In the east of Haicheng lay a beautiful lake that occupied nearly half of the district, its winding shoreline embraced by the vast expanse of Lakefront Park.
When Chen Jinyue stepped out of the car, she happened to see Zhao Man standing in the sunlight. She was wearing a black knit cardigan over grey wide-leg trousers, her long, curly hair draped casually over her shoulders. In her hand, she held a cardboard carrier with two cups of coffee nestled inside.
Noticing her, Zhao Man smiled and waved.
Chen Jinyue walked over quickly, stepping into the warmth of the sun.
"Hello, Sister Man. Have you been waiting long?" The other woman’s eyes were partially hidden beneath the brim of a bucket hat.
Zhao Man tilted her head back slightly to meet Chen Jinyue’s gaze. "I just arrived myself." She held out the two cups. "Matcha latte or an Americano?"
"Um... the matcha latte, please." Zhao Man pulled one cup out, handed it to her, and then took her arm as they walked toward the park entrance.
"Sister Man, you look a bit different today."
"Different how?"
Chen Jinyue paused, tilting her head to the side. "You just... look really cool."
Zhao Man let out a wide grin. "It’s the weekend, so I dressed a bit more casually."
"You seem to be in a good mood?"
"Hmm..." Chen Jinyue drew out the sound, noncommittal. She started walking again and added, "It’s not bad."
Zhao Man fell silent, wondering how to broach the main topic.
Suddenly, Chen Jinyue spoke up. "Is there a reason you asked me out today, Sister Man?"
"To go for a walk."
"Just a walk?"
Since the question had been laid bare, there was no longer any point in playing coy.
"Let’s sit for a bit." Zhao Man pointed to a bench by the lake.
Chen Jinyue sat down obediently, but to her surprise, Zhao Man remained standing, leaning against the lakeside railing. However, this worked out well; because of the difference in height, the eyes that had been obscured by the bucket hat were now fully visible.
"I just noticed your hair tie. It’s very pretty."
"Really? Um... I bought it at the Plum Garden in Beicheng last time."
"Oh? You went to the Plum Garden? When?" Zhao Man arched an eyebrow.
"The day I came back to Haicheng."
"With your sister?"
"Yeah... she happened to have the afternoon off."
A playful, knowing smile touched the corners of Zhao Man’s lips.
That day, Zhao Man had returned Chen Jinyue’s hair tie to Lin Yunsheng, and then Lin Yunsheng had taken a leave of absence, disappearing and ignoring all messages—so she had gone to the Plum Garden.
Hadn't she told her just the day before that the Plum Garden was too cold and not to bother Chen Jinyue?
Interesting.
She didn't intend to expose anything, but she was genuinely curious about that hair tie.
"Jinyue, that hair tie you lent me... did I ever give it back? I’ve forgotten."
"What?" It took Chen Jinyue a moment to realize what she was referring to. "No... but it’s fine. It’s just a hair tie."
The pieces began to click together in Zhao Man’s mind.
*Lin Yunsheng, oh, Lin Yunsheng.*
"Do you mind if I smoke, Jinyue?"
"Go ahead, Sister Man."
Leaning against the railing, Zhao Man lit a slim cigarette.
"How have things been between you and your sister lately?"
"..." The question made Chen Jinyue feel uneasy. She wasn't sure if Lin Yunsheng had said anything to Zhao Man. "Fine. Why do you ask?"
Zhao Man exhaled a cloud of smoke and leaned down closer to her. "Really?"
Chen Jinyue’s instinctive swallow did not escape the other woman's notice.
Zhao Man straightened up again. "She’s been a bit strange lately, so I thought I’d ask if something happened."
"What’s wrong with her?"
"Well... she’s become somewhat irritable and... how should I put it? Radical? Aggressive?"
Zhao Man opened her coffee cup and flipped the lid over to the side. She tapped the cigarette with her index finger, flicking the ash into the cup.
"She had a fight with me."
Chen Jinyue’s brows knit together. "How could that be?"
***
The issue with the project had finally seen some progress.
On Friday morning, the heads of two tier-one departments—Business Analysis and Marketing—along with HR, Finance, and Legal, plus Lin Yunsheng and Zhao Man, sat in a conference room to discuss the fallout.
