The man, driven to a frenzy of shame and rage, lunged at Tan Junzi. "Fuck your mother!" he spat, hands outstretched to seize her. Tan Junzi dodged him as nimbly as a loach. At best, she was just a girl with decent physical fitness; going head-to-head with this creep would have been a lapse in judgment. She hadn't intended to fight him fairly anyway—that initial kick had already served its purpose of venting her anger. She was dodging now mostly out of a fear that the man might have some foul disease; getting scratched by him simply wasn't worth the risk.
The restroom was cramped, with only four stalls. Tan Junzi ducked under the vanity. Just as the man lunged again, Chang Ying burst through the door. He and his group saw Tan Junzi huddled under the sinks, while the man froze in his tracks, staring at the cluster of boys, all over six feet tall, standing in the doorway.
At that moment, a loud *bang* echoed through the room. The door to the stall where Qin Ruanshu had been hiding swung open with violent force, slamming the creep directly against the vanity.
The man in the floral jacket was doubled over the sink by the impact, looking dazed. His head landed right in the basin, triggering the infrared sensor. Water began to gush out, dousing his head.
Tan Junzi crawled out from her hiding spot. Chang Ying reached out to assist, gripping her elbows and hoisting her firmly behind his back. Before she could even find her footing—her legs were a bit numb from crouching—Zhang Da grabbed her and pulled her behind him as well.
"Are you okay?" Zhang Da asked, reaching out to pat her head. Tan Junzi dodged, not letting him touch her hair, and simply shook her head with a serious expression.
Qin Ruanshu emerged, her eyes still red and her breath hitching from crying, yet she looked remarkably heroic after her feat. Her face was a mask of indignation, fueled by the adrenaline of that forceful door-shove. While the man had been trying to catch Tan Junzi, Qin Ruanshu had been peeking through the gap in the door, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and bail her friend out.
By now, the front desk clerk and the KTV owner had arrived. The clerk used a wooden wedge to prop the restroom door open, then leaned against the frame with his arms crossed to watch the show.
With the door wide open, the group moved out. Chang Ying had the man’s arm twisted behind his back, pinning him against the vanity with one hand pressed firmly against the back of his neck. The man in the floral jacket was strong, but Chang Ying’s grip was stronger, digging into a pressure point on his nape.
The man’s face was pressed into the sink. He was muttering and cursing sideways, but the words were a garbled mess, making him sound mentally unstable. Tan Junzi stood on her tiptoes to peer inside, and for a fleeting second, her eyes met his. The look in his eyes made her deeply uncomfortable. For some reason, it felt as though he was merely playing dumb.
The KTV owner began ushering the other patrons back to their private rooms, telling them not to crowd around. He then looked at the peeping tom. "Hey, Floral Jacket, you again? Have a heart, will you? We’re trying to run a business here..." His tone was laced with a weary resignation, as if this were a common occurrence.
The owner turned to the clerk. "Did he come through the front?"
The clerk shrugged with an air of indifference. "No."
The owner knew the drill. The man either slipped in when the front desk wasn't looking or snuck in through the back door; it was impossible to keep a constant watch. He didn't blame the clerk.
The police arrived shortly after, batons at their waists. They escorted the middle-aged man, known as 'Floral Jacket,' out of the KTV. Tan Junzi and the others followed them to the precinct to give their statements. The KTV owner told the clerk to go along as well.
At the police station, Officer Chen sat at his cubicle, notebook in hand, ready to record the events. The students stood a short distance away, and as Officer Chen called their names, they would sit down for a one-on-one interview.
Qin Ruanshu explained that when she entered the restroom, the man had followed right behind her, keeping his head down and fumbling at the sinks. She hadn't been able to tell if he was a man or a woman because the jacket he wore was a woman’s style; she had simply thought it was a bit odd, assuming he was some older lady.
Once she was in the stall, she struggled with the rusty latch for a while. Just as she squatted down, she saw a man’s face tilted sideways, peering at her through the gap beneath the door.
The face was scruffy with stubble, wearing a twisted, mocking grin, staring intently at her lower body.
She had screamed in terror, her urge to go vanishing instantly from the shock. She had scrambled to pull up her pants and pressed herself against the water tank, too terrified to step out.
The man had even whistled at her. "Go on, pee. Pee, you little bitch. I’ll help you along. *Shhh-shhh.*"
The man seemed to relish the girl's terror, even sticking out his tongue and making grotesque faces.
