Chapter 6

Wandering aimlessly along A University’s tree-lined paths, I remembered Jiang Dai’s advice.

I’d followed it. And somehow, I hadn’t.

I opened my contacts. There was a number saved without a name.

I didn’t need to save it, really.

I already knew those eleven digits by heart.

He picked up soon after I dialled.

“Hi,” I said softly. “It’s me.”

For a long time, he said nothing. Then, “I know.”

“I’m a little surprised you still have this number.”

“So am I.”

Surprised I’d called again, or surprised he’d kept the number himself?

I didn’t ask. “Jiang Dai, let’s make another deal.”

“Oh? Tell me.”

“Get me a meeting with Zhou Mingxi, and I’ll help clear up those… rumours about us.”

“Su Ying, I don’t need to clear up any rumours with her. She isn’t interested in my past.”

His voice was steady, his manner assured, exactly as it had been when he told me that some people never picked fights with anyone above them.

A sudden gust shook a dead leaf loose.

I reached out, but didn’t catch it.

“Then back then, did you really need a girlfriend to hide behind?”

He paused, then gave a quiet laugh.

“Mingxi and I are having coffee at two on Sunday afternoon. You can come.”

After hanging up, I stood dazed for a while.

Sometimes I was sick of always being the one underneath.

Sick of having had to play the obedient, sensible child just to stay in school and get that pathetic little allowance.

Even sicker of finally growing up only to find I was still a fish on a chopping board.

I walked on, crushing the dead leaf underfoot.

Unfortunately, Su Ying had no time to mourn the passing seasons.

If I didn’t flop off that chopping board, the knife would come down.

The café was on the top floor of the most expensive mall in the city. It had a lovely view and fresh air.

Jiang Dai and Zhou Mingxi sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows, one handsome, the other elegant. They made a striking pair.

I sat down at their table as though we were old friends and greeted Mingxi warmly.

She looked at me, puzzled, then at Jiang Dai.

“I asked her to come,” he said.

I smiled. “There are a few misunderstandings I’d like to clear up with you, Mingxi.”

She studied me with a hint of amusement.

“All right. Go ahead.”

I told her exactly why I’d approached Jiang Dai back then and what I’d done with our relationship in name only.

She raised an eyebrow. “So? You’re saying there was nothing between you, and there’s no reason for me to target you?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m saying Jiang Dai really did like me.”

“What?” She laughed.

Jiang Dai set down his coffee and smiled too.

I went on,

“I was so childish back then, and he was still willing to play along.

“Mingxi, would you play house with some insignificant person who had nothing to offer you?”

Her expression slowly darkened.

“Su Ying, are you trying to provoke me?”

I kept my pleasant smile.

“I only hope you won’t let a moment’s anger cloud your judgement.

“Right now, I’m a student with good grades and a promising future to work towards.

“But if you destroy that future and leave me with nothing, Jiang Dai will be all I have left to cling to.

“Whether or not there’s any love between you, I imagine you wouldn’t want me turning up in your life all the time.

“If a cockroach gets into your home, you can use insecticide. But if you antagonise a person who’s like a cockroach, there really isn’t much you can do.

“After all, a person is still a person. However much they resemble a cockroach, the law still protects them.”

Zhou Mingxi seemed to see the sense in what I’d said.

She didn’t care to converse with a cockroach any further. She simply told Jiang Dai to keep his people in line, picked up her bag, and swept off.

Jiang Dai picked up his jacket. “Come on. I’ll drive you back.”