Chapter 46

The ounce in your soul, which governs all your emotions.

“Comrade, may I ask a question—how does he manage to always remain so calm? If he saw me as a rival, he wouldn’t be this silent.”

The edge of the umbrella merged into a curtain of rain. Gu Yi said lightly, as if he probably didn’t feel anything.

It was indeed like that. Xu Guanrui chuckled lightly, seemingly in disdain. The two of them walked up to Liang Daiwen, and Liang Daiwen spoke first, “Not meeting me means you’re choosing to be with him, huh?”

There was no way to defend herself. Xu Guanrui laughed first, “What? Isn’t it only natural to send a girl home?” He gently put his arm around Gu Yi, “I’ll go first, next time, I won’t let him.”

He walked past Liang Daiwen, stopped for a moment to meet his gaze, then briskly walked away.

The rain stretched across the long stretch between Building No. 2 and Building No. 3. Gu Yi walked over and pulled out her phone, the screen shattered and in pieces, held in the palm of her hand. “My phone got smashed. I went to Changning for an open mic performance because the other side scheduled it last minute, so I couldn’t contact you… If you don’t believe me, check my friend request. I added you with the intern’s WeChat, you must have missed it…”

“You don’t need to explain.” Liang Daiwen’s breathing was calm. “I can’t feel anything.”

Even a fool could tell he was angry. She continued to follow Liang Daiwen, watching his back, soaked through, with wet pants and hair, his figure so pitiful. Liang Daiwen was like a wall, blocking his lonely inner world. The two passed by a convenience store with air conditioning on, and the cold wind made Gu Yi sneeze repeatedly, but she didn’t forget to follow the “dull goose” behind her, repeating herself like a broken record, “It was really a coincidence, and I was indeed doing stand-up in Changning. You can ask the person in charge if you don’t believe me…”

“No need to tell me. It was just an event organized by a work partner. I thought you were in a bad mood, worried you might harm yourself, or have an accident on the road. Turns out, it’s just that your phone got smashed.”

Every word carried thoughts that were heartbreaking. Gu Yi tightly squeezed Liang Daiwen’s hand in hers, “Xu Guanrui is someone I ran into on the road. He saw me in the rain, so he sent me home and went to have a late-night snack. I haven’t eaten yet, I promise…”

“I’ll say it again, I don’t feel anything. I don’t feel your guilt, and I don’t have any jealous emotions.”

“Didn’t you used to be able to feel it? Now you’re at 20% of a normal person’s level…”

The rain felt almost hot on her skin. Liang Daiwen coldly said, “When emotions are uncertain, it’s better to prioritize career and hobbies. After all, love can be sacrificed when necessary. If I were you, I would do the same. So stop feeling guilty.”

Her anger was ignited. She could sense the change in Liang Daiwen’s mood: when he was in a good mood, he would tell jokes to make her laugh or gloat, but whenever he couldn’t control his emotions, the conversation would become extremely calm, masking all feelings, keeping people at arm’s length. She was a bit upset and grabbed Liang Daiwen’s hand. “Come with me.”

The lights in the park had already been turned off. The two of them reached the third floor of the exterior stairs. The rain hadn’t stopped. Gu Yi stood on the stairs and wiped her face. “Are you sure you won’t be angry? No matter what I do, you won’t be angry, right?”

Liang Daiwen waited to see what she would do.

“You’ll regret it.” Gu Yi pulled out his phone from his pocket and let go. The phone hit the ground just like the one this afternoon, and with a few more hits, it reached the first floor, shattering. She defiantly asked, “Are you angry? I threw your phone. Are you angry?”

“Crazy.”

“I’ll compensate you for the phone, even if I have to beg for money, but I need you to understand that without a phone, a person is disconnected. I apologize for missing the appointment, but you can’t misunderstand me. I may be a madwoman in your eyes, but I can’t be someone who’s two-timing.”

Taking a few deep breaths, Liang Daiwen asked, “Is it necessary to pay such a high price?”

“I need you to feel it for yourself. If you give me a tooth, I’ll give you a new phone, and we’ll call it even, okay?”

Her impulsive temper, only appearing in rare situations, was a bad habit inherited from her mother. When her emotions got the best of her, wanting to clarify something or hold on to something, she couldn’t help but act out of revenge. Liang Daiwen just quietly watched her, his eyes, in the rain, still carrying the same expression as usual, as though the coldness had been soaked in water, adding a layer of lingering unease. She didn’t know how to explain the sudden tension and fear that arose, and so she had to do something to make Liang Daiwen feel that she wasn’t doing it on purpose, but she still vaguely worried that this might be the beginning of a break, just like the feeling of being suspended on a clothesline, drifting.

“Are you really afraid I’ll misunderstand you?”

“Yes. If this hard-earned 20% goes back to zero, all my previous efforts will be in vain.”

The next evening, two identical brand-new phones sat on the Genius Bar, transferring data. Gu Yi looked at her maxed-out credit card and rolled her eyes at Liang Daiwen. Liang Daiwen, with his expressionless face, glared back. Gu Yi felt guilty and just pursed her lips. Liang Daiwen, with a sharp tongue, said, “If you want to use couple phones with me, just say so, no need to go around in circles.”