A colleague from the Legal Department spoke first. "The company will seek to recover losses from the two main executors and participants and terminate their employment. Simultaneously, the Legal Department reserves the right to pursue legal action."
No one objected.
Next was the HR representative for the Marketing Department. "As for the other assistants: Manager Lin’s subordinate, Cheng Can, participated without subjective intent and will be demoted. Vice Director Zhao’s subordinates, Li Chengmin and Liu Rui, failed to properly review the data; their bonuses for this year will be revoked, and their promotion windows will be frozen for two years."
"I don't agree," Lin Yunsheng cut in immediately. "I demand that all three be terminated."
"Also, Wang Chengfan has resigned. I demand a police report be filed for an investigation."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Zhao Man naturally stepped in to salvage the situation. "Manager Lin, regarding the assistants, let’s discuss it further."
"There is nothing to discuss. This is my demand." Lin Yunsheng didn't blink as she stared directly at her superior, Li Guangsheng.
"Xiao Lin," Li Guangsheng began. "First of all, Cheng Can’s issue was a matter of professional negligence; it doesn't warrant termination. As for the Marketing Department’s disciplinary plan, Business Analysis does not interfere."
"I won't accept it." She gave him no face whatsoever.
"You won't accept it? Lin Yunsheng, do you not bear responsibility for poor management?" Li Guangsheng questioned her.
"I do. Whether you fire me or demote me, do as you please. But my demand remains exactly as I just stated."
With a sharp *snap*, Li Guangsheng closed his laptop and declared the meeting over. He strode out of the room, followed closely by the head of Marketing.
Lin Yunsheng rose to leave as well but was pulled back by Zhao Man. Once the others had left, Zhao Man asked, "Are you joking? Fire you? Why would you say something like that?"
She shook off Zhao Man’s hand. "I’m not joking. I am responsible for the management."
"Then so am I, aren't I?"
"I wasn't talking about you."
"I won't interfere with Cheng Can, but those two from Marketing haven't reached the level of termination. Newcomers in the workplace need chances."
"Newcomers? Chances? Who gave *me* a chance?"
Zhao Man didn't understand. "What do you mean?"
"Who is going to give me a chance to make up for the losses this incident caused me?"
Lin Yunsheng’s tone had become incredibly hostile. Zhao Man blocked her path. "The company bears the project losses. We only lost a Spring Festival. Fortunately, we reached a conclusion quickly. It really hasn't come to that point."
Lin Yunsheng let out a cold laugh as if she’d heard a joke. "Zhao Man, 'only' lost a Spring Festival? If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have had to come back from Nancheng early."
Zhao Man grabbed her arm. "What exactly happened? Was it something with Jinyue—" Before she could finish, she was pushed away again. The force was significant; Zhao Man nearly fell back into a chair.
Lin Yunsheng picked up her laptop and left the conference room without another word, the door slamming shut behind her.
***
Zhao Man recounted the events exactly as they had happened.
She leaned against the railing, her gaze falling on Chen Jinyue from above, the wind carrying the smoke into her hair.
"So, Jinyue, do you know what actually happened?"
Chen Jinyue said nothing.
"I’m a little worried about her."
The sun began its slow descent into the west. Chen Jinyue, who had been sitting in the light, was now half-hidden in the shadows of the trees.
She looked up at Zhao Man.
"Sister Man..."
"Something did happen between us. But I can't tell you..." She didn't want to lie. "And I... to be honest, I don't understand what she meant by that either." As she said this, she felt a strange sense of dejection.
She truly didn't understand.
If this hadn't happened, the only difference would have been returning to Haicheng a few days later. They might have spent a few more days in that bubble of self-deception in Nancheng, but would that have solved anything?
No. It would have only delayed the inevitable.
Unless... unless something had happened that she wasn't aware of.
But she no longer had the energy or the curiosity to solve riddles. If Lin Yunsheng wasn't willing to speak, she wouldn't say a word even if another ten years passed, let alone six.
Chen Jinyue gave a self-deprecating smile.
Zhao Man tossed her cigarette into the coffee cup, watching the tiny spark vanish.
