“Sis,” Xiao Wang quickly stepped forward, “I just confirmed with the tenant that she’s home. Shall we go now?”
The usually laid-back Chao Xin stood upright, perhaps because there were no reliable places nearby.
“Well, let’s go take a look then.”
In fact, Xiang Wan had already made up her mind, but she wanted to exercise a bit of restraint.
After all, she was a lesbian.
Xiao Wang was thrilled, but Xiang Wan felt sorry for him. She dawdled behind, not looking at Xiao Wang anymore.
They left the community and arrived at the main intersection. Xiao Wang noticed the car’s lights blinking as it was unlocked, then glanced at Chao Xin, who held the car keys. He was stunned for three seconds.
He scratched his head and cheek, suddenly wondering if this was a mysterious visitor from headquarters, here to assess his service, or perhaps, a rich lady experiencing life?
Sitting in the back seat, inhaling the faint fragrance in the car and the scent of high-end leather, Xiao Wang felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
He nervously ran his fingers through his hair, feeling the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. In a rush, he grabbed a tissue, wiping it off hastily and then clutched the tissue in his hand, fearing that bits of paper might fall off.
Before he could prepare himself mentally, they arrived at the neighboring Yongjiang Phase II. Xiao Wang got out of the car first and opened an umbrella, waiting for Chao Xin to get out of the driver’s seat.
Chao Xin raised her eyelids to glance at him, “Thank you.”
My goodness, she really looked like a big boss, the more he looked, the more boss-like she seemed.
So, Xiao Wang’s steps became even more diligent, holding the umbrella for Chao Xin while introducing the surrounding facilities along with her leisurely gaze, “Sis, there’s a large supermarket nearby. And do you see that building over there? It’s a shopping center that was recently completed. It’s currently leasing and they plan to have all luxury brands. They’re aiming to be like Sanlitun[1]. Then across the street, there’s a planned top-tier hospital. I won’t make any guarantees, but once the shopping center and hospital are up, the value of this house will definitely increase by at least 50%.”
“Renting.” Chao Xin reminded him coldly.
“Oh, right, right, right,” Xiao Wang slapped his forehead dramatically, “Renting is also very convenient, the tenant benefits too.”
“Look at this community, isn’t it much better than the previous one? It’s right next to the main road, and there’s no longer that small alley. Plus, there’s a small garden at the back. It’s not big, but it’s quite clean.”
“She’s the one renting.” Chao Xin said again.
Xiao Wang choked a little, burped, then extended the umbrella handle forward, “Could you hold this yourself, sister? I have another one in my bag. I’ll go and hold it for Sis Xiang.”
Chao Xin couldn’t take it anymore, “She’s 20.”
Calling her sis was one thing, but Sis Xiang?[2]
At this, Xiao Wang was drenched in sweat, even his armpits were wet.
If this really was the “mysterious guest” survey that his colleagues had mentioned, he feared he might already be doomed.
Xiang Wan smoothed her ponytail before softly asking, “Shall we go in?”
“Ah, yes, yes, let’s go in. This community has access control, let me inform the security guard.” Xiao Wang trotted over, but as soon as he approached, the guard saw his badge and casually opened the door for him.
Xiao Wang was speechless; he had greeted the security guard many times before. Next time, if a client was around, entrance should be stricter. The guard even appeared listless, devoid of any spirit.
However, his internal musings went unnoticed by the two women. Chao Xin casually flipped her fishtail braid before she elegantly stepped through the large gate.
The apartment Xiao Wang had found was in the second building on the right. It was indeed better, at least the hallways had been plastered. Although there were some scuff marks from bicycle tires and phone numbers of locksmiths.
Perhaps it was nearing lunch time, several delivery guys were waiting for the elevator, and a few older women in pajamas were carrying vegetables, filling the small elevator hall to brimming.
The elevator bell rang, and Xiao Wang, quick as a flash, held the elevator door open, beckoning Chao Xin and Xiang Wan to hurry in.
Chao Xin was squeezed into a corner, pulling Xiang Wan, who was originally in front of her, towards herself, causing them to face each other.
More people came in, carrying vegetables and food boxes. The elevator was crowded and filled with a greasy odor, causing Xiang Wan to furrow her brows.
Chao Xin tried to swap places with Xiang Wan, but the elevator quickly filled up, leaving them unable to move.
A muffled breath escaped Xiang Wan as she was nudged slightly, causing her to lean towards Chao Xin. She laboriously lifted her hand and propped it on the armrest to ensure she wasn’t pressed against the crowd.
Chao Xin moved further into the corner of the elevator, her hand reaching for Xiang Wan’s lower back and keeping a fist’s distance to shield her from the man behind.
