Chapter 3: Can’t Let It Go Just Like That

Meng Qi looked Cheng Wanyue up and down and teased, “You think you’re slacking off like this, how perfect does one need to be?”

Cheng Wanyue couldn’t possibly carry a drum set to an audition. When Meng Qi first met her, what caught her attention immediately was her appearance—a pair of smiling eyes, two dimples, shoulder-length short hair in a bluish-purple hue, three earrings in her left ear, which looked especially stunning under the lights. Even Meng Qi, another woman, was impressed. Next was her personality—straightforward and cheerful, making interactions with her very easy.

Thinking about her younger brother falling head over heels for Cheng Wanyue, every time Zhou Heng came to eat, he found opportunities to chat with Cheng Wanyue, acting like a lapdog.

Sure enough, here he comes again.

“Alright, let’s get to business,” Meng Qi didn’t waste time and got straight to the point. “Wanyue, you see that after nine o’clock, we have more customers. Could you extend your performance by an hour until ten? Of course, your salary will increase accordingly, and we can discuss how much.”

Business had been good recently, and she wanted Cheng Wanyue to work overtime.

“Sorry, Sister Qi, my brother won’t allow it. He already disapproves of me performing here. If I add another hour, he’ll definitely send me home. Moreover, I have other jobs and need rest regularly,” Cheng Wanyue explained seriously, “Besides, I don’t lack money to spend.”

“That’s quite enviable,” Zhou Heng chimed in, leaning against the bar.

When Xu Qian was being sarcastic earlier, he almost snapped back. She isn’t some Cinderella; she’s a legitimate princess.

“You’re at the age where you can get married, yet you still listen to your brother so obediently?”

Cheng Wanyue nodded, “Yes, I’m a total sis-con.”

On her first day in Beijing, she promised Cheng Yanqing that she wouldn’t make him worry. She had already worried him for many years. Back then, lying in surgery, Cheng Yanqing often lay in a hospital bed too. Once, he had 1200 milliliters of blood drawn, leaving him weak for several days.

“Sister Qi, I can only stay until nine.”

“Well, alright,” Meng Qi didn’t force her but felt it was a pity. She originally wanted to use Cheng Wanyue for some promotion. “Another time, let’s have dinner at Zhou Heng’s place? His cooking is decent.”

“Sure,” Cheng Wanyue checked the time.

Tomorrow was Monday, and Cheng Yanqing had to go to work. She needed to return so he could rest assured. “Sister Qi, Dr. Zhou, you guys stay busy. I’ll head home first.”

Meng Qi signaled Zhou Heng, “Go see her off.”

Zhou Heng belatedly realized he had misspoken earlier. As he was about to open his mouth, Cheng Wanyue picked up her phone and waved at him, “No need, I live nearby.”

She wasn’t in a hurry to get home; she was eager to buy grilled skewers. If she waited any longer, the roasted sweet potato skins might sell out.

On the way, she encountered a group of students smoking on the roadside. Probably seeing her dressed lightly, they whistled at her through the smoke, deliberately speaking loudly to attract attention. Cheng Wanyue, distracted by the silhouette resembling Qing Hang she saw in the shop, was somewhat absent-minded. The Qing Hang in her memory was still the awkward teenage boy who would blush while secretly slipping notes into her hand in high school.

She knew nothing about what he looked like after they parted ways.

The boss handed over the packed grilled skewers. Cheng Wanyue prepared to scan and pay, but a student bumped into her, causing her to drop her phone, screen down, onto the ground.

The student helped her pick up the phone, apologized, and then suggested leaving a number in case it broke so he could compensate her.

Cheng Wanyue, of course, didn’t give him her number. She had been through this routine since she was a teenager.

After dealing with a group of idle male college students, Cheng Wanyue went to the supermarket to buy two cans of cold beer. Carrying them, she walked home while listening to music on her headphones. Hearing a familiar song easily brought back memories related to it.

“Am I being prickly just because I said a few words?” Xu Qian stirred the spicy chicken in her plate. “What kind of dish is this? It’s terrible. If you invite me here again, don’t bother calling me.”

These two always argued over small things whenever they met, and Qing Hang was used to it. Around nine o’clock, the nursing station called Qing Hang’s mobile phone, possibly due to post-operative issues with the patient. The restaurant was too noisy, so Qing Hang went outside to answer the call.

She came to Beijing at the beginning of May.

As for why she came, she had thought of many reasons and could answer fluently no matter who asked.

Only she knew the real reason.

At the end of April, Zhou Yu and Cheng Yuzhou returned to Baicheng No.1 High School to take wedding photos, and she went back as well. In the evening, she took a walk around the school, looking at the familiar playground, the classrooms she once stayed in, the corridors she ran through, and the small shop she visited countless times during breaks. She watched the tree shadows sway and the sunset descend.

That night, she had a dream and then decided to come to Beijing. She couldn’t just let it go like that.

The sound-activated lights in the stairwell must have been fixed because they weren’t very bright when Cheng Wanyue returned yesterday. Just as she was about to find her keys to open the door, it opened from the inside. Cheng Yanqing stood leaning against the shoe cabinet with his hands in his pockets, glaring at her.

Cheng Wanyue smiled cautiously, “I’m only five minutes late. You wouldn’t really kick me out to sleep under a bridge, would you?”