She remembered Lin Yunsheng’s tears on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year and the unanswered questions.
She had some vague suspicions about the relationship between Lin Yunsheng and Chen Jinyue that hadn't been confirmed, but one thing was certain: the lonely-looking girl before her wasn't having an easier time than any of them.
She reached out and gently ruffled Chen Jinyue’s hair, suddenly feeling that calling her out today hadn't been the right decision.
"Let’s not talk about that anymore..."
"Want to go look at that arched bridge?" Zhao Man pointed toward the west.
Chen Jinyue looked in that direction.
Haicheng spanned six thousand square kilometers with a population of twenty million; its parks and scenic spots were innumerable. Lakefront Park had four different trails and three ways to explore.
In twenty-four hours, it was now five in the evening—a negligible moment in time.
In such a convergence of time and space, what were the odds of running into Lin Yunsheng here?
The answer was one hundred percent, because it was happening.
—*This is exhausting.*
Lin Yunsheng was walking toward them from twenty meters away, her expression blank. Jiang Haitao was by her side.
The atmosphere turned incredibly subtle in an instant.
Zhao Man was the first to speak again. "Ah... what a coincidence..."
"Yes."
It was quite sweet, wasn't it?
Lakefront Park had been built while Chen Jinyue was abroad. Naturally, a date should start somewhere new—occupying the high ground of memory first. Once the relationship had a foundation, they could slowly overwrite the memories of those who came before.
—*How clever, Lin Yunsheng.*
"What are you two doing?" Zhao Man looked at Lin Yunsheng, then at Jiang Haitao.
Jiang Haitao immediately chimed in, "Discussing work, just work."
Zhao Man looked skeptical.
"You’re here too?"
Hearing those words, Chen Jinyue felt a momentary daze. How many days had it been since she’d spoken to Lin Yunsheng? Or had they spoken, only for her to receive a monosyllabic response? A cold "Mhm."
"Yeah, Jinyue and I came for a walk."
Lin Yunsheng remained silent. She saw the cigarette floating in the black coffee, and the faint scent of tobacco lingered in the air around them. Her gaze fell on Chen Jinyue, who wore that red hair tie, sitting there without saying a word or even looking at her.
Chen Jinyue took a breath and reached out to take Zhao Man’s hand. She stood up, ignoring the two people beside her.
"Let’s go, Sister." She pulled Zhao Man away, brushing past Lin Yunsheng.
"Oh... okay."
"Jinyue..." Lin Yunsheng called out to her.
She refused to stop.
Zhao Man looked back and forth as they walked, choosing, like Jiang Haitao, not to join the conversation.
"Chen Jinyue." Her volume rose, tinged with irritability.
The girl being called stopped in her tracks, still holding Zhao Man’s hand, but she didn't turn around. She waited for the next sentence.
"Remember to come home for dinner tonight..."
Chen Jinyue waited another two seconds. There was nothing else; she must have finished. Without responding, she started walking again.
—*Truly, I’m sick of this.*
She didn't know how long Lin Yunsheng would watch her from behind. She didn't want to face her at all, nor did she want any unnecessary interaction.
She had confirmed the other woman wasn't home before accepting Zhao Man’s invitation, yet she had run into her and Jiang Haitao here.
It seemed she really would have to hide abroad to find any peace. She had found yet another reason to leave as soon as possible.
Zhao Man let herself be led for a long distance. "Jinyue..." After a long while, she finally spoke up tentatively.
"Yes?"
"Should I take you home?" The girl looked like her mood had hit rock bottom.
Chen Jinyue let go of her hand and sighed. "I’m sorry, Sister Man. I lost control a bit just now."
"It’s okay..." The other woman didn't pry.
"I’ll head back on my own. I want to be alone for a while."
"Alright. Shall I drop you at the subway station?"
"Okay."
Zhao Man walked with her to the parking lot. By the time they reached the subway entrance, the Saturday sunset was nearing its end.
She pulled over to the curb. Before Chen Jinyue left, she said seriously, "If you ever want someone to talk to, you can call me."
Her brow was slightly furrowed. Chen Jinyue saw it and gave a faint smile, reaching under the brim of the bucket hat to smooth the line. "I’m fine, Sister Man. Thank you."
