Chapter 11 Between two rose bushes

Zhengqing quickly text back: No need to stop her.

But Yin Ting did not reply, which made Zhengqing

apprehensive. Did girl would not do something to let him lose face, right?

Huizhu finished sending her email at that moment, and turned

back to Zhengqing to find him also looking at his phone, ‘I am sorry,’ she

said, ‘Today is really chaotic.’

‘It’s okay,’ Zhengqing replied while wondering whether Yin

Ting did manage to send May Shen off.

Zhengqing’s reply was a bit absent-minded, which made Huizhu

think of her behaviour earlier, so she apologised, ‘Sorry about everything

today, I am a bit annoyed and may have come off rude. I hope you and your

acquaintance don’t mind.’

Zhengqing smiled at her and said, ‘It really doesn’t matter.

I understand very well. Everyone has high pressure times in their work. Yin

Ting also thought you may be tired from work, but you still kept your

appointment. She said you were very good. Don’t feel bad, anyone can

understand.’

Huizhu was surprised. Yin Ting said that? It made her feel

guilty. She had lost patience, especially with the shouting children. They had

been innocent. She subconsciously looked out the window to see Yin Ting and the

three children walking away while an attractive woman carrying high fas.h.i.+on

branded carrier bags waving them off. The woman turned and seemed to seemed to

notice Zhengqing, her expression turned bright and she headed into the

restaurant. That woman’s expression made Huizhu on edge.

At that time, Zhengqing received a text: Sorry, I could not

head her off. She said she must eat there. I have tried but of course could not

reveal the secret. So I’m taking the children first. (Zuben: I dunno how she

thought she was going to do that, May was already someone Yin Ting could not

win against)

Zhengqing put down his phone and looked up to see Jiaqi walk

up to their table, ‘Qiu zong, really skilful.’

The Jiaqi turned to Huizhu. The two women regarded each

other; Jiaqi was smiling while Huizhu looked at her silently. Zhengqing

introduced them to each other. The two women smiled and shook hands.

Zhengqing was dumbstruck; Shen Jiaqi said she must eat here?

And Yin Ting had run off? But it seemed that he had been somewhat infected by

Yin Ting’s ideas, and was feeling a small trepidation. But that was not right,

he had done nothing wrong.

Jiaqi began to talk very casually, ‘I was just shopping, and

then I thought to have some lunch. I did not expect to meet someone I know. You

don’t mind if I have lunch with you two, do you?’

Zhengqing looked at Huizhu, but she was reluctant to refuse.

This person may be one of Zhenqing’s business partners or friends, she did not

want to offend them and make Zhengqing lose face. So she smiled and nodded, ‘It

doesn’t matter, let’s eat together.’

Jiaqi happily sat down and hung her bags on the hook provided

at the end of the table. She had to packets of postcards, the same type that Zhengqing

had bought earlier. Jiaqi saw her looking at the post cards, ‘Do you like the

postcards? You can have a pack. My friend sells them; the print quality is very

good. Everytime, I run into her, I buy many packs.’

Huizhu was surprised (Zuben: for the ‘eleventh’ time in the

last hour), her friend? Does she mean Yin Ting?

As Zhengqing listened to their conversation, he wondered what

Yin Ting told her.

It seemed Jiaqi was a regular at the restaurant; the wait

staff greeted her with deferent familiarity and she was able to order her food

quickly without looking at the menu.

There as a beep from his phone informing him of a received

text message, it was Yin Ting: You’re now in a love triangle. I didn’t want the

children to see bad things so I took them elsewhere.

Zhengqing was mollified, what bad things? What love triangle,

ah?! (Zuben: It’s more of a love quadrangle, but hey who’s counting) As he was

trying to reply to Yin Ting, he heard Jiaqi ask Huizhu, ‘So how do you know Qiu

zong?’ as she raised her gla.s.s of water to drink.

Zhengqing looked at Huizhu and she returned his gaze, then

replied, ‘We went to college together,’

Their relations.h.i.+p status wasn’t final. Zhengqing was still

thinking about it, and they were still unfamiliar Huizhu thought it was best to

err on the side of caution.

Jiaqi put her gla.s.s down and laughed, ‘That’s great. I asked

because I am trying to woo Qiu zong, so I thought I should clarify the

relations.h.i.+p. I didn’t want to get into an embarra.s.sing situation.’

