Silent Testimony - Chapter 57

Qiu Wan watched Shang Lan drive away into the dense, inky darkness, her expression subtle and difficult to discern. After a long silence, she turned around, and Cheng Yingqiu’s bright, smiling face suddenly appeared.

“Are you going to get the cake?”

“Mhm.” Qiu Wan pursed her thin lips, her eyes concealing a deep, complex melancholy that Cheng Yingqiu couldn’t decipher, as if she were desperately suppressing some emotion.

“Sister Qiu…” Cheng Yingqiu observed her closely, wanting to say something, but Qiu Wan cut her off, “Let’s go back.”

“Oh.”

The old, narrow street was like a river flowing against its current, and Qiu Wan was the traveler unsure of her direction, walking with hesitancy. Her feet carried her forward, but her mind lingered at the starting point, thinking of the brief eye contact she’d just shared.

“It’s cold outside, and you went out wearing only a short-sleeved shirt.” Qiu Huiyu’s chiding voice sounded in her ear. Qiu Wan looked up, forcing a smile onto her cheeks: “Grandma, I’m healthy.”

“Even if you’re healthy, you shouldn’t be so careless.”

“Xiao Qiu is here, so shall we eat the cake?” Qiu Wan led Cheng Yingqiu toward the inner room, cautioning the old woman climbing the stairs, “Grandma, take your time.”

“It’s fine. When you’re busy with work, I occasionally go to the balcony to water the flowers.”

Cheng Yingqiu’s eyes curved into crescent moons: “Grandma, you are so strong; may you live a long life.”

Qiu Huiyu smiled heartily: “Little Yingqiu has such a sweet mouth.”

“Mhm, she certainly does.” Qiu Wan curved her lips, her eyes softening with a hint of tenderness. The gloom suppressed in her chest gradually dissipated.

Cheng Yingqiu swapped her outdoor shoes for the slippers Qiu Wan offered and followed the two upstairs. This was her first time stepping into Qiu Wan’s private space. Everywhere she looked, the space, though only forty square meters, was fully equipped, even having a balcony filled with potted flowers.

Qiu Wan invited her over: “I bought a four-inch cake; it’s just right for three people.”

Cheng Yingqiu helped put in the candles, Qiu Wan lit them, and then they sang the birthday song together.

“Grandma, make a wish!” Cheng Yingqiu was enthusiastic and forthright, rarely being timid in her actions or speech, and was adept at livening up the atmosphere.

“What wishes do I have at my age?”

“You have to! It’s once a year.”

“Alright. Then I wish for Xiao Qiu to find a partner, anyone will do, as long as she likes them.” Qiu Huiyu had learned of her granddaughter’s sexual orientation two years ago when she asked a friend to introduce Qiu Wan to blind dates. Initially, due to old-fashioned views on marriage, she couldn’t accept the reality, but as time passed, she gradually let go.

Qiu Wan’s eyes instantly warmed: “Grandma…”

Qiu Huiyu stroked the back of her hand: “So, when will you fulfill Grandma’s wish?”

A blush appeared on Qiu Wan’s cheeks: “Let nature take its course.”

“Don’t make Grandma wait too long.” Qiu Huiyu clasped her hands together, making another silent wish in her heart: I hope the rift between the mother and daughter can be resolved.

After eating the cake, the elderly woman went to wash up and rest, and Qiu Wan went downstairs to lock the door. Cheng Yingqiu glanced up at the wall clock—9:29 p.m.—and was about to say goodbye when Qiu Wan’s footsteps approached.

“Xiao Qiu, there’s a downpour. You should wait a little longer before leaving.”

“Huh? Is it raining?” Cheng Yingqiu turned to look at the balcony. Outside the window, dense curtains of rain, accompanied by strong winds, were violently hitting the glass.

“Mhm. The forecast said moderate rain, but it looks like more than that.”

