were unfamiliar faces. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she only saw Rong Xue exchange phone contact info with one of them.
Whether it was reflected from the red lanterns under the eaves of the Japanese restaurant or because of shyness, the side of Rong Xue’s face looked slightly flushed.
When that person who asked for her contact info excitedly ran back into the shop, Fu Xizhi walked over with a cold expression. After a few steps, she heard Qiao Ye discussing with the others where to go hang out next, and Rong Xue looked as if she had no objections.
Is there a second round? Fu Xizhi put on a smiling face and called out to Rong Xue: Hi, what a coincidence!
Rong Xue turned her face and raised her eyes, looking a bit surprised.
The shadows of the trees were mottled. Fu Xizhi was dressed entirely in black, a camisole top and an A-line skirt, looking like a specter hovering behind them. It would be a wonder if anyone could see her clearly. Rong Xue hesitated, You…
Without waiting for Rong Xue to greet her, Qiao Ye took the initiative, stepping in front of her to block her way, barking irritably at Fu Xizhi: It’s you again? You actually stalked her all the way here?!
Instead of getting angry, Fu Xizhi laughed: That’s right, that’s right! I’ve been keeping watch here all night!
Qiao Ye’s expression changed, feeling disgusted yet spooked. Rong Xue knew she was just talking nonsense.
After all, according to the rule Fu Xizhi had set: in front of outsiders, Fu Xizhi could stick to Rong Xue like superglue, but she required Rong Xue to maintain an icy, aloof demeanor.
Naturally, Rong Xue had her own thoughts and had used her mouth to ask for the reason before.
Fu Xizhi had revealed very little, glossing over it with a single phrase, telling her to treat it as a piece of low-taste bad habit. It really was low-taste, and it even tested her acting skills.
Qiao Ye pulled out her phone and said to Rong Xue, Let’s call the police.
Rong Xue shook her head, glancing at Fu Xizhi: It’s fine. She’s empty-handed and poses no threat.
Fu Xizhi held up her small wooden spoon and waved it: No, no, I can attack you with ice cream. Rong Xue, this is matcha flavor, green.
Rong Xue didn’t quite catch on at first, but a gust of cold air blew past, a wind had picked up.
She looked at Fu Xizhi and let out a soft laugh, remembering the green hat joke from a few days ago. Using a dry joke to counter a dry joke, she really had a way with things.
Qiao Ye felt that she clearly hadn’t missed a single piece of information, yet she felt completely like an outsider. What was so funny about a tub of Baxy ice cream?
Seeing Rong Xue laugh genuinely for once, Fu Xizhi’s mood brightened slightly. She said, My treat for barbecue, coming or not?
Whether they wanted to or not, they had to come. Fu Xizhi used a confident gaze to make her meaning crystal clear to Rong Xue.