Marriage at Thirty - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: I Am a Boring Person

The atmosphere at the table was quite pleasant. Fu Linling remained the one who spoke the least, but the other two were skilled at finding conversation topics. Even without joining in, she didn’t feel awkward or cause any lull in the conversation.

Fu Linling sipped her hot water, listening to them discuss celebrity gossip, their faces bright and their expressions animated. Even back in school, Lian Fang was obsessed with chasing stars, constantly talking about the entertainment industry and encouraging many around her to listen.

This kind of social scene was one Fu Linling consistently avoided. It wasn’t that she disliked such conversations; it was that she didn’t dare to participate.

Everyone had their own close friends, and those friendships would branch out like tree limbs, expanding their social circles until everyone eventually merged into one large group. Fu Linling, however, had no friends. No matter the occasion, she was always alone, perpetually relegated to the corner during group activities.

She had grown accustomed to dedicating all her time to studying, which allowed her to overlook other troubles.

But there was one time, during free time in P.E. class, she returned to the classroom to do homework. Besides her, there was one other person sleeping face-down on a desk. It was Lin Ran, the transfer student, who seemed to possess a certain magic. Despite being new, she instantly blended in with everyone, even making friends in other classes.

She envied that ability, yet she didn’t dare to strike up a conversation.

Just then, a few girls entered the room, giggling. It was Wang Zhe, the literary committee member. Seeing Fu Linling reading, she whispered: “Look, the bookworm is studying again. Did you guys see how she ran in P.E.? She looked like a bear, I swear the ground was thudding, ha ha ha.”

Another person joked, “I thought it was a moving wall!”

The group snickered.

Fu Linling gripped her book, pretending not to hear, burying her head deeper to continue reading.

“Too noisy.” At that moment, the sleeping person woke up. Her eyes weren’t fully open yet. Resting her head on her hand, she said, “Wang Zhe, I didn’t realize your mouths were that big. When Pangu split the sky from the earth, did he accidentally split your mouths open so wide they still haven’t been stitched up?”

“Who are you cursing?”

“I don’t curse people; I only curse dogs.”

Wang Zhe was furious and snapped, “Lin Ran! What makes you think you’re so great? You’re just pretty, and your grades aren’t even that good! I’ve disliked you for a long time. You never behave properly, you giggle with boys, and you secretly dye your hair and wear earrings—you’re a mess!”

As luck would have it, Lian Fang returned to the classroom and, seeing the two arguing, joined the fray without a second thought. Eventually, the entire group was punished by the homeroom teacher to clean the toilets.

Since that day, Wang Zhe and Lin Ran were rivals, though they seemed to have long forgotten the original cause of their argument.

“It’s just that we’re old now, or else I would have already chased them overseas to listen to their concerts,” Lian Fang’s voice pulled Fu Linling back to the present.

“Are you old, or are you poor?” Lin Ran laughed. “If you were rich, you’d hire your oppas to sing right in your living room.”

“Don’t even get me started. Who knew growing up would turn out like this?” Lian Fang laughed so hard tears almost came out. “It’s better for you two, though. You’re both single, with no baggage.”

Lin Ran and Fu Linling exchanged a glance, feeling a slight awkwardness, since they had been on a blind date only a few days prior.

Lin Ran took a sip of orange juice, diverting her gaze.

“I can’t hold out any longer. You two enjoy the rest of your meal; I have to take her home to sleep,” Lian Fang said, pointing to her child who was nodding off.

“What about you?” Lin Ran looked at Fu Linling. Fu Linling nodded: “I’m about done as well.”

The three walked toward the exit. Lian Fang said, “It’s still early; you two can continue to stroll around. I’m heading off now.”

Lin Ran: “Shall I walk you home?”

“No need, my house is right next door. Why walk me? You stay and wander with Fu Linling. It’s been so long since you’ve seen each other. Fu Linling, let’s set up another meeting soon.” Lian Fang pushed the stroller away.

Lin Ran checked the time: “Want to walk around?”

“Don’t you have to work tonight?” Fu Linling asked.

“No, I plan to take a break for a while and focus on family matters before going back to work. I want to buy my mom a gift. Want to just browse?”

“Sure.” Fu Linling accompanied her as she wandered through the mall, trying to find a topic of conversation. “Auntie Wang said you’re a great artist now.”

“Don’t listen to her bragging. If she sees me draw, she calls me an artist. If she sees me write, she calls me a calligrapher. If she sees me buy a pot of flowers, she calls me a grand artist,” Lin Ran said, laughing wryly.