Zhengqing and Huizhu were stupefied; they glanced at the each

other. This was rather awkward. Things were really off kilter today. But Huizui

did not falter, she said very politely, ‘Is that so? What a coincidence that I

have the same idea too.’

(Zuben: I raise a cup of tea/gla.s.s of juice/wine/fizzy

water/not so fizzy water/minerals in toast to all you strong go getter women of

the world. This person begs for your energy.)

‘So, ah.’ Jiaqi’s looked and Zhengqing and then turned to

Huizhu and laughed, ‘I can understand that.’

Zhengqing watched both women’s fake smiled and felt very

embarra.s.sed. What was there to understand, this was simply stirring up trouble.

Things were really out of kilter today, just because they had to squeeze in a

date. In the face of the straight-forwardness, he didn’t know how to react.

Unfortunately, he didn’t find these kind of high nosed misses like Qin Yufei

attractive.

In his thirty three years, there have been women who had

considered him, but he had been engrossed in his work therefore did not have

time to consider them. But now, due to Yin Ting red string of love, his peach

blossoms have really blossomed, except it was blossoming into disaster! (Zuben:

It’s only two women; don’t get your panties in a knot. It’s only a disaster if

it was four ¬.¬)

This situation was rather irritating, he could not enjoy it.

Would returning that red string be too excessive?

At this moment, the waiter delivered Zhengqing’s and Huizhu’s

starters.

‘Thank you both for your affection. You’re giving me too much

face, I am very flattered. You are so frank, making me very awkward. Pardon me,

I will eat first.’

Huizhu picked up her cutlery and said to Jiaqi, ‘I will eat

first, pardon me.’

‘Please do,’ Jiaqi said generously.

As they began to eat, Jiaqi looked at their meals, ‘Your

dishes are so simple, are you in a hurry?’

‘I have to go back to work after this,’ Huizhu answered. She

was suddenly glad she didn’t have time today, she really didn’t want to have to

deal with this woman. She was too tired and in no mood.

‘Oh,’ she said, and turned to Zhengqing, ‘Qiu zong?’

‘I have an appointment after,’ he replied. Huizhu was

satisfied, she maintained his face and he maintained hers. He was such a

gentleman, she really liked him.

‘Then eat and do, I will pay,’ Jiaqi said

‘Miss Shen is too kind,’ Huizhu said, but she thought the

young woman was just trying to show off, it annoyed her. She finished her dinner

and looked to see Zhengqing had finished his. She asked him if he was ready

with a look, he gave her a bare nod.

Jiaqi’s side dishes arrived. Zhengqing bid her to take her

time and they would leave first.

‘Lovely, it was nice seeing you. I will be in touch,’ she

said. She wasn’t long winded, so Zhengqing and Huizhu were able to leave

together. Huizhu wanted to pay, but Zhengqing stopped,

‘Don’t be spiteful,’ he said softly.

Huizhu raised an eyebrow and said, ‘If feel like you invited

her to dinner, I’m not happy about it.’

Zhengqing mirrored her expression, ‘But then that’s makes

things even, you haven’t suffered a loss.’

Huizhu could not help but smile, truly, she hadn’t lost. They

got to the parking lot, Huizhu waved goodbye and drove off.

Zhengqing got into his car and breathed a sigh of relief. He

didn’t like this situation; being pursued by two women. He had not factored it

into his plan. If there were two women, he would have to waste more time and energy,

which also meant he had to be determined about Huizhu; whether he wanted to

date or not. But this matter was important, he did not want to sign on the

dotted line carelessly.

For now, he would go to the supermarket. At this point, he

had nothing to react to; the enemy was not moving, so he could not move either

(Zuben: What enemy?). Right, he also needed to correct Yin Ting’s erroneous

idea, he took the matter of friends.h.i.+p between men and women seriously and

earnestly; what love triangle? He was not a chaotic person. She could only

think in chaos.

