Love For You - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: That's My Sister!

The window latch was broken.

This neighborhood was a mixed bag of people. Most of the lower floors were equipped with anti-theft grilles, but the Chen family’s apartment on the second floor didn't have any—no thief dared to climb into Chen Yi’s home to steal anything.

In his teens, Chen Yi would come home using a parkour-style climb: scaling the walls with his powerful arms and vaulting through the window with ease. One night during a sudden downpour, Miao Jing was asleep when she heard a tapping at the window. She peered over to see a massive, calloused hand gripping the frame, with a drenched, savage face looking up at her. She nearly fainted on the spot.

If he could climb in, others could too. Since the latch was broken, Chen Yi either had to stay home to "guard the house," or he had to fix the lock.

The next day, Chen Yi didn't wake up until the sun was high. The house was quiet; Miao Jing was out. There was bread and milk on the dining table. He wolfed them down, stood up, and went out.

He first stopped by an auto repair shop. The owner and several employees were huddled over an engine hood; they greeted Chen Yi warmly. "Daima" (Spiky Hair) was washing a car and called out, "Brother Yi." A second-hand Cadillac backed out of the garage. Chen Yi’s car was an import model from many years ago. The original owner had been a local boss involved in the underworld; Chen Yi had once done odd jobs under him. Later, the boss got into trouble, and his assets were used to settle debts, eventually landing the car in Chen Yi’s hands through several intermediaries.

"Changed the seals and reapplied the sealant. Take it for a spin and see. If it’s still acting up, we’ll have to replace the transmission."

"Got it." Chen Yi reached up and snagged the car keys tossed his way. "Thanks."

The old model had a cool, heavy exterior and plenty of muscle, but it leaked oil badly, and repairs were expensive. Chen Yi didn't drive it often after getting it; he’d sometimes take it out to negotiate business or lend it to friends to help them save face. When the shop owner asked about it, Daima explained:

"Brother Yi used to run with a crowd back in the day and drove this car. He’s got an attachment to it."

Everyone teased him: "So it’s an old flame, huh? Is this car the official shuttle for the bathhouse?"

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow: "Where else besides the bathhouse? Ever seen a lackey pull up to a massage parlor in a BBA (Benz, Beemer, Audi)?" He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, offering a vague smile. "Back then, I was just a parking attendant. I’d squat outside the bathhouse at three in the morning, falling asleep, dreaming of owning this car."

The Cadillac was parked under the signboard of a pool hall. A staircase extending downward flashed with colorful neon lights. The pool hall was in the basement and housed eight tables: one professional "Qiaoshi" steel-cushion match table, and the rest were mid-to-low-end "Star" or "Jianying" tables. There was also a bar supplying drinks and snacks, a mahjong room, darts, and a crane machine.

The hall usually attracted many guys, so Chen Yi hired two pretty girls to work part-time as playing partners. He played himself, took part in matches, or taught the young girls who came specifically for him. With handsome men and pretty women to look at, along with affordable leisure, business at this pool hall was always steady.

Miao Jing returned home late that evening. The house was pitch-black and empty. The window latch hadn't been clearly discussed, but it was already fixed. However, there were piles of cigarette butts and ash on the corner of the coffee table, and Chen Yi’s dirty clothes were still draped over the sofa.

A black, quick-dry T-shirt—a cheap cut and fabric, yet it hugged his sturdy physique, showing off his frame and sharp angles. The smell of tobacco and sweat was pungent. Miao Jing showered first, then tossed his dirty clothes in with her own. She added detergent, scrubbed the collars and cuffs, put them through a fine wash in the machine, and finally, hung the men’s and women’s clothes together on the balcony, where they dried, radiating the fresh scent of laundry soap.

The following night, Chen Yi washed his face, left the pool hall, and headed to a residential area. He found an open-air fast-food stall by the roadside to eat, then sat on a red plastic stool, smoking and waiting for someone.

Zhou Kang’an was heading home after work in civilian clothes. He stopped by a small shop on the street to buy some braised dishes for dinner when he noticed a young man in black sitting nearby, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs. Beneath his spiky crew cut was a pair of sharp, refined brows.

