Chapter 3: Picked Up

That degree of disaster really was brutal.

But she was only getting four numbers. She couldn’t be that unlucky.

Besides, she didn’t have any special attachment to tattoos.

Last year, when Tang Yuanzhou had brought it up, the conversation had simply landed there and she hadn’t wanted to refuse.

Afterward, she’d shown up as promised only to be lured into the massage parlor by one of Zhou Yi’s paper notes. After cooling her heels, the impulse faded even further. So she never looked into it again.

Today, she’d only come back to kill time after accepting Zhou Yi’s invitation. There was no need for anything too refined.

Tattoos, as a form of expression, had their own unique charm. But what truly mattered was the meaning behind them.

…

“The last time you rocked your chair like that, you went flying on your ass and complained about your tailbone for half a month. Still haven’t learned?” Tang Yuanzhou’s sudden shout pulled Mu Qinglin back to reality.

She followed the sound. The front legs of Zhou Yi’s chair had already been shoved firmly back to the floor by Tang Yuanzhou. Zhou Yi was still pushing against the ground with both feet, secretly straining in an attempt to overpower him.

The outcome was obvious. Like trying to twist a thigh with your arm. A pointless waste of effort.

After several seconds of standoff, Zhou Yi abruptly stood up. Walking toward Mu Qinglin, she rattled off quickly, “Where are we tattooing? How big? Color or black and gray? Do you have a design in mind, or do you want original work?”

Four questions in a single breath, just enough time for Zhou Yi to arrive in front of Mu Qinglin.

Clinging to a throw pillow, she smiled at Mu Qinglin. “We only do originals here. I don’t do color. Also, as you can see, I’m sick and my stamina isn’t great. A small piece under an hour is manageable. Anything bigger and I’ll run out of steam.”

Mu Qinglin: “…” Not a single ounce of room for choice. Was she messing with her?

“As compensation, you can pick anything from my portfolio,” Zhou Yi said.

Her designs were exactly as Tang Yuanzhou described: valuable. A large piece alone could sell for tens of thousands, even over a hundred thousand.

The smaller ones weren’t that expensive, but they weren’t priced at what any random street shop would dare to charge either.

Letting Mu Qinglin pick freely today was a way of repaying the favor of two lives, Tang Yuanzhou’s and Facai’s, one human and one cat.

Mu Qinglin didn’t know the tattoo industry and had no particular requirements. “No need to browse. Just 0206. Four numbers on the shoulder. As long as they’re legible and clear, that’s all.”

A few minutes later, Mu Qinglin was led through a winding path into a small room and sat down.

Zhou Yi stood at a nearby table, preparing ink and disposable needles and the rest of the tattoo equipment.

“Pure numbers are simple, so I won’t bother with a stencil transfer. I’ll draw the draft directly on your skin,” Zhou Yi said in advance.

Mu Qinglin: “You’re the expert.”

Zhou Yi turned around, her expression unusually serious. “Are you messing with me? Once this goes on, it’s for life. If it’s ruined, you’ll be the one crying.”

Mu Qinglin realized Zhou Yi was angry and had to adjust her attitude. “Tang Yuanzhou has told me about you. Nothing but praise. You’re not as bad as he made it sound. I trust you.”

“Trust, my foot…” Zhou Yi muttered as she walked over, a pen in hand. Looking down at Mu Qinglin from above, she said, “Take your clothes off.”

“??”

The sudden shift in topic, and the slightly bizarre demand, made Mu Qinglin’s train of thought derail for a beat. She quickly recovered and took off her coat.

Underneath was just a thin sweater and a close-fitting bra.

Mu Qinglin raised her arms and kept undressing.

The instant her skin was exposed, Zhou Yi let out a whistle. Sharp and clean. “Perfection,” she said.

Mu Qinglin knew what she was working with and didn’t get flustered. “It’s decent…”

Zhou Yi shook her head in disagreement. “Decent? This is premium skin. I haven’t seen skin this good in almost a year.”

