Loving You in Silence - Chapter 2

Jiang Zi stood in the misty rain, holding her umbrella.

She looked back.

The convenience store was far behind her, and the woman was nowhere to be seen. Jiang Zi knit her brows slightly but didn’t dwell on it.

She called me ‘Ms. Jiang.’ She’s probably a relative of one of my students, Jiang Zi thought. It seemed like a reasonable explanation.

Brushing off the minor encounter, Jiang Zi continued walking until she turned into a small alley and disappeared.

Meng Yihuai walked out of the convenience store empty-handed. Her gaze remained fixed on the direction where Jiang Zi had vanished. Only then did she take out her own umbrella from her bag and open it.

On her way home, Jiang Zi passed a shopping mall and decided to stop by for some daily necessities. To her surprise, she ran into Jiang Manjing in the main lobby, who was with another girl.

The girl was the same age as Jiang Manjing, and Jiang Zi recognized her. Back when Jiang Zi was coaching students for a physics competition, this girl had won first prize. Even the students at No. 1 High, who considered themselves the “chosen ones,” felt a sense of tension and dread at the mention of her name: Qiao Zhao.

The two were currently sitting on a bench in the lobby.

Jiang Manjing had applied light makeup and was eating jelly with her head down. Qiao Zhao sat quietly beside her. The atmosphere between them felt a bit strange.

Not wanting to be a “buzzkill” guardian, Jiang Zi intended to pretend she hadn’t seen them.

However, Jiang Manjing looked up and spotted her. She hurried through her last bite and practically ran to Jiang Zi’s side.

She tugged at Jiang Zi’s sleeve. “Auntie, let’s go home.”

Jiang Zi paused. “Isn’t your friend still over there?”

Jiang Manjing made a vague sound, avoiding Qiao Zhao’s gaze, and stubbornly pulled Jiang Zi toward the exit. “We’re done talking. Let’s go home.”

On the way back:

Jiang Zi asked, “Do you know Qiao Zhao?”

“You know her, Auntie?”

Jiang Zi nodded. “She has very good grades.”

Jiang Manjing fell silent.

As they sat in the back of the taxi, Jiang Zi thought about the awkward vibe between them—calling them “friends” felt like a stretch. She didn’t want to meddle too much, especially with a teenager who had her own thoughts, but she still asked, “Is there something going on?”

She expected Jiang Manjing not to answer.

But Jiang Manjing, appearing a bit distracted, blurted out, “Oh, she asked me to be her girlfriend.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized what she’d said and slapped a hand over her mouth.

The car fell into a deathly silence.

Jiang Zi’s habitually unruffled face showed a few cracks.

She tried to process the meaning of that sentence, but it was difficult. For a twenty-eight-year-old who had been single since birth, kids these days seemed far too open-minded.

Jiang Manjing looked mortified, but she couldn’t take the words back.

After a long while, Jiang Zi asked, “She likes you?”

Jiang Manjing paused. “Doesn’t seem like it.”

Jiang Zi struggled to find the right words. “Then ‘girlfriend’… does it just mean a female friend?”

Jiang Manjing glanced at her. “Probably.”

“Oh.”

Silence returned.

Neither of them intended to continue the topic, but that didn’t mean Jiang Zi wasn’t concerned. Since they had started living together, Jiang Manjing had many pursuers. Jiang Zi had personally encountered three or four of them—mostly playboys from wealthy families who looked quite unreliable. Compared to them, Qiao Zhao was an outlier.

Jiang Zi sighed, feeling a bit of a headache coming on.

After getting home and showering, Jiang Zi’s phone buzzed with a message.

An Jia: [I’m coming back to China tomorrow. Get ready to receive me!]

A flight information screenshot followed.

Jiang Zi: [No time.]

An Jia: [?]

An Jia: [Say that again?]

Jiang Zi: [I have to work tomorrow.]

An Jia: [Is work more important or am I? I suggest you think carefully before you answer.]

An Jia: [Smile Emoji]

Jiang Zi’s social circle was pitifully small; she was the type of person who couldn’t find anyone to go shopping with on a weekend. An Jia was her classmate from her time abroad. They had attended classes and worked part-time jobs together, building a deep friendship.

However, An Jia had chosen to stay in the U.S. after graduation and planned to settle there. It was rare for her to visit.

Jiang Zi thought about it: [Then I’ll take a leave of absence.]

An Jia: [That’s more like it!]

In the airport lobby, after waiting for about fifteen minutes, a short-haired woman pushing a suitcase walked straight up to Jiang Zi and opened her arms.

