The day after finishing his work, Qi Lian made a special trip to Wei Hao Mei to find Jiang Laosi.
Several consecutive days of torrential rain had stripped away the facade of the shoddy construction behind Jufeng Plaza. The uneven ground was riddled with stagnant puddles, and the sewers, unable to drain in time, were backing up and emitting a foul stench. On the road in front of Wei Hao Mei, one could even see various bits of filth and sludge coughed up from the drains.
Jiang Laosi was wielding a broom, sweeping the road in front of his entrance, followed by a young worker in his early twenties who held a hose to wash down the swept surface.
Qi Lian walked over and stood at the entrance of the restaurant, calling out, "Laosi."
Jiang Laosi turned and saw it was Qi Lian. He shouted into the restaurant for another worker to come out, handed him the broom, and told him to keep at it. Then, he walked over to stand beside Qi Lian.
The bags under Jiang Laosi’s eyes had become even more prominent; he had been staying up late all summer. His entire face seemed dominated by those puffy bags, giving him an air of sickly obesity. Back in their school days, Laosi had been as thin as a willow branch along the Lianhua River—when he fought, he was as agile as a rabbit, easily taking on three people at once.
He stood side-by-side with Qi Lian, watching the two young workers wash the road.
He started with a curse. "This godforsaken weather. As soon as it rains, this place becomes uninhabitable."
"How’s business?"
"Business? My ass. It’s been hot as hell every day; the crawfish are practically boiling in the sun. The prices change daily and you still can’t get stock. The wholesale price has hit the roof—more than thirty percent higher than before. I don’t dare raise my selling price, so you tell me, how am I supposed to do business? And then this shitty weather hits, raining every day, and not a soul in sight. The stock I bought won’t sell. What can I do? This year is a wash. I’m damn near ready to close up and go home."
When it came to business, Jiang Laosi was full of complaints. The difficulty of running a shop was that you didn't dare close on a whim, or your regulars would flee to other establishments. Keeping a shop was like a slow death.
He ranted for a while before remembering to ask, "What brings you here today? Want a drink?" He gestured for Qi Lian to come inside. His wife had gone to pick up their son, so the shop was empty.
Qi Lian stopped him. "I’ll just stay here for a few words; I’ve got things to do at home. Any movement from that Jiangbei crowd lately? Have we had any direct run-ins with them?"
Jiang Laosi pulled a pack of cigarettes from the counter and lit one. "Haven't heard a peep. Ever since the police raided their nest last time, they’ve been keeping their heads down. No overlap lately."
Qi Lian nodded. If that was the case, they probably weren't targeting him specifically. He said to Laosi, "If you hear anything, let me know immediately. Keep an eye on what they're up to."
Jiang Laosi grew alert. "Why? Is something going on?"
Qi Lian kicked at the mud clinging to his sneakers. "Maybe I’m overthinking it. Yesterday, two punks harassed my woman on the street. They mentioned my name."
"Your woman? Since when do you have a woman?" Jiang Laosi raised an eyebrow.
"I have one now. Do I need to report to you before I sleep with someone?"
Jiang Laosi gave a lewd grin. "Not at all, not at all."
"I don't care about myself," Qi Lian continued, "but I won't tolerate them going after my woman. One of them had particularly small eyes. Have the guys look for them. If you find them, let me know."
Jiang Laosi exhaled a cloud of smoke and advised, "You need to think this through. Right now, both sides are at peace. They were just being assholes. If you make a move, there’s no telling what happens next. Think about it—if things escalate, they won’t just be running their mouths. You can’t watch over your woman every second of the day."
Qi Lian knew he was right. He ground his teeth and cursed under his breath.
Jiang Laosi’s words had struck his Achilles' heel. As long as Yu Mo’s safety was involved, he didn't dare move an inch.
The two young workers sweeping the ground began chasing each other and spraying water in play. Jiang Laosi stepped forward and roared at them with a voice like a brass bell, "Dammit! Did I hire you to play in the water? This water isn't free! I'll take it out of your wages!"
The two twenty-somethings immediately became as quiet as quails.
After scolding them, Jiang Laosi turned back to comfort him. "Don't rush. Just keep it in mind for now; there will be an opportunity. Being this impulsive isn't like you. I haven't seen you this worked up since school. You've got it bad? Where'd you find her?"
"You've seen her. She’s my only soft spot now, and I can't help it. As long as they don't touch her, anything goes."
As he spoke, the image of a woman surfaced in Jiang Laosi’s mind. The impression she had left was too deep. "Heh, that goddess. It seems you won't listen to anything anyone says. The brothers are worried you're going to take a massive fall. Well, fall then. Everyone has to take a tumble somewhere in their life. You’ve been too steady for too long; better to get the fall over with now so the rest of your life can be stable."
***
When Yu Mo returned home, she found that Qi Lian wasn't there. She went to take a shower and, while at the sink, decided to wash her silk dress and underwear from that day.
Halfway through, she heard the door open. She called out, "You're back?"
The faucet was running loudly, and she wasn't sure if there was an answer. Just as she was about to turn off the water and go check, a tall figure entered the bathroom and pressed against her. Before she could even see him clearly, she was hoisted up and abruptly taken.
Her gasp was caught in her throat before it could escape. she fell into a void of sensation, catching only a fleeting glimpse in the mirror of two figures—one tall, one short—swaying rhythmically.
The faucet continued to gush, the water overflowing from the white ceramic basin and cascading onto the floor like a waterfall.