The corner of Mu Qinglin’s mouth twitched. “What?”

Zhou Yi leaned in to inspect closely, eyes shining like a dog that just spotted a steamed bun. “This skin texture. This grain. These muscle lines… Why is there a scar here?” She stared at the obvious scar on the back of Mu Qinglin’s shoulder.

Mu Qinglin, still reeling from the “premium skin” verdict, replied without much enthusiasm. “An accident…”

“Such fine skin, ruined like this.” Zhou Yi’s heartache was boundless.

Mu Qinglin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

What kind of eyes could only assess the quality of human skin?

Well, at least it spoke to Zhou Yi’s professional standards from another angle.

“Put 0206 near that scar,” Mu Qinglin said.

Zhou Yi hummed in acknowledgment, temporarily releasing her obsession with the cruel reality of the scar. She dragged a stool over, sat down, and asked, “Covering it?”

Mu Qinglin: “No. Avoid it.”

Zhou Yi glanced up at Mu Qinglin’s calm profile and said nothing more.

Silence gathered quickly.

Seated behind Mu Qinglin, Zhou Yi confirmed the placement and began sketching. Before long, she picked up the tattoo machine.

The instant the needle made contact, Mu Qinglin’s body jolted and she sucked in a breath.

Zhou Yi heard it. She didn’t look up and didn’t stop. “Hurting?”

Mu Qinglin: “A little…”

Zhou Yi: “First time is always like this. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Perhaps because of the mask, Zhou Yi’s voice was much gentler than before. Especially when she brought over a tablet and told Mu Qinglin she could watch something to distract herself, Mu Qinglin genuinely felt this was someone worth getting along with. What a shame she had to have a mouth.

Zhou Yi’s hand reached from behind and propped the tablet under Mu Qinglin’s chin. “But when I’m working, the last thing I want is someone yapping. Yell again and I’ll sew your mouth shut.”

“…” Mu Qinglin had no intention of yelling. Right now, she was simply speechless.

The whole process wrapped up in under two hours.

Zhou Yi applied a layer of protective film over Mu Qinglin’s shoulder and told her to take it off in two hours, then delivered thorough aftercare instructions. “You can shower normally, but don’t put anything extra on it. No strenuous exercise for the next week, and avoid spicy or irritating food. It’s solid black, so no touch-ups needed. Don’t come back unless you have to. It might itch during recovery. Best to keep a knife on you and wave it around your hand whenever you feel like scratching…”

Since Mu Qinglin couldn’t yell and couldn’t shake, she’d powered through the whole thing on adrenaline. By the end, she was in a daze. Her replies were nothing but “mm” and “ah” until Zhou Yi finished everything and asked if she wanted to see the result. Only then did she let out a breath and say, “Send it to me on WeChat. I don’t have the energy to nitpick right now.”

Zhou Yi gave a contemptuous snort. “If you find a single flaw, I’ll call you Grandpa.”

Mu Qinglin declined gracefully. “I’m just a poor girl. Wouldn’t dare inflate my face into a grandpa.”

Zhou Yi couldn’t be bothered with her banter. Two hours of focused work was already pushing it for a sick person. Body and soul both needed rest.

“I’ll scan you…” Zhou Yi handed Mu Qinglin’s phone over.

Mu Qinglin dropped the sweater sleeve she hadn’t pulled on yet and took the phone, using the moment to study Zhou Yi’s new look.

While working, Zhou Yi had found her bangs annoying and tied them up with a small rubber band at the crown of her head, revealing a smooth, clear forehead and natural, untouched eyebrows.

Wild-grown and healthy, the clean definition of each strand made her look less young at first glance. A little cool.

Her sleeves were pushed up too. The exposed section of her left forearm was covered in black tattoo work.

Noticing Mu Qinglin looking, Zhou Yi rotated her arm once. “Pretty fierce, huh?”

