Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Zhang Qiong quickly accepted the friend request and stared at the screen, waiting for the other person to speak, but no new messages popped up.

Perhaps he had put his phone down and gone to sleep right after sending the request.

Zhang Qiong, however, couldn’t sleep.

She was incredibly curious about how he had found her contact information.

The man’s nickname was “Northern Wind.” Zhang Qiong tapped on his profile picture to take a closer look; it was just a simple landscape photo.

Ah, the standard kit for a middle-aged man.

She then clicked on his Moments. His background was also a landscape photo.

His posts were set to be visible for only the last three days, and there wasn’t a single post within that timeframe.

She hesitated, typed “Hello” into the chat box, and then deleted it.

She still wanted to appear a bit reserved and wait for him to speak first.

The word “reserved” made her want to laugh. She hadn’t been reserved in years; the first time she was with Qin Song, they had ended up in bed together almost instantly with a mutual understanding. What use was being reserved for a middle-aged woman? It wasn’t like she could spend it or eat it.

The next morning, Zhang Qiong picked up her phone the moment she opened her eyes.

There was only one unread message, and it was from Qin Song: “Are you awake?”

Zhang Qiong let out an impatient sigh and tossed the phone aside.

She got out of bed, did a quick wash, fried an egg, and boiled a bowl of noodles.

Once the noodles were ready, she didn’t even bother eating. She ran back to check her phone.

There was a new message on WeChat!

She snatched up the phone.

Northern Wind: Good morning.

Zhang Qiong thought for a moment and replied: Morning.

Northern Wind: I hope I’m not intruding. I’m not sure if you still remember what happened yesterday?

Zhang Qiong: I remember you.

Northern Wind: You left a deep impression on me as well.

Zhang Qiong: But I’m a bit curious, how did you get my contact info?

Northern Wind: My chest hurt after you bumped into me that day. I went to the hospital for a checkup, and it turned out to be a soft tissue contusion. I had to do everything I could to contact you for compensation.

Zhang Qiong: I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to! Are you okay now?

Northern Wind: It’s fake. Just a joke, haha.

Zhang Qiong: …You gave me a fright.

Northern Wind: The truth is, I think you’re very beautiful. I wanted to ask for your number in person, but I hesitated for a second and missed the best opportunity. I could only take a photo of you from inside my car.

Zhang Qiong: You can find someone’s contact info just from a photo?

Northern Wind: A photo can’t, but I can. City A isn’t that big, and I have quite a few connections. It doesn’t take asking more than six people to find out your name.

Zhang Qiong: I didn’t know it worked like that…

Northern Wind: It was indeed impolite of me. If you mind, you can delete me. It’s fine.

Zhang Qiong: I didn’t mean that! I’m just surprised by how fast you found me. So, you already know my name?

Northern Wind: Yes. A friend of a friend has dealings with your workplace, so I was able to find out your name. Please rest assured, I only asked for your name and phone number. I didn’t inquire about any other personal information; that’s your privacy.

Zhang Qiong: I see…

Northern Wind: Let me introduce myself. I’m Liang He, forty years old.

Zhang Qiong’s noodles had already turned into a soggy clump in the bowl. She sat on her bed and chatted with Liang He for the entire morning.

By lunchtime, her eyes were a bit sore. Only then did she put down her phone and stand up to stretch.

In the span of one morning, two hearts that had been strangers quickly became acquainted.

Zhang Qiong thought back to what she had secretly done under the covers last night and felt a bit lewd.

This man still treated her like a woman he had just met, but in her heart, she had already shared an intimate, passionate night with him.

Although Liang He’s typed words seemed a bit formal and old-fashioned, his language still revealed a sense of tenderness and maturity that Zhang Qiong liked very much.

Who said that once a woman reached her age, she could only like younger men? A woman would never reject the qualities of maturity and tenderness in a man.

Qin Song spent all day calling her “Big Sister, Big Sister,” and Zhang Qiong had long since grown tired of it.

She already had two children of her own, and her husband was a lost cause; Qin Song was like her fourth child.

Qin Song was too self-centered. He was always discussing things related to himself or expressing his views on the world. Only when he occasionally had nothing else to do would he ask about Zhang Qiong’s mood.

Aside from providing her with some material help and basic care, his contribution to her “emotional value” was basically zero.

Zhang Qiong had only recently seen the term “emotional value” on Weibo. After some self-reflection, she believed she was quite a good provider of it herself.
Emotional value is like a cup of water held in your hand; when someone is thirsty, you give them a few sips. But if it’s all output and no input, the cup will eventually run dry.

