The four of them found a window seat in KFC. Chang Ying went to order a Family Bucket and pushed it in front of Luo Zihan. "Spill it."
Luo Zihan gave them a general rundown of what was happening with Zhang Da’s family.
"For real?!" Tan Junzi and Qin Ruanshu exclaimed almost in unison.
Luo Zihan gnawed on a piece of Original Recipe chicken, nodding as he ate. "It’s true. Why would I lie to you?"
Zhang Da’s father, Zhang Jianmin, was in the medical device business and had a fairly large operation within the province. Zhang Da’s mother, Wang Cuizhi, was either his fourth or fifth mistress—one of his many concubines, essentially. Over a decade ago, Wang Cuizhi had been a young nurse at Tongcheng Hospital. She had started following Zhang Da’s father at a very young age and stopped working after giving birth to Zhang Da in her early twenties.
Zhang Da wasn't even sure exactly how many mistresses Zhang Jianmin had, but his father seemed to have a "home" in every city he frequently visited. Zhang Jianmin provided for these junior wives—giving them money and houses—and as long as their demands weren't excessive, he did his best to satisfy them. Consequently, the various households had lived in relative peace. Moreover, since they had all borne him sons or daughters, their livelihoods were guaranteed for life as long as they didn't cause trouble. Occasionally, there was some jealousy and bickering, but nothing that ever blew up into a major scandal.
However, early last year, Zhang Jianmin had hooked up with someone new. He initially thought she was just after his money, but she turned out to be a formidable character—shrewd, manipulative, and prone to making scenes. Not only that, but she reportedly had an older brother with an underworld background.
He had finally met his match; she had Zhang Jianmin completely under her thumb. This new woman couldn't stand even a grain of sand in her eye; she wanted to be the only one. She forced Zhang Jianmin to sever ties with all his mistresses, pay them a one-time lump sum for child support, and never see them again.
The process of "severing ties" had been a chaotic mess for nearly a year. Some mistresses took the money and agreed to a clean break, while others were unwilling. But in the end, he managed to "clean up his act" before things got out of hand. His family fortune took a hit, and the whole situation was a total shambles.
"Anyway, I’m not sure exactly how Zhang Da’s dad settled things with his mistresses. I imagine it involved a mix of intimidation and payouts. Regardless, all contact was finally cut," Luo Zihan said, sipping his Coke.
"So, what you said earlier—Zhang Da’s mom’s suicide attempt was because of this?" Since Luo Zihan started talking, Tan Junzi hadn't been able to eat a single bite.
"Um... actually, no..."
"I haven't finished yet," Luo Zihan said with some difficulty. "The next part is the main point. Holy crap, if I tell you this, Zhang Da will definitely kill me... Sigh, whatever, I’ll say it. I’m putting it all on the line. But you guys have to pretend you don't know. When we go to the hospital later, just act like concerned classmates offering support."
Luo Zihan organized his thoughts. "Zhang Da’s mom tried to kill herself... because... gah, because she fell in love with Mr. Li..."
Tan Junzi took a sip of her lemon tea and immediately choked. Chang Ying handed her a napkin and patted her back rhythmically to help her catch her breath.
Qin Ruanshu was also stunned, unable to believe her ears. She thought she had misheard. "Mr. Li? Which Mr. Li?"
"Our homeroom teacher, who else..." Luo Zihan said. "My worldview was shattered when I found out. I’ll give you a few seconds to process that."
After only a few seconds, Luo Zihan couldn't help but continue:
"Apparently, they knew each other from way back. Mr. Li used to live downstairs from Auntie Wang; they were childhood neighbors. He’s about seven or eight years younger than her. Last semester, during the home visits, Mr. Li took the class monitor, Ji Fan, to Zhang Da’s house. He saw Auntie Wang, and they recognized each other as old neighbors. What do you call that? Childhood sweethearts?"
Qin Ruanshu kicked Luo Zihan under the table. "Stop talking nonsense and get to the point."