Suddenly, someone downstairs shouted out the window, "For fuck's sake! It's broad daylight, have some shame! Shouting so loud—you want to sell tickets?" This was followed by a smattering of crude laughter.
Yu Mo’s consciousness snapped back. Her body stiffened, and she bit her lip hard.
Qi Lian, in a voice that suggested he wouldn't care if the sky fell, whispered seductively in her ear, "Don't be afraid, sweetheart. Keep going."
He used his hand to tilt Yu Mo’s face, prying her mouth open and offering her his finger to bite.
A flash of white light filled Yu Mo’s vision as she lost herself again.
A long time later, she opened her eyes to see them still in the same position in the mirror, one behind the other. A thick layer of water had accumulated on the bathroom floor, and the plastic basin she had used for her laundry was floating near the toilet.
The scent of frying chili drifted in through the window. Downstairs, children were screaming and playing, and cicadas were buzzing incessantly. The real world had suddenly returned.
She reached out a limp hand to turn off the faucet and leaned her head back against the man behind her, murmuring his name with an unreadable tone. "Qi Lian..."
Qi Lian pressed against her ear, coaxing her softly, "It’s okay. I’ll clean it up."
After they tidied the messy bathroom together, Qi Lian said he would go cook. Yu Mo clung to him, refusing to let go, babbling, "I don't want to be apart from you. I have to be with you."
She was just acting spoiled and spoke without thinking, letting go as soon as she finished.
But Qi Lian knelt down in front of her and said, "Get on."
Yu Mo giggled and hopped onto his back. Qi Lian supported her, hoisting her up slightly to secure his grip.
Leaning against his back, she smelled his familiar scent. Qi Lian indeed carried her into the kitchen, using one hand beneath her bottom to support her while the other began preparing dinner.
She couldn't see what was happening in front, but she could feel Qi Lian’s hot skin and his movements. She couldn't stop giggling like a fool. No one had ever indulged her like this—indulged her to such an unreasonable degree—and it made her incredibly happy.
Clinging to his neck, a small spark of conscience flickered. "Put me down. This is too tiring for you."
Qi Lian turned his head, his forehead brushing hers. He pressed against her brow and said tenderly, "It’s fine. Just stay there. It’s just like having a clingy child; I can’t get much work done. Let’s just have some simple noodles for dinner."
She pressed her head against his back and obediently agreed. "Mm."
She stopped laughing. A thousand words wanted to rush out of her throat, and a fire like a volcano was churning in her heart, but her throat felt tight, and she couldn't say a single word.
When they ate, she remained sitting on one of Qi Lian’s thighs. Fortunately, Qi Lian was in great shape and his legs were sturdy; an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to hold out.
Qi Lian was drenched in sweat from the heat, but he still kept one arm wrapped around her.
Yu Mo pushed her luck and asked, "Will you let me do whatever I want?"
Qi Lian buried his head in his noodles, saying indistinctly, "Yeah. Just don't cross the red lines. I told you before."
"You're so good to me, Qi Lian."
"Then be better to me. Don't torture me." He stuffed a shrimp into her mouth.
His bowl of noodles was empty in no time, and he set down his chopsticks.
Yu Mo pulled her own bowl over, wanting to share some with him, but he pressed a finger against the rim of her bowl. "Don't even think about it. You eat first. I'll see later."
He thought for a moment and added, "When you get off work tomorrow, send me a message. I’ll pick you up at the bus station. Don't leave until you see me."
Yu Mo asked in surprise, "Didn't we agree I'd come back on my own? You have to work and cook; there's no need."
"I changed my mind. I'm picking you up at the station. It won't take long, and it's not convenient for you to walk back in high heels."
The next day, before the bus even pulled into the station, Yu Mo was standing by the window looking out. From a distance, she spotted Qi Lian. With his long limbs, he looked a bit comical straddling a white electric scooter.
The bus was packed with people—weary corporate drones who had worked all day. There was no extra noise in the bus; even the air felt exhausted.
She saw the dim yellow light of the streetlamps falling on Qi Lian. He was looking down at his phone, but the moment he saw her, his usually cold eyes filled with love. Her heart felt warm.
Qi Lian tucked his phone into his pocket, took a long coat out of the storage box, and pulled a helmet off the handlebars.
Yu Mo put the helmet on herself, and Qi Lian helped her adjust the size.
She asked, "What’s the coat for?"
Qi Lian helped her settle onto the back seat and tied the long coat around her waist. "It’s not convenient for you in a skirt. This will cover you. It’ll also block the wind."
Once he finished adjusting it, Yu Mo’s thighs were completely hidden.
Yu Mo leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his lean waist.
As the scooter started moving, the wind brushed against her face and hair. On a sweltering night, it felt incredibly comfortable. The rest of the world was left behind; there were only the two of them, clinging tightly to each other.
Yu Mo cried out, "I love this feeling!"
Her words were stretched thin by the wind.
She pressed her head firmly against Qi Lian’s broad back, feeling as though she were a part of him, grown from his very body—connected by blood and flesh.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
味好美 | Wei Hao Mei | A restaurant name, literally "Taste So Good."
江老四 | Jiang Laosi | Jiang the Fourth; Qi Lian's old friend and restaurant owner.
巨丰广场 | Jufeng Plaza | A local commercial area mentioned as having poor construction.
江北 | Jiangbei | Literally "North of the River"; refers to a rival gang or a specific district.
社畜 | Corporate drones | Literally "social livestock"; a term for weary office workers/commuters.
软肉 | Soft spot | Literally "soft meat"; used metaphorically to mean a vulnerability or weakness.
