After lunch, Yu Mo went to the front desk to pick up a package. Since she had transferred to sales, the reception at Zhongfu had been taken over by a girl in her early twenties. She had a pleasant smile that made her eyes crinkle into crescents, though her eyeshadow was always startlingly bright—electric blue one day, seductive purple the next—utterly indifferent to the judgments of others.
Yu Mo chatted with her for a few moments, her gaze falling on several business magazines arranged on the marble countertop for show. She picked one up and leafed through it idly.
Xiao Zhuang, the receptionist, finished touching up her makeup in a hand mirror, secretly pleased that her new foundation hadn't oxidized or turned dull after half a day. Seeing Yu Mo still looking at the magazine, she spoke up: "Sister Mo, if you want to read that, just take it back to your office. You can bring it back later." She leaned in and whispered, "These magazines are just for decoration; nobody actually reads them."
Yu Mo smiled and placed the magazine back. "No need, I was just browsing."
Xiao Zhuang glanced at the magazine Yu Mo had returned and let out an enlightened "Oh." "I get it, Sister Mo! You were looking at the handsome guy! This man is indeed quite easy on the eyes."
Yu Mo played along. "I think so too."
She walked slowly back to her office. It felt as though everything had happened only yesterday—Xue Shen holding her, full of ambition as he mapped out their future. Yet by the time that future had arrived, he was already worlds away from her.
In the photograph, he wore a restrained smile. Every line of his brow and temples spoke of detachment and stability. He was the industry’s highly anticipated "star of tomorrow," no longer the youth she held in her heart.
He was a blazing sun, destined not to be confined to a single room; his light was meant to shine across the entire sky.
It was good. This was his dream, and she had walked a stretch of the journey with him.
She sat at her desk and dazed off for a while until she saw Lili return. Lili looked completely wilted, which was a rare sight.
Yu Mo leaned over and asked, "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lili’s face was bare of makeup, her lips pale, and dark circles hung nearly down to her cheeks.
Faced with Yu Mo’s concern, she brushed it off vaguely. "Just some trouble at home. It’s nothing."
"During the group meeting this morning, Zhou Tao provoked you and you didn't even push back. I can't imagine anything short of the sky falling that would make you let her off the hook."
Lili looked into Yu Mo’s eyes. She wasn't in the habit of seeking sympathy everywhere, nor was she used to baring her soul or showing her weaknesses to others. Wasn't it better to keep things professional between colleagues?
But Yu Mo remained patient, watching her with a gentle, quiet gaze. Lili felt a lump in her throat, and the words spilled out.
"My mother has cancer. They kept it from me back in our hometown. Two days ago, my father got so anxious he had a cerebral hemorrhage and collapsed. That’s how I found out. I went home yesterday and brought them both here. My dad is staying at the Second Hospital. The doctor said his condition isn't too bad; with good rehabilitation, he’ll be able to look after himself. But my mom..."
She choked up, and Yu Mo gently took her hand.
"Her illness is complicated. The doctors back home said surgery is no longer an option and told us to find a specialist in Shanghai. A doctor told me privately that the Fifth Hospital has a PD-1 clinical trial. It’s the only way to buy her a little more time right now. But what kind of place is the Fifth Hospital? You can't get a specialist appointment there even six months in advance. My mom can't wait that long, Yu Mo. I hate myself so much. I hate my own helplessness. I clearly worked so hard; before this happened, I even had the illusion that I was doing quite well for myself. But in the end, I’m still that defenseless village girl from Zhouzhuang twenty years ago. Nothing has changed."
She gripped Yu Mo’s hand tightly, her eyes reddening.
"I came in today to find Old Zhang and hand over my work. Given my family situation, I can't focus on the job. I don't know how long it'll be before I can come back. It’s truly... just when I need money the most, I can't work."
A colleague walked past them, and both women fell silent.
Once the colleague was far enough away, Yu Mo leaned in and said softly, "Listen to me, Lili. I know anything I say right now sounds hollow, but don't be afraid, and don't panic. Regarding work, hand over everything you need me to do. I can handle your regular maintenance and signings for you. We’ll do our best not to lose a single client."
