Sissy (Niang Niang Qiang) - Chap 38
Chapter 38
She was the third young miss of the Shao family – Shao Nuo.
After entering the room, she sat down on the sofa, raised her eyebrows at Li Chengxiu who was taking off his coat, and asked with disdain, “Are you Li Chengxiu?”
Li Chengxiu nodded: “Do you want to drink water? Or tea?”
Shao Nuo raised her chin proudly : “No need. I’m here for a very simple purpose. Then I’ll leave immediately. My brother is getting married. Take this check and be gone.” She took out a piece of paper from her bag and put it on the coffee table.
Li Chengxiu put his shoes into the shoe cabinet with a stiff hand. Then he slowly took out his house shoes.
For some reason, he was not surprised – neither by this woman’s intentions, nor by what she said.
He lingered, before he finally sat down on the sofa on the other end from Shao Nuo. He lowered his head slightly and then whispered, “He said… he’s not getting married.”
“Marriage naturally takes some time to arrange. But when they come back from vacation, they will get engaged.”
Li Chengxiu raised his eyes up and looked at Shao Nuo with a little confusion: “Vacation?”
“Yes, they’re vacationing in the South Pacific right now.”
Li Chengxiu shook his head absentmindedly: “No… he said…he’s on a business trip.”
Shao Nuo was also stunned for a moment. She pursed his lips, took out her mobile phone from her bag and showed Li Chengxiu her screen: “This is the photo my brother sent me yesterday.”
Li Chengxiu stared blankly at the photo.
It was indeed Shao Qun. And the woman next to him who was wearing a swimsuit and hugging him intimately was the supermodel he had seen in the newspaper before. The two of them were smiling happily.
Li Chengxiu’s eyes twitched and he said with a trembling voice, “I…may… maybe it’s a friend of his.”
Shao Nuo stared at him with a hint of doubt in her eyes.
She frowned and pressed the call button, “Be quiet for a while. I’ll make you give up on him completely.”
She turned on the loudspeaker, and soon a lazy voice came from the other end of the phone, familiar to the both people present in the room.
“Hey, third sis.”
“Shao Qun, what are you doing?”
“Nothing. I’m lying in bed.”
“Are you having a good time?”
“It’s okay. Hey, Qi Ming, it’s my third sister. Say hello to her.”
A soft voice immediately chimed in: “Hello, sister.”
“Well, hello there. Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I’m very happy. It’s so beautiful! You should also come spend some time here when you’re free.”
“Good. Is Shao Qun treating you well?”
“Very well. Shao Qun is the best, haha.” Her voice was vaguely playful.
Shao Nuo smiled dryly and said perfunctorily: “That’s good. Call Shao Qun to the phone for a moment. I need to tell him something.”
Shao Qun’s voice was back: “Sis, what’s the matter?”
“Oh, I just wanted to ask if you had any special requirements for the engagement banquet?”
“No. You can arrange what you want.”
Shao Nuo said a few more words and then hung up the phone. When she turned her head, she saw Li Chengxiu covering his mouth, as tears streamed down his face.
A trace of panic flashed in Shao Nuo’s eyes: “You… Why are you crying? What is an adult man crying for?”
What was he crying for? Where does he even begin?
Was it because Shao Qun lied to him? Or because Shao Qun was getting married? Or because he had just now completely woken up from his dream?
Shao Qun’s every word, like a knife, fiercely stabbed into his heart. Li Chengxiu’s heart was bleeding, so what was so weird about shedding some tears?
No matter how much he deceived himself and tried to silence all his doubts, he was helpless in the face of naked truth.
It was like a nightmare…everything was like a nightmare.
Shao Nuo didn’t seem to know how to deal with such a scene, so she was completely stunned.
She stiffened her back and for a long time looked awkwardly at Li Chengxiu crying with his head down, before she angrily stood up. Her lady-like demeanor was completely gone, as she cursed casually, “Shit, it looks like I’m the bully.”
She pushed the cheque in front of Li Chengxiu: “Hey, just take it. Then quickly move out of here. My brother is not suitable for you. He is also… no… not as good as you think. Long story short, just break up with him as soon as possible, okay? It’s in everybody’s best interest.”
Li Chengxiu looked up at her blankly, and spoke, while choking and sobbing: “You go… you go… The key is there. On the shoe cabinet… You go. I will go too. I will definitely go. ”
Shao Nuo’s face turned blue, and she walked out in her high heels.
