Love For You - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Is There a Sound From Next Door?

Normal social interaction—time, occasion, company, sound, and space all adequately satisfied. A fleeting touch, fingers like raindrops, briefly and lightly landing on shoulders, waist, back, or arms. The temperature and texture silently seeped through the fabric; only ultraviolet light could reveal the full fingerprint. The sound of the voice and the scent of breath were absorbed into the pores, a mixture of a man’s tobacco and a subtle, elegant fragrance—like a thin black thread trembling and winding, drilling from the skin into the muscles, swimming into the blood vessels, tracing the arteries back to the heart. The thread was tipped with a fine needle, stabbing into the heart valve without warning, a micro-pain and micro-itch that was difficult to extract.

Chen Yi quickly collected his expression, his face freezing into a rigid, upright mask, his brows stern and solemn. He lowered his voice to a base register, trying his best to ignore the slender, graceful waist and flawless complexion, the delicate brows and raised chin, as he pointed out how to watch the ball, how to aim, how to exert force...

Laughing while talking, moving while wielding the cue, walking back and forth—everything around them was a fading, nihilistic background. Only that thin black thread wound tighter and tighter. Why did no one notice the clues? Such an eye-catching color and trace, right under everyone’s eyelids, wrapping around like a silkworm cocoon, air-tight and impenetrable.

Miao Jing released the cue, shook her head apologetically toward Lu Zhengsi, and retreated to the chair to rest. Chen Yi turned and disappeared, standing gloomily on the side of the road, gulping down smoke. A young girl looked at him with shimmering eyes, but he relaxed his brows slightly, hooked his lips into a wicked smile, and scared her into scurrying away.

When he returned to the pool hall, the table was empty; Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi had already left. Bo Zai said they had left clutching two dolls, intending to stroll through the nearby snack street and not return. Chen Yi grunted, leaned his head back in his chair to rest, and listened to Bo Zai talk about Lu Zhengsi—a polite, decent young man with thick brows and big eyes, quite a good match for Miao Jing. Chen Yi stared rigidly at the ceiling. When Bo Zai mentioned Tu Li’s phone call, Chen Yi grew impatient with his nagging and shooed Bo Zai home, staying in the shop alone for some peace.

Chen Yi didn't go home that night, staying in the pool hall to practice. He happened to receive a call saying a snooker master was in the city for a few days. Without a second thought, he drove away early the next morning.

The club was magnificently decorated. Those who came today were no ordinary people; their rankings and reputations all spoke of some level of achievement. The club owner knew Chen Yi. He didn't play public tournaments, but his strength at the table was not to be underestimated. The owner had once tried to recruit him as a player without success. A large crowd surrounded the table. Chen Yi watched without saying much until finally, he touched the cue and stepped up. His posture was exceptionally beautiful, matching his handsome, young face under the lights, making him look like a decorative poser—until one stroke of force silenced everyone in the room.

His level was already that of a first or second-tier professional player.

Tu Li couldn't find him for several days in a row. She asked Miao Jing, who didn't know either; Chen Yi had only sent her a message saying he was going away for two days. She asked Bo Zai, only then discovering Chen Yi had gone out of town to play. She had worked as a cashier at the pool hall and knew it brought in about two hundred thousand yuan in profit a year. Chen Yi split half with Bo Zai, and over one hundred thousand went into his own pocket. Chen Yi was lavish with his money; whenever he went out eating, drinking, and having fun with his scoundrel friends, he was always the one picking up the bill. Sometimes he also relied on hustling at the tables to make quick cash.

Miao Jing asked Bo Zai: "How much per game usually?"

"Some are a few thousand, sometimes ten thousand a game. Brother Yi has a sense of it; he won't play too excessively."

"Does he play often?"

"Not really. He doesn't let students gamble here, after all, since it's near schools, and checks are strict."

With Bo Zai saying that, Miao Jing didn't say anything more. Chen Yi had been playing in small pool rooms since middle school, starting from ten or twenty yuan; everyone was used to it.

