GT - 5

Boys might be inseparable when times are good, but when they fall out, they show no mercy.

Furthermore, Li Zhiyu and Zheng Hongkai’s relationship wasn’t strictly good. Zheng Hongkai had latched onto Li Zhiyu’s coattails last semester through Hong Mao and was usually included in their fun and games.

They weren’t lifelong friends, at most fair-weather companions.

Li Zhiyu had no qualms about teaching such friends a lesson. Fortunately, there were many people to break up the fight, and Zheng Hongkai only ended up with a bruised face and a broken arm.

Finally, Zheng Hongkai went to the hospital accompanied by a few boys. Li Zhiyu was unaffected, and a group of them even planned an outing for the evening.

He didn’t ask Cheng Mi if she was going; he had already booked a spot for her.

Cheng Mi said: “Don’t count me in. I have something to do tonight, so I won’t be going.”

Hong Mao said: “What could you have to do? Going to work?”

The school forum was enthusiastic about handsome guys and pretty girls but wasn’t interested in studying. Since Cheng Mi enrolled at Fenggao, her name appeared on the forum every day.

Hong Mao and Li Zhiyu initially didn’t know, but after being bombarded by the forum repeatedly, they learned that Cheng Mi was quite famous online and had done many online photoshoots.

At that time, online shopping was booming, and online models were emerging endlessly. Cheng Mi was dug up to have been an exclusive model for a very high-selling women’s clothing brand. Many girls at school were avid fans of her brand’s style.

Hong Mao had browsed the forum posts for a bit and realized it was no wonder Cheng Mi could drive both boys and girls at school crazy.

She wasn’t like girls her age, who were pure and shy like a blank canvas. Instead, a mature charm was emerging from her very bones, blooming intensely, possessing a maturity beyond her years.

One look from her could mesmerize, silently captivating one’s reason.

Just like now, her eyes curved, and her lips smiled as she said: “It’s not impossible to work now. Can you introduce me to the market?”

Hong Mao slapped Li Zhiyu’s shoulder beside him: “For market introductions, you should ask this big shot. His dad can give you ten with a wave of his hand.”

Cheng Mi smiled, said nothing, clearly not taking it seriously.

Li Zhiyu didn’t ask what she was going to do either. He didn’t cancel her spot; he just called someone else to fill it.

Cheng Mi parted ways with them at the school gate. Street stalls steamed, crowds and car shadows intertwined, and the evening was full of life.

Cheng Mi walked all the way home and went upstairs.

The sunlight shifted, shining in through the stairwell window, casting her shadow very long.

Opening the door, the house was quiet as if no one had returned. Cheng Mi opened the shoe cabinet, took out a pair of indoor shoes, and at the same time looked at the bottom shelf.

Si Tingyan had returned.

She closed the shoe cabinet, stood up, and walked towards her room, stopping in front of the door.

There was no sound from the room opposite. Cheng Mi withdrew her gaze, pushed the door open, and entered her room. She placed her school bag on the bed, then dragged out a cardboard box of discs and books from under the bed; they had been sent from where she used to live.

She picked out a movie and took it to the living room.

The old television on the TV cabinet was bulky, and beneath it, on a shelf, was a silver-gray DVD player. Cheng Mi squatted in front of the machine, unwrapped the disc, and put it in.

The screen flickered with static, then the opening credits appeared, light and shadow illuminating Cheng Mi’s face.

Test papers distributed after school were spread out on the table. She got up and sat by the low table, her fingertips pressing the test papers closer, her pen tip making marks.

The English dialogue in the movie was like a whisper in the dim light.

She was in the living room, he was in the room separated by a door, and lovers whispered in their ears.

This continued until sunset.

Midway through the movie, Cheng Mi finished the test paper in her hand. She looked up; lovers embraced on the screen, light and shadow flickering in her eyes.

The air was thin, stirred by chaotic breaths, and their kisses made breathing feel hot.

Both she and the person in the house were silent.

However, she was calm and composed. Seeing the streetlights outside turn on, she watched for a while longer before getting up to turn off the television.

________________________________________

Not long after Cheng Mi took the test papers back to her room, Si Huiru returned. She came back earlier tonight and went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner as soon as she entered.