"Because they were old acquaintances, they got back in touch after the home visit. At that time, the drama with Zhang Da’s family had just settled down. Even though she got a huge sum of money, Auntie Wang was probably still hurting emotionally... I’m just guessing, but the timing was just right. Auntie Wang was vulnerable, and Mr. Li appeared. Based on their old friendship, he showed her some care. One thing led to another, and Auntie Wang developed feelings for him... She must have thought her old neighbor was so considerate and successful."
After finishing, Luo Zihan sighed to himself. "It feels really weird talking about our homeroom teacher behind his back. Especially since he was involved with my buddy’s mom. This is just too bizarre! What a mess!"
Tan Junzi felt like she couldn't wrap her head around it. Qin Ruanshu was also in a daze. Real life was always far more dramatic than fiction; things you wouldn't even dare to imagine actually happened. Nothing was impossible. It was unexpected, yet somehow made sense.
"So, based on what you're saying, did Mr. Li have feelings for Auntie Wang too?" Tan Junzi noticed Luo Zihan’s phrasing and realized the feelings might not have been one-sided.
Luo Zihan wiped his mouth. "Probably. I’m guessing, otherwise he would have just rejected her outright. They wouldn't have been entangled for nearly half a semester. I’m telling you, Zhang Da was kept in the dark the whole time; they were great at their 'underground work.' It wasn't until the winter break around New Year’s. Once, when the two of us were coming back from the internet cafe, we saw Mr. Li coming out of the building from a distance. But he probably didn't see us."
"Mr. Li looked pretty angry at the time. Can you imagine? He’s usually such a refined and gentle person in class, but after he stepped out of the doorway, he actually kicked a flowerbed. Then he clutched his foot in pain for ages. We were both stunned."
"Zhang Da thought he’d done something wrong and Mr. Li was secretly snitching to his parent... but when he got home, he saw his mom had smashed everything in the house that could be smashed. I was standing right at the door. His mom’s hair was all disheveled and she was hysterical, like a possessed Golden Lion King. I was so scared I didn't even go in; I just said goodbye and left."
"The rest is what Zhang Da told me. To be honest, I’m still shocked... I originally thought Auntie Wang was pestering Mr. Li, and he refused her, so she tried to kill herself because she couldn't have him."
Tan Junzi finally picked up a fry. Just as she was about to put it in her mouth, she stopped. "Huh? Isn't that what happened?"
"You thought so too, right? Right?" Luo Zihan tapped the table lightly. "Any normal person would think that! But I’m telling you, it’s not. They fought because Mr. Li wanted to have a normal relationship with Auntie Wang and even considered getting married in the future. But Auntie Wang wasn't willing. Zhang Da’s mom probably didn't want a normal relationship; she just wanted to keep stringing Mr. Li along, taking it day by day. Mr. Li wasn't having it. He felt she was being irresponsible and suggested a breakup. His basic point was: either we date and marry normally, or we end it. He didn't want things to be ambiguous."
Tan Junzi held the fry in her hand. When Luo Zihan said "end it," the fry happened to snap in half. She jumped slightly, and Chang Ying naturally took the broken piece and ate it.
After a long silence, "Wow... oh..." Qin Ruanshu slowly commented. This situation could only be described as magical realism. Who would have thought Mr. Li was so pure-hearted?
"Then, not long after—two nights before school started—I guess Zhang Da’s mom and Mr. Li had another falling out. That day, Zhang Da and I went to play basketball and didn't get home until almost ten. As soon as we walked in, we knew something was wrong because the lights were on. Usually, his mom would be out playing mahjong at that time. We were even planning to pull an all-nighter to finish our homework."
"As it turned out, his mom had swallowed sleeping pills. We rushed to call 120 and sent her to the hospital. She even went into the ICU, though she’s been moved to a regular ward now... Mr. Li went that day too. He waited in the hospital all night and left before Auntie Wang woke up... The three of us—me, Zhang Da, and Mr. Li—were just sitting there in the hospital. The atmosphere was as awkward as it gets. I even brought my winter break homework hoping to copy it, but with Mr. Li right there, I couldn't."
