Volume 9: The Acidity of the Setting Sun
Chapter 5: Bringing It On Myself
In a blink of an eye, it was the weekend again. The last cool breeze of autumn had scattered with a rustle, and the weather turned cold. Lu Li, as usual, changed into thicker clothes. The Chu Jingyi who would smile at him sweetly and foolishly seemed like just yesterday. He sat in front of the television, his eyes empty. Behind him, at the small wooden table, three girls were gathered around, whispering about something. With Chu Jingyi gone, this study session naturally couldn’t happen. Yameng didn’t understand the schoolwork, Wen Hupo was too lazy to manage An Baili, and so Baili had become a little pony, free and unrestrained.
“Baili, you and Chu Jingyi are close. You should try to persuade her. It hurts me to see Lizi like this,” Zou Yameng said. “They’ve been together for so long, how could they really just cut ties? As her best friend, if you talk to her more, you’ll surely be able to convince her.”
An Baili grimaced. “Jingyi barely talks to me at school anymore either. She definitely holds a grudge against me now. Sigh, the wrath of a good-natured person is truly terrifying.”
Wen Hupo was spinning a pen. It had to be said, she was an expert at it. The transparent-cased rollerball pen spun endlessly on her slender fingertips. “I think Jingyi might be angry at more than just Lu Li. An Baili, think about it, have you done anything to wrong her?”
An Baili wanted to say no, but seeing Lu Li’s back, she silently lowered her head.
Just then, Lu Li’s phone rang. An Baili quickly picked up a pen and pretended to be studying. To her surprise, Lu Li paid her no mind at all. He quickly picked up his phone, looking at the caller’s name with some anticipation. Not many people would call him; it was most likely Chu Jingyi.
The call was from a strange number.
Lu Li answered the phone with apprehension. “Hello?”
“Hello, hello, can you hear me? Is this Mr. Lu? Ah, I’m XXX from XXX Publishing House. Regarding the art book you mentioned in your email, I’d like to talk to you in detail about the contract price on behalf of the publishing house…”
Lu Li was greatly disappointed. The call was indeed for him, but it wasn’t from the Silly Goose. Evening Collection had been a great success, and a portion of the core fans hoped the production team would publish an art book. Lu Li had sought out a publisher to cooperate with, planning to self-publish. For a small production team like his, publishing an art book was usually a case of losing money to gain reputation, done solely to give back to the fans.
Lu Li was in no mood to haggle with the other party. He said listlessly, “Raise the price in my email by ten percent. That’s the limit I’ll accept. If you don’t agree, I’ll find another publisher.”
“Alright, alright, we’ll do as you say. Could you leave an address? I’ll mail the contract over.”
After settling some trivial matters, Lu Li slumped back into his chair, dejected. He looked back at the makeshift study group. “Baili, if you’re tired of studying, you should take a break.”
“Not tired, not tired, I’m not tired at all! I’m studying with great enthusiasm!” An Baili wrote furiously.
Lu Li showed a rare smile today. “You don’t have to do this to comfort me. I know you, you little lazybones, are dying to go lie down and sleep.”
Zou Yameng walked behind Lu Li and put her arms around him. “Lizi, why don’t you go take a nap too? You’ve been spacing out all day, you’re completely listless.” Lu Li held Yameng’s hand, wanting to say something, but his mind was numb, and he couldn’t get any comforting words out. He felt terrible right now, and he could imagine that Chu Jingyi felt even worse that night.
The phone rang again. This time, it was his prospective mother-in-law. Lu Li’s spirits lifted, and he quickly answered the phone. “Hello, Auntie, it’s Little Lu. Yes, it is.”
His prospective mother-in-law didn’t say anything unusual. Just like last year, she warmly invited him to spend the New Year at the Chu family’s home and told him to bring his sister along. Lu Li could only offer an awkward, apologetic laugh. Go to the Chu family’s for the New Year this year? …Did he still have that right? Not to mention that his relationship with Jingyi was at a freezing point, Chu Xiaodong was also waiting for him to give a definite answer during the New Year. Now it seemed there was no need to give Chu Xiaodong an answer at all…
Just then, Lu Li heard the Silly Goose’s voice on the other end of the line. “Mom, who are you talking to?” Lu Li’s heart trembled.
“To Little Lu.”
“Why are you calling him…” Chu Jingyi’s voice grew quieter and quieter.
“Do you want to say a few words to Little Lu?”
“No, I’m going upstairs.” Then came the sound of thudding footsteps.
“Little Lu, did you and Yibao have a fight?”
“I guess so…”
“It’s alright, it’s normal for young people to bicker. Yibao is a bit stubborn. You’re more sensible than her, Little Lu, don’t hold it against her.” Was Lu Li really more sensible than Chu Jingyi? Lu Li himself couldn’t guarantee it. Was his heart, stained a murky color by the dye vat of the world, really purer than Chu Jingyi’s heart? Even when caught in the web of love, that girl had always remembered to prioritize her studies. Even when deeply in love, she could still calmly ask herself if she really loved him that much… Was this girl really silly?
“Mm, okay, I’ll remember that,” Lu Li said. It seemed the Silly Goose hadn’t told her parents about their situation, which also brought Lu Li a sigh of relief. Otherwise, he really wouldn’t know how to explain it to Chu Xiaodong. Hey, not only am I building a harem, I’ve also broken your daughter’s heart. Look how unconventional I am!
He slapped his forehead, wishing he could find another crystal and be reborn a week ago.
“Then it’s settled, Little Lu will come to our house for New Year’s this year!” His mother-in-law hung up the phone cheerfully.
Lu Li felt the air was a bit stifling. He had been completely disoriented by the matter with Chu Jingyi recently. “I’m going out for some air.”
Wen Hupo and Zou Yameng were about to get up and accompany him, but An Baili took Lu Li’s arm first. “Li, I’ll go with you.” She didn’t forget to give the other two girls a meaningful look. Wen Hupo guessed that An Baili had something to say to Lu Li, so she took Zou Yameng’s hand. “Sister Meng, let’s chat for a while.”
Lu Li and An Baili went out and strolled along the streets of the Low-Rent District.
“Li, are you really reluctant to lose Jingyi?” An Baili asked, holding his hand.
“Yeah. I don’t know if I’ll ever meet another girl like her in this lifetime. The probability is very low.” Lu Li gave a bitter smile.
“What was she like in the last life?”
“What?”
“What happened to Jingyi in the last life?”
“She died in a plane crash in the last life, after graduating from her third year of high school.”
“Then go save her, just like you saved me,” An Baili said. “If you save her, she will definitely be devoted to you again.”
An Baili’s words seemed to trigger some dark, evil thoughts. Lu Li was stunned for a moment. He thought that if he let the Chu family be attacked and then stepped in to save the entire family, wouldn’t all his problems be solved? But in the next second, this desire was cut off by Lu Li, not even a root remaining.
“I’d rather she never encountered danger,” Lu Li said. “And I don’t want to use her misfortune to trick her into loving me. Baili, I’ve already made one mistake with her. I don’t want to make a second one.”
An Baili asked, “What if she really leaves you?”
Lu Li stood frozen on the spot. It was a long time before he slowly uttered a single sentence: “I will fight for Jingyi’s forgiveness. But if that day truly comes, it will be something I brought on myself, and no one else is to blame.”