Lili stared at her. It was the first time she had met someone who could say such a thing so openly. Anyone in this industry knew what it meant to hand over all their clients to another person—it was professional suicide.
Understanding her thoughts, Yu Mo repeated, "You can trust me. When you return, I will return them to you intact."
Lili didn't truly trust anyone; she had been in sales for seven or eight years. But at this moment, she could only gamble. When plagued by misfortune, one has to bet on a bit of luck; success or failure was up to fate.
Or perhaps it was because Yu Mo’s gaze was so calm and honest?
She nodded. "Fine. We’ll split the commission on any deals that pass through your hands fifty-fifty."
Yu Mo shook her head. "I don't want it, Lili. I told you, I’m helping you. Don't overthink it. As for the doctor, go to Xue Shen for help."
Lili looked astonished. "Why would he help me? I’m terrified of him. I have to write a script before I even speak to him."
Yu Mo said softly, "Tell him I asked you to call. He will help. Trust me."
Lili didn't understand. Did an ex-wife still carry that much weight? Nevertheless, she dialed the number.
The call was answered quickly. "Miss Zhou..."
Lili’s heart raced. Xue Shen’s voice was rich but distant. She even stammered slightly: "Mr. Xue, I apologize for the intrusion. It’s like this, my mother is ill..."
The voice on the other end cut her off swiftly. "Miss Zhou, you should take your mother to see a doctor. I have a meeting..."
Fearing he would hang up, Lili blurted out, "Yu Mo told me to find you."
The breathing on the other end of the line faltered, like a frozen lake suddenly cracking open. When Xue Shen spoke again, the distance in his voice had vanished. "Is she next to you?" he asked in a low tone.
Lili looked up at Yu Mo, who shook her head slightly.
Lili replied, "She was just here, but she stepped away."
"Alright, Miss Zhou. My assistant will contact you shortly regarding your mother’s situation. I will not refuse any help I can provide." He paused for a moment, and just as Lili thought he was going to hang up, he spoke again: "Please look after her. Call me if she needs anything."
Lili suddenly understood a certain emotion. She didn't know what it was that could make a formidable man humble himself to the dust, but such a thing existed in this world—something more domineering than life or death.
***
The project at Langge was reaching its final stages. At lunchtime that day, Qi Lian treated a few of the men to a meal at a "fly restaurant" he had found in a back alley. Jiang Yuan had discovered the place; it was just a single room without even a sign, but the Boiled Beef was incredibly authentic.
They waited outside for a while before securing a table. It was small, barely fitting the group of grown men.
Old Wang’s craving for a cigarette kicked in. Smoking wasn't allowed on Qi Lian’s construction sites, so he couldn't resist pulling out a pack to share.
Neither Qi Lian nor Jiang Yuan smoked. Qi Shuai also waved it away, saying, "I’ve got too much internal heat these days. My throat hurts. If I smoke, I’m finished."
Old Wang turned to offer one to Jiang Yuan’s young apprentice. Just as Xiao Bo reached for it, Jiang Yuan kicked him and cursed, "Smoke what? Your feathers haven't even grown in yet."
Seeing the situation, Old Wang chuckled and withdrew his hand, sticking an unlit cigarette between his lips just to savor the dry taste.
He asked Qi Shuai, "Why are you so worked up with 'internal heat' all of a sudden?"
Jiang Yuan chimed in: "Why else? He’s busy playing the grandson to some woman again, and she’s not biting. If there’s a second reason, I’ll let you kick my head like a football."
Old Wang laughed until the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunched together. He asked Qi Shuai, "Isn't playing the grandson enough? Even the Seven Fairies descending from heaven would only get that kind of treatment."
Qi Shuai waved them off. "You lot don't know shit!"
"How do you usually coax a woman?" Qi Lian, who had been staring at his phone, suddenly looked up and asked.
Qi Shuai was momentarily unsure of what he meant. Usually, others would jump in to make fun of him, but Qi Lian rarely participated. It was rare to hear him speak up like this.
He noted Qi Lian’s knitted brows and grim expression. The boss was clearly in a foul mood, and he didn't dare provoke him.
"Women... it’s nothing more than saying one thing and meaning another, or playing hard to get. We just have to lower our posture. Change what she doesn't like, give her what she wants. It’s that simple."
