After marrying Gu Qingshuang, Gu Qingshuang helped pay off the Ming family’s debts. Ming Li wasn’t thick-skinned enough to ask for a house on top of that, but she had twenty thousand yuan saved from part-time jobs. Considering her mother’s health and her sister’s education, she had used that money to rent a place in a better area. She had handled the entire move herself, as she couldn’t rely on a ninth-grader and a sick woman.
That was also the time they were supposed to take wedding photos. Their wedding ceremony was minimal, but the photos had to be done properly. They were to be hung in the house, and they had to be in the New Chinese style. The old Mrs. Gu’s health was poor, and she wanted the house to feel festive. She didn’t care if Gu Qingshuang liked men or women; as long as there was a marriage, she was happy, and she wanted two beautiful wedding photos hung in her quarters.
Gu Qingshuang hadn’t been able to find Ming Li when it was time for the shoot, only then discovering she was busy moving. It was then that Gu Qingshuang offered to buy her a school-district apartment near Jing’an No. 4 High School.
In Jing’an City, prices in even mediocre areas were fifty to sixty thousand yuan per square meter. Near No. 4 High School, prices were around two hundred thousand per square meter. A house there would cost a fortune. Ming Li didn’t dare accept, but she also didn’t want her mother and sister to suffer. Eventually, she swallowed her pride and accepted an eighty-square-meter apartment with an elevator in a decent area. The neighborhood was nice and close to the hospital—good value for the price.
Even so, it had cost a great deal.
Later, Ming Li had quietly told Gu Qingshuang, “I’ll write you an IOU for the apartment. I’ll pay you back once I make some money.”
Gu Qingshuang had simply said, “No need.”
When they moved into the new home, Ming Li had excitedly invited Gu Qingshuang to see it. At the time, they weren’t very close. Perhaps considering they hadn’t officially registered the marriage yet and the Ming family needed to maintain appearances, Gu Qingshuang went with her.
Ming Li smiled as she remembered how Gu Qingshuang had looked—trying to appear calm while feeling completely out of place in the new apartment.
But after that, Gu Qingshuang never visited the house again. Gu Qingshuang had probably forgotten she had even bought it.
Mrs. Ming had lived there for three years and had grown accustomed to it. She often said she should have bought a small apartment sooner, as the family villa had been too large and empty. When she was feeling well, she would go downstairs for square dancing and had made a few friends in the neighborhood. The neighbor across the hall was one of them.
Speaking of the neighbor moving, Mrs. Ming felt quite sentimental. “Soon that house will be rented out, and strangers will move in.”
Ming Li smiled. “You hardly see them anyway. What are you worried about?”
Mrs. Ming agreed, “I suppose so.”
Their conversation meandered from plants to animals to astrology. Mrs. Ming was well-read and knew a little bit about everything. But as they talked, she suddenly asked, “Is Shuangshuang seeing someone else?”
Ming Li hadn’t expected the transition from the Big Dipper to such a blunt question. It was clear Mrs. Ming had been wanting to ask this for a while, and she had tried to be subtle. It just turned out she wasn’t very good at subtle maneuvers.
“Why would you say that?” Ming Li didn’t answer directly. “Where did you hear that?”
“So she is,” Mrs. Ming said with certainty. “I haven’t been idle in this hospital. I’ve learned a few things.”
Ming Li knew she couldn’t hide the events of that night from her mother. Mrs. Ming might look sweet and naive, but she had seen a lot in her years and had learned much by her husband’s side.
Mrs. Ming continued gloomily, “Shuangshuang… I mean, Gu Qingshuang’s business trip has already been discussed in two separate rounds of gossip by the hospital staff.”
“I suspect she must have developed an improper relationship with that girl, so the hospital sent her away on assignment. That’s how many organizations used to handle these things.”
Ming Li: “…”
Ming Li knew who she was talking about, but she shook her head. “No.”
Mrs. Ming immediately countered, “Then is it someone else?”
Ming Li: “…Also no.”
As Mrs. Ming watched her warily, trying to read her expression, someone nearby shouted excitedly, “Ming Li?!”
Ming Li turned to see a girl in a white coat practically skipping toward them. Realizing she was still in the hospital, the girl quickly calmed down and walked the rest of the way. She smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling. “I thought it looked like you from a distance! What a coincidence!”
Ming Li felt a moment of awkwardness, but the other girl didn’t seem to notice. “I’m Lu Shuang! Don’t you remember me?”
Ming Li nodded. “I remember.”
Lu Shuang looked at Mrs. Ming. “This must be your mother? Hello, Auntie.”
“Hello,” Mrs. Ming nodded politely.
After the brief introductions, Lu Shuang asked if they had eaten lunch yet, saying she was just about to head out and they could join her.
“I’ve already eaten,” Ming Li said.
Lu Shuang sighed, looking disappointed. “Oh, okay.”
Ming Li had only comforted her that night because of Gu Qingshuang. Seeing that she had completely moved on and was chatting without any resentment, Ming Li admired her psychological resilience and ability to self-regulate.
However, Ming Li had no desire to maintain social circles derived from Gu Qingshuang, so she offered only polite pleasantries. To her surprise, Lu Shuang blinked and asked, “Are you free? Ming Li, I want to talk to you.”
Mrs. Ming, seeing this, said insightfully, “That area over there looks quiet. I’ll go for a stroll by myself.”
Once Mrs. Ming was out of earshot, Ming Li asked, “What did you want to talk about?”
“Three things. First, I’ve already told Dr. Gu that we are strictly teacher and intern from now on. Second, Dr. Gu being sent on assignment was not my doing. Third, I shouldn’t have called you someone’s substitute. I want to apologize. I’m sorry.”
Ming Li remembered seeing the message Lu Shuang had sent Gu Qingshuang that night; it was likely related to the assignment. But that was Gu Qingshuang’s professional business, which Ming Li never pried into. She gave a perfunctory smile. “It’s fine. She knows what she’s doing.”
Lu Shuang sensed the brush-off and explained urgently, “I’m serious! Even though I was upset for two days, I’ve thought it through. I only liked her because of how she treated others—it was a fantasy. Now that the filter is broken, I definitely won’t like her anymore.”
“Congratulations on moving on,” Ming Li said.
Lu Shuang: “…”
“Ugh, you don’t get it,” Lu Shuang said, sounding even more frantic.
Ming Li was startled. “Huh?”
Lu Shuang stomped her foot. “I want to be your friend!”
Ming Li: “…What?”
For a few seconds, Ming Li was stunned by the sudden friend request, but she politely added her on WeChat anyway.
