Unexpected, right?
The audacious Tan Xingwei had once blocked Su Xu.
And more than once.
Of course, only Tan Xingwei knew about the “more than once.” Four years ago, when her mind was still immature, her heart was first stirring with love, and her thoughts ran wild, she had repeatedly blocked and unblocked Su Xu on WeChat, performing a one-woman show of the eighteen stages of deletion for an audience of zero.
Tan Xingwei never thought Su Xu would know about this. It was so long ago, and she couldn’t remember exactly how many days she had blocked Su Xu for, but she was sure it wasn’t for long. After starting university, she had stopped making a fuss about it.
First, she was just finding out that Su Xu actually knew.
Second, she didn’t understand why Su Xu would bring it up.
“Did you… send me… a,” Tan Xingwei stuttered, choosing a question that seemed appropriate for the moment and one she was also very curious about, “message?”
Su Xu was very direct. “What else?”
Tan Xingwei bit her lip and asked guiltily, “What did you send?”
Su Xu: “I’m not telling you.”
Tan Xingwei said in a small voice, “What do you mean?”
Su Xu said, “I have a temper too.”
Tan Xingwei paused.
Tan Xingwei was indeed in the wrong here, but at this moment, she shamefully felt a little happy. Looking back four years, to that period when she only wanted to stay in her room with the curtains drawn, the thought that Su Xu had sent her messages back then made her sense of satisfaction suddenly magnify infinitely, filling her entire being.
She couldn’t even tell which made her feel better: her sisters discussing her Moments, or Su Xu having sent her messages during that brief period she was blocked.
She thought for a moment and said, “I added you back quickly.”
Unexpectedly, Su Xu immediately followed up, “What about your Moments?”
Tan Xingwei paused again.
This was also indeed Tan Xingwei’s fault, but once again, the thought that Su Xu would click on her Moments to check them made her satisfaction continue to swell.
“My Moments,” Tan Xingwei confessed honestly, “Yesterday, I think.”
Su Xu asked, “Do you hate me that much?”
Tan Xingwei had never associated Su Xu with the word “hate.” When Su Xu asked this, the part of her brain that stored information about Su Xu suddenly felt new, as if a stranger had come to visit.
How could it be hate?
“No, it was because of you…” Tan Xingwei’s voice trailed off. She swallowed the rest of her words and switched to, “I’m sorry.”
Su Xu said, “Sorry for what?”
Tan Xingwei said word by word, “I shouldn’t have blocked you. I shouldn’t have hidden my Moments.”
“It’s okay,” Su Xu said nonchalantly, then asked, “So, are you still mad at me?”
Tan Xingwei froze for a third time.
A combo move. This is hard to handle.
Su Xu added with a smile, “What, are we keeping things separate?”
Tan Xingwei let out a low, muffled, yet clear enough for Su Xu to understand, “Mhm.”
Su Xu said, “Ah. Alright then.”
Tan Xingwei fell silent.
Su Xu also fell silent.
The two of them suddenly quieted down and started eating their noodles.
Just… “Alright then,” and that’s it?
Tan Xingwei swallowed a mouthful of noodles and turned to sneak a glance at Su Xu. Su Xu’s bowl was empty again, but she didn’t take more noodles. Instead, she picked up a fish ball.
And placed it in Tan Xingwei’s bowl.
Wow, amazing chopstick skills!
Off-topic.
Back on topic, Tan Xingwei sat up straight. She thought for half a second. “What’s this? Your apology?”
Su Xu chuckled. “The fish ball is cooked.”
Tan Xingwei: “Oh…”
You should have said so earlier. The bow in Tan Xingwei’s mind was about to be untied; she had been on the verge of saying, “Alright then, I forgive you too.”
There was just the right amount of fish balls. After giving one to Tan Xingwei, Su Xu used a spoon to scoop out the remaining four, one for each person.
It wasn’t just the fish balls; Su Xu also scooped out some vegetables that had been cooking in the pot for a while and distributed them among everyone.
The plates were quickly emptied, and everyone was full. Su Xu had treated them to this meal. And from the bits and pieces of conversation as they were leaving, it was clear that their planned get-together for tomorrow was still on. Today wasn’t a rescheduled meal, but an impromptu extra one.
“I thought you had something on tomorrow,” Yaoyao said, linking her arm with Su Xu’s. “You even wore a full face of makeup to meet us tonight.”
Su Xu seemed a little embarrassed. “Well, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”
Chen Jing: “Come on, we’re all close friends. I’m still in my pajama pants.”
Just then, Tan Yinqing stepped forward quickly. “Or are you going to see someone later?”
Her words seemed to crack half the case, and Yaoyao and Chen Jing both went, “Ooh~?!”
Su Xu said helplessly, “No, I’m only seeing you all tonight.”
Yaoyao narrowed her eyes. “Really?”
Su Xu: “Why would I lie to you? I’m going straight home later.”
Yaoyao stared into Su Xu’s eyes.
