Chapter 43

Chapter 43 - 43 042 Changling and Xie Shang Gamble on a Drinking Chapter 43: 042: Changling and Xie Shang Gamble on a Drinking Game Chapter 43: 042: Changling and Xie Shang Gamble on a Drinking Game “Why are you wearing glasses now?” He caressed the fingers that had touched Wen Changling, his expression seemed to savor the moment, “You look better without glasses.”

Granny Zhu happened to come out.

“Changling.” Noticing the guy at the door with a shifty look, Granny Zhu glanced at a broom in the corner and asked Wen Changling, “Who is he?”

Wen Changling walked over to Granny Zhu’s side: “A stranger.”

Granny Zhu nudged Wen Changling, signaling her to go inside first, then herself moved a chair and sat down by the gate.

The old lady was of considerable age, with gray hair, a robust body, and sharp eyes, exuding an air of fearlessness.

Zeng Zhili went to a nearby shop, had a bowl of sweet soup, and after sitting and shaking his legs for a while, he left.

The next day.

After work, Wen Changling first stopped by Sister Tao’s fruit store, where Sister Tao cut open a honeydew melon and let Wen Changling take half of it home.

Sister Tao’s youngest son, Aimin, was struggling with a few math problems, and Wen Changling, not in a hurry to go home, sat down to explain them to him. She was very patient when explaining, which Sister Tao admired – unlike herself, who would easily lose her temper and flip the table while “domestically abusing” her child during such lessons.

“Changling.”

“Hmm?”

Sister Tao nodded towards the door: “Do you know the person outside?”

It was Zeng Zhili, he had come again.

Wen Changling calmly redirected her gaze: “I don’t know him.”

“Then why is he always staring at you?”

With a sneaky appearance, he didn’t look like good news.

Sister Tao glared at him.

After explaining the problems to Aimin – oh, right, Aimin’s older brother’s name was Aiguo – Wen Changling got up to head home.

“I’m leaving now.”

Sister Tao cut another bunch of bananas, packed them nicely, and handed them to Wen Changling, cautioning her, “Be careful.”

“Okay.”

Wen Changling left the fruit shop.

Sister Tao stood at the door, watching her leave. That sneaky fellow followed, walking behind Wen Changling, keeping a two-

step distance.

“You wouldn’t want others to know about your little secret, would you?”

Zeng Zhili’s voice was low, audible only to Wen Changling.

She didn’t turn back: “What secret?”

“The one where you got me sent to prison.”

She wasn’t afraid of Zeng Zhili, just incredibly annoyed, so annoyed that she wanted to do something to vent her frustration, and she was holding back: “Don’t follow me.”

Zeng Zhili crossed his arms, trailing not too far behind, and shamelessly said, “I got a criminal record because of you, now I can’t find a job, can’t even eat properly, aren’t you supposed to compensate me?” He suddenly leaned in closer, “Have the money ready, I’ll come to collect it next time.”

Wen Changling stopped, the plastic bag holding the fruit was pinched so tightly that a hole had been made.

“Changling.”

It was Granny Zhu yet again. For the second time, she asked, “Who exactly is this person?” At first, she thought he was a loafer, but now he didn’t seem like one.

Before Wen Changling could speak, Zeng Zhili sneered at Granny Zhu, showing off his teeth like a ruffian: “I’m Changling’s cousin, came especially to see her.”

He patted Wen Changling on the shoulder: “I’ll come to see you again, cousin.”

Wen Changling clenched the bag in her hand.

The man had already disappeared around the corner, and Granny Zhu, concerned, pulled Wen Changling into the house.

“Is he really your cousin?”

Wen Changling nodded, keeping the rest to herself. Granny Zhu knew what she was like and didn’t press for more.

Wen Changling carried the bag to the backyard, where she stood under the Sweet Osmanthus Tree, looking up at the lush Hooked Cymbidium.