Qi Lian listened but said nothing. He absentmindedly returned to his phone, entering the WeChat interface, exiting, then entering again. The pinned contact hadn't sent him a single message.
The last message was from him: *What time are you back today?*
The one before that was also from him: *What do you want for dinner? I’ll cook for you.*
Every message had vanished into the void, just like every other day.
She no longer ate the food he cooked, no longer spoke to him. When she saw him, she gave a faint, polite smile, as if he were the wild grass by the road, the old man selling roast duck at the gate, or the lady selling cold skin noodles.
As if he were any inconsequential person who hadn't lingered in her small mind for even a second.
The other night, he had waited for her at the main gate. The early summer mosquitoes were vicious, leaving his legs covered in bites. Old Xia, the hardware seller, had greeted him while riding his electric scooter: "Old Qi, resting here?" When Old Xia returned from a drinking session, he saw Qi Lian still standing in the same spot.
She had been wearing a smoky purple silk dress, walking gracefully toward him from a distance, each step treading on his heart. He stared at her intensely, wishing he could burn a hole through her with his gaze.
She gave him a shallow smile and called out softly, "Qi Lian," before brushing past him without breaking her stride.
He felt as if his face had been slapped; even his ears were ringing. Reaching out to grab her hand felt pointless and inappropriate, so he could only let his arm drop weakly.
The streetlights stretched her silhouette exceptionally thin and long. Stray cats and unleashed dogs darted across the road, and she nimbly dodged them as she walked.
He followed her gloomily, the small animals scurrying away from him in fear.
"Brother, are you serious?" Qi Shuai called out from across the table.
Qi Lian shoved his phone into his pocket and looked up. "Serious about what?"
Jiang Yuan was in the middle of an excited explanation. Seeing Qi Lian ask, he didn't think much about where his mind had wandered and repeated the story: "The renovation company for the showroom came to finish up today, right? I chatted with them for a bit. My goodness... that glass partition wall? Guess how much one pane of glass costs?"
The other four at the table looked at Qi Lian expectantly. Qi Lian asked, "One pane must be about three by five meters, right?"
Old Wang nodded. "Roughly."
Qi Lian thought for a moment. "Must be several hundred thousand?"
Jiang Yuan slapped his thigh. "Several hundred thousand! You’re guessing high, aren't you? I’m telling you, that glass is one million!" He held up a finger for emphasis. "One million flat. I secretly counted that wall—eight panes of glass in total! Eight million! Just that wall cost eight million. Can you believe it?"
Qi Lian nodded but said nothing.
Old Wang smacked his lips on the unlit cigarette and lamented, "I understand this world less and less. I’ve been in this trade for nearly thirty years. Twenty years ago, the materials passing through our hands were all the same; every household used roughly the same things. If a family used a 1,200-yuan wardrobe instead of an 800-yuan one, it was a big deal. No matter how high an official you were or how much money you had, there were only so many things to choose from in the market; you couldn't get too fancy. Then it slowly changed. A single imported tile from abroad costs more than a normal family’s entire wardrobe. I don't know where these bastards get their money."
Xiao Bo brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. "The place we stay and the world of those rich people aren't the same. One of their bags costs more than I earn in a year. I’m telling you, it’s like a floating world in a game. Two worlds are parallel; you can see the other, but there’s no intersection."
Qi Lian turned and said, "There’s no rule saying we have to stay in this world. If they can install million-yuan glass, I don't believe they can't afford 500,000-yuan workers. Everyone, pull yourselves together and work hard. Don't look down on yourselves."
He pointed a finger at Qi Shuai sitting opposite him, warning, "Especially you."
The owner brought the sizzling Boiled Beef to the table, calling out in a Sichuan-accented Mandarin, "Eat up, eat up! The beef is very tender!"
The men tossed their idle talk aside, picked up their chopsticks, and ate until they were drenched in sweat.
***
Work finished at 6:00 PM. As they were about to disperse, Qi Lian said to Qi Shuai, "Drive my car and give me a lift."
At six o'clock in early summer, the sky was still bright, and the temperature was scorching. The heat this year was abnormally high.
