In the bar, Li Li read over the message Wu Xinghai had sent, his brow furrowed so deeply it could nearly crush a fly.

*”Manman… what I did just now was wrong, I was so worried about you that I got carried away… please forgive me… let’s go see a movie together tomorrow, I don’t want us to fight anymore…”*

He read it word by word, and by the end, goosebumps were practically crawling up his arms.

“That’s so pathetic! So sickeningly mushy!” Li Li’s brow refused to unfurl. “Is this how you normally talk to women?”

Wu Xinghai sipped his drink and smiled. “That was only about a tenth of what I’m capable of.”

“……” The corner of Li Li’s mouth twitched with wordless revulsion. “If you went all out, I think I’d vomit.”

Wu Xinghai didn’t bother arguing. He said casually, “A man of refined taste like you wouldn’t understand, of course — but women need to be coaxed with sweet words. As long as she’s happy, whatever you want becomes easy to negotiate.”

Li Li said, revolted, “That’s idiotic.”

“Take it one step at a time,” Wu Xinghai said, unbothered. “Once the two of you have made up, you can use your brilliant methods to win her back. Either way, it’s better than hurling insults at each other over the phone — what’s the point of going on like that?”

That made some sense. Li Li pressed his lips together and looked at Wu Xinghai. “Fine. I’ll ask her to meet me at the cinema tomorrow. I can’t keep letting her spend every day with that man — at this rate, she’ll be completely brainwashed.”

Wu Xinghai raised his glass. “I’ll drink to that. May you succeed!”

Li Li’s expression was one of grim displeasure, but he raised his glass and clinked it against Wu Xinghai’s anyway.

……

On Sunday, Li Li arranged to meet Su Man at the cinema at 3 in the afternoon.

The timing was also Wu Xinghai’s suggestion — the movie started a little after three, ran for two hours, and by the time it ended it would be perfectly dinnertime. They could find a nearby restaurant, eat and talk, strengthen their bond, and after dinner — around seven or eight — they could head home together, warm and harmonious.

Su Man hadn’t actually wanted to go. Every time they’d seen each other lately, it ended in a fight, and she genuinely didn’t want to see Li Li.

But remaining at a standoff like this wasn’t a solution either.

After all, they lived close to each other, and their parents got along well — it was impossible to avoid running into each other. This conflict needed to be resolved sooner or later. Now that Li Li was the one reaching out, essentially offering her a way to step down gracefully, Su Man accepted.

Of course, Lu Yuwen’s encouragement also played a part.

He’d said that only by meeting in person could she gain a clearer sense of her own feelings. And besides, there was no need for her and Li Li to become enemies.

Reason was reason — but now that she was actually going, Su Man’s heart was a tangled mess.

She dressed and headed downstairs, her mind elsewhere.

Su Ma was waiting downstairs, and when she saw her daughter, her face lit up with a bright smile. “Oh my, my little Manman has been getting more and more stylish lately — dressed up so prettily! Off to dinner with young Lu again?”

Su Man’s brow furrowed slightly. “No, I’m going to see a movie with Li Li.”

Su Ma: “……”

Su Ma’s shock was apparently written plainly across her face, because Su Man couldn’t help but say, “What’s wrong? Isn’t it completely normal for me and Li Li to go out? We used to go out all the time.”

“Uh…” Su Ma forced a smile. “You did used to go out together often, but… every single time, you’d come back fuming…”

“We’re not going to fight this time,” Su Man said, brow creased. “He asked me out to apologize.”

“Oh, I see…” Su Ma hesitated, then asked, “Does… young Lu know you’re going out today?”

Su Man gave her mother a puzzled look. “He knows, of course. Why?”

“Nothing, just asking,” Su Ma said with an awkward little laugh. “Off you go — drive safe.”

“I will.” Su Man slung her bag over her shoulder and headed out.

……

—