Chapter Five: I’m Not Here to Flirt for a Living
11. I’m Not Here to Flirt for a Living
At three in the afternoon, a faint fragrance of perfume filled the cosmetics floor of the department store.
Cool air slowly drifted down from the ceiling vents, while soft pop music played at the counters. Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, the sunlight slanted in, casting bright patches of light across the polished marble floor.
At this time of day, the department store was usually at its quietest.
On weekday afternoons from Monday through Thursday, there were not many shoppers. Several saleswomen stood behind their respective counters. Some organized cosmetics, some touched up their makeup, and some chatted quietly.
“Ningjing, have you finished counting the foundation inventory over there?” the female coworker at the neighboring counter asked, poking her head over.
Zhang Ningjing looked down at the inventory sheet in her hand. “I’m still missing three shades.”
“Do you need me to help you?”
“No, I can do it myself.” She raised her head and smiled at her coworker.
Zhang Ningjing had delicate features, fair skin, and a tall, slender, well-proportioned figure. Standing among a row of cosmetics saleswomen, she always stood out.
Today she wore the company-required uniform, a simple black pencil skirt paired with a white blouse. Her long hair fell neatly behind her shoulders. Even while simply looking down and counting inventory, she naturally gave off an air that set her apart from the others.
Not far away, two young female coworkers secretly glanced at her.
“I really don’t know what she did to deserve such good luck.”
One of them lowered her voice. “Pretty face, great figure.”
“I heard someone once asked her to appear in a commercial.”
“Really?”
“That’s just what I heard.” The two exchanged a glance.
One of them said sarcastically, “Men just go for that kind of thing.”
The female coworker beside them could not help laughing. “Keep your voice down.”
“What if she hears you?”
“So what if she does?” Even as they said that, the two quickly shut their mouths.
Because at the company, Zhang Ningjing was not only someone the female employees paid attention to. She was also the person the male employees talked about most in private. It was just that no one actually dared to pursue her. The reason was simple: General Manager Xu Tianzhu had already been keeping a close eye on her. Everyone at the company knew perfectly well that anyone who openly pursued Zhang Ningjing would be asking for trouble with General Manager Xu.
Zhang Ningjing squatted behind the counter and opened a drawer.
“Foundation… thirty-seven bottles.”
She checked them one by one.
“Blush… twenty-two boxes.”
Just then, the strong smell of men’s hair oil mixed with cologne drifted over.
Zhang Ningjing did not even need to look up to know who it was. The sound of leather shoes stopped in front of her.
“Ningjing.”
She did not respond and continued counting with her head lowered.
“Ningjing?”
Xu Tianzhu called her again. She still did not look up.
Xu Tianzhu stood in front of the counter. He was in his fifties, and the hair on the top of his head had already grown noticeably thin, yet he deliberately combed what remained of it slickly to both sides. A thick gold chain hung around his neck, a luxury watch was on his wrist, and his stomach protruded slightly.
He stared at Zhang Ningjing for several seconds.
“Been pretty busy lately?”
Zhang Ningjing turned another page of the inventory sheet.
“Hmm.”
“What are you busy with?”
“Taking inventory.”
“Is taking inventory really that important?”
“Everything the company asks us to do is important.”
Xu Tianzhu laughed. “You’re quite cold. I like that.”
Zhang Ningjing’s hand paused for a moment, but she did not look up.
Xu Tianzhu leaned closer. “I have an important dinner with a client tonight.”
Zhang Ningjing continued writing down the numbers. “Hmm.”
“Come with me.”
The tip of her pen stopped. The air seemed to grow quiet for a second, but Zhang Ningjing did not answer.
Xu Tianzhu thought she had not heard him clearly and repeated himself. “I said, come have dinner with me tonight.”
Zhang Ningjing finally looked up.
“Me?”
“Yes.” Xu Tianzhu smiled meaningfully. “This client is very important. I’d like you to come with me.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful.” He said it as though it were perfectly obvious.
Zhang Ningjing’s expression immediately turned cold. “General Manager Xu, I’m working.”
“You can finish your work later.”
“No.”
Xu Tianzhu froze for a moment. “What?”
“I’m not going.” Zhang Ningjing lowered her head and continued taking inventory.
Xu Tianzhu’s expression changed. “Ningjing, I’m giving you an opportunity.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you know how many people want to go out to dinner with me?”
“Then go find them.” Zhang Ningjing’s tone remained calm.
The smile on Xu Tianzhu’s face gradually stiffened. Although several saleswomen around them kept their heads down while organizing merchandise, their ears were all perked up. Just then, a voice came from behind.
“Zhang Ningjing!” Cao Charlie hurried over.
He was the manager of the cosmetics department, in his forties, and usually very good at reading people and situations. The moment he saw Xu Tianzhu’s expression from a distance, he knew something was wrong.
“General Manager Xu is talking to you. How can you have that kind of attitude?”
Zhang Ningjing looked up. “What kind of attitude?”
“Chairman Xu intends to cultivate you.” Cao Charlie lowered his voice. “It’s an opportunity that so many people would beg for, and yet you’re acting like this?”
Zhang Ningjing put down the inventory sheet in her hand.
“Manager Cao.”
“What?”
“Why did I come to work at a department store?”
Cao Charlie was stunned for a moment. “To work, of course.”
“What is my job?”
“Sell cosmetics.”
“Exactly.” Zhang Ningjing stood up. She looked at Cao Charlie, then at Xu Tianzhu standing beside him.
“So I came here to sell cosmetics.” She paused. “Not to accompany someone to dinner.”
The entire area suddenly fell silent. Zhang Ningjing’s voice was not loud, but every word was perfectly clear.
“Much less to smile for men.”
Cao Charlie’s face immediately turned ugly. Xu Tianzhu also stood there stiffly. Several saleswomen nearby quickly lowered their heads,
but some could not help letting the corners of their mouths curl upward.
“You…” Cao Charlie was so angry that he could not get the words out.
Zhang Ningjing had already picked up the inventory sheet again. “If there’s nothing else, I need to get back to work.” After saying that, she turned and walked toward the employee lounge. After taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped. She turned around and looked at Cao Charlie.
“Oh, right, Manager Cao.”
“What else?”
“If the company really needs me to accompany clients to dinner, please put that responsibility in my job description.”
Cao Charlie stared at her.
Zhang Ningjing gave him a faint smile. “Otherwise, I won’t accept it.” With that, she turned and walked into the women’s restroom.
The sound of her high heels—tap, tap, tap—faded down the hallway.
The entire area fell completely silent.
A few seconds later, a young saleswoman could not help letting out a sudden laugh. Another female coworker quickly covered her mouth with her hand,
but the harder she tried to hold it in, the more she wanted to laugh. Finally, all of them lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling slightly.
Cao Charlie turned around and glared at them. “Is this funny?”
Everyone immediately pretended to be busy.
“No.”
“No.”
“We’re organizing the merchandise.”
Xu Tianzhu stood there, his face turning pale, then red. He had originally wanted to display his authority in front of the employees, but instead, a young saleswoman had publicly humiliated him.
