“Mhm.” Ming Li smiled. “I won’t be shy. You saw I didn’t hold back during dinner.”
Luo Chaoxue nodded. “Watching you eat is so satisfying. I couldn’t help but eat half a bowl more than usual.”
“Today’s dishes just happened to be all things I like,” Ming Li said politely.
“Really?” Luo Chaoxue’s eyes sparkled. “I like them too. It’s just… I can’t cook.”
“At first, I thought you were going to treat me to a home-cooked meal,” Ming Li said.
Luo Chaoxue had indeed planned that initially, which was why she had waited over ten days to invite Ming Li. During those ten days, she had practiced stir-frying relentlessly, only to arrive at a fundamental life lesson: Never force yourself to do things you simply cannot do.
“I did think about it,” Luo Chaoxue said sheepishly. “But I was afraid of sending you to the hospital. That would have been quite the sin.”
Ming Li smiled. “You can’t even do tomato and scrambled eggs?”
“No.” Luo Chaoxue’s ears turned red. “I heard from Little Xi that you’re a great cook, and I was thinking of asking for some pointers someday.”
Ming Li replied humbly, “My sister sees me through a filter, so she thinks I’m great at everything.”
“You two have such a good relationship,” Luo Chaoxue said with envy. “I see your mother often. Is she not off work yet?”
“No. The supermarket is having a promotion recently, so she’s been working overtime.”
“Your mother has great stamina. I went to work for one day and had to lie down for three.”
“You went to work at the supermarket?”
“Yeah. One day as a stocker, one day as a cashier. I do that often.”
“…”
Ming Li had never asked about Luo Chaoxue’s profession. Seeing her taking photos at Shen Chu and Zhongli Shu’s wedding, she assumed she was a photographer. But were photographers usually this free?
Ming Li had her doubts, but knowing the question bordered on being too intrusive, she didn’t ask.
As if reading her mind, Luo Chaoxue said softly, “I’m a freelancer. I usually write things.”
This was Luo Chaoxue’s standard way of introducing her job to outsiders.
Ming Li nodded. “So you take part-time jobs to experience life?”
“You could say that.” As Luo Chaoxue spoke, she stared directly at Ming Li. “I heard from Little Xi that you studied Chinese Dance.”
Ming Li replied, “Yes, why?”
“I’ve looked into it,” Luo Chaoxue said. “You’re the understudy for Thorn Crown. I wanted to learn about the process and workflow, if that’s okay?”
Ming Li blinked, then teased, “So today was an ‘ambush’ after all.”
It was meant as a joke to lighten the mood, but Luo Chaoxue turned bright red instantly. “No… it’s not… I… I wanted to be friends with you.”
“Don’t be nervous, I’m just joking,” Ming Li said.
Luo Chaoxue said apologetically, “If it’s a bother, then never mind.”
She explained her reasoning: “When we were having hot pot that day, an idea came to me. Recently, I went to the Jing’an Grand Theater to see Huanxi Sand, and I wanted to write something related to Chinese Dance. That’s why I wanted to ask for a ‘backdoor’ favor from you.”
By the end, her voice had grown much softer.
Luo Chaoxue wasn’t good at this kind of social interaction. Having finished, she looked at Ming Li sheepishly. “I know this request might be a bit intrusive, but I’ve been stuck in a creative rut for a long time. This is the only thing I’ve felt the urge to express lately.”
“It’s fine,” Ming Li said.
Luo Chaoxue gasped, looking confused. “You don’t think I’m using you? I mean, I didn’t mean it that way, but I only just realized it might seem that way.”
The words were out, and there was no “unsend” button, so she had to forge ahead.
“It’s not really ‘using’ me,” Ming Li said. “I happen to have a performance tomorrow night. Just wait for me at the entrance of the Jing’an Grand Theater, and I’ll take you backstage.”
Luo Chaoxue gave a relieved smile. “That’s great, thank you. If there’s a fee…”
“Charging you to go backstage? I’d be no better than a scalper.”