"Back?"

"Back." Chen Yi handed him a cigarette and patted a plastic bag beside him. "About that border pass, thanks for the help."

Two packs of foreign cigarettes, brought back by Chen Yi from Yunnan.

Zhou Kang’an was an old smoker, too. Working overtime in the Criminal Investigation Team meant a diet of cigarettes and Red Bull. He accepted the cigarette, took a puff, and raised an eyebrow.

"You reckless brat, smuggling private goods won't do. What’s your channel? How many did you bring back?"

Chen Yi flashed a mouthful of white teeth, cheerful. "Captain Zhou, the threshold for illegal business is fifty thousand. Mine doesn't even qualify. Bought a few packs in a banana field for myself to smoke, and brought some for friends. Don't interrogate me."

Zhou Kang’an had a personal friendship with him and didn't press. "Stay out of trouble."

"I’ve been 'reformed' for years now. What kind of trouble could I get into?" Chen Yi said with a smirk. "My pool hall owes a lot to your protection."

"Get out of here with that." Zhou Kang’an smiled. "If anyone reports gambling again, you’ll have to drag yourself to the station."

"Those were just matches, I know my limits." Chen Yi pushed his chin with his thumb. "My sister is back. I don't even need you to intervene; she’d be the first one to chew me out if I messed up."

"Oh? Miao Jing is back?" Zhou Kang’an recalled the past, feeling a mix of irony and amusement. "She graduated from university, right?"

A deep sense of pride flickered in the young man’s eyes. "Graduated a long time ago. She found a job at a pretty good company."

"That’s good. You two... just live a proper life."

The two chatted briefly in the night air before parting ways. Chen Yi walked away on his long legs, stopped at an intersection, thought for a moment, and headed home.

The house was dark. Miao Jing wasn't back yet. He flipped on the lights—the home was as crisp and clean as ever. The coffee table was gleaming, and in the bathroom, his socks and underwear were soaking in two separate basins. The old rule: Miao Jing wouldn't wash his undergarments, nor would she let him throw them in the machine; they had to be hand-washed.

At eight-thirty in the evening, his phone rang.

A voice, light and soft: "Brother, are you free to come pick me up?"

Chen Yi stared at the clock on the wall, frowning. "Where are you?"

"Having dinner with colleagues. We had some wine, it’s almost over." Miao Jing gave him an address, a Hunan restaurant in the new development zone. It was quite far from the city center, and by this hour, the buses had stopped running and taxis were scarce.

Miao Jing had started her new job a few days ago.

Miao Jing only appeared cold and delicate on the outside. Inside, she lacked any of the melancholy, literary sentimentality; instead, she had an incongruous, metallic coolness. She was a STEM girl who had majored in mechanical engineering. She could handle a wrench on the assembly floor or use CAD to model designs. During her four years at university, she performed exceptionally well, was recruited by an automotive company during campus job fairs, and became an automotive engineer, mingling in production workshops and data testing facilities.

Although Teng City was a small place, its economy wasn't bad. It had a local lithium battery industry, and in recent years, car companies had been pivoting to "New Energy." A car brand had established a vehicle manufacturing plant and experimental center in Teng City, and the production lines were already operational. Miao Jing saw the news, used some connections, contacted the HR department to negotiate her salary and position, and successfully transferred back to Teng City.

The plant was in a remote area, but thankfully, there was a shuttle bus to the city. Miao Jing had joined the unit, handled the onboarding, and coordinated with her department. The automotive industry was male-dominated, and as one of the few female engineers, Miao Jing had traded her flowing skirts for a bulky blue-and-white jumpsuit. With a high ponytail, she possessed a rare, decisive crispness.

The first week was employee orientation and team-building. At the new plant, there were many new hires, mostly fresh graduates. Miao Jing was two years older than them but didn't seem mature at all. Mingling among the group of guys, she was particularly eye-catching and well-cared-for. After work, everyone went out to eat to bond; Miao Jing went along, getting along well with her colleagues.