Cao Charlie quickly moved closer to him. “General Manager Xu, please don’t take it personally.”
Xu Tianzhu gritted his teeth. “That woman…”
“She’s young. She’s just got a strong personality.” Cao Charlie forced a smile. “I’ll make sure to teach her a lesson later.”
Xu Tianzhu gave a cold snort. “You’d better.” With that, he turned and walked away.
It was not until his figure disappeared at the elevator that the entire cosmetics floor finally returned to normal.
Supervisor Zhou Ying had witnessed the whole thing from a distance. She said nothing, merely raised her eyes and gave the saleswomen who were secretly laughing a look. Her expression seemed to say:
“Still watching? Get back to work!”
Everyone immediately lowered their heads. “Yes, Supervisor.”
Zhou Ying turned around and continued arranging the shelves, but she could not help letting a faint smile appear at the corners of her mouth.
She looked toward the women’s restroom and secretly felt a wave of concern for Zhang Ningjing. The girl was certainly beautiful, but she was also far too strong-willed. After offending Xu Tianzhu and Cao Charlie, her days ahead… would probably not be very peaceful.
What she did not know was that this seemingly ordinary workplace confrontation was quietly changing Zhang Ningjing’s life.
Because once some people decide not to bow their heads to power, they have already taken the first step toward leaving the path their lives once followed.
12. The Hollywood Master’s Degree and the Carpenter
The afternoon sunlight was like a layer of scorching gold dust spread across the soundstage of Huaxia Film Company.
The lights inside the stage were blazing hot. Several large tungsten lights were on at the same time, and waves of heat pressed down from above. The set construction crew was rushing around in a frenzy. Some people were moving wooden boards, some were putting up walls, and some were crouching on the floor fastening screws. The air was filled with the mixed smells of sawdust, paint, and sweat.
“Qiu Chen, over here!”
“Coming!” Qiu Chen carried a heavy wooden board on his shoulder and hurried over.
“A little farther to the left!”
“Like this?”
“Left! Left!”
Qiu Chen gritted his teeth and moved the board to the left.
“Okay, put it down!”
The wooden board landed with a dull thud.
“Nails!”
“Coming.” Qiu Chen turned around, picked up the toolbox, then crouched down again to help secure it.
His forehead was covered in sweat. Beads of sweat ran down his cheeks and dripped onto the dusty collar of his shirt.
A carpenter in his fifties standing nearby looked at him.
“Little Qiu, first time doing this?”
“Yes.”
“Never done it before?”
“No.”
The carpenter smiled.
“And you’re holding up pretty well.”
Qiu Chen smiled too. “Since I’ve entered the industry, I have to learn along with everyone else.”
The carpenter nodded. “It’s good when young people are willing to work hard.”
The two of them were busy working when the sound of leather shoes came from behind.
“Director Pei.”
Someone greeted him quietly. Qiu Chen did not turn around. He knew who had arrived.
Pei Lingxian slowly walked into the soundstage, with Assistant Director Zhou Ding following behind him.
The two stood not far away, watching Qiu Chen work.
Pei Lingxian folded his arms across his chest. “So this is Qiu Chen?”
Zhou Ding deliberately pretended not to know. “Which one?”
Pei Lingxian pointed with his chin. “The one carrying the wooden boards.”
Zhou Ding glanced over. “Oh—him.” He deliberately drew out his voice. “I heard he came back from the United States?”
“Yeah.” Pei Lingxian gave a faint smile. “And he has a master’s degree in film.”
Zhou Ding deliberately raised his voice. “A master’s degree in film?”
Several crew members nearby heard him. Some looked up.
Zhou Ding looked at Qiu Chen’s back. “Then why did he come here to carry wooden boards?”
Pei Lingxian sneered. “I guess American film schools teach their students how to move furniture in addition to teaching them how to make movies.”
Several crew members could not help exchanging glances.
Qiu Chen’s hands paused slightly, but he quickly continued tightening the screws.
Zhou Ding took two steps closer. “Director Pei, do you think all these people who come back from studying abroad think they’re pretty impressive?”
“Of course.” Pei Lingxian laughed. “They’ve had a taste of foreign education.”
“They know English, they know film theory, and every other word out of their mouths is Hollywood.” Zhou Ding deliberately sighed. “But once they get on a real set, they can’t even put up a wall properly.”
Pei Lingxian glanced at Qiu Chen. “That’s why I always say—” He deliberately paused. “Just because a monk has studied abroad doesn’t mean he knows how to chant sutras.”
Zhou Ding burst out laughing. “That’s a good one, Director Pei.”
“What American master’s degree? What Hollywood movies…” He pointed at the older carpenter nearby who was hammering nails into a wooden board.
“It’s still not as useful as that old carpenter. He didn’t spend many years in school, but he knows how to put up a wall.”
This time, even the crew members nearby could tell that the two men were deliberately humiliating Qiu Chen.
The carpenter stopped working. He looked at Pei Lingxian, then at Qiu Chen. An awkward expression appeared on his face. “Director Pei…”
But Pei Lingxian waved his hand. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Qiu Chen remained crouched on the floor. His fingers tightly gripped the screwdriver, his knuckles turning slightly white, his chest feeling as though something were blocking it. It was not that he could not hear them. On the contrary, he heard every single word clearly.
“American master’s degree.”
“Hollywood.”
“Carrying wooden boards.”
“Not as good as a carpenter.”
Those words were like thin needles, piercing his pride. All he had to do was stand up and argue back. He could tell them how much he had learned in the United States. He could list all the films he had made and all the achievements he had earned. But… what would that accomplish? Qiu Chen took a deep breath.
He lowered his head and continued tightening the screws.
“Click.” The screw was firmly secured into the wooden board.
Seeing that he had not reacted, Zhou Ding became even more provocative. “Huh? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Pei Lingxian smiled. “After all, he’s a master’s graduate from the United States. How could he possibly think much of people like us who haven’t studied abroad?”
Zhou Ding burst out laughing. “Director Pei, if you say that, he’ll get upset.”
“So what if he does? Is he going to carry the wooden boards back to the United States?”
The two laughed again. The crew members nearby lowered their heads one by one, pretending they had not heard anything.
Only the carpenter could not stand it anymore. He quietly said to Qiu Chen, “Little Qiu, don’t pay any attention to them.”
Qiu Chen looked up.
“Master, I’m fine.”
“You really are?”
“Really.” Qiu Chen smiled.
“I’m here to learn.”
The carpenter was stunned for a moment. Then he nodded. “Good kid.”
Qiu Chen picked up his tools again. “Master, does this wall need two more support braces?”
The carpenter took a look. “Yes.”
“I’ll do it.” Qiu Chen stood up and picked up the lumber again. He did not look at Pei Lingxian again, nor did he say another word. He simply carried the lumber step by step to the designated position. Sweat dripped from his chin, and his clothes were covered in sawdust. His palms were rubbed red by the rough wood. But his expression never changed.
In the distance, Zhou Ding watched his back and sneered. “That kid sure knows how to take it.”
Pei Lingxian pushed up his glasses. “He’s young. Let him suffer a little more. Once he understands what reality is, he’ll know who the director is.”
