Chapter 38: My Best Friend’s Outrageous Antics (5K2)

During her lunch break, Lin Jiajia received a call from Xia’s mother, Wei Xiaofang. Wei Xiaofang was born in 1962 and was forty-four this year, while Lin Jiajia was exactly thirty. Though technically a generation apart, they addressed each other as sisters due to their husbands' relationship, a dynamic that always felt slightly awkward to both.

Wei Xiaofang started with some small talk about dinner plans for the following evening, then asked if Lin Jiajia knew of any effective medicine for a fever. She added that if nothing else worked, she would have to take Xia An to get an injection. That was when Lin Jiajia learned that Xia An had been suffering from a high fever for two days. She told Wei Xiaofang not to worry, saying she would bring medicine over after work and offer to perform *gua sha* (scraping) and cupping therapy for him.

"He’s a big lad with a strong constitution; let's avoid injections if we can," Lin Jiajia said.
"Thank you, dear," Wei replied.
"It’s nothing, sister."

Due to heavy, persistent rains, traffic accidents had been frequent, and the surgical clinic was overflowing. Since returning to work on Monday, Lin Jiajia had been running ragged, working non-stop for two days and nights. Now, the hallway was filled with constant shouting. She had only managed a single sip of water all morning, yet she had already gone through an entire roll of thread for cosmetic sutures.

"Nurse Manager Lin!"
"Nurse Manager Lin!"

Hearing the repeated calls, Lin Jiajia rubbed her forehead and gave a bitter smile. *Am I the only nurse manager in the entire provincial capital?*

The junior interns under her couldn't bear to watch any longer and urged her to take a night off, warning that no one could keep up this pace. Looking at the nurses in their early twenties, Lin Jiajia was reminded of her own younger self. Suddenly, she was thirty. *Right, at this age, if I keep pushing, my skin will be ruined!*

After processing one more patient who had been in a motorcycle accident and had exposed bone, and sending him into the operating room, Lin Jiajia saw there were no more critical cases. She changed her clothes and left, heading straight for Xia An’s place. His parents had left her a key before going abroad, and since they hadn't seen each other since, she hadn't returned it yet.

In Lin Jiajia’s eyes, Xia An looked much more world-weary, having not washed his hair or shaved in two days. He was lying there quietly, his brows lightly furrowed. *Is this a student?* she wondered. *Kids these days are too precocious.*

She touched his forehead; it was indeed very hot. Lin Jiajia felt a sudden urge to tease him. She took off his outer clothes and used alcohol to lower his temperature physically. When she reached a sensitive area... *Tsk, he’s well-endowed.* Without really thinking about it, she just... *Whoops, a finger flick...*

Sure enough, Xia An jumped up like a startled monkey. He hurriedly pulled the quilt over his body, looking like a newly violated young maiden. His awkward expression made Lin Jiajia burst into laughter.

***

Xia An didn't even have time to get angry at Lin Jiajia. Seeing the incoming call was from an overseas number, his first reaction was that it might be related to his domain name. But that couldn't be right; he hadn't left his phone number on the information website, only a 126 email address. So who could it be?

He rolled his eyes at Auntie Lin, who was still laughing uncontrollably by the bed, and answered the phone. After hearing only one sentence, his brow furrowed sharply.

"Yes, that’s me. Okay, alright. You said she was still at home when you left? Got it. Thank you, I’ll contact her immediately. A woman? What woman laughing? Oh, that’s my relative. Right, goodbye."

Seeing Xia An staring blankly after hanging up, Lin Jiajia thought he hadn't fully woken up. She irritably told him to roll over and lie on his stomach. Xia An complied while dialing Tang Wan’s number. Lin Jiajia poured some essential oil into her hands, rubbed them warm, and spread it over Xia An’s back. She then took out a buffalo horn *gua sha* board.

*Swish*—a purple patch appeared.

"Xia An, how much internal heat do you have?"
Xia An ignored her. Lin Jiajia scoffed. "Angry? I’m your aunt, what’s there to be shy about? I’ve been working overtime for two days, and I came all this way to take care of you. You’re not even grateful. How’s the pressure? Does it hurt?"

Xia An didn't feel a thing. He was anxious. The phone rang twelve times; no one answered. He tried again—still no answer. He Zhenzhen had told him she couldn't reach Tang Wan.

Tang Wan had stayed at a hotel on Sunday night. The next day, she went to the school to meet her doctoral supervisor and learned that the dorms wouldn't be ready for move-in until August 24th, so she rented a private house off-campus that same day. She had told Xia An about it, and he had even reminded her to stay safe.

He Zhenzhen had arrived in Binhai to visit Tang Wan the night before last—Tuesday. She had a flight back to Hong Kong this morning and intended to check in with Tang Wan after landing, but Tang Wan stopped answering the phone. By now, it had been a full three hours.

