Chapter Nineteen: A Girl Who Inspires Concern

After work, I walked out of the supermarket and casually opened the envelope Li Xuyang had given me. Inside was a thick stack of crisp one-hundred-yuan bills and another, smaller, much more delicate envelope. The pale blue envelope bore, in neat black script, the words “For Ke Wen’s Eyes Only.” Of course, even without looking, I knew Li Xuyang wanted me to pass this letter on to Zhao Ke Wen. My job at his supermarket was, after all, little more than a bridge he’d built for himself to reach Zhao Ke Wen.

I put the money away, carefully tucking the envelope into my pocket, and only then pulled out my phone to call Zhao Ke Wen. The truth was, the reason I’d borrowed this money was simply to treat her to one of the grand meals she so often mentioned, even though she hardly lacked for such things.

“What does my little brother need from his big sister this time?” Her voice was noisy and chaotic over the phone. “I’m out right now, wait a moment, I’ll step outside.”

“Okay.” I knew Zhao Ke Wen was only teasing, but I couldn’t help feeling I already owed her so much. I had little ability, no useful connections—I could do almost nothing for her, let alone truly help her. Besides a meager thank you and a meal, I had no idea what else I could offer.

“Hello? Little brother, go ahead.” On her end, things had finally quieted down.

“Hey, it’s nothing really. I was just wondering if you had time for a nice dinner. My treat!”

“Haven’t you already treated me once?” Zhao Ke Wen laughed softly.

“Come on, sis, don’t make fun of me…”

“I’m not, really. What’s up? Why the sudden urge to take me out? Planning to get me drunk and take advantage of me?” she said, feigning seriousness.

I was speechless—what a strange sister, full of such wild notions…

“Haha, all right, I’ll stop messing with you! But tonight I’m busy. I’m with a few very important friends, and we’ll be out late. It wouldn’t be right to leave early.” She sounded genuinely cheerful, then paused. “Let’s pick another day, okay?”

“Sure, no problem.”

After I hung up, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something odd about her last words…

Since Zhao Ke Wen was busy, I could only find a cheap little diner for dinner on my own. I ordered a bowl of beef noodles and wolfed them down, intending to get home early and rest. After all, my life was about to change completely, and it would take some time to truly adapt.

Stepping out of the diner, I thought about my apartment. Though I’d just cleaned, it probably wouldn’t be long before it turned back into the “dog’s nest” Zhao Ke Wen always complained about, given my habits. I might as well buy all the basic cleaning supplies now, so I wouldn’t have to bother her every time I tidied up.

Once I’d bought the essentials, I took a cab home, stashed the tools in the corner behind the door, and counted out a thousand of the two thousand yuan in my pocket to deposit in my drawer. The rest I stuffed into my battered old wallet.

Staring at the bulging, worn-out wallet, I promised myself the first thing I’d do after payday was buy a new one!

I slipped the wallet into my pocket, then placed Li Xuyang’s envelope on the table. Only then did I undress and collapse onto the bed. Eyes closed, I quickly drifted toward sleep, turning over to find a comfortable position.

Just as I hovered between wakefulness and sleep, my phone rang, a catchy “Life is So Cool” ringtone cutting short my early rest. I reached for my phone—“Heroine Luo” flashed on the screen.

“Hello, Heroine Luo?”

There was no answer for a few seconds, just the faint sounds of electric guitar and drums in the background. I frowned—was this girl playing some kind of silent game?

“Are you there?” I asked again.

Still no reply…

I sat up, glancing at the time—nine in the evening. Could something have happened to her? Was this a repeat of the last incident? But what did it matter to me? If I was honest, Luo Qing and I weren’t even friends—we’d only met a handful of times and exchanged a few words. I wasn’t some great philanthropist; why should I repeatedly help a stranger who had nothing to do with me?

I waited a while longer, but the music persisted, and still no sign of Luo Qing’s voice.

I hung up and tossed the phone aside, lying back down, but sleep had deserted me. Luo Qing’s ethereal, beautiful face kept flashing through my mind, along with her moods—sometimes cold, sometimes fiery. I could almost see her, calm in the face of danger, hiding her phone behind her back to call me for help…

I sprang out of bed, dressed, grabbed my wallet and phone, and headed out the door.

“Driver, to Fenghua Bar, please hurry, it’s urgent!” I hailed a cab and handed the driver some cash as soon as I got in.

The driver was efficient, and soon I was at Fenghua Bar’s entrance. Though Luo Qing hadn’t left any message, I had a feeling she was here. The music I’d heard on the phone only made me more certain.

Pushing open the bar’s door, I immediately spotted her slumped over a corner table.

I hurried to her side. The table was littered with empty beer bottles, and she lay motionless, face down. I placed a hand on her back—thankfully, her breathing was steady!

That was my first thought: thank goodness she was okay. Seeing her quietly slumped there, I finally relaxed.

“Luo Qing, wake up?” I nudged her gently, but she didn’t respond.

“Luo Qing, come on, don’t sleep here. Let’s go home!” I tried again, this time with a little more force.

“Mmm…” She raised her head slightly, her gaze unfocused from the alcohol. She glanced at me and then seemed about to collapse again.

I quickly reached out to support her, helping her to her feet. Though she was tall, she was also slender and light; it wasn’t difficult to hold her up.

“Where do you live? I’ll take you home.” I hoped she had enough sense left to remember her address.

“Home… home… let’s go… go home,” she mumbled, barely coherent.

I sighed inwardly—she was well and truly drunk. Good thing I’d come; otherwise, who knows what might have happened to her in the middle of the night?

I slung her bag over my other shoulder and helped her to the front desk. There was no way I could rummage through her bag for money, so I paid the bill myself. My heart ached—three hundred and fifty yuan gone just like that! Little troublemaker, once you’re sober, you’d better pay me back!

“Home…” Luo Qing could barely stand without leaning on me, muttering incessantly.

“Yes, we’re going home now. Be good,” I coaxed her as gently as one would a child.

“I am good… so good…” she mumbled, eyes closed.

I broke into a cold sweat. Was this really the same temperamental, unpredictable “Heroine Luo” I knew?