Saying things like “invitation” or not…
Ruan Xi harbored feelings for Cheng Daichuan that went far beyond mere friendship, a tangle of emotions that made her unable to be open and sincere; the harder she tried to hide it, the more she couldn’t let go.
Her face burned as she snatched the Promotion Brochure back from Cheng Daichuan’s hand. “What invitation, love, go, not, go!”
Cheng Daichuan took off his towel, his curls tousled into a bird’s nest from drying his hair.
Only then did Ruan Xi notice he seemed not to have slept well— he still looked a bit drowsy even after a shower.
Not just drowsy, but also exasperating, because he said, “Oh.”
Ruan Xi hadn’t bothered to fix her hair before heading out, so she too wore a damp bird’s nest atop her head.
Two people with half-dry hair, bickering in the hallway like little kids.
“If you won’t go, I’ll go by myself.”
After saying that, she turned on her heel and left, every step radiating the momentum of conquering mountains and rivers, brimming with killing intent.
She had only taken three steps when Cheng Daichuan called out to her. “Ruan Xi.”
Ruan Xi faced him with the back of her head, snapping, “What!”
“The Promotion Brochure dropped a page.”
Ruan Xi turned around. Sure enough, lying innocently on the hallway carpet between them was a page from the Promotion Brochure Page.
How is the quality so bad!
The printed content was an introduction to the Bed Linen in the guest rooms— the Mattress was the same model used in a Five-star Hotel.
“…Fits the body well, quiet and breathable, giving you a scientifically sound sleep.”
Cheng Daichuan walked over and picked up the Promotion Brochure Page. “Go by yourself?”
Ruan Xi couldn’t help but ask, “So are you actually—”
Before she could finish, he suddenly said, “I’ll go.”
Ruan Xi didn’t react at first and finished her question anyway. “—going or not?”
She was dazed for two seconds, then asked suspiciously, “You…really want to go?”
Cheng Daichuan lowered his eyelids, looking at her seriously. “When do we leave?”
It felt as if her skin was scorched by the sunset. Ruan Xi avoided meeting Cheng Daichuan’s eyes, turning her head to look at their shadows cast on the wall. “Tomorrow, I guess.”
Cheng Daichuan asked, “Do you need me to book it?”
Ruan Xi waved her hand. “I’ll book it and let you know, then you can just transfer me the money.”
Cheng Daichuan made an “OK” gesture.
When she got back to the room, Shang Auntie’s mood had already stabilized.
She was back to her usual cheerful self and even called Cheng Daichuan to ask if he wanted to come over and chat.
The room was quiet. Ruan Xi heard what sounded like Cheng Daichuan’s muffled voice under the covers. “No, I didn’t sleep well yesterday. You two chat.”
Cheng Daichuan said he was going to sleep, and Cheng Daichuan’s Mother replied, “OK, go ahead and sleep.”
Ruan Xi told her mother about the Cruise Ship trip and that Cheng Daichuan would be coming along.
But now that he’d actually agreed, she felt a bit strange. Maybe he’s just going because he saw I wanted to go, and he’s forcing himself to agree?
The three of them sat on the same bed. Cheng Daichuan’s Mother reached out and ruffled Ruan Xi’s hair. “He’s interested in the Cruise Ship trip too.”
Ruan Xi was surprised. “He…is?”
“Yes.” Shang Auntie said that back at the High-speed Railway Station, Cheng Daichuan had received a Flyer and even looked at it on the way to the Restaurant.
There was such a thing?
Then why did he look even less interested than I was?
In any case, first book the tickets.
Ruan Xi started contacting the Salesperson from the travel agency, typing in the chat box:
Hello, which Sales Standard Room Type does the discount you mentioned apply to?
Could you please tell me the specific price for two people?
The Salesperson quoted the price and sent a string of photos. Ruan Xi looked them over and thought they seemed pretty good.
The guest room even had a small balcony.
To be safe, she still asked the Salesperson what room type was eligible for the half-price offer.
The Salesperson replied: It’s this one!
Good, as long as it’s the same.
Otherwise, if the two of us split the cost and get different treatment, that’d be really unfair.
Ruan Xi picked a few photos and forwarded them to Cheng Daichuan, then continued typing in the chat with the Salesperson:
I’d like to book two Cruise Tickets for tomorrow’s departure. Please also let me know the ticket pickup process.
The other party didn’t reply right away, so Ruan Xi gradually joined Shang Auntie and her mother’s conversation.
Her phone vibrated, but it wasn’t the Salesperson— it was Cheng Daichuan.
Didn’t he say he was going to sleep? Still texting me.
Cheng Daichuan messaged her about the Cruise Ticket, adding three words: “Don’t get scammed.”
Ruan Xi replied, “I won’t!!!”
After thinking a moment, she added, “Just go to sleep!”
The Hotel floor was high up, and she could see the sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving only a golden afterglow.
Night fell quickly. Ruan Xi picked a bed and lay down, listening to her mother and Shang Auntie’s conversation…
Her mood was very comfortable now, like she’d returned to those days after becoming close with Cheng Daichuan and the others in her first year of high school.
In her first year of high school, after moving, Ruan Xi didn’t quickly blend into the new environment, nor did she immediately become close with Cheng Daichuan and the others just because they were neighbors.
On the day school started, she went to the new School to register, and after coming home, she sat silently by the window, scrolling through her friends’ latest updates and old photos again and again.
The window was open, and she heard Shi Chao downstairs calling for Cheng Daichuan, inviting him to go to the Barbershop.
Before they left, it seemed they ran into Cheng Daichuan’s Mother.
