Chapter 124: Tattoo
Chen Xiang took some fruit from the bedside table and offered it to Yu Qiao, “Auntie, have some.”
Yu Qiao snapped out of her thoughts and took the fruit, looking down at it. Chen Xiang, observing her expression, asked, “Are you busy, Auntie?”
“Me?” Yu Qiao paused. “No, I’m not busy, is there anything I can do?”
Chen Xiang said, “No, not really, I just wanted to chat with you if you’re free. Actually, we should have visited you before the interview, but Dr. Zhou said you weren’t feeling well, so we didn’t dare disturb you. I hope you’re not angry.”
Yu Qiao, remembering that period, nodded.
Chen Xiang asked, “Are you feeling better now?”
Yu Qiao said, “Better or not, what does it matter.” She looked down, “Just living day by day.”
Chen Xiang smiled at her gently, “Auntie, let me tell you something happy then.”
“The first time I met Teacher You, it was for a news story we collaborated on, about a demolition compensation dispute. The resident and the demolition company were arguing, one claiming they agreed on a price, and then when the demolition was about to start, the company refused to honor their agreement. Because it was a verbal agreement, no contract, both sides had their own version of the story. The focus of our interview was whether there was such a verbal agreement. Later, it was confirmed that there was indeed a verbal agreement, but the exact content was unknown. At the time, we were inclined to believe that a price had been agreed upon.”
Yu Qiao looked at Chen Xiang.
Chen Xiang continued, “But Teacher You remained neutral.”
Yu Qiao asked, “And then?”
“Later, we found out there was indeed a verbal agreement, and a price had been promised.” Chen Xiang’s expression was calm. “Teacher You was the one who found out. Because she had remained neutral, many people thought she was siding with the demolition company, so they mocked her after the truth came out, saying she wasted her time investigating, that she only got the job because of her family connections, that she was incompetent, they called her ‘Bright Moon’ sarcastically, a derogatory nickname.”
Even Chen Xiang had been angry, but You Ruxu had never seemed to mind.
Chen Xiang said, “But in my heart, she is the moon. I’ve been working with her for almost three years now, and in these three years, every news story she covered, if there was even the slightest doubt, she would tirelessly investigate and verify, repeatedly examining every detail. Her workload was immense, she barely rested. Back then, I didn’t understand, I thought her persistence was ridiculous.”
That was what she had thought back then.
Yu Qiao held the fruit, her gaze fixed on Chen Xiang.
Chen Xiang continued, “But I was the ridiculous one. After Reporter Zhou’s case came to light, I suddenly understood.”
The weight they carried on their shoulders, the weight of their words, she suddenly understood, at that moment, “Teacher You has a favorite saying, ‘Uncover the truth, report it truthfully.’ She said she learned it from a senior colleague.”
She had always assumed that senior colleague was Shi Qi.
Later, after the notebook surfaced, those eight characters were written on the first page of Zhou Qiming’s journal.
Yu Qiao left the ward. She had seen Zhou Qiming’s work journal countless times, touched the cover countless times. During their arguments, she would often say to him, “You think your work is more important than us? I’ll burn that notebook of yours!”
And Zhou Qiming would just laugh, “Why would you do that?”
“Why?!!” She would be furious, “They’re calling our home now, threatening me and Xiao Tian! And you’re still laughing!”
Zhou Qiming would say, “I’m sorry, I’ll take care of it.”
“You always say that!” She would ask, “Can’t you just quit being a reporter?”
And Zhou Qiming would say, “Then who will do it?”
She would be speechless.
Zhou Qiming would smile at her, his smile disarming her anger. She would glare at him. He would hug her, try to take the notebook from her hand, but she wouldn’t let him, they would struggle, and the notebook would fall to the floor, the wind turning the pages, her gaze falling on the inscription inside the cover.
As if transported back in time, to an afternoon many years ago.
She saw Zhou Qiming, his smile still gentle.
“Aren’t you angry?” She asked.
Zhou Qiming said, “Of course I’m angry.”
She said, “Then why are you smiling?”
Zhou Qiming said, “Because the truth is out.”
Her eyes, blurred with tears, “The truth is out, but you suffered so much all these years.”
Zhou Qiming said, “But she was just a child back then, she didn’t mean any harm.”
Tears streamed down Yu Qiao’s face as she left the hospital. She stood at the intersection, waiting for the light to change, the concerned glances of passersby, her last vestige of pride making her mutter, “But you suffered so much…”
She heard Zhou Qiming’s voice, “That’s why we need reporters like Shi Ran, like Chen Xiang.”
She crouched down by the roadside, her body trembling, unable to stop crying, her gray hair shaking. Someone finally approached her, “Auntie, are you okay?”
Yu Qiao couldn’t speak, her sobs choking her. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out, she just clutched the stranger’s hand tightly. The young woman patiently let her, helping her to a nearby bench, quietly accompanying her.
Zhou Tianzui, receiving Yu Qiao’s call, was startled, then quickly asked Zhao Mingqi to cover her shift and rushed out of the hospital.
Yu Qiao sat quietly on the bench, the cool evening breeze ruffling her hair, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Zhou Tianzui frowned, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Hearing her voice, Yu Qiao returned to her senses, looked at Zhou Tianzui, and said, “I just saw your father.”
