Friend(GL) 137

Chapter 137: Afraid

The horror movie started at 9 p.m. The cinema was almost empty, only a few scattered figures in the back rows. You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui chose seats near the middle. Perhaps because the cinema was large, they couldn’t sense the presence of others, it felt as if they had the entire place to themselves. You Ruxu watched Zhou Tianzui scroll through her phone, “What are you looking at?”

“Checking the reviews.” Zhou Tianzui said, “I heard it’s quite good.”

You Ruxu said, “It seems no one’s watching it.”

“It’s been out for three months.” Zhou Tianzui put away her phone. “And it’s late at night, who would watch a movie at this hour, except for you…” She turned to You Ruxu, the light from the large screen illuminating her face, her eyes clear and bright, her profile serene and beautiful. Zhou Tianzui, unable to kiss her, took her hand. You Ruxu looked down at her, “It’s starting.”

The movie opened with a chase scene, a young woman running frantically, pursued by several figures, clearly terrified, she ran aimlessly, ending up on a rooftop, You Ruxu commented, “I’ve always wondered, why do people always run upwards when they’re trying to escape?”

“It’s a survival instinct,” Zhou Tianzui said, “In a dark and unfamiliar environment, upwards gives the illusion of light, so people instinctively think, if they run upwards, they’ll find safety, it’s a natural reaction.”

You Ruxu turned to look at Zhou Tianzui, who was looking at the screen, her tone serious and thoughtful. After a moment, You Ruxu said, “You’re right.”

Zhou Tianzui rested her chin on her hand and looked at You Ruxu.

You Ruxu continued, “A natural reaction, like sometimes, you know something is dangerous, but you still do it.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “That’s not instinct, that’s a choice.”

You Ruxu said, “But some choices, they’re also instinctive.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Instinct is a subconscious decision, but choices are conscious.”

You Ruxu suddenly took Zhou Tianzui’s hand and said, “I think, choices can also be instinctive.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her and shook her head, “They’re not.”

You Ruxu insisted, “They are.”

Zhou Tianzui reached out and gently pinched You Ruxu’s nose, wanting to laugh, “If you say so.” You Ruxu swatted her hand away and sat back, the movie officially starting, the title appearing in blood-red letters on the screen. You Ruxu took Zhou Tianzui’s hand, their fingers interlacing, the movie began, the plot not complicated, but the acting superb, drawing the audience in, a young woman, wrongly accused and murdered, returning as a vengeful ghost, targeting those who harmed her. You Ruxu was engrossed in the movie when Zhou Tianzui said, “Your phone.”

Her phone was on silent, but the screen was flashing. You Ruxu looked down; it was Wu Xiulian.

She said, “It’s my aunt, I’m going to take this call.”

Zhou Tianzui watched her leave, looking down at her hand, the warmth still lingering. She quietly watched the movie, the light from the screen illuminating her profile. You Ruxu stepped out of the cinema and answered the call, the noise outside filtering through the phone. Wu Xiulian said, “Xu Xu, are you with Dr. Zhou?”

You Ruxu was surprised: “You saw us?”

“Your mother told me.” Wu Xiulian said, “What’s going on between you and Dr. Zhou?”

You Ruxu said, “Aunt, we’re back together.”

Just like the first time she admitted her feelings for Zhou Tianzui, she didn’t hide it now either, her tone frank and direct. Wu Xiulian chuckled, “That’s good.”

Then she asked, “What about, her mother?”

You Ruxu said, “Auntie Yu…”

Earlier that afternoon, she had wanted to call Yu Qiao, to thank her, to talk about Zhou Qiming’s case, but Zhou Tianzui had stopped her, her expression tense, not saying much, and You Ruxu understood, Yu Qiao hadn’t forgiven her, she had just accepted Zhou Tianzui being with the person she loved.

Whether that person was You Ruxu, it didn’t matter to Yu Qiao.

She wouldn’t forgive her, or accept her, just because of Zhou Tianzui.

Her relationship with Yu Qiao, and with Zhou Tianzui, they were different.

