Chapter Seventy-Seven: Reliance

Gu Ruoyan poured half a glass of red wine for me and half for herself, smiling as she said, “Today I’ll just have one glass, not a drop more. Does that put your mind at ease?”

I replied, “A little wine isn’t a bad thing, but too much is never good. The way you drank a few days ago, that was just self-destruction. I propose a toast, to say a final farewell to those days of drinking to numb the pain.”

Gu Ruoyan raised her glass and clinked it against mine. “And to thank you for your selfless help. Cheers.” I tapped her glass and said, “Since we’re toasting, just take a sip for the gesture—you don’t need to drain it in one go.”

Gu Ruoyan smiled without answering, but she tilted her head back and downed the half glass in a single gulp. She showed me the empty bottom. “This is my wine of gratitude. It had to be finished. But now I’m done drinking. Come, let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

Gu Ruoyan was quite skilled at cooking; the dishes she’d made were all delicious. I made sure to praise her a couple of times more, which made her visibly happy. She kept picking up food for me, insisting I try this and that, until by the end I was truly stuffed.

After the meal, Gu Ruoyan asked me to sit in the living room while she cleared the table herself. Feeling embarrassed to let her do everything, I rolled up my sleeves to help with the dishes.

But Gu Ruoyan pushed me away. “Go, go! How could I let a man do such chores? And look at your hands—I haven’t even asked yet, what happened to them? Why are there so many scrapes? Did you fall?”

I looked at my hands, amazed at how attentive she was. Even something like this hadn’t escaped her notice. That morning, to avoid worrying my parents, I’d quietly removed the bandages before breakfast, and no one at home had noticed the wounds. Yet Gu Ruoyan had spotted them instantly.

I said, “I did take a spill. It hurt, but it’s fine now. Let me help you anyway.”

“No need, just go have your after-dinner cigarette on the sofa.” Gu Ruoyan was insistent, so I could only give in. I sat down, picked up a cigarette from the coffee table, and lit it.

Barely had I finished my smoke when Gu Ruoyan returned, having tidied up. She plopped down beside me, picked up a crystal pear from the fruit bowl, and began to peel it.

I asked, “Manager, it’s still early to go to bed. What should we do?”

She quickly finished peeling the pear and handed it to me, smiling. “Do you feel bored spending all this time just chatting with an old lady like me?”

I replied, “No, don’t overthink it. It was just an idle question, that’s all.”

She chuckled, placing the pear in my hand. “Whatever you meant, I’ve already thought of it. I bought a few DVDs today—will you watch a movie with me? My sound system is pretty good. My ex-husband said it’s got AC3 surround sound. I’ll show you the discs—pick one you want to watch, and we’ll watch it together, all right?”

It didn’t matter to me—I was there to keep Gu Ruoyan company, to make sure she didn’t feel alone. I nodded, “Sure, bring them over.”

She bounced up from the sofa, fetched several DVDs from her bag in the other room, and then turned on the TV, amplifier, and DVD player.

I glanced through the discs—mostly American and European films I hadn’t seen before, mostly dramas, but she’d included one action film, perhaps considering my tastes as a man. I wasn’t much of a film buff and had no particular preference, so I randomly picked up an American teen comedy called “Cheerleader Girls” and handed it to her. “Let’s watch this one.”

After she put the disc in, Gu Ruoyan sat back down beside me and asked, “How did you know I love campus comedy?”

I said, “You do? I just picked at random.”

The film began. Gu Ruoyan opened a pack of sunflower seeds and began munching happily as she watched. The movie was a typical American B-movie—some laughs, some dance numbers—but Gu Ruoyan kept laughing so hard she doubled over. Now and then, I glanced at her and realized how much she’d changed. Joy and happiness had returned to her face. Even when she mentioned her recent divorce, her expression was calm, no longer shadowed by pain. It seemed she’d moved on from the agony of her breakup and was no longer lost in the emptiness of her heart.

I felt relieved. It wouldn’t be long before I could step back. If only Gu Ruoyan could find new support—perhaps a lover—the pain of the past would vanish in an instant.

Suddenly I thought of Xu Jian. He was a good-looking, upright man, but I didn’t know if he was married or had a girlfriend. Judging by our last drinking session at his place, he seemed to be single. If he and Gu Ruoyan could be together, I was sure she’d be happy. The more I thought about it, the more excited I became. Yes! Xu Jian was just the right age for her, with a good family background, straightforward and sincere—a perfect match for Gu Ruoyan. I had to find a way to introduce them, maybe play matchmaker. If it worked out, it would be a match made in heaven. I’d have done a good deed and could quietly step away.

Lost in this pleasant thought, my phone suddenly rang. I glanced at the screen—ha! It was Xu Jian himself. What a coincidence! Was this fate, the two of them destined to meet?

I answered cheerfully, “Xu Jian! What a coincidence! I was just thinking about you, and here you are calling. How’s your sister doing since she went home?”

Xu Jian sighed on the line. “She was fine at first, apologized to my father and her mother, then went to school this afternoon.”

“That sounds good. Why do you say ‘at first’?”

“The trouble is, she hasn’t come home since school. She won’t answer her phone. I’m afraid she’s run off again. I’m gathering people to look for her right now!”