Zhou Ding nodded.
The two turned and walked away.
Qiu Chen remained crouched beside the unfinished set wall. He looked up at the towering soundstage, where lights hung everywhere. The cameras had already been set up. He knew that what he truly wanted was not these people’s recognition. What he wanted was that one day, when the camera was pointed at the actors, he could stand behind the lens and truly decide how a story should be seen. So the humiliation he suffered today… he endured it. Not because he had no self-respect, but because he knew—
People who truly have a dream sometimes have to learn to bow their heads first before they can one day hold their heads high.
Qiu Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Master, is there anywhere else I can help?”
The carpenter waved him over. “Come on. Secure that wooden frame over there.”
“Okay.” Qiu Chen bent down again.
Inside the soundstage, the sounds of hammers striking wooden boards rose and fell one after another.
And this film master’s graduate who had just returned from the United States began his true life in filmmaking amid those repeated hammer blows.
13. The Snapped Wire
A little after three in the afternoon, the sunlight outside the soundstage was still scorching hot.
The set was even more stifling than outside. Inside the enormous soundstage, several tungsten lights hung high overhead like little suns, making the air inside shimmer slightly from the heat. Crew members moved back and forth, while commands came one after another over the walkie-talkies.
“Move the lights to the right!”
“Camera ready!”
“Has the sound equipment been checked?”
“Done!” Qiu Chen stood in a corner, carrying props for the crew.
Assistant Director Zhou Ding suddenly walked over. “Qiu Chen.”
“Assistant Director Zhou.”
“Stop carrying those.”
Qiu Chen put down the wooden crate in his hands. “What is it?”
Zhou Ding looked him up and down.
“The male supporting actor has a fight scene today. You’ll take his place.”
Qiu Chen froze for a moment. “Me?”
“Who else?” Zhou Ding patted him on the shoulder. “Aren’t you a master’s graduate in film? A top student who came back from the United States should be able to handle a wire stunt, right?”
Several crew members nearby exchanged glances.
Qiu Chen knew there was a hidden meaning behind Zhou Ding’s words.
But he did not argue. “Okay.”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhou Ding’s mouth. “Then get ready.”
Qiu Chen followed the stunt crew to the center of the soundstage.
The scene being filmed today was an action sequence in which the male supporting actor jumped from a third-floor window and then used a suspended wire to fly down to a platform on the first floor.
Xing Zheng was the veteran of the stunt crew. He first helped Qiu Chen put on a safety harness, then carefully checked the buckles around his waist.
“Little Qiu, first time on a wire?”
“First time.”
“Nervous?”
Qiu Chen smiled. “A little.”
Xing Zheng patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. Follow my commands, and don’t rush your movements.”
“Okay.”
Xing Zheng looked up again. “The wire’s been checked, right?”
The crew member responsible for the wire nodded. “Twice.”
Xing Zheng was still not reassured. He personally reached out and touched the wire. After checking the rigging, he said to Qiu Chen, “Don’t worry. Do exactly as I tell you.”
In the distance, Pei Lingxian sat behind the monitor. Zhou Ding stood beside him.
Director Pei glanced at Qiu Chen. “Ready?”
Zhou Ding nodded. “Ready.”
Pei Lingxian picked up the walkie-talkie.
“Attention, all departments.”
The set immediately fell silent.
“Three, two, one—Action!”
Qiu Chen stood in front of the third-floor set window. The next second, he suddenly leaped forward. The instant his body left the platform, the wire around his waist pulled taut.
“Pull!”
The stunt crew immediately controlled the wire, and Qiu Chen’s body rapidly descended.
The wind roared past his ears.
Third floor.
Second floor.
Just as Qiu Chen was about to descend to the first-floor platform—
“Clack!”
A crisp metallic snapping sound, sharp enough to make one’s heart jump, suddenly rang out.
Qiu Chen felt the tension around his waist suddenly disappear.
“Ah—!”
His body instantly lost control.
He plunged straight down from midair.
“Qiu!” Xing Zheng shouted in terror.
The soundstage instantly descended into chaos, and everyone looked up. Qiu Chen fell from midair. It lasted only a few seconds, yet those seconds seemed stretched into a long nightmare. Fortunately, a thick safety airbag had been set up on the first floor beforehand.
“Bang!” Qiu Chen landed heavily on the safety airbag.
The airbag sank under his weight. Its tremendous rebound sent his entire body flying back up.
“Bang!”
His body tumbled back down onto the floor.
“Qiu Chen!” Tony was the first to rush over.
“Qiu!” Xing Zheng hurried over as well.
Qiu Chen lay on the floor, his face pale, temporarily unresponsive.
“Qiu Chen!” Tony crouched down beside him. “Can you hear me?”
Qiu Chen frowned. “I... can.”
“Where does it hurt?”
Qiu Chen moved his arms. “My... arms and legs.”
Only then did Tony let out a slight sigh of relief. “Don’t move yet.”
Xing Zheng crouched down and checked his limbs. “I don’t think any bones are broken, but he has some abrasions and bruises. Let’s get him to the side first.”
Several crew members worked together to help Qiu Chen to his feet.
His elbows, knees, and lower legs all had obvious abrasions and bruises, and several parts of his clothes had been scraped and torn.
Tony hurried to get the first-aid kit. “I’ll do it.” He opened the kit and took out antiseptic solution and gauze. “This is going to sting a little.”
Qiu Chen gritted his teeth. “It’s okay.”
Tony poured the antiseptic onto the wounds.
“Hiss—” Qiu Chen sucked in a sharp breath.
“If it hurts, let it out.”
“I’m a man.” Qiu Chen gave a bitter smile. “What’s a little injury like this?”
Tony looked at him. “You can still smile?”
“What else can I do?” Qiu Chen looked up at the third floor. “Haven’t we finished shooting the scene yet?”
Tony froze. “You almost fell to your death!”
“I know.” Qiu Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead. “But I’m still alive.”
Meanwhile, Xing Zheng had already walked over to the wire pulley equipment. He said nothing, simply crouching down to carefully examine the broken wire. His fingers lightly touched the broken end, and his brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
“This isn’t right...”
A crew member beside him asked, “Master Xing, what’s wrong?”
Xing Zheng did not answer. He held the wire up to his eyes. The break did not look like one caused by normal fatigue. He had worked in this business for more than twenty years and was more familiar with the condition of wires than most people.
“This thing...” Xing Zheng murmured. “Someone tampered with it.”
His voice was quiet.
But Tony, standing nearby, heard him. “What?”
Xing Zheng looked up. “This wire couldn’t have broken like this. Someone tampered with it.”
Tony’s expression changed. “Are you sure?”
Xing Zheng did not answer immediately. He checked the buckle again. “At the very least, this wasn’t a normal break.”
With that, he stood up and walked toward Pei Lingxian.
“Director Pei.”
Pei Lingxian was looking at the footage they had just shot.
“What is it?”
Xing Zheng looked serious. “We can’t shoot this scene anymore.”
Pei Lingxian looked up. “Why?”
“There’s a problem with the wire equipment.”