*Taking a shower?* Unlikely. He remembered that on the night He Zhenzhen arrived in Binhai, Tang Wan mentioned taking her out to a bathhouse. *Fell asleep?* Even so, she wouldn't ignore a barrage of calls. *Phone lost?* Possible. Tang Wan was using a V3 model released two years ago; though old, it still had value. If someone picked it up, they would surely pull the card and sell it, not let it ring unanswered. *Not picked up?*

Xia An’s feverish brain churned through the possibilities. In the end... he didn't dare to gamble. Tang Wan was beautiful, young, single, and looked wealthy based on her style. Now she had just moved into an old, dilapidated building where she was a stranger. There was no guarantee she wouldn't be targeted by someone with bad intentions.

*—Slap.*

"Are you hot? Why aren't you saying anything?" Lin Jiajia had been chatting away to herself for a long time.

Xia An stood up abruptly, the dense array of small cups on his back clattering together. Ignoring everything, he jumped off the bed, pulled on his shorts, and said he needed to go out urgently.

"Help me take these off."
"How can I? It’s not time yet." Lin Jiajia glanced out the window, puzzled. "It’s raining so hard, where are you going? You have a fever, don't mess around."

Xia An didn't plan to explain much. Under his persistence, Lin Jiajia rolled her eyes and pulled the glass cups off one by one. She kept nagging him not to run around and make his condition worse, and even took out the medicine she brought for him to take. Xia An gave vague nods, but before leaving, he seemed to suddenly think of something. He slapped his forehead and asked, "Did you drive here?"

Seeing her nod, Xia An’s eyes darted. "Beautiful Auntie, can I borrow your car for the day?"

***

Twenty minutes later, Xia An drove to Tang Wan’s rented house, checking the location on his laptop as he went down the stairs. It was indeed a house outside the east gate of Binhai University. Back in the car, he placed the laptop on Lin Jiajia’s lap, the screen open for real-time monitoring.

Xia An didn't say a word, turned the wipers to their highest speed, and headed straight for the expressway. In an era without high-speed rail, the train from the provincial capital to Binhai took over five hours, but by car, he could make it in under three if he drove fast enough.

It depended on the car, of course. Lin Jiajia’s 2004 imported Corolla couldn't go very fast even if he floored it. Lin Jiajia kept reminding him to slow down. Back at the house, when she learned he didn't have a driver’s license, she refused to lend him the car, offering to drive him herself. When he said "Binhai," she replied, "Binhai your head!"

Later, Xia An spent two minutes explaining his worry for Tang Wan. Lin Jiajia cursed him for being a lovesick fool and mentally ill, saying the woman clearly didn't want to play with him anymore. She told him he was just a pure-hearted boy going through a breakup and needed to let go. Xia An was speechless and took another two minutes to clarify the situation. Lin Jiajia suggested he call the police if it were true.

There was no helping it; Xia An couldn't get through to her and was already prepared to call Chi Ao or just hire a taxi. Seeing his persistence, Lin Jiajia suddenly changed her tune. "Fine, I’ll go with you. I’ll drive."

Xia An was stunned, having no idea what kind of trick this moody woman was up to. They called and deceived Xia’s mother and set off immediately. Downstairs, Xia An snatched the keys and dived into the driver’s seat, saying Lin Jiajia hadn't slept for two days and shouldn't drive. After experiencing Xia An’s driving skills for a few minutes, Lin Jiajia had nothing left to say.

***

The rain on the expressway was even heavier, and the wipers were twitching like they were having a seizure. Although Xia An drove fast and steady, Lin Jiajia was still terrified. Every little while, she would ask: "Are you okay? If not, let’s rest." Xia An ignored her.

She worried that Xia An might get dizzy from the fever, making it even more dangerous, so she kept trying to make conversation. She asked when he learned to drive, how far things had developed with Tang Wan, and whether they had done anything "indescribable," promising not to tell his parents.

Xia An took the bank card Tang Wan had left behind from his pocket and handed it to Lin Jiajia. "She was planning to invest in our website. There’s 100,000 in there."

Lin Jiajia was stunned. Xia An hadn't told her about Tang Wan’s background, but from the people who had come to the hospital checking Tang Wan’s medical records, she could vaguely guess a thing or two. "Is she investing in me... because of you?"

"You can take it that way." Letting her think that wasn't a bad thing, and Xia An wasn't about to explain further. Lin Jiajia felt it wasn't good to keep gossiping and quieted down. Watching Xia An’s focused profile, she sighed after a while: "I can tell you really like her. And it’s true, she’s beautiful. But little Xia An, don't you mind that she’s older?"