Qi Shuai wiped sweat from his brow behind the steering wheel and cursed, "What the hell is with this weather?" Qi Lian sat in the passenger seat, one arm resting on the open window frame, his eyes fixed outside, watching who-knew-what.
The evening breeze dissipated much of the alcohol he had just consumed.
Qi Shuai glanced at him a few times, not daring to suggest turning on the air conditioning. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "What’s up with you, Brother?"
Qi Shuai had a strange habit: he never called him "Brother" in front of others, but in private, he always did.
Qi Lian said, "Didn't feel like driving. Drank a bit, feeling tired." His voice was deeper than usual, carrying a trace of undetectable despondency.
"Is that what I’m talking about? You don't usually like to drink, but you drank more than Jiang Yuan tonight. And it hasn't just been today; we’ve all noticed."
Qi Lian didn't speak, offering only his profile. Qi Shuai thought he wouldn't get an answer.
After a while, Qi Lian suddenly said, "Qi Shuai, I take back everything I ever said about you."
Qi Shuai asked in bewilderment, "What things? Don't scare me, Brother."
"Saying your brain was full of water. Saying you couldn't walk straight because of a woman."
Startled, Qi Shuai jerked the steering wheel and brought the car to a screeching halt by the roadside.
He remembered a day when Qi Lian had called him, frantically asking which clothes looked best on him. Now, it all clicked.
He looked at Qi Lian and said seriously, "You’re like this because of a woman? Which woman?"
As he spoke, a person suddenly came to mind. He questioned Qi Lian: "Is it that woman who ate with us last time? You’re doing this for her..."
Qi Lian finally turned his head, his eyes dark and heavy, yet he still didn't speak.
Seeing him like this, Qi Shuai grew frantic. "Brother, wake up! This woman won't do. With your qualities, you can find any kind of woman you want, but not her!"
"Why not her?" Qi Lian asked.
"She... she just won't! One look and you can tell she’s not our kind of person. She won't live a proper life with you. Why go looking for misery? You’re not like me; I just mess around every day, anything goes. But you can't. I won't let her ruin you."
"Qi Shuai, you can indulge your woman while she turns the world upside down, but when it’s my turn, it’s not okay?"
Qi Shuai grew agitated, raising his voice. "No, Brother! Xiaoxiao is sincerely with me; her little tantrums don't matter. But that woman of yours, she has no heart! She’s like a vixen from the television; she’s here to steal your soul."
Qi Lian felt he was right. He could almost hear the water sloshing in his own head.
This year in Jinning was just too damn hot.
***
Qi Lian was woken by the heat in the middle of the night, his entire body coated in a layer of sweat.
People were cursing in the building, and some had brought stools downstairs to chat. The summer night, which should have been silent, had suddenly come alive because of a power outage.
Qi Lian wiped the sweat from his forehead, jumped out of bed, and went to the bathroom to take a cold shower.
He threw on a pair of shorts and pushed open the balcony door shirtless. The late-night temperature hadn't dropped at all. There were no streetlights, only a few fading stars in the sky and the chirping of summer insects. Downstairs, shirtless men sat in groups of twos and threes to catch the breeze.
He gripped his phone, his eyes scanning the fourth floor across the way. The windows were pitch black; he could see nothing.
A moment later, a faint glow from a phone screen flashed behind a fourth-floor window, and a silhouette moved. He immediately opened his phone and sent a message.
*Don't be afraid, it's a power outage.*
*It's too hot to sleep. I'll take you into the city to find a place with air conditioning to sleep,* he sent another one immediately.
Yu Mo didn't reply.
He turned, pulled on a shirt, and rushed downstairs.
Old Man Er, sitting by the entrance, was fanning himself with a cattail leaf fan while rubbing his beer belly. He saw someone rush past like a gust of wind. Barely recognizing Qi Lian, he called out, "Hey, hey!" but Qi Lian had already vanished into the opposite stairwell.
Yu Mo wasn't sure if she had been woken by the heat or the noise from the neighbors.
She got up to use the bathroom and was rummaging around for something to use as a fan when her phone suddenly rang, giving her a start.