“What kind of problem?”
Xing Zheng handed him the broken wire. “Someone tampered with it.”
Pei Lingxian’s expression changed slightly. “What did you say?”
“This wasn’t normal wear and tear.” Xing Zheng lowered his voice.
“Director Pei, if there hadn’t been a safety airbag underneath today, he might already be dead.”
“This is not a minor matter.”
“If we do it again, someone could die.”
Zhou Ding, standing nearby, immediately darkened at those words.
“Master Xing.”
Xing Zheng turned around. “What is it?”
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
“I’m just saying there’s a problem with the equipment.”
Zhou Ding sneered. “If there’s a problem with the equipment, then fix the equipment. Why bring up someone tampering with it?”
Xing Zheng looked at him. “I didn’t say who did it.”
Zhou Ding’s expression became even more unpleasant. “You didn’t say who, but the way you put it, you’re implying that someone deliberately tried to hurt somebody.”
Xing Zheng remained calm. “I’m only saying what I saw.”
“What did you see?”
“The break in the wire.”
“Do you even know what you’re looking at?” Zhou Ding suddenly raised his voice.
The entire set fell silent. Several crew members stopped what they were doing.
Xing Zheng’s expression darkened. “I’ve been in this business for more than twenty years. You’re saying I don’t know what I’m looking at?”
Zhou Ding snorted. “So what if you’ve been doing this for more than twenty years? Who can prove it was definitely sabotage?”
“I didn’t say it was definite.”
“Then what gives you the right to come here and spread alarm?”
“Assistant Director Zhou.” Xing Zheng took a step forward.
“I’m just warning you. If someone really tampered with this wire, then the person who fell today was Qiu Chen. Tomorrow, it could be another actor. Can you take responsibility for that?”
Zhou Ding’s face turned pale, then flushed red.
“You—”
“That’s enough!” Pei Lingxian suddenly shouted.
The entire set instantly fell silent.
He looked at the two of them. “Enough. Both of you.”
Director Pei walked over to the broken wire and stood silently for a moment before saying, “All action scenes are suspended for today.”
“Reinspect all the equipment.”
“Until we get to the bottom of this, no one is allowed to touch this equipment again.”
Xing Zheng nodded. “That’s the right decision.”
But Zhou Ding still looked dissatisfied. He glanced at Qiu Chen.
Qiu Chen was sitting nearby, his elbow wrapped in gauze, with his head lowered as Tony bandaged his wound.
Their eyes met briefly.
Zhou Ding’s eyes were cold. Qiu Chen said nothing, simply looking at him quietly.
At that moment, Qiu Chen suddenly understood—
Perhaps what happened today was not as simple as it appeared.
What he did not know was that his real test in this film crew had only just begun.
14. Dinner at a Convenience Store
Night grew deeper.
One by one, the neon lights outside the department store came on, while the traffic on the street dragged streaks of wavering light across the wet asphalt.
After a long day of work, Zhang Ningjing dragged her tired feet into McDonald’s. The air conditioning blew against her face, and she could not help shivering.
The restaurant was packed with students, office workers, and groups of young people eating together. A fairly long line had formed in front of the counter, and the air was filled with the smell of french fries and hamburgers.
Zhang Ningjing stood in line. She was in a terrible mood today. Xu Tianzhu’s disgusting face that afternoon, along with Manager Cao Charlie’s scolding her for being “ungrateful,” kept replaying in her mind.
When it was her turn to order, the person behind the counter turned out to be Zhao Guanghua.
“Welcome.”
Zhao Guanghua looked up. When he saw Zhang Ningjing, he paused. “It’s you?”
Zhang Ningjing forced a smile. “Yeah.”
“What are you having today?”
“Anything.”
Guanghua smiled. “That’s the hardest answer to deal with.”
“Then... your cheapest combo.”
Zhao Guanghua looked at her. “Bad mood?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Very obvious.”
Zhang Ningjing looked down at herself. “I’ve already tried very hard to pretend I’m fine.”
Guanghua smiled as he entered her order into the computer. “It’s better to be a little happier when you’re eating.”
“Why?”
“A bad mood can affect digestion.”
Zhang Ningjing could not help laughing. “Are you a nutritionist?”
“No.” Guanghua handed her the receipt and order number.
“I’m just a part-time worker.”
Zhang Ningjing took the number. “Thanks for the advice.”
“You’re welcome.”
She carried her tray to a corner and sat down at a table against the wall.
Zhang Ningjing did not start eating right away. Through the crowd, she watched Zhao Guanghua busily working behind the counter. He wore a McDonald’s uniform and always had a gentle smile on his face. He was obviously just a college student working part-time, yet he gave people a sense of calm and stability.
Zhang Ningjing lowered her eyes to her meal. Suddenly, she had no appetite for the fries or hamburger at all.
“Be happy when you eat...” she murmured to herself, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of her lips.
Meanwhile, after finishing with the last group of customers, Zhao Guanghua finally reached the end of his shift. He took off his work uniform, changed back into his own clothes, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked out of McDonald’s. As he passed through the glass door, he glanced back inside.
Zhang Ningjing was eating with her head lowered.
He did not disturb her. He simply pushed the door open and walked into the night.
Zhang Ningjing finished the last bite of her hamburger and picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth. For some reason, she suddenly wanted to see where Zhao Guanghua had gone. She walked out of McDonald’s. In the distance, she saw Zhao Guanghua enter a convenience store on the street corner.
She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she followed him.
The convenience store’s automatic doors gave a crisp “ding-dong” as Zhao Guanghua walked over to the bread shelf. He looked at the prices.
His eyes lingered over several kinds of bread for a moment. Finally, he picked up the cheapest package of white bread, then walked over to the beverage case and took a bottle of mineral water.
Zhang Ningjing stood a few steps away, silently watching.
She had originally thought that a college student like Zhao Guanghua, with his refined manner of speaking and quiet demeanor, would at least eat a simple boxed meal. She never expected that his dinner would be nothing more than—
A package of white bread and a bottle of mineral water.
After paying, Zhao Guanghua walked to the seating area in the corner of the convenience store. He pulled out a chair and sat down, then took a thick foreign-language textbook from his backpack. He opened it and began reading while eating his bread.
The white light of the convenience store fell across his face, making his young features look especially focused.
Zhang Ningjing stood in the distance and watched for a long while. Suddenly, an indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
She thought about standing every day behind the cosmetics counter in the department store, facing rows of expensive perfumes, creams, and lipsticks. Every day, she watched other people spend thousands, even tens of thousands, of dollars buying a beautiful dream.
Yet the man standing before her was so frugal that he would not even give himself a decent dinner.
“Fool.”
She said it softly. The next moment, she turned and walked out.
A moment later, the convenience store door opened again.
“Ding-dong.”
Zhao Guanghua remained buried in his book, completely unaware that someone had approached him. It was not until a paper bag was gently placed on his table that he looked up.
He froze. “Ningjing?”
Zhang Ningjing pulled out a chair and sat down across from him. “Why did you come back?”
She did not answer. Instead, she opened the paper bag. She took out a box of sushi, followed by a bottle of fresh milk.