Ruan Xi heard Cheng Daichuan say, “Madam Shang, I’m going to the Barbershop. I’ll be back later.”
Then came a woman’s surprised voice: “Don’t you like the hairstyle Mom picked out for you?”
Cheng Daichuan said, “I do, but school starts tomorrow. Isn’t it a bit much to go to class with curly hair?”
“Oh dear, did Mom get the dates wrong? I thought you started school next week.”
What a forgetful parent.
Ruan Xi was distracted by the conversation downstairs and peeked out:
Cheng Daichuan was leaning on his bike handlebars, waving at the elegant woman in a trench coat. “I’m off, Madam Shang.”
When school officially started, Cheng Daichuan did indeed cut his hair short.
Ruan Xi and the others all wore the same school uniform, and since they took the same route, she often ran into them on the way to and from School. Even so, she didn’t get any closer to them.
Not just them— she didn’t interact much with her new classmates, either.
Looking back, that must have been a pretty nice, warm Spring. The weather was neither too hot nor too cold, and a gentle breeze caressed the face.
Lily Magnolia, Peach Blossom, Pear Blossom, Purple-leaf Plum, Malus spectabilis… after those bloomed, then came Lilac, Wisteria, Tulip.
But at that time, Ruan Xi missed the Four-Seasons Osmanthus from her hometown. She couldn’t enjoy the vibrant Spring; nor could she muster the energy to look forward to each day at School.
In late April, the tulips in the flowerbeds were in full bloom.
Ruan Xi wore a dark blue, long-sleeved school uniform jacket. After a ten-minute walk home, she’d already feel a thin sheen of sweat on her neck.
She still kept to herself, silently walking into the building, and on the last few steps to the second floor, she reached into her bag for her Key.
It wasn’t there, no matter how she searched.
She didn’t know if she’d forgotten to bring it or lost it. Checking the time, her parents wouldn’t get off work for over an hour.
At the door was a pot of Four-Seasons Osmanthus that Grandmother had mailed a few days ago.
Ruan Xi hadn’t taken good care of it, and it was now crawling with tiny bugs.
Ruan Xi’s Mother said they were Red Spider Mites, so she’d sprayed them and left the plant outside the security door in the hallway to let the smell of pesticide dissipate.
Ruan Xi looked at the wilting osmanthus, feeling homesick, rubbed her eyes, and sat on the steps to call Grandmother.
Grandmother asked if Ruan Xi had eaten dinner.
Ruan Xi said, “I have.”
Grandmother reminded her, “Your mom and dad are busy with work, and now that they’ve just arrived, they’ll have to work overtime a lot. Don’t just keep saving the Red Envelope I gave you. If you want something to eat, buy it for yourself. School is so tiring, and you need to use your brain—don’t let my precious granddaughter go hungry and skinny.”
Ruan Xi wanted to cry even more. She sniffled quietly, “I’m not skinny, not at all. I even gained a pound.”
She hadn’t weighed herself at all.
“Make more friends there, Xi Xi. You’ve always been a ‘queen of the nest’ since you were little— so lively in front of people you know, but you wilt in a strange environment.”
“Grandmother, I’m not like that…”
Grandmother suddenly remembered something, and said worriedly, “I saw on short videos that you can’t eat too many Hamburgers and French Fries. They’re all junk food and not good for your health.”
Ruan Xi couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. “Don’t insult my favorites! Hamburgers are my favorite food.”
She thought for a moment. “Wait, actually, the Soup Noodles you make are my favorite. Hamburgers are second.”
Ruan Xi’s Grandmother was in poor health, so the family had hired an Ayi to help take care of her. Buying groceries and making three meals a day all depended on the Ayi. Life had been like this for two years already.
But Grandmother said, “Xi Xi, when you come back, Grandmother will make noodles for you.”
Ruan Xi’s nose stung, but she held back her emotions and replied, “Mm.”
After hanging up, Ruan Xi scrolled through her phone album, looking at the same old photos for the eight-hundredth time, and sighed.
When would she be able to go back?
Before moving, Ruan Xi had overheard her parents talking to friends on the phone. She knew that their transfer this time wasn’t necessarily good or bad.
Her parents’ boss said a Branch Company had opened here, and without an experienced Old Employee to supervise, things could go wrong. That’s why Ruan Xi’s parents were transferred…
But, there was no set date for returning.
Or maybe, there might never be a return date at all.
Would she have to finish the remaining two and a half years of high school here?
High schoolers didn’t get many Holidays. When would she be able to go back home?
Cheng Daichuan’s footsteps weren’t as heavy as Shi Chao’s, so that day, lost in thought, Ruan Xi hadn’t noticed him coming upstairs.
It wasn’t until she happened to look up and was startled to see a figure standing on the landing between the first and second floors.
Cheng Daichuan was wearing the same dark blue school uniform. Both hands were in his pockets.
He had great proportions, and even the overly loose uniform looked better on him than on the other boys.
He asked Ruan Xi, “Forgot your Key?”
Ruan Xi nodded, standing up with her backpack and phone, making room for him on the stairs.
Cheng Daichuan brushed past her, climbed a few more steps toward the third floor, then suddenly turned and came back down.
Ruan Xi watched as Cheng Daichuan walked back, took off his backpack, and sat down carelessly on the second-to-last step leading to the third floor.
He stretched out his long legs, as if he had no intention of going home.
No matter how reluctant she was to talk to people, she couldn’t help but ask, “You…why are you sitting here?”
Cheng Daichuan rested his elbows on his knees, looked up and smiled, and repeated what he’d said earlier, but this time as a statement, not a question: “Forgot my Key.”