Zhou Tianzui’s expression changed slightly.
Yu Qiao looked at her and continued, “Thankfully, he didn’t see you, he would blame me again, for not taking good care of you, for letting you get so thin.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m not thin anymore.”
“You’re not.” Yu Qiao stood up, walked over to Zhou Tianzui, pinched her cheek, “But you’re not fat either.”
Zhou Tianzui’s lips parted slightly, looking at Yu Qiao, sensing a change in her demeanor. Yu Qiao didn’t give her a chance to speak, “Are you free? Drive me home.”
“I’ll go get the car, wait for me here.” Zhou Tianzui said, and Yu Qiao replied, “I’ll go with you.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at her, nodded, and walked beside her.
She took Yu Qiao to the supermarket. Yu Qiao said she could go by herself, but Zhou Tianzui said, “I asked Zhao Mingqi to cover my shift, I’m not going back to the hospital tonight.”
Yu Qiao said, “Then I’ll make you something to eat when we get back.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded.
Yu Qiao walked inside, greeting acquaintances with a smile. The change in her demeanor was becoming more and more apparent. Zhou Tianzui couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but at least, being around Yu Qiao didn’t feel as oppressive as before.
They browsed for over half an hour. Yu Qiao bought some vegetables and chicken wings, “You loved your father’s cooking when you were young, you always said my cooking wasn’t as good as his, do you still remember how it tasted?”
She chuckled softly.
Zhou Tianzui finally understood what was different.
It was Yu Qiao.
She no longer became hysterical or yelled at her when they talked about Zhou Qiming. They could have a normal conversation about him now. Zhou Tianzui’s grip on the grocery bags tightened, her expression dazed for a few seconds, then she said, “I don’t remember, I was too young then.”
“That’s true.” Yu Qiao said, “You were just a child.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at her and smiled, her eyes slightly watery. Her voice was a little hoarse, “Mom, I’ll cook for you when we get back.”
“You know how?” Yu Qiao asked, and Zhou Tianzui replied, “Yes, and if I don’t, I’ll learn, I’ll cook for you from now on.”
Yu Qiao said, “Then I’ll be living the good life?”
Zhou Tianzui blinked, her eyes burning, she said, “Yes, isn’t that a good thing?”
“Of course it’s a good thing.” Yu Qiao said, “I can’t wait.”
Zhou Tianzui felt a lump in her throat, she continued chatting with Yu Qiao on their way back. Arriving home, she changed her clothes and went to the kitchen to cook. Yu Qiao offered to help, but Zhou Tianzui told her to rest, saying she could manage on her own.
Yu Qiao stood at the kitchen door, watching Zhou Tianzui work, her slender figure, her pale face, the redness around her eyes. Her gaze fell on a few strands of gray hidden beneath Zhou Tianzui’s dark hair, near her ear.
Yu Qiao said, “Let’s go out for a walk after dinner.”
Zhou Tianzui asked, “To buy something?”
Yu Qiao said, “There’s a new hair salon downstairs, why don’t you get a haircut?”
Zhou Tianzui’s hands paused, then after a moment, she said, “Okay.”
Yu Qiao sat at the dining table, chatting casually. Zhou Tianzui listened quietly, had dinner with Yu Qiao, having only had some soup at the hospital, not a proper meal. After Yu Qiao finished eating, she washed the dishes and went downstairs.
There were many people downstairs, the weather warmer now. People were playing chess, cards. Zhou Tianzui greeted them, and walking past the crowd, she saw the new hair salon Yu Qiao mentioned. Inside, three or four young girls, still in their school uniforms, were looking at their reflections in the mirror, straightening their bangs, trying to curl them. The hairdresser was cutting someone’s hair, chatting with them.
The scene was warm and comforting.
So comforting that she missed You Ruxu.
She wondered what she was doing, if her cold was better. Zhou Tianzui took out her phone, realizing for the first time that even dialing this number required courage. She stood there, looking down at her phone, her palms sweating, the familiar number memorized, yet she couldn’t bring herself to press the call button.
“Xiao Tian, I saw your father…”
Zhou Tianzui closed her eyes. She put away her phone and walked towards the hair salon. At the entrance, she saw a newly opened tattoo parlor next door. There were no customers inside. The owner, sitting at the entrance, looked up, and their eyes met.
He was young, in his twenties, his hair tied back in a ponytail. Seeing Zhou Tianzui looking, he called out, “Getting a tattoo?”
Zhou Tianzui paused for a moment, “What kind of tattoos do you do?”
“All kinds.” The owner’s eyes crinkled into a smile, a warm and inviting smile. Zhou Tianzui walked in. The owner handed her a book of designs, but Zhou Tianzui didn’t look at it, “Can you do a sun?”
“A sun?” The owner thought for a moment, “Sure, but it’s the first time I’ve had a request for a sun tattoo.”
Zhou Tianzui looked down.
The owner asked, “Where do you want it?”
Zhou Tianzui lifted her shirt, revealing the scar on her waist. The owner wasn’t fazed, many people got tattoos to cover scars, but he was curious, “Is there a special meaning behind the sun?”
Zhou Tianzui smiled faintly.
“Why A Ran?”
“Because my mother hoped I would be like the sun, rising steadily.”
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