Wen Manni couldn’t help but laugh to herself. When Xia Xiaolan first arrived in America, she had gone to pick her up at the airport and even drove her to Ithaca… It had made her late for work, and she hadn’t been happy about it, only doing it for her parents’ sake. Who would have thought they’d develop such a close relationship?
“Stop flattering me. Don’t you have dinner plans with someone? Hurry up and go!” Wen Manni pretended to impatiently shoo Xia Xiaolan away.
After leaving the law firm, Xia Xiaolan’s mood improved somewhat. Wen Manni’s law firm was near Wall Street, very close to NYU’s Business School. Xia Xiaolan hesitated for a moment but decided not to go there.
“Han Jin isn’t stupid. Chen Qing should be fine on his own, right?” She had promised Chen Wangda she would help Chen Qing at crucial moments, but that didn’t mean being his babysitter.
When she saw Zhou Yi at the language school, Xia Xiaolan almost didn’t recognize her. The former airhead looked quite spirited – not that Zhou Yi had become particularly beautiful, as any female student spinning like a top with busyness could hardly be called especially pretty. Even someone naturally beautiful like Xia Xiaolan would get dark circles and bloodshot eyes from pulling all-nighters. When too busy to wash her hair, she’d lose all trace of ethereal grace, wouldn’t she?
Zhou Yi hadn’t become prettier, though she had lost quite a bit of weight. How to put it… it was her spirit that surprised Xia Xiaolan. She looked like a proper student now.
“Xiaolan!” Zhou Yi stood up and waved.
“What would you like to eat? My treat today!” She enthusiastically offered to order for Xia Xiaolan, and soon Xia Xiaolan understood why – she wanted to show off her improved English skills.
Zhou Yi didn’t lack manners. When she first came abroad, her English had just been too poor – she understood but couldn’t express herself. Now she seemed more like the Zhou Yi that Xia Xiaolan had first met at the Beijing Hotel before she’d lost her senses when she was still a graceful young lady from a prominent family… However, there were differences. Back then, Young Miss Zhou had been dignified and refined, floating above it all. Now, after washing dishes and eating leftovers, Zhou Yi’s feet were somewhat more firmly on the ground.
The money Zhou Wengang and Jiang Hong spent sending Zhou Yi abroad hadn’t been completely wasted – there were some results.
While Zhou Yi was ordering, Xia Xiaolan whispered to Qi Wei: “You’ve really worked hard. Don’t worry, I remember what I promised you. Once she passes the 106-level test, I’ll acknowledge your efforts.”
Qi Wei nearly burst into tears of joy. Why did it feel so bitter? Being a study companion to this princess was even harder than being the studying princess herself. Xia Xiaolan’s single word of “acknowledgment” had drawn out all of Qi Wei’s hardships.
Zhou Yi put down the menu. “What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing much, we just wanted to congratulate you early on passing the 106 test.”
“Yes, it wasn’t easy!”
Xia Xiaolan and Qi Wei played along, with Qi Wei lamenting her difficulties.
Zhou Yi showed a bit of modesty. “The results aren’t out yet, it’s not certain, but I think I passed.”
She took out a $1,000 check she had prepared and returned it to Xia Xiaolan, who tore up Zhou Yi’s IOU. On the surface, there were no more financial ties between them. The behind-the-scenes help given to Zhou Yi, if calculated in monetary terms, would be impossible to quantify anyway.
All three enjoyed the meal. Xia Xiaolan was happy seeing Zhou Yi’s changes, pleased that this fool could still be saved. Qi Wei was happy thinking about potentially getting through this ordeal. Only Zhou Yi’s happiness was simple and vivid: Wow, this was her first time treating Xia Xiaolan to a meal with her own earned money. Ha, she had cleared her $1,000 debt to Xia Xiaolan!
When everyone was about 80% full, Xia Xiaolan wiped her mouth: “Sister Zhou Yi, I went back to China recently. Though I didn’t go to Beijing, I called Uncle and Aunt. From what they said, Brother-in-law Yuan Han’s current posting is too remote, and they want to transfer him somewhere better. What do you think?”
Zhou Yi was momentarily stunned at hearing “Brother-in-law Yuan Han.” She used to be inseparable from Yuan Han, unable to spend even a day apart. But with thousands of miles between them and unable to meet, while she had missed him terribly at first and couldn’t get in touch, she had also been too busy here… As time passed, she seemed to have forgotten she had a husband named Yuan Han.
Zhou Yi patted her face – she had become foolish!
Xia Xiaolan watched her as Zhou Yi stammered awkwardly: “Transfer to a better place? That would be good.”
At least they could keep in touch by phone.
But why did her parents suddenly want to transfer Yuan Han’s work? Zhou Yi wasn’t blind to the fact that both her parents had been angry with Yuan Han, especially after the childbirth incident when Yuan Han hadn’t agreed to a C-section – they had been even angrier than when she married him. That’s why they had brought him back to work at the unit but sent him to an extremely remote location.
Zhou Yi couldn’t figure out why her parents were no longer angry.
Xia Xiaolan guided her: “Maybe it’s because they see you studying seriously in America and want to make you happy?”
Zhou Yi believed this reason! She thought Zhou Wengang giving Yuan Han a better position was a “reward” for Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi was so easy to fool.
Xia Xiaolan decided to take back her earlier words – Zhou Yi was still Zhou Yi, undoubtedly the same old fool.
— That was no reward; they were sending Yuan Han to Shenzhen to let Ye Xiaoqiong take her revenge!
Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t reveal the truth. That Yuan fellow lived off his wife and didn’t even follow proper social rules – he deserved Ye Xiaoqiong’s revenge.
When Zhou Yi went to pay the bill and use the restroom, Xia Xiaolan said to Qi Wei, “…You’ll need to work hard for a bit longer. I’ve already contacted the law firm for you. Usually, someone who hasn’t attended law school couldn’t possibly intern at a law firm, but I found a lawyer who agreed to hire you as a personal assistant. It’s just a different title – you can still learn everything at the firm.”
Qi Wei nodded vigorously: “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome, we’re all helping each other.”
When Zhou Yi returned from the restroom and saw Xia Xiaolan and Qi Wei huddled together talking again, she was puzzled: “Why do you two seem so close?”
Hadn’t Qi Wei and Xia Xiaolan only met once?
Zhou Yi wondered if she was remembering wrong.
Xia Xiaolan remained composed, “Friendship isn’t about how long you’ve known each other, but whether your energies match. I think Qi Wei and I match quite well.”
Zhou Yi looked at Qi Wei with admiration – this was really quite an achievement, being able to match energies with Xia Xiaolan.
Academic excellence carried its presence in the Zhou family.
Zhou Yi had never imagined she could match energies with Xia Xiaolan.
But Qi Wei… seemed to be academically excellent too.
Not as outstanding as Xia Xiaolan – Xia Xiaolan was a major academic star, while Qi Wei was at least a minor one.
Zhou Yi was genuinely grateful to Qi Wei. Without any family ties, Qi Wei had taken such good care of her, helping her tremendously with both life and studies. Zhou Yi was someone who had nearly forgotten her own husband, but since coming to America, only three people had left deep impressions on her daily life.
One was Joan.
One was Qi Wei.
And the other was Xia Xiaolan… though she was a bit afraid of Xia Xiaolan.