The automobile headed northward the complete approach. Jia He arbitrarily turned on the radio. Somebody had simply requested Jay Chou’s “Heading Straight North All of the Manner.” Actually, so… comical.

After they arrived on the gate of her neighborhood compound, the safety guard, an older man, stretched out his arm to halt them after which got here as much as their automobile. Yi Wenze was about to decrease his window to talk, however Jia He had already thrown herself at him and was holding down his arm. “Let me do the speaking.” This was the period the place everybody in the entire nation was on Weibo. It was safer if Idol’s face was stored hidden.

Saying that, she didn’t look ahead to Yi Wenze’s response, and getting out of the automobile, she gave her greetings to the safety guard.

“Jia He.” The uncle-like older man had a moderately swaggering grin. “Your family is already occupying two parking spots right now. Why are you continue to bringing in one other automobile?”

Jia He gave a dry, little snigger. “As we speak’s my birthday…”

“If that’s the case…” The older man set free an “Oh!” and slapped a hand to his brow. “Simply wait a sec. I occur to have a bag of spouse desserts[1] right here within the gatehouse. Somebody introduced it again from Guangzhou.”

Falling silent, Jia He might solely look ahead to this enthusiastically pleasant uncle to carry out the spouse desserts. Throughout that point, she shot a pair seems on the automobile window, and after confirming that Yi Wenze’s face couldn’t be seen, she relaxed considerably.

When she was again within the automobile, Yi Wenze glanced at what she was holding. “What did he provide you with?”

“Spouse desserts,” Jia He reported actually. “Do you want them?”

Yi Wenze’s eyes slid from her face to the spouse desserts in her arms. “I’m okay with them. When you like them, I’ll carry you again to Hong Kong with me sooner or later to have some.”

Jia He answered him with an “okay,” feeling solely that the phrase “again” was very profound.

“The place will we go from right here?”

Solely now did Jia He’s thoughts catch up. Pointing to the left aspect, she instructed, “Observe that street on the left, take all of it the best way to the tip, then take a proper. It’s the third constructing after that.” After stating all this, she abruptly realized a vital query. “How have you learnt my dwelling deal with?”

Even when Qiao Qiao was an excellent larger busybody, she nonetheless shouldn’t be getting all the way down to that stage of element, proper? …

“I requested Qiao Qiao forward of time.” Yi Wenze nonchalantly instructed her, “I’m not very conversant in Beijing’s roads and was anxious that if I wanted to come back final minute, I wouldn’t be capable to discover it.”

Jia He gave an “oh,” her coronary heart seeming as if it was rocking constantly in her chest. She solely felt that she was going to be intoxicated by him.

With a flip of the steering wheel, the automobile drove alongside the street on the left. There weren’t many road lamps in the neighborhood, so they may solely see issues within the fast environment of the car. That they had simply handed two or three buildings when a automobile got here driving in the direction of them. For the reason that road was very slim, Yi Wenze pulled their automobile over barely to make room for it. As that different car drove previous, Jia He lastly made out that inside it was Gu Yu.

He appeared to note Jia He as nicely and really shortly he stopped the automobile.

Jia He’s coronary heart dropped with a thunk. Simply as she was about to say one thing, their car was already coming to a gentle cease.

“Might I get out and have a couple of phrases with him?” Jia He requested uneasily.

Yi Wenze smiled. “Do you want me to get out of the automobile?”

“Um…” Jia He was hesitant.

She really merely needed to get out and make issues clear with Gu Yu in order to keep away from any misunderstandings sooner or later.

“Do you wish to hear what my ideas are?”

“Go forward.” Jia He pricked up her ears.

“You look ahead to me right here. One minute.”

Reaching his hand to unfasten his seat belt, he turned his eyes on Jia He, as if looking for her consent. Jia He felt as if in a trance from his gaze and her thoughts instantly went clean. Obliging the look in his eyes, she gave a tentative nod.

