Chapter 11:

◎”Contact me, whenever you want.”◎

It’s hard to predict how long a moment will last, or how important it will be. Not until that moment is gone, becoming a precious memory etched in the mind.

Every time she saw her eyes in the mirror, Ji Qingyou would remember that moment, remember what Yu Qinjiu had said to her.

After all these years.

Ji Qingyou still didn’t really like her own eyes, so she learned to wear glasses. The thin lenses would cover her eyes, making her look sharp, cold, and hiding the softness in her features.

But while washing her hands in the KTV bathroom.

She realized she had forgotten her glasses.

The sound of trickling water came as she turned on the tap. She looked up and saw it. In the mirror, she saw her own eyes.

Soft lines, slightly elongated outer corners with a slight downward curve, full eye shape.

There was always moisture in her eyes, plenty of water.

/Very beautiful/

This sentence sounded in her mind at an inappropriate time, even automatically rendered in Yu Qinjiu’s tone and inflection when she said it, as if her memory was really that good.

She could even still remember the smell from then.

Ji Qingyou stared at the mirror for a while, then gently closed her eyelids, lowered her eyes, and turned off the tap. When she walked out of the bathroom, she found Tao Xingzi leaning against the wall outside.

Seeing her come out, Tao Xingzi seemed to be startled, stood up a bit flustered, and handed her something. “Dr. Ji, you forgot your glasses.”

Ji Qingyou took them but didn’t put them on immediately. She pulled out a glasses cloth from her pocket and wiped them. “Thank you.”

Tao Xingzi bit her lip. “Dr. Ji, so you’re not nearsighted?”

Ji Qingyou paused in her wiping. “Mm.”

Tao Xingzi looked puzzled. “Then why wear glasses? Doesn’t it get uncomfortable?”

After wiping the lenses clean, Ji Qingyou placed the glasses back on her nose. Looking at her through the transparent yet slightly multi-layered lenses, her dark pupils held little emotion. She explained,

“I don’t wear them during surgery. Sometimes it is a little uncomfortable, but overall, it’s better than not wearing them.”

Her voice was soft. “Dr. Tao, I am very different from how you imagined me, how you saw me, how you heard about me.”

Tao Xingzi pursed her lips slightly and lowered her head. “I know, Dr. Ji. I’ve thought carefully about what you said that day. It seems I really didn’t understand things clearly, so for now, I won’t bother you, and I’ll sort out my own feelings.”

Ji Qingyou hummed in acknowledgment. After separating from Tao Xingzi, she passed by a private room. A somewhat familiar voice came from inside, soft, with slurred articulation, singing a song very off-key.

Ji Qingyou stood by the door for a while before recognizing it as Mayday’s Elope to the Moon. The lyrics were about eloping to the moon, but the tune seemed to have run off to Mars.

The person inside was completely unaware, singing lightly.

Ji Qingyou couldn’t continue walking. She leaned against the corridor wall, willing to waste time willingly, listening to this complete off-key song.

A few girls who had used the bathroom walked over, discussing in low voices,

“When can we go back? She’s already had two bottles… don’t tell me we have to take her home in the end.”

“We’re paid for the time. If we sneak off now and get reported, what then?”

“Her playtime order was for three hours, it’s only been two.”

“But she hasn’t even been talking to us. She took a call, then just drank alone, and her singing is… not great. I felt uncomfortable just sitting in there…”

Sounded like a companion hired for a game.

Why would Yu Qinjiu hire a companion?

Ji Qingyou thought this, but still walked up to them and said politely, “I’m here to pick up my friend. You can go back now. Thank you.”

“Huh?” One girl was very wary. “How do you prove it?”

Ji Qingyou lowered her eyelashes. At some point, the soft female voice from the private room had stopped, leaving only the backing track.

She pushed open the door to the room. She saw Yu Qinjiu sitting on the sofa, hugging her knees, her face buried in them.

The backing music grew louder at this moment, making Yu Qinjiu seem very silent in that instant. Dim, hazy blue light reflected on her back, making her figure look exceptionally thin.

As if she would break at the slightest touch.

Ji Qingyou’s hand was still tightly gripping the doorknob. She spoke,

“Yu Qinjiu.”

Yu Qinjiu seemed to tremble. She lifted her head from her knees.

Her hair was slightly disheveled, her gaze momentarily unfocused. But upon seeing her, it brightened slightly. Her brows and eyes curved slowly, and she smiled gently at her.