He was gone for a week. By the time Chen Yi returned from playing, the weather had turned cold. He wore black clothes, black pants, and camouflage boots. Somewhere, he had gotten a gold chain for his neck, hanging alongside a jade pendant, giving him a distinct "dust-covered big brother" vibe, and he had returned to that lazy, indifferent state.

Miao Jing saw the gold chain on his neck and asked if it was real.

Chen Yi tossed the heavy chain in his hand, arching his brows triumphantly: "A club owner lost it to me. What do you think, real or fake?"

She didn't ask whether he had won or lost at pool, but hearing him call his friends to invite them to sing karaoke and visit a sauna, she figured the result couldn't have been too discouraging. He turned from the phone, seeing her autumn-water eyes unfocused, and sat down before her with a long stride. After hanging up with his buddy, he asked her: "How have you been at home these days?"

"Quite well." She was sitting on the sofa folding clothes and asked if he wanted some cake.

"Where did the cake come from?"

"Zhengsi’s birthday. We bought a birthday cake; we didn't finish it, so I brought it back and put it in the fridge."

Oh, leftover cake from someone else, asking him if he wanted some.

"I don't want any."

Speaking of Lu Zhengsi, that was another matter. Chen Yi propped his chin up, squinted slightly, and poked his lower lip: "You and Lu Zhengsi are doing well?"

"Very well." Miao Jing lowered her head, thought of something, and said softly: "The weather is cold, and catching the morning shuttle bus is difficult. Zhengsi often runs back and forth to the city, which isn't convenient. I’m thinking of moving into the company dormitory. Can my room here be reserved? I might be able to come back for a day or two on weekends."

He lowered his eyes, his thick lashes pitch-black, before rising abruptly and striding away: "Do whatever you want."

"Are you going out?"

"Something the matter?"

"That’s perfect." She hugged her clothes and went toward her room. "I’ll change, and you can give me a lift. I have a date today. I’ll be back late; if you come back early, please fix the pipe on the washing machine. It’s leaking a little."

"..."

Miao Jing walked out of the room touching the pearl earring on her ear. Her long hair was loosely held by a hairpin, with a few strands drooping onto her swan-like neck. Her light blue shirt-dress reached her calves; it seemed like the most ordinary piece of clothing, but on her, it had a crystal-clear, cold, and understated noble temperament. No one could do anything to her, and no one could touch the hem of the skirt as she slipped away.

She had an appointment with Lu Zhengsi to eat at a restaurant. Chen Yi dropped her off and drove away. She watched the Cadillac drive into the distance and then dialed Chen Yi’s number.

His voice was slightly impatient: "What is it?"

They hadn't said a word to each other in the car just now, but this time, the call had gone through promptly.

"I left an umbrella in the backseat."

"Want me to bring it back to you?"

"No need, just letting you know. It’s Sister Lili’s; just give it back to her."

"Hmm."

Chen Yi drove in a circle around the city, picking up Da Yong and his girlfriend along the way, then waited for Tu Li to come downstairs. Finally, they picked up Dai Mao and went to a clubhouse for the night—banquet, sauna, mahjong, and karaoke all in one. Chen Yi seemed to be in a good mood; his face was full of smiles, his brows dancing. After eating, everyone had fun at the mahjong table. Chen Yi played two rounds, with Tu Li sitting by his side to count his chips and help him win quite a bit. Finally, when they went to sing K and ordered several cases of beer, they started playing games. They snatched the big gold chain off Chen Yi’s neck to verify its authenticity on the spot. He was plied with enough drink to turn his face pale, his eyes bright as stars as he reclined on the sofa, smoking slowly. Tu Li wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing a bright red kiss onto it.

Miao Jing waited for Lu Zhengsi to arrive, and the two met up to find a place to eat. Recently, a component design project had been handed to Miao Jing, and the drawings were already down; follow-up design and testing certification work needed to begin. This was what Miao Jing was talking about with Lu Zhengsi. Later, after eating, Miao Jing simply followed Lu Zhengsi back to the company, where she put in two hours of overtime working on the technical documents.

