Before Li Yifei realized it, he had been on a business trip for a week. During this time, he hadn’t called Qian Fei. Qian Fei couldn’t quite describe her feelings. For the first three days, whenever her phone rang, she thought it might be Li Yifei. When she saw it wasn’t him, she felt both relieved and slightly disappointed. The first few times this happened, she considered calling him first to ask how he was doing and when he’d be back. But then she thought, he’s gone on a business trip to avoid her, so wouldn’t it be shameless of her to keep calling?
So she quietly put down her phone and settled into a routine: eating alone, going to work alone, watching TV alone, washing her clothes, tidying up the house by herself, and saying goodnight to the walls. When she felt lonely, she called Yao Jingjing.
Yao Jingjing sensed something was off and asked, “Feifei, are you in love again or did you just have another breakup?”
Qian Fei asked why she thought that, and Yao Jingjing replied, “Because, in this world, the person who understands you better than yourself is me! I can smell a different emotion and scent on you!”
Qian Fei teased her, saying she must be part dog. Then she explained about the not-quite-a-dream spring dream and how Li Yifei had gone on a business trip to avoid her. She asked Yao Jingjing, “How do we break this awkward stalemate?”
Surprisingly, Yao Jingjing was silent for a while before responding, “Feifei, have you fallen for him?”
Qian Fei was startled, realizing she had never considered this question before.
She concentrated hard for a moment, then told Yao Jingjing, “I don’t think I can say I like him, but I feel quite lonely when he’s not around. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to having him as company!”
Yao Jingjing made a sound of acknowledgment and said, “Thank goodness you haven’t fallen for him yet. Anyway, don’t overthink it. I feel like he’s not really in the same league as us. Look at what he eats, wears, and how he plays – it’s not the same as us!”
Qian Fei asked, “What league are we in? What league is he in?”
Yao Jingjing replied, “Do we even need to ask? We’re in the commoner league! As for him, who knows what tricks he’s using, but he’s mixing with the rich and handsome crowd. He might seem quiet, but he’s got many ways to make money. Tuhao Zeze told me that Li Yifei seems to be doing some export business using his Japanese connections. He’s making quite a bit of money, but Tuhao Zeze said he signed a confidentiality agreement and couldn’t tell me more!”
Qian Fei made a sound of acknowledgment, then changed the subject, “You just can’t help giving people nicknames, can you? Now you’ve got a new one for your boyfriend!”
Yao Jingjing got angry, “Qian Feifei, can you focus on the important things? I’m talking about Li Yifei, why are you bringing up Tuhao Zeze?” She paused, then said softly, “Feifei, you know what? Every time you change the subject, it means you care about something!” She sighed and continued, “Anyway, I think Li Yifei is great as a friend. He knows a lot of people, plays hard, has wild connections, and can help with many things. But as a lover, you should think carefully. I feel like dating him would be exhausting. Just look at his handsome face, untamed eyes, and impressive physique – any rich lady who sees him would want to throw money at him! People like him, you and I can’t handle it. So don’t think too much about it. Let this awkwardness be awkward for a while. After some time, when you’re numb to it, your relationship will naturally return to normal. Didn’t someone once say that time heals all wounds? We just need to wait and see!”
Qian Fei thought for a long time but couldn’t remember who had said that. Nevertheless, she decided to follow Yao Jingjing’s advice and let things take their natural course.
Two days later, her university class monitor called, saying their former advisor was turning sixty next Saturday. He asked if everyone was free to celebrate the teacher’s birthday and have a reunion.
Qian Fei said she’d be there.
The monitor hesitated on the phone, “Qian Fei, um, Wang Ruhai might also come that day. Is that okay?”
Qian Fei laughed, “We broke up almost a year ago, why wouldn’t it be okay?”
As she said this, her heart still gave a small twinge.
Later, she called Yao Jingjing to ask if she was coming back for the gathering. Yao Jingjing said she was too busy with work and couldn’t make it, but asked Qian Fei to give her a red envelope on her behalf.