Jiang Zi hugged her. “I booked a restaurant.”

“You’re so good to me.” An Jia hooked her sunglasses off her nose and scanned her. “How did you get even thinner?”

“Did I?” Jiang Zi hadn’t noticed.

“Yes,” An Jia frowned. “You never take good care of yourself when you’re alone.”

Jiang Zi said, “I’m not alone anymore.”

Two seconds of silence.

An Jia almost jumped. “You’re in a relationship?!”

The commotion caused passersby to stare. Uncomfortable with the attention, Jiang Zi cleared her throat. “I’ll tell you on the way.”

At a Japanese restaurant, the two sat by the window. An Jia held a chicken skewer in her hand, but didn’t take a bite. Her expression was complex. “You’re saying you have to take care of a kid now? You’re not joking? You’ve never even been in a relationship, and now you’re a mom? You’re experiencing middle-aged life early!”

Jiang Zi: “…”

“You manage a bunch of high schoolers at school, and you go home to another one who’s showing signs of puppy love. If I were you, I’d lose all hope in life. If you ever want to find a partner, they’ll see you pulling along a child. My god.” An Jia looked defeated.

“I think this lifestyle is fine once you get used to it,” Jiang Zi said, looking at the steaming bowl of ramen. “Besides, I have no intention of dating right now.”

An Jia stared at her. “No way. Out of 1.4 billion people, there’s not a single one you like? I don’t want to see you grow old alone.”

Jiang Zi replied, “There really isn’t.”

“Then there must be someone who likes you,” An Jia pondered. “Is it because you’re too excellent? Your degree is so high, and your vibe is so cold. Maybe people think they aren’t good enough for you, so they don’t dare to pursue you?”

“…”

“You need to change this personality of yours,” An Jia said.

The topic didn’t last long as An Jia began venting about her own work. In the middle of it, she received a message. An Jia looked down and let out a silent scream. “Ahhh! My crush messaged me!”

Jiang Zi: “Is it someone you like?”

“Yes, yes!” An Jia was beaming with excitement. “I ran into her in Italy while traveling earlier this year. She is just breathtakingly beautiful. I fell for her the second I saw her. I can’t help it—as a total ‘visual’ person, I have zero resistance to beautiful older sisters.”

Jiang Zi gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.

“She heard I was back in the country and asked to meet tonight,” An Jia said. “What should I do? Should I say yes?”

“…”

Jiang Zi didn’t see what there was to be conflicted about. “You could give it a try.”

“Then come with me! You already took the day off anyway,” An Jia looked at her pleadingly. “I’m so nervous to do this alone. I’ve never met an online crush in person before.”

An Jia had a very cute face, and as she blinked her big eyes, Jiang Zi thought for a moment and then nodded. “Alright.”

Per the other party’s suggestion, they met at a quiet, atmospheric local lounge in Beicheng.

Jiang Zi and An Jia chose a private booth on the second floor. The door was left slightly ajar, and through the gap, they could see a female resident singer on the first floor, cradling a guitar.

They each ordered a glass of water and waited quietly.

As the meeting time approached, An Jia grew increasingly restless. Her fingertips clutched her lap nervously, and she kept pulling out a mirror to check her makeup. Suddenly, she stood up. “No, this lipstick makes me look too old. I’m going to the restroom to touch it up.”

Jiang Zi: “…”

On the other side:

Dai Ruyue and Meng Yihuai arrived at the entrance of the lounge. Familiar with the place, they walked right in. Meng Yihuai said casually, “You go on up. I’ll stay here and wait for your good news.”

“Let’s go together,” Dai Ruyue said. “I’m afraid it’ll be awkward if it’s just me.”

Meng Yihuai arched an eyebrow. “You’re a professional host, and you’re afraid of awkwardness?”

“That depends on the occasion.”

In the end, the two went upstairs together.

The lighting inside the booth wasn’t particularly bright; dark purple shadows flickered across the room. As they reached the door, they saw a slender figure through the gap. Dai Ruyue stepped inside.

Meng Yihuai stood at the door, casting a casual glance inward.

Her gaze suddenly froze.

Even without their chance encounter a few days ago, that silhouette was one Meng Yihuai knew all too well. On a white single-seater chair, Jiang Zi sat quietly, her long hair draped loosely over her shoulders, her gaze cool and distant.

Dai Ruyue paused for a moment, then flashed her usual practiced smile. “Are you ‘Nian Nian You Jia’? Hello.”

Jiang Zi didn’t answer. Instead, she looked at the other person who had entered.