As he drove, he saw Yin Ting on a street corner (Zuben:

Selling her wares…)

She still had the children with her. The four of them had

lollipops in their mouths. The two girl each held a box of lollipops and the

boy had the box of postcards. The four of them had happy expressions on their

faces. Their bright smiles and c.o.c.ky gait was as though they all had golden

crowns on their heads, not just on the street eating lollipops. (Zuben:

Magical…)

Zhengqing could not help laughing. His time at the

restaurant, it seemed, obviously could not compare to the day that these four

jolly ones had.

He drove past them and beeped his horn. Yin Ting turned at

the sound, seeing him, her expression turned bright. Zhengqing discovered he

was grinning too. Her expression was very funny,

‘Qiu zong elder!’ Yin Ting rushed forward and the children

trailed after her.

Zhengqing opened his car door,

‘You finished your lunch so quickly?’

‘Yes. Did you sell out? Are you on your way back, would you

like me to take you back to the orphanage?’

‘Yes, that would be great,’ Yin Ting replied cheerfully, she

was not being shy. She turned to the children and said, ‘Come in, Uncle Qiu is

going to send us home. We must thank Uncle.’

‘Thank you, Uncle!’ the children chorused. The youngest one

after a moment said, ‘Thank you, car.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Zhengqing answered, ‘The car is also

blunt,’

Yin Ting gave him a light punch in the arm, ‘You are so

serious they well think the car has special powers,’

What special powers? Zhengqing frowned,

‘Like you can talk with the car, and you are interlinked and

such like,’ (Zuben: Wait? He wasn’t trying to make them thing the car can

talk?)

‘Really?’ the little child called Xiao s.h.i.+tou [Little Stone] asked,

‘Of course not, Uncle was being kind with Xiao s.h.i.+tou

thanking the car, very polite’

‘Oh’ the children chorused settling down, though they felt

regretful.

‘Fasten your seat belt,’ Zhengqing said, as he realised he

could not talk to children as one would an adult. They were somewhat scattered,

and their brain was everywhere thinking everything.

When he heard the click of safety belts, Zhengqing put the

car into gear and drove, ‘Tingting jie jie, can we give Uncle a lollipop to

eat. He has helped us.’

‘But Uncle is driving now, he cannot eat the lollipop. Uncle

can’t eat and drive.’ Yin Ting said helping him decline, he shot her grateful

look.

‘Do you know why sugar is sweet, Uncle?’ Xiao s.h.i.+tou asked,

In Zhengqing’s mind, he recalled the chemical composition of

sugar and the structure of the taste buds in the tongue, but the little one did

not wait for him to answer, ‘Because, it wants you to be happy!’ (Zuben: I feel

for you Zhengqing)

The other girl also said, ‘So that when you eat it you will

be happy!’

Zhengqing glanced at Yin Ting, was she the one teaching them

this silliness? (Zuben: Yes)

Then little one asked, ‘Uncle, do you know why the sun is so

far and bright?’

Zhengqing did not want to sort out his knowledge of

astronomy, (Zuben: it would be a silly a.s.s reason anyway), he would really like

to ask Xiao s.h.i.+tou to plug her mouth with a lollipop. Of course, he was a

gentlemanly uncle, so he could not ask her to do that.

Of course, Xiao s.h.i.+tou answered her own question, ‘The sun

has to be, so we can have a goal.’

An amiable and bright goal? Zhengqing gave Yin Ting a look.

Yin Ting laughed behind her hand, Xiao s.h.i.+tou had a really good memory, she

remembered everything.

‘I also have remembered one,’ the older girl said, not to be

outdone, ‘Uncle, do you know why the moon has segments and is curved?’

Zhengqing really wanted to say, “Uncle just wants to send you

home. Uncle does not know.” (Zuben: Why are you torturing Uncle/me, writer?)

But he now has experience, they don’t want him to answer they

want to tell him the answer, Xiao s.h.i.+tou b.u.t.t in, ‘Because change will also be

beautiful, so we should not be afraid of change.’ (Zuben: That one is actually

good.)

Zhengqing did not know how he should respond, but they

children had tired of the “Ask Uncle” game and began playing amongst

themselves.

