Between Us : Chapter 11: My Heart Feels Stuck

If it were not for important matters weighing on him, sleeping until eleven every morning was the most basic respect Chen Qian could show his own bed.

As soon as his consciousness returned, Chen Qian heard the sound of rain hitting the iron eaves outside the window. It seemed the weather forecast had lied.

But his internal clock never lied. The moment he turned on his phone, the screen showed exactly 11:00, not a second off. Below the time bar were a few unread messages.

Xu Jue: The clothes arent dry yet. Ill collect them when I get back from class.

Xu Jue: Are all the umbrellas behind the door usable? Its still raining, so Im borrowing one. Ill return it tonight.

Xu Jue: (I didnt curse in the messages above.)

Chen Qian laughed himself fully awake, holding up his phone to compose a reply.

Chen Qian: What class do you have on a Sunday?

Xu Jue: [Image]

Chen Qian tapped to enlarge the picture. It was not hard to tell the scene was a crowded art studio. In the lower left corner was Xu Jues oil painting, only roughly outlined.

Xu Jue: By the way, theres a wife in the pot.

Chen Qian: ?

Chen Qian: Whos in the pot?

The chat interface fell completely silent. Xu Jue did not reply for a long time.

Chen Qian set down his phone and reached for the mirror on the nightstand. Last night he had applied the ointment Xu Jue bought him, and today the redness and swelling around the piercing had gone down considerably. It worked better than anything he had bought before.

He turned the packaging over and over, examining it. Then he tossed the two tubes of ointment he had bought himself into the depths of the drawer, leaving only Xu Jues within easy reach.

He had to go out in the afternoon, so Chen Qian stopped dawdling. He got up and changed into a simple, plain outfit. He deliberately picked a top and pants without pockets to make things easier later.

After washing up, his phone received two more messages. Chen Qian tapped to read them as he walked toward the kitchen.

Xu Jue: Theres wife cake and egg tarts in the pot. I didnt know what you liked to drink so I bought both soy milk and milk. I didnt expect the line downstairs to be so long this early.

Xu Jue: The teachers here. Gotta go.

Chen Qian lifted the pot lid. Everything was packed inside, staying warm. The wife cakes and egg tarts sat side by side; the soy milk and milk sat side by side. He stuck a straw into the soy milk and grabbed a wife cake with his left hand, taking a bite.

Actually, Aunt Qius skills had always been quite good, and the prices were reasonable too. She did it to take care of the ordinary families in this neighborhood.

In the past, Chen Qian had also bought wife cakes from Aunt Qiu for Jiang Linsheng. But Jiang Linsheng had only taken a small bite from the one Chen Qian fed him. The next day, he sent over wife cakes made by his own familys pastry chef.

The taste was not really any different. But for Chen Qian at the time, it was completely different.

Chen Qian did not have a habit of eating breakfast. Originally, he had planned to make a simple meal after getting up and then head out. Now that his stomach was full, he simply rolled up a rice ball stuffed with plenty of filling to eat on the road.

No one was willing to accept his ride share request. Chen Qian was already used to it. He slung on his backpack, opened his umbrella, and walked to the intersection to hail a taxi.

It was hard to get a cab on rainy days. After a long wait, one finally came. The moment the driver heard the address Chen Qian gave, his face showed difficulty. Chen Qian, ever good tempered, held up two fingers. “Sir, charge me double the fare. Sorry for the trouble.”

He had said this line no fewer than several dozen times. Every time, it worked.

The car slid into the curtain of rain. Chen Qian propped his chin on his hand, leaning against the car door. He turned his head to look at the gray sky, counting the days. Only one year left.

The journey was nearly fifty kilometers. The inside of the car remained in long silence. The driver did not play the radio or chat with the passenger. He drove steadily all the way to the outskirts of town, pulling over in a relatively open area.

Chen Qian finished paying the fare but did not rush to get out. He rested his hand on the front seat and asked, “Sir, could you just drive around nearby and come back to pick me up in an hour?”

“Youre making this hard on me,” the driver said, his brow knitting into a knot. “Who wants to hang around this creepy place?”

“Just one hour.” Chen Qian pulled out a pack of cigarettes and handed it over. “Sorry for the trouble.”

The weather was clear in the suburbs. Chen Qian folded up his umbrella and got out, heading with practiced steps toward the solemn gray building several dozen meters away.

As he drew closer, the characters on the main gate became clearer. Faded dark red from years of weathering, they read starkly: “West Suburbs No. 4 Prison.”

