Chapter 10

Skirting the obstructing Manager Su, Jiang Min walked over to Lin Xuqing. “Little Lin, this is…?”

“President Tang — long time no see.” Lin Xuqing made the introductions. “This is President Jiang, my boss.”

Jiang Min extended her hand. “Hello.”

President Tang shook her hand, then turned to Lin Xuqing, effusive. “Long time, long time! Why not come upstairs and sit? Old Su — have tea prepared!”

Manager Su squeezed out a smile. “Yes, yes, right away, right away!”

Lin Xuqing exchanged a glance with Jiang Min before nodding. “All right.”

Instinct made her take a half step back, positioning herself behind Jiang Min.

Jiang Min caught her wrist and said quietly, “Walk in front. Engineer Lin.”

Lin Xuqing’s body went stiff for an instant — then she caught up. Right now, she truly shouldn’t be trailing behind Jiang Min.

Once the party had swept President Tang forward, Lin Xuqing deliberately slowed her pace and volunteered, “He’s my roommate’s father. Back when their father-daughter relationship was at its worst, I did them a small favor.”

Jiang Min arched a brow. “University roommate?”

“No, my current roommate. But we met in university. I mentioned her to you before.”

“Oh. First time I’ve heard anyone call you Engineer Lin.”

Lin Xuqing looked toward the reception room ahead, raising her volume. “A few years back, when I was attached to projects, that’s what most people called me. President Tang is being courteous — hence Engineer Lin.”

President Tang ushered them to seats and picked up the thread himself. “Courteous, nothing! A few years back we had a pharmaceutical project — if Engineer Lin hadn’t flagged several problems during the R&D analysis, we’d have had a disaster on our hands!”

He spoke with tremendous gusto. Lin Xuqing was embarrassed, wanting to cut in but not knowing how.

Jiang Min, on the other hand, listened with evident interest. “Engineer Lin truly is capable.”

Lin Xuqing really couldn’t bear it anymore and spoke up. “President Tang, we today—”

This President Tang was no fool either, and guessed at a working relationship. “Right! Chatting away and I forgot to ask. President Jiang, are you collaborating with us currently?”

Jiang Min nodded. “It’s a government project from before, with cooperation on your company’s side. The specifics…”

President Tang clapped his hands. “I remember now. President Jiang, say no more. Old Su — you’ll see the specifics through. Report to me on it.”

Manager Su’s face showed a flicker of difficulty. “Of course, President Tang. I’ll report next Friday.”

“Something this small can wait until next Friday?”

“…No need, no need — next Monday. No, forgive me — this Friday. I’ll report this Friday.”

Only then did President Tang nod. “Fine. You may go.”

Lin Xuqing had a fair idea what he wanted to ask her, and murmured to Jiang Min, “Would you mind waiting outside for me a moment?”

Jiang Min wasn’t quite easy about it. “How long?”

Lin Xuqing: “Don’t worry. It’ll be quick.”

Jiang Min gave her a long look, then finally nodded, thanked President Tang, and went out.

In the corridor, You Hui produced the contract, her smile radiant. “Manager Su, I see you’re wonderfully free now. Shall we talk?”

Her words carried a barb, but Manager Su could only swallow his temper. “This way, please.”

You Hui winked at Jiang Min. “See you later.”

Jiang Min nodded and waited in the corridor.

Before long, the reception room door opened.

“Well, I won’t see you and your boss out, then — any trouble, you call me,” President Tang said, delighted, waving at Jiang Min from across the room. “President Jiang, until next time.”

Jiang Min was somewhat surprised, but nodded. “Thank you, President Tang. Until next time.”

Lin Xuqing: “Please stay. We’ll show ourselves out.”

Downstairs, they waited in the lobby for You Hui.

Earlier, You Hui had sent a message: “This old lady is getting this done today — or I’ll give up the surname You.”

Before long, Lin Xuqing’s phone rang.

She checked the caller ID — Tang Xiaoyu. Her father had most likely called her.

Lin Xuqing moved to decline, then stopped, told Jiang Min “my roommate,” and turned aside to answer. “Eldest Miss Tang. What is it?”

On the line, Tang Xiaoyu’s tone was insufferably smug. “I heard all about today from my dear old dad. Engineer Lin, don’t I deserve a dinner out of this?”

Lin Xuqing: “You eat. I’ll pay.”

Jiang Min overheard. “That won’t do. Let me treat you both.”

On the line, Tang Xiaoyu caught the pleasant voice and asked at once, “Who’s that with you?”

Jiang Min stretched out her hand, signaling Lin Xuqing to let her speak.

Lin Xuqing had no choice but to hand over the phone.

Jiang Min took it. “Miss Tang, hello. I’m Jiang Min. If it’s convenient, dinner is on me.”

Tang Xiaoyu went quiet for a beat, then said at once, “Hello, Sister Jiang! Just call me Tang Xiaoyu. I’m free any time — whatever suits you!”

Hearing the lively voice on the other end, Jiang Min checked the time. “It’s too late today. Shall we pick a weekend?”

The other end chorused agreement. “Yes yes yes, next time for sure!”

Jiang Min handed the phone back to Lin Xuqing, remarking offhand, “Your friend is a good deal livelier and more charming than you, isn’t she?”

Same generation, and yet Classmate Little Lin simply talked too little.

Lin Xuqing said, low, “She is not.”

Faintly displeased, it sounded like.

Just then You Hui emerged from the elevator, waving the document pouch in her hand. “Done!”

Jiang Min laughed. “Hard work, Boss You.”

