An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

It was noon.

Huang Xiaozhi finished packing her books, ready to head to the cafeteria for lunch. Yu Wen naturally followed.

A question suddenly popped into her head: Didn’t Yu Wen say she went home for lunch every day? Why is she going to the cafeteria today?

Yu Wen, walking by her side, seemed to catch Huang Xiaozhi’s confusion in her slight change of expression. The corner of her lips turned up as she said softly, “That was part of my old persona. I don’t need it anymore, so I’m not going home this afternoon and will eat lunch at school.”

I see.

Huang Xiaozhi was silent. Everything was for a persona. She didn’t say anything, just nodded to show she understood, but was secretly amazed by Yu Wen’s keen observation and careful thought.

This feeling… was a little unnerving.

The two of them stepped into the cafeteria. It was bustling and crowded.

But their arrival immediately drew many eyes, and a low hum of discussion started. No one had ever seen Yu Wen so close to anyone before. She had always been a solitary figure, but now she was walking side by side with Huang Xiaozhi, clearly as friends.

Many eyes also lingered on their pretty faces, comparing who was more beautiful. But in Huang Xiaozhi’s opinion, why compare two different kinds of beauty?

Huang Xiaozhi realized for the first time that walking with Yu Wen drew so much attention. A feeling of shyness arose in her.

Su Li had a therapy appointment today and had gone home after they were assigned their new classes and seats.

When the two of them reached the food window, Yu Wen naturally paid for Huang Xiaozhi’s meal with her card.

Huang Xiaozhi saw how smoothly she did it and could only say softly, “Thanks.”

“It’s nothing,” Yu Wen’s voice was calm.

They sat down opposite each other at a table on the far edge.

Yu Wen raised a hand and gathered her loose hair, loosely tying it into a low ponytail on one side. Her elegant neck was exposed, and it looked very beautiful.

Huang Xiaozhi felt that this silence between friends was awkward and tried hard to find a topic. “Uh… wanna walk home together tonight?”

Yu Wen paused while picking up some food. She looked up at her and replied, “Sure.”

They lived in the same community, in the same building, just on different floors. It was safe and on the way for them to walk together.

Huang Xiaozhi secretly sighed in relief. She was a genius.

But the conversation stopped again.

Facing the quiet and beautiful Yu Wen, Huang Xiaozhi’s heart felt like it was bursting with little fireworks, but at the same time, it felt like she was being smothered by an invisible pressure. She felt like she was about to suffocate.

…

At Home

That night.

The curtain of night had fallen, settling the city’s clamor but also giving rise to a different, more secret kind of sound in some corners.

The dim streetlights stretched and blurred their figures as they walked side-by-side on the long road home.

Huang Xiaozhi rummaged in the side pocket of her backpack and pulled out a piece of gum, holding it out to Yu Wen. “Here, want some?”

In the darkness, Huang Xiaozhi’s eyes were exceptionally clear as she looked at Yu Wen.

Yu Wen’s eyes, in the shadows, looked even deeper. She reached out and took it. “Thanks.”

Huang Xiaozhi efficiently peeled her own piece of gum, carefully wadded up the wrapper into a tiny ball, and put it in her pocket, planning to throw it away when she saw a trash can.

She casually asked, “You’re not from A City, are you?”

Yu Wen nodded, her voice clear in the quiet street. “No, I’m from H City.”

A question naturally came up. H City is clearly more developed than A City, so why would she come here?

“Why did you come to A City?” Huang Xiaozhi continued to ask.

“I came right after the high school entrance exam,” Yu Wen’s voice held a hint of subtle detachment. “The water is too deep in H City. I needed a break, so I chose A City.” She skillfully avoided mentioning her identity as the Zhang family’s adopted daughter.

“From what you’re saying, H City must not be very peaceful, huh?” Huang Xiaozhi asked with a keen insight.

Yu Wen’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then relaxed, a faint smile on her face. “Indeed. It’s best not to go to H City if you can avoid it.”

Huang Xiaozhi took a tissue from her bag, spit out her now-flavorless gum, and wrapped it up. Her tone held a hint of pride. “I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t jump into the deep ocean after seeing it. Do you think I’m stupid?”

In the darkness, Yu Wen’s expression wasn’t clear, but her voice held a playful tone. “Not at all. I think you’re a very smart person, aren’t you?”

“Smart? I’m a genius.” Huang Xiaozhi said, without any modesty.

…

The two of them chatted all the way, their topics ranging from A City to H City, from school to various experiences, breaking the previous silence.

In the elevator, they said goodbye.

Huang Xiaozhi got out of the elevator. Just as the door was about to close, she said clearly to the blurry figure inside, “Smoke less, Yu Wen.”

