Jiang Ruoning did not have OCD, but every time she went to the BBQ shop, she liked to sit by the window. Especially on windy, rainy days or in winter, she looked up at the rain pattering outside or the snowflakes drifting down, and a indescribable sense of happiness welled up inside her.
There was also a sense of familiarity.
She loved this spot and always sat there. Sometimes if someone else was sitting there, she patiently waited for them to finish eating. Chen Ying had no choice but to smile and say, “Next time you come, just let me know in advance, and I’ll reserve the spot for you.”
So every time Jiang Ruoning came to eat BBQ, she notified Chen Ying ahead of time. This time, it was because Chen Ying’s daughter had asked her about Ye Yu. After replying, she suddenly thought of going for BBQ and told the daughter instead of Chen Ying directly. The daughter had been busy reviewing for exams these past couple of days and had only just remembered.
Fortunately.
Fortunately, the person sitting in that spot was Ning-jie’s friend.
Otherwise, she would have committed a huge sin!
The little girl stared at her phone screen, waiting for Jiang Ruoning’s reply.
Jiang Ruoning typed and deleted, typed and deleted again, then shut off her phone. Qin Zheng came out of the bathroom and saw her frowning. She couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing—” Jiang Ruoning looked up. “What are we eating tonight?”
Qin Zheng sat down beside her. She had just washed her face and was applying hand cream. Jiang Ruoning bit her lip. “Do you want to eat BBQ?”
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. Qin Zheng didn’t catch it. “What?”
Jiang Ruoning sat up straighter. “Nothing. I don’t want to eat.”
Qin Zheng said, “Should I cook you a bowl of noodles then?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “I don’t want noodles either.”
Qin Zheng gave her a sideways glance. “What do you want to eat?”
Jiang Ruoning sighed. “Nothing.”
Qin Zheng touched her forehead. “You…” Then she thought of something and pursed her lips. “Why, breaking up means going on a hunger strike?”
Jiang Ruoning jumped up instantly, her face flushing red. “Who’s on a hunger strike!”
Then she reacted. “Who broke up?”
Qin Zheng saw her guilty look and didn’t press. She asked, “Really not eating?”
Jiang Ruoning huffed in defiance. “Really not eating.”
As soon as she said it, her stomach growled in rebellion.
Qin Zheng had gone back to the station that afternoon to report on work. Jiang Ruoning had been home alone and originally planned to cook, but she got lazy and didn’t. She even took a nap. When she woke up around three, Qin Zheng was already back from the station, so Jiang Ruoning simply skipped eating.
She hadn’t eaten anything since morning.
Qin Zheng heard the growl too. She lowered her head and looked at Jiang Ruoning’s stomach. Jiang Ruoning hurriedly tried to stand, but Qin Zheng yanked her back down. She flopped onto the sofa, her eyes darting around. Qin Zheng asked, “Did you eat lunch?”
Her stomach wasn’t great. Even when dieting, she never skimped too much and always ate something to line it— even fruit.
Everyone knew about her condition, including Qin Zheng. She could let other things slide, but not meals.
Jiang Ruoning bit her lip and avoided her gaze.
Qin Zheng got annoyed. “When I came back this afternoon, didn’t you say you’d eaten?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “I wasn’t hungry then.”
Though she still wasn’t hungry now, her body was honest. Qin Zheng raised her fist, and Jiang Ruoning paled in fright, yelping “Ow ow ow!” Qin Zheng was amused and exasperated by her antics. She simply grabbed Jiang Ruoning’s wrist and pulled her up. “Get up.”
Jiang Ruoning looked at her pitifully. “What for? To beat me outside? You’re just like my mom.”
As soon as she said it.
A strange sense of familiarity bubbled up, as if she had said something like that to someone else before.
Qin Zheng jabbed her forehead hard. “I’ll go sell you off!”
Jiang Ruoning didn’t have time to think it through before Qin Zheng dragged her out the door. Qin Zheng grabbed her bag and called a friend. Jiang Ruoning heard her finish the call and said, “Shall we go for porridge?”
Qin Zheng said, “You’ve been fasting too long. No greasy food. We’ll get millet porridge.”
Qin Zheng pulled her into the car—a spacious dark gray SUV. But it wasn’t hers. Jiang Ruoning asked, “Why’d you bring out Yun An’s car?”
Qin Zheng replied, “My car’s still in for maintenance. Too lazy to pick it up these days.”
Jiang Ruoning nodded. “Got it.”
Yun An’s car was a bit bigger than theirs. Back when they were buying cars, Jiang Ruoning had draped herself over Qin Zheng. “Ooh la la, a car this big is perfect for doing bad things.”
Qin Zheng had immediately covered her mouth, as if afraid she’d say more. Jiang Ruoning pulled her arm away and grinned. “I didn’t say anything bad. Why so nervous? Have you actually done it?”
Sometimes Jiang Ruoning felt like her survival was a miracle.
A faint woody scent drifted in the car. The stereo played current hits, but Jiang Ruoning wasn’t in the mood to listen. Her mind wasn’t in the car—it floated outside. The roads grew more familiar, approaching the four-way intersection in the city center. Jiang Ruoning asked, “Where are we eating?”
Qin Zheng said, “Across from the BBQ shop. Didn’t I just call Xiao Mei?”
Jiang Ruoning had heard, but she’d been so focused on Shi Sui that she’d forgotten Xiao Mei’s shop was right across from the BBQ place.
