It wasn’t until May, when the weather started getting hot, that Ah Heng saw Si Er again.

Ah Heng was walking alone on her way home from school when Si Er, laughing playfully, roughly patted her shoulder.

This girl was still beautiful and elegant, but no longer gentle and timid, delicate and graceful.

“Ah Heng, got any money? Let me borrow some.”

She no longer wore her long, soft hair, having cut it much shorter. She had gotten thinner and darker. Her lips, opening and closing, were painted very red, looking like she had drunk blood. When she spoke, she no longer gently lowered her brows, but raised them instead, full of sharp spirit.

“Er Er?” She wasn’t sure this was Si Er.

“Don’t call me that name.” The girl waved her hand in disgust, her fingertips a dazzling purple.

Ah Heng stared at her hands in a daze, remembering how Mom had said countless times that Er Er was the most naturally gifted piano student she had ever seen. Those jade-like hands were born flawless – any additional decoration would be sacrilege.

Ah Heng slightly lowered her eyes and awkwardly asked, “How have you been these days?”

Si Er raised her eyebrows and smiled: “What about you?”

Ah Heng pondered whether to say good or not good. After hesitating for a while, she nodded and answered seriously: “Average.”

Si Er sneered: “After all this time, you’re still the same as before, hopelessly stupid.”

Ah Heng chuckled.

“Enough talk, I’m in a hurry. You should have money on you, right? Let me borrow some first.” Si Er was getting impatient.

“How much do you need? What for?” Ah Heng asked while rummaging through her backpack.

“Thanks!” As soon as Ah Heng took out her wallet, Si Er snatched it away. “As for what it’s for, that’s none of your business. Of course, you couldn’t do anything about it anyway.”

She waved her hand, turned around, and left cleanly.

After that, Ah Heng never saw Si Er again.

In the basketball tournament, Xi Lin predictably made it to the semifinals. The match was scheduled for 8:30 AM Sunday at B University’s gymnasium.

Si Wan and Xin Dayi practiced intensely every day on the basketball court in the courtyard. Ah Heng and Yan Xi sat nearby watching the two, passing towels and throwing water bottles – they couldn’t help much with the actual practice.

Xin Dayi, looking enviously at the two sitting in the shade, would mischievously grab their arms to wipe his sweat whenever he was sweating. Ah Heng would always pull her arm away, smiling as she handed the towel to the youth. But Yan Xi showed no such grace – he would grab the youth’s cheeks and throw him aside, then add a couple of kicks.

“Yan Xi, a man shouldn’t be so petty,” Xin Dayi grimaced as he got up from the ground, hands supporting himself, sweat dripping down his tank top.

Yan Xi couldn’t be bothered to deal with him, throwing a towel onto the youth and saying flatly: “Wipe yourself off. Your sweat’s all dried up but you still have so much saliva.” He squinted at the basketball hoop where Si Wan was still repeatedly practicing his shots.

“Is it fun?” He couldn’t understand why someone would want to be sticky and sweaty all day, covered in stinking sweat, just for something that didn’t cost much money – you could buy a sack full of basketballs by selling any single decorative item from his home.

“Tch! How could it be about fun? This is about men’s honor, honor!” Xin Dayi babbled excitedly.

Yan Xi picked at his ear, noncommittal.

“Dayi, how long are you planning to slack off?” Over there, Si Wan stretched his handsome face, looking annoyed at Dayi.

“Coming, coming!” The youth sprang up like a carp, smiling as he ran over.

Passing, dribbling, layups, shooting – the two youths coordinated with perfect chemistry.

“Hehe, golden partnership.” Ah Heng concluded.

Yan Xi smiled and nodded, suddenly feeling somewhat melancholic: “Look, after so many years, your brother and Dayi seem to haven’t changed at all.” Yan Xi shaped his hands like a camera, freezing on the joyful, sweating faces of the two youths.

He smiled inadvertently, then turned his head and saw Ah Heng, his smile suddenly becoming a bit stiff.

That sentence was out of habit, but who was it habitually meant for?

Who could give her such great power to have witnessed the spirited grace of two young boys in Wushui Town years ago, so that now, years later, she could agree and say “Yes, yes, they haven’t changed at all.”

Ah Heng pretended not to hear, not to realize these words were meant for Si Er.

Better to feign ignorance than face reality.

For Sunday’s match, after finishing in the morning, there was another practice game in the afternoon with last year’s champion school, so Si Wan and Dayi barely had time for lunch.

After discussing with her mom and grandfather, Ah Heng decided to make lunch and bring it over. Si Wan subtly expressed his desire for tomato-braised beef brisket, while Xin Dayi loudly declared he wouldn’t marry- no, wouldn’t eat anything but scallion-fried lamb.