The elevator doors closed completely, blocking the view.

Yu Wen stood alone in the ascending elevator, her body slightly stiff.

How did she know? Yu Wen stopped on the sixteenth floor, utterly confused. She had always been so careful, only smoking at home. Did Huang Xiaozhi see the scattered pack of cigarettes and lighter on the table when she walked me back last night?

In truth, Huang Xiaozhi had only guessed.

She hadn’t expected to be so accurate. Yu Wen’s subtle reaction had only confirmed it for her.

She couldn’t help but imagine Yu Wen’s cool, beautiful face, with a cigarette between her fingers, exhaling a wisp of smoke—it would probably look very cool, but more than that, she hoped she would smoke less.

At Huang Xiaozhi’s home.

As soon as Huang Xiaozhi entered the door, she put down her backpack and called out, “Mom! I’m home!”

Wei Qingwen came out of her room, her face full of smiles. “Oh! My little one is back. Go sit down. I’ll get you some rice.” She walked quickly into the kitchen.

Huang Xiaozhi washed her hands and sat obediently at the dining table, waiting.

At the dinner table, Wei Qingwen was overjoyed to learn that her daughter had ranked sixth in the grade.

Her precious daughter had achieved this result through her own hard work. Wei Qingwen couldn’t stop smiling. “The grades came out today, and you did great! Mom is so proud!”

“Hehe,” Huang Xiaozhi boasted. “Didn’t you know your daughter is a genius?”

“I know, I know,” Wei Qingwen’s eyes curved with her smile. “After all, your mom was a genius back in the day.” In her twenties, Wei Qingwen had been an excellent translator, proficient in multiple languages, a true linguistic genius, though she wasn’t as good with numbers.

Huang Xiaozhi ate her rice and agreed. “I know, I know. The great translator.”

Wei Qingwen’s smile grew even wider, her voice a little smug. “I sneaked into your school’s forum today, and it feels like it’s about to explode. Everyone’s talking about how different Yu Wen is now.”

Huang Xiaozhi put down her chopsticks, took a tissue to wipe her mouth, and said with a helpless, amused tone, “Mom, why do you love gossip so much? You even went into the school’s forum.”

“Of course, I do. Mom loves this stuff,” Wei Qingwen leaned in like a curious child. “Hurry up and tell me what’s going on with Yu Wen.”

Huang Xiaozhi took a sip of water and explained, “Last night, she came over to thank you with a bento, and she asked if we could be friends. So today, she showed her truest self at school. She said the way she used to be at school was all for her ‘persona.’ Even though my persona was a total failure, I have to say, the real her is so pretty. She’s definitely got what it takes to be a school beauty.”

Wei Qingwen, sitting next to her, mostly understood. She then added, “It’s great that you became friends. I even saw a photo—a picture of the two of you together.”

Huang Xiaozhi looked confused. “What? A picture? I didn’t know. Hurry up and find it. I want to see.”

“Okay.” Wei Qingwen got up to get her phone and scrolled through the Yu Zhong forum for the photo. There were so many posts that it took her a while to find it. She handed the phone to Huang Xiaozhi. “Here, isn’t this you two?”

The photo was a candid shot of them facing each other, exchanging the camera. Who took this?

Huang Xiaozhi stared at the picture, silent for a moment. She didn’t comment, just said, “Save the picture and send it to me.”

“I got it, I got it,” Wei Qingwen replied.

Her first photo together with Yu Wen was a secret candid shot taken by someone else. Huang Xiaozhi felt a strange feeling that she couldn’t quite put into words.

…

Later that night.

Huang Xiaozhi was in her soft pajamas, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, engrossed in the animated show Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, which had been her favorite since she was a child.

After doing the dishes and tidying up, Wei Qingwen gently sat down next to Huang Xiaozhi and asked softly, “My little one, do you have something on your mind today?”

Just as I expected, I can’t hide anything from Mom’s eyes. Huang Xiaozhi didn’t really want to talk about it and instinctively shook her head.

Wei Qingwen turned and carefully looked at her daughter’s beautiful profile. “You’re lying.” She reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Huang Xiaozhi’s ear.

Huang Xiaozhi knew she couldn’t avoid it.

Wei Qingwen knew her too well. She had raised her since she was a child, and every move, every look from her daughter couldn’t be hidden from her.

“Mom,” Huang Xiaozhi didn’t turn her head to look at Wei Qingwen, her eyes still on the TV screen. She asked softly, “How do you feel about homosexuality?”

