Love For You - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: How Is the New Boyfriend? Do You Like Him?

To boost their popularity, the pool hall organized friendly matches every month. The first-prize reward was cumulative, meaning anyone who could defeat the owner could take home a ten-thousand-yuan grand prize. The number of participants was never low, keeping Chen Yi busy from beginning to end.

The two lived under the same roof, but they hadn't spoken to each other for several days. At night, Miao Jing would faintly hear some movement—the sound of a door opening or footsteps in the next room around midnight, one or two in the morning, or even later. The next day, when she went to work, Chen Yi’s door would still be shut—only the clothes piling up in the washing machine and the shoes kicked messily at the doorway indicated that there was someone in the house.

During her last business trip, to thank Tu Li for the lipstick she had given her, Miao Jing had specially prepared a return gift. She originally intended to send it to the gym, but Tu Li said she would come by to pick it up when she had free time, so she came to find Miao Jing on her day off.

It was a bottle of Dior perfume, along with a few Northern specialties like beef jerky. Tu Li accepted them with a broad smile and chatted with Miao Jing about the sights and experiences of her trip. Since a supplier had also gifted her a bottle of red wine of decent quality, Miao Jing casually asked Tu Li if she drank. If she liked it, it would be a perfect opportunity to help her finish it.

"Why didn't you save it for Chen Yi? He drinks too."

"I didn't think about saving it for him." Miao Jing smiled. "If you like it, take it. I don't drink, and I don't have any other friends I know."

"Then I won't be polite." Tu Li blinked and rested her chin on her hand. "I really like everything you give me."

"No need to be polite."

"By the way, has the pool hall competition ended? Is your brother busy with other things lately? What time does he usually come home at night?"

"I don't know." Miao Jing had no idea about Chen Yi’s whereabouts or activities. She shook her head. "You can ask him directly."

Tu Li hadn't bothered Chen Yi for several days, knowing he must be impatient with her due to the matches. She had intended to probe for information through Miao Jing, but hearing her reply, she couldn't help but find it amusing. "You two are quite strange. Living in the same house, it feels like you're not familiar at all. You don't know anything."

"I haven't asked, and we rarely talk about these things." Miao Jing understood what she meant, her tone light and clear. "I'm busy with work, and he has plenty of things to do, too. We don't spend much time together."

"Is your relationship really that bad?" Recalling the descriptions from Chen Yi’s circle of friends, Tu Li’s lively eyes scanned her. "It feels like you two are so cold toward each other. I’ve never heard Chen Yi mention you, and I’ve never heard you mention him. It’s like you're two completely unrelated people. Was it always like this between you two?"

At the mention of the past, Miao Jing’s thick eyelashes lifted, revealing a pair of clear, limpid eyes. "Do you think our relationship is bad?"

"Well, it's not exactly good. I feel like you have a lot of pride. Do you perhaps not like your brother? He has such a huge temper, and he’s always cold-shouldering people or walking out. I think your personality—so upright, educated, and reasonable—is completely different from his."

"It’s alright." Miao Jing didn't take the bait. "There are very few things I could ever argue with him about."

Tu Li shrugged her shoulders.

Miao Jing asked, "Do you find his temper very hard to endure?"

"He’s basically a pampered master." Tu Li idly fiddled with her hair and sighed. "It is quite annoying."

"But you’ve been together for a long time now."

Tu Li smiled. Among the men she knew, those with more money weren't as handsome as him; those more handsome weren't as generous; those with better tempers didn't have his personality; and those who loved her desperately weren't as capable as him. Between men and women, isn't that just how it is?

"By the way, since you gave me so many things, let me treat you to a meal. Are you free this weekend?"

Miao Jing hesitated. "I might have other things to do this weekend... A friend invited me to go to a bowling alley."

"A man or a woman?" Tu Li’s eyes lit up.

"A man, a colleague from the company."

"Single?"

She nodded.

"Oh, something’s happening! You’re moving quite fast." Tu Li clicked her tongue in admiration. "Miao Jing, you really are quite decisive."

"It's nothing, really. We’ve been getting to know each other for a while now. We went on that last business trip together, and we talked a lot." Miao Jing’s eyes shimmered. "I’ll introduce you to him when there’s an opportunity."

"Sounds good."