“Eat this.”
Zhao Guanghua looked at the sushi, then at her.
“This...”
“Go ahead.”
“No need. I have bread.”
Zhang Ningjing glanced at the white bread in his hand. “I saw it.”
“Then why did you...”
“Bread can’t be dinner.”
Zhao Guanghua smiled. “Sure it can.”
“Do you eat like this every day?”
Guanghua did not answer. Zhang Ningjing already understood the answer.
She pushed the sushi a little closer to him. “Eat.”
“But...”
“If you keep being polite, I’m taking it back.” As she spoke, she deliberately reached out to take the box of sushi back.
Zhao Guanghua quickly pressed down on the box. “Okay.” He shook his head with a smile. “I’ll eat.”
Zhang Ningjing smiled too.
Zhao Guanghua opened the sushi box, picked up a piece, put it into his mouth, and slowly chewed.
“Is it good?”
“Mm.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Good.”
Silence suddenly fell between them. Soft pop music played inside the convenience store. Outside the window, cars passed one after another, their lights flowing across the glass and reflecting the moving glow of the city.
Zhao Guanghua ate his sushi while Zhang Ningjing sat quietly across from him.
She did not ask him why he was so poor, nor did she press him about why he was so hard on himself.
She simply stayed with him.
After a while, Zhao Guanghua picked up the fresh milk and took a sip. “Thank you.”
Zhang Ningjing gave a faint smile. “You don’t have to thank me.”
“But...”
“What?”
“Why are you so good to me?”
Zhang Ningjing froze for a moment. She had not expected him to suddenly ask her that.
“Because...” She lowered her head and thought for a moment. “I just think that no matter how hard a person works, they shouldn’t have to go hungry.”
Zhao Guanghua looked at her, and there was a little more tenderness in his eyes.
“You too.”
“What?”
“You didn’t look like you were able to eat much tonight, either.”
Zhang Ningjing was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
“You really notice things.”
“Likewise.”
The two looked at each other and smiled. At that moment, neither of them said anything else. They simply sat beneath the bright lights of the convenience store, sharing a box of sushi, a bottle of fresh milk, and a quiet night.
Zhang Ningjing suddenly realized—
What truly makes a person feel warm has never been an expensive gift.
It is having someone willing to sit across from you when you are at your most exhausted and disheveled, ask nothing, and simply stay with you until you finish dinner.
And Zhao Guanghua did not know that, starting tonight, he had quietly gained a place in Zhang Ningjing’s heart.
15. The Dream of Going to Paris
The night breeze gently swept through the park. Along the road, old banyan trees cast large patches of mottled shadows beneath the dim yellow streetlights. From time to time, a few leaves drifted down with the wind and landed at their feet.
Zhang Ningjing and Zhao Guanghua walked side by side along the pedestrian path.
Half a step separated them, and neither was in a hurry to speak.
After finishing the sushi at the convenience store, Ningjing had originally planned to go straight back to the Single Society. Somehow, though, after walking out of the convenience store, she found herself following Guanghua to the park.
“Thank you for tonight...” Guanghua suddenly spoke.
“For what?”
“For the sushi and fresh milk.”
Ningjing smiled. “It was just a box of sushi and some milk.”
“For you, it was a box of sushi and some milk. For me, it was a very generous meal.”
“You...” Ningjing stopped walking.
Guanghua stopped too.
She turned around and looked at him. “Do you really eat toast with mineral water every day?”
Guanghua paused. “Most of the time.”
“Why?”
“To save money.”
“How short of money are you?”
Guanghua did not answer immediately. He looked up at the night sky. There were hardly any stars visible above the city, only the lights of distant high-rises and the occasional lights of airplanes passing overhead.
After a while, he said quietly, “Actually... my family doesn’t have much money.”
Ningjing looked at him silently.
“I’m from the countryside. My parents are ordinary farmers, and I have younger brothers and sisters. Just making it all the way to college was already a huge burden on my family.”
Guanghua spoke calmly. There was no complaint in his voice, nor did he deliberately try to make his story sound tragic.
It was as if those difficult days were simply an ordinary part of his life.
“So starting in college, I had to find ways to support myself. I went to class during the day and worked part-time at night. If there was work on the weekends, I took it.”
As Ningjing listened, her expression gradually softened.
“What about graduate school?”
“The same.” Guanghua smiled.
“I earned my own tuition and living expenses. Sometimes I worked two jobs in one day. At night, I would be so tired when I got back to the dorm that I didn’t even want to take a shower.”
Ningjing could not help asking, “How did you make it through?”
Guanghua thought for a moment. “I guess... I knew what I wanted.”
“What did you want?”
“A life I could support on my own.”
Ningjing froze for a moment. The words sounded simple, yet they sent a slight tremor through her heart.
Guanghua continued walking. “Actually, I’m preparing an application right now.”
“An application for what?”
“France.”
“France?”
Ningjing’s eyes widened slightly.
“Paris.”
Guanghua smiled. “I want to go to Paris to study fashion design.”
“Fashion design?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “It’s always been my dream.”
“Aren’t you studying...”
“Graduate school.”
“Right.”
“But what I really love is fashion design.” Guanghua gestured with his hand. “I like studying fabrics, colors, and lines. I also like seeing how different cultures influence clothing. For me, Paris isn’t just about studying abroad.”
He paused.
“It’s a place I’ve always wanted to see.”
Ningjing looked at his profile. The streetlight shone from behind him, stretching his shadow a long way.
At that moment, she suddenly felt that the man in front of her, who normally dressed simply and ate white bread, actually carried a very large world inside him.
“Have you applied yet?”
“I’m preparing the application.”
“You’ll definitely get in.” Ningjing said it almost without thinking.
Guanghua smiled and shook his head. “I hope so.”
“Not ‘I hope.’” Ningjing looked at him seriously.
“I think you definitely can.”
Guanghua was stunned for a moment. “Why?”
“Because you work hard.”
“A lot of people work hard.”
“But you don’t just know how to work hard.”
Ningjing thought for a moment. “You have a goal. And you know why you’re working so hard.”
Guanghua looked at her, and their eyes met in the night.
He suddenly smiled. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” Ningjing smiled too. “I’m just saying what I see.”
They continued walking. After another dozen steps, Guanghua slowed down.
“But...”
“But what?”
“Even if I get accepted, I may not be able to go right away.”
Ningjing turned her head. “Why?”
Guanghua gave a bitter smile. “Money.”
That single word was so simple that she did not know what to say.
He was silent for a moment before continuing. “If I really get accepted, I may have to defer my enrollment first. Then work for two years.”
“Work for two years?”
“Yeah.” Guanghua nodded.
“At least two years. I need to save enough for tuition, airfare, and living expenses before I can actually go to Paris.”
Ningjing listened, her heart aching. “Wouldn’t you feel... sorry about that?”
“Sorry about what?”
“Getting accepted after working so hard, only to have to wait another two years.”
Guanghua looked up at the distant night sky. “Of course I would. But life isn’t like that. Not every dream can be pursued the moment you want it.”
