On Monday at the office, Qian Fei seemed a bit listless. Sister Jin from Finance invited her to lunch, and as they ate, she began asking probing questions.
“Fei Fei, why haven’t you been in good spirits lately? Is it because you’re tired from setting up your new house?”
Qian Fei forced a smile, “Mm, I’m still not quite recovered.”
Sister Jin looked at her and asked, “Fei Fei, did you buy the house by yourself?”
Qian Fei nodded, “Yes,” and then freely offered some gossip to save the other from asking uncomfortable questions one after another, “Sister Jin, I’ve been single for almost half a year now!”
Sister Jin put down her chopsticks, clapped her hands, and said with animation, “It’s good that you broke up! I always thought your ex-boyfriend didn’t know how to take care of you! Several times when we worked overtime together, everyone else’s men came to pick them up, but you had to take a taxi home alone at two in the morning. When asked, you’d say you felt sorry for him because his work was tiring. He didn’t feel sorry for you being a woman! Let me tell you, people in the company had long thought that guy wasn’t good enough! It’s good you broke up. Someone who doesn’t know how to care for you should have been dumped long ago!”
Qian Fei didn’t know how to respond. Although Sister Jin was stating facts and genuinely trying to comfort her, she felt that as Wang Ruohai was being criticized as worthless, her value and face were diminishing along with him.
After all, she had chosen him herself.
Sister Jin continued, “I have a classmate who works in a hotel. She told me there was a nice single guy at her workplace, and asked if I knew anyone suitable for a match. I immediately thought of you! That guy is quite good. I’ve met him once. He’s very handsome and energetic. Although he’s not a Beijing local, his salary is quite decent! And I heard that their hotel is planning to go public. Once they’re listed, he’ll earn even more! Anyway, you’ve been single for almost half a year now, why don’t you two try meeting?”
Qian Fei thought about her encounter with Wang Ruohai in the subway the other day. After their breakup, he was living a carefree and comfortable life, which made her envious and resentful. In contrast, she was stuck with a mortgage-burdened house, feeling empty and lonely every day. Her family had also been urging her to find a partner quickly, not wanting her to become a leftover woman because of one heartless man. Almost half a year had passed, and she was about to turn twenty-seven. She indeed needed to move on quickly.
She agreed to Sister Jin’s suggestion.
“Sister Jin, then please help arrange a meeting. I’d like to meet him!”
That same afternoon, Sister Jin had already set up the connection between Qian Fei and the hotel guy.
“His name is Hu Zining, he’s a year older than you, twenty-seven this year. I gave him your phone number, and he’ll contact you soon. If you don’t have any special plans tomorrow evening, he’d like to treat you to dinner and meet you. The location is up to you, but he suggested the Caojingjing Trendy Hotpot inside the Fuxingmen Mingyuan Hotel!”
Qian Fei listened in a daze, having trouble keeping up with the fast pace of events.
“Sister Jin, your matchmaking efficiency is too high! You could at least give me a few days to fix my hair before meeting someone!”
Sister Jin waved her hand, “What’s the point of fixing your hair? Perming it to look like a head full of instant noodles isn’t attractive! You look fine as you are. A ponytail is so pure, like those girls we used to admire in our youth! Just tidy yourself up a bit tomorrow, put on some foundation and such. Once you’re done, you’ll be no less attractive than those girls!”
Qian Fei rolled her eyes at the compliment.
A while later, she received a text message. The sender introduced himself as Hu Zining, saying he wanted to get to know her and told her not to feel pressured. Even if the blind date didn’t work out, they could still be friends. They were both from out of town and having an extra friend in Beijing was always good.
She found this message quite comforting, and although she hadn’t met him yet, she already felt some goodwill towards Hu Zining.
The next day, she finally took Sister Jin’s advice. Instead of just applying moisturizer after washing her face, she borrowed a makeup bag from Xiao Yuan, the secretary, before leaving work. After washing her face, she started applying foundation.
Xiao Yuan’s cosmetics were all high-end products bought during overseas trips. Putting these things on her face, Qian Fei felt it would be hard not to look radiant.
