Chapter 20: Making Amends

In front of the provincial TV station office building, the bus had barely stopped when Mu Qinglin stood up and said to Fu Xiao, “Help me take my things upstairs. Thanks!”

Fu Xiao took two seconds to react and wanted to ask “What about you?”

Before she could speak, Mu Qinglin had already gotten off.

Her movements were too hasty. Her left foot didn’t land steadily, her body lurched to one side, and a sharp pain shot through her ankle.

“Sprained it?” Wang Hejing asked with concern.

Mu Qinglin gritted her teeth, enduring the throbbing pain that had taken hold of her ankle. “No. I’ll skip dinner tonight. I’ll treat you to something expensive another day.”

“No, wait. Where are you going limping like that?!” Wang Hejing shouted after Mu Qinglin’s retreating figure.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Fu Xiao getting off the bus. He stopped her and asked, “What’s going on with your old classmate?”

Fu Xiao thought for a moment. “Looks like she got herself into some trouble. On the way back, someone hit her with over fifty missed calls and blocked her on WeChat.”

“That bad?” Wang Hejing was surprised, then suddenly thought of something. His tone became rather pleased. “Must be relationship trouble. My wife pulls the same routine every time we have a fight.”

Fu Xiao paused mid-step, her expression hard to describe. “Mu Qinglin is a woman. She doesn’t have a wife to marry.”

At Buddha Demon, Tang Yuanzhou came over for water after finishing a rush and happened to bump into Mu Qinglin as she pushed through the door in a hurry.

In his impression, Mu Qinglin was the type who could calmly help him even when she knew a cave-in could happen again at any moment. She was absolutely not the impulsive type.

“What’s the rush?” Tang Yuanzhou asked, puzzled.

Mu Qinglin strode in, speaking quickly. “Where’s Zhou Yi?”

“Zhou Yi? Oh, Little Jiu. She went to the clinic.” Tang Yuanzhou pulled out a chair for Mu Qinglin. “That one had a date three days ago. Was up at seven in the morning fussing around. We thought something good had happened. Who knew she came back looking all wilted, drenched in rain too. Gave herself a fever and started throwing up in the middle of the night. Almost drove herself to death.”

Mu Qinglin’s hand on the chair back clenched. Her voice tight, she asked, “How is she now?”

“The fever’s gone, but she can’t eat.” Tang Yuanzhou said. “Little Jiu has a weak constitution. Whenever she’s sick, she loses her appetite. Before, with just a cold, my cooking with heavier seasoning or a plate of braised spare ribs could coax a few bites out of her. This time with the fever, it’s really bad. Whatever she eats, she throws up. Yesterday she only managed two small bowls of porridge. Today she’s barely eaten either. I’m worried she’ll starve herself to death at this rate, so I had Little Hei keep an eye on her and take her to Old Hu’s place.”

“Those two have been gone for almost an hour now,” Tang Yuanzhou said.

Mu Qinglin: “Is the clinic far?”

“Not really. Walk about ten meters west and you’ll see it. You looking for her about something?” Tang Yuanzhou asked.

Mu Qinglin: “Mm…”

“Then have a seat and wait. They should be back soon.” Tang Yuanzhou stuck his head out to check. Seeing the sky still dark and heavy, his expression soured. “Don’t let me find out who made that date with Little Jiu that day, or I’ll break his legs!”

Mu Qinglin closed her eyes briefly and said helplessly, “It was me…”

Tang Yuanzhou’s drinking motion froze. “You what?”

Mu Qinglin: “I’m the one who made the date with Zhou Yi.”

Tang Yuanzhou: “…” Was he still going to break those legs?

When Mu Qinglin found the clinic following Tang Yuanzhou’s directions, Little Hei was pacing back and forth at the entrance with his hands behind his back.

Mu Qinglin quickened her pace and asked, “Why is it just you? Where’s Zhou Yi?”

“Inside getting an IV.” Little Hei turned around and sighed. “Little Jiu’s veins are so thin. Took three tries to get the needle in. The blood was everywhere. Sigh. Don’t just…”

Little Hei watched the door swing shut again and finished the last three words lamely, “…go in like that…”

Zhou Yi’s mood these past two days had been atrocious. The slightest inconvenience set her off. The sheer savagery of her tongue… Shiver. Little Hei couldn’t help but shudder.