Zhang Qiong felt like her cup was nearly empty.

Liang He rarely talked about himself. Most of his topics began with “you,” and he seldom mentioned anything about “me.” He kept Zhang Qiong at the center of every conversation.

This style of communication made Zhang Qiong feel deeply valued.

In just one morning, she had already finished telling him all about her miserable marriage, her hectic job, and her dull life.

Liang He didn’t need to give her any extra attention. Making her the focus, being willing to listen to her, and understanding what she said was a form of emotional value in itself.

Through their chatting, she could sense that Liang He also had a family.

Zhang Qiong threw away her clump of cold noodles and washed a tomato to eat for lunch instead.

Liang He: What are you doing this afternoon?

Zhang Qiong really hoped he would ask to meet up, so she replied quickly: No plans yet.

Liang He: Do you like watching movies?

Zhang Qiong grew excited. Although movie theaters were places for young couples to date, going with someone you liked was always exhilarating, regardless of age.

Zhang Qiong: I love them!

Liang He: I’ll watch a movie with you, but not at a theater. Pick a movie you like, tell me, and we’ll watch it synchronously. When you want to talk, just send me a WeChat message. I’ll pause it and chat with you.

Zhang Qiong didn’t act like a petulant young girl and ask, “Don’t you even want to spend money on tickets? How stingy,” or “Why can’t we watch it together in person?” She knew that someone who drove a Land Rover wouldn’t be short on cash for a movie ticket; not meeting in person simply meant it wasn’t convenient for him to leave home.

She readily accepted this novel suggestion and chose an Indian film-Unknown Death.

Unknown Death sounded like a horror movie, but it was actually a deeply moving love story.

Zhang Qiong had seen the film when she was still a young girl. She was a nostalgic person and had rewatched it many times. Every time she watched it, she would cry until she was breathless.

A movie you’ve loved for years is like a treasure you’ve kept hidden in your heart for a long time.

We don’t easily bring it out for others to see. We fear that tastes differ, we fear conflicting reviews, and we fear that the indifference or dislike of others will hurt that treasure. Therefore, we only choose to share it with the people we truly like and care about.

This is true for you and me, and it was true for Zhang Qiong.

Just as the movie started, Qin Song called-Zhang Qiong hadn’t replied to his messages all morning.

Zhang Qiong answered the phone: “Hello? I’m driving. I’m heading back to my parents’ place.”

Qin Song: “Going to your parents’ is fine, but why have you been ignoring me all morning?”

Zhang Qiong: “I was busy packing this morning and didn’t have time to look. I have to go, there are cameras on the road.”

Qin Song: “Alright, sis. Message me when you get there.”

Zhang Qiong: “Okay.”

She put down her phone and the movie continued.

The first half of the film was vibrantly colored and the atmosphere was warm; Zhang Qiong watched happily.

Zhang Qiong: The female lead is so cute, she’s hilarious, hahahahaha.

Liang He: Seeing her makes me think of you. You’re very cute, too.

By the middle of the film, the female lead boarded a train for a business trip.

Zhang Qiong: Do you mind spoilers?

Liang He: Of course not. Tell me.

Zhang Qiong: Once she gets on this train, their lives are going to reach a turning point…

Liang He: What a shame. They were such a happy couple.

Zhang Qiong: Yeah, I really wish time could stay frozen in those earlier scenes! Let’s keep watching.

Soon, the movie reached its most tragic plot point-the female lead was murdered, and the male lead arrived too late with a proposal bouquet. Even more heartbreakingly, the female lead died without ever knowing the male lead’s true identity.

Zhang Qiong’s eyes welled up once again at this scene.

Liang He: Are you crying?

Zhang Qiong: You guessed right. I’m crying. It’s so sad.

Liang He: Do you think the essence of love is a comedy or a tragedy?

Zhang Qiong: Love is always a tragedy. Life is, too.

With such a bleak response, Zhang Qiong expected Liang He to offer some positive encouragement.

To her surprise, Liang He said:

“Then I hope I can become a minor character in your tragedy. Like a little bird singing on your eaves in the morning, or a puppy wagging its tail at you on the street while you’re shopping. Or perhaps a lamp when you’re walking at night, or a cup of water when you’re thirsty. My strength is limited, but if I can bring you even a little bit of warmth and joy, then that will be the value of my existence.”

Zhang Qiong shed tears again, but this time, it wasn’t because of sadness.