She only asked Xia An; she didn't mention his parents because, in her mind, it was fine for him to have a fling at his age, but marriage was a long way off. Xia An nodded without a word. Lin Jiajia sighed again, swinging her leg and fanning the bank card, remarking how great young people were these days, daring to love and hate. She said that in her day, people were much more reserved. "So, love can make people this impulsive," she said.

Xia An turned to look at her and smiled. Lin Jiajia put the bank card into her bag, laughing that Xia An had first given her "insider information" about Xia Kangning, and now had brought 100,000 in investment funds; he was truly her little god of wealth.

Xia An joked, "I feel like I’ll be very prosperous with whoever I’m with in the future."

Lin Jiajia marveled, saying that judging by the changes in Xia An lately, his life would surely be great, and he would earn a lot of money. Xia An thought for a moment, looked at her again, and said, "Life isn't about making money, but making money is for living. If you don't understand that, then whether you’re rich or poor, you won't live well."

Lin Jiajia was stunned, her expression turning melancholy. After a long while, she suddenly gave a hearty laugh. "I’m old, I can only work hard to save more living expenses. You brat, you’re the capable one; you’ll be even more successful later. I’ve seen all sorts of rich people in the hospital; I’m a good judge of character."

Xia An licked his dry lips and grinned: "University is a watershed—you either wash out, or you stand out."

***

Two hundred miles later, the rain eased. On the way, Lin Jiajia slapped her thigh, muttering that she forgot to tell her grandmother. She hurriedly contacted the elderly woman, telling her to go to the restaurant if she was hungry at the hotel or to call room service.

*A hotel?* Xia An was very surprised. Old Zhou had villas and high-end apartments in Dongshan—several properties. And he was out of town, not returning until tomorrow. His wife’s grandmother was in town, and she was staying in a hotel? Xia An was confused, but he didn't ask.

As the sky turned dark, they finished listening to the music, and the conversation dried up. Lin Jiajia muttered, "So exciting, so looking forward to it," and slowly fell asleep. Xia An heard her and smiled. *Good grief, so this woman only came along to watch the show.* He turned down the AC so Lin Jiajia could sleep quietly.

***

Binhai City was also draped in a fine mist of rain. But judging by the depth of the puddles on the road, it must have rained heavily yesterday. Coastal cities were like that; the drainage systems worked, but not well.

They arrived at Binhai University at 7:30 and at Tang Wan’s building at 7:40. Xia An saw the dark green Bentley Continental. He saw the kitchen light on in the apartment on the third floor. Xia An narrowed his eyes and pressed his throbbing temples. He could roughly guess what was going on.

He then took the yawning Lin Jiajia upstairs. He knocked, and the door was opened quickly. Standing there was a girl with a small nose and mouth, short hair, and wheat-colored skin. At first glance, she looked like a girl from the south, but her sharp, fierce aura was uncontained, making Xia An feel like he was looking at a leopardess ready to hunt.

"He Zhenzhen?"
"Xia An?"

The two looked at each other deeply for a second, then nodded.

He Zhenzhen stepped aside, and Xia An walked straight in. On the coffee table in the living room, beer bottles, western liquor bottles, and red wine bottles lay scattered. Takeout boxes, plastic bags, and snack bags were strewn everywhere. There was also a faint scent of ladies' cigarettes.

He Zhenzhen asked Lin Jiajia, who had followed her in, "Who are you?"
Lin Jiajia tilted her head, looked at her, and pointed at Xia An: "His little aunt. You?"
He Zhenzhen pointed at the bedroom: "Her sister." Then she pointed at Xia An: "His sister-in-law."

Lin Jiajia’s Mandarin had a slight Northeastern accent, while He Zhenzhen spoke with a touch of a Minnan lilt. Hearing their nonsensical dialogue, Xia An felt his head throb. He gently pushed open the only bedroom door. The dim yellow light of the bedside lamp shone on Tang Wan’s face as she slept like a cat.

Xia An tiptoed to close the door, walked back, and asked He Zhenzhen with a blank face: "You called me—she didn't know?"

The tired and worn-out Lin Jiajia went to the side, feeling bored. She shoved away a few plastic bags, sat on the sofa armrest, hugged her bag, and watched the "show."

He Zhenzhen didn't answer but asked instead, pointing at Xia An’s chin: "How old are you? 19 or 29? Did Tang Wan remember wrong, or did I hear wrong?"
Xia An touched his stubble and asked, "How much did you drink? Is she drunk?"
He Zhenzhen said: "Looking at your eyes, I feel like you’re 39. I just said, how could Xiao Wan fall for a child? Back in school, she used to say all those boys were just immature brats."

