Chapter 12

Being given such cold and formal words, Shang Mingbao was stunned but not angry.

“Are you in a bad mood?” She called out to him and quickly found an explanation for his unusual coldness: “Was that… your father? Did you two have a fight?”

Xiang Feiran pinched the cigarette, and a hint of amusement appeared in his smile.

“Sis,” he called her in a kind tone, but the distance in his gaze was vast: “It seems you don’t have the right to meddle in my affairs.”

Shang Mingbao was taken aback as if someone had doused her with a bucket of cold water. Her uniquely innocent and unguarded smile froze on her face.

It seemed he didn’t welcome her return at all—neither surprised nor pleased or concerned.

After a moment of blank confusion, Shang Mingbao became awkward. Unable to withstand his cold scrutiny, her gaze fell to her feet in embarrassment. “You misunderstood, I didn’t mean it… I…”

Xiang Feiran cut off her incoherent mumbling and extinguished the cigarette on the wall. “Goodbye.”

He walked away, not even glancing at her as he passed by.

Shang Mingbao struggled to keep from trembling and called out loudly, “Xiang Feiran!”

Neither of them had expected her first use of his full name to be under such circumstances.

Xiang Feiran paused briefly, waiting for her next words.

“What kind of person do you think you are, to talk to me like that?” Shang Mingbao’s lips quivered, and her eyes quickly misted up, making it hard for her to see his expression. “If it weren’t for the fact that you saved me…”

Though her words were intentionally provocative, they achieved their intended effect.

Xiang Feiran silently curved his lips and, when he spoke, his voice was unexpectedly husky. “Shang Mingbao, you really don’t need to think so highly of this matter.”

After Fang Suining finished her bath and came out wearing a dry hair cap, she was eager to see the wildflowers in the vase but found that neither the people nor the flowers were in sight. It wasn’t until she leaned over from the balcony that she noticed the flowers scattered across the backyard lawn as if dropped by a heavenly maiden. The petals and berries were scattered everywhere and had already wilted under the midday sun.

Downstairs, she saw Shang Mingbao sitting on the bench in the yard, looking as if nothing had happened, merely staring blankly and not noticing her approach.

“Why did you throw away the flowers?” Fang Suining sat down next to her, removed her dry hair cap, and used her fingers to comb her damp black hair.

The sunlight was bright, making Shang Mingbao react slowly. After a while, she finally responded, “They’re not pretty. I got tired of them.”

It wasn’t that the flowers were ugly; it was her mood that was off. But Fang Suining didn’t press further, assuming the Princess and the Pea situation and not thinking too much about it.

After sitting in the shade for a while, until Fang Suining’s hair was almost dry, she jumped off the chair. “Alright, let’s go see how Aunt Lan’s five-fingered peach soup is coming along!”

Xiang Lianqiao had gone to Beijing for a meeting, taking the driver and assistant with him. So it was just the two girls left for lunch. It was almost eleven, and the dishes should be nearly ready, but they didn’t smell any fragrant soup. Entering the kitchen, they saw the five-fingered peaches they had painstakingly gathered lying on the floor, and Xiang Feiran was crouching nearby.

Shang Mingbao’s face stiffened, and she walked more cautiously.

She wasn’t ready to face him yet.

Fang Suining asked, “Brother Feiran, when did you come back?”

She then asked, “Aunt Lan, why isn’t the soup being cooked?”

Xiang Feiran stood up, brushing off his hands. “Who do you want to poison?”

Aunt Lan was holding her heart, looking panic-stricken. “Oh my Suining, this isn’t five-fingered peach; it’s a deadly poison called ‘break-heart grass!'”

“Ah???” Fang Suining was startled and incredulous, firmly declaring, “Impossible, I know five-fingered peach. Don’t try to fool me.”

“Have you forgotten what I taught you about the mixed growth of ‘hooked kiss’ and ‘coarse-leaved banyan’?”

“Hooked kiss” is the formal Chinese name, while “break-heart grass” is the local vernacular name, indicating its extreme toxicity. Because it grows mixed with the “five-fingered peach” coarse-leaved banyan, it’s easy for the untrained to confuse the roots and inadvertently collect the poisonous “hooked kiss” roots as well.

Aunt Lan dared not speak loudly; her face was pale as she muttered, “Damn it…”

Fang Suining, meanwhile, was clutching his head in terror, “Damn it, did we just escape death?”

Xiang Feiran glanced at her sideways, “No need to thank me.”