When the time was about right, Lu Zhengsi came in from outside, saying it was raining. Miao Jing rose, ready to go back. She left the office with Lu Zhengsi. The autumn rain was pouring down, wrapped in a chill, and the wind blew through her hair and skirt, making her look pitiably fragile and graceful.

"It’s really too late. Let me drive you back." Lu Zhengsi held the umbrella for her and pulled out a set of car keys. "The company cars are all empty; I borrowed one. It’s just right to drive you."

"Thank you, sorry for the trouble." Miao Jing didn't refuse his kindness. "You really didn't need to work overtime with me."

"I think this is quite good. Following you, Engineer Miao, I’ve learned a lot."

"You should still have your own private time; don't learn from me. I might be a bit over-corrective."

"Engineer Miao, you are the... hardest-working girl I’ve ever met. Have you always been like this?"

"Is this something I can say?" Miao Jing smiled. "Effort is the easiest talent to acquire, and it’s also the simplest way to escape life—or rather, to escape troubles."

"Engineer Miao, do you have a lot of troubles?"

Miao Jing laughed brightly: "I’m just very interested in the selectivity of life."

The two talked about work, the future, the industry, and finally, their respective families. Lu Zhengsi tentatively asked: "That... person who was critically ill that you mentioned—is it Chen Yi?"

"Do you think he looks like it?"

Lu Zhengsi shrugged, a bit bewildered.

When they arrived downstairs, Lu Zhengsi and Miao Jing shared an umbrella as they got out of the car. She carefully held her skirt. Unexpectedly, a car was parked by the side of the road. Tu Li, wearing a leopard-print miniskirt, was clutching onto Chen Yi as they also returned. The four of them bumped into each other downstairs.

Chen Yi had been drinking a fair amount, though not to the point of being drunk. The bright, big gold chain on his neck was already gone. He leaned lazily against Tu Li, his whole body cold, dark, and gloomy. His brows were hard, fierce, and cruel, making his distinct facial features look as white as jade in the rainy night, exuding an air of unbridled, manic desire.

The two umbrellas converged. Chen Yi and Miao Jing each looked up, their gazes meeting in the fine, dense rain for a silent moment before they looked away in silence.

"What a coincidence."

"Back already?"

The rain was quite heavy at this moment, wetting the hems of their trousers. The four of them went upstairs one after another. Miao Jing boiled water and made tea to help Chen Yi sober up, and everyone had a few sips to warm up. Once the teapot was set down, the atmosphere in the house suddenly became lively. Tu Li and Lu Zhengsi chatted about the funny events of the night, how Chen Yi’s big gold chain had been carved up by everyone; the room was filled with Tu Li’s crisp laughter.

The rain was falling so heavily, and Chen Yi wasn't one to turn down company that night, so Tu Li naturally intended to stay.

It was getting late. Lu Zhengsi felt a bit awkward and hesitated to leave. Miao Jing stopped him: "The rain is so heavy, it’s not safe for you to drive back. Why don't you stay over?"

As soon as the words fell, all six eyes of the three people stared at her clean, fair face. Chen Yi’s expression changed slightly, his unfathomable gaze frozen. Lu Zhengsi’s face flushed slightly, and he stood awkwardly, scratching his head until Tu Li’s joke broke the tension: "There’s just no mahjong table in this house; otherwise, we could play a few more rounds tonight. Everyone look around and see if there’s a deck of cards."

Lu Zhengsi followed suit and went into Miao Jing’s room.

The door clicked shut gently, but it wasn't locked, leaving a thin slit. A little sound could be heard from inside. Tu Li watched with laughing eyes, swaying and nestling into Chen Yi’s body, twisting the tips of her hair to tease his expressionless face. The tighter his brows knotted, the more he remained unmoved, his eyes drooping as he smoked one cigarette after another, stifled.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Tu Li pouted her red lips, fluttering her captivating eyes, pressing against his ear. "Should I go take a shower first?"