Cheng Mi had nothing to do in her room, so she went out to help.

She rarely came home for dinner after school; most of the time, she would only return in the evening. So, when Si Huiru saw her return, she was happy and prepared to make a few more dishes.

“I’ll make dinner; the kitchen gets smoky. You should go to your room to study or relax in the living room watching TV. Auntie will call you when dinner is ready.”

Cheng Mi said: “It’s fine, I don’t have much to do anyway. It’s a good chance to learn how to cook from you.”

Si Huiru’s nature was such that, unlike some adults who always appear condescending towards younger generations, she was visibly flustered and embarrassed after Cheng Mi praised her cooking.

Cheng Mi’s remark about learning to cook was just a casual one, but she taught very seriously.

Si Huiru was virtuous, cooking deftly and skillfully, and the finished dishes were perfect in color, aroma, and taste. Cheng Mi learned some basics, but she had cooked before, so the subsequent stir-fried fish-flavored eggplant she made was quite successful.

Before long, Si Tingyan came out of his room, carrying a bag of trash.

Cheng Mi didn’t meet him face to face; she only heard Si Huiru beside her go outside and tell him: “Xiao Yan, we’re out of soy sauce at home. Can you pick up a bottle at the downstairs supermarket on your way?”

Cheng Mi didn’t hear him reply.

But she guessed he probably nodded. He seemed quite obedient to Si Huiru.

Then she heard Si Huiru instruct again: “Don’t go too far. Dinner will be ready soon. Come back after you throw out the trash and buy the soy sauce.”

“I won’t go far.”

Then came the sound of a door closing.

After Si Huiru returned to the kitchen, she and Cheng Mi fell into that slightly awkward and quiet routine again.

Cheng Mi could tell that Si Huiru was clearly not good at small talk. While cooking earlier, there had been a word or two she could say to her, but now there was silence again. And she could detect from little details that Si Huiru was always unconsciously trying to please her.

By the time dinner was prepared, before they even started eating, quite a few bowls and pots had accumulated on the counter. Si Huiru was washing these items by the sink, water splashing from the faucet.

Cheng Mi didn’t stay in the kitchen. She took drinks from the fridge and placed them on the table.

The fridge was in the corner. When opened, a cool breeze and dim yellow light seeped out, illuminating that corner.

Cheng Mi noticed something drawn on the wall next to the fridge and looked at it.

In the dim, hazy light, she generally made out the outline of a height chart, probably drawn by Si Huiru.

Next to the 1.1-meter mark was written “Xiao Yan’s first height measurement.” Below that, the marks were blank. Before learning from Hong Mao that Si Tingyan was Li Zhiyu’s brother, Cheng Mi didn’t know Si Tingyan wasn’t Si Huiru’s biological son. Looking at it now, there were indeed clues.

Further up was the 1.3-meter mark, next to it “Xiao Yan is seven today, may he grow up healthy.”

The words written next to each year’s height were different, but the gist was the same: health and safety.

Cheng Mi recalled Hong Mao mentioning congenital heart disease that afternoon, and also remembered the day she first arrived in Fengxun, when Si Huiru was delayed from picking her up at the station due to being at the hospital, and how Si Tingyan was in a wheelchair when they first met.

Her fingertips unconsciously tapped the outer wall of the Sprite can, cool beads of water winding down the side of the can.

At that moment, the sound of a door opening came from the entryway, a key turning in the lock. She subconsciously looked over.

Si Tingyan was pushing the door open and coming in. In the first second, he saw her, his knuckles still on the doorknob, his dark eyes fixed on her face.

Cheng Mi met his gaze. Her slender, red fingernail accidentally brushed the pull tab of the can, click.

Si Huiru happened to come out of the kitchen at this moment, seeing Si Tingyan stopped at the door: “You’re back? Come in quickly, it’s cold outside. What if you catch a cold?”

Si Tingyan didn’t look at her again. He entered, handed the soy sauce in his hand to Si Huiru, and changed his shoes: “It’s not cold outside.”

“The wind was quite chilly on Mom’s way home from work just now. You should wear more when you go out. Many people catch colds this season.”

Si Tingyan said nothing and went to the kitchen to wash his hands.

The house had a round dining table. After Cheng Mi sat down, Si Tingyan took the chair to her left.

