The seven-day honeymoon came to a smooth end.
On the way back, Bai Yue remained silent the entire time while Jiang Manru sat next to her, answering phone calls.
“No need, Mom. The plane won’t land until evening. Yes, it has been great. Bai Yue is right next to me.” Jiang Manru glanced at Bai Yue and smiled. “Would you like to say a few words to her?”
Bai Yue waved her hand, signaling that she did not want to take the call.
Understandingly, Jiang Manru turned back to the phone. “She is a little tired. We will talk when we get back. Alright, bye-bye.”
The call ended.
“Mom said she stewed some soup,” Jiang Manru said. “We can have it as soon as we get home tonight.”
“Mmm.”
Bai Yue responded absentmindedly.
Airport.
In the VIP lounge, outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, airplanes took off and landed on the tarmac. Sunlight streamed through the glass, shining on the pristine marble floor.
Bai Yue sat by the window, holding a cup of barely touched coffee.
From the time they left the hotel until now, she had checked her phone three times. Every time it was the same interface, every time it was the same number, and every time nothing had changed.
No messages. No calls. Absolutely nothing.
That person had truly vanished.
Just like that night, gone by daylight.
Except this time, not even two hundred yuan was left behind. There was only a fake or empty phone number, and a stomach full of lingering resentment.
“Bai Yue?” Jiang Manru’s voice came from nearby. “Would you like something to eat? There are hot food options over there.”
Bai Yue snapped back to reality.
Jiang Manru stood by the buffet counter, holding a small plate with a few pastries and a small dish of fruit. She was wearing her light-colored dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and a gentle smile on her face.
“No, thanks,” Bai Yue said. “You go ahead.”
Jiang Manru nodded, carried her plate over, and sat down on the sofa next to hers.
“Boarding is in half an hour.” She glanced at the time. “Mom just messaged, asking what you would like for dinner tonight.”
Bai Yue gave an absentminded nod. “Whatever.”
Jiang Manru was not upset. She lowered her head and nibbled on a pastry, quiet and docile like a well-behaved cat.
Bai Yue looked out the window.
There were not many people in the VIP lounge. A few business professionals in suits were discussing matters in the corner, and a couple snuggled together on the other side. A faint scent of coffee hung in the air, mixed with various pheromones.
No white peach.
Right at that moment, the phone in her pocket buzzed.
It was very light, but Bai Yue felt it.
She pulled out her phone.
A text message.
Sender: That number.
Bai Yue’s breathing paused for a fraction of a second.
She tapped to open it.
[Goodbye]
Just two words.
No punctuation, no emojis, no explanation.
Bai Yue stared at those two words, her heartbeat suddenly sounding very loud in her ears.
Goodbye.
What does that mean?
Where is she?
How did she know today was the departure day?
She suddenly froze.
Bai Yue abruptly stood up and looked around.
The VIP lounge. The floor-to-ceiling windows. The buffet counter. Those business professionals. That couple. The waiter at the door.
Nothing.
No familiar figure.
No scent of white peach.
Bai Yue walked quickly toward the door, pushed open the glass door, and peered down the hallway.
The VIP corridor was quiet and empty. Occasionally, a staff member pushing a luggage cart passed by, politely nodding to her in acknowledgment.
Clutching her phone, Bai Yue dialed that number.
Beep, beep, beep.
No answer.
She dialed again.
Beep, beep, beep.
Still no answer.
She stood in the corridor, the phone pressed against her ear, listening to the hollow, repetitive ringing while her gaze scanned every corner.
No one answered the phone.
No familiar scent.
No familiar figure.
Only those two words, resting quietly on the screen:
[Goodbye]
“Bai Yue?”
A familiar voice came from behind her.
Bai Yue turned around.
Jiang Manru was standing at the entrance of the VIP lounge, still holding her unfinished cup of orange juice. She tilted her head, her amber eyes filled with confusion.
“What is wrong?” she asked softly. “Why did you run out here?”
Bai Yue looked at her.
Sunlight poured in from the window at the end of the corridor, landing on Jiang Manru and casting a soft halo around her. Her expression was full of concern, her gaze pure, like a genuine jasmine flower.
“Nothing,” Bai Yue said, putting her phone back into her pocket. “Just getting some fresh air.”
Jiang Manru walked over and stood beside her.
“Are you tired?” she asked softly. “You will feel better after sleeping on the plane.”
Bai Yue nodded.
Jiang Manru linked her arm through Bai Yue’s, guiding her back toward the lounge.
“Let us go, it is almost time to board.”
Bai Yue walked back with her.