The elevator jerked into motion, pressing Xiang Wan closer to Chao Xin. Her head was lowered, and the sweet scent from her cheek was right beside Chao Xin’s ear. Xiang Wan’s shoulder leaned against Chao Xin, and the soft tenderness brushed against Chao Xin’s arm.
With a gentle squeeze, Chao Xin’s hand couldn’t maintain distance and rested lightly on Xiang Wan’s lower back, as if it were weightless.
Then Chao Xin glanced at the elevator panel and told Xiang Wan, “Someone is getting off on the fifth floor. You can lean against me until then.”
“Mmm,” Xiang Wan’s breath brushed against Chao Xin’s ear, causing her to tilt her head slightly, her tongue pressing against her mouth instinctively.
The elevator ride felt exceptionally long, and even the opening and closing of the old elevator’s doors seemed slow. Chao Xin could hear her heart pounding loudly, and it took several moments after the elevator came to a stop for the rushing sound in her ears to subside.
It wasn’t just because her heart rate was too fast; as she was pressed against her, Chao Xin could feel that Xiang Wan’s heartbeat was about the same.
She could hear an out-of-place resonance, very brief, just before they reached the fifth floor. As a delivery guy got off, the elevator suddenly felt loose, and the softness and fragrance between them maintained their distance as their bodies straightened.
Chao Xin’s arm, squeezed for a few seconds, seemed to retain the memory of the touch, with that spot slightly warmer than the rest.
Chao Xin stared at the ascending numbers. Feeling the elevator becoming more spacious, the gaps between her heartbeats gradually loosened.
On the 18th floor, Chao Xin swallowed softly as Xiang Wan glanced at her and whispered, “We’re here.”
“Mm.”
Xiao Wang led them out of the elevator to the apartment, and he was about to open the door when Chao Xin suddenly said, “You go in and have a look. I need to make a phone call.”
Her gaze fell on the stairwell, indifferent yet languid.
Xiang Wan nodded and then went in with Xiao Wang. As she turned, she saw Chao Xin fiddle with something in her right pocket.
This apartment was significantly better; at least the living room was bright. Without pulling the curtains, the small couch and coffee table were fully visible in the sunlight. A few takeout boxes were on the coffee table, not yet discarded, and a line of shoes of different lengths were at the entrance, including both men’s and women’s, with some even having only one shoe remaining.
“Do men and women live together?” Xiang Wan asked.
“The renters are all girls, but if they want to bring their boyfriends back, and the roommates do not object, we definitely won’t say anything,” Xiao Wang whispered, then asked, “Are you living alone?”
Xiang Wan didn’t answer her, glanced at the flashing logo on the router before turning to open the kitchen door.
“They probably all don’t use the kitchen. When they discussed it, they said they wouldn’t need to pay for gas,” Xiao Wang said.
However, Xiang Wan, as she stared at the cockroach crawling out from the floor, let out a small sigh.
“Forget it,” Xiang Wan softly said.
Xiao Wang didn’t know what to say. This cockroach had scared off several prospective renters. Despite their attempts to clean it, the kitchen was never completely cleaned. He had no idea what had been done in this kitchen before.
Fortunately, Xiang Wan, who looked so gentle and weak, didn’t scream. She just calmly closed the kitchen door.
As a result, they didn’t look at the bedroom anymore. Xiang Wan told Xiao Wang she would consider it further, ending there for the day.
Xiao Wang was disappointed, but quickly pumped herself up, leading Xiang Wan out while saying, “Sis, I think I understand your needs now. I’ll find a few cleaner places for you. As soon as I have them, I’ll contact you right away.”
“Thank you.”
Xiang Wan walked out of the apartment and instinctively began to look for Chao Xin.
But the hallway was quiet, there was no sound of a phone call. She said goodbye to Xiao Wang, explaining that she would wait for Chao Xin and suggested that he take the elevator down first.
Xiao Wang was very observant. After some polite chit-chat, he pressed the elevator button and then pointed towards the door of the emergency exit, saying, “She must be making a call in the hallway. You can look for her there.”
“Alright.” Xiang Wan nodded and elegantly walked in, pushing open the milky-white self-closing door, but still, there was no sound.
The hallway was dark, with only the faintly intersecting yellow light and the green light from the signboards. It was also very quiet, to the point where she could hear the echo of her footsteps.
Xiang Wan didn’t make a sound. Hearing some rustling of clothes below, she bravely walked down, and then she saw Chao Xin leaning against the wall, smoking, on the staircase of the 17th floor.
Her sleeves were still rolled up, a few buttons on her collar opened, the fishtail braid that had been rubbing against the wall had frayed a bit, and strands of hair rested against her ear. She held a cigarette box in her left hand, flipping the lid open and then pressing it shut with her thumb. In her right hand, she held a lady’s cigarette, thin and white, the sporadic sparks flaring and extinguishing with her inhalations and exhalations.