Looking at her refreshed self in the mirror, she suddenly felt uncertain.
For the past few years, she had been so frugal to save money, treating herself poorly. Was it worth it? Relying on her youth, she thought she could go without makeup, facing Wang Ruohai every day with a sallow and thin face. After five years of seeing her like this, he had finally had enough.
Had she unknowingly become unbearable to others?
She quickly shook her head, telling herself not to dwell on the mess with Wang Ruohai anymore. She needed to cheer up and welcome a new life.
After the meal, Qian Fei had a good impression of Hu Zining. He was indeed handsome and energetic as Sister Jin had said, and he had a gentle and cultivated air about him. She was most easily attracted to men with such qualities. She had agreed to Wang Ruohai’s pursuit back then for the same reason. The other party seemed quite satisfied with her as well. Over more than an hour, they chatted quite pleasantly.
After the meal, Qian Fei habitually reached for her wallet, but Hu Zining stopped her.
“How could I let a girl pay?”
Qian Fei was momentarily stunned.
As Hu Zining took out his wallet, he said, “Sister Jin mentioned you still have a mortgage to pay! You should save your money. This meal is on me!”
Qian Fei suddenly felt a warmth in her heart.
How long had it been since someone had been so considerate towards her?
Hu Zining’s rented place was in Muxidi, not far from where they had dinner. He could walk home. He asked Qian Fei where she lived and if she needed him to see her home. Qian Fei quickly said, “No need, no need. It’s not too late yet. I’ll be home in half an hour by subway!”
So Hu Zining walked her to the subway station.
Before parting, Hu Zining added Qian Fei on WeChat.
After entering the subway, Qian Fei received a voice message from him.
“I had a great time today. Take it slow on your way home, let me know when you get home. Let’s keep in touch!”
Qian Fei replied with a smiley face and two words: “^_^ Okay.”
The next morning, as soon as Qian Fei arrived at the office, Sister Jin rushed over, fully extending her gossip antennae: “Fei Fei, how was it yesterday? What do you think of that young man?”
Qian Fei nodded, “He’s alright. Quite good-looking and nice.”
Sister Jin winked at her, “Want to know how he evaluated you?”
Qian Fei shook her head, “No,” she looked at Sister Jin, “I want to make you burst with curiosity!”
Sister Jin pushed her, “Get out of here! You’re in a good mood because of your new romance, aren’t you? You even have the spirit to tease people now! Let me tell you, that young man praised you to my classmate as soon as he got home last night. He said you’re a pure and graceful girl, and you even tried to pay for the meal! You’re not delicate or affected, and after dinner, you didn’t ask for a taxi ride home, just took the subway by yourself! He also said you’re humorous. During the meal, he laughed so much his stomach almost cramped!”
Qian Fei felt delighted hearing this. It was hard not to be happy when someone of the opposite sex praised her like this.
Sister Jin changed her tone, “What are you so happy about, Fei Fei? You silly girl! Let me tell you, your personality is good in some ways, but not so good in others. At the beginning of a relationship, people might think you’re easygoing and approachable, but after a while, men might start to see you as one of the guys rather than a woman! You need to learn to be gentle and feminine, understand? To help you understand, let me give you an example. When you work overtime until 2 AM, why do you take a taxi home alone just to be considerate of the man? You’re considerate of him, but who’s considerate of you?”
Hearing her harp on the same old tune, Qian Fei’s head started to ache.
“Sister Jin, stop! I beg you, give me some courage and motivation to start a new life! Don’t keep bringing up old issues! I promise I’ll turn myself into a little vixen in the future, okay?”
Sister Jin pointed her index finger at Qian Fei’s forehead, “Learn from Xiao Yuan, see how she does her eyebrows and eyes every day. Look at your eyebrows, you don’t even trim them, they’re almost growing down to your lower eyelids! That young man praised you for looking pretty yesterday. I wonder if the lights at Caojingjing were broken!”
Qian Fei tilted her head and pouted as Sister Jin poked her, “Sister Jin, you don’t understand! More hair means more sexiness!”
