TPIL - 39

The rattan was soaked in water, dried, and then woven—overlapping, winding around, repeating the same process over and over. Rattan weaving wasn’t particularly disliked, but it also wasn’t something he loved. A few years ago, Qi Xiaochuan would never have dreamed that he could become so skilled at this. But upon closer reflection, it wasn’t entirely unpredictable. When he was young and washing cars, he always found the most efficient methods quickly. As an adult selling women’s clothing, he effortlessly packaged and folded garments, even pushing aside employees to sit at the sewing machine and fix defects.

Delicate work wasn’t easy, but the shop’s facilities went out of their way to minimize the effort, turning it into an unexpectedly enjoyable experience.

Most importantly, sitting across from him was someone who looked more like moonlight than the moon itself.

However, no matter how much you try to prevent it, there are still unwelcome interruptions.

“Little An, Little An,” unable to get a response, Gao Jie didn’t mind walking over gracefully. Though young, she had an air of maturity, dressed in a Balenciaga white dress that appeared gentle, her short black hair neat and tidy, giving a very good first impression. “Can you come over and take a look?”

Behind her followed another colleague, looking apologetic for being unable to satisfy the customer.

Luo Andi stood up, first steadying Gao Jie’s shoulders before saying: “If you have any questions, asking Xiao Ruo is the same. Look, I have other customers here—”

“What kind of other customer?” Gao Jie smiled innocently, glancing at Qi Xiaochuan. “Uncle Qi, can I join your class?”

For Qi Xiaochuan, showing compassion was harder than handing her two thousand yuan on the spot: “No. Go away.”

“Thank you, you’re so kind!” Gao Jie had already sat down.

Such precocious children were truly annoying. Qi Xiaochuan couldn’t help but think.

“Little An, do you know the new dessert shop in the mall on Pedestrian Street? Their soufflé is really good.” Compared to the taciturn Qi Xiaochuan, Gao Jie was much more adept at starting conversations and knew exactly what Luo Andi liked—a truly cunning move.

Qi Xiaochuan thought about how insignificant such things were. Opening a dessert shop with those gooey calorie bombs wasn’t impressive; sugar was harmful to the body. Yet, Luo Andi’s eyes lit up as she happily exclaimed: “Really?”

“Yes! Look at the pictures they posted on Instagram—how cute!” Gao Jie extended her phone, placing her arm on the handicraft instruction book Qi Xiaochuan was reading, causing his blood pressure to spike as he complained unhappily, “You’re blocking me.”

How difficult it was to focus on crafting.

Qi Xiaochuan bitterly thought.

He waited until Gao Jie left, during which time he absentmindedly completed his work, seemingly uninterested in their conversation. However, halfway through, Luo Andi suddenly gasped, promptly expressing regret: “Ah, the size seems too small.”

Qi Xiaochuan frowned, looking up at her, then buried his face again, neither denying nor opposing: “Is that so?”

“It’ll be troublesome to redo it; the workload isn’t small either,” Luo Andi reached out, taking it and examining it while turning it around. “I need to think about how to adjust it…”

Gao Jie was also gazing upward intently. Qi Xiaochuan snatched it back without expression, saying: “It’s fine.”

Luo Andi looked at him, no longer insisting on anything, silently turning her head to continue helping Gao Jie fix her messy work.

Qi Xiaochuan didn’t know the number of times he had returned directly from the “Paradise Handicraft Shop” to the company for overtime. Upon entering, even the employees preparing to leave were startled, unsure whether to stay or leave. Unexpectedly, the boss had no intention of talking to them, his face looking terrible as he silently entered his office, waking all the motion-sensor lights along the way.

As night deepened, just when he was preparing to get something to eat in the company kitchen, he had only made microwave pasta and was biting his fork while watching U.S. stocks and newly listed A-shares when he received a message notification.

Luo Andi asked: “Still working?”

Qi Xiaochuan pondered for a moment, somewhat puzzled. Logically speaking, the craft shop should have closed by now. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, instinctively wanting to find the shop’s lights, but alas, only darkness remained—it had indeed closed, and he saw nothing. Just as he was withdrawing his gaze, he suddenly spotted a figure standing under the streetlights and trees below. From this high floor, his vision was clear. Luo Andi wore a pair of fluffy boots and a shawl, her curly hair pinned up. To him, she was always strikingly conspicuous.

He replied: “Mm.”

For a moment, he had even edited a message inviting her: “Do you want to come over? I’ll go downstairs to pick you up.”

She called, and he answered. Qi Xiaochuan’s first words were “Is there something?”—just three words, spoken rather curtly. After saying it, he felt a bit of regret himself. Luo Andi had taken a long time tidying up after work, delaying quite a bit. The driver had even called to check, probably confirming that the employer would likely pull an all-nighter and was preparing to return home and standby,顺便 confirming the status of another service recipient. Upon learning Qi Xiaochuan was still working overtime, she came over to check.

Luo Andi said: “Nothing important. Xiaochuan, make sure to rest.”

She turned to leave.

Just as he was about to hang up, a slightly urgent voice came from the other end. Qi Xiaochuan seemed to have gone through intense internal conflict and reluctantly blurted out an invitation uncharacteristic of him: “Um… Want to watch a movie?”

There weren’t many choices for late-night screenings, so they went to see the nostalgic Notting Hill .