It was not until the door was closed that Li Chengxiu dared to make a sound and cry with his head in his arms.
His heart hurt too much. He had never experienced such a feeling of despair. The existence he was accustomed to had collapsed in an instant. Where should he go now?
Shao Qun’s deception. Shao Qun’s betrayal. Shao Qun’s tenderness. Shao Qun’s affection. Did he even know him?
How can there be somebody who carves bits and pieces of himself into the soul of another person?
Shao Qun’s laughter, his angry and emotional expressions – all of it appeared clearly and vividly in front of Li Chengxiu, repeatedly smashing his heart into pieces.
He vaguely remembered that more than ten years ago, he was also saddened by Shao Qun’s indifference. Back then, he was alone in the cold hospital, holding his mother’s diagnosis sheet in his hands and crying. At that time it was just like now. He had no one. No one could help him. No one could save him.
If he could save himself the first time around, could he save himself the second time?
Li Chengxiu didn’t know how long he had been crying in the dark and cold room. When he staggered up to his feet, it was completely dark outside.
He walked into the utility room, dug out his suitcase, dragged it back to the bedroom and started packing.
He couldn’t stay in this place even a second longer.
Shao Qun was everywhere in this house. In every corner there were some happy memories. So he must leave immediately.
It took Li Chengxiu just over half an hour to pack all his things.
After moving here, Shao Qun bought most of the stuff for him. Part of his old clothes ended up in the garbage anyway, so there was not a lot to pack.
As he dragged his big suitcase outside, he felt as if he was leaving a hotel. Once he left, he couldn’t take anything with him. Because if he did, he’d have to pay a price for it, and those costs were too high for him to afford.
He only took two things that Shao Qun gave him – Teacup who couldn’t survive without him and a sim card.
After Shao Qun came back, Li Chengxiu still had to settle some things with him in person. There were also certain issues that had to be dealt with, like the money he owed Shao Qun.
Several restaurants with whom he interviewed today were likely to call him back. Li Chengxiu was in urgent need of a job now.
He wrapped his coat tightly around himself, took his suitcase and, while crying, left the place where he had lived for the past half a year and had made some of the best memories in his life.
He took the bus to the train station, bought a second-hand mobile phone for more than 200 RMB on the side of the road. He then found a small hotel which charged only 50 RMB for a room. He planned to stay there for just one night and then look for a house as soon as possible tomorrow.
Li Chengxiu gave Teacup some food, put it into a warm blanket and watched it fall asleep, before lying down with his clothes still on. He didn’t dare to cover his body with the mottled quilt which was stained with who knows what. So he had to wrap himself in his own clothes, as he lay on the damp and cold bed that gave off an unpleasant smell.
His body and mind were exhausted, but he couldn’t sleep no matter what.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw images of Shao Qun and his beautiful fiancee embracing intimately. He couldn’t control it, and it would make him cry every time.
He didn’t know what else he could do besides crying. Grieving alone was the safest way. He neither had the guts to hurt anybody, nor did he have any power to make things go his way. What could he do except vent with his tears?
Li Chengxiu kept his eyes open until dawn.
He stayed up all night, and his eyes were swollen like walnuts. In the morning, he got up, washed his face, deposited his suitcase and Teacup with the proprietress of the hotel and went out to look for a house.
During his many years in Shenzhen, he had looked for houses and moved countless times. He had more experience than anyone in finding a cheap place to live. However, he also hoped that one day he would no longer have to look for another house.
Li Chengxiu had always dreamed of having a house of his own. Where no one could kick him out. Where he doesn’t have to pack his suitcases because of a job change or rising rent.
He originally planned to leave Shenzhen after paying off his debts and saving up 150,000 RMB[14]. He wanted to go to a small county town with a low cost of living, so he could afford to buy a house. If he had money left, he would open a small restaurant. Then he’d live a happy and peaceful life.
The appearance of Shao Qun completely disrupted his pace, allowing him to see and experience more. And also to expect more.
When one expects something that is not a part of their own world, they are bound to fall hard and hurt themselves.
When Li Chengxiu was young, he was stupid, but then he could still say that he was ignorant because of his youth. But what about now? If he hadn’t learned his lesson yet, he deserved to repeat it.
His penance now was to drag his tired body and mind around this lonely city and look for a suitable place to live.
Because it was too urgent, Li Chengxiu didn’t care if the house he chose was good or bad. In the end, he rented a small attic of 12 square meters. With his height, he could walk upright there, but he could barely take five steps before running into the wall. The kitchen and bathroom were located downstairs. The room was very inconvenient, but it was also very cheap. And it could be rented month by month, which was also convenient for Li Chengxiu, if he had to move for a job and make other arrangements in the future.