Xia An stopped asking. He found a relatively large plastic bag in the messy living room and started cleaning up the trash. Lin Jiajia pursed her lips and got up to help. He Zhenzhen watched for a while, squinting, and let out a scoff. She lit a slender cigarette, walked to the balcony, and looked down.

She came back and asked Xia An: "Looking at the time, you guys drove here. That white one downstairs?"
Xia An ignored her. Lin Jiajia put two bags of kitchen waste at the door. When she walked back, she nodded to He Zhenzhen and said: "Yeah, my car."

He Zhenzhen smiled at her and stood in front of Xia An, who was sweeping the floor. "I believe you’re 19 now. What adult brings their parent along when they’re dating?"

Lin Jiajia finally realized the atmosphere was a bit off. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Xia An tell He Zhenzhen: "She’s my sister."

Lin Jiajia froze for a second, then smiled and held her head high, acting a bit proud.
He Zhenzhen said: "She just said she was your little aunt."
Xia An dumped the trash into the bag and said: "My parents are both only children. Besides, didn't you also say you were my aunt?"

He Zhenzhen seemed to lose interest in arguing. She threw the cigarette butt into a wine bottle and stood with her arms crossed, staring intently at Xia An. "Tang Wan’s phone has text messages about transfers of several million to you."

Xia An nodded and put the broom back in the corner.

He Zhenzhen followed him and said: "Spending a few days together and scamming two million—that’s enough. I’ve already advised Tang Wan: words don't cost anything, don't be moved by cheap language. Besides, this kind of ordinary, dispensable relationship should be discarded."

*Two million?! What two million?!* Lin Jiajia was dumbfounded.

Xia An finally stood still, looking directly at He Zhenzhen for the second time. Only this time, his eyes were full of intrigue. He scratched his chin and said calmly: "I’ve told her too: look at the gazes of others as if they were flickering ghost fires, and walk your own night road boldly."

Lin Jiajia didn't understand the sparring going on between them at all. *Isn't this Tang Wan’s friend? Why is she saying Xia An scammed Tang Wan out of millions?* She was about to speak, and He Zhenzhen was about to retort.

The bedroom door opened. Tang Wan, wearing a pink-and-white silk robe, her hair loose, rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked over, step by step, in a daze. She looked at Xia An, looked at He Zhenzhen, and then at the somewhat familiar Lin Jiajia. Then... she walked into the bathroom.

Three seconds after the light inside turned on, the door was yanked open. Tang Wan rushed out. She stood in front of Xia An, looked left, then looked right. She poked Xia An’s stomach. Her eyes grew wider and wider. Finally, she threw herself onto Xia An and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"At first I thought it was the wind knocking on the door. I heard movement, and then I heard you talking... It wasn't a dream! How did you get here? Didn't we agree to wait until school starts at the end of next month..."

Tang Wan’s soft body was in Xia An’s arms, her burning-hot cheek pressed against his chin.

"You have a fever?"
They asked at the same time, then shook their heads at the same time.

Tang Wan pulled Xia An over, smiling like a flower, and pointed at He Zhenzhen: "She’s He Zhenzhen, my only good friend." Then she introduced Xia An to He Zhenzhen.

The two people being introduced nodded and smiled at each other for the third time. Lin Jiajia was left on the sidelines. Tang Wan finally recognized her and was about to go over to say hello.

But Xia An suddenly said to He Zhenzhen: "Macau He?"
He Zhenzhen raised her eyebrows, curled the corners of her mouth, and tilted her head.

Xia An pulled his gaze away from her wrists, earlobes, and neck. He recited in his heart: *Fujian, immigrant, Singapore, surname He.* He asked again: "He Jing’s He?"

He Zhenzhen’s eyes stalled; she glanced toward Tang Wan. Tang Wan also opened her mouth in surprise and shook her head at He Zhenzhen, signaling that she hadn't told him.

Xia An saw from He Zhenzhen’s expression that he had guessed right. *Temasek!* He smacked his lips, gave a thumbs-up, and nodded to He Zhenzhen: "Impressive." At the same time, his sharp gaze conveyed another subtext. And He Zhenzhen seemed to understand the meaning behind Xia An’s smile: *If it weren't for such an impressive background, I might have started cursing after what you just said.*

Tang Wan was awake, so He Zhenzhen didn't say anything more. Xia An returned to his normal, smiling self, simply saying he just missed Tang Wan. "You waited for me with longing, so I naturally had to return the favor with an unexpected surprise."

That one sentence made the two women watching feel nauseous and made Tang Wan blush. Xia An said: "You two talk first. I’ll settle my sister in, and then I’ll come back to bring you both something good to eat."

After he spoke, he took Lin Jiajia and walked out. Once they were gone, Tang Wan slumped weakly on the sofa. She pouted at He Zhenzhen: "Zhenzhen, did you call him?"