"Mhm..."
Then she got out of the car and entered the subway station alone.
She hesitated for a long time in front of the ticket machine. Ultimately, she didn't select the route home, choosing instead to go to a nearby central shopping mall.
—*Chen Fang isn't home, so there’s no need to go back for dinner, right? Why torture each other?*
In the basement of the mall, she chose a small shop and ate dinner slowly by herself. Then she went to the cinema on the top floor and picked a New Year's popcorn movie to kill time.
It wasn't until after ten o'clock that she figured Chen Fang should be finishing her card game and heading home... she slightly regretted not asking her mother exactly when she’d be done.
She took the direct elevator from the cinema to the first floor; the mall had already closed. She pulled out her phone and saw a message from Lin Yunsheng sent over two hours ago: *Are you coming back?*
She didn't reply.
Switching to a ride-hailing app, she called a car home.
Nighttime Haicheng had returned to its winter state—desolate and silent, unlike the morning which had hinted at spring in the sunlight.
The car stopped at the foot of her building. After getting out, she looked up—the living room lights were off, and the bedroom lights were dark. Perhaps Lin Yunsheng was asleep, or perhaps she had gone out.
Either way, not having to run into her was for the best.
She went upstairs, wanting nothing more than to shower quickly and hide in her room. Opening the door, she first smelled the aroma of food drifting from the dining room. She didn't turn on the lights, looking past the entryway toward the dining table. Several dishes were laid out, but she couldn't see the rest clearly.
The air was tinged with the faint, lingering scent of smoke. She assumed it was the smell Zhao Man had left on her.
Chen Jinyue changed her shoes and started toward her room. Suddenly, she froze, looking toward the balcony in disbelief. The wind was blowing in from that direction, and a crimson point of light flickered in the darkness.
—A cigarette.
Her breathing quickened uncontrollably, her chest heaving. She walked toward the balcony, a feeling of annoyance spreading from her back to the top of her head.
She threw the partially open balcony door wide. The person standing there smoking exhaled a light puff of smoke, looking not at all surprised, but rather leisurely.
"You're back."
Chen Jinyue looked down and saw three cigarette butts on the ground. "What are you doing?" Her voice was colder than the weather.
She heard Lin Yunsheng give a small laugh. "I thought you liked this type."
—*She’s become somewhat irritable and... how should I put it? Radical? Aggressive?*
She could almost hear the sound of the tobacco burning. That flickering red ember seemed to sear a hole in her chest, burning straight through her heart.
"I do. Not only do I like this type, I like women with permed hair. Preferably seven years older than me."
Lin Yunsheng tilted her head, looking at her with a gentle smile. "Yes, I know. And then you call her 'Sister'."
The cigarette in her hand went out. She loosened her fingers, letting the butt fall to the ground, and immediately reached for the pack.
Chen Jinyue snatched it away, clutching it in her hand until the cardboard box deformed. She felt as though the person standing before her through the haze of smoke was a complete stranger.
"Are you crazy?! Lin Yunsheng?"
The night wind whipped their hair. The silver bell on Chen Jinyue’s hair tie let out a faint, crisp chime.
Lin Yunsheng looked into her sister’s eyes—eyes that were fixed on her, filled with anger and confusion, dark and glistening.
She leaned back against the railing, her body tilting back as if she might fall.
After a long silence, she spoke. "I must be crazy to have gone to such lengths to trick you into coming back from abroad."
"Chen Jinyue, I went crazy a long time ago."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
抹茶拿铁 | Matcha latte |
美式 | Americano |
渔夫帽 | Bucket hat |
商分中心 | Business Analysis Center | Short for 商业分析中心 (Business Analysis Center).
成灿 | Cheng Can | A subordinate of Lin Yunsheng.
李成闵 | Li Chengmin | A subordinate of Zhao Man.
刘瑞 | Liu Rui | A subordinate of Zhao Man.
王成帆 | Wang Chengfan | A former employee mentioned in the meeting.
李广圣 | Li Guangsheng | Lin Yunsheng's superior.
贺岁档 | New Year's blockbuster season | Refers to the period around the Lunar New Year when major films are released.
