Chapter 14: Cheng Mi Is Forced Against the Wall by Him

The bar’s restroom was unexpectedly empty at that moment.

No passionate men and women, no drunkards acting wild.

It was so quiet that only the powerful electronic music permeated through the walls.

The sound of Cheng Mi opening her stall door had already silenced the two girls. They probably hadn’t expected anyone to be inside.

Then they turned around and saw her.

Cheng Mi was a little disappointed not to see expressions of resentment or disgust on their faces.

The two girls’ faces turned pale after seeing her. Just a moment ago, they had been so aggressive with their words, but now their lips were pressed tightly together.

Of course, they didn’t apologize to her either; just standing there already indicated they were in the opposing camp.

Cheng Mi naturally didn’t say anything to them either, and couldn’t be bothered to argue.

She walked out of the stall, not avoiding them, and went to the sink, continuing with what she had been doing.

As if she hadn’t heard the conversation earlier.

Water loudly gushed, washing away the hidden grime in the restroom, exposing it for all to see.

Cheng Mi was leisurely and composed, rinsing her fingers under the running water.

The two girls never left either. At a time like this, staying there meant nothing but provocation. If they had been genuinely remorseful about being overheard badmouthing someone, they would have long since fled, red-faced.

Cheng Mi acted as if they weren’t there. After washing her hands, she turned off the water and continued what she hadn’t finished earlier.

She picked up her phone from the countertop. The screen lit up, showing the same page from a few minutes ago: a black avatar, a letter S.

It was Si Tingyan’s account profile.

She reached out, her wet fingertips touching the screen.

This touch, however, felt like a stab to the heart. The next second, several unusually glaring words popped up at the top of the screen.

[Friend request sent.]

As these words landed, the air in the restroom suddenly grew sharp edges and thorns.

There was no sound, yet it felt as if something substantial had deeply pierced the air.

Cheng Mi, however, remained unmoved. After adding the friend, she turned off her phone. In the suffocating silence, a click echoed as the screen locked.

Her lipstick, due to drinking, had uneven color. Cheng Mi looked up at the mirror, as if unaware of anyone else, lightly tapped her finger to press on her lips, slowly and deliberately smoothing and evening out the color.

At that moment, voices from the walkway outside the restroom broke the stiff atmosphere inside.

Laughter and conversation grew closer, and soon reached the door.

Cheng Mi looked through the mirror and was surprised to see Zhang Lingyin and Deng Zi and their colleagues.

Zhang Lingyin and Deng Zi also saw her first. Deng Zi said: “I knew it! How come I came back from the dance floor and didn’t see you in the booth?”

As he finished speaking and walked in, he noticed there were two other people in the restroom.

Deng Zi didn’t recognize them, so he merely glanced. Zhang Lingyin, however, was different, though she still showed no discernible reaction.

In that instant, even Cheng Mi, standing in front of the mirror, felt the atmosphere was off.

But it wasn’t between her and the two girls; it was among the four people behind her.

Cheng Mi found it a bit strange and glanced in the mirror.

But it was just a glance; she wasn’t very interested.

The two girls soon left. She put her hands under the water again to rinse, asking Deng Zi and the others, “When are you guys leaving?”

“What time is it? We should at least party all night.”

Zhang Lingyin said: “Aren’t you working tomorrow?”

Cheng Mi turned off the water and turned to walk over: “I think she’s right, I need to go back too. I have school tomorrow.”

Deng Zi said: “Such a good student?”

“After all, I still have to go to university,” Cheng Mi said.

Deng Zi gave her a thumbs up: “You’ve got goals.”

It was getting late, so Cheng Mi decided to leave first: “Then you guys have fun, I’m heading out.”

Zhang Lingyin’s doll-like face smiled, cute and friendly: “Alright, see you around.”

As Cheng Mi was about to leave, Zhang Lingyin thought of something and called her back.

Cheng Mi stopped and turned her head.

Zhang Lingyin winked at her: “Our magazine is going to print in a few days, you’ll be able to get a copy soon.”