The young leaves of the Hooked Cymbidium were most toxic.

She told herself to be patient, to obey the law.

Two days later, Zeng Zhili appeared for the third time, lurking at a street corner that Wen Changling had to pass.

Wen Changling had been standing there for two minutes already, motionless, almost resembling the wooden signboard posted at the door of the hardware store next door.

Xie Shang walked over, “Why aren’t you walking?”

She turned around blankly, “I got lost.”

Just past this street, you could see Granny Zhu’s courtyard and the lanterns guiding the way. What in the world had she lost her way to?

Xie Shang didn’t believe it for a second.

“Xie Shang.”

It was a tone begging for help, somewhat soft.

Quite rare.

Xie Shang hummed a response, signaling her to ask away.

“Can you take me back?” She walked up to Xie Shang’s left side very naturally, very honestly, already closer than a normal social distance. She seldom showed such a dependent posture, “Can we not take this road, please?”

Phrases like ‘can we?’ or ‘is it okay?’ coming from Wen Changling’s mouth sounded very pleasant to the ear. Xie Shang always liked hearing them and was willing to accommodate.

He glanced in the direction of the street corner, asked nothing, “Let’s go.” He changed directions and took a different road.

Wen Changling followed, like a tail.

After walking a bit, Xie Shang realized the tail behind him was getting increasingly distant, not at all diligent in following.

He stopped, “Wen Changling.”

“Hmm?”

Wen Changling was clearly distracted.

“Aren’t you a road idiot? And you’re not even paying attention when walking.” Xie Shang waited in place, “Can you keep up, Miss Wen? I won’t look for you if you get lost.”

Only then did a certain road idiot hurry to keep up.

The detour was quite long, but it led straight to the back door of Granny Zhu’s house.

Xie Shang walked ahead, making casual conversation, “Where did you get your haircut?”

The scent on him had changed again, but it was faint, barely there.

Wen Changling had heard from the pawnshop employee Qian Zhouzhou that if Boss Xie wasn’t at the pawnshop, he would be in the lab formulating scents. He must be a perfumer.

“Lanying Hair Salon.” Wen Changling engaged actively in the conversation, eager to share, “Do you want to get a haircut too? I have many haircut coupons; I can give you some.”

“I won’t go,” Xie Shang glanced at her bangs and said nonchalantly, “I couldn’t pull it off.”

Wen Changling: “...”

This culture of nuanced compliments and disguised critique was befitting of someone who came from a family of lawyers.

The sunset faded, the bright colors in the sky slowly receding, like a palette being mixed, the water-diluted indigo spreading in a thin layer, like smoke, like mist.

Xie Shang escorted Wen Changling to the back door of Granny Zhu’s house.

“Go inside.”

She replied, “Goodbye.”

Only after she went in did Xie Shang start walking back to the pawnshop.

“Xie Shang.”

He stopped and turned around.

Wen Changling had already entered the courtyard, leaning out, “The loquat wine I made is ready to drink. Do you want to try it?”

Xie Shang wasn’t fond of drinking.

He said, “Sure.”

Wen Changling could hold her liquor well, a fact unknown to most.

Xie Shang’s tolerance was mediocre, something Wen Changling had heard from the pawnshop employee Zhang Xiaoming.

Under the tree, there was an old bamboo bed. Wen Changling moved the wine out, its color beautifully brewed, a faint loquat yellow, clear and gleaming. She had learned wine making from her mother, Wen Yuan; she took up brewing wine, while Ah Na took up tea making.

She sat down, placing the wine between herself and Xie Shang, “Do you want to play a game?”

Xie Shang carelessly threw his coat on the other end, “How do you play?”

Wen Changling went to the room and brought back a deck of playing cards, still new, unopened. She separated out the jokers and the face cards, sitting cross-legged facing Xie Shang.

“Are you afraid of getting drunk?” She gave Xie Shang one of the cups.

Xie Shang replied, “I’m not.”