Sister Jin rolled her eyes at her, “Instead of growing hair, you’d be better off growing your chest! Get along well with that young man, and if it works out, don’t forget to repay your benefactor!”
Qian Fei nodded solemnly, “Alright, I’ll waive your red envelope at the wedding!”
During the lunch break, Qian Fei told Yao Jingjing about her blind date.
Yao Jingjing expressed great approval and appreciation for her willingness to go on a blind date, “Well done, little baboon! You’ve finally stood up to welcome a new life! Take it slow, don’t rush into marriage. Wait until I snag that rich guy, then I’ll use his money to give you a big red envelope!”
Qian Fei was in a good mood all day until she encountered Wang Ruohai while exiting the subway in the evening.
She had initially wanted to lower her head and pretend not to see him, but Wang Ruohai called out to her.
“Qian Fei!”
Qian Fei stopped, looked up, and tried to maintain a cool demeanor, “Do you need something?”
Wang Ruohai pointed at the R&F City behind him and said to Qian Fei, “Let’s sit for a while at the Pizza Hut on the first floor!”
Qian Fei glared at him, “Is that necessary?”
Wang Ruohai began to lose patience, “Qian Fei, can’t you talk to me properly? It’s been so long, can’t you change your habit of snapping at people?”
Qian Fei walked past him, “How come I don’t snap at others? It’s just you I can’t talk to!”
Wang Ruohai shouted from behind her, “Let me tell you, Qian Fei, that pretty boy you’re dating is probably after your house. Don’t be clueless and think he likes you!”
Qian Fei suddenly felt furious. She turned back and walked up to Wang Ruohai, “Wang Ruohai, are you sick? What, so no one can like me, is that it? For the sake of our seven-year relationship, even after breaking up, I never said anything too harsh to you! I hope you can learn to respect others properly! Especially your ex-girlfriend!”
Wang Ruohai looked at her and sneered, “Qian Fei, you think I’m being too harsh? But I’m telling the truth! If that guy is as good as Yao Jingjing says, why would he be interested in you? I’m looking for you today to give you a heads-up, considering our past relationship. I don’t want you to get hurt! Since you don’t appreciate it, consider me a busybody. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when you get hurt in the future!”
Wang Ruohai stormed off.
Qian Fei was shaking with anger.
She took out her phone and called Yao Jingjing: “Did you tell Wang Ruohai I went on a blind date?”
Yao Jingjing responded enthusiastically, “Of course, I told him! It’s such good news, how could I not use it to annoy him? What happened, did he come looking for you? I told you, this guy is just pathetic. He has a new love, but he can’t stand the thought of his old flame forgetting about him! I praised your blind date so much, enough to outshine him a thousand times over! So, did it piss him off?”
Qian Fei rubbed her forehead, “I’m the one who’s pissed off! Yao Jingjing, my dear, I beg you, please don’t provoke Wang Ruohai anymore, okay?”
Yao Jingjing scoffed, “You don’t know what’s good for you! I was just trying to get back at him for you! In the future, even if you beg me to help you get revenge, I won’t be able to!”
She paused, then told Qian Fei, “Baboon, I’ve applied for a business trip with the company. I’ll be away for a while. The rich guy is going to Dalian to open a branch, and I need to go along to strengthen our relationship!”
All the harsh words Qian Fei had prepared were suddenly choked back.
“You’re leaving for a while? I’ll be the only one left in Beijing. What am I going to do?”
Yao Jingjing said, “My heart will be with you even if I’m not physically there. Besides, we can keep in touch by phone!”
Qian Fei suddenly felt a bit lost.
Back home, she looked at the empty house and felt very lonely.
Her boyfriend was gone, and now her girlfriend was leaving too.
In this big city where she had no sense of belonging, all she had was this house burdened with a huge mortgage.
She felt the house was too quiet, so quiet that she started to feel weak. She inexplicably felt like crying.
She wished Gui Lili and Li Yifei would move in soon.
Although they were just tenants, at least when they arrived, she wouldn’t be the only one in the house anymore.