Su Xu stared back.
Yaoyao smiled and let Su Xu off the hook.
With the back-and-forth chatter ahead, Tan Xingwei was pushed to the back of the group. Not to mention, her pace was slow, and she gradually fell behind.
She couldn’t quite bring herself to smile, either.
Anyone who’s been to school could probably recognize the atmosphere among those four just now: the boisterous teasing, the main character smiling faintly, the sidekicks giving knowing glances—everything left unsaid.
Tan Xingwei slowed her steps again, and some memories came to mind.
Scenes from four years ago, similar to this, of them all teasing Su Xu together.
Four years had passed, and Tan Xingwei hadn’t matured at all. She was terrified of hearing some vague, suspicious words, so her choice now was the same as it was back then: slowly distance herself. If you can’t hear it, you don’t know it.
Their private room was deep inside the restaurant. There were few customers at this hour, so after leaving the room, Tan Xingwei walked with a row of tables separating her from the others.
But she hadn’t fallen more than a few steps behind when Su Xu, who was ahead, suddenly turned back.
Tan Yinqing also turned back.
“Why are you walking so slowly?” Tan Yinqing stopped.
Tan Xingwei looked down, pretending to adjust her pant leg, and then walked over to Tan Yinqing’s side.
“Wait, don’t move,” Tan Yinqing suddenly grabbed Tan Xingwei’s wrist, pulled a tissue from a nearby table, and wiped her chin. “You splashed something on yourself.”
Tan Xingwei didn’t say anything.
After tossing the tissue, Tan Yinqing asked again, “What’s wrong? In a bad mood?”
Tan Xingwei perked up a little and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, but she still resorted to her usual stubbornness. “I’m in a bad mood again?”
Tan Yinqing pointed at Tan Xingwei. “You have such a sour look on your face.”
Tan Xingwei: “I’ll smile at you 24 hours a day.”
Tan Yinqing: “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Up ahead, two tables away, Su Xu turned back to look at them again.
This was no longer a social distance. Tan Xingwei finally couldn’t hold back. She took a light breath and, as if facing death, asked Tan Yinqing, “Sis, does Big Sister Ah Xu have a boyfriend?”
Tan Yinqing: “No,” she said, then looked at Tan Xingwei in surprise. “What did you call me?”
Tan Xingwei said, “Oh. Tan Yinqing, does Big Sister Ah Xu have someone she likes?”
Tan Yinqing: “Is that the attitude you have when asking for a favor?”
Tan Xingwei: “Sis.”
Tan Yinqing: “…”
Tan Yinqing was amused by Tan Xingwei’s chaotic tactics. “I don’t know if she likes anyone. She rarely shares her love life with us.”
Tan Xingwei felt a little down, but she pretended to be gossiping. “Then how do you know she doesn’t have a boyfriend?”
Tan Yinqing looked like she wanted to say something but held back, then smiled. “She’d tell us if she was in a relationship.”
Tan Xingwei: “Alright.”
Tan Yinqing: “Why?”
Tan Xingwei: “No reason, just asking.”
Tan Yinqing: “I thought you were going to introduce a boyfriend to Ah Xu.”
Tan Xingwei: “…Me?”
Tan Yinqing laughed to herself. “Then again, you’re not that kind of person. In your eyes, who could possibly be worthy of her?”
In her head, Tan Xingwei thought, “Me, me, me, me, me!” Out loud, she said, “No one.”
Tan Yinqing: “Anything else you want to know, little sister?”
Tan Xingwei: “Nothing else, big sister. Thank you, big sister.”
It was unclear whether the group ahead had slowed down or the two sisters had sped up, but after a short walk, they all arrived at the entrance together.
Yaoyao and Chen Jing lived nearby. They said their goodbyes and got on their electric scooters.
“Are you driving or am I?” Tan Yinqing asked Tan Xingwei on the way to the parking lot.
The words slipped as they reached Tan Xingwei’s lips. She first asked, “Are we taking Big Sister Ah Xu home?”
Su Xu chimed in, “No need, I drove here too.”
Tan Xingwei said, “Oh,” and handed the car keys from her pocket to Tan Yinqing. “You drive. I need to go back to my apartment. I just remembered I have something unfinished on my computer.”
Tan Yinqing’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? I’m supposed to drive you to your apartment now?”
Tan Xingwei: “Yup.”
Tan Yinqing: “Do you know how far your apartment is?”
It was indeed quite far, so Tan Xingwei hadn’t intended to trouble Tan Yinqing. “I’ll just take a taxi then.”
“Where’s your apartment?” Su Xu asked just then.
Tan Xingwei tried to manage her expression. “Chenglin Street.”
Tan Yinqing said helplessly, “You’re going to trouble Ah Xu again. Her place isn’t close to your apartment either.”
Tan Xingwei jutted out her chin. “Did I say anything?”
Su Xu: “It’s not that far. You can ride with me.”
Tan Yinqing sighed softly. “Tan Xingwei.”