“Sometimes you have to figure out how to survive first, and then figure out how to fulfill your dream.”
He smiled. “It’s only two years. As long as the dream is still there, it isn’t too late.”
Ningjing said nothing. She suddenly thought of herself, standing every day behind the cosmetics counter in the department store, wearing a beautiful uniform and facing customers coming and going.
She looked polished and glamorous, but after work, she often had no idea where she wanted to go.
She had always thought that all she lacked was a better job.
Only now did she suddenly realize—
What she truly lacked might be a clear goal like Zhao Guanghua’s.
“Guanghua.”
“Hmm?”
“You know what?”
“What?”
“I’m a little jealous of you.”
Guanghua smiled and shook his head. “Jealous because I eat toast every day?”
“No.” Ningjing could not help laughing. “I’m jealous because you know where you’re going.”
Guanghua was silent for a moment.
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“Where do you want to go?”
Ningjing was at a loss for words. She lowered her head and gently nudged a small stone on the pavement with the tip of her shoe.
“I don’t know.”
“Then take your time finding out.”
“Can I?”
“Of course.”
Guanghua’s voice was gentle. “Life isn’t an exam. There’s no rule saying you have to find the answer by a certain age.”
Ningjing looked at him and suddenly felt that this night seemed much quieter than usual.
They continued along the path. When they reached the park exit, Ningjing suddenly stopped.
“Guanghua.”
“Hmm?”
She hesitated. “If...”
“If what?”
Ningjing thought of Ji Baozhu, thought of Sister Bao, who was always worrying about everyone in the Single Society. If it were Sister Bao, might she have a way to help?
Ningjing did not say it aloud. She simply smiled faintly.
“Nothing.”
Guanghua did not press her.
“See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Guanghua turned and walked away. After a few steps, he turned back.
“Ningjing.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you for taking a walk with me tonight.”
Ningjing stood beneath the streetlight. “You’re welcome.”
She watched Guanghua’s figure gradually disappear into the night. Only after she could no longer see him did she slowly turn around.
On the way back to the Single Society, one thought kept running through her mind.
Maybe Sister Bao really can help.
She knew she did not yet know how to help Zhao Guanghua. But at least, she had already made up her mind—
She could not let someone who was working so hard to pursue his dream be stopped outside the gates of Paris simply because of money.
- A Night Coming Home Injured
Night had already fallen.
Several dim yellow lights were on in the courtyard of the Single Society. The evening breeze blew in through the half-closed iron gate, carrying the distinctive bustle of the city at night. The sound of the television occasionally drifted out from inside the house, while the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.
Everyone had just finished dinner and was sitting around the living room in small groups, chatting, when they suddenly heard footsteps outside.
“Clack—”
The iron gate was pushed open. Qiu Chen walked in.
The moment he stepped into the courtyard, the lively conversation suddenly fell silent.
Qiu Chen’s face was somewhat pale. His clothes were covered in dust, and there were obvious abrasions on his elbows, the backs of his hands, and his lower legs. Several places were still covered with makeshift gauze bandages.
Sister Bao was the first to stand up.
“Qiu Chen, what happened to you?”
She hurried over and carefully examined his arms and legs.
“How did you end up like this? Did you fall?”
“I’m fine.” Qiu Chen forced a smile and put his backpack beside a chair.
“I just got scraped up by accident while shooting.”
“By accident?”
Lin Wanhua also walked over. Seeing the wound on his arm, she immediately frowned.
“You call this an accident?”
She pointed at Qiu Chen’s elbow.
“That’s scraped open and bleeding!”
Sun Qing had already turned around and walked into the room. She soon came back with a clean, damp towel.
“Wipe yourself off first.”
She handed the towel to Qiu Chen and asked, “Anywhere else hurt?”
“Just these.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Qiu Chen took the towel and wiped the dust from his face.
At that moment, Big Guy Liu Dingtian looked at Qiu Chen’s battered appearance and suddenly grinned.
“I’m telling you, Brother Qiu, your job is way too interesting!”
Everyone turned to look at him.
Liu Dingtian patted his broad chest, deliberately looking pleased with himself.
“Look at us!”
He pointed at himself, then at Zhu Erdong.
“We get beaten every day too, and we get beaten for real!”
Zhu Erdong was drinking water and nearly spit it out when he heard that.
Lin Wanhua said, “Oh, please.”
“What do you mean, ‘oh, please’?” Liu Dingtian said seriously. “What we do is a professional service. When clients are in a bad mood, we let them beat us. When clients are under pressure, we let them take it out on us.”
He turned to Qiu Chen.
“But you?”
Liu Dingtian looked Qiu Chen up and down.
“You get treated like a punching bag, and you don’t even get paid an extra cent.”
“Haha...” Zhu Erdong could not help laughing. “Big Guy, your comparison actually makes some sense.”
Liu Dingtian immediately became energized.
“Exactly!”
He walked over to Qiu Chen and patted him on the shoulder.
“Brother, if you ask me, forget about making movies. Come work with us!”
Qiu Chen froze for a moment.
“With you guys?”
“Yeah!”
Liu Dingtian pointed at his own nose.
“Join our ‘Online Anger Relief Company.’”
Zhu Erdong joined in.
“Great benefits. Simple work.”
Liu Dingtian added, “Although you might occasionally get beaten black and blue, but—”
He deliberately dragged out his voice.
“—I guarantee you’ll make money!”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Qiu Chen could not help laughing too.
“What kind of job is that?”
“There’s no such thing as a high or low job!” Liu Dingtian patted Qiu Chen on the shoulder.
“And besides, we’ve got a brand, a website, and regular clients now. The future is limitless!”
“Shut up.”
Lin Wanhua suddenly said it coldly.
The smile froze on Liu Dingtian’s face.
Lin Wanhua glared at him.
“He’s already hurt this badly, and you’re still joking around.”
“I was just...”
“Just what?”
Wanhua cut him off without hesitation.
“He finally found something he wants to do. If you don’t help him, fine, but don’t rub salt in his wounds.”
Liu Dingtian rubbed his nose.
“I meant well...”
“Your good intentions are noisy.”
The living room fell silent for a second.
Zhu Erdong secretly tugged on Liu Dingtian’s sleeve.
“Come on.”
Liu Dingtian knew better than to argue with Lin Wanhua and reluctantly stepped aside.
“Okay, okay, I’ll shut up.”
He took two steps, then could not resist turning back.
“But Brother Qiu, if you really want to change careers, come find me anytime!”
“Liu Dingtian!”
“I’m going, I’m going!”
Liu Dingtian hurried after Zhu Erdong out of the living room.
Everyone watched the two of them leave and could not help laughing.
Qiu Chen, however, remained standing where he was, looking down at the wounds on his hands.
Sister Bao walked over to him and asked softly, “What really happened today?”
Qiu Chen was silent for a moment.
“Nothing.”
He raised his head and gave a faint smile.
“It was just filming.”
Wanhua looked into his eyes and knew that he had not told them everything.
“Qiu Chen.”
Her tone softened.
“If someone really is deliberately giving you a hard time, don’t carry everything by yourself.”