At this hour.
That person had probably left, right?
Seriously, now that she’d been exposed, why go there?
Trying to morally coerce her?
She had no such morals.
Jiang Ruoning felt unhappy, her expression darkening. Qin Zheng glanced at her—Jiang Ruoning had seemed recovered when they left but now slumped dejectedly in the seat. It didn’t surprise her.
Jiang Ruoning was easy to read. Even in an industry where you had to be sly to survive, she never abandoned her true nature. In front of outsiders, she might maintain a poised, aloof persona with few words, but privately, she was just a kid.
She never hid her emotions.
Qin Zheng asked, “What now?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “I don’t want porridge.”
Qin Zheng took a deep breath. “What do you want to eat?”
Hearing the cold edge in her voice, Jiang Ruoning turned. Qin Zheng’s teeth were clenched so tight they might snap. Jiang Ruoning touched the back of her neck. “Shi Sui’s at the BBQ shop.”
Qin Zheng’s hands on the wheel didn’t move. The car fell silent for a moment.
Jiang Ruoning wondered if she hadn’t heard, about to repeat herself, when Qin Zheng turned off at the intersection. Jiang Ruoning glanced out the window at Little Cloud BBQ Shop from afar. It looked like someone was sitting by the window, gazing outside.
She lowered her head.
Suddenly, a hand reached over and patted the back of hers.
A mix of grievance and unclear emotions surged up. Jiang Ruoning pouted. “Actually, tonight I originally wanted to treat her to BBQ at the shop.”
Qin Zheng said, “I didn’t ask clearly.”
If she’d asked properly when Jiang Ruoning returned from the airport that day, maybe none of this would have happened.
Jiang Ruoning said, “I didn’t say.”
She shifted blame fluidly. “No, it’s Shi Sui’s fault. She deliberately hid it.”
Qin Zheng heard those familiar words and fell silent.
Jiang Ruoning didn’t remember, but she did. Many times they’d argued, and it always ended with Jiang Ruoning blaming Shi Sui—this bad, that bad. Once, she’d teased smilingly, “Shi Sui’s so awful, why not break up?”
“No way!” Jiang Ruoning had grinned, hugging her. “Actually, in my heart, she’s the best in the world!”
Shi Sui had been standing right behind them then.
That day, Shi Sui’s eyes had stayed red. Jiang Ruoning thought she had pinkeye and insisted on prying her eyelids open to check.
Shi Sui dodged her.
Laughter and chatter still echoed in her ears. Qin Zheng gripped the wheel tighter and drove to a food street two blocks from the BBQ shop. The porridge place was nearly empty that evening—which was why she’d thought of going to a familiar spot. Who knew Shi Sui would be right across.
She parked, and Jiang Ruoning said, “Let’s eat noodles instead.”
Qin Zheng had no objection. They entered the noodle shop, sat down, and ordered. Qin Zheng went to the bathroom. Jiang Ruoning waited at the table. Her phone vibrated from Qin Zheng’s bag. She fished it out and glanced—the screen flashed with the contact name.
Darling Wife.
It gave her goosebumps.
These two were so disgustingly sweet.
It kept vibrating, and Qin Zheng still wasn’t back. Helpless, Jiang Ruoning answered the video call. As soon as it connected, Yun An’s pretty face popped up, her voice soft. “Zhengzheng.”
Jiang Ruoning made a disgusted noise. “Your wife’s in the toilet.”
Yun An saw who it was and held back a huff.
They stared at each other.
Jiang Ruoning laughed. “I didn’t want to pick up. I was afraid you’d worry.”
Yun An asked, “How long’s she been gone?”
Such an occupational hazard—timing even bathroom breaks.
Jiang Ruoning said, “Just went.”
Yun An said, “I’ll call back later.”
Jiang Ruoning went, “Oh.”
The two seemed like strangers; the atmosphere awkward for two seconds. Just as Jiang Ruoning was about to hang up, Yun An asked, “I heard Shi Sui’s back?”
Jiang Ruoning’s finger paused on the end call. She tried to act casual. “Yeah, she’s back.”
Her expression wasn’t natural, but she still smiled. “You guys haven’t seen each other in ages either.”
It felt like a pointless question.
But Yun An picked up the thread. “Yeah, several years.”
Jiang Ruoning feigned ease. “You can catch up over a meal now that she’s back.”
Yun An followed along. “Right. Where’s she working now?”
“She…” Jiang Ruoning faltered, unable to answer.
What a love-struck fool.
Knowing only where that person lived and charging ahead.
No clue about her job, family—initially worrying Shi Sui came from a good family, then gradually enchanted, casting worries aside.
Jiang Ruoning knew she was blind, but not this blind.
Utterly foolish.
She told Yun An, “No idea.”
Yun An heard it wasn’t spite, so even without fully knowing Shi Sui, she’d fallen again. Ripples stirred in Yun An’s heart. Over the years, everyone cursed Shi Sui—Qin Zheng the loudest. Yun An knew she cursed out of displaced anger, because of what Shi Sui’s mom did. She understood completely, but deep down, she always felt Shi Sui would return.
Because she couldn’t let go of Jiang Ruoning, couldn’t let go of that relationship. She would come back.
She hadn’t expected, after all these years.
The one who couldn’t let go wasn’t just Shi Sui.