Ah Heng smiled sheepishly, and on Saturday went to the market, walking around for a long time before buying all the ingredients. When she returned home, the sunset had already fallen on the red tiles, exceptionally gentle and warm.

Passing by Mao’er Hutong, she saw Little Shrimp helping Grandfather He pack up his stall. The child rushed over, bright eyes looking at her: “Sister, sister, what delicious food are you making for Brother Si Wan and Brother Dayi? I want to go on Sunday too, I want to eat too!” The child was quite articulate.

Ah Heng smiled, nodding repeatedly saying okay.

“Grandfather, this is Sister Ah Heng who teaches me, she’s so nice to me.” He held the old man’s hand, smiling with eyes as clear as a stream.

The old man smiled with kindly wrinkles, awkwardly expressing thanks repeatedly: “Good girl, thank you for your trouble. Our little Xia is playful and doesn’t know better, sorry for the burden.”

Ah Heng blushed with embarrassment: “Grandfather, you’re too kind, not at all.”

Suddenly, crying and cursing sounds came from within the hutong, and one of the voices sounded very familiar.

Ah Heng found it increasingly, alarmingly familiar. Figuring it out, she ran toward the source, calling out to the child as she ran: “Little Shrimp, go home with grandfather first, don’t get involved.” She was worried about children’s natural curiosity about excitement.

Little Shrimp wasn’t happy about this – why can’t I go see when something is exciting? If you don’t let me go, I’ll go. So, he followed close behind.

Running deep into the hutong, Ah Heng sighed. More than ever, she hoped her ears had heard wrong, but there she was – Si Er.

Si Er was currently huddled in a corner, with two thuggish-looking young men with dyed yellow hair saying vulgar things and getting handsy with her.

“Wen Si Er, why are you acting so proper? Weren’t you just clubbing with us yesterday? How come today you’re pretending not to know us brothers?” One of them grabbed Si Er’s chin, speaking teasingly.

“Get away! I don’t know you!” Si Er resisted, looking at them in fear, crying until her voice was almost breaking.

“Er Er, it’s so late, why aren’t you going home?” Ah Heng called out clearly, smiling in Si Er’s direction.

The two men were startled, probably not expecting anyone to be in such a remote hutong.

Taking advantage of their distraction, Si Er violently broke free from their grip and ran behind Ah Heng, her body trembling.

“Who are you?” The two men spoke menacingly.

“I’m Er Er’s sister.” Ah Heng’s expression was calm and gentle as she gripped Si Er’s hand and turned her behind herself, then shouted toward the empty alley, “Dad! Quick, we found Er Er!”

“Coming, coming!” A male voice echoed from far away.

“Wen Si Er, didn’t you say you were an orphan with no parents, asking us to take you in? What bad luck!” Seeing the situation, one of them cursed, losing interest and hurriedly leaving with the other.

After they left, Si Er collapsed to the ground instantly, hugging Ah Heng and crying out loud: “I was so scared, Ah Heng, I was so scared…”

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, it’s okay now, it’s okay.” Ah Heng softened her expression, gently hugging and comforting the girl.

From far away came the pattering of the cap-wearing child: “Hehe, sister, how was my acting?”

Ah Heng smiled brilliantly: “What do you think?”

“Oh.” The child’s mouth drooped, “Sister, I’m not taking advantage of you, you have to believe Little Shrimp loves you!”

Ah Heng nodded: “I believe, I believe.”

The distance was too far and the bad guys were too flustered to notice how childish the “father’s” voice had been.

Unable to help herself, the girl in Ah Heng’s arms burst out laughing.

“Kitten peeing, crying, and laughing at the same time!” The child teased Si Er while pinching her pink cheeks.

Ah Heng patted the girl’s back, helping her catch her breath.

But when she lifted her face, her tears fell even more fiercely: “Ah Heng, I want to go home…”

Ah Heng walked into grandfather’s study, somewhat stiff and awkward.

“Ah Heng, what’s wrong?” The old man had been reading the newspaper, looked up, and smiled. He couldn’t resist his granddaughter’s obedient, silly manner – it was truly endearing.

“Grandfather, are you busy?” Ah Heng asked softly.

“Not busy.” The old man shook his head, guessing, “Is something wrong at school? Or did your brother, Yan Xi, and Dayi gang up to bully you?”

Ah Heng shook her head like a rattle drum, secretly sighing that the three of them did have a bad reputation in adults’ eyes: “Grandfather if I tell you something, will you promise not to get angry?”