An old-fashioned chandelier hung above. The three of them were seated at a comfortable distance from each other, and the dining atmosphere was as usual, without much difference. Although the awkwardness had faded significantly, most of the time, silence still dominated the dinner table.

Among the few topics, one was about schoolwork. Si Huiru told Cheng Mi: “Your uncle called yesterday, worried if you could keep up with the courses here.”

These past few days, Cheng Mi had been hearing news about Li Yehang only through Si Huiru.

Li Yehang was busy with work, only occasionally finding time to send Cheng Mi one or two text messages, usually about parental concerns like adjusting to a new environment or needing money.

But such topics usually ended after a brief exchange, making it impossible to have deep conversations with young people.

So, Cheng Mi hadn’t been in touch with Li Yehang for at least four or five days. After hearing what Si Huiru said, she put down her Sprite and smiled: “It’s alright.”

“That’s good, as long as you can keep up,” she added, “Your uncle said your science subjects are a bit weak. If you have any problems with physics or math, you can ask Xiao Yan. He’s good at those and can help.”

Cheng Mi glanced at Si Tingyan upon hearing this.

She didn’t engage him directly to ask if he could help, but simply replied: “Alright.”

For some reason, Si Tingyan remained silent.

Cheng Mi had been in this home for at least ten days, yet she and Si Tingyan were still like strangers, never having exchanged a single word.

Perhaps even Si Huiru sensed the detachment between them and wanted the younger brother and older sister to get along. She asked Si Tingyan, who was eating fish-flavored eggplant: “Isn’t this dish sister made very delicious?”

Without waiting for his answer, she told Cheng Mi: “Xiao Yan usually doesn’t like fish. He can’t touch it if it has even a hint of fishiness. This is the first time he’s willing to eat something he usually doesn’t like.”

Cheng Mi looked at him and smiled: “Then I’ll often make it for my younger brother in the future.”

Si Tingyan finally looked up at her.

Cheng Mi’s eyes were still fixed on his, and Si Tingyan met her gaze.

Their eye contact was finally interrupted by Si Huiru placing a chopstickful of food into Cheng Mi’s bowl. Si Tingyan looked away.

Cheng Mi didn’t say anything more, just smiled at Si Huiru, picked up her chopsticks, and continued eating.

________________________________________

After dinner, Cheng Mi returned to her room. On her desk, her phone displayed a bank transfer message.

Every month on this day, she would regularly receive such a text message. The money was transferred by Li Yehang, and the amount was substantial.

Since her mother’s death, Cheng Mi had been supported by Li Yehang. Her monthly living expenses were always on time, and although she wasn’t Li Yehang’s daughter, he treated her no differently than his own child.

By now, her bank card had accumulated a six-figure sum.

She tossed her phone onto the bed and was about to lean by the window to smoke and pass the time when a call came in.

Cheng Mi’s fingertips were still in her long hair; her chestnut-colored hair, having been combed through with her fingers, had a fluffy, lazy quality. The slightly old-fashioned curtains by her face billowed and fell with the wind.

She looked back for a moment; her cigarette hadn’t been lit yet.

She turned to pick up the phone. The caller ID was an unknown number. She pressed answer without much thought: “Hello.”

“Hello, is this Miss Cheng Mi?” A woman’s voice came through.

Outside, a small alley led to an old street, and in the distance, she could still see a shantytown, bustling with lights.

“This is she.”

“Hello Cheng Mi, I apologize for disturbing you,” the woman’s voice sounded very young and energetic, “I’m the photography editor from GR Women’s Magazine, and I’d like to ask if you’re interested in collaborating with our magazine?”

Cheng Mi was somewhat surprised by this sudden call, but not alarmed. She only asked: “Collaborate?”

“Yes, have you heard of our GR Women’s Magazine?”

She was quite sensitive to fashion-related things: “Yes, it’s quite popular.”

Junior high and high school are the ages when girls start to care about dressing up. The most direct manifestation is in their clothes; they begin to pay attention to styles and pairings.

GR, this magazine, targets this demographic and has been extremely successful. Many girls follow it religiously for fashion and makeup tips, and every time a new issue is released at newsstands, it’s snatched up quickly.