He remembered that when he was a child, Mrs. Luo was obsessed with romantic films. Their house had a dedicated underground screening room, leaving the then-unworldly Qi Xiaochuan speechless. Not only that, but she was clearly proud and generous about her hobby, often calling everyone to watch movies together. Even Luo Chuishun, who loved using studying as an excuse, couldn’t escape. The three children and Mrs. Luo watched Roman Holiday together.

Audrey Hepburn was Mrs. Luo’s favorite. She had sighed more than once about how Hepburn’s life was full of ups and downs and extraordinary events: “Like a real movie. Such a perfect woman, yet she never had a satisfying love story. It’s so sad.” At this point, tears welled up in her eyes.

Luo Chuishun showed no interest in romance, perhaps because he was still young. In any case, he merely yawned and responded: “So what? What’s so sad about it? Her evaluation shouldn’t be limited to her romantic life.”

“But for women… it’s hard in this world. It’s better to have a man to rely on.” At this point, Mrs. Luo stroked Luo Andi’s hair. “Your father and I both hope you live an easier life, find someone trustworthy, and let him take care of you. If you can’t find one, there’s still your younger brother. Chuishun, it’ll be up to you in the future, okay?”

Luo Chuishun avoided his mother’s embrace, lightly laughing: “What nonsense.”

Luo Andi’s youthful face retained an unwavering smile.

Qi Xiaochuan sat beside them, not joining the conversation, merely watching the male protagonist on the screen pretend his hand was swallowed by the precious stone.

Back to the present, everything had changed, and the characters on the screen continued their own stories. They bought popcorn, Häagen-Dazs, and other snacks. Qi Xiaochuan hadn’t eaten dinner and was starving, but he only offered the food to Luo Andi.

While complaining that “this will make me fat,” Luo Andi ate. Qi Xiaochuan watched her, unknowingly filling his heart before his stomach. Being with her always brought a subtle sense of satisfaction and peace. Suddenly, she “Mm”-ed, pursing her lips and spitting out the plum pit in her mouth, smiling foolishly like a child changing teeth. There was no trash bin nearby, and as she looked around, a palm extended from beside her.

Qi Xiaochuan softly said, “Spit it into my hand.” Luo Andi’s eyes widened involuntarily. Without tissues, she would have preferred to swallow it, but he kept urging her. Her delicate nature, unused to hardship, prevailed, and she lowered her head, pressing her temple with her hand, carefully placing the food residue onto his palm. He didn’t show the slightest trace of disgust.

Thinking of asking about what Su Yining mentioned the other day, he turned his head near the end, only to unexpectedly see an unforeseen scene. The light fell on the woman’s face; Luo Andi was lost in the movie, a faint smile on her lips, but inexplicably, Qi Xiaochuan felt she might cry at any moment.

After the movie ended, they lingered in the empty screening room for a long time.

“A fairy-tale-like story, how wonderful,” Luo Andi slightly squinted her eyes, happily smiling. “Don’t you think life needs such fantasies? Cinderella meets the prince, the poor boy meets the princess—how blissful.”

Qi Xiaochuan couldn’t respond. Standing up, he extended his hand to her and said: “Let’s go.”

There was no moon tonight. They drove home, passing one streetlamp after another.

The next day did not arrive peacefully.

At dawn, Qi Xiaochuan woke up earlier than usual, sitting on the bed for a while, preparing to go for morning exercise when he heard a series of clinks outside. Thanks to watching The Wolf of Wall Street the previous day in preparation for their next movie outing, he was startled, thinking the police were breaking in yelling “FBI open the door.” He went out only to find Luo Andi.

“What’s wrong? Why are you—” he was astonished.

“Xiaochuan, I’m sorry. It’s about Gao Jie’s father…” Luo Andi’s brows furrowed slightly, explaining anxiously, “I must go find her now.”

Qi Xiaochuan still didn’t understand the situation, but he immediately grabbed the car keys and followed. Having him drive her there was more convenient than hailing a taxi last minute. Approaching Gao Jie’s house, Qi Xiaochuan realized that the person taken away by federal investigators was someone else.

Gao Feng had been arrested for economic crimes; such news would likely hit the headlines soon. Gao Jie sat alone in the house, wrapped in a blanket, the servants having been dismissed from the bedroom. Only Luo Andi, who had been contacted and rushed over, entered freely. Upon entering, she was tightly embraced by the soon-to-be high school girl.

“What to do? Will Daddy go to jail? They say he’s a criminal.” This was overwhelming for a middle school student. “Little An, I’m so scared. What will happen to my family?”

As an accompanying guest, Qi Xiaochuan awkwardly stayed outside the door, declining the coffee offered by the Filipino maid. Through the crack in the door, he could see the woman and girl talking.

Luo Andi’s face was blocked by the floor lamp, creating a blind spot, making her expression indiscernible. All he knew was that she raised her hands, hugging Gao Jie tightly while stroking her hair: “Don’t be afraid.”

Gao Jie tearfully looked up: “Can you understand me?”

The hands embracing her were often skillful and proficient at embroidery, weaving, and various crafts. Luo Andi gazed at her, her smile like warm water filling a glass vessel, misty with moisture: “I’ve experienced something far scarier, a thousand times worse.”

The girl’s features imprinted shadows of memories—though they didn’t resemble each other, they were so alike: “Really?”

“My father was deceived by a friend too. That person destroyed my home and lived a wealthy life abroad.” Those hands gripped smaller, more fragile ones. Luo Andi stared into the unknown direction, calmly continuing: “I hated him so much.”