I could hardly believe it. “What? She’s run away again? Your sister is really something. Does she have some huge conflict with your parents? Why is she so determined not to stay home?”

“Sigh! Honestly, I don’t know. I asked everyone at home, and they swear no one fought with her. After we caught her yesterday, I asked why she ran away. She just said it was for fun, no other reason.”

“But she told me it was because of an argument with her parents. Was she lying? What other reason could a girl have to leave home and wander the streets? It’s strange.”

“I know! I’m baffled too. Anyway, I have to get going to look for her. The reason I called is, she might come to B City again, since her sister lives and works there. If I can’t find her tonight, I’ll come to B City tomorrow. If you see her, don’t alarm her, just call me right away.”

“All right, I will.”

“Thanks! I’ve got to go.”

“Goodbye!” I hung up, shaking my head. That little imp was beyond understanding—running away again and again, letting her family worry themselves sick. If she were my sister, I’d break her legs so she couldn’t run anymore. A child that naughty and exasperating really needs a good lesson before she’ll behave.

Gu Ruoyan had noticed my irritation and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Who ran away from home?”

I sighed. “It’s Xu Shu’s younger sister. She looks sweet and innocent, but she’s a little devil. These injuries on my hands are her doing, too.”

“You mean Xu Shu the singer? Her sister?”

“Yes.”

“How did you get mixed up with her? You sure have a lot of women around you lately…”

I laughed. “Come on! She’s just a middle-schooler. Don’t get any ideas.”

Gu Ruoyan blushed and turned away for a moment before facing me again. “When I go to bed later, will you tell me the story of this superstar’s sister? I’m interested.”

With nothing to hide from Gu Ruoyan, I agreed. “Sure. There’s not much to say, but if you want to hear it, I’ll tell you later.”

Gu Ruoyan murmured her assent and went back to watching the movie. I hadn’t been paying much attention to the film, and after that phone call my mind was restless. I kept telling myself I wouldn’t get involved in the little devil’s affairs anymore, but now that trouble had come again, I couldn’t help worrying. According to Xu Jian, the girl hadn’t run away because of a fight with her parents—which was strange. Why would a girl, so young, be so set on leaving home? What reason could make her unable to stay?

At that moment, a scene in the film sent Gu Ruoyan into peals of laughter. She leaned over, her body shaking with mirth, wiping tears from her eyes. Seeing her so happy, I let her lean on me, expecting she’d settle back once her laughter passed. But she didn’t move—her cheek rested on my arm, her whole body nestled against me, even her legs drawn up on the sofa as she watched the film quietly.

After a while, I started to feel uncomfortable. This wasn’t proper. I gently prompted her, “Manager, are you tired? Maybe you should go to bed.”

Gu Ruoyan kept her eyes on the TV and said, “No, Tang Qian. Please, just let me lean on you a while. It makes me feel safe. It tells me I’m not dreaming. Just a little while, all right?”

I sighed and acquiesced. Some things really can’t be judged just by appearances. She’d seemed so happy, but perhaps inside she was still feeling lost and empty.

With my silent permission, Gu Ruoyan became bolder. She shifted, sliding her arm under mine and resting her head on my shoulder, clinging to me with an intimacy that made me tense up, too nervous to move. I didn’t dare pull away—didn’t want to shatter her fragile happiness. Sweat beaded on my brow. Was it always this hard to keep someone company?

We sat like that until the movie ended. At last, Gu Ruoyan cast me a sorrowful glance, reluctantly sat up, and let go of my arm. My back was drenched with sweat, my undershirt nearly soaked through.

She forced a smile. “Last night I kept you so late—sorry about that. Tonight I’ll go to bed early, and you can go home and rest.”

I too wanted to leave early. “Good idea. You’ve had a busy afternoon. You should get some rest.”

Gu Ruoyan sighed softly, got up in silence, and went to wash up. I quickly lit a cigarette and took a few deep drags to steady my nerves. Her closeness had shaken me. I knew she wasn’t a frivolous woman, so her actions weren’t meant to seduce me—but if it was just seeking comfort, it felt a bit too much. Resting her head on my shoulder was an act of deep intimacy. I couldn’t understand her reasons.

Soon she came out in her pajamas. I followed her into the bedroom as usual, ready to chat a bit until she slept.

She crawled into bed, lay on her side, and I pulled up a chair to sit nearby. “Sorry for putting you in an awkward spot earlier,” she said.

“It’s nothing—I should be here for you.”

She sighed, “I’ll sleep now. Your story can wait till tomorrow.” With that, she closed her eyes and quickly pretended to fall asleep.

But I knew she was only feigning it, wanting me to leave. After ten minutes, I realized if I didn’t go, I’d be overstaying. I quietly straightened her blanket and left.

Tonight, Gu Ruoyan was a little strange, and I didn’t know how to respond. What would tomorrow bring?

Uneasy, I took a taxi home. As I got out and was about to head upstairs, I heard a soft voice from the stairwell behind me: “Tang Qian! Brother Tang Qian!”

The voice was so familiar—could it be…?

I turned and saw a girl standing by the lawn. In the faint light from a window across the way, I saw her long hair flowing, her features delicate and lovely, smiling as she waved at me.