Chapter 10

On Saturday, Wen Ci went to the mall to buy a gift for Qin Yun.

Before buying, she asked Dou Yiqing for her opinion. Dou Yiqing said, “Receiving my birthday wishes is already a great blessing for him. A gift? He must be dreaming.”

Though Dou Yiqing said that Wen Ci knew she was usually tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Sure enough, Dou Yiqing soon sent another message: “Just buy anything to get it over with.“

Finally, Dou Yiqing added, “I heard the party tonight is at the villa halfway up the mountain. No need to dress too fancy, dear, just don’t go in jeans.”

Wen Ci replied with a smile, “Okay, I’ll try not to look too out of place.” She eventually chose a handmade jewelry box for holding watches.

When Wen Ci agreed to attend, she thought she’d just make an appearance, deliver her wishes and the gift, and then find an excuse to leave early, just like she did at usual colleague gatherings.

—–

At 5:30 PM, with light makeup on, Wen Ci stood in front of the mirror and put on high heels she hadn’t worn in who knows how long.

Wen Ci wore a sleeveless white long dress today. Unlike her usual dresses, this one had a noticeable waist-cinching effect. The good design made it fit snugly on her upper body, accentuating her delicate waistline.

This designer dress was a gift from Dou Yiqing, which she had only worn once at the age of 20. Wen’s mother thought it was too form-fitting and revealing and advised her to wear it less.

Although her mother had said to wear it less, Wen Ci had not worn it since. Not because of her mother, but because she didn’t have many occasions suitable for this dress.

Wen Ci turned in front of the mirror and sighed with relief—luckily, she hadn’t gained weight over the years and could still fit into it.

Her phone on the bed buzzed, and Qin Yun sent a voice message: “Wen Ci, the person picking you up has left. He lives close to you, so he should be there in about ten minutes.”

Wen Ci replied with an “Okay.”

The house had wooden floors, and fearing she might damage them, she took off her high heels, held them in her hand, grabbed the gift, and went downstairs, only to run into her mother.

Wen’s mother stopped and looked her up and down.

“Why are you wearing that dress again? Didn’t I tell you to wear it less? Who are you going to meet?”

Wen Ci replied, “I haven’t worn it in almost six years.”

Implying that she had worn it very little, “I’m going to a friend’s birthday party tonight. I mentioned it during dinner on Wednesday.”

Her mother asked, “Which friend’s birthday requires you to dress like this? It’s not Yiqing’s birthday this month, right? Or is it one of your colleagues?”

Wen Ci knew that if she casually mentioned a name now, her mother would find a way to verify it.

And she didn’t feel the need to lie: “It’s Qin Yun’s birthday.”

“Qin Yun?” Her mother thought for a long time before recalling the name, “Qin Yun from high school? The one in your class?”

“Yes.”

Although Wen’s mother hadn’t taught Wen Ci’s high school class, she had specifically inquired about her classmates, among whom Qin Yun was one of the most famous.

Wealthy, rebellious, a smoker, a troublemaker, terrible grades, and poor character. If it weren’t for his family’s significant donations to the school, he would have been expelled long ago. Back then, one of their teachers had complained to her: why didn’t these rich kids go to private schools instead of ruining Jiang High?

Even after graduation, she had vaguely heard about him—apparently, he spent a lot of money to get into a good university, and after being warned for too many absences, he drove a luxury car to school every day, totally improper.

Her mother was surprised: “How did you stay in touch with him?”

Wen Ci said, “We met by chance. His niece is in my class.”

Her mother scrutinized her for a moment, then nodded lightly, “Avoid staying in touch with him. Don’t go tonight.”

“What?” Wen Ci was stunned, “Why?”

“Don’t associate with such people,” her mother said flatly. “Change your clothes and go to bed early. Don’t wear this dress again; it’s not appropriate. Girls should dress properly.”

Wen Ci stood on the stairs, taking a while to regain her composure.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this dress. It looks nice; Yiqing gave it to me.” Wen Ci said, “And I already promised Qin Yun.”

“I know Yiqing gave it to you, which is why I didn’t ask you to throw it away.”

Wen Ci stood silently for a while, then continued down the stairs. Her mother immediately stopped her: “Wen Ci!”

“I’ll come back early,” Wen Ci said without looking back.

As she bent down to put on her high heels, her mother was already blocking the door.

“Mom!” Wen Ci was incredulous, “I just want to go to a friend’s birthday party.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t go to a friend’s birthday party. If it were Yiqing, your colleagues, or other decent friends, I wouldn’t stop you. I wouldn’t interfere.”

Wen Ci said, “Yiqing is going tonight too.”

“Yiqing has always been wild. I saw it early on. I advised her parents, but they didn’t listen. And look what happened? Last year, she really had a falling out with her family and hasn’t gone back home since.” Her mother sighed, “You’re her friend. If you don’t advise her, fine. But why join her in messing around?”

“Why should I advise her? She hasn’t done anything wrong,” Wen Ci said calmly. “Mom, please move.”

Her mother didn’t move, staring deeply at her.

They stood off for a long time before her mother sighed, “Wen Ci, you’ve disappointed me tonight.”

That sentence froze Wen Ci in place.

For a moment, Wen Ci wanted to ask, why are you so easily disappointed?

When I ate a little less or didn’t nap as a child, you said you were disappointed; when I did fewer exercises or my grades slipped a bit at school, you said you were disappointed; now, as an adult, when I want to attend a friend’s birthday party, you say you’re disappointed.

Wen Ci opened her mouth, about to say something when she heard a dull thud of footsteps behind her. Her father’s voice, calm and authoritative as always, echoed: “What’s going on? I can hear you two from the room.”

