Chapter 1
Lin City, the airport.
Amidst the bustling crowd, a woman in a cream-white qipao drew a great deal of attention. The oversized sunglasses on her face concealed the upper half, but her diamond-shaped red lips and the graceful figure accentuated by the qipao were enough for anyone to imagine the beauty that lay beneath.
[When are you coming back?]
Xu Qingtang glanced at the WeChat message from her girlfriend, Lin Huaijia, then at the date on her phone. A smile touched her lips as she typed: [Not so soon, it’ll have to be tomorrow.]
Lin Huaijia: [What a pity. If I didn’t have a social engagement tonight, I would have flown over to be with you.]
Lin Huaijia: [Xiao Zhi, is the performance tiring?]
The message was followed by a pouting sticker.
Xu Qingtang’s smile widened.
Today was their first anniversary.
The two had originally planned to spend it together, but due to work, Xu Qingtang had to travel with her theater troupe for a performance. Unexpectedly, she was able to return to Lin City a day early.
Declining her colleagues’ invitation for dinner, Xu Qingtang first made a trip to the hospital, then took a car to Lin Huaijia’s current residence.
Lin Huaijia had registered Xu Qingtang’s fingerprint half a year ago, so opening the door was effortless.
Their work schedules had always been busy throughout their relationship. Back then, Xu Qingtang was occupied with rehearsing a new play with her senior apprentice-sister, preparing for next year’s Plum Blossom Award. Now that they both had some free time, Lin Huaijia had recently mentioned the idea of moving in together.
Xu Qingtang wasn’t one to be coy about such matters. After thinking it over for a few days, she decided that cohabitation wasn’t unacceptable.
And so, she had decided to give Lin Huaijia a surprise tonight.
Xu Qingtang pulled her suitcase into the living room, the wheels making a soft sound. She was mulling over whether it would be more effective to hide behind the door or in the living room when the rather childish thought was abruptly cut short—
Tucked into the crevice of the fabric sofa was a photograph.
Xu Qingtang smiled, thinking it was just Lin Huaijia being careless. She bent down to pick it up and saw a single word handwritten in English on the back—
Beloved.
But when she turned it over to see the front, she couldn’t smile at all.
The photo was of a woman in a white formal dress, her long, curly hair cascading over her shoulders. She had a straight nose, red lips, and a pair of slender, deep-set phoenix eyes that held a faint smile. Even in a simple, direct shot like this, her beauty was otherworldly.
Xu Qingtang had a vague impression of this face. She was a friend of Lin Huaijia’s. Oh, right, her name was Gu Yizhi.
As the mental storm subsided, Xu Qingtang realized she had crumpled the photo in her hand, leaving only those electrifying eyes intact. She vaguely recalled her first meeting with Gu Yizhi—at a birthday party for one of Lin Huaijia’s friends.
The lighting had been dim, but everyone kept looking in her direction. Someone had even commented that her eyes resembled Gu Yizhi’s.
At the time, she had never paid any attention to Gu Yizhi, so she hadn’t given the comment a second thought.
Dazed with anger, Xu Qingtang’s mind flashed back to this day a year ago. It had been pouring rain. She had just finished a performance and come out of the theater to find Lin Huaijia waiting at the entrance, holding an umbrella.
They had strolled down the street, and as they passed a flower shop, Lin Huaijia had suddenly asked her to be her girlfriend. Her eyes had shone as brightly as the stars hidden by the night sky, and the elation that burst forth when Xu Qingtang agreed had been infectious.
She also remembered Lin Huaijia holding her hand and saying she looked so small and petite, it made people want to protect her. How about I call you Xiao Zhi from now on?
Gu Yizhi, Xiao Zhi.
Heh!
So the one she truly cherished and loved was someone else. With a white moonlight in her heart, she had gone and found a substitute like her.
Xu Qingtang took a deep breath, a fire searing her chest. The sting of betrayal and the frustration of being played with shot straight to her head.
As if on cue, a message notification popped up on her phone.