He went back to the train station to get his luggage and Teacup. He cleaned his new room, put on clean sheets and bedding and then sat on the bed panting from exhaustion. From last night until now, he hasn’t been able to drink even a drop of water. He had been busy for an entire day, and was so tired that he didn’t want to move.
But once he stopped moving, he felt more and more lonely.
Unfamiliar room, unfamiliar darkness, unfamiliar coldness. Where did everything he knew go? Where was Shao Qun? Where was this person who used to accompany him?
Li Chengxiu felt that his eye sockets were starting to itch again. He suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself fiercely.
“Do not cry.”
Slap.
“Don’t cry… sissy… it’s useless, don’t cry…”
Slap.
“Can’t cry. It’s useless… useless, so useless… sissy… so useless…”
Slap.
“Don’t cry…”
Slap! Slap!
In the end, there was only the sound of desperate cries on the verge of collapse in this dark room.
Li Chengxiu received a call the next day from the restaurant across Adrian’s studio with a notice to report within two days.
He took advantage of the daytime to buy some daily necessities and then began looking for rentals again.
The location of the new job was a little far away from where he lived now. Next month he had to move somewhere closer, otherwise he’d have to commute three hours every day.
In the afternoon, he got a call from Adrian.
Adrian, who seemed to be perpetually energetic, started making a fuss as soon as he opened his mouth: “Hello? Why is your voice so hoarse? Do you have a cold?”
“No…yes, I have a cold.”
“You’re ok, right? Do you want me to visit you? Has Shao Qun returned from his business trip? Is anyone taking care of you now?”
“It’s okay. I’m just a little hoarse. It’s okay..”
“Oh, it’s a change of seasons, you know. Many people get colds around this time. You should pay attention to your health.”
“All right. Thank you.”
“By the way, weren’t you looking for a job near my place last time? Did you find something?”
“Yes.”
“On my street?”
“Correct.”
“Wow, that’s great! Is it that Sichuan restaurant? I usually go to the same few restaurants all the time. But now that you’re working there, I’ll definitely come by. Shao Qun mentioned that your cooking is delicious.”
When Li Chengxiu heard Shao Qun’s name, he felt a dull pain in his heart and reluctantly said, “Yes, that’s the one.”
Adrian seemed to sense that something was wrong: “Chengxiu, are you really all right? Your voice doesn’t sound right…”
Li Chengxiu hesitated for a while, but still avoided to say anything: “It’s really okay.”
Adrian muttered some nonsense again and asked Li Chengxiu to call him after work, so they could go hang out together or something. Adrian was like a child who could chat by himself for hours.
At this time, anyone’s concern was touching for Li Chengxiu. He wanted to say something to Adrian several times, but in the end, he still hesitated.
Now, he really didn’t dare to trust anyone easily.
He originally planned to report to the restaurant the next day, but in the morning, he received a call from Shao Qun.
Looking at the name on the caller ID, he felt that his vision went blurry, and his heart was jumping out of his throat. The phone rang seven or eight times in a row until it was disconnected, and all this time Li Chengxiu didn’t have the courage to answer the call.
After a while, the phone rang again.
Li Chengxiu endured the fear and heartache and finally gently pressed the “accept” button.
“Hey, Li Chengxiu? Why aren’t you at home? I just got off the plane, and you were not there at such an early hour! Did you find a job? Didn’t you know that I was coming back today? Why didn’t you make me breakfast before leaving?” Shao Qun sounded displeased.
Li Chengxiu moved his lips, but his throat couldn’t physically make a sound for a long time.
“Hello? Hello? Did you hear what I said?”
“I…I am…in transit.”
“What?”
“On my way.”
“You’re coming back now? Then come back quickly. I want to eat your food. Forget it, where are you? I’ll pick you up.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Okay, hurry up.”
After hanging up the phone, Shao Qun couldn’t help but smile. He looked at the pile of bags on the floor and wondered how Li Chengxiu would react when he received these gifts.
He didn’t know what was going on with him this time. He didn’t just buy a few things. As soon as he saw something nice, he felt like that would be suitable for Li Chengxiu. And that one too… And that one to… In the end, he just bought everything.
Tahiti was a good place to relax. But next time he should take Li Chengxiu with him, so it wouldn’t be so boring.