“Oh, alright.” Cheng Yingqiu sat down. Bored, she scrolled on her phone, but her gaze constantly followed Qiu Wan as she checked windows and doors, collected clothes, and arranged flower pots. Finally, Qiu Wan sat down to her right, followed by a brief silence.

“Want to watch TV?”

“Could we watch a horror movie?”

The two spoke almost simultaneously.

“A horror movie? You’re not scared?” Qiu Wan rose and walked toward the TV cabinet.

“I’m a materialist. What is there to be scared of?” In fact, Cheng Yingqiu hadn’t watched a horror movie in years; in college, she listened to The Untold Story with her roommates, covering her eyes the whole time. But watching a show with the person she liked might lead to unexpected rewards.

“How about Stephen Chow and Karen Mok’s Out of the Dark (回魂夜)?” Qiu Wan opened a drawer and rummaged for a disc.

“Stephen Chow? A comedy then?” Cheng Yingqiu walked over and half-crouched beside her.

Qiu Wan placed the disc into the player: “A mix of comedy and horror. Maybe that’s better?”

Cheng Yingqiu was surprised: “Wow, Sister Qiu, you even have a DVD player.”

“Mhm. I’m used to watching old shows on a player,” Qiu Wan patiently introduced to her, “The left drawer has all the movies; the other has TV series.”

“How many discs?”

“Over 900.”

The movie started, and they returned to their seats. Due to the presence of the comedian, Cheng Yingqiu was initially unconcerned, but as the story progressed, it detailed a grandmother who was persecuted to death by her son and daughter-in-law and returned on the seventh night after her death. The midnight bell rang, the dimly lit white screen went dark, a chair violently shook, and the grandmother’s pale face suddenly appeared.

“Ah!” Cheng Yingqiu screamed and threw herself into Qiu Wan’s arms, burying her face in the crook of her neck.

Qiu Wan’s back instantly stiffened. She even held her breath, remaining completely still. She realized her heart was beating wildly, whether from the movie or something else, and she cried out helplessly: “Xiao Qiu.”

With the terrifying sounds of the movie playing, the person in her arms hugged her tighter: “Sister Qiu, aren’t you scared?”

“I’m alright.”

Unbeknownst to her, Cheng Yingqiu, nestled in her arms, also felt her heart rate quicken, and a triumphant smile appeared on her lips: “I’m not scared of ghosts; it was just the grandmother appearing so suddenly.”

“I understand.” Qiu Wan pressed pause, slowly relaxed her body, and reached out to embrace the girl’s back, coaxing her with gentle helplessness: “The sound is off now.”

“Mhm.” Cheng Yingqiu reluctantly lifted her head from Qiu Wan’s neck, her nose brushing against her cheek. After a prolonged ten-second stare, she stopped, sat up straight, and leaned against the sofa cushion.

Qiu Wan stared blankly at her right hand, which had just supported Cheng Yingqiu and still held her warmth. Her body trembled slightly. A secluded mountain draws a flood; disaster has quietly struck. She was no three-year-old child; she could no longer ignore the feelings Cheng Yingqiu evoked.

Her mind in a mess, Qiu Wan got up and walked toward the balcony. She slid open the door, leaned lightly against the French window frame, and looked up at the blurring rain curtain.

Cheng Yingqiu watched her back, savoring her unusual reaction, and chuckled under her breath.

Does Sister Qiu also have feelings for me?

Otherwise, why the blush? Why the rush to leave?

No rush. Simmer it slowly, proceed step by step. Cheng Yingqiu said loudly: “Sister Qiu, has the rain let up a bit?”

Qiu Wan turned her head and glanced back: “Mhm.”

Cheng Yingqiu tilted her head, her smile radiant: “Lend me an umbrella. I’ll go home.”

“I’ll drive you.”

Since she had already promised her grandmother to “let nature take its course,” why should she interfere with her inner thoughts? Whether she succeeded or failed in the end, at 32 years old, what was there that she couldn’t accept?

Opening her apartment door, Cheng Yingqiu immediately rushed into Li Hewei’s arms.