"Da-ge is so miserable. His family has so much crap going on. If I were him, I probably would have swallowed the pills before my mom did." At this point, Luo Zihan turned serious. "Really, I’m not kidding. These past few days, I feel like Zhang Da is on the verge of a breakdown. Looking at his eyes, I feel like he could jump off a building at any moment."
"The reason I looked for you guys is because of Zhang Da... I can't do anything about his mom and Mr. Li. That’s their generation’s business, and it’s none of our concern... But Zhang Da is one of my best buddies. I really want to help a brother out, but my pig brain can't think of any good way."
"How is he?" Qin Ruanshu couldn't help but ask.
"You’ll see when you get there. I can't describe it. He’s just... lifeless. Like a completely different person. He suddenly became mature," Luo Zihan said. "He hardly speaks, and when he does, it’s dry and emotionless. He doesn't cry. He eats when he should, stays by the bed when he should. He’s so normal it scares me."
Chang Ying had been listening the whole time without speaking. Now, he suddenly spoke up. "Wait, are you sure I should go too? Based on your description, I don't think Zhang Da would really want to see me."
Luo Zihan nodded emphatically. "You definitely have to go... You might not believe it, but I think your presence might have a special effect. Da-ge won't listen to me, but if you speak—even if it’s just to annoy him—it would be better than this!"
After saying that, Luo Zihan quickly added, "Of course, Chang-ge, you’re also a very important friend to Da-ge..."
He added, "In a certain sense."
Chang Ying raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical.
*
When the group arrived at Tongcheng Hospital, they hadn't even gone upstairs when they spotted Zhang Da returning with food.
Zhang Da was wearing a long black down jacket. He hadn't zipped it up, leaving it wide open. One hand was in his pocket, and the other held a plastic bag containing boxed meals. Zhang Da had a "world-weary" face; he wasn't exactly handsome, and his aura was quite cold when he wasn't smiling. He also liked to shave a slit into his eyebrow. Currently, Zhang Da was still expressionless, but this coldness was tinged with a sense of gloom. He couldn't pull off the "cool" look anymore; the world-weariness had become real.
When he saw the three people behind Luo Zihan, he was visibly startled and frowned. Then his gaze slowly landed on Tan Junzi’s face. Tan Junzi thought she was hiding her concern well, but it was actually plain to see. Just by looking at her expression, Zhang Da knew that big-mouth Luo Zihan had told them everything. He only looked at Tan Junzi for a split second before quickly averting his eyes.
Zhang Da then looked at Chang Ying, who had a punchable face as usual, but for some reason, Zhang Da didn't resent that he had come. Or rather, he didn't care much at the moment. Qin Ruanshu, meanwhile, was seriously studying the medical facts hanging on the wall in the lobby and gave Zhang Da a casual greeting.
"Da-ge, I brought you the textbooks they handed out today. And Tan Junzi and the others said they wanted to see Auntie," Luo Zihan called out in the hospital lobby, only to be immediately poked with a ballpoint pen by a young nurse. "Hey, family member, no loud shouting in the hospital."
Zhang Da approached with the boxed meals and gave a nod toward them. Without a word, he walked straight to the elevator and pressed the button.
Tan Junzi and the others immediately felt the worrying vibe Luo Zihan had mentioned at KFC.
Luo Zihan turned back and whispered to the three of them, "This is actually pretty good. At least he knew to nod at you. He didn't say a word all day yesterday. He completely ignored me. He thinks I’m annoying, but he doesn't kick me out either. He just treats me like I don't exist."
Just then, Zhang Da’s voice came from the elevator. "The elevator’s here. Are you coming or not? Hurry up."
Luo Zihan trotted over like a loyal dog. Hearing Zhang Da speak made him look flattered. The others followed.
Five people squeezed into the elevator. Luo Zihan tried to make small talk. "Have you eaten, Da-ge? We just came from KFC. We’re not hungry." No one had asked if he was hungry.
Qin Ruanshu rolled her eyes. "Only you ate. We didn't have a single bite."
When Qin Ruanshu said this, Zhang Da subconsciously glanced at the top of Tan Junzi’s head.