You Ruxu, realizing this, put down her phone, then hearing Wu Xiulian’s question, she said, “Auntie Yu, she needs some time.”

“It’s already a big step for her to not object to you and Dr. Zhou.” Wu Xiulian said, “Give her time.”

You Ruxu gave a soft “mm-hmm.”

Wu Xiulian asked, “What about your job?”

You Ruxu paused, “What about it?”

Wu Xiulian chuckled, “Are you planning on a long-distance relationship with Dr. Zhou?”

If it was a regular job, with stable hours and regular vacations, a long-distance relationship would be manageable, they could see each other a few times a month. But with her unpredictable work schedule, and Zhou Tianzui’s even more unpredictable hours, a long-distance relationship meant seeing each other maybe twice a year.

You Ruxu opened her mouth, about to speak.

Wu Xiulian said, “Come back to Jindu.”

You Ruxu said, “Aunt.”

“I can’t do much to help you two, and I was the one who caused all this, just let me have some peace of mind, leave your parents to me, and you take care of Dr. Zhou’s mother, okay?” Wu Xiulian’s voice was filled with a gentle pleading, her guilt towards Yu Qiao no less than You Ruxu’s, her own struggles perhaps even more painful. You Ruxu thought, when she was still a child, not understanding anything, Wu Xiulian had borne that burden alone, now, they were both trying to atone, in their own ways.

You Ruxu didn’t speak.

Wu Xiulian said, “Your mother agrees.”

“My mom, she agreed?” You Ruxu’s voice was filled with disbelief, and Wu Xiulian said, “Your mother came to see me this morning, she told me herself.” Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made this decision. You Ruxu had finally returned to Yuhai, even if it was for atonement, she had no right to ask her to go back to Jindu, to take care of Yu Qiao.

You Ruxu’s heart warmed, remembering Wu Xiulian placing the teddy bear on her bed last night, her mother had also made up her mind.

She had always been loved, in different ways.

You Ruxu’s eyes reddened, after hanging up the phone, she stood outside the cinema for a long time, then called Wu Xiulian’s mother. The moment the call connected, her throat tightened, and after a few seconds of choked silence, she finally managed, “Mom.”

Wu Xiulian’s mother’s voice was gentle and concerned, “Ruxu? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” You Ruxu said, “Mom, I miss you.”

I want to hug you.

You Ruxu held the phone, her eyes red, blinking back tears, letting the noise of the cinema drown out her emotions. Wu Xiulian’s mother gripped her phone tightly. You Ruxu was always reserved, obedient since childhood, her obedience creating a distance, she had always played the role of that deceased child, never daring to express her true feelings, her affection always restrained.

Now, she had crossed that distance, standing before Wu Xiulian’s mother, face to face, “Mom, I miss you.”

She had always said that Ruxu was her and You Shu’s child, but she knew, there was a special place in Ruxu’s heart reserved for her mother, and now, she had finally taken that place.

Wu Xiulian’s mother covered her mouth, stifling a sob, her voice choked with emotion. You Shu, beside her, looked at her curiously. She smiled, tears streaming down her face, a silent smile, “I’m always here for you.”

You Ruxu held the phone, her teeth biting into her lip, a shared silence, unspoken words traveling across the distance, through the phone line.

They understood each other.

Completely.

Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “It’s getting late, don’t come home tonight, spend some time with Dr. Zhou.”

You Ruxu swallowed the lump in her throat, the bittersweet joy, and said, “Okay.”

Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “If she’s free tomorrow, invite her over for dinner, your father and I will be home, she can stay for a few days if she doesn’t mind.”

You Ruxu said, “Okay.”

After a long pause.

You Ruxu hung up, took a deep breath to compose herself, and returned to the cinema, looking around, the people in the front rows had left, only Zhou Tianzui remained, sitting there alone. She walked over and said, “You’re all alone now, aren’t you scared?”

Zhou Tianzui only then looked around, the cinema indeed empty, “What did your aunt say?”

You Ruxu said, “She said—she wants me to go back to Jindu and work there.”