They were quite noisy. He glanced at the through the rear-view

mirror, they were laughing very happily. The sound echoed in the car. He found

Yin Ting staring at him, her eyes were bright, his heart could not help but

jump,

‘They are very lively,’ he said quickly to hide his

discomfiture,

‘Thanks,’ Yin Ting said, smiling sweetly, ‘If you get tired

of the noise I can tell them to be quiet. They are very clever,’

‘No need,’ he said, trying to be calm. He was suddenly

nervous. Back at the restaurant, were those two ladies were doing their

“tug-of-war” he hadn’t been nervous, just embarra.s.sed. It was probably because

the children were noisy and he wasn’t used to it.

Yes, it was because the children made him nervous. (Zuben:

Definitely the children)

 Chapter

12: Out of the mouth of babes

There was silence for a little while, the Yin Ting opened her

mouth, ‘How did it go?’

Zhengqing knew she was asking about the restaurant, ‘Nothing

happened. Miss Shen saw us and joined us. We ate together.’

‘Oh,’ was her reply. She looked at the children behind them,

‘Go back and say it,’ (Zuben: ?)

Go back? Zhengqing became somewhat nervous, and say what?

‘Love triangle?’

He could take this opportunity to correct her wrong idea,

since she insisted on discussing it with him. That being said, maybe it was

better not to talk about it. Talking with a little girl about his values on

marriage was very embarra.s.sing, especially Yin Ting, this little girl and her

quirky way of thinking.

‘How old are you?’ he asked. Although, asking in a

straightforward manner seemed very rude.

’24,’ Yin Ting replied without hesitation, she gave him a

smile.

She certainly was a little girl. Most likely recently

graduated from university. Zhengqing adjusted himself in his seat. He did not

want to have to explain that his question had no hidden agenda behind it. She

just seemed really young, younger than Qin Yufei.

Yin Ting, not waiting for him to finish his mental

deliberations, asked, ‘And you’re thirty-three?’

Zhengqing nodded, feeling a bit strange, but he could not pin

point the cause.

‘I saw an article on you on the internet, that’s how I know.’

Yin Ting said with a grin,

Zhengqing was very embarra.s.sed, that financial magazine

article was much exaggerated. But he felt satisfied that she had looked him up,

but also embarra.s.sed. (Zuben: I have written the word embarra.s.sed so many

times, in this last chapter, than I have ever written in my whole life!)

’66 Dashun!’ Yin Tin said suddenly.

‘What?’ Zhengqing did not understand.

‘Your age. Three plus three is six, therefore life would be

smooth,’

What has this got to do with anything, but he asked, ‘How

about when I become thirty four?’

‘Looking forward to that year, where whimsy meets harmony and

happiness,’

Zhengqing smiled; whimsy, harmony and happiness?

‘And thirty five?’ Although, this one would not be too hard,

eight was an auspicious number.

She really did not need to exert herself coming up with

something, ‘You will get rich, and your enterprise is succeeding. You will be a

father at that time.’

Zhengqing laughed in spite of himself. His plan was to marry

in two years, so being a father at thirty five wasn’t a stretch. The rest of

the ages were very easy to collect auspicious tidings, so he asked, ‘How about

forty?’

‘Do you want to wait till then? Won’t you be too old?’

‘…’ Zhengqing was unable to describe the feelings in his

heart, but he suspected his expression was very splendid. It was a pity that he

was concentrating on the road. Yin Ting could only see half his face. She could

not see his shock.

Old age!

What is this ghost?! (Zuben: Chinese thing I am a.s.suming)

Zhengqing did not say anything, Yin Ting tried to placate

him, ‘You’re attaching great importance to this matter. Forty is not old for a

man. For a woman, it is different; you must consider your wife, when child

birth would be very difficult.’

Zhengqing could not bear to look at Yin Ting, ‘Sorry sorry, I

was wrong, I shouldn’t speak of these things. I just thought of you like my

older brother.’

Zhengqing was silent, if her older brother heard this, he

would jump out to call ‘One child is a ghost!’

One can’t be too kind in life or you will always be sad an

heartbroken

Elderly…

Zhengqing decided to talk to the children instead, ‘Kids, how

was the postcard business today?’

‘We sold well!’ the Xiao s.h.i.+tou said nodding.

The slightly older boy was also excited, ‘Ting Ting jie jie

calculated, we got enough to feed five children for a week,’

‘More than that,’ the other little girl said, ‘This is just

what we have sold. The other children have gone out to sell as well; we

certainly would get a lot.’