Tan Xingwei looked down at her phone. “I said I’d take a taxi.”
“Alright,” Su Xu said, pushing Tan Xingwei’s phone down. “Do you want a ride in my car or not?”
Tan Xingwei finally couldn’t hold back her smile. “I do.”
Tan Yinqing pointed at Tan Xingwei. “Look at you. How old are you, Tan Xingwei?”
Tan Xingwei suppressed her laughter. “What?” She leaned in a little. “Big Sister Ah Xu, you’re doing this willingly, right?”
Su Xu: “I offered.”
Tan Xingwei’s smile stretched to the heavens. “See?”
Tan Yinqing waved her hand, as if to say, “Do whatever you want.” “I’m going home.”
Tan Xingwei was super sweet. “Goodbye, Sis. Drive safely, Sis. Let me know when you get home, Sis.”
Tan Yinqing: “Hah.” She also said to Su Xu, “Sorry to trouble you.”
Su Xu: “It’s no trouble.”
Tan Yinqing added one more thing, “You’re already troubling Ah Xu when she just got back.”
Tan Xingwei wanted to say something, but was once again cut off by Su Xu. “It’s not a bother.”
Tan Xingwei, by Su Xu’s side, made a face at Tan Yinqing, who couldn’t be bothered to deal with her.
Their cars were parked in different directions, so the three of them said their goodbyes at the intersection.
There were few people at night, and once again, it was just the two of them.
Tan Xingwei had been in Su Xu’s car before, but the situation back then was slightly different from tonight. That time, Tan Yinqing had asked Su Xu to give Tan Xingwei a ride to a classmate’s house on her way.
But one thing was the same: both the trip to her classmate’s house back then and the trip back to her apartment today were completely unnecessary.
The memory was awakened, and Tan Xingwei’s emotions warmed as she recalled the feeling of sitting in Su Xu’s passenger seat for the first time.
Back then, she had read too many novels and had applied a sacred filter to the passenger seat. It was for family, for a lover, an exclusive, inviolable space.
Even though the car back then was Su Xu’s father’s, Tan Xingwei had been blissfully happy regardless.
Times had changed. Tan Xingwei had grown up and understood that the saying “happiness is something you create for yourself” was so true. Poor Su Xu hadn’t even done anything.
Before long, Su Xu led Tan Xingwei to her car. As they got in, the smell of a new car hit them. Tan Xingwei asked casually, “Did you just buy this car?”
Su Xu hummed in agreement. “A welcome-home gift from my parents.”
Tan Xingwei: “Your parents are so nice.”
Su Xu: “They are.”
Tan Xingwei started to have some suspicions.
So, she had to ask!
“Is this the first time you’re driving it today?” Tan Xingwei asked.
Su Xu thought for a moment. “Not really. My mom drove it when we picked it up.”
Tan Xingwei suppressed the corner of her mouth from turning up. She took back what she had just thought about having grown up. In four years, she hadn’t changed one bit, thinking that she might be the very first person in this passenger seat.
Ah…
Never mind. This was the third-best thing to happen tonight.
Happiness is in your own hands!
“I’ve noticed a small change in you,” Su Xu said as the car drove out of the parking lot.
Tan Xingwei felt a bit apprehensive. She asked, “What change?”
Su Xu smiled. “Are you nervous?”
Now that she mentioned it, Tan Xingwei realized she had indeed sat up straighter.
She admitted to herself that she was afraid Su Xu would say something bad, but out loud she said, “No,” and subtly sank back into her seat a little. “Go on.”
Su Xu: “I’ve noticed you’ve grown up.”
“Huh?” Tan Xingwei was puzzled. “Why?”
Su Xu smiled. “When you were younger, you were very shy. At least, you wouldn’t have taken the initiative to ask if my car was new.”
Tan Xingwei thought for a moment and confirmed this. There really was a change. The old Tan Xingwei never asked Su Xu about anything. Back then, she had her own sense of boundaries with Su Xu; she wouldn’t pry into Su Xu’s private affairs, but she would barge into Su Xu’s life.
Yes, it was completely unreasonable.
Of course, she never asked Su Xu directly. She was, however, very good at secretly asking Tan Yinqing.
“Of course,” Tan Xingwei took her words as a compliment. “I’ve already graduated from university.”
Su Xu followed up, “That’s right, you’re an adult now.”
Tan Xingwei disagreed. “I’ve always been an adult.” She also corrected her, “It wasn’t ‘when I was younger’ back then, either. I was of age.”
Su Xu smiled. “Alright, you’ve always been an adult.”
Tan Xingwei added, “And I’m only four years younger than you.”
Su Xu chuckled. “Why are you so concerned about age?” She seemed to recall something. “I remember you used to be very particular about this four-year difference.”
Tan Xingwei opened her mouth, paused for a long moment, and then closed it again.
How could it be the age that Tan Xingwei was bothered about? Su Xu, you don’t understand at all.
