TSDT - 9

The autumn air was crisp and refreshing. Today, work was leisurely, and Jiang Ying left early. She walked downstairs with a few colleagues, discussing whether they should try a new restaurant together.

A colleague said, “But this place is very popular. I wonder if there will be a long wait if we go now?”

Jiang Ying: “Hard to say. It’s still quite early. How about we go check it out? If we can’t get a table, we’ll eat somewhere else.”

The colleague agreed and was about to look up the route when she suddenly saw a familiar person: “Huh? That person...”

Memory matched successfully. By the time her colleagues realized, Jiang Ying was already glaring fiercely.

Chen Tianjing shamelessly walked forward, gazing at Jiang Ying: “Xiaoying... Can we talk?”

Jiang Ying: “No time.”

Chen Tianjing maintained a sorrowful posture, saying, “Xiaoying, I know you’re angry with me, but I’ll persist. If you don’t want to talk today, I’ll come back tomorrow. If you still don’t want to tomorrow, I’ll...”

“...” Under the gossipy gazes of her colleagues, Jiang Ying coldly interrupted him, “Fine, let’s talk it out today.”

Before going out with Chen Tianjing, Zheng Yifeng asked Jiang Ying, “Are you okay going by yourself?”

Jiang Ying pursed her lips: “It’s fine, I can handle it myself.”

They went to a nearby coffee shop and chose a secluded seat.

When ordering, Chen Tianjing asked affectionately, “Xiaoying, still cappuccino and matcha slices?”

Jiang Ying found his expression disgusting and couldn’t be bothered to speak. She took the menu and quickly ordered several expensive items.

Chen Tianjing wasn’t stingy with money; he just loved to put on an act. He sighed with a bitter smile, “You’ve changed a lot in the few months we’ve been apart.”

Jiang Ying took a sip of lemon water, signaling the start of their conversation: “Spit it out.”

The man’s eyes were full of indulgence: “But, the one thing I like most about you will never change, and that’s how real you are, not putting on any airs.”

Jiang Ying was almost amused: “Chen Tianjing, where’s your Xiaochen?”

Had it been a month since she last saw them being sweet with each other?

Chen Tianjing sighed, “Xiaoying, you know, in life, you have to encounter many different sceneries to understand what you truly want. You meet the wrong person to know who is the right one. Let’s let the past be the past, okay?”

He spoke with great sincerity: “I was wrong, I apologize. Xiaoying, let’s start over!”

Jiang Ying’s hand moved. A server came to deliver their order. She gritted her teeth and put her hand back down.

After the server left, she even smiled at the person opposite her: “Chen Tianjing, do I have words on my face? Does it say ‘I’m an idiot’?”

Chen Tianjing sighed: “Xiaoying, we once loved each other very much. Why can’t we give each other another chance? You should know, my conditions are good enough for you.”

Jiang Ying was furious, her voice growing even colder: “Even the sweetest shit is still shit.”

Chen Tianjing looked at her in disappointment: “Xiaoying, are you being so decisive because of that man from last time?”

Jiang Ying squeezed out each word through clenched teeth: “None of your business.”

Chen Tianjing tried to persuade her further: “He might be very handsome, but what does that matter? You can know a person’s face but not their heart. What man can guarantee they won’t make mistakes? I made a mistake, and now that I’ve come back, it proves my love is true... What are you doing!”

The man had a cup of dark, hot coffee splashed across his face. His carefully styled hair was flattened, and there was a large dark brown stain on his shirt. His eyes could only half-open, looking utterly miserable.

Jiang Ying had chosen a secluded seat specifically to do this. She waited for a while; the coffee’s temperature was just right, a bit hot, uncomfortable when splashed on the face, but not enough to cause injury.

“Chen Tianjing, let me tell you, if you cheat, don’t even think about coming back. Have some guts, don’t treat people like idiots. Don’t you dare disgust me with the past again, or I’ll splash you every time I see you.”

Several servers rushed over to ask what happened. Jiang Ying didn’t stop for another second, grabbed her bag, and left.

Jiang Ying was so angry she forgot to eat. Only when she got home did she remember the fridge was empty.

Now she was starving.

She couldn’t even wait for takeout, so she just boiled a bowl of soy sauce noodles. As she ate the dry noodles, she saw photos in her WeChat colleague group. They had waited half an hour and were now eating charcoal-grilled frog, constantly uploading pictures to spread their culinary sins.