‘Very good!’ Xiao s.h.i.+tou said very happily, rounding up the

speech.

Zhengqing frowned, a bit worried and turned to Yin Ting to ask,

‘Is the orphanage short of funds?’

‘Not us,’ the boy said, ‘We are not short of money,’ he said

very proudly.

‘We aren’t short of money!’ Xiao s.h.i.+tou said,

‘We are full every day. We have clothes, and can go to

school.’

‘Our homework is done.’

‘There is sugar to eat,’ Xiao s.h.i.+tou said, ‘Every child has,

oh. Tingting jie jie said to be fair, everyone has,’

‘We’re helping an orphanage in the rural area to raise

funds,’ Yin Ting said, ‘we want to get the children to do something for other

children, right?’ she asked the children.

They all nodded.

‘Others help us, we help others.’

‘Xiao Han is right,’ Yin Tin said praising the little boy,

He seemed a bit embarra.s.sed, but he loudly declared, ‘I will

study hard, get into university and get the ability to help more people.’

Zhengqing clenched the wheel, thinking of his own lowly beginnings.

His life hadn’t been as miserable as these children’s, at least he had a home

and relatives. He also received many people’s encouragement and help. Though he

regularly donated to the Yongkai charitable fund, he realised he needed to help

someone directly, so he said, ‘Xiao Han, if you work hard and can get into

university, Uncle would help you pay your fees till you finish.’ (Zuben: *Roll

eyes* what about the girls…?)

Xiao Han got excited, ‘I, I will work hard.’

Zhengqing laughed and caught Yin Ting looking at him, her she

was laughing and her expression was sweet. Zhengqing got nervous again, ‘I’m

not just saying, I am serious.’

‘Thank you,’ she said.

They children in the back were cheering for each other.

Zhengqing thought they were cute. Zhenqing looked at Yin Ting; there was still

laughter in her eyes.

Zhengqing was embarra.s.sed (Zuben: again). He cleared his

throat and kept his eyes on the road. He recalled that Yin Ting had told him

that she spent time in ann orphanage playing, it seemed she was very familiar.

She directed him to the orphanage. When they arrived, there

was much jollity and excitement.

Behind them, Yin Ting and Zhengqing watched the melee, he

turned to her retrieving his wallet and took out the rest of the cash he had,

‘Something for the rural orphanage,’

Yin Ting winked and said, ‘You already donated. You bought

two boxes of postcards,’

Zhengqing nodded, ‘A little more wouldn’t hurt,’

Yin Ting smiled at him, she suddenly stepped forward and gave

him a big hug,

‘You’re so kind,’

Was the hug for two seconds or three? Zhengqing was unsure,

only that she let go of him too soon. His body seemed to keep the warmth of her

hug long after she had stepped back,

‘Then I will take it,’ she said sweetly,

‘Very good,’ he said as he handed her the money. She thanked

him, and was about to leave but turned and asked, ‘Do you still have time?’

‘I’m waiting for you,’ he replied. He had time, there was no

problem getting her home. Yin Ting laughed waved at him and ran towards a small

side building.

Zhengqing watched her back as she ran off, thinking of it,

that’s what, actually, uh, as if they were not on the way. (Zuben: This is how

is came out of google translate. I couldn’t make head or tail of it. I a.s.sume

he lost his train of thought watching her b.u.t.t)

He had time.

He felt his clothes being pulled; he looked down to see Xiao

s.h.i.+tou standing near him. She smiled up at him and gave him a lollipop,

‘Shushu, you’re not driving now, you can eat.’

She actually remembered! Zhengqing was somewhat touched. He

took the lollipop and tore open the wrapper and popped it into his mouth, Xiao

s.h.i.+tou gave a happy smile.

Zhengqing though the sweet was really very good. It can make

people happy.

Why was a sweet sweet? Because, it will make you happy.

Zhengqing ruffled Xiao s.h.i.+tou’s head as thanks, and asked,

‘Xiao s.h.i.+tou, do you have a name?’

‘My name is s.h.i.+ Liang. The others said my name is like a

boy’s and laugh at me. But Tingting jie jie said that a gleaming stone is a

gem. So everyone started calling me Xiao s.h.i.+tou,’

‘Shu Liang is a very good name,’ he said. His name was also

very good, he could think of a happy meaning, but although he tried, he could

only think of “Please be more serious”, he had certainly been brainwashed. This

was not good, he must find an awe-inspiring meaning to his name.