Wen’s mother replied, “She said she was going to attend Qin Yun’s birthday party—the boy from her class in high school who was the worst student. I told her no, and now she’s throwing a tantrum.”

“What’s the big deal?” Wen’s father declared, his voice firm. “Wen Ci, go back to your room.”

Wen Ci returned to her room, standing silently at the door in the darkness for a long time.

Her eyes stung, and she struggled to hold back tears, not wanting her makeup to smudge.

She couldn’t hold it in any longer and thought to herself, “Never mind, I won’t go anyway.”

Just then, her phone lit up, the only light in the room. She heard the ringtone and froze. Quickly, she checked the screen and was surprised to see that it was a voice call from Zhou Wu.

Wen Ci sniffled, hurriedly answering, “Hello?”

Hearing her voice, Zhou Wu paused for a moment and then said, “I’m here, but the car can’t go in. I’m waiting at the intersection. Come out when you’re ready.”

Wen Ci realized, with a jolt, that the person Qin Yun had mentioned to pick her up was actually Zhou Wu.

Wen Ci felt even more despondent.

Not hearing her response, Zhou Wu asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wen Ci’s nose ached, and she tried to control her voice, “Sorry, I probably won’t be able to go… I was about to tell Qin Yun, sorry.”

There was silence on the other end for a couple of seconds. Then, faintly, the sound of a car door opening mixed with the noise from the street. It was hard for Wen Ci to hear clearly.

“Got it, if you can’t go, then don’t. Don’t cry,” Zhou Wu said calmly. “Can you tell me why? Are you feeling unwell?”

Wen Ci had already come up with several excuses while standing by the door earlier, including this one, which would have been the perfect lie.

—-

At 26, saying it was because her parents wouldn’t let her go would have seemed too pathetic.

But for some reason, hearing Zhou Wu’s voice, Wen Ci suddenly didn’t want to make up an excuse anymore.

“My parents won’t let me go,” Wen Ci admitted. “Sorry, you came all the way here.”

On the other end, Zhou Wu laughed softly, “It’s nothing.”

Wen Ci didn’t know what to say, and all she could do was awkwardly respond, “Sorry, I’ll explain it to Qin Yun.”

“Do you want to go?” Zhou Wu suddenly asked.

Wen Ci froze.

Did she want to go?

Honestly, at first, she hadn’t really wanted to. She wasn’t familiar with Qin Yun and his friends and was worried about feeling out of place. She didn’t know what to do around Zhou Wu and Duan Wei either.

But now, hearing Zhou Wu’s voice, Wen Ci realized that, yes, she did want to go.

She really, really wanted to see Zhou Wu.

“…I want to,” Wen Ci said.

There was a brief pause, and the noise in the background shifted from loud to quiet. Zhou Wu, standing in front of several two-story red brick houses, asked, “What’s your house number?”

“31,” Wen Ci replied, “Why?”

“Which floor are you on?”

“Second floor.”

“…Is the light off?” Zhou Wu said. “Wen Ci, open the window.”

Wen Ci paused, suddenly sensing what was happening. She jumped up, making as little noise as possible, and quickly ran to the window, opening it—

Zhou Wu was standing right outside, looking up at her with a smile.

When he saw her, Zhou Wu raised his eyebrows slightly.

Wen Ci was wearing a white dress, and with her pale complexion, she looked like a beautiful white magnolia in the dark.

“I haven’t seen this dress before,” Zhou Wu remarked.

“Duan Wei told me not to wear jeans.”

As soon as she said it, she realized something was off—Zhou Wu was actually wearing loose dark gray jeans and a black T-shirt with embroidery.

But he was tall and slim, like a clothes hanger, and no matter what he wore, he never looked awkward, always effortlessly stylish.

Wen Ci suddenly felt embarrassed, “Is it strange? Should I go change?”

She then snapped out of it—she wasn’t going to the party anyway, so why bother changing?

“It’s not strange.” Zhou Wu’s phone buzzed with a new call. He glanced at it, then hung up. “They’re rushing us, let’s go.”

Wen Ci was taken aback. The two of them stared at each other for a moment, and then Wen Ci said dumbly, “…How do we go?”

“Do you trust me?”

“I do.”

To her surprise, she answered so quickly. Zhou Wu’s smile deepened. “Jump down, I’ll catch you.”

“…”

Wen Ci turned and went back inside.

Zhou Wu sighed, “Didn’t you say you trust me?”

Wen Ci blushed, “It’s not that… I’m just going to grab my shoes and the gift. I haven’t got them yet. I’ll be quick. Wait for me.”

Zhou Wu had already scoped out the surroundings. Wen Ci’s house was at the end of the street, not very high, and the walls of the adjacent building were taller. Her window faced a small alley—secluded, quiet, and empty.

With such conditions, it would be a shame not to jump out the window.

Wen Ci threw her heels and bag out the window first, then stepped out with one leg, the wind gently lifting the hem of her dress.

—-

In the dim silence, with no one around, Wen Ci felt the evening breeze and heard her own heartbeat, faster than it had ever been.

Zhou Wu stood below, arms outstretched, waiting.

Seeing her nervousness, he glanced at her dress and teased quietly, “Should I close my eyes?”

“I’m wearing leggings. Besides… you don’t mind, you can look.”

Zhou Wu was about to ask her how she always managed to say things that made people think twice when suddenly, Wen Ci jumped.

Zhou Wu caught her steadily, like catching a white magnolia.

Wen Ci wrapped her arms tightly around him, still a little shaken. Zhou Wu held her and gave her a little lift.

“You seem lighter,” he commented.