Chang Ying’s brow furrowed slightly. “What ‘Auntie’?”
He turned his head to look back and froze instantly. It took him a long while to squeeze out a single sentence: “Mom, what are you doing here?”
“Grown quite the pair of wings, haven’t you? Who are you planning to eat? Why don’t you just eat your mother while you’re at it?” Yue Yuqing, Chang Ying’s mother, was casually pinning her hair up with a wooden hairpin as she spoke. “What do you mean, ‘what am I doing here’? This is my house. Why wouldn’t I be here? Now, let go of Junzi this instant.”
She walked over to the sofa and sat down, patting the spot beside her. “Come, come, Junzi. Come sit with me.”
Tan Junzi walked over obediently and sat as straight as a board, her backpack resting on her knees.
“Why are you sitting so far away? Come closer,” Yue Yuqing said warmly. Junzi scooted over a bit.
Chang Ying was still standing by the door. His mother shot him a cold look. “You, get over here.”
Chang Ying sauntered over, intending to sit down.
“Did I tell you to sit? Stand right there.” She pointed to the empty space in front of her.
“Auntie, um, maybe I should head back first?” Seeing that Yue Yuqing was about to start a lecture, Tan Junzi hurriedly moved to stand up.
“Sit, Junzi. Don’t be afraid. I need to teach this brat a lesson. Tell me, does he bully you often? You know, getting all handsy?” Yue Yuqing picked up the TV remote. Chang Ying thought she was going to turn on the television and moved aside to give her a clear line of sight, only for her to swing the remote and smack him across the thigh.
Chang Ying’s first instinct was to dodge, but then he figured he had it coming, so he stayed still. It was a bit humiliating, though.
One hit wasn’t enough to vent her frustration. She gave his backside two more sharp smacks. “Pinning people against walls? Biting her? You think you’re real impressive, bullying a girl? Huh? Who taught you that? Who did you learn this from? Did all your upbringing go to the dogs? How did you turn into such a little hooligan? Well?”
Seeing Chang Ying’s aggrieved expression, Tan Junzi hugged her backpack, barely able to contain her laughter. She buried her face in her bag, her shoulders shaking.
Yue Yuqing looked back and saw Junzi’s face hidden, her shoulders trembling. She assumed the girl was crying silently. Her anger flared even higher. She yanked Chang Ying closer and smacked him a few more times. “Look at this! You’ve made Junzi cry! Apologize to her right now!”
“You’re going to be the death of me. You men of the Chang family are all the same—your father is Old Dog Chang, and you’re Little Dog Chang. All you know how to do is upset people!”
“Auntie.” Tan Junzi lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears—from laughter. “Actually, Chang Ying and I are dating...”
***
“Oh, so that’s how it is.” Yue Yuqing sat at the dining table, leisurely sipping tea.
A plate of washed cherry tomatoes sat before Tan Junzi, who was sitting across from her.
As for Chang Ying, he was standing exactly where he had pinned Junzi against the door earlier. A broom was propped against his stomach, and he had to hold it with his hands to keep it from falling.
“Since you like pinning things against the wall so much, hold this broom against yourself!” That was what his mother had said when she tossed it to him.
“Junzi is such a wonderful girl. Tell me, what do you see in this brat? He’s unreliable, full of schemes, lacks any manly grace, and acts like a hooligan.” Yue Yuqing shook her head. “Sigh, I’m not trying to convince you to break up. I’m quite open-minded about these things. After all, Chang Ying’s father and I were childhood sweethearts; we started dating in middle school... I’m just afraid he’ll hold you back. Speaking from experience, this son of mine—humph—is the spitting image of his father.”
“Mom, I’m nothing like Dad. Don’t lump us together,” Chang Ying said lazily, the broom still pressed against his stomach as he pinned himself to the wall.
“Auntie, actually, Chang Ying is very good to me... Being with him hasn’t affected my studies. We help each other and improve together...” Tan Junzi said obediently, her hands tucked under her thighs, not touching the cherry tomatoes.
“What did I tell you? The men of the Chang family are world-class at bewitching people. I fell for that trap myself back then...” Yue Yuqing lamented. She glanced at Chang Ying and saw him grinning. She barked, “Stand up straight!”
“Auntie, um, will you tell my grandfather?” Tan Junzi asked. She didn’t dare imagine how Tan Zhengqi would react.
Yue Yuqing blinked, then asked, “Do you want me to tell him?”
“Oh, no, no! I just meant... you don’t object to us dating?” Tan Junzi found it hard to believe.
“I have my concerns, mostly that you’ll be taken advantage of. And Junzi, you must learn to protect yourself. If he ever bullies you again, tell me, and I’ll handle him for you.” Yue Yuqing advised. “Also, you’re both still young. How should I put this... you absolutely must not do things you shouldn’t be doing. You understand what I mean, right? You aren’t of age yet. You know what I’m talking about? If Chang Ying ever makes any unreasonable requests, you must firmly refuse him. Understand?”