Xiao s.h.i.+tou pulled at his trouser leg, and he squatted to

listen to her. She looked about checking for eavesdroppers, before she said,

‘Xiao Han ge studies earnestly, and his results are good. He will certainly be

admitted into university,’ Xiao s.h.i.+tou did not know what university was, but

she thought that is seemed very great.

Zhengqing nodded, ‘This shushu will certainly help him,’

Xiao s.h.i.+tou nodded happily and declared, ‘Uncle is very

kind,’ before giving him a hug.

‘I am quite stupid and do not do well in my studies. I think

that I will not be admitted into university, but I will also try hard. Tingting

jie jie said that I do not have to be admitted to university. Do something

else.’

‘What do you want to do?’ he asked

Xiao s.h.i.+tou blushed and looked somewhat shy, she looked

around again before saying, ‘I like Xiao Han ge, I want to be his bride when I

grow up,’

Zhengqing was a dumbfounded. He thought that she would say

something like starting a small scale business like opening a shop.

But Xiao s.h.i.+tou’s face was red but she was resolute, ‘Tin

Ting jie-ie said that this goal is very good, but Xiao Han ge has to agree. When

we grow up I will ask Xiao Han again.’

Why is the sun so high and so bright? So we must have a goal.

Zhengqing could not help but laugh and held Xiao s.h.i.+tou,

‘This goal is good,’ he said a.s.suring the child. But later on, he would try to

encourage her to pursue an enterprise; girls should be independent. But she was

only a little girl now.

Zhengqing saw Yin Ting coming out of the building running

over to him.

Her ponytail swayed, gleaming in the sun. Her face had a

sweet smile, her body full of suns.h.i.+ne (Zuben: cue romantic violins)

Zhengqing drove Yin Ting home.

It was the second time he had taken her home. It had been

that day when Qin Yufei wanted Yin Ting to help out with Gu Yingjie. Zhengqing

and Yingjie had been in a meeting, but while the formal meeting was done,

Zhengqing and Yingjie still had much to discuss so they had stayed in the

conference room to chat. Yin Ting pa.s.sed by, and invited them out to dinner.

That sort of behaviour was her style, which was, being

tightly hugged by the G.o.d of thoughtlessness.

Nothing makes any sense but behaving as if it did.

Thinking of that day, Zhenqing remembered that Yufei told

him, when she said she hoped that he didn’t misunderstand that Yin Ting liked

him. He had thought that Yin Ting was interested in Yingjie, but now Yufei was

in love with Yingjie.

Zhengqing thought of it more, and decided to carefully probe,

and asked Yin Ting, ‘What do you think of Gu Yingjie?’

‘He is very nice,’ she replied on unabashedly, ‘in my mind

he’s like a prince on a white horse.’

‘…’ Zhengqing did not speak. It seemed like the situation is

really bad. (Zuben: Your situational awareness is bad) Did Yin Ting really like

Gu Yingjie? But Yingjie’s heart belonged to someone else now. If Yin Ting knew,

would she be sad? Would it get awkward between her and Yufei?

Zhengqing remained silent in his thoughts, Yin Ting

continued, ‘I wanted to meet up with Gu Yingjie, but wasn’t able to. He is

still a gentleman. Yufei tried to help me, but their tempers flared, it was

very confusing and awkward. I was also very embarra.s.sed.’

This fool, he thought. Others are getting happy in their

love, you’re being vigorously embarra.s.sed.

Zhengqing felt like he was driven beyond the limits of

forebearance. His head heated up and he found himself blurting out, ‘Yufei told

me she was in love with Gu Yingjie.’

‘What?’ Yin Ting shouted, her eyes wide in surprise.

Zhengqing suddenly regretted his rashness. But words said could

not be returned, and now must be absorbed into the car, or maybe a car accident

would erase things?

‘Yufie and Yingjie in love?’ Yin Ting asked again, her pitch

was high and her tone was surprised.

‘Hmm,’ Zhengqing replied quietly, his eyes fixed to the road.

He drove seriously. He really was bad at a chatting.

