Little Man / Bite Spring Pancake

March 2018

The autumn hues of Beijing grew more pronounced in October, and the chill deepened after the autumn equinox. But at this moment, Chu Ning only felt heat.

She had already taken off her coat, wearing just a thin blouse, sitting upright in her chair. Beside her sat Feng Ziyang, who had rushed over immediately after getting off the plane. Still dressed in formal attire with his collar buttoned up, Chu Ning stole a glance at him; even his temples and hairline were beaded with sweat.

“The guest list is complete. Secretary Zhou is meticulous — he even included those older folks from northern Sichuan.”

When Feng’s mother mentioned this, she sighed briefly. “Your uncle-in-law has coordinated with the hotel to reserve the main venue in Xiyuan for your event.” She glanced at Chu Ning’s right leg, her eyes betraying a sense of loss. “Such a pity, such a pity.”

Hearing this, Chen Yue chimed in smoothly: “We appreciate your concern. Chu Ning often mentions how much you’ve taken care of her.”

Chen Yue was struggling for words. After all, it was her daughter’s carelessness that caused this mess, and no amount of explanation could justify it. Changing the subject, she scolded Chu Ning instead: “You clumsy child, how do you manage to trip and hurt your leg while walking?”

“She didn’t mean for this to happen. Enough, stop reprimanding her,” Feng’s mother gently intervened. Then she asked, “Injuries like these take time to heal. Have you seen a doctor?”

Chu Ning lowered her gaze and nodded. “Yes, I have.”

“Which hospital?”

“The Municipal First Hospital.”

Unconvinced, Feng’s mother took out her phone. “Let me contact Dr. Fu to have another look at you.”

“Mom, Mom, don’t fuss. Her leg isn’t severely injured. Two weeks in a cast will do,” Feng Ziyang said as he walked over, placing a reassuring hand on his mother’s shoulder. “Leave it to me. Don’t worry.”

This only made Feng’s mother more uneasy, but she refrained from interfering further, shifting to a different complaint: “Career is important, but life mustn’t be neglected. You’re all so busy you’re never around. Is that reasonable? You’re young, but don’t lose sight of balance. Money can’t be earned forever—don’t pour all your energy into this.”

Nothing was more dreaded than elders lecturing, starting with an 8,000-word reminiscence of hardship and ending with an 80,000-word maternal sermon. Feng’s mother had retired from Beijing Foreign Studies University just two years ago, and her style was deeply traditional—a form of torment for Chu Ning.

Under her bag resting on her lap, Chu Ning secretly read unread messages from her secretary.

Half an hour later, Feng’s mother concluded with a sigh: “Young people don’t listen to us elders. Just keep it in mind. Let’s postpone the engagement until Chu Ning’s leg heals completely, then our families can discuss further.”

Chen Yue stood up, warmly linking arms with Feng’s mother as they walked out. “Thank you for your concern.”

Feng Ziyang escorted them to the door. A few minutes after returning, he heard Chu Ning on the phone as soon as he entered the room.

“A signed contract with black-and-white terms—wasn’t Party B that Mr. Cheng? His signature is there, the official seal stamped too. Sue me? Fine, let him sue. Legal will handle it. Before that, if he dares short me even half a kilo of goods, he won’t see a single penny of the final payment.”

Though her tone remained relatively soft, her voice carried authority when raised—clear, decisive, devoid of warmth.

“Alright, I understand. Tell everyone I’m on a business trip to Sichuan, with no return date set. Stall him, but don’t rush him off. Serve him good tea.” After a pause, she added, “Get me the number for Qiming Enterprises. The boss’s surname is Wei, right? I’ll give him a heads-up.”

Unable to find paper, Chu Ning casually crossed her “injured” right leg, uncapped her pen, and began jotting notes directly onto the cast. Her handwriting was swift and elegant. Approaching her, Feng Ziyang tapped her cast playfully, grinning. “Oh, it’s real plaster. Hmm? Can you move it?”