Did An Jia have an online romance with two people at once?

She was confused, but then she realized both women looked familiar. They had met just a few days ago especially the one who entered last, the one she had shared an umbrella with.

Jiang Zi nodded. “Hello.”

Her voice was unexpectedly pleasant, clearer than glazed glass.

The smile on Dai Ruyue’s lips deepened. In her peripheral vision, a figure suddenly stepped forward. Meng Yihuai walked up to Jiang Zi and was the first to extend a hand. “Hello, Ms. Jiang. Do you happen to remember me?”

Jiang Zi looked at her. The more she looked, the more familiar she seemed.

She stood up and shook her hand politely. “I remember.”

It was the woman from the rain. But she had a feeling they had met much longer ago than that.

Dai Ruyue: “?”

“Are you here to see a friend today? What a coincidence that we’ve met again.” Meng Yihuai held Jiang Zi’s warm fingertips and glanced back at Dai Ruyue. “So, it turns out you two are ‘Netizens’.”

For some reason, Dai Ruyue felt like that glance was a bit chilly.

Before anyone else could misunderstand, Jiang Zi explained, “I’m not the one. I’m just here to accompany a friend.”

Just then, An Jia returned from the restroom. Seeing two extra people in the booth, she was a bit dazed. Jiang Zi withdrew her hand and gestured toward the door. “That’s my friend.”

“…”

“…”

A few seconds of silence followed.

Once the little misunderstanding was cleared up, they all decided to leave the booth to the two main protagonists. Meng Yihuai and Jiang Zi went down to the first floor to sit at a booth.

“Ms. Jiang, try this drink. It’s sweet, refreshing, and won’t get you drunk.” Meng Yihuai placed a light blue cocktail in front of Jiang Zi.

Jiang Zi thanked her, then couldn’t help but ask, “Which student’s parent are you?”

Sitting beside her, Meng Yihuai arched an eyebrow. “What?”

“Are you not? But you know my name and my profession,” Jiang Zi watched her, speculating. “Have we met before?”

After two seconds of silence, Meng Yihuai asked, “Are you a teacher?”

Jiang Zi hummed in affirmation.

“I am, too,” Meng Yihuai’s eyes lingered on her face, searching for even a ripple of emotion. “We met in high school. Did you forget?”

High school—that was many years ago.

The woman before her had a face that was strikingly recognizable. Her eyes were long and deep, the corners curving into a natural smile even when she wasn’t laughing. Her poise was on par with any celebrity. Unfortunately, she was facing Jiang Zi.

Jiang Zi tried to recall, but failed. “I’m sorry. What is your name?”

As if used to this, Meng Yihuai showed no sign of disappointment. She said naturally, “My name is Meng Yihuai.”

Jiang Zi nodded. “I’ll remember it now.”

Meng Yihuai smiled and didn’t take it to heart.

They were silent for a while.

In her peripheral vision, Jiang Zi saw the woman beside her quickly finish her drink and go to the bar for another. She drank with slow, deliberate movements, yet in a short amount of time, she had somehow finished several glasses.

Jiang Zi spoke up: “You seem like you can really hold your liquor.”

“Hmm?” Meng Yihuai swirled her empty glass and laughed. “Actually, I have a very low tolerance.”

Jiang Zi: “…”

“But it’s okay. My friend will take me home later,” Meng Yihuai said.

Jiang Zi nodded and said nothing else.

Meng Yihuai took out her phone. “Sorry, let me reply to a message.”

Not long after, Dai Ruyue and An Jia came down from the second floor together. Hand-in-hand, they left on their own, seemingly completely forgetting about the two they had left behind.

Jiang Zi watched their retreating figures in disbelief.

After a long moment:

An Jia: [!!! Did I forget you at the lounge?! Sorry, babes! We were chatting so happily I totally forgot. Sister says she has a friend at the lounge too. You two can look after each other, right?]

Jiang Zi stared silently at the message, then glanced at the clearly intoxicated Meng Yihuai beside her.

Sensing the gaze, Meng Yihuai looked over with a smile. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Zi paused. “We’ve been abandoned.”

Meng Yihuai let out a long “Oh,” but didn’t have much of a reaction.

A moment later, the realization seemed to hit her. With eyes hazy from drink and a hint of a smile, she said, “Then what should I do? No one is here to take me home.”

Jiang Zi met her eyes.

“Could I trouble you for a moment?” Meng Yihuai asked.

Jiang Zi pursed her lips, feeling a bit hesitant.

Meng Yihuai added slowly, “—Old classmate?”