It was solely after the door had banged shut that she heard her coronary heart beating—furiously beating.

Again when she had been so heartbroken that even her insides had damage, she had sworn that she would discover somebody higher than Gu Yu. She had even fantasized numerous instances about how she would maintain her new boyfriend’s arm and stroll proper in entrance of Gu Yu, her head held excessive and chest out, upsetting him a lot he would vomit three litres of blood. In fact, that had simply been her fantasy. However now, downstairs of her own residence, that fantasy remarkably had come true, besides the re-encounter she had deliberate out in her thoughts appeared to have develop into a showdown…

Jia He, keep calm, keep calm…

After taking a number of seconds to assemble herself, Jia He rapidly spun round and leaned herself by way of the house between the 2 entrance seats, making an attempt laborious to get a transparent view of the state of affairs behind the automobile. At this angle, she might see Yi Wenze’s bottom. Very quickly, he had stepped up beside Gu Yu’s car, and bending down, he directed a sentence into the automobile. It was too darkish; his expression couldn’t be seen. Remorse for agreeing to this hit Jia He, for she was afraid that Gu Yu would say one thing that may trigger Yi Wenze to misconceive and develop into indignant.

Happily, he solely spoke that one sentence earlier than straightening again up and giving an informal pat to the roof of the automobile.

Jia He’s coronary heart directly flew into her throat, and she or he stared unblinkingly at him, ready. In that on the spot, quite a few scenes flashed throughout her thoughts. If Gu Yu bought out of the automobile, she would positively must rush out, throw herself between her idol and Gu Yu, after which say one thing to make issues completely clear. However what ought to she say?

This was a query… however it was not an important query. Simply rush out first, after which she’d take it from there.

At any charge, she positively couldn’t simply sit round and wait.

This thought had solely simply been established earlier than Gu Yu’s car hastily shifted barely after which… drove away?!

His palms in his pockets, Yi Wenze very composedly strode again over, bought into the automobile, and commenced driving. His expression and motions have been completely like he had simply gotten off the automobile to pay for the gasoline that he had refueled, nothing even in the least peculiar about them. Jia He solely felt that these eyes beneath the brim of his cap appeared much more unreal.

“What did he say to you?” she requested in trepidation.

“He didn’t say something.” He was targeted on driving.

Oh no. He will need to have mentioned one thing that ought to not have been mentioned.

Jia He regarded tensely at him. “Something he mentioned, simply don’t take it significantly. Sincere. There’s been nothing in any respect between the 2 of us for a very long time already.”

Yi Wenze glanced at her, his face placid.

“Sincere.” She felt solely rattled and unable to assume. She needed to say many issues to elucidate, however in the end she didn’t even know what Gu Yu had mentioned and much more so didn’t know what she ought to clarify… Seeing that Yi Wenze nonetheless had not spoken, she grew extra anxious. “I do know we simply began our relationship not way back, however I hate the fickle varieties who consistently change their affections, or people who find themselves already consuming from their very own bowl however nonetheless retaining an eye fixed within the pot[2]. You realize, having fundamental morals is de facto essential…”

The automobile abruptly halted. Much more panicked now, Jia He fastened her eyes on him.

He gave a light-weight smile. “We’re there.”

Huh?! Solely now did Jia He flip her head to the aspect for a glance. Positive sufficient, they have been downstairs of the condominium constructing of her dwelling.

Her complete soul nonetheless wound up, she turned again and continued looking at Yi Wenze. “Are you continue to mad?”

Unable to include himself any longer, amusing slipped from Yi Wenze. “He actually didn’t say a single phrase.”

“He simply left with out saying a single phrase?” She nonetheless couldn’t make herself imagine this.

If she had seen accurately simply now, Yi Wenze ought to solely have lowered his head and mentioned one sentence after which that automobile had pushed away.

As she watched Yi Wenze nod his head, just one phrase, scrawled in blood-red letters, popped up in her thoughts: SECKILL[3].