Fang Suining asked, “God bless, how did you suddenly think to come here?”

“Miss, no one knows this mountain better than I do. You two…” His gaze naturally shifted to Shang Mingbao, pausing imperceptibly before he continued, “…I know better than you where you could end up, and where you picked those coarse-leafed banyan trees.”

Shang Mingbao stiffened under his gaze, her expression and demeanor frozen, though her heart softened.

She thought to herself, if you say a kind word, I might generously forgive you.

“Yes, yes,” Aunt Lan added, “Luckily, I mentioned it to Feiran.”

People tend to talk a lot after experiencing a scare. Xiang Feiran no longer participated in their chatter, passing silently by Shang Mingbao.

He paused momentarily, causing Shang Mingbao’s heart to lift.

But he walked past her again, as if she were invisible in the room.

The kitchen was dimly lit, with only a few small windows open. In the parallel beams of light, there was a haze of drifting white smoke and dust. Shang Mingbao felt that her eyes were probably irritated from the smoke in the stove, making them feel burning and dry.

By lunchtime, the large dining table was only occupied by Fang Suining, who stared blankly at the array of dishes.

“I say, if Shang Mingbao isn’t eating, is Brother Feiran not eating either?” she asked Aunt Lan.

Aunt Lan served her some sea coconut and lean meat soup, “He’s busy, and you know it.”

Aunt Lan knew well enough not to mention the events from the morning. She remained silent.

Fang Suining ate lunch alone, took a lonely nap, and then spent the afternoon studying in solitude. By dinnertime, she found herself once again alone at the table, feeling that something was amiss.

Aunt Lan, concerned, asked, “Mingbao’s health isn’t good to begin with. Can she really withstand not eating or drinking for so long?”

Fang Suining set down her chopsticks, skipped knocking on Shang Mingbao’s door, and rushed to Xiang Feiran’s study.

Xiang Feiran was waiting for the assembly of RNA sequencing data for the Dragonwort samples. Hearing Fang Suining’s voice, he momentarily distracted himself and said, “Come in.”

Fang Suining had a bit of an art to speaking, saying indirectly, “Brother Feiran, aren’t you hungry?”

Xiang Feiran, who had barely spoken three or four sentences all day, replied coldly, “Practicing immortality.”

“Hey,” Fang Suining sighed deeply and heavily, “You’re practicing immortality, and Mingbao is too. Did you both find a manual for martial arts and forget to share it with me?”

Xiang Feiran put down his steel-colored mug and glanced at her, “What happened to her?”

“She said she had to submit a report for school and locked herself in her room for seven or eight hours,” Fang Suining sighed again, “But I feel like someone must have upset her. She’s been down all day.”

Her words and gaze pointed at him.

Xiang Feiran, expressionless, thought for a second. He was neither narcissistic nor self-indulgent, and soon made an objective judgment: he wasn’t significant enough to upset her; it must be someone else.

Like a boyfriend.

For example, after their disagreement in the morning, her boyfriend might have had a rough day, leading to a couple’s argument, making things worse.

Xiang Feiran replied indifferently, “So?”

“So, go talk to her or comfort her,” Fang Suining urged, “She’s usually polite and well-mannered. For her to lock herself away in our home for so long, she must be really upset.”

He was not inclined to comfort others.

Especially someone else’s girlfriend.

Fang Suining sighed again, “She didn’t eat in the morning either. In a hurry to go up the mountain, she only had a glass of milk and half a croissant.”

The croissant was already small; taking a bite felt like just puff pastry, and she only had half? Even birds had bigger appetites.

Xiang Feiran asked, “Knowing you were going to take her up the mountain, why didn’t you let her eat more?”

Fang Suining was taken aback, “What?”

What the heck, how did this suddenly turn into my fault?

She was at a loss, grabbing his arm with both hands to pull him up, “I don’t care, go comfort her! Her health isn’t good, and she just got out of the hospital. What if something happens?”

Xiang Feiran’s attempt to stay detached vanished with her words. He paused the backend progress, picked up his coat, and left with Fang Suining.

“I’m not good at comforting people, but if necessary, I’ll knock her out and feed her.”

Fang Suining: “…”

You really are something.

Shang Mingbao had indeed completed the school report, but it only took half an hour. She spent the entire afternoon on it. Aunt Lan had asked her twice to join the meals, and she knew it was quite rude to miss all three meals when staying at someone else’s home. But with Xiang Lianqiao not around, she allowed herself to indulge. Aunt Lan had tried to bring the meals in small portions, but after an hour, she had to take the cold, untouched trays away.