Tan Junzi thought about it carefully, and then her face turned bright red. Seeing her blush, Yue Yuqing knew she understood. Junzi nodded quickly. “Don’t worry, Auntie...”
Hearing his mother’s words and seeing Junzi’s awkwardness, Chang Ying immediately shouted, “Mom!!!”
***
After Tan Junzi left, Yue Yuqing stood in front of Chang Ying, studying her son closely.
The three members of their family lived a rather fragmented life. Yue Yuqing and Chang Jianguo had been childhood sweethearts. One was a brilliant musical talent, the other came from a prominent family. They had been together since they were very young and married in their early twenties.
Yue Yuqing had given birth to Chang Ying early as well. In the first few years of marriage, they still had that sense of novelty, and their life felt like playing house. But gradually, they realized that beyond knowing each other for a long time and having an emotional foundation, their personalities and values were actually incompatible. Over a decade of trying to bridge the gap had not been successful.
One was a somewhat famous cellist—outwardly cold but inwardly passionate and uninhibited. The other was a successful businessman—outwardly slick and worldly but inwardly proud and introverted. Their common language, their professional fields, and their social circles were entirely different. Their marriage was now maintained only by the familial affection developed over time; as for romantic love, it had long since vanished.
Yue Yuqing often felt that if she were given the choice again, she wouldn't marry, or perhaps wouldn't even have children. She felt her life could have held many more possibilities.
Of course, she didn't regret having Chang Ying. She felt she had done a good job with his upbringing. Her harsh criticism of him in front of Junzi was partly genuine anger at seeing her son act like a thug, and partly because she didn't want Junzi to feel like she was siding with her son. She felt a lot of sympathy for Junzi, seeing her as a girl who was both excellent and pitiable.
“Mom, how long are you staying this time?” Seeing his mother looking at him with such a tender, maternal gaze, Chang Ying felt a chill run down his spine and quickly interrupted her thoughts.
“Son, the advice I gave Junzi just now was actually meant for you too.” Yue Yuqing didn't answer his question, continuing the previous topic instead.
“...” Chang Ying felt incredibly awkward discussing this with his mother. He muttered, “I know. I’m aware of the boundaries.”
“You need to understand that she is the apple of her family’s eye. If you ever do anything to hurt her, I won’t even need to say a word—your grandfather will be the first to skin you alive. Do you hear me?”
Yue Yuqing continued, “You’re still young. I don’t object to you dating, but you must have a sense of propriety. You’re a boy; how did I raise you? To be yielding, to be a gentleman to girls, to be gentle, to be responsible... and what were you doing just now? Huh? ‘Eating’ her? Since when did you become so bold? Where did you learn such hooligan talk? Was the next step getting your hands on her? Hmm?”
“Mom!” Chang Ying was reaching his breaking point. Hearing his parents repeat those words made them sound incredibly shameful. He had to explain, “I didn't literally mean I was going to eat her.” He felt goosebumps just saying it.
“Right. And tell me the truth—you haven't... done anything you shouldn't have with Junzi yet, have you?” Yue Yuqing was forcing herself to have this conversation, but she feared that without constant reminders, a teenage boy might act on impulse.
Chang Ying’s neck turned red. Talking about this with a parent was the height of embarrassment. He shook his head.
“Then I can rest easy.” Yue Yuqing breathed a sigh of relief, then added one more thing: “Junzi is a good girl. You must cherish her, do you hear me? And I mean cherish her in every sense of the word. You understand?”
Chang Ying nodded, his neck, face, and ears all flushed crimson.
***
Yue Yuqing stayed home for three days before leaving again with her troupe. But the deterrent she left behind allowed Tan Junzi to act quite bossy toward Chang Ying for a while.
For instance, when they were doing homework together and Chang Ying started playing with the ends of her hair, Junzi would drop her pen and shout performatively, “Auntie!!”
Or when they were watching TV and Chang Ying sat beside her with his arm around her shoulder, Junzi would mimic his mother, brandishing the remote as if to hit him. “Auntie!!”
Sometimes, when Chang Ying actually got annoyed with her, before he could even react, Junzi would look as if she were about to burst into tears and say to the empty air, “Auntie! Chang Ying is going to eat someone again!”
Chang Ying felt like he couldn't catch a break.
...
When the first snow fell in Tongcheng, Tan Junzi finally stopped making that joke.
As they left school that day, Chang Ying pushed his bike beside her and teased, “Why aren't you calling for Auntie today? I’m almost not used to it.”
Tan Junzi stopped and looked up at the sky, her palm held out to catch the snow. She sighed softly. “The snow melts as soon as it hits your hand. You can’t even gather it.”