A smile on his lips, Yi Wenze shook his head. “Let’s go now.”

With that, he opened his door and stepped out of the automobile.

For 3 seconds, Jia He nonetheless sat dazedly inside, after which instantly she jumped out and circled in entrance of the automobile to face earlier than him. “I’ll simply go up on my own.” If he have been to make an look on the entrance door of her dwelling, there was 100 and twenty % likelihood her mother would have a coronary heart assault…

Yi Wenze regarded down at her. “What’s improper?”

The sunshine solid from the outdated road lamps was as faint as moonlight.

Her whole face was enveloped in that smooth glow, her eyes riveted on him, as if she had phrases to say however was additionally wavering and weighing out the matter. Throughout, it was have been very tranquil. Vague sounds could possibly be heard of a household on the primary ground making dinner and discussing the rising price of inexperienced, leafy greens. An actual ambiance of regular, everday life imbued their environment. Besides the individual in entrance of her. He was too unreal.

After faltering over her phrases, she lastly ended up saying that very same sentence once more. “I’ll simply go up on my own.”

His voice lowered. “What’s it that’s the matter?”

“We simply began our relationship.” She lastly mustered up the bravery to state her ideas aloud. “I don’t assume I ought to let my mother see you too early… I’ll simply go up on my own this time to get the stuff, okay?”

With an expression someplace between tears and laughter, Yi Wenze requested, “I can’t be introduced out to indicate folks?”

Jia He rapidly clarified, “No… I simply really feel it’s too quickly. And who you’re is so particular, too.”

She gazed at him, and gazed at him some extra, gazing at him in seriousness.

Lastly, Yi Wenze nodded, agreeing to this, and motioned to her to go upstairs.

Ultimately in a position to launch an extended breath of aid, Jia He circled and took two steps. However then, she very tentatively turned again once more to take a look at him. “How about you look ahead to me within the automobile?” If he stood downstairs so eye-catchingly alone like this, it might very nicely be that by the point she got here again down, her mother may not know however everybody else in the complete neighborhood compound would.

This time, it was Yi Wenze’s flip to be silent. In the long run, he might solely pull open the automobile door and sit into the car.

By way of the entrance windshield, he might even see that Jia He was inspecting the automobile, seeming to really feel that this nonetheless was not secure sufficient. It was not till Yi Wenze had turned off the engine and the automobile lights have been utterly extinguished that she, happy, stepped into the stairwell.

Jia He raced up, taking two steps for what would usually be three, till by the point she climbed to the fifth ground, she was already panting. The moment she opened the door, her mother came to visit, rambling nonstop about how Gu Yu had simply left, whether or not she had seen him, and so forth. Finally, her mother turned extra excited with every phrase, till she really began to dial Gu Yu’s quantity to inform him to come back again. It was then that Jia He felt that this case was severe, and straightaway she acknowledged that she had already run into him downstairs however he had issues to are likely to and wanted to go away first. Solely then did her mother lastly surrender, turning round and heading into the kitchen to chop up a plate of fruit.

It was solely yesterday that she had towed her suitcase again right here, so, anxious that Yi Wenze could be ready for too lengthy, she solely shortly checked by way of it. Then, bringing the suitcase out together with her to the lounge, she defined that she wanted to go to Tianjin on enterprise and wouldn’t be dwelling till a couple of days later. Listening to this, her mother instantly caught her head out from the kitchen. “I’ll say, Gu Yu simply mentioned he’s going to be in Beijing for this subsequent week. Are you able to not simply keep at dwelling for a few days?”

Apparently, if she didn’t clarify and clear issues up, her mother actually was going to deal with Gu Yu as her future son-in-law…

For the sake of with the ability to have a peaceable life sooner or later, shereluctantly went up beside the door of the kitchen and really gingerly instructed her mother, “Mother, any more, don’t discuss Gu Yu. I additionally made issues clear with him simply earlier.”

