Chapter 56: Speaking
Zhou Tianzui lingered with You Ruxu for another two hours before leaving. After she left, the living room was quiet, only the news playing on repeat. You Ruxu leaned against the sofa, the sounds barely registering.
Would she miss her?
Yes, she would.
She already missed her.
You Ruxu had never known she was so clingy. In the past, even when she was away on business trips for a week or two, she wouldn’t exchange more than ten sentences with Zhou Tianzui. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but the awkwardness between them held her back. And back then, Zhou Tianzui was still sharp-tongued.
She pursed her lips, a tingling sensation, her fingers tracing their outline, still carrying Zhou Tianzui’s scent.
You Ruxu buried her face in a pillow, listening to the sounds from the TV, feeling sleepy.
She tossed and turned, but sleep wouldn’t come. She turned off the TV, went to her room, took out the teddy bear from her suitcase, and gently touched its head, poking its slightly deflated belly. The new teddy bear was still at her parents’ place. She had brought the old one with her. On the way back, Zhou Tianzui had teased her for being sentimental. She poked the teddy bear’s cheek.
It wasn’t sentimentality.
She was just attached to Zhou Tianzui.
Zhou Tianzui returned to the hospital and was immediately confronted by Yu Qiao: “What did you say to your aunt?”
Why was she receiving message after message, even men’s contact information, being told to add them and chat, what was there to chat about?! She wanted to hit Zhou Tianzui!
Zhou Tianzui, scrolling through her phone, said casually, “Nothing, what’s wrong?”
Yu Qiao was exasperated: “Are you unhappy with the blind dates I arranged for you?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “No, I’m not.”
“Not unhappy, my foot, you’re deliberately trying to anger me!” Yu Qiao said, “Tell your aunt to stop sending me those ridiculous messages.”
Zhou Tianzui didn’t look up from her phone: “You tell her yourself.”
“She—” Yu Qiao knew it was pointless. Matchmakers loved to meddle, and they had all sorts of twisted logic, she couldn’t win against Zhou Tianzui’s aunt, only ending up frustrated.
Yu Qiao, sullen, turned over in bed. Zhou Tianzui looked up, “Mom?”
The person on the bed ignored her.
Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “Beautiful Yu?”
Yu Qiao said, “Go away, go away!”
She was truly annoyed.
Zhou Tianzui, knowing when to stop, said, “Fine, I’ll talk to my aunt, then you stop arranging blind dates for me.”
“I knew it—” Before Yu Qiao could finish, Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, I don’t plan on getting married anytime soon. You want me to get married, to find a partner, perhaps I would, considering your health, but then what?”
Her tone was serious, her face stern, the same demeanor she had at the hospital, silencing Yu Qiao.
Zhou Tianzui said, “Then I wouldn’t be happy.”
She lowered her head, “Mom, would that make you happy?”
Yu Qiao was exasperated: “You’re thirty years old, not married, not in a relationship, what are you planning to do?”
Zhou Tianzui turned, the words on the tip of her tongue swallowed back. She said, “Focus on my work, take care of Beautiful Yu.”
Yu Qiao: …
She couldn’t win against Zhou Tianzui.
The conversation ended unhappily. Yu Qiao didn’t speak to her until she was discharged. Zhou Tianzui knew she was still angry. On the way home, she went to the supermarket to buy groceries and fruit, then helped Yu Qiao back to her apartment.
Arriving home, Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, what’s so good about marriage? What if I suddenly decided to marry someone from another city, what about my work? What about you?”
Yu Qiao, without thinking, retorted, “Then find someone local.”
“It’s not that simple.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Dating isn’t like buying groceries, just choosing something affordable, it’s about connection.”
Yu Qiao’s anger, simmering all afternoon, finally subsided a little.
She said, “I think those non-marriage advocates are a bad influence on you.”
“Who?” Zhou Tianzui said, “You mean You Ruxu?”
Yu Qiao was startled, “I didn’t mention Xiao Xu.”