Reaching this point in her story, Qin Ruanshu looked at Officer Chen with a miserable expression. "Officer, could I use your restroom?..." She had drunk a lot of water that evening, and after everything that had happened, her body was finally reminding her of its needs. She was about to burst.
Officer Chen didn't look up from his notebook. He pointed toward the door. "Right side of the hallway."
Qin Ruanshu hesitated, clearly traumatized by restrooms in general. She wanted to pull Tan Junzi along, but Officer Chen turned to Tan Junzi, who was leaning against the wall. "You, come here. Sit down. I have a few things to ask you."
By the time Qin Ruanshu returned, she found Officer Chen giving Tan Junzi a stern lecture.
"...It was self-defense, Officer Chen," Tan Junzi argued, her voice tinged with defiance.
"Let me ask you this: was he peeping at you?" Officer Chen took a sip from his tin mug, blowing the tea leaves aside, and spoke in a measured pace.
"No."
"If you hadn't kicked him, would your friend have been in immediate physical danger?" he asked again.
"Well, no..." Tan Junzi admitted reluctantly. It was true; Qin Ruanshu had been behind a locked door. There was no immediate threat to her physical safety. That kick had been pure retaliation.
"Then kicking him was wrong. If you had caused him a serious injury, his family could have sued you." Officer Chen set his notebook down and sighed. Because he was speaking to a young girl, he softened his voice. "It’s normal for young people to be hot-headed, and I understand wanting to stand up for a friend. But you’re a girl—I’m telling you this for your own good. Think about it: the strength gap between you is massive. If he had grabbed you by the throat, you would have been helpless."
Seeing the stubborn look on Tan Junzi's face, Chen paused and said gravely, "I’m telling you, he has AIDS. Did you know that? If he had scratched you and you contracted it, would you still think it was worth it?"
Tan Junzi jolted upright. "What?"
"Scared now? I was lying; he doesn't have AIDS." Chen looked at her. "But it’s better to be safe than sorry. If something like this happens again, your first thought should be to call the police. Don't act recklessly. Your friend did the right thing." He pointed to Chang Ying, who was standing not far behind her. "He had someone find the owner and the clerk while he called the police."
Just then, an old man in a yellowed tank top walked in. His cloth shoes had a hole in the toe as he peered around the entrance. Officer Chen set his mug down and walked over. "Uncle Kong, you really need to keep a better eye on your son when he has an episode. How many times has this been now? Hmm?"
Uncle Kong bowed his head submissively, offering apologies. He held a plastic bag from Fukelong Supermarket; it was old and contained a few steamed buns and a packet of pickled vegetables.
Officer Chen continued, "If your son has a mental illness, you have to be extra careful. Lock the doors and windows when you go out; don't let him wander. He runs off and peeps at young girls in the bathroom." He pointed at Tan Junzi, realized he had the wrong girl, and pointed at Qin Ruanshu. "Peeping at high schoolers. What kind of mess is this?"
"We can't lock him up, but you have to manage him." Chen warned repeatedly, "If this happens again, we’ll have to arrange for mandatory hospitalization. Do you hear me?"
Uncle Kong agreed immediately, bowing randomly to the group in apology without looking at anyone in particular. Another officer brought the man in the floral jacket out and handed him over to the old man. Uncle Kong led his son toward the exit.
Tan Junzi stood up from the cubicle and looked past the others at the man. As if sensing her gaze, the man turned his head, his eyes landing directly on her face. Chang Ying casually shifted his position, stepping between them and blocking the man's line of sight. The man turned back and followed his father out.
Chang Ying turned to look at Tan Junzi. She was lost in thought.
After seeing Uncle Kong out, Officer Chen returned to explain to the group. "See that? He’s a well-known case in this district. Everyone calls him 'Floral Jacket' because he always wears women’s padded coats, no matter the season. When he’s not having an episode, he’s fine—polite, shy, well-mannered. But once he snaps, he comes out to scare people. There’s nothing we can do."
"It’s happened several times. Either he’s scaring people in restaurant bathrooms or sneaking into KTVs to peep at girls. We can't do much; he’s not right up here." Chen tapped his temple. "He suffered a shock when he was younger. They say his wife ran off with a long-haul truck driver and never came back. He lost his mind after that."