“Sis, breakthrough progress! I’m so happy.”

Li Hewei patted her head lightly: “Alright, get down. You’re heavy.”

“Hmph. If you can’t even carry me, how will you hug Sister Tao Ling later?” Cheng Yingqiu released her arms.

“Go on, tell me.”

“I won’t tell you. Anyway, I’ll definitely get out of singlehood before you.”

“The camping trip is the day after tomorrow. Are you still going?” Li Hewei moved lightly, walked back to the living room to sit down, checked the weather forecast, and set the time for October 6th.

“What about Sister Qiu?”

“You invite her.”

“Isn’t Sister Tao Ling busy revising her manuscript? Can she go?”

“I’ll ask her.” Li Hewei tapped on the pinned profile picture and composed a message.

In the enclosed balcony of her bedroom, Tao Ling sat upright in front of her computer when a message popped up in the bottom right corner.

[Waiyuan Camping. Leaving the morning of the 6th, returning the afternoon of the 7th. Want to go?]

Tao Ling looked at the chat box and asked: [Will Yingqiu and Sister Qiu be with us?]

[Yes. We’ll take Sister Qiu’s SUV. She just agreed.]

Since returning from the parking lot, Tao Ling had become increasingly anxious, feeling every second like a year, as she sensed a physical desire for Li Hewei growing within her. Now, having finally achieved some peace through calligraphy practice, a single WeChat message rippled through her calm. However, she didn’t want to spoil the fun. After a long struggle, her fingers slowly typed on the screen: [Okay. What do we need to prepare for camping?]

[We have all the gear. We just need food.]

[Sushi, barbecue?]

[Good, good, good. Everything is arranged by Chef Tao. We’ll go to the supermarket tomorrow to buy it.]

[Okay.]

[Rest early. Don’t stay up late. If you’re worried about delaying your revision, we can bring the computer.]

[No need. I’ve already revised up to Chapter 57. There are only 87 chapters in total.]

[Efficiency (thumbs-up emoji)]

“Sister Qiu has a barbecue grill.” Cheng Yingqiu couldn’t suppress the smile on her lips. “Sis, you have one tent, Sister Qiu has one tent. How will we sleep at night?”

“Huh? What about yours?”

“I’m not bringing one.” Cheng Yingqiu hugged Li Hewei’s arm. “Are you stupid? Don’t you know how to create an opportunity?”

“I have two tents. If you take one, I’ll take the broken one.”

Cheng Yingqiu raised an eyebrow: “Ah! Sis, you’re a sly old fox!”

“This is called: ginger gets spicier with age.”

The next day, the three went shopping at the supermarket. Tao Ling paid 378 yuan, stating directly that it was her treat for signing the physical book contract.

Cheng Yingqiu argued: “How can that be? How much was the treat? Last night’s hot pot was 159 yuan.”

Li Hewei agreed: “Mhm. Next time. We’ll split the cost this time.”

“It’s fine. I received a talent subsidy.” Tao Ling put away her phone and smiled lightly. Her poetic eyes were already gentle, and now, reflecting the sunlight, they shone with sparkling clarity.

Li Hewei no longer insisted.

The next morning at 7 a.m., the party of four set off. Cheng Yingqiu, still half-asleep, sat in the passenger seat drinking milk with her eyes closed.

Qiu Wan motioned to her: “Xiao Qiu, distribute the steamed dumplings.”

“Huh? We already ate breakfast.”

“Grandma made them. Eat them while they’re hot.”

“Okay.”

Qiu Wan stared straight ahead: “Two of those dumplings are my masterpieces. Can you guess which ones?”

Cheng Yingqiu used her chopsticks to rummage through the food bag and found two generously filled dumplings: “I found them. Are these the ones?” She brought a dumpling close to Qiu Wan’s mouth: “Ah, you go ahead and eat.”

“Xiao Qiu, I… I’m driving.” Qiu Wan exclaimed, her entire face instantly flushing scarlet.