Zhong Ming called again.

After graduating from high school, Cheng Lele and Zhong Ming went to Beijing to continue their studies, while Chen Xiaomu was introduced by an acquaintance to work as a makeup assistant in a film crew. Over the years, she worked her way up to become head of the makeup department and became half a Hengdian resident. Although work could be hectic day and night, there were enviably long breaks after filming ended. She had no close friends outside the crew, so when she had nothing to do, she would come to Beijing to reunite with the two of them. It was also because of her that the frequency of meetings between Cheng Lele and Zhong Ming became consistent—Cheng Lele’s and Zhong Ming’s schools were located at opposite ends of Beijing. The capital was too large and the traffic too congested. After trying once or twice, both became lazy and stood each other up so often that they were both happy with the arrangement. Before Chen Xiaomu appeared, the number of times Cheng Lele and Zhong Ming actually met was about the same as the number of times she entertained classmates who came from Hainan to visit Beijing.

“I heard from Xiaomu that you went back to Taixi?” Zhong Ming asked.

Cheng Lele held her phone while turning on her computer, casually humming an acknowledgment. “Just arrived today.”

During the computer’s startup music, Cheng Lele added, “I saw my older brother.”

“Shit.” Zhong Ming had called specifically to ask if she’d returned to her hometown and whether she wanted to go look for Chen An. He hadn’t expected their movements to be as swift as wind and as quick as lightning.

“My older brother seems to be going bankrupt.” Cheng Lele said in a low voice.

“Shit.”

Cheng Lele grew irritated. “Did you call me just to make me listen to profanity?”

“Oh, I remember what I wanted to say.” Zhong Ming paused. “I’m just reporting to you that I’m also in Taixi, so you won’t be shocked if we run into each other on the street next time.”

“Shit.”

“I opened a bar here. It opened before National Day, still doing trial operations now. Twenty percent off drinks. Come support it when you have time.”

“Shit.” Zhong Ming still had that way of doing things—staying silent until making a spectacular move. In the past, he’d taken the graduate entrance exam but only suddenly announced it half a year later. Now he’d opened a bar, hadn’t mentioned a word before, and only told her after opening. If she didn’t know this was just his personality, she would have thought he didn’t consider her a friend.

“Cheng Lele, I didn’t call you to hear you curse either.”

Cheng Lele said, “Is Z University about to fail or something? All these top students graduating, and after mixing around for so many years, one ends up running a half-dead cinema, and the other—”

“Hey, hey, hey, watch your words, don’t curse me.” Zhong Ming paused. “Who did you say is running a cinema?”

“Older brother.”

“That Dahai Cinema is his?”

“No. He’s currently in charge of Xingchen Cinema.”

“Shit.” Zhong Ming was shocked. “My dad still works at Xingchen Cinema.”

“Shit.” That was all Cheng Lele could say to evaluate this.

The two ended their phone call amid fragrant expletives.