Chu Ning kicked out, nearly toppling him. “Get lost.”

Feng Ziyang gave a thumbs-up. “Clever thinking.”

Too lazy to roll her eyes, Chu Ning knew full well using this ploy to avoid the engagement wasn’t exactly honorable. She gazed at her cumbersome right leg juxtaposed against her left, still clad in high heels—an awkward contrast.

The more she looked, the more annoyed she became.

Gripping the chair, she struggled to stand, genuinely struggling.

“You shouldn’t make light of my situation. If you hadn’t fled abroad, it’d be your leg in a cast,” Chu Ning retorted, grabbing her bag. Awkwardly shifting her weight, she moved her left foot first, then adjusted her right leg encased in plaster. This clumsy spectacle prompted Feng Ziyang to muse for a moment before remarking earnestly: “You resemble Optimus Prime.”

Ignoring him, Chu Ning hurried away.

From behind, Feng Ziyang shouted, “Your crutches! Your crutches!” Picking them up from where they leaned against the wall, he couldn’t help but admire, “So realistic, so professional.”

Turning back, Chu Ning grabbed the crutches, her brows furrowed with impatience. “I’m not getting engaged. Go handle your family.”

On this point, they were aligned. Feng Ziyang had someone else in mind, but his family disapproved. With meddling relatives insisting on social status alignment, Chu Ning, backed by the Zhao family in eastern Beijing and running her own moderately successful company, fit their ideal perfectly.

Plainly put, Feng Ziyang needed a perfect facade, while Chu Ning leveraged his connections to gather resources inside and outside their circles. Both benefited and cooperated amicably.

Chu Ning was already in the car when Feng Ziyang leaned in, bending to remind her: “Don’t forget, next week accompany me to...”

Interrupting, Chu Ning replied curtly, “I know.” As the window rolled up, her face hardened. “A mediocre amateur competition. What’s there to see?”

________________________________________

Lately, Chu Ning was exceptionally busy. Meeting an elder cost her half a day, and she still had to pretend her leg was injured. Their circle wasn’t small, nor overly large. News spread within hours, so she decided to fake her limp convincingly for at least three to five days.

Initially planning to return to the office, she received a call from her secretary near Jianguomen: “President Ning, Xinda’s people are here again. They’re waiting outside your office, refusing to leave unless they see you.”

Chu Ning’s expression remained calm as she patted her plastered leg. “Then let them wait.”

Ending the call, she asked the driver, “Isn’t that Jintai ahead? Pull over when we arrive.”

After getting out, Chu Ning dismissed the driver and proceeded on her crutches. Today, Beijing basked in pleasant weather—soft sunlight bathed everything in warm tones without being harsh. A gentle breeze seemed to drape everything in a golden glow. Chu Ning’s mood brightened considerably. Glancing down at her cast and tapping the ground with her crutch, she found the experience oddly amusing.

Her company employed staff connected to the Feng family. To avoid suspicion, Chu Ning decided to lay low for a couple of days. Of course, her priority was dealing with the troublesome client.

Midway, her secretary called again: “President Ning! Where are you? One group is waiting at the company, and another is searching for you!”

Hearing only half the sentence, Chu Ning already understood.

Ahead at the intersection, several figures waited—two groups lying in ambush.

Leading them was a vice president from Xinda, someone she’d met during previous business dealings. He greeted her with a smile: “Ah, President Ning, what a coincidence.”

Chu Ning’s transition was seamless, feigning surprise. “Oh, how timely. I was about to call you.”

As she approached, he responded cheerfully: “Since we’ve bumped into each other, why don’t you spare some time to chat with this old man?”

His words hinted at underlying intentions, which Chu Ning fully grasped.

Their conflict was simple: business rivalry. Xinda Group wanted to expand into Beijing but lacked connections. Through some intermediary, they met Chu Ning, who appeared reliable despite her youth. With ample experience, she orchestrated a scheme together with the intermediary, luring Xinda into signing an inflated contract. When they realized the truth, they balked.