Luo Chaoxue: “…”
“But this makes me feel like I’m taking advantage. I’ll treat you to dinner again next time,” Luo Chaoxue said. “Or if there’s a gift you want, you can send me a link, and I’ll get it for you as a thank-you.”
“No need.” Ming Li picked up her bag. “This is my thank-you.”
Luo Chaoxue looked at the meal on the table and felt even more embarrassed. “You mean this dinner… I’m truly ashamed. I just got it as takeout from Yuxing Pavilion. Next time I host, I’ll definitely cook at least one dish for you.”
“No,” Ming Li stood up and clarified. “It’s for something else.”
“‘Bells, drums, and delicacies are not to be prized; I only wish for long intoxication and never to wake,'” Ming Li quoted with a smile. “This time, I remembered your name, Luo Chaoxue.”
Luo Chaoxue immediately understood what she was being thanked for.
Rather than a thank-you, it was more like Ming Li was using this favor to settle the debt of that night.
Luo Chaoxue said, “Everyone has moments when their emotions are a mess. It’s normal.”
“Thank you for the tissues that day, and for the comfort,” Ming Li said. “But there’s no need to treat me to dinner again.”
Luo Chaoxue was confused. “Why?”
“I don’t particularly like becoming close friends with people who have seen me in a pathetic state,” Ming Li said bluntly. “And if we’re just casual friends, I don’t think that’s quite what you’re looking for, so it’s better to be clear upfront.”
Luo Chaoxue paused for a few seconds.
As Ming Li was about to walk out the door, she said with certainty, “How was that ‘pathetic’?”
Luo Chaoxue continued, “The pathetic ones should be the ones who did something wrong.”
Ming Li didn’t turn back or say a word as she left the apartment.
The following evening, before the performance of Thorn Crown began, Luo Chaoxue arrived at the entrance of the Jing’an Grand Theater.
Ming Li wrapped herself in a down jacket and went out to meet her. When she stepped outside, she saw Luo Chaoxue on the phone.
Seeing that there was plenty of time, Ming Li didn’t rush her and stood quietly to the side.
When Luo Chaoxue finished her call and turned around, she saw Ming Li and went to greet her, but the smile on her face froze.
“Let’s go,” Ming Li said. “I’ll take you inside.”
Luo Chaoxue pursed her lips. “Someone is looking at you.”
Ming Li’s brow furrowed. “Who?”
Luo Chaoxue pointed behind her. Ming Li followed the direction of her finger and saw Gu Qingshuang standing not far away, wearing a long black coat. Her hands were in her pockets as she stared at Ming Li.
Her gaze was complicated.
Ming Li had no intention of deciphering what that look meant. She turned back to Luo Chaoxue and said, “Let’s go. I have some things to show you.”
Luo Chaoxue followed her inside, asking in a low voice, “Is she here for you?”
“I don’t know,” Ming Li replied. “Probably not.”
Luo Chaoxue recalled the gossip Zhongli Shi had told her and said gently, “Good luck tonight. Dance your best.”
“I would have done that even without you saying so.” Ming Li led her into the backstage area.
A moment later, Sun Xihan sent her a message: I saw your ex-wife.
Ming Li replied with a voice note: “Mhm, I saw her too.”
Sun Xihan sent a photo: Bet you didn’t expect this, but I also saw your ex-wife’s ex-girlfriend.
Ming Li: “…”
Or maybe it’s her current girlfriend, she thought.
Ming Li walked straight to the neighboring dressing room and said, “No need to tell me. I don’t care.”
Just as Ming Li stepped back out, a delivery man appeared, holding a bouquet of flowers. “Is Ming Li here?”
Ming Li was slightly taken aback. “I am.”
“Flowers for you, please sign here.” The delivery man handed over a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers. “Someone wishes you a successful performance.”
Ming Li saw the card tucked into the flowers. It was written in Gu Qingshuang’s handwriting:
What is your relationship with her?
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