Mu Qinglin’s first impression was genuinely unsettling. The design was obscure and indecipherable, the colors gloomy and oppressive, giving off a heavy atmosphere. But after taking the phone, she looked again… One of the monster’s fangs seemed to be missing, as if it had been rubbed off.

Mu Qinglin opened her WeChat QR code and held it out, looking up at Zhou Yi. “Tattoo sticker?”

Ding! The crisp notification sound cut right through the awkwardness that had suddenly sprouted between them.

Mu Qinglin’s phone buzzed several times in quick succession.

Zhou Yi had sent the photos. As for the person, she’d already swung the door shut and left.

Mu Qinglin’s shoulder was stinging from the needlework. Dressing was slow. It took five or six minutes of fumbling before she was put together enough to come out.

“Come sit,” Tang Yuanzhou said, rising to greet her the moment she appeared. “Little Jiu just showed me the result. Looks decent. Take it easy over the next week. Come back anytime if something feels off.”

Mu Qinglin sat down next to Tang Yuanzhou. “How do I pay? Scan a code?”

Tang Yuanzhou: “Don’t embarrass me. A piece this small is just the starting price. Nowhere close to the life you saved.”

Mu Qinglin smiled and didn’t insist. “Then thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Tea or water?”

Mu Qinglin: “Water.”

Tang Yuanzhou got up to pour.

Mu Qinglin sat alone, idly scrolling through the photos Zhou Yi had sent.

Then she heard a faint sound and looked up to search.

She found Zhou Yi by the radiator, the very person who’d abandoned her. Zhou Yi was sitting at a square table with her back turned, hunched over, shoulders rigid. Her silhouette looked furtive and tense.

“Don’t mind her,” Tang Yuanzhou said, setting the water down in front of Mu Qinglin and lowering his voice. “Every time she takes medicine, she makes it look like a life-or-death crisis. I’ve yelled at her about it a few times. She says she’s figured out a brilliant strategy: take the medicine when it’s not looking. That way it hurts less. So every time, she sits there and stares it down first, trying to wear out its energy. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she’s an idiot.”

The moment Tang Yuanzhou finished, Mu Qinglin watched Zhou Yi snap her head up, toss a handful of pills into her mouth, down a cup of water in a few gulps, then stand up as if nothing had happened, her face the picture of wisdom.

“Oh, I forgot to ask. How did you two end up coming back together?” Tang Yuanzhou remembered and asked.

Mu Qinglin pulled her gaze back and answered honestly. “We ran into each other. Someone was giving her trouble and I lent a hand.”

“Who?” Tang Yuanzhou narrowed his eyes, his face darkening.

“The guy who lassoed my dog last time and got kicked to the ground by me.” It was Zhou Yi who answered. She stood behind Mu Qinglin, leaning at an angle against a pillar, not even a flicker of her attention going toward her.

“Those sons of bitches!” Tang Yuanzhou roared. “That kick should have been mine!”

Zhou Yi chuckled lightly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “And it should have been aimed toward the Yong’an River.”

With that, Zhou Yi grabbed the cat food and dog food and headed out the door.

The anger was still written across Tang Yuanzhou’s face, but he held it in so Mu Qinglin wouldn’t see the joke. “Little Jiu keeps a bunch of stray cats and dogs at the junkyard. With a personality like hers, afraid of the heat in summer and the cold in winter, such a drama queen, she still makes three trips a day like clockwork to feed them. She feeds them better than she feeds herself, even went to the market personally to pick out their beds. She really cares.

But a few days ago, while she was touching up a design, some new gang members made off with one of the dogs. By the time I finished the session and went to look, there was nothing left but a pile of bones.”

“Scum,” Mu Qinglin muttered. She’d never kept pets, but she understood well enough what it felt like to have a dog you’d poured your heart into stolen and eaten. Zhou Yi had only kicked the guy once. That was genuinely good restraint. But…

“If she loves them so much, why not keep them at home?” Mu Qinglin asked. In a place like Red Gate Alley, even a whole person like Zhou Yi could get cornered and pushed around. Let alone stray cats and dogs with nowhere to go.