Chang Ying watched the snow land on Junzi’s hair, her eyelashes, and even the bridge of her nose. Even the snow seemed tinged with melancholy. He knew she had something on her mind.
Junzi didn't make him guess. She said quietly, “I have to go to my dad’s place today to get my allowance.”
“Want me to go with you?” Chang Ying asked.
“No need. You head back first.” Tan Junzi waved him off.
Tan Zhengqi wasn't home; he had gone to Mount Huang with a senior citizens' tour group. Tan Junzi had always suspected her grandfather had a crush on a grandmother in the group, but he told her not to talk nonsense, saying the lady was eight years older than him and just a dear friend he got along with.
By the time Tan Junzi got home, the sky was completely dark. Every time she visited her father, she felt low for a while. Usually, she just took the envelope and left. Occasionally, her father would muster the energy to ask about her studies, but it was almost worse when he did. Today, he had asked which university she wanted to apply to, thinking she was already a senior.
She hadn't let Chang Ying accompany her because she didn't want to dump this bad mood on him. There was no need; she’d be fine after a night’s sleep. Everyone has sad moments, and sometimes you don't need company when you're sad.
Back home, she saw the dinner Chang Ying had bought for her on the table. She ate a few bites but couldn't finish it, so she wrapped it in plastic and put it in the fridge.
After dinner, she worked on her homework for a while. Yuan Guo called for ten minutes to gossip, and then around ten-thirty, she went to take a shower.
By the time she finished, it was nearly eleven, and the snow was still falling outside. When Tan Zhengqi wasn't home, Junzi usually kept all the lights on because her imagination would fill the dark rooms with ghosts watching her.
She was in the bathroom drying her hair. Once it was mostly dry, she picked up her hairdryer and a comb. She flipped the switch, and the hairdryer had barely let out a whir for a second when there was a soft *pop*, and every light in the house went out.
A blown fuse?
Tan Junzi stood in the darkness for a moment, not daring to look in the mirror. Every ghost story she’d ever heard involved a mirror somehow. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
The house was pitch black. Once her eyes adjusted slightly, she felt her way out of the bathroom, clutching the comb like a weapon, water still dripping from the ends of her hair.
In the darkness, the furniture took on menacing shapes. The open doorways were like black voids. She ran past them, intending to get her phone from the bedroom to call Chang Ying. Muttering "Amitabha" under her breath, she felt like those few steps took an eternity. It felt as if monsters were lurking in every corner, waiting for their chance.
Just then, she heard a key turning in the front door. After a few metallic clicks, she nearly screamed.
Then, a beam of light cut through the dark. “Junzi, it’s me.” Chang Ying walked in, holding a flashlight, and locked the door behind him.
Junzi scrambled over and practically jumped into his arms. Chang Ying caught her securely.
They held each other in the silence for a long time. Chang Ying gently stroked her damp hair. “Don’t be scared.”
“I wasn't scared. It was just... a bit dark,” Junzi insisted, though she laughed at herself as she said it. The moment he opened the door, she had thought it was a home invasion.
“The power is out for maintenance in this area. They posted a notice, but we must have missed it this morning.” When Chang Ying came up to find her, he had seen the notice in the hallway. He had just finished his own shower and was about to play some games when the power cut out as soon as he turned on his computer.
“What should I do? I haven't finished my homework,” Tan Junzi said worriedly. “I still have a chemistry worksheet and an English essay.”
The flashlight beam flickered and dimmed. Chang Ying immediately switched it off. “It’s an exception. It’s fine if you don't finish. Just tell the teacher tomorrow. My flashlight is almost out of batteries.”
“So what do we do now?” Tan Junzi looked up.
Chang Ying continued to stroke her hair, looking toward the window. “If you aren't sleepy, let’s watch the snow.”
Snow has a sound. It’s like the sound of sparrows landing on a pile of sand—a rhythmic, rustling pitter-patter. Snow doesn't just fall from the sky; it dances down.
The two of them leaned against the windowsill, watching the snow outside.
The sky had a pinkish hue. The snow drifted down in large flakes, piling up on the ground. The roof of the community bike shed was already covered in a thick layer. Some bikes left outside had triangular mounds of snow on their seats. The bushes in the flowerbeds and the stone tables and benches in the small park had all turned into white mushrooms.
The windowpane was cold on the outside and warm on the inside, creating a layer of frost. The room was dark, but the world outside was bright, illuminated by the snow.
Tan Junzi wiped away the frost, and they leaned their heads together to look out.
“Junzi, if you want, you can talk to me,” Chang Ying said, looking out.
“About what?” Tan Junzi was breathing onto the glass. She paused at his words. She had intended to draw a heart, but her finger traced a question mark instead.
Chang Ying didn't pressure her.
“Chang Ying, what kind of job do you think makes the most money?” she asked.