Pausing the motions of her hand for a second, her mother rigorously tried to entice and information Jia He’s pondering. “He actually is kind of good, much more mature than he was once.”

Jia He regarded self-consciously at her mother. “I’ve a boyfriend.”

“Huh?” Her mother practically smashed the strawberries into mush. “Since when? Why didn’t you inform me?”

“Issues simply began between us.” Surveying that poor plate of fruit, Jia He was much more sure in regards to the correctness of her earlier determination. “When our relationship is steady, I’ll carry him so that you can see.” And at the moment, don’t go scaring him away…

“What does he do?’

“He’s an actor.”

Her mother swept a cold look at her, an expression of “I get it” on her face. “The show-business circle is a really messy place. That’s not an excellent selection.”

Jia He felt awkward. “I’m a part of that circle, too.”

“In any case, it’s not a grounded, dependable selection.” Brandishing a fruit knife, her mother added, “Don’t inform me it’s since you’re obsessed day-after-day with Yi Wenze, to the purpose that you simply solely care about attractiveness, is it? Daughter, we have to get up a bit. Do you actually assume you’ll be able to marry the likes of Yi Wenze?”

……

Stewing in awkwardness, Jia He stayed silent.

The one phrase of “boyfriend” had principally ignited all of her mother’s parenting potential. Perceiving that her mother, wielding that fruit knife and reducing up some watermelon, had already readied herself right into a stance of finishing up an extended dialogue, Jia He instantly picked up her suitcase, opened the door, and hightailed out of there. She had solely simply reached the fourth ground earlier than she heard the shout resounding behind her: “I’m nonetheless not completed speaking! Gu Yu actually is kind of good. He’s an editor-in-chief already…”

Not giving even a sound in reply, Jia He sprinted downstairs, and solely after she had handed her baggage to Yi Wenze and each of them have been within the automobile did her aid rush out in an enormous exhale. However earlier than she might say even half a phrase, a telephone name got here in pursuit of her.

“My mother.” With a wry smile at Yi Wenze, she answered the telephone. “I actually need to go. We’ll discuss it once more once I get again subsequent week, okay?”

A snicker that contained volumes of which means echoed from the opposite finish of the road. “I noticed him simply now. He’s fairly tall. Didn’t see his face, however how come irrespective of how I regarded, it nonetheless feels such as you selected the boy based mostly in your idol? From what I can see, he’s fairly younger? He wouldn’t be one of many younger, little actors in a manufacturing solid of yours, proper?”

Jia He was unsure whether or not she must be amused or vexed by the query. She took a look at how he was dressed right now. Certainly, it did look that approach…

“No. My telephone’s out of juice, it’s out of juice,” she hissed, then speedily hung up the decision.

When she regarded up once more, the automobile had already pushed out of the neighborhood compound. With responsible discomfiture, she took a glimpse at Yi Wenze. After a moderately lengthy inner wrestle, she lastly got here up with a gap subject that she might use. “What did you say to Gu Yu earlier on?”

[1]老婆饼“lao po bing.” “Spouse desserts, “often known as “sweetheart desserts” or, from their Cantonese transliteration, “lo por beng,” are a Cantonese pastry. A flaky pastry is full of a candy winter-melon filling that’s smooth and chewy. It is extremely fashionable in Hong Kong.

[2] 吃著碗裡看著鍋裡. When somebody is claimed to be “retaining an eye fixed within the pot regardless of already consuming from his personal bowl,” it means he isn’t happy with what he has. By way of courting relationships then, it implies that individual is already courting somebody however remains to be retaining his eyes peeled and in search of different “choices.”

[3] 秒杀 “Seckill,” which mixes “second” and “kill,” is a slang that originated from on-line gaming and is used to explain somebody who killed an opponent in a matter of seconds. (These days, in China it’s also related to on-line procuring, when an merchandise is bought out extraordinarily shortly as a result of patrons swooped in to buy it.)