‘They are actually dating?’ She repeated, he could not decide

whether she was talking to him or herself.

‘Haha! Great!’ she said suddenly

Zhengqing did a double-take. He was confused.

‘Who won?’

Her tone was sweet, but Zhengqing imagined that Yin Ting

would have an aggrieved expression on her face. He sighed and turned to her,

but it really was not as he imagined. Her eyes were round with excited

curiosity. He’d never noticed she had such beautiful eyes, ah. (Zuben: cue

violins!) He quickly stopped himself, now was not the time to be admiring her

looks.

‘What?’ he asked foolishly. He had forgotten her question.

‘Who chased who? How did they get caught? Who overtook whom?’

she thought he did not understand the slang she was using. (Zuben: I do not

understand the slang you are using.)

‘I don’t know,’ he replied, relaxing. He did not know,

luckily.

‘You really don’t know?’ (Zuben: How is he expected to know?

Is he Yufei’s bosom buddy?)

‘No,’ Zhengqing usually minded his own business. He hadn’t

asked Yufei, it was Yufei spilled the beans, therefore he did not know the

details of their coming together.

‘Take means pursue, everyone knows that.’ She said.

He almost lost control of the car. Where they talking at

cross purposes here? This thoughtless G.o.d could you let go of Miss Yin Ting, a

little looser would be good. So they could have a smooth conversation between

them, ok?

Zhengqing took a deep breath and called upon his patience, ‘I

mean I did not know who ‘took’ who,’

‘…I’m guessing it would have been Yufei,’

‘…’ Zhengqing gave her a look then turned back to the road.

Shouldn’t her expression be anger? Instead it was happy smiles. In the corner

of his eye, he could see Yin Ting take out her mobile, and dial.

‘What is it?’ he did not really want to gossip, but

eventually did not hold back.

‘I wanted to talk to Yufei but it’s the weekend so they must

be out. I don’t want to bother them.’

She really didn’t look angry, ah. But he asked, ‘Are you

okay?’

‘Why do you ask?’ she asked puzzled. She was very well,

wasn’t she?

‘I meant; don’t you like Yingjie?’

‘I did in the past, but he did not like me, so I gave up.’

Zhengqing was silent. He did not know how to reply to that.

More and more, he was sure that he was not suitable to talk to people about

emotional issues. It was better to talk about work and business, less pitfalls.

‘Do you know why a car can turn?’ she asked.

Zhengqing was distracted, he thought she said he should turn

around, so he subconsciously turned when they came to a cross road, then

realised he was asking one of her riddles with weird positive answers. He

looked at Yin Ting out of the corner of his eyes, she had that innocent look on

her face, she looked surprised that he turned,

He sighed and humoured her, ‘Why?’

Yin Ting decided to tell him that he was going the long way,

she replied, ‘Because you can change directions when you end up in a dead end,’

She was trying to say that Yingjie did not like her,

therefore she wasn’t planning on tying herself down with him. She was happy to

find the next big tree. So shallow, do you want to use a dead end to adjust the

atmosphere. Zhengqing wanted to sigh,

‘Which one do you like; Zoe or May?’ She asked.

This time, Zhengqing heaved a great big sigh.

‘Why?’

‘Your conversations are not linked, you jump from one topic

to the other with not connection what so ever.’

‘I do,’ She protested, ‘I said Gu Yingjie did not like me so

I moved on. You have two choices, I am curious which path you intend to take. There

was a connection, it is in the same topic.’

Zhengqing was unable to refute. (Zuben: I can refute!)

After a while, she asked again, ‘Which path do you intend to

take?’

Zhengqing did not want to talk about this with her, but he

thought if he did not answer, she would think he did not want to marry but play

around.

‘Why do you want to know?’ he asked. Regardless of her

answer, he meant to avoid the question.

‘I thought that if we talked about it I could help you make a

choice. After all you’re too proper and serious, your experience with this kind

of situation will be limited. I am different I have quite a lot of experience.’

‘Carrying torches for men who don’t like you is experience?’

as they words came out of his mouth he regretted it. This wasn’t his way,

But she did not care, ‘My multiple failures are experience.

Each defeat is meaningful. Therefore those experiences play a positive role

now.’ She replied. She really had a unique spirit, making persistent and

energetic positive effort.

