Typhoon warning.
The radio reminded again of the time it would pass over.
A few days ago, it formed on the sea surface, heading toward densely populated areas. It came openly, regardless of whether it was welcome or not.
It would make landfall in the neighboring province tomorrow evening and officially reach Mirror City the night after.
This time, Zhao Chiyun did not fall asleep. She listened quietly too. In the enclosed space, her clothes carried a faint scent of alcohol, and on closer inspection, there were even some cat hairs.
Gan Xun asked her softly if she had ever encountered one before. She said no, the capital was not coastal.
“But I have heard of it. Rivers overflowing, houses and fields damaged, requiring relief funds every time.”
“Your houses here should be sturdy, right?”
She asked deliberately.
“Mm, no need to panic.”
Gan Xun was absent-minded, thinking about what Cui Can had told her.
After sending Zhao Chiyun away the day after tomorrow, in what kind of place would Zhao Chiyun spend the stormy weather?
After getting out of the car, perhaps due to psychological suggestion, Gan Xun felt the weather had already begun to change, as if rain could fall at any moment.
She supported Zhao Chiyun and asked if her head still hurt. Zhao Chiyun said it did.
Modern alcohol might have been too strong for an ancient person.
Gan Xun told her, “No more drinking from now on. There are plenty of beverages.”
Passing a fruit shop, Zhao Chiyun stopped and glanced inside. Feeling the resistance, Gan Xun stopped too.
The thread in her heart was suddenly tugged, making her eager to do something to relieve it.
“Let’s go in and take a look. I want to eat some fruit too.”
Zhao Chiyun followed her into the shop and saw them boxed up one by one.
With good memory, she said, “Blueberries. I recognize them. I didn’t dare taste them at the time.”
She still remembered the chaos from yesterday, when the red-haired woman and the tattooed woman had given her quite a fright.
Seeing them again today, Cui Can joked around without looking too heartbroken, so she did not dare inquire further.
Only when leaving Cui Can’s house tonight did she offer a word of comfort, telling her to look forward and not indulge in sorrow.
She also thanked her for the hospitality.
“Then let’s buy two boxes.”
Gan Xun thought of yesterday too, and a wave of awkwardness rose again. That evening, aside from Cui Can cracking a joke, no one mentioned it, afraid of reopening the wound.
Fortunately, the sofa and bedding at Cui Can’s house had indeed been changed.
Gan Xun picked them up and asked her, “What else do you want to eat?”
“Lychees.”
Zhao Chiyun said without hesitation, then remembered their situation. “Do you have silver?”
Gan Xun was now a poor person without even a job, and lychees were precious things after all.
Gan Xun smiled gently. “Enough. Buy this, Lychee King. This one must be big and sweet.”
“And the most expensive.”
Zhao Chiyun understood the numbers on top and figured it out by comparison.
Gan Xun scanned the code to pay and said generously, “I’ve got money.”
Zhao Chiyun wanted to be happy, but could not muster it. Instead, her expression sank a little.
As they walked toward the apartment building, Gan Xun asked her, “Blueberries and lychees—you got tempted watching others eat them that day, right?”
Zhao Chiyun was not completely shameless and denied it vehemently. “I just wanted to taste them and see if Mirror Country’s lychees are sweeter or Mirror City’s.”
“Fine, fine, fine. County Princess, savor them carefully and see if they’re worth spending so much of my money.”
Gan Xun lowered her head for a glance, handed her the fruits in hand, then squatted down to tie her loose shoelaces.
Zhao Chiyun held two bags of fruit in her left hand and, as if possessed, reached out her right hand toward Gan Xun’s dyed hair, wanting to touch the top of her head.
What interrupted her was a young couple. They entered Zhao Chiyun’s view, suddenly stopped, shared a passionate kiss, then continued arm in arm, chatting and laughing as they walked ahead.
“…”
Gan Xun stood up. “All right, give them back.”
Zhao Chiyun’s face heated and her heart raced. Shy and annoyed, she lowered her head. “Indecent.”
“Why curse at people?” Gan Xun thought. I just squatted to tie your shoelace. I didn’t do anything else.
“To kiss on the street like that…”
Zhao Chiyun glanced at the backs not far away and trailed off.
