NMBJ2 - 38

Two days later, as Zhao Pingjin was leaving work, he saw Huang Xitang at the entrance of the Qian family’s courtyard.

Xitang was just stepping out of the Qian residence. She was returning to Shanghai that night. In the afternoon, she had finally visited her father’s house. Their relationship remained strained, but the elderly couple didn’t care about such formalities. Her half-brother, who was rarely home, left the elderly with few opportunities to see younger generations. Now, seeing their granddaughter return, they were overjoyed—so much so that their blood pressure rose. Her father had prepared gifts for her and asked her to thank the Qian family. But she still needed to return to Shanghai, where her work awaited, and Ni Kailun had arranged for doctors to continue her treatment there.

Zhao Pingjin parked his car at the hutong entrance. As he closed the door, he saw her walking out of the courtyard. Upon seeing him, she showed no surprise or fear. Xitang said, “Just finished work?”

Zhao Pingjin nodded. Huang Xitang wore a soft pink blouse, a black skirt, and her hair was loosely tied back in a braid. Her beauty had reached an almost ethereal level.

“How’s your arm?” he asked.

“It’s temporarily better,” she replied.

“Why not rest longer in Beijing?”

“No, I’m going back to Shanghai for further treatment.”

“Take good care of yourself and get your arm treated properly.”

Xitang smiled and agreed softly, “Alright.”

Her tone was gentle, carrying just the right amount of concern. She knew Zhao Pingjin was trying to comfort her. It was strange to think that Zhao Pingjin, of all people, now knew how to console others. Times had truly changed.

Zhao Pingjin felt his heart tighten, strand by strand, until it nearly suffocated him. Unable to resist, he took a step forward but stopped himself, calling her name softly: “Xitang.”

She looked up at him. Just as Zhao Pingjin was about to speak, a man’s voice called out from the courtyard: “Xitang, let’s go.”

Xitang turned around. Li Shu’an emerged from the courtyard, holding his daughter’s hand. The little girl let go of her father’s hand and skipped over the threshold, hugging Xitang affectionately.

Li Shu’an noticed Zhao Pingjin. “Zhouzi, just got back?”

Zhao Pingjin nodded.

By then, the driver had pulled the car into the hutong. Xitang held the little girl’s hand and got into the car. Li Shu’an opened the passenger door for her, and Huang Xitang sat down quietly in the front seat. The driver stepped out to assist Li Shu’an, who climbed into the driver’s seat. He waved at Zhao Pingjin: “See you later.”

Zhao Pingjin stood motionless at the entrance of the quadrangle courtyard, watching the gray sedan drive out of Guosheng Hutong.

---

After returning to Shanghai from Zhenbei Fort Film Studio, Huang Xitang still hadn’t received any promising offers. Her quoted fee for film and television projects remained high due to her previous works, but in reality, there were no takers. As things gradually settled down, Ni Kailun wanted to ease her back into work. Engaging in public welfare was the safest way to test the waters. Ni Kailun arranged several options, and Xitang ultimately accepted an invitation from a domestic child sexual abuse prevention charity.

During those days of seclusion in Shanghai, Li Shu’an sometimes spoke to her about his late wife’s work. His wife had been the founder of a charitable organization, one of whose key missions was combating child sexual abuse. It was during this time that Xitang began learning about child protection and anti-abuse expertise.

A week later, Xitang traveled to Beijing to participate in a public welfare event at a migrant workers’ children school outside the Fourth Ring Road. She came to Beijing alone, without even an assistant. Huang Xitang was now the most idle artist in their company, not requiring a manager. Assistant Ah Kuan was accompanying He Lu Fei on a shoot in Xiamen. That evening, after arriving in Beijing, Li Shu’an asked about her schedule. Xitang told him, and after the event ended, as expected, she saw Li Shu’an’s car waiting outside.

He was the kind of person who made others feel at ease. In the tumultuous world of entertainment, such individuals were rare. Xitang hadn’t encountered someone like him in years.

Li Shu’an came to pick her up. Xitang got into his car, and he smiled. “Grandmother knows I’ve come to fetch you. She wants you to come home for dinner. Donglin has brought his girlfriend back today. Let’s join the gathering.”

Xitang hesitated momentarily.

Li Shu’an added, “Grandmother is concerned about your arm and asked me to bring you back so she can take another look. If you’re uncomfortable staying, I’ll take you back to the hotel shortly.”

After a long pause, Xitang nodded.

At the Qian residence in Guosheng Hutong, the family had invited a renowned chef from Yangzhou’s Beijing office to prepare Huaiyang cuisine. When Xitang and Li Shu’an arrived at the courtyard, Lu Xiaojiang was greeting guests. He was junior to Li Shu’an and always behaved respectfully. Upon seeing them, he greeted warmly, “Uncle.”

Xitang followed behind Li Shu’an, head bowed, saying nothing. She only heard Li Shu’an ask, “Xiaojiang, back already? How are your wife and child?”

“They’re fine. I came ahead to settle things. She’ll bring the child later to visit grandparents for a while,” Lu Xiaojiang replied.

This was when Xitang learned that Lu Xiaojiang had a child.

As Xitang followed Li Shu’an into the house, she overheard Lu Xiaojiang mention that Qian Donglin was attending a meeting in the new district and would be home soon. Inside, Fang Langmei and Qingqing were already present.

Qingqing was holding her child and chatting with Qian Donglin’s girlfriend. Seeing Xitang enter, she pulled her to sit beside her.

Xitang had seen Qingqing once before at a hotel in Beijing when they visited her. She knew the couple had testified on her behalf to the police. Back then, Qingqing burst into tears upon seeing her.

“It wasn’t your fault. It really had nothing to do with you,” Xitang had said.

Fang Langmei sat silently on the hotel sofa, watching his wife sob with Xitang. Before leaving, he simply said gently, “Xitang, rest well.”

At the time, Fang Langmei and Zhao Pingjin were working together, risking much to resolve Sun Kehu’s matter. But Fang knew that Zhao Pingjin and Xitang’s relationship was irreparable. Some truths were best left unknown to each other.

Around 6 p.m., Qian Donglin returned. Scanning the dining room, he asked, “Isn’t Zhouzi coming?”

Li Shu’an replied, “Someone checked with the neighbors. He’s busy tonight.”

Sitting on the couch, Xitang quietly exhaled in relief but immediately felt a pang of bitterness, a strange mix of emotions.