Wei Qingwen looked at the daughter she had raised. A warm smile spread across her face. “Homosexuality? I think it’s completely normal. Isn’t your uncle gay, too? Liking someone shouldn’t be limited by gender. Even though many people don’t understand it and think it’s disgusting, to me, it’s just a very natural feeling. It’s normal to like someone, whether they’re of the opposite s3x or the same s3x. Don’t you remember what kind of novels your old mom loves to read?” Wei Qingwen finished and gently rested her head on Huang Xiaozhi’s shoulder. Her daughter was already a young woman. At nearly forty, she felt incredibly happy.

Huang Xiaozhi was silent, not sure if she was lost in the show or in her own thoughts.

Wei Qingwen leaned on her daughter’s shoulder and didn’t say another word.

After a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why the sudden question? Do you like someone?”

This time, Huang Xiaozhi hesitated. The words tumbled around in her mouth before finally coming out: “Mom, do you believe in love at first sight?”

Upon hearing this, Wei Qingwen looked up at her daughter’s face, a knowing smile in her eyes. “I do. Why wouldn’t I? I fell in love with your dad at first sight. It’s just a shame…” Her voice trailed off, but then she brightened again. “But it’s fine! Your old mom is rich, powerful, and has a good figure. I can live a great life without a man!”

After hearing her mother’s words, Huang Xiaozhi turned her head and gently rested her head on Wei Qingwen’s. “Let’s not talk about him. He’s not worthy.”

“Okay—” Wei Qingwen drew out the sound, then asked directly, “So tell me, which girl did you fall in love with at first sight? Do I know her?”

“Yu Wen.” The name was spoken, and the air seemed to freeze for a few dozen seconds, with only the cheerful sounds from the TV show.

Wei Qingwen confirmed she hadn’t misheard and smiled, patting Huang Xiaozhi’s shoulder. “Not bad. You have great taste! Tell me, what was the moment that made you like her?”

Huang Xiaozhi, still sitting cross-legged on the sofa, picked up the remote and turned off the TV. She turned to face her mom. “Today was the awards ceremony. The top ten to six only received awards, but the top five also had to give a speech. When I was on stage to get my award, I saw her taking a picture of me with her camera. When I got off the stage, she just put that little camera in my hand without saying a word. When it was her turn to go up and speak, I stood below and couldn’t help but look at her camera. There were some pretty landscape photos, and two photos had me in them… Then when she was about to get off the stage, I also raised the camera and took a picture of her. Actually, it was at the moment she put the camera in my hand that I… fell for her.” After saying this, she lowered her head a little shyly.

Wei Qingwen listened, and the corners of her mouth couldn’t stop turning up. Unfortunately, Huang Xiaozhi, with her head down, couldn’t see it.

She lifted her daughter’s chin. The mother and daughter looked at each other, and Wei Qingwen’s eyes were full of understanding and encouragement. “This is youth. It’s so beautiful. If you like someone, go for it. If you want to pursue them, go for it. Mom has no objections. But,” her tone became serious, “promise Mom you won’t let this feeling affect your mood and won’t let yourself get hurt.”

Huang Xiaozhi’s heart warmed. She felt that being Wei Qingwen’s daughter was a blessing she had earned in eight lifetimes.

She opened her arms and hugged her mother tightly, just like the countless times she had run into her mother’s embrace when she was a child.

At that time, Wei Qingwen was still a young girl, but she had already become a mother. But what did that matter? Her mother was always so wonderful.

“I know,” Huang Xiaozhi’s voice was muffled against her mother’s shoulder. “I love you, old mom.” Born into such a rich, loving, and open-minded family, she felt incredibly free and happy.

“Your old mother loves you too,” Wei Qingwen hugged her back and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead. “Alright, go wash up and go to bed. Good night, my little one.”

“Good night, Mom.”

…

Yu Wen’s Secret

At Yu Wen’s home.

When Yu Wen got home that night, her eyes swept over her desk—books, workbooks, a cigarette pack, a lighter, scattered pens, a water cup… a complete mess.

She looked at the chaos, put a hand to her forehead, and gave a helpless, low laugh. It was time to clean up.

She turned and walked into the bathroom, standing in front of the mirror.

The face in the mirror was a completely different person from her appearance at school during the day.

She stared at the mirror, took off the hair tie on her wrist, and gathered her long hair. Her movements were quick. She gently bit one end of the hair tie to pull it out and quickly tied a ponytail.

The eyes of the person in the mirror no longer held the gentle look of the day. They were replaced by a cold, almost severe, expression.

She opened the cabinet door under the sink, took out a glass, filled it with cold water, and unhesitatingly splashed the entire glass onto the mirror.