"So, young lady," Chen turned back to Tan Junzi, "even if he strangled you to death, he wouldn't go to prison. At most, he’d be sent to a hospital for mandatory isolation. Next time, just call the police. Don't go kicking people. It won't do you any good to provoke someone like that. You hear me?"
Before Tan Junzi could answer, Chen turned to the clerk. "Qin Ke, right? You stay behind. Your boss is really something—this has happened so many times and he still hasn't hired a security guard. That back door of yours is poorly managed."
Officer Chen waved a hand at Tan Junzi and the other students. "The rest of you can go. Stay safe."
But Tan Junzi didn't move.
Officer Chen looked at her. "Something else on your mind?"
Qin Ke stood to the side, also watching her.
"Officer Chen, I don't think that man is mentally ill," Tan Junzi said.
Officer Chen froze. He had expected her to keep arguing about the kick; he thought she was just a stubborn girl. He hadn't expected this.
"When I was confronting him in the bathroom, his expression, demeanor, and tone were no different from anyone else's... He seemed like a normal, furious middle-aged man. He only started babbling and playing the fool once everyone else came in," she continued.
"Let me ask you: are you a doctor?" Chen asked.
"...No," she insisted, "but I have my own basic judgment." The look in that man's eyes had been rational, without a hint of madness. It didn't look like an 'episode' at all.
"Alright, alright. I’ll report what you’ve said to my superiors. But telling me this without any evidence won't do much. Go on home now." Chen waved them off again.
Tan Junzi opened her mouth to speak but stopped. She really didn't have any proof. With a cold face, she turned and walked out of the station.
Zhang Da was at the entrance helping everyone hail taxis. After such an ordeal, no one was in the mood for a late-night snack. Eventually, only Qin Ruanshu, Zhang Da, Tan Junzi, and Chang Ying remained.
Zhang Da asked a question he already knew the answer to. "Tan Junzi, how are you getting back?"
Tan Junzi looked at him as if he were being strange. "Chang Ying and I live in the same complex. We’re taking the bus. Don't worry about it." Chang Ying stood behind her with his hands in his pockets. Zhang Da gave him a flat look; Chang Ying looked perfectly composed, which was somehow infuriating.
Tan Junzi asked Qin Ruanshu, "Want us to see you home?"
Qin Ruanshu had calmed down. "I called my dad. He’s coming to pick me up in a bit."
Tan Junzi squeezed her hand. "Then I’ll wait with you."
Zhang Da didn't seem inclined to leave either. The four of them stood outside the precinct.
Tan Junzi said to Zhang Da, "You should head back. It’s late. Once Ruanshu’s dad gets here, we’ll be heading home too. No need for everyone to wait. Your family must be worried."
"It’d be nice if there was someone at my house to worry," Zhang Da said, leaning against the perimeter wall and looking at the moon. He let out a whistle. "Eh, it’s already this late. A few more minutes won't hurt."
Qin Ruanshu snapped at him, "Damn it, Zhang Da, don't whistle. You’re giving me flashbacks." She was thinking of the man in the floral jacket.
Zhang Da went silent.
Chang Ying let out a small laugh.
A moment later, Qin Ruanshu’s father pulled up in a white Jetta and got out to thank everyone.
Once Qin Ruanshu was in the car, Chang Ying tapped Tan Junzi’s shoulder. "Shall we?"
In the summer night breeze, the silhouettes of Chang Ying and Tan Junzi—one tall, one shorter—walked along the sidewalk. Chang Ying walked on the outside, Tan Junzi on the inside. They walked at a steady pace, neither too close nor too far apart, the shadows of the poplar trees dappling their shoulders. Zhang Da watched them for a long while before turning to leave.
***
That night, Chang Ying followed Tan Junzi into her home. Tan Zhengqi had fallen asleep on the sofa, only turning his head when he heard the noise. He saw the two of them standing in the entryway.
"Grandpa, why aren't you in bed yet?" Tan Junzi knelt to pull a pair of slippers out of the cabinet for Chang Ying. She had assumed he was waiting up for her.
"Watching TV. *I Am a Special Forces Soldier*. This lead actor is fantastic. Did you know they aired three episodes in a row today? Usually, it’s only two." Tan Zhengqi stood up from the sofa, remote in hand.
"They always air three episodes," Tan Junzi said.