“Ji Qingyou, what a coincidence.”

Seeing that they had greeted each other, the few hired companions breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed their bags, and left. Before leaving, Yu Qinjiu smiled and waved goodbye.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Ji Qingyou let go of the doorknob she had been gripping tightly. She walked over and saw the tipsy flush at the corners of Yu Qinjiu’s eyes. The watery light in her eyes seemed to sway with the chaotic beams of light above.

Her phone was thrown aside, its screen shining brightly.

An unsaved phone number was displayed on the screen.

“Why aren’t you answering?” Ji Qingyou asked.

Yu Qinjiu shook her head, her eyes slightly closed. “Don’t want to.”

Ji Qingyou pursed her lips slightly. Looking at that phone number, she took out her own phone and pressed each of the 11 digits.

When the input was complete, the screen automatically showed the contact name Ji Qingyou had given that number:

Yu Muzhou.

A numb, stiff feeling seemed to engulf Ji Qingyou at that moment, as if taking her back to that summer day of chaotic thoughts.

But soon, the bright screen dimmed.

Yu Qinjiu had hung up on the call. She smiled very gently at her, but her voice carried a hint of grievance. “I don’t know how he got my number. He just kept calling me to invite me to the wedding. I said I didn’t want to go, but he just kept calling.”

“Then don’t go,” Ji Qingyou said decisively.

Yu Qinjiu curved her eyes and smiled. “Okay, then I won’t go. Since you said so. Sister Qin won’t blame me, right?”

Ji Qingyou looked at the moistness in her eyes. Her heart suddenly began to feel numb and ache, but all she could say was, “She won’t blame you. She has no right to blame you.”

Yu Qinjiu laughed again. “Then if she does blame me, you have to speak up for me, okay?”

Ji Qingyou pursed her lips. “I will help you.”

I will help you, just like I always did, just like you always did for me—she repeated in her heart, making up her mind.

Probably satisfied with her answer, Yu Qinjiu let out a breath. Then she tapped her somewhat heavy head and struggled to turn off the KTV music.

Then she picked up her phone and dialed a number. Before the call connected, she tilted her head to look at her again and explained softly,

“I’ll call my mom. It should be noon over there. I want to see what she’s doing, if she ate on time, or if she’s out shopping with my aunt.”

Yu Qinjiu had a very good relationship with her mother.

But it seemed that before a child could get close to their parents, they had to go through a special moment. For Yu Qinjiu, that moment was the day her mother had a car accident.

From that day on.

Yu Qinjiu became very clingy with her mother. Coming back to China alone this time for a two-month vacation must have already been the limit of their separation—Ji Qingyou remembered this while listening to Yu Qinjiu’s voice, which had become exceptionally gentle.

“Is it snowing in London? It’s already snowed twice in Nanwu City. I’ll take pictures for you, make sure you see them. And don’t go out alone. If you need to go somewhere, make sure Auntie goes with you, or wait until I come back. Don’t ever think about cooking for yourself…”

Even though her words were slurred from the alcohol, Yu Qinjiu was still saying these things on the phone. Ji Qingyou looked at her, and for some reason, her lips felt dry.

She took an upside-down water cup from the table and poured herself some water. Just as she took a sip, Yu Qinjiu looked over, the light in her eyes seeming to dance.

After a few quiet seconds.

Ji Qingyou pursed her lips slightly and placed the cup back on the table. She suddenly felt a hint of sweetness on her lips. She heard Yu Qinjiu say, very softly, “That’s my cup.”

She coughed lightly, not quite understanding why a used cup would be placed upside down.

Yu Qinjiu curved her eyes and smiled. “Just kidding, you fool.”

Ji Qingyou let out a sigh of relief.

Yu Qinjiu spoke into the phone again. “Mm, there’s someone here. Ji Qingyou. Why do you want to talk to her?”

Ji Qingyou straightened her back.

Yu Qinjiu glanced at her, deliberately drawing out her tone, saying “Oh,” and then handed the phone to her, saying lightly, “My mom wants to talk to you.”

Their fingers touched accidentally for a moment.

As she put the phone to her ear, Ji Qingyou smelled a faint, soft rose fragrance. It was the scent on Yu Qinjiu, which made her lose focus for a moment. Until a gentle, middle-aged female voice sounded in her ear,

“Little You, it’s been a long time since I heard your voice.”

She snapped back to reality and replied hastily, “Mm, Auntie, have you been well lately?”