She didn’t dare to.
She then frowned, “She’s also against marriage?”
“I really don’t understand you young people.”
But thinking that even someone as outstanding as You Ruxu wasn’t married or in a relationship, Yu Qiao felt a strange sense of balance. Perhaps it wasn’t so urgent for Zhou Tianzui to get married after all.
Thinking of You Ruxu, she said, “By the way, Xiao Xu brought me some local specialties from Yuhai, she even came to visit me in the hospital, she’s on leave recently, right? Ask her over for dinner?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Sure.”
She called You Ruxu.
You Ruxu had just woken up, sitting on the bed in a daze. She had slept until nightfall. The room was dark, the lights off. Just as she reached for her phone to check the time, it rang. She looked at the caller ID; it was Zhou Tianzui.
She should be home by now.
You Ruxu answered the call. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet.” You Ruxu had just woken up, feeling listless, leaning lazily against the pillows, her hand unconsciously stroking the teddy bear’s head, the soft fur warm in her hand.
Zhou Tianzui, hearing the sleepiness in her voice, asked, “Were you sleeping?”
“Yes.” You Ruxu said, “Are you home?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ve been home for a while, my mom asked if you’re free for dinner tomorrow.”
“Me?” You Ruxu was slightly surprised, then reacted, “Tomorrow? Lunch or dinner?”
Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “Either is fine.”
You Ruxu gave a soft “mm-hmm.”
Zhou Tianzui covered the phone and said to Yu Qiao, who was sitting on the sofa, “Mom, I’m going downstairs to buy something.”
Yu Qiao asked, “Buying what?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Milk.”
Yu Qiao nodded, watching her leave.
Zhou Tianzui didn’t hang up, holding the phone as she walked, her soft breathing audible to You Ruxu, who asked, “Are you out?”
“Going to the supermarket.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Aren’t you going to eat?”
You Ruxu said, “I’ll get up later.”
They chatted casually. You Ruxu put the phone on the bedside table, turned on the speakerphone. Zhou Tianzui’s voice came through clearly. You Ruxu was changing her clothes, not wanting to cook tonight, planning to eat out. Zhou Tianzui said, “Isn’t there soup in the pot?”
“I don’t want to move.”
Zhou Tianzui chuckled softly.
You Ruxu blushed, hearing her laughter. She said, “I’m hanging up.”
Zhou Tianzui had arrived at the supermarket. Someone greeted her. She said to You Ruxu, “Okay, then I’ll hang up now.”
You Ruxu held the phone. It was a casual call, an ordinary conversation, yet after hanging up, she sat there for a few seconds, lost in thought. After washing up, she went downstairs. It was cold outside. She wore a down jacket and a hat. After leaving the building, she looked around, unsure what to eat, standing among the brightly lit signs, when she saw a slender figure walking quickly, followed by three boys.
They were boys, probably not even adults yet, following the girl, their laughter malicious, talking amongst themselves as they walked. You Ruxu frowned. The girl was walking quickly, trying to disappear into the crowd, but the boys followed closely. Just as she was about to reach the crowd, one of the boys grabbed her arm, chuckling, “Hey, classmate, why are you walking so fast?”
The other two boys snickered.
The girl lowered her head, her hair covering her face. She tried to pull her arm back, but couldn’t break free. The boy tried to pull her aside. You Ruxu reached out and grabbed his hand.
Her grip tightened.
The boy’s face paled, “Ow, ow…”
You Ruxu said, “Then let go.”
Her voice was clear and cold. The boy, about to curse at her, looked at You Ruxu’s face and hesitated.
She was beautiful.
He swallowed, “Who are you?”
His voice was slightly softer, and he released the girl’s arm. You Ruxu asked, “Who are you?”
The boy said, “I…” He looked at the girl, “I’m her classmate, I have something to ask her, who are you?”
You Ruxu looked at the girl: “Is that true?”
The girl shook her head.