Her eyes were slightly closed, her head leaning against the wall, and her neck stretched out as she indulgently exhaled a thin fog. Then, the mole on her cheek seemed to come alive.
None of Xiang Wan’s friends smoked, not even the most rebellious Peng Xiangzhi. She didn’t expect the famously aloof Chao Xin within their circle to smoke.
In fact, it didn’t greatly affect their profession, as they were professional voice actors who knew how to control their throat muscles, but to maintain their best state, they usually didn’t smoke.
Not to mention Chao Xin.
But Xiang Wan was always attentive; the second time they got out of the car, she noticed a small square bulge in Chao Xin’s pocket. It seemed to be something she brought along casually, but Xiang Wan didn’t guess it was a cigarette box.
“Ms. Chao.” Xiang Wan called her.
Chao Xin opened her eyes, gave her a glance. She was not flustered at all, as if she had no intention of hiding. She simply put the cigarette down, tapped it lightly with her index finger, expertly flicking off the ash, and said, “Let’s go outside. There’s smoke here. Wait for me outside.”
Her voice had been made a bit hoarse by the smoke, but it had become even more captivating.
But Xiang Wan didn’t leave, instead, she walked down a few more steps, softly saying, “I’ve known Ms. Chao for so long, but I didn’t know you had a smoking habit.”
“Because Paipai is at home, I hardly smoke anymore.”
Chao Xin’s words sounded a bit tired, and she yawned a little before saying,”I just saw that there were one or two left in the car, so I thought I’d smoke them by the way.”
But she hadn’t planned on smoking so soon.
She could have at least held off until after she finished accompanying Xiang Wan to see the room.
But for reasons unknown, the moment she exited the elevator, she felt the urge to smoke.
Perhaps it was the surroundings, stirring up memories of her past.
Xiang Wan looked at Chao Xin, her expression proud yet tinged with an almost imperceptible melancholy, possibly set off by the dim lighting. Xiang Wan smoothed her skirt, sat down on the stairs, and observed Chao Xin in the glow of the lights.
Xiang Wan suddenly felt a rare curiosity towards Chao Xin.
She was an outsider, always observing the world from a detached viewpoint. Rarely did she actively seek to associate with others, let alone wanting to understand someone’s past.
Speaking of the past, no one’s past could be more absurd than Xiang Wan’s.
Therefore, in her eyes, everyone else’s past was insignificant.
Oh, except for that one chapter in Yu Zhou’s life, a past that had caused her many sleepless nights.
But Chao Xin was peculiar. She was both aloof yet seemingly once mired in the mud. She was both cold and arrogant, yet also caring as if it was her instinct. She was both rich and poor, both respected and antisocial, both feminine and occasionally wild.
She stood at the pinnacle of her industry, yet often displayed her disdain.
She was a woman of contradictions, and extremely, extremely fascinating.
No wonder people within their circle kept their distance from her, yet never gave up the opportunity to collaborate with her.
But Xiang Wan said nothing, she simply sat quietly next to Chao Xin as she finished two cigarettes.
Then, Chao Xin extended her smoke-filled hand to help her up.
“Ms. Chao,” Xiang Wan didn’t move. She glanced at her hand and then at her face, “Let’s live together.”
She finally understood the last characteristic of Chao Xin – loneliness, struggle, and occasional faint signals of seeking help.
Just like when she woke up in the middle of the night, dazed and not knowing which night it was.
“I can keep you company when you want to smoke. And hide it from Paipai.” she said.
Chao Xin found it somewhat amusing. This was the first person who, upon discovering she smoked, did not advise her to look after her health.
“Although I’m a lesbian, I know how to respect others and restrain myself. I don’t have any bad habits that would inconvenience you, Ms. Chao.” Xiang Wan said seriously.
“Once I’m more financially capable and can afford a better house, I plan to move out.” she added as a precaution, “If you find it uncomfortable to live with me, feel free to speak up. Do not suffer in silence because of saving face, for yourself and Pai Pai.”
Chao Xin untied and retied her braid, listening to Xiang Wan. Only when she finished, did she nod.
“Alright. But speaking of Paipai, there’s something I need to tell you. In the future, when you teach her, you may… need to change your approach a bit.”
“Hmm?” Xiang Wan raised her head, puzzled.
- One of the busiest places in Beijing. Taikoo Li Sanlitun – Wikipedia [return to text]
- “Sis“ here means older sister(姐, jie), In daily life, “jie” can be used as a common term to address young women regardless of their age. However, if you add it after someone’s last name, it usually refers to a woman that is older than you. [return to text]
CNYuriTranslation 