Lu Zhengsi accepted Miao Jing’s suggestion generously. Whether the romance was real or not, the two did have a good relationship. Miao Jing was open to dating and spending time alone with him. Lu Zhengsi invited her to bowl, and Miao Jing treated him to a meal, which was a nice way to reward herself for the crazy overtime she had been putting in lately.

It was only when Tu Li called that Chen Yi learned she had met with Miao Jing. About the red wine and the beef jerky—he hadn't seen a shadow of them at home. And then there was this Lu Zhengsi and the bowling alley. After finishing a cigarette, he heard Tu Li asking him if he wanted to go shopping and eat out over the weekend. Chen Yi pressed his eyebrows down. "Go? Why wouldn't I go?"

On the weekend, Chen Yi saw that Miao Jing was already dressed up: a light-colored polo shirt, a white sports miniskirt, and long socks hugging her calves—she had a slender figure, a waist narrow enough to be encircled by two palms, and straight, well-proportioned legs as white as porcelain. Paired with a baseball cap and a long ponytail, she looked like a youthful, delicate young girl.

He walked past her, his voice cold and disdainful. "How old are you this year, to be dressing like this?"

Miao Jing was holding a glass of milk, her head bowed as she smoothed out her skirt. "Is it strange? It’s my tennis uniform from college. I even made it into the school newspaper wearing this outfit."

Chen Yi snorted through his nose.

That was nineteen years old; four or five years had passed. Although she might be suspected of trying to look young, the outfit still fit well. The house lacked a full-length mirror, so Miao Jing had been checking her outfit in the bathroom mirror, where she had seen him leaning against the doorway with a bath towel slung over his shoulder, impatiently holding his arms.

"Get out."

By the time Chen Yi finished showering and came out, there was no one left in the house. A snow-white napkin with a lipstick print was crumpled into a ball and tossed on the table. The dining table hadn't been cleared, and the cold milk carton was still sitting there—half of it was his share. Chen Yi frowned, finally leaning against the edge of the table to rip open the milk carton. He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then lazily and sullenly took the dishes into the kitchen.

The weather cooled down after autumn arrived. It wasn't as sweltering, making it perfect for outdoor sports. There were quite a few people at the bowling alley. When Lu Zhengsi saw Miao Jing, there was no hiding the awe in his eyes. He hadn't expected Miao Jing to be so good at bowling. She said her previous boyfriend liked it, and she had picked up a few tricks herself—there was always a sense of disharmony about Miao Jing, with many traits that didn't seem to belong to her, such as being a STEM girl, an engineer, or someone involved in a sunny, sporty, or straightforward romance. These all seemed to silently melt into her, making people view her in a new light.

There were many people at the mall as well. Tu Li had a friend at a counter she knew, so she went over to chat and pick up some things, not in a rush to pay. Chen Yi and Hua Qiang went off to discuss some business, leaving her to browse on her own until he came over to pick up the tab. Tu Li enjoyed his overbearing, imperious tone; at the very least, he was always ready to pay. Her friends envied her luck, wondering how she had found such a handsome and generous boyfriend.

Chen Yi arrived in a white shirt and black trousers, his gleaming leather shoes looking slightly like those of a beast in gentleman's clothing. He was naturally broad and tall, and his frame made the shirt look crisp and upright. He had the cuffs of the shirt rolled up—he didn't look like a neat, casual type, but rather like a raw, unbridled embodiment of hormones. Tu Li’s eyes lit up, and she pressed her lips against his face, smiling at her friend, "Finally waited for him to arrive."

Her friend was envious to the point of jealousy, watching as Tu Li walked off clinging to the man, whispering to her partner, and watching her partner’s eyes go wide, her own brows raised in triumph.

They bought things from several shops. When Chen Yi glanced at the bill while paying, he was able to cover the costs, but that didn't mean he was going to be selfless. There were clothes in the shopping bags that Tu Li had bought for her own parents and younger brother, so Chen Yi made her pay for those herself.

Tu Li chose the place for dinner: a Japanese restaurant. As soon as the two sat down, they heard voices drifting over from the next table and turned their heads in surprise.

They hadn't expected Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi to be there, too—it wasn't entirely a coincidence; Miao Jing had asked Tu Li for advice on which restaurants in the city to recommend. Tu Li had listed several, and this one was closest to the pool hall and best suited for young couples.

This lunch turned into a meal for four.

It was the first time Tu Li saw Lu Zhengsi; she watched him with a smile, causing him to shyly rub the tip of his nose. "He looks like a little brother."