Qian Fei mumbled, “If you’re not coming, I’ll have to face Wang Ruhai alone that day!”
Yao Jingjing snorted, “Face him for what? Let me tell you, with your current looks, he should be the one trying to face you! And I’ll tell you this: if he dares to come near you, give him two big slaps. If he asks why, tell him I told you to do it. If he has the guts to come find me, I’ll even pay for his round-trip flight!”
Qian Fei immediately cheered up, “It’s settled then!”
On the day of the gathering, Qian Fei chose the outfit Li Yifei had helped her pick out the first time they went shopping together: the top, skirt, and leggings. Then she carefully applied light, almost natural-looking makeup and styled her hair.
After getting ready, she looked at herself in the mirror. The person in the reflection had skin so smooth it looked like it could drip water. With the added eyeliner, her eyes seemed even bigger. The highlighted bridge of her nose appeared more defined, and her long hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, with a delicate curl at the ends. No matter how she looked at the person in the mirror, she felt like she had undergone a complete transformation.
Qian Fei put away her makeup bag, satisfied.
Before leaving, she thought for a moment, then grabbed a bottle of mineral water. She went downstairs to buy a bouquet from the florist, then picked up a cake from Black Swan. With everything ready, she took a taxi straight to Dao Wang Teppanyaki on Yuetan South Street.
The traffic was heavy and worried that the flowers might wilt, she carefully watered them with the mineral water. The driver noticed and praised her, “Young people are so clever, even thinking of this!”
Qian Fei smiled and said, “A friend taught me this trick!”
After saying this, she felt a pang of sadness. This friend had been avoiding her lately, treating her like the plague.
As they were nearing the destination, Qian Fei received a call from the class monitor urging her, “Where are you? Everyone’s here, we’re just waiting for you! You said you’d handle the teacher’s cake, you didn’t forget, right?”
Qian Fei quickly replied, “I didn’t forget, I bought it and I’m almost there. I’m so sorry, the traffic is terrible!” She caught her breath and said to the monitor, “By the way, could you come out and help me? I bought flowers and I’m carrying the cake, it’s a bit difficult!”
The monitor agreed.
When she arrived, Qian Fei saw the class monitor waiting outside Dao Wang Teppanyaki.
She paid the fare and got out of the car, standing by it with a bright smile, waiting for the monitor to come help her. But for some reason, the monitor’s eyes swept over her quickly, with a look of approval, before turning to look at the main road.
Qian Fei was stunned for a moment. She took the cake out of the trunk and called out, “Monitor, what are you looking at? I’m right here!”
The monitor turned his head towards her, walking over with his mouth agape. As he got closer, he looked her up and down several times before exclaiming in disbelief, “You’re Qian Fei? You didn’t look like this at the reunions a couple of years ago! My goodness, did you have plastic surgery? How did you suddenly become so beautiful!”
Qian Fei shoved the cake into his arms, “What do you mean, plastic surgery? Even if I had the desire, I don’t have the money!” She pushed away the monitor’s face that was staring at her intently, “What are you looking at? Even if I had surgery, you wouldn’t see the scars from the outside. You’d have to stick your eyeballs in my mouth to see!”
The monitor was still in shock, “Today’s reunion has been eye-opening, everyone has their achievements, especially Wang Ruhai. But after seeing you, I can predict that you’ll be the most surprising person in our class tonight, without a doubt!”
Qian Fei rolled her eyes when she heard him mention Wang Ruhai.
As they walked inside with their things, Qian Fei asked, “Who chose this place? It’s quite expensive for a meal!”
The monitor hesitated for a moment before saying, “Wang Ruhai chose it. He said he’d cover the bill!”
Qian Fei made a sound of surprise, “Well, that’s certainly eye-opening! He must be doing quite well now, right?”