Qiu Chen was slightly stunned.
“I know.”
He glanced at the people in the room. Concern showed on every face.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that after leaving his hometown and venturing alone into this unfamiliar city, at least there was still one place where he could return with his exhaustion and wounds.
He nodded gently.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Sister Bao patted him on the shoulder.
“Good. Go take a shower first. I’ll clean and dress your wounds again later.”
Qiu Chen smiled.
“Thanks, Sister Bao.”
“We’re family. No need to be polite. I’ll heat up a bowl of soup. Eat a little more tonight.”
Sister Bao turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Qiu Chen stood where he was, watching her back. A faint smile slowly appeared at the corners of his mouth.
In this unfamiliar city, he finally had a place he could call home.
- A Bowl of Assorted Noodles Late at Night
It was already late at night.
The Single Society was gradually becoming quiet. The television in the living room had long since been turned off, leaving only the old wall clock ticking away.
From outside the window came the occasional roar of a motorcycle speeding past, quickly disappearing down the distant street.
Sun Qing stood alone in the kitchen. A small pot on the gas stove was steaming.
She poured broth into the pot, then added noodles, greens, mushrooms, beaten egg, and several slices of meat. Finally, she sprinkled some chopped green onions on top.
The steaming aroma of the assorted noodles immediately filled the kitchen.
Sun Qing picked up the bowl and looked down at it.
“At this hour, I wonder if he’s eaten...”
Thinking of Qiu Chen coming home tonight covered in injuries, she felt a pang of discomfort.
She tested the temperature along the rim of the bowl with the back of her hand, then carefully carried the noodles toward Qiu Chen’s room.
“Knock, knock.”
She knocked twice, but there was no response from inside.
Sun Qing gently knocked twice more.
“Qiu Chen, it’s me.”
“The door’s unlocked.”
She pushed the door open and went inside.
Qiu Chen was sitting at his desk. Several movie scripts and a few documents in English were spread across the tabletop.
He rested his chin on one hand while holding a pen in the other, writing and sketching on the papers.
Only a desk lamp was on in the room. Its dim yellow light fell across his slightly weary face.
Seeing him like that, Sun Qing felt another pang of concern.
“You’re still awake?”
Qiu Chen looked up. When he saw the bowl in her hands, he smiled.
“It’s so late. Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I made you a bowl of noodles.”
Sun Qing placed the bowl on the desk.
“You’ve been busy all day, and you came back covered in injuries. You can’t just drink water and go to bed, can you?”
Steam slowly rose from the bowl.
Qiu Chen smelled the food and could not help smiling.
“Looks delicious.”
“Eat it while it’s hot.”
Sun Qing handed him the chopsticks.
Qiu Chen took them and picked up some noodles.
“Mm, good.”
“Eat slowly. Be careful, it’s hot.”
Sun Qing pulled over a chair and sat beside him, watching him eat.
The room was quiet for a moment.
After eating a few bites, Qiu Chen suddenly noticed that Sun Qing had been staring at him.
“Do you have something you want to say to me?”
Sun Qing froze.
“Is it that obvious?”
“You don’t usually look at people like that.”
Sun Qing gave a bitter smile.
She was silent for a while before finally speaking.
“Qiu Chen, have you ever thought about... changing companies?”
The chopsticks in Qiu Chen’s hand stopped.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Because the company you’re working for now doesn’t treat you like someone with a master’s degree in film at all.”
Sun Qing looked at the injuries on his hands.
“They have you doing odd jobs every day and working as a stand-in. And you get hurt every few days. The wire snapped today, and you almost got killed.”
The more she spoke, the more concerned she became.
“If you really want to make movies, Taiwan has more than just this one film company. You can look somewhere else.”
Qiu Chen did not answer. He lowered his head and continued eating his noodles.
Seeing his silence, Sun Qing added, “Or... you could work in real estate with me.”
Qiu Chen looked up.
“Real estate?”
“Yeah.”
Sun Qing smiled.
“I know the business fairly well by now. Your English is good, and you have a background studying abroad. You’d have no problem communicating with clients.”
She gestured with her hands.
“If the two of us worked together, at least the income would be stable, and you wouldn’t have to spend every day being ordered around by people.”
Qiu Chen listened but did not answer immediately.
He set down his chopsticks, leaned back in his chair, and looked out at the pitch-black night beyond the window.
“Sun Qing, I know you mean well.”
“Mm.”
“And I know this job is really hard.”
He lowered his eyes to his hands.
“But... it took me so much effort just to get here.”
Sun Qing said nothing.
Qiu Chen’s voice grew lower.
“I studied film in the United States. I didn’t do it just to bring home a diploma and take over my dad’s hotel, nor did I do it to find an easy job.”
“I want to make movies. I want to know exactly how a movie goes from a screenplay to images on a screen.”
He raised his head, and the light in his eyes returned.
“If I can’t even endure this much hardship, what right do I have to say I want to become a director?”
Sun Qing stared at him.
“But... aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid.”
Qiu Chen answered honestly.
“Of course I’m afraid.”
He smiled.
“When I was coming down from the third floor on the wire today, my legs were actually shaking.”
Sun Qing could not help laughing.
“You can still laugh?”
Qiu Chen said, “Although I did land safely in the end.”
The smile quickly faded from his face.
“And I know what I’m doing.”
He reached out and touched the script on the desk.
“The hardships I’m going through now will all become experience someday.”
Sun Qing looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
She had originally wanted to persuade him to give up, but at that moment, she suddenly did not know how to persuade him anymore.
Because for the first time, she truly saw that almost stubborn light in Qiu Chen’s eyes.
It was not the willfulness of a young man.
It was the determination of someone who, after knowing what he wanted, would rather fall and be covered in injuries than turn around.
Sun Qing let out a soft sigh.
“You really are stubborn.”
Qiu Chen smiled.
“My dad says the same thing.”
“Then your dad must have a headache.”
“More than a headache.”
The two laughed together.
After they stopped laughing, Sun Qing looked at him, her expression becoming gentle.
“All right.”
She stood up and moved the scripts on the desk aside.
“Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t try to persuade you anymore.”
Qiu Chen looked up.
“Really?”
“But there’s one condition.”
“What condition?”
Sun Qing pointed at him.
“If you get hurt again, go to the hospital immediately. No toughing it out.”
Qiu Chen froze for a moment, then nodded.
“Okay.”
“And another thing.”
“Another thing?”
“Eat at least three meals a day.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t stay up until dawn.”
“This one...”
Qiu Chen looked troubled.
Sun Qing immediately glared at him.
“No?”
“Okay.”
Qiu Chen could only surrender.
Only then did Sun Qing smile.
She walked to the door, then turned back for one last look.
“Finish your noodles.”
“Got it.”
“Don’t leave a single drop of soup.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sun Qing smiled and closed the door.
The sound of her footsteps gradually faded away.
Qiu Chen lowered his head and looked at the assorted noodles on the desk. The steam had already faded considerably.
He picked up his chopsticks and slowly continued eating.
Outside the window, the city remained brightly lit.