Lin Yingxiang laughed kindly on the other end. She had always been a very gentle elder. “Auntie is doing well. I heard you’re a doctor now. Little Jiu says you’re a very good doctor. You even specially bought toys for the little kids in the ward.”

Ji Qingyou glanced at Yu Qinjiu. Yu Qinjiu smiled and mouthed something that looked like, “Dr. Ji is amazing.”

Like words coaxing a child.

Ji Qingyou nodded slightly. “It’s my duty.”

“I knew our Little You would grow up to be an excellent doctor too.” Lin Yingxiang said, her voice softening considerably. “By the way, could I trouble you to take Little Jiu home later? I can tell from her voice she’s had quite a bit to drink. It’s late, and I’m a little worried.”

Ji Qingyou didn’t refuse. “Okay.”

After hanging up, Yu Qinjiu turned the backing track back on and sang several songs, all terribly off-key. Ji Qingyou listened quietly beside her.

This was probably one of the few weaknesses on Yu Qinjiu’s part—she loved to sing despite being tone-deaf, loved to dance the rabbit dance despite being uncoordinated, and loved to drink despite having a low tolerance.

That was only three things. Not many.

Very vivid, unique weaknesses.

Ten years had passed, and they hadn’t changed at all.

Ji Qingyou never said Yu Qinjiu sang badly. Whenever others would cover their ears and want to leave, she would just listen quietly. Her reasoning was simple: Yu Qinjiu was tolerant of her in so many things, so naturally, she should be tolerant of Yu Qinjiu in return.

After a few songs, Yu Qinjiu was finally satisfied. She put down the microphone contentedly. “Ji Qingyou, it seems I still only have you as a listener.”

Ji Qingyou thought for a moment. “Is that bad?”

“It’s pretty good. At least I still have you.” As she spoke, Yu Qinjiu tilted her head to look at her. The ash-brown highlighted ends of her hair danced in the air. Her tone was very gentle as she told her, “Today, Yu Cheng called me and said he was sorry. Then Yu Muzhou called me too, and he also said he was sorry.”

She no longer used the titles “father” and “older brother” to refer to these two people.

“It’s so strange.” Yu Qinjiu lowered her head, messy hair falling on her full cheeks, revealing a somewhat sad smile. “I came back and didn’t add anyone’s contact info, but they could still find my number immediately and say sorry to me.”

She hugged her knees with both hands, looking at her toes silently, a little lost. “But the more they say sorry, the more they appear in front of me, the sadder I feel.”

Ji Qingyou was stunned. She suddenly felt her heart begin to be corroded by acid water, seeping through, bringing a fine, intense pain.

Her voice was a little hoarse when she spoke. “Yu Qinjiu…”

She wanted to say, you can’t be this sad, it’s bad for your health.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say such cruel words as “don’t be sad.” Ten years ago, Yu Qinjiu’s father was discovered cheating in a humiliating way. The harm he had done to Yu Qinjiu made it impossible for her not to be sad.

Yu Qinjiu wasn’t looking at her. Her full profile was illuminated by the swaying lights, hazy and soft, like a phantom that would burst at a touch.

“I wanted to find someone to keep me company, but I searched through all my contacts and couldn’t find a single old friend to contact.”

As she spoke, she slowly looked towards Ji Qingyou. Her previously lowered eyes lifted, silently gazing at her for a few seconds. There was a soft, moist gleam in them.

Then, slowly, she raised her finger and gently tugged at the sleeve of Ji Qingyou’s coat. Her voice had a muffled, choked quality.

“Ji Qingyou, I’m a little sad.”

The phantom swelled uncontrollably in that instant, quickly crowding Ji Qingyou’s vision and heart.

She was silent for a few seconds. She picked up Yu Qinjiu’s phone, as if following a program command of the highest priority, and keyed in a series of numbers on the screen. She dialed.

Meeting Yu Qinjiu’s stunned gaze.

She brought her own phone to Yu Qinjiu’s ear. The warm tip of her finger accidentally touched the full, tender skin of Yu Qinjiu’s cheek. The touch was delicate, like a sudden jolt of electricity.

The light in Yu Qinjiu’s eyes trembled.

Ji Qingyou’s fingertips trembled too.

Emotions spread, uncontrollable.

It felt like being torn on a burning rope, just like ten years ago. No matter which direction she went, it was difficult, and it was also difficult to achieve the result Ji Qingyou wanted.

She couldn’t escape no matter what. She finally gave up the struggle.

“Contact me, whenever you want.”