Bai Mao left for school in high spirits. The carefree atmosphere he brought seemed to linger in the chilly room. Past let out a small whimper, reluctantly withdrawing his gaze from the door before flopping onto the floor.
He had eaten, he had played. It was time for a morning nap.
The dog curled up at Zong Yan’s feet, his ears twitching occasionally in a state of alert. Having been a stray for so long, he had encountered kind humans like his mistress, but he had also met countless others who wanted to hurt him. No matter the time, he could never sleep too deeply. It was a necessity for survival.
However, with his mistress by his side, perhaps it was okay to fall into a slightly deeper slumber.
So, when Zong Yan’s phone rang, he merely smacked his lips a few times.
Zong Yan glanced at the screen. The caller’s name was displayed. She didn't answer.
The green icon jumping on the screen seemed like someone’s restless heart, beating faster and faster, as if it were about to leap out of the narrow frame. The call timed out. The room returned to silence.
Yet, before one could even react, the phone began to vibrate on the table again with an even more agitated intensity. It seemed it would never stop until she answered.
Zong Yan picked up the phone. Her tone was flat. "Hello."
"What do you mean 'hello'? Why didn't you reply to my message!"
"Reply to what?"
"The movie!"
Si Jiang pulled the phone back to his eyes. Had the message failed to send? No, there was no red exclamation mark.
The first thing he had done when he got a phone years ago was try to contact Zong Yan, but he had been blacklisted. Every method of reaching her had met with cold rejection. It was only after their reunion that he had managed to add her on WeChat again.
The message should have sent successfully. How could Zong Yan not have seen it? Hadn't she even replied with a "?" earlier?
Could it be that she didn't want to—
Before his thoughts could spiral further, Zong Yan answered him. "That movie. It’s fine to watch."
Si Jiang’s heart eased. "Then when are we going?"
He began preparing to contact the theater manager to secure two tickets.
"What do you mean?" Zong Yan sounded genuinely confused.
"What do *you* mean, 'what do I mean'?"
"Why do you need to know when I’m watching this movie?" Zong Yan asked airily, scratching Past’s chin. Her eyes were deep as she felt the dog trustingly bury his head in her palm, radiating warmth.
Si Jiang choked; he didn't understand the question. "What the hell? Aren't we going together—"
He stopped.
"Why would I go to the movies with you?"
Zong Yan’s confusion was so natural, as if she truly couldn't understand from the bottom of her heart, and had never even considered that this was an invitation from Si Jiang. In her mind, they were not the kind of people who went to the movies together.
This lack of understanding was like ice from the poles, instantly dousing the sparks in his chest.
Si Jiang felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He asked blankly, "What do you mean?"
Clearly... clearly the two of them had once...
Clearly he was so...
"Can't I just treat you to a movie?"
"Why do you want to treat me to a movie?" Zong Yan said. "What is our relationship?"
*What relationship.*
*What relationship!*
*To hell with 'what relationship'!*
Si Jiang smashed everything within reach. He stood amidst a field of ruins, in the middle of his own shattered world.
"By what right..."
A dark mist clouded his handsome features. He let out a self-deprecating laugh and buried his face in his hands. The liquid from his scraped wounds smeared across his face and beneath his eyes.
"By what right do you ask me that?"
Si Jiang stood by the only intact sofa, staring fixedly at a rug beneath his feet. He thought about how, during this recent period, he had once again acted like a dog without dignity, sleeping at Zong Yan’s feet.
How... disgusting.
Si Jiang suddenly yanked the rug up, threw it into the center of the living room, flicked his lighter, and tossed it on top.
He was going crazy. He was dying.
Then let everything die.
The flames surged high, reflecting in a pair of eyes filled with hatred. Why had he survived back then? Why did he still harbor such foolish hope? No one was waiting for him.
Then let it all burn.
The high-quality fur rug was excellent fuel. The flames slithered like snakes in every direction, and sparks soon drifted onto Si Jiang.
Si Jiang stripped off his singed trousers and threw them into the fire—
Wait!
He looked in horror at the fabric disappearing into the flames. *That* was in there!
"No!"
In that moment, Si Jiang forgot that the fire before him could burn him severely. He lunged forward without hesitation, his hands reaching directly into the searing heat.
At that exact moment, the smoke detector overhead finally captured the anomaly. A red light flashed, and a mist of water sprayed down from above.
It doused the rug and the kneeling Si Jiang. Like a heavy rain, it extinguished the smoke-filled battlefield.
Si Jiang pulled a small box from the trouser pocket. The box was scalding, but he didn't care. He frantically opened the lid, and when he saw the state of the contents, all the color, all the warmth, and all the sound drained from his body in an instant.
The square block of wax had melted.
The words, the marks—everything was gone.
He had nothing left.
***
Eight o'clock in the evening was when the city's nightlife began to bustle.
Zong Yan, dressed in a simple white shirt and trousers, arrived at the cinema in the university district. At the entrance, someone was already peeking around, looking for her. She waved from a distance, and the person spotted her, running over excitedly.