And in this unfamiliar big city, a young man was using his own way to move, step by step, toward a dream of making movies that he still did not know whether he could fulfill.
Outside the door, Sun Qing returned to her own room.
She lay in bed but could not fall asleep for a long time.
Qiu Chen’s expression from earlier kept appearing in her mind.
That determination, that refusal to give up, and the look in his eyes that still believed he could keep going even after being covered in injuries.
She suddenly understood that some people do not truly need someone else to choose an easier road for them.
What they need is someone willing to stay by their side when they choose the most difficult road.
Sun Qing turned over and stared at the ceiling in the darkness.
“Qiu Chen...” she whispered to herself.
“I hope you really succeed.”
18. The Money Sister Bao Has Kept Hidden in Her Heart
Night enveloped The Single Society.
Only one floor lamp was on in the living room, its dim yellow light falling across the sofa and wooden coffee table. Most of the other tenants had already returned to their rooms to rest. Footsteps could occasionally be heard in the hallway, but the place soon fell quiet again.
Sister Bao had just finished taking a shower and was sitting at her vanity, applying skincare products.
“Knock, knock.” A soft knock came from outside the door.
“Who is it?”
“Sister Bao, it’s me, Ningjing.”
“The door’s unlocked. Come in.”
The bedroom door opened, and Zhang Ningjing poked her head inside.
She was wearing simple home clothes, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders.
“Not asleep yet?” Sister Bao turned around.
“Aren’t you still awake, too?” Ningjing smiled and walked into the room, then sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I can’t sleep. I wanted to come talk to you.”
“Sure.” Sister Bao put her skincare products into the drawer, then smiled and sat down beside her.
“Have you been too tired from work lately?”
“I’m okay.”
“Then you must have something on your mind.”
“No, I don’t.” Ningjing quickly shook her head.
Sister Bao glanced sideways at her. “Ever since you walked through the door, your eyes have been darting around. And you call that having nothing on your mind?”
Ningjing, having been seen through, could not help laughing. “Sister Bao, you’re really good at reading people.”
“I’ve lived in this society for so many years. What kind of person haven’t I seen?” Sister Bao picked up the teapot on the table and poured her a cup of tea.
“Here. Take your time.”
Ningjing lifted the teacup and lowered her head to blow on the steam. “Actually... I just wanted to ask you about Guanghua.”
A meaningful smile immediately appeared on Sister Bao’s face.
“Oh—”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“But the look on your face has already said a lot.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Sister Bao put down her teacup. “Go ahead. What do you want to know about Guanghua?”
Ningjing was silent for a moment before saying softly, “Has he been preparing to go to France to study abroad?”
“Mm.” Sister Bao nodded. “He’s mentioned it to me many times.”
Ningjing was slightly taken aback. “You already knew?”
“Of course.” Sister Bao smiled. “Guanghua has lived here for seven years. He tells me almost everything.”
“Seven years?”
“That’s right.” Sister Bao looked toward the doorway, a trace of memory appearing in her eyes. “On his very first day here, after coming from the countryside to attend college, he dragged an old suitcase and moved in.” She smiled. “He was as thin as a bamboo stick back then, carrying a worn-out schoolbag and a few textbooks in his arms.”
Ningjing listened intently. “Was he already very frugal back then?”
“Frugal? That doesn’t even begin to describe it.” Sister Bao could not help laughing.
“At first, I thought he was afraid of spending my money. Later, I realized that he really just couldn’t bear to spend money.”
“Why?”
“Because his family didn’t have any money.” Sister Bao’s tone gradually became more serious. “He had to find ways to earn almost all of his tuition and living expenses himself. He attended classes during the day and worked at night. Sometimes, he even went to restaurants to wash dishes on weekends.”
Ningjing remembered what she had seen at the convenience store the night before. Zhao Guanghua had been sitting in a corner, chewing on white bread and drinking mineral water, with a thick book spread out on the table.
Her heart suddenly ached. “No wonder...”
“No wonder what?”
“I saw him eating bread with mineral water yesterday.”
Sister Bao smiled. “That’s just the way this kid is.”
She paused for a moment before continuing, “But you know what? Although he is very frugal with himself, he has never been stingy with other people.”
“I know,” Ningjing said softly.
Sister Bao looked at her and smiled slightly. “That’s good, then.”
The room was quiet for a moment.
Sister Bao suddenly stood up and walked over to the wardrobe. From the bottom drawer, she took out a small metal box. She placed the box on the table.
“Do you know what this is?”
Ningjing shook her head.
Sister Bao opened the box. There was no jewelry and no cash inside, only a bankbook.
“This is the rent Guanghua has paid over the past seven years.”
Ningjing froze. “Rent?”
“That’s right.” Sister Bao picked up the bankbook.
“You... have been saving it for him?”
“Mm.” Sister Bao nodded.
“He doesn’t know?”
“He knows I’ve been keeping it for him, but he doesn’t know how much is in there.” Sister Bao closed the bankbook. “I told him that the money isn’t mine. It belongs to him. If one day he wants to start a business, or if he really gets accepted to a school overseas, I’ll give every bit of it to him.”
Ningjing looked at Sister Bao and was speechless for a long time.
“Sister Bao...”
“What is it?”
“Why are you so good to him?”
Sister Bao was silent for a while. “Because he deserves it.”
It was such a simple sentence, yet it made Ningjing’s nose sting slightly.
Sister Bao sat down again. “In this world, it isn’t easy to meet someone who is truly willing to work hard.”
“Guanghua isn’t the kind of person who only talks about his dreams. He is actually taking one step at a time to make them happen.” Sister Bao looked at the bankbook in her hand, her eyes gentle. “So I’m willing to help him.”
“If one day he really flies to Paris, I’ll be happy for him, too.”
Ningjing lowered her head, gently rubbing her fingers along the rim of her teacup. After a long while, she raised her head.
“Sister Bao.”
“Hmm?”
“If... this money still isn’t enough?”
Sister Bao looked at her.
Ningjing took a deep breath. “I can help him.”
Sister Bao was slightly taken aback. “You?”
“I’ve saved some money over the past few years, too.” Ningjing spoke calmly. “If he really needs it, I’m willing to take some out.”
Sister Bao did not answer immediately. She simply looked quietly at the young woman in front of her. After a moment, a smile slowly appeared at the corners of her mouth.
“Ningjing, are you...”
“It’s not what you think.” Ningjing immediately blushed. “I just feel that someone who works as hard as he does shouldn’t have to give up his dream because of money.”
Sister Bao smiled. “I didn’t say anything.”
“But you’re obviously laughing.”
“All right, all right, I won’t laugh.” Sister Bao reached out and patted the back of her hand. “Since you’re willing to help, the two of us can figure something out together.”
“Mm.”
The two women sat beneath the dim yellow light and smiled at each other. Neither of them said aloud what they were really thinking. But on this very night, a plan for Zhao Guanghua’s future quietly took shape between the two women.
Outside the window, the night breeze gently swept through the courtyard. And beneath the roof of The Single Society, which seemed to be a temporary gathering of a group of strangers, some people with no blood relation to one another had already, without realizing it, become the closest family in each other’s lives.