As she reached the doorway, she glanced back one last time.
The hallway was empty.
Nothing was there.
The boarding announcement chimed.
Bai Yue and Jiang Manru stood up and walked toward the boarding gate.
The jet bridge was long. Sunlight streamed through the cabin windows, casting long shadows behind them.
Bai Yue walked in front, her hands shoved into her pockets, tightly gripping her phone.
Those two words had turned from a thorn into a hook.
If she wanted a complete break, why send this text message?
She did it on purpose.
To let Bai Yue look at this message yet be unable to find her.
To leave her unsatisfied.
To keep her on her mind.
To make her yield.
Bai Yue’s steps came to a halt.
“What is wrong?” Jiang Manru asked from behind her.
Bai Yue did not answer.
She took out her phone and stared at those two words.
[Goodbye]
It looked like a farewell.
It felt even more like an invitation to come find her.
A sudden realization dawned on Bai Yue, and the corners of her lips slowly curved upward.
This time, her smile was genuine. In that smile, there was the annoyance of being seen through, the lingering frustration of being played, but above all else, the excitement of a hunter whose prey had just provoked them.
Interesting.
Did she think she was the hunter? Did she think she could play this kind of game? Did she think sending a goodbye would make Bai Yue remember her for the rest of her life?
Bai Yue lowered her head, her fingers moving across the screen.
[Do you think you can run away?]
Send.
Not enough.
She stared at the text line and typed another sentence.
[Next time we meet, I will make you pay back everything for playing with me, with interest.]
Send.
Still not enough.
Bai Yue thought for a moment and typed a third sentence.
[And, you still owe me a name.]
Send.
Three messages, sent almost back-to-back.
No questioning, no showing weakness, only absolute, predetermined confidence.
Run if you want, but I will definitely find you.
What you owe me, I will come collect in person.
You think you are playing with me? What a coincidence, so am I.
Watching the sent successfully notice, Bai Yue put her phone back into her pocket. She turned around and walked into the jet bridge.
That smile lingered at the corners of her lips, refusing to fade.
Jiang Manru stood behind her, taking everything in.
Since Bai Yue’s back was turned, she could not see what Bai Yue had typed. But she had seen every single action, pulling out the phone, staring at the screen, typing, sending.
That smile at the corner of her lips. That curve.
Jiang Manru narrowed her eyes.
What was that?
Desperation? Driven mad with frustration?
No.
That was the expression of a hunter catching the scent of their prey.
Jiang Manru’s heartbeat skipped a beat.
She quickened her pace to catch up, linking her arm through Bai Yue’s.
“Who are you texting?” she asked, her tone innocent and pure.
Bai Yue looked down at her.
Those eyes were dazzlingly bright right now.
“Nothing,” she said, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible amusement. “Just sending something to a friend.”
Jiang Manru nodded and did not press further. But her hand, holding onto Bai Yue’s arm, tightened just a fraction.
The two of them walked into the cabin together.
They found their seats and sat down.
The plane took off.
Outside the window, the island grew smaller and smaller until it was finally swallowed by the clouds.
Bai Yue gazed out the window, that faint, elusive smile still lingering at the corner of her mouth.
Her phone rested in her pocket.
Those three messages had already been sent out.
She did not know if that person would reply.
She knew one thing: this game had only just begun.
Beside her, Jiang Manru leaned against her shoulder with her eyes closed. Her hand rested lightly on her own handbag.
Inside the bag, a phone vibrated three times.
She did not take it out to look.
She knew who had sent it.
The corners of her lips curved into an extremely faint arc, the exact same curve as Bai Yue’s.
The plane pierced through the layer of clouds.
Sunlight flooded the cabin.
The two of them leaned against each other.
One was thinking: I will definitely find you, and make you pay it all back with interest.
One was thinking: I am right beside you, yet you still have no idea who you are holding in your arms every night.
Those three messages lay quietly inside the phone.
[Do you think you can run away?]
[Next time we meet, I will make you pay back everything for playing with me, with interest.]
[And, you still owe me a name.]
Sender: Y
Jiang Manru slowly opened her eyes and glanced at Bai Yue’s profile.
On that face, the confident, predatory smile was still hanging there.
She chuckled softly.
And closed her eyes once more.
Can you run away?
She is already in your arms.
Pay back with interest?
She collects interest every single day.
Owe you a name?
Jiang Manru.
The person you held in your arms that night is named Jiang Manru.
Outside the window, a boundless sea of clouds stretched out.
The plane soared toward the distance.
This game finally started to get interesting.