"??? Ah. No wonder I always feel like I’m missing parts of the plot." The realization hit Tan Zhengqi like a bolt from the blue.
Chang Ying: "..."
Later, Tan Junzi recounted the night's events to her grandfather.
"That’s my granddaughter! Good kick!" Tan Zhengqi slapped his thigh in approval.
Chang Ying: "..."
Tan Zhengqi showed particular concern for Chang Ying. "You didn't get hurt, did you?"
Chang Ying acted the part of the well-behaved boy. "No."
Tan Junzi protested, "Why aren't you worried about me?"
Tan Zhengqi pointed at Chang Ying. "He’s been physically delicate since he was a boy. You’re the older sister; you have to look after him. Stop taking him to those shady places."
Chang Ying’s face darkened. He was only two months younger than Tan Junzi, a Virgo, a fact he had always been sensitive about. Yet the old man never missed a chance to bring it up.
As her grandfather headed to his room, Tan Junzi saw that Chang Ying wasn't leaving. "Aren't you going home?"
Chang Ying stretched his arms, looking as comfortable as if he were in his own house. He reached into the hallway closet and pulled out a blanket. "I’m sleeping here tonight." He walked toward the study.
Tan Junzi’s apartment layout was identical to Chang Ying’s—two bedrooms and a small study. The study held a folding bed. Back in elementary school, Chang Ying used to act spoiled, insisting on sleeping in their study. But since starting middle school, he rarely stayed over.
His sudden declaration caught Tan Junzi off guard. But Chang Ying was already busy, dragging the folding bed out from the corner, dusting it off, and unfolding it.
"Hey, go get me a mattress pad. The one with the bear pattern—where did you stuff it?" Chang Ying ordered.
"Oh, right. Here." Tan Junzi pulled Chang Ying’s dedicated mattress pad from the closet. "It hasn't been used in years; it smells. Are you sure you want to sleep here?"
"Where’s the pillow?" Chang Ying sat on the small folding bed, leaning back on his arms like a young lord.
Tan Junzi searched for a while but couldn't find his old pillow. She had to bring one from her own room. "Couldn't find it. Use mine for now. Don't be picky; the case was just washed."
"You didn't throw my pillow away, did you?" Chang Ying asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, no. It’s just been so long, I forgot where I put it." Tan Junzi stood in the doorway, feeling a bit bewildered. "You haven't lost your mind, have you? Why the sudden urge to sleep here?"
Chang Ying put on a perfectly innocent face. "Because I’m scared." He had used this expression since they were children; whenever he did, Tan Junzi would immediately surrender.
Seeing such a tall boy curled up on a folding bed saying something like that gave Tan Junzi goosebumps. "I’m the one who should be scared."
"You’d better not be." Chang Ying’s gaze turned deep as he looked at her. Then he flopped back onto the bed and issued a dismissal, his tone turning cheeky. "I’m going to sleep now. Remember to close the study door. Thanks, Sister."
He had always been like this, taking advantage of the fact that his grandfather was Tan Zhengqi’s revered former squad leader. He acted as entitled as an emperor in Tan Junzi’s home.
"You’re out of your mind today." Tan Junzi didn't know what had gotten into him. Whenever he called her 'Sister,' it usually meant trouble. But despite her grumbling, she gently closed the door for him and turned off the light. "Goodnight," she whispered.
Chang Ying’s legs hung off the end of the bed. He had to curl up slightly on the small mattress, making for a very uncomfortable sleep.
He lay there in the dark, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. The night was deep. Aside from the occasional bark of a dog in the complex, the only sounds were Tan Junzi showering, then brushing her teeth, and finally the sound of the bathroom door closing as she went to her room. The pillow carried a faint, lingering fragrance—the scent of Tan Junzi. Chang Ying looked at the moon outside the window and whispered, "Goodnight."
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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花棉袄 | Flower Padded Jacket | A nickname for the local pervert based on his attire.
小陈警官 | Officer Chen | The young police officer at the precinct.
我是特种兵 | I Am a Special Forces Soldier | A popular Chinese military-themed TV drama.
福客隆 | Fukelong | A supermarket name.
孔叔 | Uncle Kong | The father of the man in the floral jacket.
秦轲 | Qin Ke | The name of the KTV front desk clerk.
捷达 | Jetta | A common car brand in China.
谈正气 | Tan Zhengqi | Tan Junzi's grandfather.
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