“Okay, let me know when it does.”

________________________________________

It was very late when Cheng Mi got home.

Si Huiru and Si Tingyan were both asleep.

Cheng Mi didn’t make too much noise. She quickly showered and climbed into bed in the dark. Before falling asleep, she checked her phone. The only light in the bedroom came from the screen, illuminating her face in a pale glow.

There were no new messages.

The friend request she sent to Si Tingyan hadn’t been accepted.

He couldn’t possibly not know it was her; she had written eight characters in the verification message.

—Your future girlfriend, Cheng Mi.

Cheng Mi believed Si Tingyan was capable of seeing something and not responding.

She turned to look at the bedroom door. Although it was tightly closed, it was too close, his bedroom was directly opposite, as if turning her head would already make her see him.

Unlike other girls who would feel embarrassed and anxious.

Cheng Mi, however, was very calm. She put her phone back on the bedside table and went to sleep.

She only slept for a few hours before daylight broke.

A small amount of alcohol helped her sleep, and she slept quite well all night. Even though the duration wasn’t long, she wasn’t prone to oversleeping anyway, so it didn’t affect her much.

She stood in front of the mirror as usual, casually picking out a pair of earrings.

Getting dressed and accessorizing was a habit for Cheng Mi, not for others to see, but purely for her own pleasure.

She had loved beauty since she was a child. Even when she was playing marbles with Li Chu, she already had a pile of various clothes and small accessories. For her, styling was not a chore but a joy.

After getting ready, she turned and walked to the bed. Her phone lay horizontally by the pillow. She picked it up and casually flipped through it.

As expected, nothing new.

No new notifications. The message list only contained messages from a few boys she met last night asking if she wanted to go out for a drink today.

Cheng Mi turned off her phone and left the room.

When she opened the door, Si Tingyan was already sitting at the table eating, and Si Huiru was busy in the kitchen as usual.

Hearing her room door open, Si Tingyan looked up at her.

Cheng Mi didn’t speak, just stared at him.

Their gazes met for less than two seconds before Si Huiru’s words interrupted their eye contact.

She turned back from wiping the counter in the kitchen and saw Cheng Mi: “Cheng Mi, are you awake?”

Both of them averted their gaze.

Si Huiru said: “Come sit down and have breakfast. The TV weather forecast said it’s going to get colder today, so wear an extra layer to school. Don’t catch a cold.”

Cheng Mi smiled and said okay.

She walked to the table and sat down, opposite Si Tingyan.

Si Tingyan had gotten up early and was already halfway through his meal.

Cheng Mi picked up her chopsticks, and they each ate their own food.

Neither of them spoke. After a while, Si Huiru also came and sat down. The dining table became even quieter, with only the faint clinking of chopsticks and bowls.

Soon after, Si Tingyan finished eating, stood up to grab his school bag, and told Si Huiru, “I’m going to school.”

He didn’t speak to Cheng Mi.

This was undoubtedly a source of worry for Si Huiru. The two children had been living under the same roof for so many days, yet they showed no signs of becoming familiar or close.

Instead, they were like strangers. Throughout the day, she hadn’t heard them say a single word to each other, and even though they attended the same school, they didn’t go together.

That night, she saw Cheng Mi looking for Si Tingyan to ask a question, and she thought the siblings had finally accepted each other. Now it seemed the problem lay with her own son; Si Tingyan had never been fond of talking to people since he was young, and he was also very indifferent to interpersonal relationships.

She guessed he was the same way with Cheng Mi.

The young girl was sent to her home, suddenly having to become family with complete strangers. It was already rare for her to take the initiative to bridge the gap.

Si Huiru called out to Si Tingyan: “Xiao Yan, wait for your sister.”

Si Tingyan looked at Si Huiru.

Cheng Mi did too, but she wasn’t as surprised. Si Huiru had always wanted the two of them to get along.

Si Huiru told Si Tingyan: “Go to school with your sister.”

Cheng Mi looked at Si Tingyan.

Si Tingyan also looked.

