Zhu Jingru’s car was parked nearby. He lingered, fiddling with a few things, deliberately waiting for Bai Qinglin to pack up and leave first.
Bai Qinglin put his leather gloves back on, nodded to Zhu Jingru, and left, not bothering with even a perfunctory farewell.
Zhu Jingru toyed with the plastic cup in his hand, then looked away, unzipped his windbreaker, and took out the hand warmer inside, holding it to warm his hands.
The coffee shop was quiet. Tong Yin went into the back kitchen to clean and suddenly smelled something. She casually asked, “Shop Manager, did you spray perfume?”
“No.” Bai Qinglin looked down, his grip on the plate tightening slightly, the tendon in his wrist taut.
Tong Yin had noticed the pleasant fragrance last night in Zhu Jingru’s car and had asked what brand it was. The answer she received was, “I mixed it myself for fun.”
Now she was certain she had given the right address. The two had gone fishing together.
Bai Qinglin asked indifferently, “What time is it?”
“Ten o’clock.”
“Mm.”
The window seat outside was empty.
Tong Yin suddenly realized, it was strange. Usually, Mr. Zhu would have finished his coffee and be ready to leave by now.
They had just gone fishing together, and now he wasn’t coming at all.
As night fell, the takeout order addressed to ‘Perfumum’ bar didn’t appear either.
Bai Qinglin pulled down the shutters and put a cigarette in his mouth, lowering his head to light it with his lighter several times, but the wind was too strong.
Tang Chen happened to pass by, discreetly taking a picture of Bai Qinglin’s back with his phone and immediately sending it to Zhu Jingru: [You have amazing taste. Long fingers, high nose bridge, definitely strong in that department.]
Zhu Jingru didn’t reply. He set the photo as his phone’s wallpaper, brewed more than ten different kinds of tea he had bought, and not only drank it himself but also forced Tang Chen to drink it.
Tang Chen sensed impending doom. “Why are you torturing me? Just let me go, I’ll kidnap him and deliver him to your bed tonight. You can torture him instead.”
“We live in a society ruled by law, Xiao Tang. Your thoughts are dangerous.” Zhu Jingru tasted all the teas but was still dissatisfied, murmuring to himself, “Nothing tastes as good as plain boiled water.”
The cup Bai Qinglin had given him this morning was the best.
The restless excitement that reached down to his bones persisted until 3:00 am. Zhu Jingru put on his coat, threw Tang Chen into the passenger seat, drove out of the city and onto the highway at high speed, scaring Tang Chen out of his wits.
Driving for half an hour in the dead of night, climbing a mountain over two thousand meters high just to feel the wind, look at the stars, and pull some weeds, this kind of nonsensical and utterly pointless thing only Zhu Jingru would do.
Zhu Jingru fiddled with his phone for a long time, but ultimately didn’t send the star photos to Bai Qinglin. No rush, he was playing the long game. He tossed his hat aside, his breath visible in the cold air, and feigned regret, “Xiao Tang, I won’t be able to take you to see the scenery anymore.”
Tang Chen: “…”
Zhu Jingru continued murmuring to himself, “And I won’t be giving you the passenger seat either.”
Tang Chen closed his eyes, wanting to die: “…”
The next day, the clock struck nine.
Bai Qinglin turned the page of the newspaper. He was slightly nearsighted, and though the prescription wasn’t strong, he had astigmatism. The fog had been heavy lately in the mornings and evenings, affecting his vision somewhat. He figured he would have to wear glasses more often in the future.
Tong Yin quietly sent a WeChat message to Zhu Jingru: [The Shop Manager looks so handsome in glasses today. But he probably didn’t sleep well last night. He’s evolved from an ice cube to a giant iceberg. Just scared off three university students who asked for his WeChat.]
Zhu Jingru instantly replied with a smiley face.
Tong Yin: [Brother Jingru, you’re not worried? Don’t you plan to come today either?]
Zhu Jingru took off the silver earrings in front of the mirror, a thermometer in his mouth. He washed his hands and dried them, then typed unhurriedly.
[I have a bit of a cold, I’m afraid of infecting him. I want to order a cup of hot milk tonight. I’ll trouble you to make a trip again. Thank you. I’ll treat you and Huang Chen to a meal next time.]
As expected, not long after, Tong Yin replied: [Don’t worry, I’ll definitely beg the Shop Manager to deliver it personally tonight.]