The stream of water instantly blurred the reflection in the mirror and trickled down, as if washing away all the clear outlines. Just like how everyone saw her, it wasn’t the real her.

She put the cup back in its place and murmured to the blurry mirror, “Even I don’t know which one is the real me.”

Yes, what is her real self like? It seemed that over the years, there had never been a true “Yu Wen.”

So, what would her real self look like?

She picked up her key again and opened the door to another space.

She walked in, and her eyes fell on the display boards. This was her deep secret, a dark, unknown corner of her soul.

A car accident had taken her father’s life and made her mother disappear, leaving her as the sole survivor. In the Zhang family’s villa, she had accidentally entered a room where the walls were covered in photos—many of them had a crimson X drawn on them, signifying that the target had been “eliminated.”

How could she not understand? Because her parents were also on that photo wall. She firmly believed that the car accident was not an accident at all, but a carefully planned murder with deep ties to the Zhang Corporation.

Next to it was a small display board with a photo of a woman—it was her missing mother.

She had searched everywhere, but there was no news. A person had simply vanished without a trace, which was illogical.

Alive, she must be found. Dead, her body must be found. She had never given up on finding her mother, not for a moment.

Yu Wen solemnly placed the small camera she used at school on the small display stand below her mother’s photo. All the most important things were here.

Then, she picked up a more professional camera. Let the camera that recorded some ‘daily life’ stay here. It’s not safe to take it out.

The cold white light hit Yu Wen’s face, making her expression even more severe. Her face was devoid of a smile, revealing a chilling coldness.

Before leaving, she walked to the dartboard, stood by the doorway, aimed at the large group photo of the core members of the Zhang Corporation, and flicked her wrist.

The dart left her hand.

It landed squarely in the middle of the photo—on the forehead of the Zhang family’s leader.

She turned and walked out. She would make all her enemies pay the price they deserved.

…

After carefully locking the door, Yu Wen changed into a black hoodie, put on a mask, and pulled her loose hair forward over her shoulders.

She had an appointment with someone—Zhong Li.

Outside the window, the night was as thick as ink. The air was so heavy you could wring water from it. A major storm was brewing, and the sky over A City was about to change.

A black sedan with dark tinted windows quietly pulled into the most secluded corner of the underground parking garage.

Yu Wen walked over quickly, her head down. She opened the passenger door and sat down. “Uncle Zhong Li.”

Zhong Li, in the driver’s seat, was also wearing a mask and a low baseball cap. He replied in a low voice, “Miss Yu Wen.”

“Have you found anything?” Yu Wen didn’t turn to look at him. Her gaze was fixed on the dark road ahead.

“Yes,” Zhong Li’s voice was steady. “The Zhang family’s firstborn were twin daughters. Zhang Yunzhen was secretly groomed by the Zhang family and didn’t live in the main house. Zhang Yulin was the older sister and had always represented the Zhang family in public. Until that car accident, when Zhang Yulin was seriously injured and in a coma, Zhang Yunzhen took her sister’s place in the public eye. After that, news of Zhang Yulin was cut off. It wasn’t until a few years ago that she was confirmed to be in the United States. It was indeed Zhang Yulin herself. As for Zhang Yunzhen… she has since disappeared without a trace. Whether she’s alive or dead, we haven’t found out yet.” Zhong Li’s report was clear and organized.

Yu Wen was silent. Her mind was racing, trying to untangle the complex timeline. Understanding this was crucial.

She only said briefly, “I see. Be careful on your way back, Uncle Zhong. I’ll go up now.” She reached for the car door.

“Okay, Miss Yu Wen. Take care.” Zhong Li replied softly.

Zhong Li had been a key figure in the former Yu Corporation and was the half-brother of Yu Wen’s mother—her uncle.

He had been undercover within the Zhang Corporation for many years and had earned their trust. He was a critical piece in penetrating the enemy’s core.

As for why he was so covered up every time they met? Because someone was taking candid photos—people sent by the Zhang Corporation.

The Zhang family was more vigilant than Yu Wen had expected. Had they already started sending people to monitor her?

Then this game was about to get a lot more interesting.

An interesting game needed worthy opponents to truly be exciting.

Yu Wen longed for the truth, to uncover all the buried secrets. But she knew this would only happen with time and continuous plotting.

Is the truth really that important? Is it worth using herself as bait to enter this dangerous situation? Why not let go of the hatred and start a new life?

It is important. She couldn’t let it go. How could she not avenge this deep-seated hatred? Let those criminals with bl00d on their hands walk free and enjoy their wealth and glory? She couldn’t do it.

She would watch her enemies fall one step at a time, in her own way.

At that moment, she would finally show her most relieved smile.