Fang Suining had also come to find her a few times. She tried hard to put on a cheerful front, unsure if Suining saw through her.

When the knock came, Shang Mingbao was holding a colored pencil, looking down at a blank sheet of paper, writing and drawing. She said, “I’m not hungry.”

Xiang Feiran replied, “Okay.”

He turned to leave but was quickly pulled back by Fang Suining.

“Okay, what’s okay?” Fang Suining said urgently, “Get in there and comfort her!”

Is it him?

With a clatter, the colored pencil she threw rolled off the edge of the desk and onto the floor.

She didn’t bother to pick it up, sitting back on the bed and grabbing a book, her breath slightly quickened from the series of actions.

Now you come to apologize? It’s too late. She has turned into a cold, unfeeling girl who finds no joy in anything, no longer smiles or finds happiness!

“Huh, the book is upside down.”

After correcting the position of the simplified Chinese essay collection, a cold voice came through the door: “Shang Mingbao, I’m coming in.”

Under the golden marigold chandelier, the girl in a white lace nightgown leaned against the head of the bed. With her long hair cascading down and her pale face showing a serene expression, she seemed calm on the surface, but her heartbeat was erratic—sometimes light, sometimes heavy. Her calm demeanor was a facade masking the trembling in her veins.

The moment she saw him come in, she felt an overwhelming urge to cry. It wasn’t weakness or seeking comfort; it was that he was her very embodiment of grievance.

Seeing his figure, she finally faced the grievances and sadness she had been avoiding all afternoon. The wave of grievance had engulfed her, making her feel as though her breathing was restricted and her nose felt sore as if it were filled with water. This was only natural; her vision was blurred as if veiled by steam, and this too was a matter of course.

With a click, the door was unceremoniously closed by Xiang Feiran, cutting off Fang Suining’s attempt to observe from the outside.

Xiang Feiran had never had to comfort a girl, let alone someone else’s girlfriend, and for a moment, he didn’t know where to start.

It was hard to gauge the right approach. Standing was too stern, sitting on the edge of the bed was too intimate, and sitting on the swivel chair was like a serious conversation with an elder.

After some thought, he decided to squat down, resting one hand on his knee and the other on the edge of the bed. Clearing his throat, he began with a failed opening line: “Suining told me you haven’t eaten all day?”

Unexpectedly, this plain and somewhat authoritative opening line had an immediate effect. Shang Mingbao’s eyes filled with tears.

Xiang Feiran was stunned. How did he manage to make someone’s girlfriend cry right away?

Fang Suining was a tough woman who, after years of dealing with her, would either fake cry or cry while complaining. He had never seen someone like Shang Mingbao cry so silently and persistently.

He stood up, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he quietly said, “I’ll go find Fang Suining…”

Before he could turn, Shang Mingbao hugged him around the waist.

She was kneeling on the soft bed, her actions revealing the warm scent from the bedding. The lace nightgown she was wearing slipped off one shoulder.

His throat went dry, replaced by an itch that he wanted to swallow. Xiang Feiran felt as if he were paralyzed, his raised hands unable to fall.

“You…” His voice was low and burning, trailing off with an unfinished deep breath.

“Shang Mingbao, you can’t do this.” After a moment, he said steadily, his gaze restrained as it fell to the top of her head.

Shang Mingbao struggled to hold back the impulse to burst into tears, her mouth twitching, almost forming an equal sign. “Why…”

Xiang Feiran let her cling to him, her arms warming the slim waist under his T-shirt.

“What do you mean?” His voice was hoarse yet unusually gentle, as if earnestly seeking guidance.

“Why are you being so harsh to me, why are you ignoring me… Why don’t you apologize to me…” Shang Mingbao’s tears flowed as she spoke, her accusatory questions becoming a plea due to her sobs.

Xiang Feiran sighed deeply: “How have I been harsh to you?”

“You said…” Shang Mingbao wanted to list evidence but struggled to recall the exact words. Just thinking about it made her heart twist into a knot, and after several sobs, she finally said, “…said, why should I care about your business…”

Her crying was loud.

At this moment, it was wrong to find her crying cute, feeling morally compromised.

Xiang Feiran tried to reason: “What I said was, it seemed like you didn’t have the right to care about my business.”

After a pause, “Emotions and meanings are different; don’t add to the severity on your own.”

“There is no difference!”

“…Okay, okay.” He conceded.