There were two beds in the ward. Wang Cuizhi was lying in the one by the window, while the other was empty.
This was the second time Tan Junzi had seen Wang Cuizhi. She had gone on a home visit with her teacher back in middle school and had a deep impression of this woman. She remembered that Wang Cuizhi had been wearing silk pajamas with a loose belt tied around the waist. She had wavy hair and an air of sultry charm. She had sauntered out of the bedroom in slippers, still looking groggy from sleep one moment and then starting to criticize her son with biting sarcasm the next.
Tan Junzi didn't like talking about people behind their backs, but she had silently felt that Zhang Da’s mother was very strange—to put it bluntly, she was a madwoman. Even when she spoke calmly, there was a hysterical madness beneath the surface, her words laced with thorns. She could hardly imagine how Zhang Da had grown up in such a household. Never hearing a kind word from his own mother must have been incredibly stifling.
But the current Wang Cuizhi lay bloodless on the hospital bed, having lost a lot of weight, her lips dry and peeling. That spicy, aggressive energy was nowhere to be found. Instead, she looked like the female lead in a tragic drama being bullied by her mother-in-law. Her aura was softer than before, but tinged with resentment. Tan Junzi was quite surprised.
The group that followed Zhang Da in all said, "Hello, Auntie," and then fell silent.
Wang Cuizhi’s reaction was somewhat sluggish. She looked at the boys and girls who had poured in, her gaze settling on Tan Junzi’s face. Her voice was raspy, but there was actually a hint of a smile. "I recognize you. You’re Zhang Da’s little girlfriend. Your name is... Tan Junjun."
Tan Junzi: ???
Chang Ying: ??!
Qin Ruanshu pursed her lips, stifling a laugh.
Zhang Da: ...
Luo Zihan, meanwhile, was focused on taking the boxed meals out of the plastic bag, then snapping the disposable chopsticks apart and rubbing them together to remove splinters.
"Auntie, I’m not..." Tan Junzi had been about to sit down, but hearing this, she immediately stood back up as if the stool had nails on it.
"Her name is Tan Junzi, not Junjun," Zhang Da said with a stern face. "She’s not my girlfriend." He had come to Tan Junzi’s rescue.
Zhang Da pulled a stool over to Chang Ying and signaled for him to sit.
Tan Junzi shut her mouth and stopped talking. The atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
However, those words somehow touched Wang Cuizhi again. She lay on her back, staring at the IV bag. As the fluid dripped steadily, she sighed, and her eyes actually turned red.
Zhang Da ignored her. He brought the boxed meal over and took the chopsticks from Luo Zihan, standing right beside Wang Cuizhi. "Eat dinner."
Like a child, Wang Cuizhi frowned and said in a half-crying voice, "Life is so meaningless. Why didn't you just let me die?"
Zhang Da clicked his tongue and set the meal down heavily on the bedside table. He restrained himself, swallowing back any harsh words, and said in a low voice, "Eat later then." Luo Zihan put the lid back on the meal to keep the dust out.
Then, the room fell into a heavy silence. Tan Junzi sat bolt upright on the round stool, not daring to breathe loudly. Qin Ruanshu stared blankly at a corner of the ward.
At that moment, Zhang Da stood up, grabbed his coat, and headed out. Chang Ying glanced at him and followed. Luo Zihan was about to follow too, but Tan Junzi grabbed him. She shook her head slightly, signaling for Luo Zihan not to intrude.
Then, Tan Junzi began rummaging through the fruit on the bedside table and picked out an ugly-looking orange. "Auntie, would you like an orange? The uglier the orange, the sweeter it is. I’ll peel it for you."
Qin Ruanshu, meanwhile, calmly pulled out her phone and opened the IE browser to read a web novel.
Zhang Da stepped out of the ward. "I’m going to buy food. Didn't you guys say you haven't eaten? You don't need to follow me," he said, looking back at Chang Ying.
"I know. Let’s go together." Chang Ying gave Zhang Da a brief, supportive pat on the shoulder before immediately dropping his arm.
Zhang Da didn't refuse again and silently headed down the stairs.
***
Glossary Table:
