Hard to Deceive

According to Zheng Kejia’s nature that couldn’t hide any secrets, Wen Yifan also didn’t think that she could act like nothing happened. However, she didn’t expect Zheng Kejia to report their encounter within half an hour.

Wen Yifan received a phone call from Zhao Yuandong not long after she left the hospital.

Zhao Yuandong’s hesitant voice came from her phone, “Jiang, I heard from Jiajia just now. She said that she saw you in the hospital? Are you back in Nanwu?” 

Wen Yifan walked to the opposite bus stop and replied, “Yes.”

Both of them went silent after her reply.

Zhao Yuandong sighed and didn’t say much, “How long have you been back?”

Wen Yifan, “Not too long ago.”

Zhao Yuandong, “Are you going to settle down in Nanwu in the future?”

Wen Yifan paused for a few seconds before replying honestly, “I don’t know.”

“You can make your decision in the future, Nanwu is not bad. I’m worried about you being alone outside.” Zhao Yuandong added, “Also, if you have a holiday during Chinese New Year, come home and spend the New Year with me. Don’t spend your New Year outside by yourself.

“Hmm.”

Zhao Yuandong mumbled, “The weather in Nanwu is getting colder recently, remember to wear more clothes. Don’t forget to eat although you’re busy working. Treat yourself better, okay?”

Wen Yifan sat on the bench at the bus stop and listened to her absentmindedly, “Alright.”

There was an utterly long silence again.

Wen Yifan didn’t know how long time had passed, she could faintly hear some whimpers from the other end.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

“Jiang,” Zhao Yuandong’s voice was gradually choked with sobs as she said, “Mom knows that you blame me. I didn’t fulfil my responsibility as a mother over the years…… I kept dreaming about your father for the past two days, he was also blaming……”

“You can mention anything,” Wen Yifan interrupted, “But can you not bring up my father.”

“……”

Wen Yifan noticed she was getting emotional. She looked down and controlled herself, “Don’t cry, I’m fine. I’ll visit you when I have time.”

Zhao Yuandong didn’t say anything.

Wen Yifan smiled, “And you have done a great job as a mother.”

Just not for me.

Wen Yifan stood up when the bus just happened to arrive. She said goodbye before hanging up the phone. She got on the bus, took a seat, and stared at the smearing lights out the window.

Her thoughts gradually emptied.

Little by little, her negative emotions gradually faded.

It was like there was an invisible hand that emptied her thoughts.

Burying away all the emotions that were piling up.

When she was getting out of the bus, she had already sorted out her emotions.

Wen Yifan was energetic for the whole day, probably because she had enough sleep the night before.

After leaving the police station and back to her office, she spent her afternoon in the editing room listening to the audio footage and writing manuscripts. She also continued editing the film footage after finishing her manuscripts. She had finished writing the manuscripts that were accumulated previously after returning to the office.

People around her came and left, and she was slowly the only one left.

It was already nearly eleven o’clock when she looked at the time.

Wen Yifan was stunned, she immediately got up and packed her stuff before leaving the office. There were hardly any passers-by in the street because it was getting late. The street was deathly quiet.

She hurried towards the subway station. She was panting when she managed to catch the last subway.

Wen Yifan breathed a sigh of relief.

The subway station was not crowded at this hour. Wen Yifan found a place to sit down.

She scrolled through her phone.

She suddenly noticed Zhao Yuandong had transferred 3000 Yuan to her bank account two hours ago.

Wen Yifan pressed her lips together and transferred the amount back.

……

It was nearly eleven-thirty when she reached home.

She entered the house, looked down and took off her shoes. When she looked up, she coincidentally met Sang Yan’s eyes who was lying on the sofa.

“……”

Wen Yifan was suddenly envious of his life.

He lied on the sofa when she went out.

He was still lying on the sofa after she came back from a busy day.

He looked like a lazy but wealthy unemployed person.

The television in the living room was on at that time, and an unknown family drama was playing in the background.

Sang Yan didn’t look up, he was probably treating the TV noise as background music. He was holding his phone in his hands and seemed like he was playing a game. The volume of his phone was loud and was mixed together with the audio of the television.

Wen Yifan didn’t remind him.

She planned to take a bath first. If the sense of his existence was still high after she came out from the bathroom, then she would send him a WeChat message to ask him to stop. Informing him through the phone ought to show him some courtesy.

Wen Yifan was about to go to her room. 

Sang Yan looked at her and called, “Hey.”

Wen Yifan didn’t know what nonsense he was up to, but she stood hesitantly, “What’s the matter?”

Sang Yan spoke all of a sudden, “Well, I.”

Wen Yifan “Hmm?”

Sang Yan continued playing his games and casually said, “Have a bad habit.”

“……”

Wen Yifan wanted to diss.

Do you only have one?

“My sense of security is very strong. The door of the house has to be locked before I sleep.” Sang Yan paused for a few seconds and looked straight into her eyes, “Otherwise, I can’t sleep.” 

His expression and what he meant seemed to be criticizing her.

Because of her, his normal rest time was affected.

“I also have the habit of locking the door when I’m back home.” Wen Yifan discussed with him, “You can just sleep when you’re feeling sleepy. I’ll lock the door if I get home later than you. You don’t have to worry about security.

“What I’m saying is,” Sang Yan said half-lying down, he had to look upwards to look at her, while still looking arrogant, “Before, I, Sleep.”

“......” Wen Yifan reminded, “I have made myself clear before we started sharing this unit. I often work overtime, my time is irregular, and you agreed with it.”

“Right.” Sang Yan said slowly, “So please inform me in advance if you can’t come back before ten o’clock.”

Silence.

Wen Yifan asked, “Will it make a difference if I notify you first?”

“Of course not, this is our respect for each other.” Sang Yan playfully said, “Otherwise, I won’t be able to lock the door if you’re staying outside all night, then I’ll have to spend the night in fear and uneasiness.”

“……”

Wen Yifan felt that surely he must have a lot of things to do during the long day.

Wen Yifan didn’t pick a fight with him because it was something simple, “Ok, I’ll notify you in advance if I were to return home late next time.”

She was going to return to her room after she replied to him.

Sang Yan added, “And.”

Wen Yifan patiently asked, “Anything else?”

“Help.” Sang Yan said concisely, “My business?”

“……”

Wen Yifan had not discussed with Zhong Siqiao yet. She was going to reject the suggestion but inexplicably thought of Sang Yan’s 20 Yuan. She swallowed back what she was about to say and changed her mind, “The discount is only 1%?”

“……”

Finally, Sang Yan stopped persisting.

He gave her the biggest and highest discount.

11% Discount.

Wen Yifan didn’t know what was wrong with herself, she couldn’t believe she promised him.

Wen Yifan unlocked her mobile phone when she was back in her room.

She just happened to see Zhong Siqiao and Xiang Lang were chatting in the group chat of the three of them. They were talking about the gathering the day after tomorrow. Wen Yifan’s fingertips froze on the screen for a long time, she regretted promising him because of a split second of gratitude.

Wen Yifan bit the bullet and asked: Why not we go to ‘OverTime’?

Zhong Siqiao: Huh? Isn’t this the bar we went to last time?

Zhong Siqiao: The bar owned by Sang Yan?

Wen Yifan: Yes.

Zhong Siqiao: Why do you want to go again, didn’t we visit there once before?

Zhong Siqiao: I want a different bar!

Xiang Lang: Sang Yan?

Xiang Lang: So he opened a bar.

Wen Yifan: Because.

Wen Yifan: …...

Wen Yifan: I have to tell you guys something.

Xiang Lang: What is it?

Zhong Siqiao: Tell us.

Wen Yifan: The housemate I found that I told you guys about previously.

Wen Yifan: Is Sang Yan.

“……”

The group chat froze for a split second.

Xiang Lang: ?

Zhong Siqiao: ???

Zhong Siqiao: What the f*ck??? Both of you are living together?

Zhong Siqiao: My memory of him is still stuck at the time when he asked you to take his coat back as a souvenir.

Zhong Siqiao: What! Is! Going! On!

Zhong Siqiao: Tell! Me! The! Truth!

Wen Yifan: I’ll tell you everything when we meet.

Wen Yifan: Are you guys going? He said he’ll give us a discount.

Zhong Siqiao: Discount? Then I’m down with it.

Zhong Siqiao: How much is the discount?

Wen Yifan: …...

Wen Yifan: 11%.

Zhong Siqiao: …...

Xiang Lang: …...

Zhong Siqiao: You can ask him to f*ck off.

Zhong Siqiao: Who is he taking advantage of! Only idiots will be happy with this discount!!!

Wen Yifan: …...

Wen Yifan: I agreed.

Xiang Lang: …...

Zhong Siqiao: …...

Although they were not interested in Sang Yan’s offer, they didn’t want Wen Yifan to break her promise. Therefore, they could only set the gathering at ‘OverTime’.

Thursday night.

Sang Yan also happened to come out from his room when Wen Yifan was about to go out. He changed his outfit, he was wearing a dark windbreaker and was zipping it up to his neck.

“We might be going there after dinner,” Wen Yifan was not sure whether he reserved a table for them, so she took the initiative to ask, “So I’ll give my name to the waiter when I get there, am I right?”

Sang Yan looked at her, “Give mine.”

Wen Yifan replied, “Then, thanks.”

Xiang Lang just happened to give her a call.

Wen Yifan picked up the call, she went to the porch while wearing her shoes, “Did you guys reach?”

“We are at the entrance of your neighbourhood,” Xiang Lang’s voice was clear and bright, with a smile on his face, “They don’t let us in, can you walk out yourself? You can see us as soon as you are out.”

“Okay.” Wen Yifan said, “Wait, I’ll come out now. Be there soon.”

“It’s okay, we’re not in a hurry.” Xiang Lang added, “Take your time.”

“What do you mean by not in a hurry!” Zhong Siqiao’s voice could be heard from her end, she was noisy, “Wen Yifan! Hurry up! I’m starving!”

“Hang in there,” Wen Yifan took her keys and smiled, “I’m coming to save your life.”

Wen Yifan noticed Sang Yan was also going out when she was about to close the door and leave the house. He was standing behind her at that moment. She paused and nodded at him before going to the elevator and hung up the phone.

The sound of Sang Yan closing the door came from behind her.

Both of them entered the lift.

The lift door closed.

Wen Yifan pressed on the ‘1’ button, she stopped and asked him, “Should I help you to press B1?”

Sang Yan with his hands in his pockets was standing still, he lazily said, “No need.”

There was silence again.

Wen Yifan went out when the first floor reached.

Wen Yifan didn’t know why he didn’t drive today, but she didn’t bother asking him. She looked at the time and walked faster because she was afraid that her friends had waited for a long time.

When she was out of the neighbourhood.

Wen Yifan saw them at first glance just like what Xiang Lang said on the phone previously. She had not seen Xiang Lang for several years, but he had not changed much.

Xiang Lang had refined facial features, he was wearing a long brown coat and thin-rimmed glasses. He looked smart.

Zhong Siqiao was standing beside him.

Both of them were standing outside a car.

Besides them, there was a tall and buff guy standing near them.

Wen Yifan glanced over.

It’s Su Haoan.

They were chatting at that time and their interactions were lively.

Wen Yifan wondered why Su Haoan was here and suddenly remembered Sang Yan who didn’t drive that day. She unconsciously looked behind her, and there was a distance between them.

He just came out from the small entrance.

Xiang Lang was the first to notice Wen Yifan.

He was smiling brightly and waving to Wen Yifan, “Yifan, come here quickly.”

Su Haoan asked when he saw Sang Yan behind her, “Both of you came out together?”

The attention of three of them were all on Wen Yifan.

“……”

Xiang Lang smiled.

Zhong Siqiao replied cheerfully, “Then let’s go together, we’re going for dinner anyway.”

“Alright, let’s get in the car, it’s cold outside.” Su Haoan was about to go back to his car, he thought for a while before changing his mind, “I think I won’t drive, I’m going to have some drinks. I’ll park my car here. Xiang Lang, I’ll take your car.”

Xiang Lang, “Okay.”

While they were talking, Sang Yan came towards them. He stopped when he passed by Wen Yifan, he tilted his head and slowly said, “Although I know this is a thing worth showing off.”

Wen Yifan, “?”

“But you don’t have to mention it to everyone,” Sang Yan clicked his tongue in disapproval, “About us sharing a unit together.”

“……”