It was the same routine as always. Identity confirmation, body search, inspection of visitation items, depositing money into a special account. Having come so many times, Chen Qian skillfully slipped two packs of cigarettes to every prison guard. These were two price tiers higher than what he gave the driver. Guards would not even look at anything under twenty yuan.

Visitation time was limited to half an hour. Chen Qian was led to the visitation window. By the time he sat down, he had already adjusted his state.

“Mom.”

Sitting across from him was a young woman with fine features. Though she wore coarse prison clothes, when she smiled one could still catch a glimpse of the refined temperament that could not be worn away.

“Little Qian,” Chen Qingrong tapped her sons nose tip through the glass. “Youre wearing too little.”

“I have heat patches stuck inside. Im not cold.” Chen Qians tone was casual and ordinary. “Mom, I brought you a sweater. Try it on later. Its really warm.”

“What color? If its too old fashioned I dont want it.”

“Pale yellow with white checks. Youll look like a little girl wearing it. Dont doubt my taste.”

Chen Qingrong laughed, her dimples shallow. “Alright then. Ill wear it for you to see next time.”

Everyone knew perfectly well that next time they met it would still be through a window. But Chen Qian still wanted to ask whether there was really no chance for a sentence reduction.

He did not ask because he understood in his heart that the hope was too slim.

Back when he was in school, thirty minutes always felt like it passed slowly. Now it seemed to fly by after just a few sentences.

Before parting, Chen Qingrong asked, “Are you still working at Milu?”

“Yeah.” Chen Qian nodded.

Chen Qingrong sighed. “If you find a better job, quit the one at Milu.”

Chen Qian neither agreed nor disagreed. “Ill wait a bit longer.”

The content of prison visit conversations was monitored every sentence. Chen Qingrong spoke very indirectly. “Baby, stay rational. Dont go down the wrong path.”

Chen Qian gripped his pant leg until it wrinkled. “I know.”

When he came out, the taxi was already waiting by the roadside. The driver was reclined in the drivers seat, scrolling through short videos. When he saw Chen Qian approaching, he adjusted his seat back. “Youre actually pretty punctual.”

“What else would I be?” Chen Qian smiled, pulled open the door, and got in.

The driver was more talkative than on the way there. “You went to No. 4 Prison to…”

“Visit someone,” Chen Qian said.

“A relative?”

“My mom.”

“Oh… and its actually a woman.” The driver asked again, “What did she do?”

Chen Qian said lightly, “Murder.”

The driver fell silent again.

Chen Qian was happy for the peace and quiet. He pulled out his phone and sent Jiang Linsheng a message, telling him he planned to return to Milu tomorrow to end his leave. Before work, he wanted to have dinner with his boyfriend.

Jiang Linsheng replied quickly: “Working overtime like a spy. How about lunch tomorrow instead?”

Lunch meant only the office as an option. But Chen Qian still wanted to catch a movie.

An investors work could not be delayed. Chen Qian could only be endlessly understanding. “Work hard. See you on Paris departure day.”

After chatting, he remembered Xu Jue was coming over tonight. Chen Qian was afraid the other would be met with a closed door, so he jumped into their chat and composed a message: “Nephew, what time does class end?”

“Class is dismissed thirty minutes late today,” the teacher announced after giving pointers to each students painting. “Everyone, dont rush for quick results. Handle every detail properly.”

“Ah… can you not do this to me,” Song He muttered softly as she put away her small mirror. “In my next life I swear I wont be an art dog.”

Xu Jue, sitting next to her, heard every word. “Is it that bad? You didnt complain when class ended at six thirty in summer.”

“Thats different. Being held after class is being held after class.” Song He said, “Besides, I made plans with Xiaoxiao to go to ELK at six.”

ELK was the largest and most fully equipped club in Yunxia City, occupying the entire East Gate area of Wandeng Li. Even people who had never been there had heard of it.

Xu Jue was one of those who had never been but knew slightly more than just by reputation. “Just you two girls going?”

“Yeah. Xiaoxiao said the waiters at ELK are all top notch good looking,” Song He said, her mind no longer on painting. “My makeup wont look dull by tonight, will it?”

Xu Jue could not care less whether Song Hes makeup would look dull. He only knew that today she was so distracted she had even painted the whole tone of her picture dark. “What do you mean Xiaoxiao said? You havent been yourself?”

“Xiaoxiao will show me around. She knows the ropes.” Song He gestured with her hand at the side of her thigh, through her long coat. “I even specially wore a leather skirt underneath.”

The position Song He gestured was at least ten centimeters above the knee. Xu Jue inexplicably thought of that woman who had been picked up while drunk.

Song He put away her phone. “Im not some naive innocent girl.”