Cheng Mi initially thought that given Si Tingyan’s personality, he might directly refuse, but surprisingly, he didn’t.

Si Tingyan said nothing, pulled out his chair, and sat down.

He was prickly outside, but surprisingly obedient to Si Huiru at home.

Cheng Mi suddenly felt a little curious about the circumstances under which Si Tingyan was adopted by Si Huiru.

Cheng Mi happened to be almost finished eating, so she put down her chopsticks: “I’m done, Auntie. We’re leaving then.”

“Okay,” Si Huiru smiled.

Opposite, Si Tingyan rose from his chair.

Cheng Mi glanced at him, then unhurriedly got up from her own chair.

“Oh, wait,” Si Huiru, used to worrying about children, remembered about the temperature drop from last night. She went to the balcony and brought in two pieces of clothing for them. “It’ll be cold at noon, so take these clothes. Wear them if it gets chilly.”

Suddenly, Si Huiru reminded her of her mother, Cheng Zi.

Even though their personalities were vastly different, her mother was equally gentle towards her.

Many people said Cheng Mi’s personality resembled her mother’s, but only Cheng Mi knew that wasn’t true. Her mother was truly gentle; Cheng Mi only resembled Cheng Zi on the surface.

Cheng Zi also didn’t intentionally leave her alone in the world; she simply had no choice.

Cheng Mi came back to her senses and took the clothes Si Huiru handed her: “Thank you.”

Si Tingyan had already gone to the door.

Cheng Mi also walked towards the entrance.

Behind her, Si Huiru seemed to suddenly remember something: “Did Auntie not give you Xiao Yan’s phone number yet?”

Phone number, the phone number that someone refused to give her yesterday?

Cheng Mi turned around and said to Si Huiru: “That’s right, not yet.”

As she spoke, her eyes retracted and looked towards the door.

Si Tingyan also happened to look over.

The air was filled with the coolness of a gray, overcast day, a chilling sensation permeating one’s breath.

Their gazes met.

“I’m so scatterbrained. I meant to give it to you the day you arrived. Auntie will send you Xiao Yan’s phone number. If you need anything, you can ask your brother for help.”

Cheng Mi looked at Si Tingyan and said, “Okay.”

Si Tingyan averted his gaze, opened the door, and went out.

Before leaving, Cheng Mi didn’t forget to say to Si Huiru: “Auntie, we’ll head out now.”

“Okay, hurry to school, don’t be late.”

Si Tingyan was already walking ahead, not waiting for her as usual.

Cheng Mi wasn’t in a hurry either. She closed the door, then turned and followed him.

It was still the long, dim corridor, with rusty old windows at the far end.

Looking out, one could still see the old residential buildings, and faint sounds of cars and people drifted up from downstairs.

It was as if they were from a very distant depth, vaguely heard and not quite real.

Their footsteps, one in front of the other, overlapped and then separated in the hallway.

Cheng Mi watched his retreating figure and called out to him: “Si Tingyan.”

Si Tingyan naturally didn’t respond to her, or rather, he did so intentionally.

Cheng Mi wasn’t annoyed. She still followed him from a comfortable distance, her gaze fixed on the side of his school uniform jacket.

A few seconds later, she shifted her gaze, watched his retreating back ahead of her, and walked forward.

When she reached his side, she simply extended her fingertip slightly and effortlessly slipped his phone out of his school uniform outer pocket.

Then she stopped, calmly tapping the phone a few times.

It must be said that Si Tingyan was also quite calm; he didn’t even get angry or try to snatch his phone back.

Just as she was about to accept her friend request, her hand suddenly became immobile.

Her wrist was clasped by Si Tingyan’s long, slender fingers.

“Give me my phone back,” Si Tingyan’s voice was clean and cold.

Cheng Mi looked up at him: “Why?”

At the same time, as he was about to take her phone, she switched it to her other hand and hid it behind her back, instinctively stepping back against the wall.

The next second, her waist, which had previously had a gap from the wall, was now pressed against it by Si Tingyan.