Seeing the name "Qi Lian," she found that in this sweaty, stifling summer night, it didn't feel as annoying as usual.
*Since when did these two characters take on a different meaning?* she asked herself.
She answered the call and gave a soft "Hello," like a summer breeze that might vanish into the vast night sky if one didn't pay attention.
"Yu Mo," Qi Lian called her name. His voice sounded exceptionally deep in the dead of night, as if he were right in her ear. Uncomfortable, Yu Mo switched the phone from her left ear to her right.
They hadn't spoken for a long time.
"I'm at your door. Open up!"
Yu Mo was startled and instinctively tugged at her clothes. "It's too late, Qi Lian. It's not convenient. Is something wrong?"
"The weather is too hot, and the power won't be back for a while. You still have to work tomorrow. Pack a change of clothes; I'll take you into the city now and find a hotel near your company so you can get some proper sleep."
"No need. By the time we finish the round trip, it'll be dawn. It's fine, I'm not afraid of the heat," Yu Mo said.
"It's only a twenty or thirty-minute trip. I'll head back once I've helped you settle into a hotel. I'm not comfortable with you going alone this late."
"Really, no need. Thank you. It's late, go get some rest."
Qi Lian didn't respond, and the air fell into silence.
Just as Yu Mo was about to hang up, Qi Lian suddenly said, "Don't hang up, Yu Mo."
Yu Mo’s heart skipped a beat. It was a strange feeling, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Yu Mo, don't avoid me. I'm not..." He spoke very slowly. "I just want to..."
"Qi Lian, it's late. Rest!" Yu Mo interrupted him. "I know you're a good person."
Qi Lian stood in the pitch-black stairwell, clutching his disconnected phone, feeling as if his legs had taken root. He felt he had a stomach full of words to say, yet he didn't know what they were. He simply felt he couldn't leave and couldn't speak. A mixture of frustration, loss, and sorrow rose in his heart, hitting him like a physical blow. He felt a desperate urge to kick down the thin security door standing in his way.
A burst of laughter erupted from the old men downstairs. He dragged his heavy feet down the stairs, step by step.
Old Man Er saw Qi Lian emerge from the stairwell. This time he saw him clearly and asked, "Little Qi Lian, what are you doing in the middle of the night? Why do you look like an eggplant hit by frost?"
Qi Lian nodded to him, gave a cursory greeting, and headed home on his own.
The stairwell was too dark; he could only hear his own footsteps, a "thump, thump, thump" that shook his restless spirit. For some reason, he suddenly remembered the expression Yu Mo had when she talked about her ex-husband. Compared to him, what was he?
He had craved something he shouldn't have. His heart sank.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
中富 | Zhongfu | The name of the company where Yu Mo works.
小庄 | Xiao Zhuang | The receptionist at Zhongfu.
薛慎 | Xue Shen | Yu Mo's ex-husband.
莉莉 | Lili | Yu Mo's colleague in the sales department.
老张 | Old Zhang | Likely a manager or supervisor at Zhongfu.
周涛 | Zhou Tao | A colleague/rival of Lili and Yu Mo.
五院 | Fifth Hospital | A prestigious hospital in Shanghai.
PD1 | PD-1 | Refers to PD-1 inhibitors, a type of cancer immunotherapy.
朗格 | Langge | The name of the project or client Qi Lian is working for.
江源 | Jiang Yuan | One of Qi Lian's workers/colleagues.
老王 | Old Wang | One of Qi Lian's workers.
祁帅 | Qi Shuai | Qi Lian's younger relative/brother.
小波 | Xiao Bo | Jiang Yuan's young apprentice.
老夏 | Old Xia | A hardware store owner in the neighborhood.
二大爷 | Old Man Er / Second Uncle | A neighbor in the residential compound.
晋宁 | Jinning | The city where the story takes place.
苍蝇馆子 | Fly restaurant | A small, humble, often cramped eatery known for good food despite its appearance.
水煮牛肉 | Boiled Beef | A classic spicy Sichuan dish.
下乔 | Playing hard to get | Colloquial usage in the text for acting difficult or putting on airs.
霜打的茄子 | Eggplant hit by frost | A Chinese idiom meaning listless, dejected, or spiritless.
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