Tang Yuanzhou sighed. “She’s afraid of causing me trouble.”

“…”

“Little Jiu was one I picked up from the junkyard too. Don’t let her tough act fool you. She remembers everything inside. The moment I bring up keeping the animals at home, she laughs it off and says, ‘Bro, are you getting addicted to picking things up? I alone am enough to drive you up the walls. A few more and the roof would come off.'”

So that was it.

Because they were alike, she cared. And because they were alike, she didn’t want to add to the burden.

Mu Qinglin held her water glass, her thumb lightly tracing the rim. “Little Jiu… what’s her situation?”

Tang Yuanzhou: “No family left. Never got much schooling. She came out to make a living all on her own at such a young age.”

The world is no paradise. Everyone carries their own weight.

Mu Qinglin wasn’t particularly surprised by what Tang Yuanzhou said, but neither could she laugh off someone else’s pain.

“She’s doing well now,” Mu Qinglin said.

Tang Yuanzhou nodded and smiled. “Yeah. Good thing I saved a bit in my younger days so I could rent a place to keep the wind and rain out. Otherwise, there’d be nowhere for her to live.”

“Listen to you. Like you’re ancient.”

“I’m thirty-five! When Little Jiu first came, getting her to call me ‘Bro’ was like pulling teeth. She muttered that I was too old for that and shameless. The very first day, mind you, eating my food, using my things, living in my place, and she still dared to give me attitude. For a while there I thought I’d picked up some heartless stray.”

Well…

Mu Qinglin and Zhou Yi still weren’t close, but somehow she could picture the girl doing exactly that kind of unconscionable thing.

“She’s still young. Let it slide,” Mu Qinglin said with a smile.

Tang Yuanzhou snorted coldly. “She’s almost nineteen! Still young? When I was her age, I’d already opened my own shop. Meanwhile she’s out there chasing cats and playing with dogs all day, no ambition whatsoever. Fuck!”

Tang Yuanzhou shot to his feet and stared in shock at the dart that had just grazed his head and embedded itself in the pillar.

The culprit was Zhou Yi, who had returned at some point and was walking inside carrying pet food.

“Do you even know how to throw darts?!” Tang Yuanzhou bellowed in disbelief.

Zhou Yi: “Nope. Next time it might land in your head.”

“What good would killing me do you?!” Tang Yuanzhou’s chest heaved with fury.

Zhou Yi walked past without a sideways glance, strolling at an easy pace. “Peace and quiet,” she said.

“Peace and quiet?! With you around, this house will never know peace!”

“Impossible. A quiet, beautiful girl like me never causes trouble.”

“Bullshit!”

Mu Qinglin watched the two of them go back and forth and suddenly understood what “distance makes the heart grow fonder” meant. Zhou Yi and Tang Yuanzhou’s dynamic was the textbook definition of “loving father and dutiful daughter when apart, all hell breaking loose when together.”

Entertaining.

“Why are you still here?” Zhou Yi, having stowed the pet food, walked over and sat down, expertly tipping her chair back and rocking.

Two rocks in, Tang Yuanzhou shoved it flat and said through gritted teeth, “Don’t make me curse.”

Zhou Yi shrugged, pinned the chair to the ground, pinned herself to the chair, and resolved to become a tasteful decorative object.

“Where do you work? Is it far to come here?” Tang Yuanzhou remembered to ask.

Mu Qinglin: “Not far. The building right in front of yours.”

“In front?” Decorative Object Zhou couldn’t resist. She moved her lips. “Provincial station. Impressive.”

“Nothing impressive about it. Community affairs reporter. Spouting household gossip every day. When things are slow, I help the neighbors find their dogs and cats.”

Mu Qinglin lowered her eyes, her thumb rubbing the knuckle of her index finger. “Just an ordinary person getting by.”