“You wish.”

The staff didn’t say anything. Gu Yi looked at the message on Liang Daiwen’s screen. The last message was from Zhang Qingya: “You must give me an answer tonight, or the consequences will be beyond my control.”

Of course, that message was never replied to. Liang Daiwen casually clicked on one of the icons below, covering the WeChat on the computer, opening the App Store. The scrolling game page caught Gu Yi’s attention. Liang Daiwen pointed at her phone, “I’ve restored everything. Do you need anything downloaded?”

“As long as my jokes are still there, I’m fine,” Gu Yi said, though there was a game data that was lost, which was a bit of a pity.

“What game?”

“Called Monument Valley. It’s a puzzle game. The story is about a princess named Ida who returns the sacred geometry hidden in her hat to save her people. It feels more like a journey of seeking forgiveness. She explores a maze of magical architecture, with hidden paths and optical illusions, and even ravens blocking her way. Her only companion, a totem, is submerged in water and destroyed, sending her to the finish. I really like this game. Even after finishing it, I didn’t want to delete it. A little girl with a hat looks for her way in a lonely world, reaches great heights, crosses oceans, travels through time and space in a gem-like maze, and even delivers flowers to the deceased... It’s kind of like all of us.” Gu Yi paused. “It’s also very similar to your inner world—do you play games? Want to give it a try?”

Sitting in the back row of the bus, Liang Daiwen quietly helped the little hat-wearing figure find its way. From the first level all the way to the fifth, the geometric maze shifted shapes, almost hypnotic. Gu Yi leaned against the seat, muttering, “A lot of recent things have been quite interesting.”

“For example?”

“Once fell, Ounce closed, and you suddenly had some angry emotions, like a butterfly effect. Do you still remember the meaning of ‘ounce’? An ounce in your soul controls all your emotions—it’s referring to the amygdala in the brain, which controls joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. If ordinary people’s emotions come from perception, maybe yours are triggered by turmoil, so I have big ups and downs, which might be a good thing for you...”

After saying all this, Gu Yi fell asleep. Liang Daiwen opened WeChat. Not turning on the phone for two nights was a good thing, and the effect was quite clear. Apart from some abusive messages, he had been removed from several high-end designer alliances’ groups. Zhang Qingya’s last message was from 10 AM, with a sad tone: “After all these years of knowing each other, the last cooperation was the most unpleasant. I didn’t expect you to even reject my call. Looks like the friendship ends here.”

Liang Daiwen replied on the screen: “If I copied it, then I copied it. There’s nothing to argue about.”

“Do you even care about your reputation? There’s no need for this at all.”

“I want to spend my time on myself. The contract is up, and you don’t have the right to just renew it.”

“Is this how you’re distancing yourself from me, Liang Daiwen? Are you really serious about that girl? It’s not worth it...”

Beside her, Gu Yi was sleeping soundly, with what seemed like saliva hanging from the corner of her mouth. The bus jolted, causing Gu Yi’s head to knock against the window. Liang Daiwen placed her hand gently on Gu Yi’s forehead and silently gazed out of the window.

On the weekend, Yu Dule sent a photo. The “ounce” neon sign on the second-floor windowsill had been taken down, and the door was locked. The storefront that connected the first and second floors would soon have new owners. Lu Ming, who hadn’t appeared in a while, posted in the group: “I’m back. The Rongmao Theater is empty. Let’s do stand-up there for now.”

Gu Yi ran to the Rongmao Theater with her new phone. Guan Xingxin was writing small ads on the blackboard: “Every Saturday at 8:30 PM, Rongmao Stand-up Open Mic.” Lu Ming, who had been noticeably tanned, wasn’t working as a diving or skiing instructor anymore and wasn’t going to film sets either. He had returned to his hometown to take orders and pay off his debts, which was going much smoother than his scattered efforts to pay off debt before. An old classmate from Dalian had helped him connect with a small company doing Sino-Russian trade, and he started taking orders for Kazakhstan and Russia. The small company’s general manager was a middle-aged woman who came from a Russian translation background. The two of them had visited Russia a few times to meet clients and brought back a bunch of Russian specialties.

After a few weeks of not seeing him, Lu Ming seemed to be in a good place. Yu Dule seriously asked him why things were going so smoothly, and Lu Ming explained earnestly. The translator worked for a company doing trade with Russia, and because she was pregnant at an older age, the company had considered firing her. Fearing for her job, she brought all the clients with her and had been struggling to find a suitable manufacturing plant. Lu Ming said, “We hit it off right away and the cooperation has gone very smoothly. We split everything 50/50, and within a year, I’ll probably have paid off my debts.” Yu Dule seriously pointed out that having a factory but splitting 50/50 with a translator was clearly a loss. Lu Ming, sitting with his legs spread wide, laughed heartily: “Don’t worry about the details. I met a benefactor without anyone lending me a hand, and I’d be happy with a 70/30 split. You have to push yourself to grow. I used to think it was too vulgar to inherit my parents’ factory, but now that I’ve paid off half my debt, I see things differently. Others can only take orders and find unreliable manufacturers, but my parents have a factory; I just need to find orders. Skiing, diving, acting... things I ‘liked’—I couldn’t even hope for them, and eventually, I didn’t like them anymore. But now, focusing on making money, I feel more at ease than ever before. Even my parents think I’m more reliable, and I’ve realized that ‘industry’ is what can save someone like me, a middle-aged person in debt.”