Miao Jing shielded Lu Zhengsi, gently resting her hand on his arm. "He’s not a little brother; he’s my boyfriend."

She said this very calmly, but by the end, she couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth and eyes lift into a knowing, curved smile.

Chen Yi stood silently before her.

Miao Jing then introduced Tu Li. "My brother’s girlfriend, Tu Li—Sister Lili."

"Sister Lili, Brother Yi, hello."

"Congratulations, congratulations. You two are a great match."

"Thank you."

"Not bad." Chen Yi’s gaze was deep as he examined them. Finally, he curled his lips, patted Lu Zhengsi on the shoulder, and spoke with a hint of pressure in his tone: "Just call me Chen Yi."

"I wouldn't dare. I’ll stick with Brother Yi."

The meal was exceptionally lively. Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi recounted how they got along, while Tu Li chatted about the hottest topics, joking that the four of them could form a mahjong table in the future. Only Chen Yi spoke little, occasionally giving a grunt or two.

Miao Jing saw him wearing the white shirt and let her gaze linger for a moment longer before turning it back, falling softly upon Lu Zhengsi.

After lunch, Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi’s date was supposed to end, but Tu Li suggested they all go watch a movie together. She had never been to a cinema with Chen Yi; it was always either the pool hall, a mahjong table, or the game arcade. It would be livelier to have all four of them together.

Everyone was indifferent, so they all nodded one after another. Tu Li browsed on her phone.

"There’s a hit family film. The reviews are high; it’s both funny and tear-jerking. The lead is a comedy actor who’s been really hot lately. Shall we watch this one?"

Lu Zhengsi liked the movie, too, but Miao Jing and Chen Yi reacted with indifference, asking if there were any other options.

"We’d have to wait for the times of other films. This one has the most screenings."

In the end, Tu Li bought four tickets.

The theater was packed. The four seats were not together—Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi were in the front, while Chen Yi and Tu Li were a few rows behind. The four of them separated to find their seats. The lights were too dim, and Lu Zhengsi held Miao Jing’s hand, inching toward their seats step by step.

Miao Jing’s skirt was short, and the velvet seats didn't look very clean. Lu Zhengsi happened to have a thin jacket with him and smiled, handing it over. "It’ll come in handy."

"Thank you."

He was a very thoughtful boy.

The movie was indeed very good: loving, slightly scatterbrained parents, mischievous and unlucky children, and absurd events during their journey. The laughter from the audience was like thunder. Miao Jing stared, her eyes wide, watching the screen until the scene where the whole family hugged and cried. She signaled to Lu Zhengsi that she was going to the restroom and, shrouded in darkness, exited the theater.

She went to the restroom to get some air and turned to walk out. A crisp sound of snapping fingers rang out in the dim hallway. Miao Jing turned her head—there was someone in the smoking area at the end of the hall. One hand was in his pocket, and the pale gray light from the narrow window fell upon his white shirt. He squinted slightly, lifting his chin, smoke rolling in his throat; it was as if he were shrouded in fog, shadowy and indistinct.

Miao Jing didn't intend to return to the theater, so she walked straight over and stood before him.

"Why did you come out?"

"Didn't want to watch."

"Then shall we find a place to sit? Wait for them to come out?"

"Wait until I finish this cigarette."

"Okay."

"How is the new boyfriend? Do you like him?"

"I like him." She tugged at the jacket Lu Zhengsi had given her. "He’s very gentle and attentive."

"That’s good then." He lazily lowered his eyes.

The smoke in his throat was exhausted. He extended an arm toward her, his shirt revealing a stretch of wheat-colored skin, with blue veins bulging beneath the thin skin. His long, slender fingers still held half a cigarette. He turned it toward her, his voice muffled. "Want a puff?"

"I don't smoke."

"I know." He gave a lethargic laugh. "It’s not like you haven't smoked before... the movie wasn't very good, was it?"

Miao Jing’s eyelashes fluttered. She took the cigarette from his hand, holding it just like he did, and took a clumsy puff. The pungent smoke made her narrow her eyebrows, a burning sensation rising in her eyes. She exhaled thoroughly and finally handed the cigarette back to him.

He leaned forward slightly, took the cigarette, and took two puffs before stubbing it out in the ashtray.

"Let's go."

The two walked away side by side. In the ashtray, the cigarette butt bore a faint imprint of lipstick.