Chapter Fifty-Four: Desolate

In the Western restaurant, Lu Jing, having shed her down coat, revealed a form-fitting white camel-hair gown that, under the gentle glow of the lights, made her appear especially charming. The restrained elegance of a mature woman was evident in every glance, her allure both radiant and understated, fully displayed in her graceful figure and limpid eyes.

Kang Ning, snapping out of his daze, noticed the young waiter, whose flustered demeanor betrayed his wandering gaze, lingering on Lu Jing’s full chest and beautiful face.

Leaning back, Kang Ning smiled faintly, suddenly recalling a passage from a book: the understanding and pursuit of beauty is shared by all.

When the young man left, Lu Jing leaned playfully across the table, gazing at Kang Ning, “Am I beautiful?”

“A hundred times more beautiful than your Passat,” Kang Ning replied with a slight smile, raising his glass in her direction.

“Is that how you compliment someone? Comparing a living person to cold steel,” Lu Jing protested, feigning annoyance, though inwardly delighted. “Let me ask you something, but don’t be angry—do you have a girlfriend?”

Kang Ning’s eyes dimmed for a moment before he answered with a smile, “I do, but I don’t know how she’s doing lately.”

Lu Jing, perceptive as ever, caught the change in his eyes. Her heart ached a little, but she quickly smiled, “Between her and me, who’s prettier?”

Kang Ning took a fierce bite of his chicken fillet, “Eat up before it gets cold.”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

“Is it that important?”

“It is!”

Kang Ning dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a crisp white napkin. “To be honest, she’s not as pretty as you, nor as tall.”

Lu Jing didn’t quite believe him. Studying his straight nose, she asked, “Really? Are you just flattering me?”

“I have no need to flatter you, do I? You already raised my salary to thirty-five hundred before I even spoke. If I keep it up, will it go up to five thousand?” Kang Ning joked.

Lu Jing burst out laughing. “Since when did you, usually so honest, become so smooth-tongued? Are you looking for a beating?” she teased.

Kang Ning finished his last bite, wiped his mouth, and took a sip of lemon soda. “Let’s just say, you rub off on me.”

Lu Jing covered her mouth with her napkin, giggling, and then glanced around to make sure no one was watching before lowering her head. “Enough of your nonsense. Come shopping with me after we eat.”

The damp December air in Lijiang made the cold even sharper. Lu Jing naturally slipped her arm around Kang Ning’s as they strolled through the streets, buying nothing, simply chatting softly and pointing out sights to one another.

Lu Jing felt content and completely at ease. Though Kang Ning said he had a girlfriend, she didn’t care. What she cherished was the warmth of this moment, the solid, comforting arm she held close to her heart.

When she saw Kang Ning to the entrance of the factory dormitory, Lu Jing was reluctant to let him go. She wished he would kiss her, open those tightly pressed lips and warm her parched heart, even just once, and she would be satisfied.

But as she hesitated, Kang Ning had already slipped out and closed the car door, coming around to her side with a smile. “It’s cold this time of year, and the wind is strong. It rains annoyingly from time to time, too. Take care of yourself.”

Watching Lu Jing drive away, Uncle Wang closed the gate. Kang Ning exhaled deeply. He wasn’t sure if, had Lu Jing lingered or followed him inside as she sometimes did, he could have resisted her gentle affection and burning gaze, or the allure of her warm body and delicate fragrance.

He undressed and lay on his bed, staring blankly at the white ceiling.

Two days passed, and it was the weekend once more. Zheng Yi, who had just earned her driver’s license, drove her brand-new BMW 535 to the repair shop. She greeted Uncle Wang at the gate, then parked in front of Kang Ning’s dorm and honked.

Kang Ning, having just finished a cold shower, was reading when he heard the horn. He set his book aside and came out, smiling as he walked over to Zheng Yi’s side of the car. “What brings you here? Isn’t today your busiest day at the teahouse?”

“Oh, so you think I’m obsessed with money, is that it?” Zheng Yi protested loudly.

“Want to come in?”

Kang Ning didn’t mind her tone. He knew that though Zheng Yi’s words could be sharp, her heart was kind. A talented graduate of Southwest Normal University, she wrote beautifully, but since marrying into a life of ease, she’d simply lost herself for a while.

Zheng Yi admired Kang Ning’s calm composure. Noting his thin sportswear and damp hair, she said, “Aren’t you cold? Go change. Meng Meng’s waiting at my place.”

“I’ll pass. I was in the middle of reading,” Kang Ning declined politely.

With a sigh, Zheng Yi urged him, “Come on. Meng Meng’s moving to Chengdu in a few days. We don’t have many days left together.”

Kang Ning was surprised. “She didn’t mention it last week. Why so soon?”

“Stop fussing and go change!”

Seeing Kang Ning still hesitate, Zheng Yi finally revealed the truth. “Come see her. She’s getting married in Chengdu at New Year’s. It’s her parents’ decision; there’s nothing she can do. The man is the son of the Provincial Personnel Director. Just come—it’s your chance to say goodbye.”

Kang Ning nodded, went inside to change, then locked up and got into Zheng Yi’s car. The two chatted along the way, soon arriving at Zheng Yi’s building and driving into the underground garage.

Zheng Yi locked the garage from inside and led Kang Ning through the side door, up the wool-carpeted stairs to her private second-floor sitting room.

In the car, Kang Ning had been wondering how he would face Qu Mengmeng. But when he saw her by the low table, carefully lighting candles with a serene smile, arranging a few exquisite dishes and a small pot of old soup, he saw not a trace of pain—only contentment and peace.

“You’ve got quite the airs! Had to have Yi Jie fetch you herself,” Qu Mengmeng teased, walking over and punching Kang Ning in the chest.

Kang Ning clutched his heart in mock pain. “Quick, Yi Jie, help me! I think she broke my heart.”

Zheng Yi tossed her car keys aside and strode over, “Is that so? Let me fix you up with my Nine Yin White Bone Claw!”

“No, no! I misdiagnosed myself!” Kang Ning took a big step back to avoid Zheng Yi’s hand, then sat warily on the sofa, eyeing both women. His words and exaggerated gestures had them both doubled over with laughter.

Kang Ning looked around and admonished, “Honestly, who would believe that two such elegant ladies could laugh like this? If your little aunt saw you, what would she think?”

“I gave her two days off,” Zheng Yi replied, then went to turn off all the lights. The four red candles in the ornate silver holder flickered softly, bathing the room in warmth.

When Zheng Yi brought out a bottle of 52-degree Wuliangye, Kang Ning was astonished. “Yi Jie, that stuff’ll burn a hole in your gut. Don’t you have any beer?”

“We’re drinking this tonight! Don’t be a wimp. A grown man outdone by women? Ignore him, Yi Jie, just drink the Wuliangye,” Qu Mengmeng said, giving Kang Ning’s arm a smack.

So the three of them drank and laughed, never once mentioning Qu Mengmeng’s impending departure. Seeing this, Kang Ning finally relaxed. But when the first bottle was nearly gone, and Qu Mengmeng brought out another, he hurried to stop her.