Regardless of Cheng Mi’s previous city or the current one, GR was equally popular.

The photography editor asked: “Then, are you interested in becoming our model?”

Wind came in from the window. Cheng Mi, holding her cigarette, propped her chin with her other hand: “You focus on sweet and subtly sexy styles, right?”

“Mhm, yes, this magazine is made for girls,” the editor continued, “We already knew you from your online modeling days. We really liked your style and have been following you. Recently, we saw many posts about you on the Fenggao forum and learned you transferred to Fengxun. Our studio happens to be here too, so we thought we’d see if there’s an opportunity to collaborate.”

“You also read the forum?”

The other party laughed: “Yes, we do. After all, we always have to keep an eye on market trends. For example, there are many posts on your Fenggao forum discussing our clothing styles.”

Wherever there are girls, topics of beauty are evergreen, always a focus of attention.

“Here’s the thing, our boss looked through many of your photos and wants to sign you as an exclusive model. If you come on board, your on-screen frequency won’t be low.”

Actually, Cheng Mi’s style wasn’t particularly suited for GR magazine, but she wouldn’t turn down money: “Alright.”

The other party hadn’t expected her to agree so readily and was momentarily stunned: “I thought you’d want to consider it.”

“Why?” Cheng Mi joked, “Isn’t being noticed by you a happy thing?”

For a popular women’s magazine like GR, no one would refuse if approached, though this wasn’t the biggest lure for Cheng Mi.

This editor clearly knew something about her: “You previously rejected Siji (Four Seasons).”

Siji Women’s Magazine, another popular youth fashion publication comparable to GR.

Cheng Mi’s tone was light: “Things are different now. After all, I have to make a living.”

The other party also laughed and asked: “Do you have time now? Because I have to go on a business trip tomorrow and won’t be back for several days. If it’s convenient for you now, let’s meet up, discuss the photoshoot details and compensation. If everything’s fine, we can finalize it tonight.”

Cheng Mi had nothing much to do: “Alright, where are you?”

“This area in the East District.”

Cheng Mi had been to that place before.

“Then let’s meet at that coffee shop on Wangbin Road.”

After agreeing on the location and time, Cheng Mi grabbed her coat and left. In the living room, she encountered Si Huiru, who had finished washing dishes and came out of the kitchen.

“I’m going out for a bit,” she said.

“Okay,” Si Huiru didn’t question her, “Then be careful, it’s getting cold now, come back early.”

“Okay.”

________________________________________

The place was some distance from here.

Cheng Mi took a taxi. When she arrived at the coffee shop, the GR editor hadn’t arrived yet.

After a few sips of coffee, the other party finally rushed in through the door. This photography editor was as lively as her voice sounded, with an energetic baby face and large black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She had a very friendly smile and was only about twenty years old. Her name was Zhang Lingyin.

She was an impressive person, having dropped out of high school to master photography and successfully worked her way up to her current position.

Their conversation went smoothly. After clarifying the relevant matters, they agreed to meet at the studio three days later.

The other party had other commitments, so they didn’t chat much afterward. After Cheng Mi left the coffee shop, she received a message from Hong Mao.

[Are you coming to hang out?]

It was followed by an address, not far; no need for a taxi from there.

But Cheng Mi raised her hand, hailed a cab, got in, and replied to him with a text.

[No, you guys have fun.]

The text had just been sent when Hong Mao replied instantly.

[Why aren’t you coming? Li Zhiyu’s here. He wants you to come.]

Cheng Mi simply replied “busy” and told them to have fun.

When the taxi stopped downstairs, it was already past eleven. Cheng Mi paid the driver cash and got out.

In the old city, alleys crisscrossed, and telephone pole shadows twisted. At this hour, many households were already asleep, with dark windows interspersed with bright lights upstairs, and the faint sound of a television.

Cheng Mi walked upstairs amidst this silence. Si Huiru and Si Tingyan usually went to bed early, so as she pushed the door open, the living room was already dark, as she expected.

But there was something that surprised her.

In the dim chaos, a small sliver of light peeked from under Si Tingyan’s door.

He was still awake.

Cheng Mi’s fingertip casually hooked a small piece of cake she had just bought from the coffee shop, her gaze fixed on his door.