Someone asked about her condition, and she replied weakly.

Ah...

So hungry...

She wanted charcoal-grilled frog too!

Jiang Ying stole a picture, added a filter, and the frog’s deliciousness seemed to upgrade. She posted it on Moments with a smiley face and the caption “I want to eat too.”

Some colleagues saw it, liked it, and comforted her, promising to eat together next time.

When would “next time” be?

She could have eaten it tonight.

Soy sauce noodles only filled her stomach but couldn’t satisfy her.

A person whose appetite is not satisfied sighs even when washing dishes.

The phone’s notification light was blinking. Jiang Ying wiped her hands, used her knuckle to turn on the screen. A red dot, with the number 3 inside, appeared prominently on the top right corner of the sunset-snow mountain avatar.

Jiang Ying’s heart skipped a beat, and the paper towel she was using to wipe her hands dropped to the floor.

She and Meng Jingshu hadn’t actually contacted each other for several days. After their last reconciliation, they seemed to have fallen into another minor conflict. Or perhaps it wasn’t a conflict, but awkwardness would be a more fitting description.

Although they had always been in a pursuer-and-pursued relationship, since one didn’t care and the other didn’t push, it was never explicitly addressed. They only maintained a relatively friendly classmate relationship, especially with nearly three years of no contact in between. Now that it had jumped straight to the bedroom, it felt a bit awkward once dawn broke.

That day, he accompanied her to buy a new phone and quietly paid for it. How could Jiang Ying accept that? After getting a new SIM card, she immediately transferred the money back to him.

He was quite displeased then: “Why transfer it back? We agreed last night that I’d replace it for you.”

Jiang Ying said, “Who agreed with you? I didn’t say yes. I lost my phone because I was careless; I don’t need you to pay for it.”

Young Master Meng had probably never had a gift rejected by a woman before, and his demeanor was bruised. Afterward, he remained sullen and didn’t speak to her.

A hint of coldness was added to an already slightly awkward atmosphere.

Before they parted, he formally said, “Contact me when you’re free.”

However, neither of them contacted the other.

Until today...

Jiang Ying stared at the WeChat interface for a few seconds, then bent down to pick up the crumpled paper and throw it away. She unhurriedly returned and sat down.

She ran her fingers through her hair and took a few sips of water.

She looked at her phone again. Meng Jingshu’s avatar had been pushed down by the colleague group chat.

Her finger lightly extended and tapped it open.

Meng Jingshu sent her the frog photo she had just posted. Then he said:

“A friend’s restaurant.”

“My treat. Are you free tomorrow?”

Her stomach was growling, and a smile played on her lips.

She replied: “Yes!”

After thinking, she asked: “Is noon okay?”

Soon, he replied: “Okay.”

The next day was Friday. The bosses collectively went to a meeting, and the law firm only worked half-day. From noon onwards, it was the weekend, with plenty of free time, perfect for indulging.

At 11:50 AM, Jiang Ying went to the restroom to touch up her makeup. Xiao Man, a colleague, was already applying eyeliner.

Jiang Ying clicked her tongue: “Going on a date with a handsome guy?”

She had been hitting it off lately with a new fourth-year university boy she met.

Xiao Man cast a sideways glance and playfully reprimanded: “Yeah, and you too.”

Jiang Ying: “Mine’s not a date, just a meal.”

Xiao Man: “Just a meal? Do you need to put on your beloved limited edition lipstick shade?”

Jiang Ying paused, then slowly used her finger to blend the lipstick: “I just like this color lately. Even if I’m just having a meal with you, I’d still wear this color.”

Xiao Man finished her eyeliner and was applying blush: “Can I ask a nosy question? You’re not going to get back together with your ex, are you?”

Jiang Ying: “Am I crazy?”

Xiao Man: “Good. Actually, with a face like yours, getting a new man should be super easy! We should always look forward and try new things, and new people.”

Jiang Ying added: “And new bodies.”

The two women burst into silvery laughter.

Xiao Man poked Jiang Ying’s waist: “And you still say it’s not a date!”

Jiang Ying flinched, forcing a serious expression: “Really, just eating, nothing else.”

Ignoring Xiao Man’s look of disbelief, she added, “I didn’t bring eyeliner, can I borrow yours? And, um, blush too.”