Gan Xun knew it was not about her. She turned for a look and, seeing it was a couple, guessed it.
She laughed. “Was it a hug or a kiss?”
“I was right. Come on, don’t be mad. It’s normal.”
She took hold of Zhao Chiyun’s wrist, but Zhao Chiyun dodged. “Normal? Surely you wouldn’t want to kiss a man on the street either?”
“Stop.” Gan Xun said it first in English, then Chinese. Her ears had been assaulted.
She laughed in exasperation. “Why do you drag everything onto me? I said it’s normal. That doesn’t mean I approve or would do it. I’m pretty conservative too, okay.”
Hearing this, Zhao Chiyun felt much relieved, but she refused to shop anymore. The world was too chaotic; she was afraid.
The motion-sensor lights between the second and third floors either malfunctioned or were too lazy to turn on, staying dark despite footsteps.
Gan Xun gripped Zhao Chiyun’s wrist tightly with one hand and held the fruit bags with the other. She could not pull out her phone for light, so she just reminded her not to rush and watch her step.
Zhao Chiyun suddenly stopped again.
“What’s wrong?”
In the dimness, Gan Xun could not see her face clearly.
“Gan Xun, why spend on lychees for me when you’re poor?”
Her voice was clear and cold, elegant, like sitting high in a golden hall or kneeling before a Buddha. It was scattered by the thin layer of alcohol wrapping it, carrying doubt that held the answer.
They only needed to climb a few more steps to open the door and go home, where they could talk about anything. Yet they stood there speaking.
Gan Xun zoned out for a moment. After the pleasant question stopped, she heard the leaves outside the building rustling in unusual wind, sounding panicked.
It seemed like rain had started. Amid the wind, something mixed in, making one uneasy.
Gan Xun made herself smile. “Fruit isn’t just for rich people anymore. Lychee King is delicious. It’s rare to buy it once. I want to eat better too.”
“Is that so? Not just coaxing me before sending me away?”
Zhao Chiyun asked soberly, but Gan Xun clearly heard the drunkenness. Her tone carried a smile, bright as day, yet masked a faint tremble with that gossamer-thin laugh.
Gan Xun could not help but place a hand on her shoulder and rub gently. “Are you in a bad mood after drinking?”
“I heard what you said to Cui Can.”
Gan Xun fell silent.
“Not on purpose, and I didn’t hear it all. Just the last few sentences.”
What were the last few sentences?
On the balcony, Gan Xun snatched the phone. “Boring. What nonsense is this? I’m just helping her. Can’t I play servant?”
She deleted the photo.
“Do whatever makes you happy.”
Cui Can took back the phone. “You’re right, but I want to remind you: as long as she can’t return to her Mirror Country, no matter how good modern life is, she’s suffering. It has nothing to do with how well you treat her.”
“You said you want more people to help her. Have you consulted? Investigated? What if she’s treated as crazy? Where would she be sent?”
Gan Xun felt a bit annoyed. “Cui Can, why do you think I should be responsible for her?”
Cui Can laughed openly. “Because I know you. That’s exactly what you’re thinking. You don’t have to listen. I don’t mind, as long as you don’t send her away and then come crying to torment me.”
Having such a friend, Gan Xun did not know if it was good or bad.
“Do you think there might be research on this up top, tech to cross over, just that ordinary people don’t know?”
“Hard to say. Maybe they’re researching it right now, using her as a sample.”
“You’re just scaring me.”
“Think it over carefully. If you don’t want to send her, don’t. Delaying a few days is fine. Look, a typhoon is coming.”
“No delay. Lest we hesitate more the longer we spend together.”
After recalling, Gan Xun stiffened and moved slightly. The fruit bags in her hand rustled.
“Are you blaming me? Think I’m too cold?”
In the darkness, Zhao Chiyun drew closer, wanting to see if her eyes looked different in the dark. She could not tell.
She said gently, “I just want to tell you, don’t worry I’ll cling on. We only have these three days of fate. It’s your kindness, and I’m grateful. After this, you needn’t worry. Don’t blame yourself.”
She lightly touched her closed eyes.
In that instant as Zhao Chiyun drew near, Gan Xun felt a desire to kiss her. This desire confused her, so she hugged her tightly instead.