Plus those needle sticks just now. Zhou Yi was a walking powder keg right now. Otherwise, why would he be standing out here freezing instead of soaking in the clinic’s delightful heating?

Little Hei pressed his palms together and prayed to whatever deity was passing overhead on Mu Qinglin’s behalf.

The deity apparently didn’t hear.

Seeing Mu Qinglin appear, Zhou Yi, who had been slouched bonelessly in the chair, immediately darkened her expression. Then she quickly reverted to a sickly, drained look.

“Oh, the busy bee finally deigns to show up,” Zhou Yi said carelessly.

Mu Qinglin didn’t take the bait. She simply studied Zhou Yi.

She was wearing the same cap she’d worn to the Affiliated High School, a beige puffer jacket on top, slim-fit jeans below, and short boots hugging the cuffs. She looked cool and edgy.

Except…

Her face was very pale. Her chin had gotten sharper. More than half the back of her right hand was covered with medical tape. The little skin showing was an alarming shade of blue.

Mu Qinglin’s brow furrowed, but her words came out gentler and softer than ever. “Are your hands cold?” she asked.

Zhou Yi had heard enough of Tang Yuanzhou yelling to find Mu Qinglin’s deliberately softened voice uncomfortable. Her fingers curled unconsciously. Feeling the resistance from the swelling, she tugged at the corner of her mouth and said with feigned indifference: “My veins are probably frozen solid by now. It is what it is. Thanks for your concern.”

The second half of Zhou Yi’s sentence was dripping with sarcasm.

Mu Qinglin didn’t care at all. She walked toward Zhou Yi as she spoke. “It’s my fault. I didn’t keep my promise to you.”

Zhou Yi scoffed. “I’m always getting sick. What’s it got to do with you?”

Mu Qinglin looked at her. “This time wasn’t because you were waiting for me?”

The slight curve of Zhou Yi’s lips dropped instantly. “Don’t flatter yourself, okay? Lots of people want small tattoos around year-end. I can barely keep up with filling my portfolio. Where would I find time to wait for you?!”

“Leave. I want to sleep!” Zhou Yi closed her eyes and shooed her away.

Mu Qinglin didn’t stop walking. “I came specifically to keep you company. I can’t leave.”

“Don’t need to!”

“I need to…”

“You’re so annoying!” Zhou Yi suddenly sat up and kicked out the small stool she’d been resting her feet on, wanting to drive Mu Qinglin away. But when her eyes focused, she saw Mu Qinglin wince and bend over.

Zhou Yi’s gaze froze. She quickly looked down at the overturned stool, then at Mu Qinglin’s ankle.

The stool had hit her ankle on its way past.

Mu Qinglin was only wearing dress pants today. A hard object hitting them offered virtually no cushion.

…

Half the clinic fell silent.

In the next-door injection area, a child was crying its lungs out.

Mu Qinglin bent down and rubbed her ankle a couple of times. Noticing Zhou Yi’s breathing stop, she looked up despite the pain and smiled. “Teacher Jiu, I wasn’t planning on running away today. Go easy on me, will you? Leave me enough of a life to make it up to you.”

Zhou Yi’s thoughts were still stuck on the shock of what had just happened. She didn’t speak.

She hadn’t meant to do that. It’s just…

Remembering the root of all this, the complex emotions churning inside Zhou Yi settled. She tossed out coldly, “Some people bring it on themselves.”

“Yes!” Mu Qinglin said immediately. “If Teacher Jiu still isn’t satisfied, I’ll hand you the stool right now.”

“Wouldn’t offing yourself be faster?” Zhou Yi pulled the blanket up and leaned back.

Mu Qinglin went along with her. “Before I do that, can I ask one question?”

Zhou Yi turned her head away without a word.

From the narrow corner of her vision, she saw Mu Qinglin let out a long breath. Then she stood up, walked over to Zhou Yi with difficulty, bent down, and slid a dry, warm hand out from her cuff to grip Zhou Yi’s icy forearm. Softly, she asked: “Little Jiu, did you wait a long time for me that day?”