“It depends on your behavior,” Cheng Yanqing had a hunch that she wasn’t in a good mood tonight, so he sternly interrogated her at the door. “Cheng Wanyue, tell me honestly: what’s your real purpose in coming to Beijing with me?”

This apartment was rented by Cheng Yanqing. He came to Beijing for a six-month business trip, and renting a place was more comfortable and convenient than the company-provided dormitory. The second week after he settled in, Cheng Wanyue arrived with her suitcase and naturally took over the other room.

“How funny, what purpose could I possibly have?” Cheng Wanyue said confidently. “My purpose is obviously to keep an eye on you for my sister-in-law so you don’t fool around outside.”

She pushed his arm, “Move aside, don’t block the door.”

Cheng Yanqing was unsettled by her words. “Do I need you to watch over me?”

“Isn’t it because you’re old enough but still immature, always making my sister-in-law sad? When you can’t control yourself, I can lend a hand.”

Cheng Yanqing’s first love was also in Beijing.

“Are you thinking of seeing Qing Hang?” He saw through her attempt to change the subject and didn’t let her off that easily.

“No,” Cheng Wanyue denied without hesitation.

There was a hint of confusion in her eyes, as if it took her a while to remember who Qing Hang was. “Who cares about him? If you hadn’t mentioned him, I wouldn’t have remembered him. Brother, you’ll stay until the end of the year, right? I really want to see the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square on National Day. I’ve never been there. Will you accompany me?”

“No problem,” Cheng Yanqing quickly agreed but soon returned to the previous topic. “Swear to heaven that if you lie, you’ll gain ten pounds.”

“So vicious!” Cheng Wanyue widened her eyes. “Is there no trust between us siblings?”

“If you feel guilty, just say it.”

She didn’t avoid Cheng Yanqing’s sharp gaze but slowly lifted the bag in her hand and waved it in front of him. “I bought grilled skewers and beer.”

“You turn on the TV, and I’ll get you some yogurt.”

“OK!”

Family members didn’t allow Cheng Wanyue to drink alcohol, not even beer. The two cans she bought were for Cheng Yanqing.

They sat in the living room eating and called home. Their parents were busy with their new jobs in Xi’an after being transferred recently.

Cheng Yanqing voluntarily cleaned up and let his sister go wash up and sleep first.

Before closing the door, he stopped Cheng Wanyue, “Yueyue, I forbid you from being heartbroken over a man or shedding tears for anyone. No one.”

They were fraternal twins, and no one understood her better than Cheng Yanqing. She thought she was putting on a flawless performance, but in reality, it was full of holes.

“I don’t care about other things. You can do whatever you want, but if someone makes you sad, it’s unacceptable.”

Cheng Wanyue froze, and her feigned nonchalance cracked slightly. Cheng Yanqing had scolded her harshly and slapped her palms when she wanted to give up. Afterward, he rubbed and blew on them. He suffered more than she did. That year, Cheng Wanyue was only eighteen. While others could do many things at eighteen, she spent her birthday unconscious in a hospital bed.

Crying in front of family felt too sentimental, so Cheng Wanyue quickly hugged Cheng Yanqing before her tears could fall. “Got it, stop nagging.”

...

Cheng Wanyue’s ability to make friends was beyond Meng Qi’s imagination. She could get to know a table of people in five minutes. Since she arrived, business had indeed improved significantly.

Today, the lead singer had an hour off due to personal matters, so Cheng Wanyue took over. The songs she could sing were all old ones. Occasionally, guests requested songs she didn’t know, but they weren’t upset and let her sing whatever she wanted.

Ten minutes earlier, she was coolly playing the drums to warm up the crowd, and ten minutes later, she was sitting quietly singing love songs. Today, to match her white strap dress, she tied up her short hair loosely at the back. When she hit high notes, stray strands fell, covering the three earrings in her left ear.

“Always thought love was all our heartbeat; losing love means we will, we will slowly die bit by bit.”

A single spotlight shone on her on stage. She took her work seriously and clearly enjoyed it. Qing Hang’s seat was off to the side, so she didn’t notice him.

A waiter brought over a cocktail, “Sir, you’ve been here for over a week. Our boss invites you to have a drink on the house.”

The boss didn’t come to the store every day, but in recent days, whenever he came, he could see Qing Hang in the corner. Doctors’ working hours were irregular, either coming after work or before starting their shift. Zhou Heng was Meng Qi’s cousin, and Meng Qi was dating the boss. Last time, Zhou Heng introduced Qing Hang to the boss when they came to eat here.

“Thank you,” Qing Hang’s attention wasn’t on this drink.

He was wondering why Cheng Wanyue cut her hair short. She used to like long hair, though it was troublesome to wash, especially in autumn and winter, she kept it long.

She used to like bright colors. While red might look tacky on others, she looked beautiful in it, like a burning flame. Now, her clothes were only black and white.

She was so afraid of pain, yet she got three piercings.

“How long has she been singing here? Does she sing every day?”

The waiter said, “She’s only been here for about a month. She’s not the lead singer; she plays the drums and usually sits in the back, so some guests might not notice her. What song would you like to listen to? I can help you request it.”

One month.

So, she didn’t come here for him.

Qing Hang suddenly stood up. “No need, I’m not here to listen to music.”