The night made one’s thoughts relax. Her expression was loose, composed to the point of being gentle. The lingering scent of her perfume was subtly feminine.

A car drove by downstairs, its engine noise grinding on one’s nerves in the dead of night. Cheng Mi withdrew her gaze from his door, closed the door, and returned to her own room.

She had rushed off to her appointment right after dinner, so she hadn’t had time to shower. After entering her room, she grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom to wash up.

Midway through her shower, her phone rang loudly in her room. The ringtone was quite jarring in the middle of the night. She quickly rinsed off and came out of the bathroom.

Her phone vibrated continuously on the bed, displaying an unfamiliar number.

Judging by the vibration frequency, Cheng Mi guessed this call had probably been ringing for several rounds.

But when she picked up, the other end was silent, then hung up.

The call disconnected sound replaced the ringing in her ear. She moved her phone away and saw that someone had sent a picture message two minutes ago.

Cheng Mi knew that clicking on it would reveal something, but she didn’t hesitate. Her fingertip tapped, and it was a photo. This photo was essentially no different from the ones she took a few days ago.

In a bar booth, a girl sat on Li Zhiyu’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck. Judging by the posture, the girl was about to kiss him the next second.

The anger, sadness, disbelief, and other emotions that should accompany being cheated on by a boyfriend were nowhere to be seen on Cheng Mi’s face.

She merely raised an eyebrow, slightly nonchalantly.

At the same time, the sound of a door closing echoed from outside her room. Across the corridor, the noise was exceptionally clear.

Cheng Mi lifted her eyelashes, no longer looking at her phone.

From the sound, it was Si Tingyan coming out of his room, walking towards the bathroom.

She suddenly remembered there was something still in the bathroom, but she wasn’t in a hurry. She scrolled through other messages in her inbox. There was one from Li Zhiyu, with a phone number and a sentence afterward, introducing her to a manager who handled online celebrities.

Cheng Mi briefly skimmed it, ignored it, tossed her phone back onto the bed, then walked over to her closet, took out a bra, and fastened it behind her back.

After doing all this, she slowly opened her room door and went out.

The living room lights weren’t on. In the narrow, dark corridor, only the light from the bathroom cast onto the hallway floor.

Cheng Mi looked at that spot and walked towards it.

All around was silent. She melted into the long darkness and, before long, reached that patch of light.

The light was dim yellow. Si Tingyan was facing away from the bathroom door, about to reach out to turn on the water heater. His peripheral vision clearly noticed her, and he looked over.

He was wearing a loose black short-sleeved shirt. Already pale, the color of his clothes made him look even paler.

The unique body lines of a boy his age were concealed beneath, his shoulders and neck broad and thin, his forearm veins faintly visible.

Cheng Mi leaned against the doorframe, meeting his eyes.

Si Tingyan’s gaze was no different from usual; his emotions were closed off, visually always appearing very cold.

The bathroom was still stuffy with the steam from her shower a few minutes ago, the air humid and warm with each breath. Cheng Mi’s fair shoulders had only two thin black straps, a strand of wet hair curled on her collarbone, and water droplets clung to her skin.

She looked at him and said: “I forgot something.”

Si Tingyan didn’t ask what it was.

His gaze left Cheng Mi, showing no intention of responding to her, and he turned back to turn on the water heater.

It was this reaction that made Cheng Mi know he had seen her, and knew what she had come to get.

She glanced at his back, said nothing more, stood up, and went inside.

Water dripped on the tiled floor. The blue-red flame of the gas water heater flickered, water trickled, and steam swirled and floated in the dim yellow light.

On the wall behind Si Tingyan, there was a row of hooks. Cheng Mi stopped behind him; they were back to back, just a fist’s distance from touching.

Cheng Mi raised her hand, her curved finger hooking off her clothes that she had forgotten on the hook in the bathroom—black, with delicate lace patterns.

The space was narrow, the air grew thin, and time passed exceptionally slowly.

Cheng Mi, however, was unaffected by this subtle torture. Unhurriedly, as she turned, her arm accidentally brushed against Si Tingyan’s back.

The black fabric was soft yet crisp and clean.

Cheng Mi’s lips curved slightly, her steps didn’t stop, and she left the bathroom.