“...” Chang Ying thought for a moment. “Depends on what you like doing. Being a cop probably won't make you rich.”
“I want to save up after I graduate and pay my dad back for all the money he’s given me over the years,” Junzi said seriously.
“Did your dad say something to you today?” Chang Ying turned to look at her.
Junzi felt his gaze. To prove she wasn't sad, she turned to face him, forcing her eyes wide. “Really, no. He doesn't care about me, you know that.”
Chang Ying stared at her intently. She blinked.
“I often wonder if he hates me because my mother died. After all, she passed away right after giving birth to me.” Tan Junzi lowered her gaze.
Chang Ying’s lips moved, but he said nothing.
“It must have been hard for him to raise someone he hates all these years,” she continued. “So, I’ll just treat that money as a loan and pay him back later. That way, I won't feel like I owe him anything. If I want to dislike him, I can do it with a clear conscience.”
Chang Ying patted her head. Words were stuck in his throat, unsaid.
Tan Junzi looked at him, her eyes bright. “I have Grandpa, and I have you. I already have so much. Logically, I shouldn't ask for more; there are so many people worse off than me. But I still greedily think... how wonderful would it be if my mother were still here, and if both my parents loved me?”
Chang Ying felt his heart twist. He turned his head away, but Junzi reached out and took his hand, examining it by the moonlight reflecting off the snow.
“What are you looking at?” he asked.
“I’m counting the little moons on your fingernails. The more moons you have, the healthier you are. I want you to stay healthy and stay with me. You have no idea how often you got sick when you were little.” Tan Junzi counted as if nothing were wrong. “One, two, three, four...”
“This hand is missing one on the index finger, but the others are there. Let me see the other hand.” She held out her palm for his other hand.
Chang Ying pretended to give it to her, but when she reached for it, he flipped his hand and enveloped hers.
He didn't kiss her with any sense of desire. Instead, he pressed a firm kiss against her lips like a stamp, as if he were kissing a big-headed fish.
“Don’t worry, I’m perfectly healthy,” Chang Ying said. “However long you live, I’ll live one day longer than you.”
Tan Junzi’s face flushed, but she didn't dare look at him again, turning her gaze back to the snow.
“This isn't good,” she whispered.
“What isn't good?”
“All this kissing. It’s going to distract me.”
“Oh,” Chang Ying said dismissively.
“How about we make a rule? From now until the Gaokao, we can only kiss three times.” Tan Junzi held up three fingers.
“Three times a day? You’re so good to me.” Chang Ying chuckled.
“No! Didn't you hear me? I said from now until the Gaokao, three times total.”
“Fine.” Chang Ying’s large hand gently tilted her face up, and he pecked her lips three times—innocent, bird-like pecks.
“Hey! That’s already three!” she protested.
“Who cares? Drink your fill while there’s wine.” Chang Ying said with a hint of roguishness, intentionally teasing her. “Besides, I can always take out a loan from you, can’t I? If I use them all today and want to kiss you tomorrow, I’ll just borrow against my credit limit. There’s always a way.”
“Well, this bank doesn't approve!”
He ignored her, cupping her face until her cheeks scrunched up like a shumai dumpling.
“Approve one!” He kissed her.
“Approve two!” He kissed her again.
...
He really was like the "kissing fish" Liu Kan had described. Without any technique, just lips bumping against lips, he didn't stop until they had bumped dozens of times.
“I’ve realized you’re actually very suited for business,” Tan Junzi said with a frown, having just bumped her nose against his.
“Why’s that?”
“You’re incredibly shameless when it comes to taking out loans.”
“If a guy is all polite and formal with his own wife, he’s an idiot,” Chang Ying said, putting on his hooligan act.
“Hey! No swearing!”
“Yes, Discipline Committeeman.”
“I’m the Hygiene Committeeman! And who’s your wife?”
“You are.”
...
What Chang Ying didn't expect was that the "loans" he took out on that snowy night would take him four years to repay. It really wasn't a profitable deal at all.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 岳雨青 | Yue Yuqing | Chang Ying's mother, a cellist. |
| 昌建国 | Chang Jianguo | Chang Ying's father. |
| 圣女果 | Cherry tomatoes | Literally "Virgin fruits," a common term for cherry tomatoes in China. |
| 烧麦 | Shumai | A type of traditional Chinese dumpling; used here to describe her scrunched-up face. |
| 接吻鱼 | Kissing gourami | Also known as kissing fish, known for their puckering behavior. |
| 纪律委员 | Discipline Committeeman | A student leader responsible for maintaining order in the classroom. |
| 卫生委员 | Hygiene Committeeman | A student leader responsible for classroom cleanliness. |
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A Gentleman is Open-minded, While a Petty Person Sighs | Chapter 31 | Loans and Repayments | Novela.app | Novela.app