You Ruxu looked at the three boys. The trio, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, now backed down. They might act like bullies at school, but outside, they weren’t so brave. After a couple of seconds of eye contact with You Ruxu, the boy in front said, “Whatever, let’s go home.”
The other two also turned around.
“Brother Feng, that woman was really beautiful.” One of them said, his tone frivolous, “So pretty.”
Something hit him on the back as he spoke. He didn’t dare look back and just ran off.
You Ruxu shook her head.
She looked at the girl and heard her say, “Thank you.”
She was shy, her head lowered. She was wearing a school uniform, the autumn version, blue and black, not very thick, two old black sweaters underneath. She was wearing sneakers, the white edges the only bright color on her. You Ruxu called out, “Yao Zhao?”
Yao Zhao looked up, quickly glancing at You Ruxu, then lowering her head again, embarrassed. She fidgeted with her pants, her expression nervous, “Do, do you know me?”
You Ruxu said, “I’ve seen your file.”
She extended her hand: “Hello, I’m a reporter from Jindu TV, my name is You Ruxu.”
Yao Zhao looked at her outstretched hand, clean and fair, with long, slender fingers, her nails neatly trimmed and rounded, a beautiful hand, reaching out, as if to pull her out of the mud.
But—
Yao Zhao flinched and took a step back, glancing at You Ruxu, then turned and ran off. You Ruxu called out, “Hey!” but Yao Zhao was already several meters away.
She pursed her lips and didn’t chase after her.
You Ruxu ended up buying some fried rice. The shop was across the street from a middle school, brightly lit for evening study. You Ruxu opened Yao Zhao’s news story and carefully reread it. The shop owner handed her the packaged fried rice. You Ruxu took it and walked home.
She didn’t rush to eat when she got home, but contacted Chen Xiang first.
You Ruxu: [All the information?]
Chen Xiang: [Yes, Teacher You, are you interested in this case?]
You Ruxu: [Just taking a look.]
She didn’t mention encountering Yao Zhao. Just as she sent the message, she received a video call from Zhou Tianzui. You Ruxu placed her phone horizontally on the coffee table, using a tissue as a stand, the takeout box in front of her. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Haven’t eaten yet?”
You Ruxu said, “Just about to.”
She asked Zhou Tianzui, “Have you eaten?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m already in bed.”
You Ruxu looked at her background; she was in her bedroom, lying in bed, holding her phone. You Ruxu smiled and said, “I just ran into a kid outside.”
Zhou Tianzui: “What kid?”
You Ruxu: “A middle school student, there’s a case involving her, the station is following it—” She broke apart her chopsticks. “She was acting strangely, she seemed scared of me.”
Scared of her? Or scared of reporters in general?
You Ruxu wasn’t sure.
Zhou Tianzui lay in bed, watching You Ruxu talk about the case while eating. They rarely did this before, usually busy with their own things, not discussing work. Zhou Tianzui watched You Ruxu on the screen, her pausing briefly when unsure, her brow slightly furrowed in thought, gently chewing on her chopsticks.
So different from the sharp and capable reporter on screen.
This version of You Ruxu was more real, less untouchable. Zhou Tianzui watched her intently, then heard You Ruxu call out, “Zhou Tianzui.”
She snapped back to reality.
Looked at You Ruxu.
You Ruxu asked her, “What are you thinking about?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Thinking about what you just said.”
You Ruxu thought back, “What I just said? What did I say?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “You said you were feeling down because I wasn’t with you tonight, that you missed me very much.”
You Ruxu was stunned, “When did I say that?”
Zhou Tianzui: “Didn’t you?”
You Ruxu: “I didn’t.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at her through the screen: “Then say it now.”
You Ruxu opened her mouth, then suddenly realized, and exclaimed, “Zhou Tianzui!”
You Ruxu: What are you thinking about?
Zhou Tianzui: Thinking about what you just said.
You Ruxu: What did I say?
Zhou Tianzui: You said you wanted to sleep with me.
You Ruxu: …
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