He squinted, exhaling a cloud of smoke, curling his lips coldly as a response.

Tu Li happily headed into the bathroom. She even asked Miao Jing to borrow some makeup remover and moisturizer. When she entered Chen Yi’s room, seeing him lazily propping up his legs, leaning on the head of the bed smoking, she giggled: "Tonight is quite interesting. Miao Jing brought two cups and a carton of milk into her room and even asked if I wanted some. Who drinks milk at a time like this?"

She hung both arms on Chen Yi’s shoulders, kissing him in fine, dense pecks, her voice bewitching: "Aren't you going to wash up? Maybe the bathroom will have a line later."

Chen Yi’s brows were cold and hard. He pressed the lighter and lit another cigarette, his voice hoarse and frivolous: "What’s the rush? Can't we let them wash first?"

Tu Li pinched his firm chest muscles in the midst of spring fever, then suddenly made a sound, her eyes flickering with interest: "Is there a sound from next door?"

It was an old house. The two rooms were side-by-side, door to door, and the soundproofing wasn't very good.

"What is that sound? Why are they screaming?" Tu Li covered her lips and giggled. "I didn't expect Miao Jing to look so refined and weak, but she’s quite uninhibited. Do you two men want to compare? See who’s better? Otherwise, just listening like this, it’s a bit..."

A gloomy, cold, and fierce anger surged on his face, but he stood stiffly, trying to remain calm. His temples throbbed, his pupils were dark, streaked with a little red. He stiffened his neck, smoking faster and faster, more and more chaotically. Finally, his brows erupted with a bit of ferocity, and he picked Tu Li up: "Put on your clothes."

"What’s wrong?" Tu Li was confused.

His long legs stepped off the bed with a murderous aura. He opened the door to knock on the door next door—dong, dong, dong. The sound in the room stopped. Miao Jing opened a narrow crack, a pair of distinct black-and-white eyes staring at him.

He gritted his teeth: "You, come out."

"Let me change my clothes."

Her voice was lazy and hoarse, her brows weary, and she closed the door.

A needle-like pain radiated up from her spine.

Miao Jing was only wearing a thin, short nightdress, so she wrapped a long sweater over it. She crossed her arms and walked out of the room. Chen Yi was waiting for her on the balcony.

His eyes were strikingly bright, yet terrifyingly fierce. He bowed his head, lifted his cold eyelids, and stared straight at her as she took one step after another toward him.

The wind blew her long hair like dense water weeds at the bottom of a lake. Her beautiful eyes were soft and calm. Miao Jing stood on the balcony, closing the door behind her, and asked softly: "What’s wrong?"

He gritted his teeth, then gritted them again, almost breaking his back molars. His words were cold, hard, and low, word for word, pinning her to the spot: "I don't give a damn why you came back, I don't care where you live, or what you do. I didn't nod and allow you to bring a man home to sleep. God damn it, either you move out, or you go open a room at a hotel."

Miao Jing was silent for a long time, finally lowering her eyes faintly, her lips parting: "What about you? You have someone in your room, too."

"Same for me." He said hatefully, "No bringing women home to stay the night."

"Alright then." She thought about it. "But what if you aren't home?"

"No way!!"

"No problem." She smiled at him, her smile a bit crafty and wicked.

Looking at that expression on her, his face taut, cold, and hard as stone, he wished he could bite her throat so she couldn't smile, and make her obedient.

Miao Jing returned to the room and, right in front of him, opened the door—Lu Zhengsi didn't know when he had left; the room was empty. She took her notebook and watched an episode of a variety show.

"Goodnight, I’m sleeping."

Chen Yi’s mind suddenly buzzed, and he stood there stiffly in the chilly wind.

Tu Li, absolutely furious, was sent home by a Chen Yi whose face was as green as grass.