"Senior, you're here!"
"Mhm. I'm not late, am I?"
"No, it's just time to head in."
Bai Mao handed a ticket to Zong Yan. "Here's your ticket, Senior. I bought seats in the small hall."
The main halls were crowded and full of children, which ruined the viewing experience. Bai Mao had seen a VIP hall that was more expensive but not prohibitively so, so he bought two tickets there. He believed that his Senior wouldn't want to watch a movie surrounded by a pack of noisy kids.
Besides, this was their first time watching a movie together! Previously, he had thought she didn't like movies, so he hadn't dared to ask. For such a significant day, he naturally wanted to create a beautiful memory.
Zong Yan didn't know about all these considerations. She simply took the ticket, glanced around the lively waiting area, and asked, "Do you want popcorn?"
Bai Mao’s eyes widened in surprise, then he nodded vigorously. "Sure!"
"Okay. Wait for me a moment."
Zong Yan walked straight to the counter. Since Bai Mao had covered the tickets, she wasn't going to insist on transferring money to him; instead, taking responsibility for the snacks was the appropriate choice.
She carried the popcorn and two cups of cola back. Bai Mao hurried over to take his share so as not to trouble her. Like any other couple in the queue, they lined up, had their tickets checked, and entered the theater.
After finding their seats, Zong Yan observed the surroundings. She noticed that most of the seats in this hall were two-person sofas, spaced quite far apart from the other seats.
Was this what cinemas were like now?
She sensed something was different. It seemed Bai Mao had specifically chosen a premium hall. She had to admit, he was very thoughtful.
Advertisements for various movies played on the big screen, the flickering lights casting shadows across their faces. Bai Mao set his cola down and held the popcorn bucket. He picked out a golden, rounded piece and held it to Zong Yan’s lips.
"Senior, try it! Cinema popcorn is extra sweet!"
***
The cinema manager, wiping sweat from his brow, welcomed two "young masters" at the door.
One was fuming, looking utterly exasperated. The other was expressionless, radiating a heavy, oppressive aura.
The manager bowed and scraped as he led them toward the corresponding hall. "So sorry, Young Master Si, Young Master Chen. At this hour, the private suites are all showing other films. There's only one small hall left that meets your requirements."
Chen Bai nodded casually to indicate it was fine, then frowned deeply, scolding the man beside him.
"I say, Si Jiang, what the hell is wrong with you? You set your house on fire and made the neighbors call the cops, and now you insist on seeing a movie no matter what?"
"It's just a damn movie. Can't you watch it some other time?"
"Hey, say something!"
Chen Bai really had a headache dealing with his childhood friend. Even the elders of the Si family knew about the fire now and were constantly messaging him to ask what happened. Chen Bai, who had been on a date with his girlfriend just moments ago, felt incredibly wronged. How the hell was he supposed to know?
He had rushed to Si Jiang’s house to handle the mess, only for this guy to show no gratitude. Under the disgruntled gaze of the property management, Si Jiang had simply said he wanted to see a movie.
Good lord! How did he end up with a friend like this?
He could only play the loyal companion and accompany this clearly mentally unstable guy to the cinema.
Si Jiang kept his lips pressed tight, having no desire to respond to the noisy Chen Bai. He was just thinking.
Why should he, Si Jiang, be the one to break down?
Wasn't it just a woman? Was there anything he wanted that he couldn't get? Why should he change himself for a woman, for a cheap piece of wax? So what if his invitation to a movie was rejected? It was no big deal.
He, Si Jiang, was going to watch this damn movie regardless! He wouldn't be affected just because that woman wasn't here!
Amidst Chen Bai’s sighs, he kept his head down and walked into the theater. In the expensive VIP hall, the number of spectators was noticeably small. Consequently, when he was halfway down the aisle, his body suddenly froze.
Chen Bai nearly walked into Si Jiang’s back. "What now? Don't just stop in the dark!"
He saw his friend’s gaze—it was like that of a betrayed beast, filled with disbelief and a towering rage.
Chen Bai’s heart tightened. He followed the gaze—a boy was feeding his girlfriend popcorn.
Wait!
That woman was...
"Hey, Si Jiang, don't do anything reckless."
He became apprehensive. But Si Jiang stood there like a weathered statue, rooted to the spot. His eyes gradually darkened, revealing a sinister, desperate malice.
It was as if he wanted nothing more than to drag someone down to hell with him, to burn together in the karmic fires until nothing remained.
Chen Bai watched, his heart pounding with dread.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 陈柏 | Chen Bai | Si Jiang's childhood friend. |
| 贵宾厅 | VIP Hall / Premium Hall | A high-end cinema auditorium with better seating. |
| 蜡块 | Wax block / Wax memento | A specific item Si Jiang cherished, likely related to Zong Yan. |
| 司少 | Young Master Si | A respectful/status-based address for Si Jiang. |
| 陈少 | Young Master Chen | A respectful/status-based address for Chen Bai. |