There were many boys at the table and only a handful of girls. Everyone was the same age, chatting fervently. Most weren't locals. Someone asked about Miao Jing in the corner, and everyone’s gaze converged on her. She said softly that she was from Z-Province and had spent some years studying in Teng City, and that it was a fortunate chance to return for work. When they discussed departments, Miao Jing mentioned the Structural Engineering Department. There were several junior students from the same department and major in the room, and one green-looking boy jumped out—he was also from Z-Province—and introduced himself as Lu Zhengsi, becoming the first person to get Miao Jing’s WeChat.

New colleagues all lived in the company dorms, except for Miao Jing, who lived in the city. As the dinner ended, colleagues offered to send her back. Miao Jing waved them off, politely saying a friend was coming to pick her up.

The group walked out of the restaurant. Parked by the curb was a black Cadillac. Leaning against the hood was a young man in a white T-shirt and jeans, radiating an intense presence. He was looking down, smoking; with a flick of his finger, a red spark drifted from the ash. Hearing the noise, he silently lifted his eyelids for a glance. His eyes were cold and bright, staring straight ahead, his mouth shut. Smoke swirled in his mouth, as if something were about to leap out and claw at someone.

Miao Jing paused, her eyes locking onto his. A smile played on her lips; she hooked a strand of hair behind her ear with her pinky, said merrily that her friend had arrived, waved to the group, and walked gracefully toward the black sedan.

Chen Yi had already tossed his cigarette butt, crushed it with his foot, and started the car.

Miao Jing naturally went to the passenger seat. She glanced inside first—it was empty, with no extra decorations. She lowered her head to pull on the seatbelt, her cold voice laced with a hint of impropriety: "This car really fits your personality."

Chen Yi arched an eyebrow. The "Bathhouse King"—every time he drove this car, even if he went to a construction site, people would speculate he’d just come from a foot massage parlor.

"Been drinking?"

Her cheeks had a slight flush, and her gaze was a bit dreamy.

Miao Jing spoke at the same time, fishing a wet wipe out of her bag: "Is the seat clean?"

"Just sit down, it won't dirty you." Chen Yi’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth. "If you’re so capable, take a taxi back yourself."

"I’m not capable. If you hadn't come, my colleagues would have driven me home." Miao Jing pressed her body against the seatback, stretching her limbs comfortably.

Chen Yi recalled that crowd of "stars" surrounding the moon earlier and frowned. "What kind of job is that? All men."

"The recent hires are all engineers. It’s a vehicle factory with four main workshops. It’s normal for there to be more men than women. But there are female colleagues; you didn't notice just now, but there are two."

Of course, Chen Yi knew of this car company; it was a large factory backed by the local government. They had hired many technical school and junior college mechanical majors from the area for the frontline workshops, but he hadn't expected Miao Jing to be among them.

The surroundings were desolate. He watched the road, his tone full of disdain: "What position? How are you commuting?"

"Eight to five. The company has a shuttle bus that stops in the city. I work in vehicle architecture, mainly responsible for system layout and some verification testing for vehicle body parts. I just got back, so I have to develop slowly."

At the stoplight, Chen Yi kept his face cold, light dancing in his eyes: "University graduate, eight thousand a month—with a salary that low, come to my pool hall. I can pay you that much even if you only have a middle school diploma."

Miao Jing was unimpressed. She silently watched the scenery outside the window. As the car entered the city, she scanned the roadside shops: "Pull over up there. There’s a shoe store. I need to buy some sneakers; I have to walk too much in the workshop, and my flats rub my feet."

She bent over to rub her ankle. Chen Yi’s gaze flicked over inadvertently. He saw her legs crossed, one light-blue patent leather flat dangling from her toe. Her skin was white as snow, with faint blue veins, and her rounded heel was flushed. There was a red mark where the shoe had rubbed, and above that were her slender, snowy-white ankles and beautifully shaped calves.

He retracted his gaze instantly, hands gripping the steering wheel tight. The car pulled over. He leaned back heavily and sighed: "Got money?"

"If I didn't, would you give me some?"

Chen Yi pulled his wallet from his pocket and threw it at Miao Jing: "Buy a decent pair."

"Oh." She opened the door and got out, digging through his wallet: an ID card, a few bank cards, and over a dozen red bills. That was enough.