But letting go of a lucrative deal wasn’t easy.

Chu Ning, experienced and fearless, was ready to endure.

Unexpectedly, they weren’t easily deterred. Avoidance was futile. Maintaining a pleasant demeanor, she seemed compliant.

They opened the car door. Once inside, it would be a trap. She took a couple of steps forward, smiling, but kept an eye on their surroundings.

Ahead lay a narrow path leading to a bustling street.

Dragging her heavily plastered right leg, Chu Ning limped step by step.

Suddenly, a crisp bell rang—”Ding-ding-ding!”

A yellow-and-white blur interrupted from behind. A bright yellow mountain bike approached, ridden by someone in a white hoodie.

Before Chu Ning could see his face, she waved quickly, raising her voice: “You’re back! I’ve been waiting for you!”

Closer now, she scanned him briefly. A young man, fair-skinned, smooth-browed, but with wide-eyed bewilderment.

He skidded to a stop, tires screeching.

Chu Ning grabbed his shirttail, adopting a crude yet effective tactic. In a low voice, she said succinctly, “I’ll give you a thousand yuan.”

Instead, his attention was drawn to her plastered leg. Quick-witted, he scratched his head, astonished. “Seriously? Bullying the disabled like this?”

Chu Ning: “...”

One long leg braced against the ground, the hem of his pants slightly brushing against his ankle, revealing prominent veins. Chu Ning judged—he wasn’t wearing thermal underwear.

“Get on!”

Swiftly hopping on one foot, Chu Ning perched herself on the rear seat. Before she could steady herself, the bike shot forward. Instinctively gripping his shirttail tightly, her force nearly pulled him off balance.

“Gah!!” he cried, clutching his stomach. “You’re choking me! I think I’m going to throw up!”

Still mindful of doing good, he pedaled fiercely. “If you’re scared of falling, hold higher up. It’s fine—I’m fast.”

Chu Ning shifted her grip slightly, but the bike swayed violently. Laughing uncontrollably, he exclaimed, “Hey! No, no tickling my armpits—I’m sensitive!”

Speechless, Chu Ning hadn’t changed her grip.

This unexpected twist left Xinda’s group stunned. Reacting belatedly, they scrambled into their car: “Chase! Chase!”

How could a bicycle outrun four wheels? Chu Ning glanced back, noticing the boy veering toward a narrow alley on the right.

The alley was one-way—impassable for cars.

Smart thinking, Chu Ning thought, appraising his straight-backed silhouette. Youthful vigor radiated from his thighs to his waist and shoulder blades as he cycled with effort.

She caught a faint scent from his clothes—like the Blue Moon detergent her housekeeper used.

Momentarily distracted, she noticed something amiss.

The bike slowed, laboring uphill.

“Hold on tight—it’s an incline.”

At the top lay the alley entrance. Looking back, Chu Ning saw the pursuing car gaining ground.

“Stop.”

“Huh?”

“Stop the bike.”

The wind howled. “—What?”

Silent, Chu Ning jabbed his armpit. The bike swerved wildly before screeching to a halt.

The boy laughed bitterly, hugging himself tightly. “Don’t tickle me, alright? And don’t worry—you don’t need to pay that thousand yuan.”

Chu Ning had already leapt off, scanning the surroundings rapidly. Spotting a stone pillar surrounded by greenery, she approached it, took a deep breath—

Then delivered a powerful downward kick with her plastered right leg, smashing it against the pillar.

A dull thud echoed. The plaster shattered.

Free of the encumbrance, Chu Ning sprinted with astonishing speed, her long hair flowing like ribbons in the bright daylight.

“What are you standing there for? Run!”

In the blink of an eye, she was nearing the hilltop.

Yingjing stared at the pile of broken plaster, then at her fleeing figure—wild and untamed like a runaway horse.

He was utterly shocked.