The monitor looked at her, tentatively saying, “He seems to be doing very well… I heard he’s already been promoted to department head in his company!”
Qian Fei didn’t say anything more.
Indeed, it’s good to have connections. During the years they were together, he had been constantly job-hopping. But less than a year after latching onto a big tree, he had already climbed to the position of department head. Qian Fei thought sarcastically that it seemed she had been holding him back.
As they reached the private room door, she gathered her thoughts. The monitor stopped her at the door, saying, “Wait here for a moment!” Then he took the cake and pushed open the door, calling out to those inside, “Classmates, open your eyes wide and see who’s here! Ta-da!”
The monitor stepped aside. Qian Fei couldn’t help but laugh as she walked in from the doorway.
Then she felt that her life had reached a new peak after that night at Jin Dingxuan.
Everyone seated around the round table turned to look at her, examining her, and then some began to exclaim in disbelief, “Qian Fei?! My God is this beautiful woman Qian Fei?!”
She smiled and greeted everyone in turn with a nod. When she reached the head of the table facing the door, she bowed and said, “Happy birthday, Teacher!”
As she continued greeting to the right, she saw Wang Ruhai.
He sat there, staring at her without blinking, with a look of surprise on his face. The corners of his mouth were slightly raised as if he had been laughing with someone just before and hadn’t had time to compose his expression. She glanced at him, initially planning to pass him by without a smile or greeting, but suddenly her mind changed. She paused her gaze and gave him the most elegant smile she could muster.
Why let him think she still cared? Just smile gracefully and move on, let him understand that after their separation, it wasn’t just him who was thriving – she was living happily too. Wouldn’t this behavior show more composure?
So she smiled at him elegantly. And she truly saw his hand, holding a cup of tea, suddenly tremble.
Throughout the entire meal, the main theme was everyone wishing the teacher a happy birthday. Qian Fei sat at a 90-degree angle from the teacher, and throughout the meal, she felt two gazes constantly fixed on her.
At first, she endured it, but after a few drinks, she couldn’t contain her temper anymore. She turned her head forcefully, glaring at the culprit, Wang Ruhai, and mouthed, “What are you looking at?”
But Wang Ruhai just smiled at her. She wanted to curse him out loud for being so shameless.
After that, his gaze towards her became even more direct and unrestrained. Qian Fei was so angry her teeth itched, but with so many people around, she couldn’t lash out.
She sent a message to Yao Jingjing saying, “You were right, that bastard Wang Ruhai keeps staring at me!”
Yao Jingjing replied instantly, “Send me a selfie, let me assess how likely it is that you’re just imagining things.”
Qian Fei secretly sent her an unedited, raw selfie.
Yao Jingjing quickly responded, “Damn! Looking like that today, not just him, even gay men would give you a second look! That bastard Wang Ruhai must have seen your beauty and felt like a withered tree seeing spring, so he’s getting lustful thoughts again! Feifei, remember what we said before, if he dares to come near you, slap that cheap bastard hard!”
After a round of eating and drinking, singing the birthday song, making wishes, and cutting the birthday cake, the teacher said “I’m very happy today” “I can’t drink anymore” and “Thank you all,” before being escorted to a taxi by someone the monitor found to take him home.
Once the teacher left, everyone became more lively and less restrained. People’s gossipy sides began to resurface, asking each other about recent work, whether they had changed jobs, how much they were earning per month, if they had bought houses, when they were getting married, as well as who had broken up, who was marrying a rich man, and who was about to marry a beautiful, rich woman, and so on.
When these topics came up, Qian Fei found herself in the crosshairs.
Finally, someone couldn’t resist coming over and asking her quietly, “Qian Fei, is it over between you and Wang Ruhai? I’ve noticed Wang Ruhai hasn’t done anything all evening except gaze at you lovingly!”
Qian Fei choked suddenly.
As she coughed, she felt like there was a glob of phlegm stuck in her throat, neither going up nor down, making her feel utterly disgusted.