You Hui was practically floating as she walked. “Let’s go, let’s go!”

Jiang Min had a guess. “Don’t tell me it’s that place again?”

Lin Xuqing was puzzled. “Which place?”

You Hui grinned. “The one. Right nearby — two little alleys and we’re there. It’s been ages since I got properly tipsy!”

Jiang Min: “…”

With a capacity of eight or nine bottles, this one could drink her under the table — no chance of Jiang Min out-drinking her into a tipsy state.

You Hui hauled them both along by the arm. “Come on, come on!”

Jiang Min gave in. “All right, Engineer Lin. Let’s go.”

Lin Xuqing could only nod. “Fine.”

Outside, night had fallen completely.

You Hui led them straight to a small tavern. The heating was on high, and the design had real style.

The proprietress looked to be around forty-seven or forty-eight, in an emerald-green dress, skin very fair, long black hair worn loose, fine lines at the corners of her eyes when she smiled. She greeted You Hui, “Bringing friends again, I see.”

You Hui answered, smiling, “And the plum wine from last time.”

Lin Xuqing was rather ill at ease.

She never drank. She disliked the feeling of losing control of herself.

You Hui simply ordered her a cup of yogurt drink. “There — perfect. You’re on duty to get Sister Min home later.”

Jiang Min said it wasn’t necessary. “I’ll just grab a car home later.”

“Fine, we’ll see. Have a drink first, warm up.”

You Hui filled two glasses and downed hers in one go.

Lin Xuqing was genuinely startled. Jiang Min turned her head to explain, “Her — it’s her hobby. After all, the rivers and lakes call her Tipsy Sister.”

“Spare me the mockery.” You Hui swirled her glass, bringing up what had happened earlier. “That old fossil Su — he haggled with me right out of the gate. I’m asking him to process payment per the cooperation agreement, not to hand over his life savings!”

Jiang Min topped up her glass while instructing Lin Xuqing, “That’s just how she talks — blunt and unfiltered. You get used to it.”

Lin Xuqing nodded. “I know.”

You Hui snorted. “What, afraid I’ll corrupt Little Lin? So protective.”

Jiang Min coughed lightly. “Talk nonsense, why don’t you.”

You Hui recounted the negotiation like a stand-up routine.

All told, from October to now, this one tranche of funds had brought You Hui here a dozen-odd times; only these last two visits at year-end had she brought Jiang Min along. One could imagine how much grief she’d swallowed. Jiang Min knew her hardship, and knew the relief she felt now — that was why she’d come to drink with her.

Leaving the tavern, You Hui called her family to pick her up. Jiang Min watched her get in the car before leaving, reassured.

Jiang Min had drunk a little too, her cheeks warm; she wanted to walk in the wind and sober up, and so went on ahead.

Presumably You Hui had said something, because Lin Xuqing followed along.

Jiang Min looked back, her speech lighter than usual. “So how shall I thank you this time, Classmate Little Lin?”

Lin Xuqing pressed her lips together and said nothing.

“Go on. If you don’t answer, I’m taking it back.”

Lin Xuqing’s head came up at once. “You can’t take it back.”

Jiang Min, rarely treated to the sight of her flustered, let out a small laugh. “I’m taking it back anyway.”

Perhaps it was the wine — but after all these years, she was actually feeling a bit of the old pleasure of teasing a child. She added, “That’s what you get for being so slow. Half a day and not one word out of you.”

Lin Xuqing looked at her, eyes ink-black and bright. Without a word she wound her scarf up around her face, buried her chin in it, and walked past her, striking out on her own.

Jiang Min stood where she was. She rather wanted to laugh.

Oh. There went the Little Hedgehog, sulking.

The two walked on, one before the other.

“Lin Xuqing.”

Jiang Min called her name. No response.

This person wore a black turned-collar coat, smoke-gray trousers, a white scarf — a cold palette overall, thin and tall. Even from behind, she was lovely to look at.

After a stretch, Jiang Min quickened her pace to catch up, then turned and planted herself in front of her.

Lin Xuqing raised her head and looked at her.

Jiang Min met her gaze.

For one instant she felt a strange vertigo of time — so eight years had passed, and the silent, wordless girl of back then had gathered so many changes.

Her brows and eyes were sharp now, her gaze ink-black; lips pressed tight, she carried a kind of aloof coldness — and yet her expression was firm, with a quiet, unshowy resilience.

All this silence — she must have walked a very, very long road alone.

At the thought, something in Jiang Min’s chest went soft. She reached out and took Lin Xuqing’s hand, pressing the hand warmer into it, and chided her in a low, gentle voice, “So easily offended.”

Lin Xuqing’s palm went abruptly warm — though the hand holding hers was still cool.

But the words falling at her ear carried a warmth she hadn’t felt in years. Any anger, however vast, would have melted on the spot. Not that she had truly been angry to begin with.

Lin Xuqing’s fingers tightened. She wanted to say something and didn’t know what, and in the end only squeezed out, muffled, “I’m not giving it back.”

She didn’t notice herself — the unconscious note of a younger one wheedling an elder that had slipped into her voice.

Jiang Min blinked, then realized she meant the little hand warmer, and her eyes curved as she watched her, smiling. “Fine. Keep it, then.”

Lin Xuqing lowered her head, chin buried in the scarf, the corner of her mouth quietly curving.

Jiang Min caught that tiny upward flicker at the corner of her eye but didn’t call it out. She turned and walked on.

The two fell in step again, one before the other through the snow.

Just like before, as if nothing had changed. Only the sheet of ice between them seemed, quietly, to be thawing a little.