Of course, that wasn’t the key point. Gu Yi wiped the sweat off her brow: “Uncle Lu, why are you suddenly so motivated?”

“I want to see my daughter, I can’t be a social drifter anymore. Plus, I’ve met someone new, and you can’t get what you want by not competing for it.”

“Is it that Russian translator?” Gu Yi tilted her head and asked.

“Of course not.” Lu Ming laughed heartily: “She’s married, with a full family. A seasoned translator who can bring clients along, now with children, how could she be interested in me?”

Guan Xingxin smiled, her expression relaxed: “Uncle Lu is full of energy now, looking like Xu Wenqiang on the Shanghai Bund.”

The two of them exchanged a knowing smile. Yu Dule didn’t speak, only using a wet wipe to gently clean the “ounce” neon sign. The five small cursive letters, when lit, glowed a warm yellow, making the courtyard feel incredibly cozy even in the night. Guan Xingxin had brought many new decorations to the Rongmao Theater, having specifically gone to NITORI the day before to buy wall tapestries and table lamps. She was very happy when Lu Ming returned. Guan Xingxin joked, saying that although the “ounce” sign was gone, their little family was still here, and she felt that it was even more stable now, breathing a sigh of relief. Three stand-up comedians were now stationed at the theater, and it seemed that this place might become the second “ounce.” Gu Yi vaguely felt that Yu Dule’s comment wasn’t wrong; Guan Xingxin had indeed gotten used to a life with dual options, and now that Yu Dule no longer had a job, Lu Ming’s return was just in time. Gu Yi asked if the owner of the “ounce” sign no longer wanted it.

“Yeah. Once I clean it up, I’ll take it home. After all, it was the place I stayed for two years.”

“Just leave it here.”

“No need. It’s fine as ‘Rongmao Theater.’“

After that, the room fell silent. Guan Xingxin quickly changed the subject: “Have you guys seen the latest stand-up comedy variety show? It’s really popular. What’s going on, aren’t the three comedians paying attention to the hot topics?”

They gathered around to watch their phones. The stand-up comedy show had already aired several episodes, led by two well-known comedians in the industry, with two teams of stand-up comedians competing. The content was a mix of good and bad, with celebrities making appearances to generate buzz, and there were also actors that Gu Yi knew—familiar faces from the 80s, newcomers from other industries, and female stand-up comedians she really liked… all appeared on the show. Gu Yi felt a mix of emotions rising in her heart—envy, jealousy, a slight rejection of less skilled comedians telling awkward jokes, and yet a sense of disbelief that stand-up comedy could have a show like this. If only “ounce” could last for two more months, stand-up comedy was really becoming popular, and maybe it wouldn’t have shut down... She glanced at Yu Dule, whose emotions must have been the most complicated—he came from a television program background, had worked for years without staying in the industry, and now his former colleagues were inviting him to edit footage, but he insisted on doing stand-up comedy, and the bar he had been holding onto was gone...

“Forget it, let’s not think about it.” Lu Ming pulled a thick stack of scripts out of his bag: “I’ve written a new script and invited Liang Daiwen and Xu Guanyue. They’ll be here soon.”

The battlefield of emotions really never ends. Gu Yi pulled Guan Xingxin aside: “Can you give me Dr. Shen’s contact info?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I think I upset Liang Daiwen a couple of days ago—not a big deal, but he seems to have had a noticeable change in mood. I want to ask him why.”

Guan Xingxin took out her phone: “So Dr. Shen lost a bet, huh?”

“What bet?”

Guan Xingxin quickly covered her mouth, her face turning pale for a moment: “Forget it, it’s just a bet. When Liang Daiwen was receiving treatment from Dr. Shen, he tried many methods but didn’t show any noticeable emotional responses—reading books, watching movies, watching plays, girl group performances… none of it worked. Before going abroad, Dr. Shen said, if nothing else works, he should try falling in love. Pick someone he might like, try randomly, and if there’s any change, he’d lose 1000 yuan to Liang Daiwen and would also give weekly public lectures when he returned. Liang Daiwen said he had tried dating before, but it was all failures; asking someone who’s been sentenced to death to try to light a spark of hope before execution is meaningless, it wouldn’t work. Dr. Shen said it’s not necessarily hopeless, emotional disorders can’t be completely cured, but if there’s even a 50% chance, then he completely deserves to pursue happiness. Dr. Shen is someone who’s all about the money, he definitely wouldn’t be interested in doing public welfare, he’s too vulgar. Now if you go find him, Dr. Shen will probably be stunned…”

As soon as she finished speaking, Liang Daiwen and Xu Guanyue pushed the door open at the same time. Gu Yi and Liang Daiwen locked eyes, and the “ounce” sign nearby was lit up, the light reflecting off Liang Daiwen, as if it were an extraordinary fable.