She opened it. A user with an anime girl profile picture had sent her a photo: [Huaijia is with me, don’t you worry, I’ll take good care of her～]
The photo was a selfie of a pure-looking woman. Not far behind her stood Lin Huaijia in a long dress, her gaze directed toward a corner where someone else seemed to be. Only a flash of bright red was visible, but Lin Huaijia’s expression was incredibly gentle.
The background was clearly a party.
Xu Qingtang thought of the supposed business trip and let out another cold laugh.
***
Late night, Ephemeral Bar.
When her friends saw Xu Qingtang at this hour, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Jinjin said, “I thought you’d be out having fun tonight.”
Tang Gui nodded. “Isn’t it your anniversary tonight? You two should be celebrating.”
Celebrate my ass.
Right now, Xu Qingtang only wanted to visit her grave.
She told them everything she had seen at Lin Huaijia’s place. The two stared back, utterly astonished, exclaiming in unison, “No way!”
It wasn’t surprising that her friends were shocked; even Xu Qingtang herself had never imagined that something like being a substitute would happen to her.
They had only been dating for a year, but they had known each other since college, so it wasn’t a short amount of time. Even though they had their share of conflicts and arguments during their relationship, the love and affection Lin Huaijia had shown never seemed fake.
Even now, Xu Qingtang found it hard to accept.
Tang Gui hesitated. “Could someone else have dropped the photo?”
“No, I recognize her handwriting.”
It wasn’t just the word; there was a small heart drawn after it.
Besides the photo, there was also Lin Huaijia’s lie about tonight and that nickname she insisted on, a nickname that had absolutely nothing to do with Xu Qingtang.
It hadn’t seemed like anything before, but connecting the dots now, the evidence was irrefutable.
Xu Qingtang slammed the “evidence” onto the table and fumed, “Tell me, isn’t she just scum?”
Tang Gui and Jinjin exchanged a look. Tang Gui raised her voice, “Scum, absolute scum! How can someone be so shameless, knowing the other person has a girlfriend and still…”
Jinjin chimed in, “Exactly! Qingtang, don’t be angry. It’s a good thing to recognize trash for what it is. That person is so shameless, what a waste of a pretty face…”
Xu Qingtang looked over. “Why are you cursing her?”
The two fell silent. “Of course, we’re on your side.”
In truth, all three of them were thinking the same thing. If Gu Yizhi really had something going on with Lin Huaijia, Lin Huaijia wouldn’t have needed a substitute. The logical conclusion was that this was a case of unrequited love.
But knowing was one thing; a friend always had to side with a friend.
“I know what you mean,” Xu Qingtang said, downing a glass of liquor in one go. Her throat and stomach burned. “This is all on Lin Huaijia.”
Tang Gui poured her another drink. “That’s the right way to think about it. It’s good that you found out now. I really can’t believe she’s that kind of person.”
Who could have imagined it?
Xu Qingtang took another gulp of cold liquor, sinking into a somber silence. Tang Gui patted her on the shoulder. “So, what are your plans now?”
What plans?
After getting thoroughly drunk, Xu Qingtang clutched the crumpled photo, a deeply resentful thought forming in her mind—if Lin Huaijia is going to act like scum, then she can’t blame me for snatching that white moonlight of hers!
***
A light rain began to fall over Lin City that night, the fine drizzle carrying a chill in the air.
Xu Qingtang pressed the doorbell several times.
After a long while, the door finally opened. The owner was a woman in a vibrant red slip dress. Her jacket was worn in that nonchalant, trendy way from a few years back, hanging half-on, half-off to reveal one shoulder and a delicate collarbone. Her red lips were just as vivid and lustrous, her features bewitching. She exuded an air of languid charm, especially when her eyes fixed on someone, as if they could discharge electricity.
Her gaze appraised Xu Qingtang, who was likewise sizing her up from head to toe. This woman was the epitome of mature allure, right down to her bones. Beyond her face, she possessed an exceptionally captivating aura.
For a brief moment, Xu Qingtang could understand why Lin Huaijia was so taken with her.
But that didn’t mean she could forgive the idiotic act of using her as a substitute.
Xu Qingtang’s breath was heavy with the scent of alcohol. She pulled her gaze back and asked, feigning ignorance, “Gu Yizhi?”
Gu Yizhi hummed in affirmation.