‘I am a realist, I don’t want too much positivity.’ This

logic was not right, ah, but she won’t notice.

She really didn’t, ‘Don’t look down on the lovelorn. If you

change the point of view, I am not lovelorn. You are the same as me, the

difference is I keep walking ahead and you remain static. In reality, we are

“no-love” allies, it is rather cordial.’

‘…’ she keeps walking her ahead, while he remains still?

No-love allies? It really made no sense yet somewhat reasonable. Zhengqing

pursed his lips. He was unable to refute. (Zuben: I can refute for you if you

want)

He decided to change topic.

‘What are you planning on asking Yufei?’

‘What are you asking?’

‘Did she know you liked Gu Yingjie?’

‘Yeah, but she also knows that I have moved on.’

‘Oh.’

‘She’s so great, it’s nice that she is in love.’

‘Why?’ Zhengqing really did not understand women, shouldn’t

her heart be sour? (Zuben: Why should her heart be sour?)

‘He is a good man, and he is finally in Yufei’s arms. I also

feel proud and elated. May can’t laugh at me anymore.’

Zhengqing was confused; Yufei was in love with Yingjie and

Yin Ting feels proud and elated? (Zuben: Too many ‘Y’ names) Wasn’t she the one

who was after Yingjie, or as she says now she wasn’t after him anymore. Why

can’t Jiaqi laugh at her?

There was never any logic in her conversation. He decided not

to ask again. He feared that the more he asked, the more he would realise that

Yin Ting lived in a world of her own.

He heard her phone receive a text, and the click of her

replying. He drove silently, while wondering what she was thinking. Soon, they

arrived in Yin Ting’s neighbourhood. He parked carefully near her house. She

looked out the window when they came to a stop, she smiled at him and wanted to

say goodbye but Zhengqing suddenly asked,

‘Xiaoting, are you ever sad?’

She hadn’t been sad in the car, returning home she was not

sad, being lovelorn she was not sad, it seemed…nothing made her sad. She really

must eat a few “I am happy everyday” pills every day.

‘Yes ah,’ She answered, ‘I was sad when my mother died.’

Zhengqing was surprised for a moment, ‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

He did not intend to poke a wound.

Yin Ting shook her head, ‘My mother knew she was going to

die, she called me to chuang side. I

cried hard, I had been crying. She said, “My silly child, some things happen.

Crying isn’t going to stop it. You just have to face it. Mom is just going

somewhere else. It is a good opportunity to learn to be independent and brave.

You can do it, Mother will be happy”’ she paused for a bit, the continued, ‘I

didn’t understand at the time, but as I grew up, I slowly began to understand.

I want my mother to be happy,’

She looked at Zhengqing, he saw her eyes were red and tears

hung on the rims. He suddenly really regretted asking her.

‘Mom just changed where she is living. It is just

inconvenient to meet and she cant tell me stories anymore. When I was a child

she told me stories every night. She must be really sad. I should not be sad

right?’

Zhengqing wanted to agree, but Yin Ting sucked in breath and

said, ‘I’m going. Thank you for driving me home,’

Zhengqing did not know what to say to her, as she opened the

door and stepped out.

‘Goodbye,’ she said.

‘Goodbye,’ he returned. The she was gone.

Zhengqing sighed. He remained in a daze. Did she just cry? He

really regretted his words. Why did he bring up this topic? And she cried,

making him feel terrible.

Suddenly there was a dark shadow rapping at the window, he

jumped. It was Yin Ting,

‘I will email you later,’ she said happily, then seemingly full

of energy she ran off.

Zhengqing stared after her, what was the purpose of this

email? He did not understand this girl. He waited for a while, just in case,

she jumped out of nowhere again to give him more details, but she didn’t. He

could not decide if he was disappointed or relieved. Suddenly popping out was

strangely scary, it was nothing to look forward to.

Zhengqing drove home. His large house suddenly felt empty. He

wondered if he should buy more furniture, as he crashed into his sofa. He took

out his phone to see if he had any mail, but there was nothing.

He threw the phone aside. He should take the time to buy new

furniture. Oh d.a.m.n, he forgot to get groceries!

Zuben: There are most likely many typos. Bear with me