The old man nodded, looking at her with tolerance and love.

Ah Heng lowered her gaze: “Grandfather, can we let Er Er come home?”

The old man was stunned, with only traces of breathing in the air, complete silence.

After a while, the old man finally spoke pensively: “Ah Heng, do you know what will happen if we do this? Your mother will think more about Er Er than you; Si Wan will consider Er Er’s feelings and neglect you…”

His voice was very authoritative, yet carried tenderness.

Ah Heng smiled lightly, interrupting the old man’s words, speaking gently: “And grandfather too…”

The old man was stunned.

“Grandfather is worried that he’ll be the same way.

“Grandfather misses Er Er very much, but considers me and won’t agree to Mom and Si Wan’s requests.

“Grandfather, loving Er Er more isn’t wrong.

“Grandfather, Er Er misses you.”

The old man sighed, rubbing his brow, softening his voice: “Ah Heng, you’re just a child, you can be more selfish.”

“Grandfather, if every child is selfish, adults will have a very hard time.” Ah Heng smiled, her expression peaceful.

“Yes, but you are Wen Muxin’s granddaughter, you have the capital to be selfish.” The old man spoke deeply, with slight pride and wisdom.

“Grandfather, that’s not fair.” Although she knew she was the biological granddaughter, not every silly girl born and raised in Wushui Town would foolishly dream of one day becoming a phoenix perched on a high branch.

Just as Wen Si Er, who had the capital to be selfish and proud, never imagined she would become penniless overnight.

The old man smiled, his eyes full of pride and helplessness: “Let Er Er come back. Anyway, this situation won’t last too long. Soon after, Si Er will probably go abroad.”

At noon on Sunday, when Ah Heng arrived at the stadium by bus carrying lunch boxes, the game was almost over. 108:80, Xi Lin won the semifinal by a large margin.

The stadium erupted in cheers. Xin Dayi excitedly jumped onto Si Wan, his hard head and big white teeth particularly dazzling. Yan Xi sat in the stands, looking drowsy.

Ah Heng pursed her lips, calmly sitting beside Yan Xi: “Si Wan, Dayi, look, Yan Xi fell asleep. Quick, eat, don’t tell him I made spare ribs…” Her soft, sweet voice spoke seriously to the air, though Si Wan and Xin Dayi were still on the court.

Yan Xi suddenly sat up straight, his clear, empty eyes wide: “Who’s stealing my spare ribs? Who, who, who?”

Ah Heng hugged the lunch boxes, smiling to show eight small rice-grain teeth.

Yan Xi came to his senses, staring dazedly at the court: “Did we win?”

Ah Heng’s head nodded repeatedly.

“Ah, child, we’re not that close, okay? Why do you love teasing people so much?” Yan Xi was in a joking mood, speaking to Ah Heng with fake sincerity.

Ah Heng smiled: “Yes, yes, we’re not close. Oh, what was your name again? I forgot by accident.”

Yan Xi rolled his eyes: “Too much, too much, we can be a little closer than this.”

How much closer? Ah Heng tilted her head wondering but didn’t ask out loud.

From far away, Xin Dayi and Si Wan had already rushed over. One hugged Ah Heng, so excited his eyes were red: “Ah Heng, Ah Heng, where’s my scallion-fried tender lamb? Your brother is starving to death!”

The other wrapped his arm around Yan Xi’s neck, rubbing his head against the youth’s back, though it was Yan Xi who roared: “Wen Si Wan, get away from me! You’re all stinky with sweat, it’s disgusting!”

“Wow wow wow, Sister Ah Heng, Brother Yan Xi, Brother Si Wan, Brother Dayi, I’m here, I’m here! Is there any imperial feast with abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw?” At this moment, the little kid wearing a cap also happened to come running from outside the court.

Everything was chaotic and noisy.

True quiet only came when the food had been completely devoured and the group of youths was patting their full bellies, burping, and gazing at the blue sky.

“Life is so beautiful. Tonight, if only we could eat crayfish and drink beer…” Xin Dayi dreamed while picking his teeth.

“Better if it’s fresh Australian lobster…” Si Wan continued.

“Better if this young master is treating…” Yan Xi smiled.

“Then Si Wan pays the bill…” Xin Dayi snickered.

Si Wan held back a twitch: “Why am I paying?”

“Your family has two people, how could you let us treat them?” Xin Dayi held his head high, matter-of-factly.

Si Wan, always gentle and gentlemanly, smiled and agreed, nodding.

But Ah Heng sniffled angrily – damn it, the scallion-fried lamb had all gone into a dog’s belly.