“Is it really meddling if I just ask?” Shang Mingbao sobbed uncontrollably.

“If it’s just asking, then yes, it’s meddling.”

Shang Mingbao sniffled, “Ah?”

She was crying so hard she was almost out of breath, her head spinning slowly. “Then, what if… it’s not just asking?”

The night was as dark as space, and the golden marigold light in the room reflected on the window glass and on Xiang Feiran’s slightly bowed, deep-set face, which bore a vague and gentle warmth.

“Thank you for your concern, but some things I can’t just discuss with anyone.” He finally gave a compromise.

Outside the door, Fang Suining was scratching her head, wondering what was going on. Why was the soundproofing so good?

Shang Mingbao asked, “Can you tell me in the future?”

“Sure,” Xiang Feiran used a delaying tactic skillfully, “if there is a future.”

Shang Mingbao’s tears surged again, “Then why do you pretend not to see me?”

Xiang Feiran sought guidance again: “Did I?”

He was having a bad day too. A bad mood for a researcher meant running data, so after feeding a lot of data to the server, he had never left the house and had no chance to see her.

“You did…”

“When?”

“In the kitchen…”

So that was it. Xiang Feiran, like a server programmed with data and commands, began to process the response automatically.

“I didn’t know what kind of hook or poisonous herb that was. It wasn’t intentional…” She explained like a child to an adult, explaining that it wasn’t on purpose.

Xiang Feiran paused: “No one is blaming you; it’s not your fault.”

“But you ignored me.” Shang Mingbao felt a pang in her heart, her tears flowing like a burst of hot water. At that time, she felt like a superfluous, transparent shadow, listening to every word they said.

“I did see you.”

Shang Mingbao’s heartbeat stopped: “You didn’t.”

“Really. Think back to when I was talking about where you and Fang Suining might end up,” Xiang Feiran said, pinpointing the exact words.

Shang Mingbao was unconvinced: “I don’t remember.”

“Maybe it’s because…”Xiang Feiran lowered his gaze,“you didn’t look at me.”**

Her heart thumped uncontrollably, accompanied by a tingling sensation spreading through her limbs. It was a feeling distinctly different from atrial tachycardia; Shang Mingbao couldn’t quite describe what was different. She only knew that she felt like a sandbag, with something slowly and hotly flowing through her limbs and bones.

Her tears slowed, and she closed her eyes, her voice soft and hoarse.

“Then you should apologize to me.”

“Even after everything is explained, you still want an apology?”

“Yes.” Shang Mingbao replied firmly, her voice still interspersed with sobs.

Xiang Feiran hesitated for a long time, finally letting his hand, which had been hovering, lightly rest on her black hair. “I’m sorry.”

With those three words, Shang Mingbao’s tears began to flow again.

Xiang Feiran’s T-shirt was already soaked with her tears, sticking uncomfortably to his waist and abdomen.

He belatedly realized that the cause of Shang Mingbao’s whole day without eating… was him?

Although it was a case of retribution matching the crime, why hadn’t her boyfriend managed to comfort her all day? At this moment, Xiang Feiran found himself distracted.

…He wondered what her boyfriend was like when comforting her and what methods he used.

Would it be harder to comfort her than now?

He wouldn’t mind if she were a bit harder to comfort.

Shang Mingbao had never experienced this kind of emotional suffering. When arguing with haters, she could hire someone to argue for her—someone faster at typing, with a richer vocabulary, and top-notch sarcasm; when arguing with classmates or friends, the argument and reconciliation were quick, with sadness and resentment not lasting more than a meal; when arguing with a boy, her mom would help teach him a lesson…

Her emotions, like a mountain stream after a flood, began to calm and reflect whether she was overreacting. It seemed troublesome.

She released her hold and stepped away from Xiang Feiran’s embrace, wiping her tear-stained cheeks with the back of her hand. With a heavy nasal tone, she added, “Don’t misunderstand…”

Xiang Feiran firmly interrupted before she could finish, “I won’t misunderstand.”

Shang Mingbao looked up, “I haven’t finished speaking.”

Her face was flushed, her eyes wet, with red at the corners and the tip of her nose. Her dark lashes, damp with tears, clung together like a small, waterlogged black bird.

If he looked down, he would see her collarbone, her shoulder hollows, her shoulder where the lace jacket had slipped off…

But he couldn’t look down.

Xiang Feiran draped the jacket he had been holding over her, covering the vibrant colors left by her crying.

“It’s chilly at night.”