After class ended, Xu Jue finally saw the message Chen Qian had sent. He slung on his backpack and walked out of the studio, replying as he walked with his head down: “Just got out. Waiting for a ride.”

The light across the street happened to turn green. Xu Jue crossed the crosswalk with the crowd. During evening rush hour, the countdown was long, and everyone walked at an unhurried pace.

Two women walking close together were dressed smartly, folders tucked under their arms. They looked like they had just gotten off work at a nearby law firm, discussing in low voices a recent molestation case in Yunxia City.

Xu Jue heard the entire conversation without missing a word. Later, the bus arrived, they stopped talking and boarded, and Xu Jue still stood in place.

How had Chen Qian put it last time?

He said those women who got picked up while drunk were either saying one thing and meaning another, or enjoying it while pretending otherwise.

But there really were people who understood nothing, who became prey for others without any guard up. They might only be sixteen or seventeen, but hungry wolves could not care less where their skirts were thrown or what filth their bodies would be stained with.

Only a wisp of exhaust remained from the bus. Xu Jue turned and walked toward the intersection, raising his hand to hail a taxi.

“East Gate of Wandeng Li, please.”

In its early days, ELK club was just a small bar called “Milu,” built in the then not yet abandoned Creative Industry Park to run a small business. Later, some investor took notice, bought up more than twenty surrounding shops, closed for several years, and built the present ELK club. After that, many people followed suit, and the old Creative Industry Park became the present bar street. But only ELK always held the top spot in Wandeng Li, providing the wealthy with a good place to pass the time.

The original Milu small bar was not removed. Renamed Milu, it sat in the inner hall on the first floor of ELK. Every night at seven, the resident singer kicked off the night shift with a song called “Get Lost.” The young women flocked in at the sound, settling in for the whole long night.

It was not yet seven, but under the night sky ELK was already full of moving figures. People came and went beneath the entrance. Xu Jue stood in the grass across the street and called Song He.

Unexpectedly, the ringtone came from a low shrub four or five meters away. Xu Jue followed the sound and saw Song He crouching there, frantically pressing to answer the call. “Hello?”

“Song He.” Xu Jue walked over.

She first looked around in all directions. It was not until her companion nudged her with an elbow that she discovered where the voice was coming from. She hurriedly put her index finger to her lips and shushed him several times.

“Dont expose me.” Song He held her phone between her shoulder and ear, clasping her hands together and raising them above her head.

“Who are you hiding from?” Xu Jue asked.

“Her brother.” Xiaoxiao nudged Song Hes shoulder with her elbow again. “Can you see clearly? Is it really him or not?”

“I cant see clearly. Im not wearing my glasses,” Song He squinted at the open air parking lot across the street. “Xu Jue, can you check for me if that light gold one is a Mulsanne? Whats the license plate number?”

“Triple eights.” Xu Jue said.

Song He looked like she would rather be dead. “Hes definitely here for business again. Xiaoxiao, we cant go.”

Xiaoxiao did not look disappointed that the plan had fallen through. She stared at Xu Jues face and suddenly asked, “What are you doing here?”

Xu Jue stood with his hands in his pockets, completely at ease. “All you can eat hot pot on Changnian Road. Want to go?”

“Yes!” Xiaoxiao answered before anyone else.

“Then lets go. Remember to bring your student ID. Seven percent off.” Xu Jue patted Song Hes shoulder bag. “You walk in front and lead the way.”

The two girls walked arm in arm, overjoyed, in the front. Xu Jue fell behind. When he reached the end of the road and turned the corner, he looked back toward the parking lot. He saw the driver and passenger doors of the Mulsanne open at the same time.

Forget the whole city. Youd be hard pressed to find a second limited edition Mulsanne in the whole province. Yet he had seen it two or three times in just one short week, and always the same color.

Probably having moved out of her brothers line of sight, Song He became as chatty as a magpie again. “Xu Jue, I called a car. Walk faster!”

Xu Jue responded with a sound. As he walked, he opened his chat with Chen Qian.

It was strange. Usually when he was short a companion he would habitually call Qiu Yuanfei. This time his hand would not listen and tapped on the black Shiba Inu profile picture instead. Probably because Chen Qians black Shiba Inu was easier on the eyes than Qiu Yuanfeis newly changed green fish head.

Before he could organize his words, the black Shiba Inu sent him a message first, asking if he was stuck in traffic.

Xu Jue: Check if Changnian Road is jammed.

Chen Qian: Its not.

Xu Jue: Hot pot party, three people short one. My heart feels stuck.

Chen Qian: Dont talk in riddles.

Xu Jue: I want to invite you to eat hot pot.