Fu Linling’s lips curved slightly: “But your drawing really is beautiful, and your handwriting is too. You did the blackboard newspaper that whole year, both the drawing and the writing. There was only one time Wang Zhe did it; it was ugly, and no one looked.”

Lin Ran laughed heartily: “You remember that?”

“I sat in the last row.”

She could see it every time she turned around.

“Oh, right.”

Lin Ran walked into a massage chair store and tried several models. Pointing to a deep red one, she said, “Try this one for me. What do you think?”

Fu Linling sat down. The experience was excellent. Lin Ran also liked it, so she placed the order immediately. After giving the address to the clerk and confirming the delivery time, they walked out.

“Is it your mother’s birthday?” Fu Linling asked.

“No, it’s her wedding gift.”

Fu Linling looked at her curiously.

“The old lady has found her second spring,” Lin Ran said with a smile.

“Then… congratulations,” Fu Linling said quietly.

“Pfft, don’t be nervous. She divorced a long time ago, that year in high school. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have transferred to Yubei.”

Fu Linling’s heart trembled. It was difficult to imagine that her family situation at the time had been like that. She had always thought Lin Ran lived in a very happy family, which was why she always smiled and was forever positive and energetic.

Outside the mall, someone was distributing flyers. Lin Ran glanced at an ad for a gym and said, “I saw your graduation photo at Lian Fang’s house today. You are completely different from back then. I’m so curious, how did you lose the weight? Can I ask that?”

Fu Linling nodded: “Exercise.”

“Just pure exercise?”

“And a little dietary control.”

“It must have been very hard work,” Lin Ran patted her arm. “But you succeeded, which is truly admirable!”

Fu Linling smiled calmly: “I admire you too.”

“What is there to admire about me?”

Fu Linling just smiled without answering, her gaze falling on the night market stalls ahead.

Lin Ran noticed this as well. She had no resistance to those small stalls; back in school, she was even late and punished with standing for visiting the night market.

She stopped at a jewelry stall, trying on earrings and then rings. Finding none she liked, she moved on to the next. After walking through the entire row of stalls, she remembered she had a companion. Turning around, she saw Fu Linling standing behind her, her eyes fixed on Lin Ran, having not lost her.

“Don’t you want to try anything?”

“I’m not very interested in these things.”

“Then what are you interested in?”

“Hmm… I don’t really have any interests.” Fu Linling thought about it and sounded almost resigned: “I am a boring person.”

“How could you say that? You are very interesting,” Lin Ran said.

“Really?”

“Yes, at least I’ve been very happy on these two occasions we’ve met.”

Fu Linling’s shoulders slumped slightly: “That’s good.”

“Let’s go, let’s look over there.” Lin Ran grabbed her arm and ran forward, stopping in front of an aquarium display. She squatted down, looking at the colorful fish in the boxes, exclaiming in wonder from time to time.

“So beautiful.”

Fu Linling turned to look at Lin Ran’s profile, then said to the owner, “I’ll take this.”

“Which ones do you want?” the owner asked.

“Can you help me choose?” Fu Linling asked Lin Ran.

“This one, the color is so unique, and this one is pretty too, and this one, this one, and this one.” Lin Ran pointed to several fish in succession, and Fu Linling bought them all.

“Aren’t you buying any for yourself?” Fu Linling asked.

“I can’t keep them alive. Every one I raise dies. I’d better not harm them anymore,” Lin Ran said.

Fu Linling carried the box of fish and walked around with her for a while longer before Lin Ran suggested heading home.

“Where do you live?” Fu Linling asked.

“Rose Garden.”

Fu Linling searched the address. It wasn’t far from here, so she said, “I’ll take you back.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“Wait for me here. There are too many cars. I’ll go find mine.” Fu Linling handed the box of fish to her and turned to walk in another direction.

Lin Ran stopped by the side of the road and played on her phone for a while. A car stopped in front of her. She opened the door and sat in the passenger seat.

The driver turned his head and looked at her, confused: “Excuse me, miss, I’m not driving for a ride-share service today. I’m waiting for my wife. I can’t really explain this to her.”

“?”

Lin Ran quickly got out of the car, apologizing awkwardly to the man. Turning around, she saw Fu Linling wearing a helmet, riding a small white electric scooter, which stopped steadily in front of her.

Lin Ran was utterly bewildered: ???

“Get on,” Fu Linling handed the other helmet to her.

Lin Ran: ???