“I’m…”
“Xu Qingtang,” Gu Yizhi finished for her, her eyes holding Xu Qingtang’s. “I know.”
It wasn’t as if they had never met, so it was natural for Gu Yizhi to remember her. Xu Qingtang wasn’t surprised, but what caught her off guard was Gu Yizhi’s next question.
“Is there something I can help you with?”
Her tone was gentle, her voice clear and pleasant. Those simple words weren’t some world-class conundrum, yet they completely stumped Xu Qingtang.
Xu Qingtang didn’t know what she was doing here either.
She had come on a whim.
The longer she stood, the dizzier she felt. The alcohol fumes rose from her stomach, making her feel even more intoxicated. Her eyes scanned Gu Yizhi up and down again before she asked, abruptly and inexplicably, “Did you spend Valentine’s Day alone a while back?”
Gu Yizhi smiled warmly. “I did.”
Staring at that bewitching face, Xu Qingtang was possessed to ask another question. “May I come in for a bit?”
Gu Yizhi graciously stepped aside, making way. “Of course.”
As she moved, her jacket finally slipped off, exposing her entire shoulder to the air. Without the jacket’s cover, the curves outlined by the slip dress were on full display. Gu Yizhi leaned against the doorframe, a half-smile playing on her lips as she looked at Xu Qingtang, her entire being radiating an aura unique to a mature woman.
Xu Qingtang, on the other hand, was finding it hard to read her.
Why is this woman acting like we’re old friends?
Xu Qingtang shifted slightly, and the phone in her pocket began to vibrate intensely. It took her a moment to process it before she reached for it. Lin Huaijia was calling her and had sent more messages.
Xu Qingtang had already broken up with her hours ago.
Lin Huaijia: [Xiao Zhi, don’t be like this.]
Lin Huaijia: [I’m working so hard at this social event, isn’t it all for you?]
Lin Huaijia: [When will you be more sensible? Why don’t you listen to anything I say?]
Heh, “all for her,” indeed.
Chasing after your white moonlight must be hard work, right?
Xu Qingtang’s anger maxed out. Her head was spinning with rage and dizziness. She took a sharp breath, and as she looked at Gu Yizhi’s face, any thought of retreat instantly vanished. An image of Lin Huaijia’s furious expression upon seeing them together flashed in her mind, and she nearly laughed out loud.
With that thought, she mimicked Gu Yizhi’s expression, smiling with a hint of ambiguity. “When I asked to sit… it wasn’t about a chair. It was about you.”
Gu Yizhi froze for a second, as if she hadn’t expected her to say that.
Was I too direct? Xu Qingtang also paused.
But Gu Yizhi quickly used her actions to show Xu Qingtang what it meant to be outmatched.
Gu Yizhi tilted her head slightly, pursing her red lips. She first pulled her jacket back on properly, then suddenly reached a hand toward Xu Qingtang. Her slender fingertips landed on Xu Qingtang’s shoulder, the gentle touch making her tremble slightly.
Xu Qingtang was still wearing the same qipao from earlier today.
Gu Yizhi’s hand slid down from her shoulder, hooked a frog button, and with a light tug of her wrist—Xu Qingtang wasn’t sure if she had been pulled forward or if Gu Yizhi had leaned in—they were practically pressed together. She could feel the exquisite figure beneath the slip dress, her senses filled with the soft, warm scent unique to a woman.
Her eyes fell on the curve of Gu Yizhi’s collarbone, and she felt Gu Yizhi’s warm breath by her ear. “The ‘do’ in ‘make love’?”
***
Translator’s Notes
-
Xiao Zhi (小只): The nickname Lin Huaijia gives Xu Qingtang. It literally means “little one.” The pun lies in the fact that “Zhi” (只) sounds identical to the “Zhi” (之) in Gu Yizhi’s (顾宜之) name
- The “do” in “make love”? (做.爱的做？): This line is a direct response to a pun in the original text. Xu Qingtang asks to “sit” (坐, zuò), then clarifies she wasn’t talking about a chair. Gu Yizhi escalates by asking if she meant “do” (做, zuò), which is a homophone for “sit” and is the verb used in “make love” (做爱, zuò’ài).