Her words were so unexpected that Zhou Tianzui froze, staring at You Ruxu, who looked back at her calmly, “What?”

You Ruxu said, “You heard me.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “No, I didn’t, say it again.”

You Ruxu said, “You heard me.”

Zhou Tianzui, acting shamelessly, “I really didn’t, I want to hear you say it again.”

You Ruxu wanted to laugh, how could Zhou Tianzui be so childish sometimes? She didn’t speak, just looked at her quietly, “And my mom said, if you’re free tomorrow, you can come over for dinner.”

“Tomorrow?” Zhou Tianzui asked, “Am I free tomorrow?”

You Ruxu chuckled, “Don’t you know your own schedule?”

“I don’t.” Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll do whatever you want, I’m free if you say I’m free.”

You Ruxu couldn’t help but exclaim, “Zhou Tianzui!”

Zhou Tianzui put her arm around You Ruxu’s shoulders, “I know, I’m free tomorrow.”

You Ruxu said, “My mom also said, she wants you to stay with us for a few days…”

She blushed slightly, saying those words. Zhou Tianzui, her expression serious, “Okay.”

You Ruxu looked at her, her expression difficult to discern in the dim light, only her eyes, clear and bright, “Anything else?”

As if knowing she had something more to say.

You Ruxu hesitated, “There’s one more thing.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “What is it?”

You Ruxu said, “I might, be going to the Criminal Investigation Department, to help with a case, they need an assistant.”

Zhou Tianzui didn’t speak.

You Ruxu continued, “I’m familiar with the local situation, I can provide assistance, and I also know something about the suspect, so…”

Zhou Tianzui, looking at the screen, the female protagonist having just killed one of her enemies, standing on a deserted street, watching a couple walk past, arm in arm, she asked, “So is this instinct, or a choice?”

You Ruxu looked up at Zhou Tianzui, whose gaze, piercing through the darkness, met hers, a long silence before You Ruxu said, “Do you remember, four years ago, when I was attacked on the street?”

How could Zhou Tianzui forget?

You Ruxu continued, “After I woke up, I often thought, if I had died then, it would have been better.”

She had been selfish, wanting to escape, even death as a reporter seemed preferable to the constant torment, “But I’m glad I didn’t die.”

Even if she was constantly hurt by Zhou Tianzui’s barbs,

Hated by Yu Qiao, unforgiven.

She was still glad she was alive, she could clear Zhou Qiming’s name, she could cover those stories, big and small, bring justice to the victims, give the public an answer, holding up a finger, like taking an oath, “Zhou Tianzui, I promise, from now on, I’ll protect myself.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her and chuckled, “What if you break your promise?”

You Ruxu took out her press pass and handed it to Zhou Tianzui. It was the second time she had done so. Zhou Tianzui looked down at the press pass, the photo a recent one, You Ruxu looking thinner, more fragile, yet also calmer, more composed, she took the press pass, thought for a moment, and said to You Ruxu, “If you break your promise, I’ll confiscate this.”

You Ruxu looked up, their eyes meeting, and nodded.

Zhou Tianzui opened the press pass and carefully placed it around You Ruxu’s neck, You Ruxu watching her, her focused expression, and couldn’t help but ask, “Are we still watching the movie?”

On screen, the protagonist was bathing in a flower garden, surrounded by fragrance.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Let’s finish it.”

She put her arm around You Ruxu and asked, “Aren’t you scared?”

You Ruxu looked at the screen, “Not really, are you?”

“Yes.” Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m very scared.”

She snuggled closer to You Ruxu, her head resting on her shoulder, her hair brushing against You Ruxu’s neck, You Ruxu reached up to move it away, but Zhou Tianzui caught her hand, “A Ran, are you scared?”

You Ruxu’s hand was held tightly in Zhou Tianzui’s warm hand, a comforting warmth spreading through her, “No, I’m not.”

Zhou Tianzui chuckled softly, “But I am.” It was unclear whether she was referring to the movie or something else, she held You Ruxu closer, whispering, “A Ran, I’m very scared.”