Twenty minutes later, Miao Jing returned enthusiastically with a shopping bag: "The shoe store is having a promotion—one hundred off for every seven hundred. I bought you a pair, too."

A few days after she first got home, Miao Jing had cleaned the house and cleared out the shoe cabinet, tossing his old shoes.

She held them up to show him: "Black. Do they look good?"

One pair black, one pair white. They weren't a couple’s set, but they were both in their preferred styles.

Chen Yi glanced at them perfunctorily: "Good enough."

Miao Jing tucked the shoes back into the box, placed it in the back seat, and asked casually: "Who’s been buying these for you the past few years?"

"My girlfriend."

"How long have you been dating?"

"Over a year, almost two." He paused and said slowly, "We have a pretty good relationship."

"Good." She sat there obediently, looking a bit lazy but exceptionally calm. "When do you plan on letting me meet the sister-in-law?"

"Whenever you want."

"Then let’s pick a time to meet, have a meal, and get to know each other."

Chen Yi tensed his face and said nothing.

The car stopped downstairs. Miao Jing waited for him to park so they could go upstairs together. Chen Yi rolled down the window: "You go up, I still have some business."

She stood by the window, her clear, vivid eyes fixed on him: "What business could you have this late?"

"Going to the pool hall."

Miao Jing made a move to get in: "Then take me to see it. What kind of pool hall pays its employees eight thousand a month?"

Chen Yi secretly ground his teeth. He turned off the engine, sat in the driver's seat without moving, and pulled out a cigarette: "Miao Jing, have you really thought it through? About coming back to work here?"

She turned her head; her ponytail had already come undone, and a stray strand of hair drifted gently in the warm evening breeze: "Didn't I come back?"

"Coming back is fine. We’re siblings, we can keep each other company. Who knows, we might even be able to look out for each other." He stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut. His handsome, fierce face twitched slightly. "Later on, when we each have our own families and careers, it’s nice to have a relative to visit."

Miao Jing swept her gaze over his face, her tone utterly calm: "That’s assuming someone is willing to marry you."

The two walked upstairs one after the other. Miao Jing was the first to insert the key and open the door, but her movements suddenly stalled—there were lights on inside, and there was noise.

On the floor was a pair of red high heels. On the dining table were keys and several boxes of takeout. There was the sound of rushing water coming from the bathroom. Miao Jing turned to look at Chen Yi, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes so calm they were almost indifferent. She stood at the door without a word.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Yi also felt something was strange. He spotted the high heels on the floor, stood stunned for a moment, then frowned with his hands on his hips, leaning against the doorframe. He sighed in defeat.

Tu Li was working the late shift today.

He shoved Miao Jing forward: "Don't block the way. Get in, your sister-in-law is here."

Tu Li heard the noise from the bathroom: "Chen Yi?"

There was a muffled sound from outside.

"Why are my conditioner and hair mask swapped?"

"Come out." Chen Yi knocked on the door, his voice low and growling: "Get dressed and come out."

Five minutes later, Tu Li emerged—wearing one of Chen Yi’s loose T-shirts that reached her upper thighs. She was empty underneath, with nothing on under the shirt. She used a towel to mess with her wet hair.

"Did you hire a house cleaner? The place is so clean—"

Chen Yi stood straight in front of her, his face as dark as a pot, his jaw clenched, his eyes looking a bit odd. Tu Li’s gaze flicked to the side and collided with a slender figure and a pair of beautiful eyes. Tu Li was startled, then quickly snapped back to reality. Her gaze locked onto Miao Jing, her face paling and flushing in turns. Her shoulders trembled, and gritting her teeth, she suddenly swung her hand and slapped Chen Yi across the face.

Slap—

The crisp sound echoed in the deathly silent home.

"You bring women home? You’re cheating on me with other women?" Tu Li’s tears began to stream down: "You bastard, no wonder you wouldn't let me come over."

Miao Jing turned calmly and walked back to her room.

Chen Yi hunched his back, grinding his teeth, and then ground them again. He turned to look at Miao Jing, growling in a rage: "God dammit, that’s my sister!”