Cheng Jinlan had an appointment and, as usual, arrived a little early - about 10 minutes in advance. When she got there, the other party was already present, which didn't make for a terrible first impression. She liked people who were punctual and hated when people were late.
The other party was an ABC, from an overseas family business, now into the third generation taking over domestic business expansion. It goes without saying that Fei Zuhui had already vetted him, so his looks were certainly up to par. He was quite the gentleman, not pretentious at all, and though he had grown up abroad since childhood, he didn't insert countless English words into his speech. His conversation starters were also relaxing - chatting about food and local customs.
Cheng Jinlan was upfront with him. "I have a 6 year old daughter."
He replied, "She must be very cute."
He should have known this in advance, so he wasn't surprised.
It was a pleasing response, not off-putting at all.
He seemed great in every aspect, but even so, she just couldn't focus. She kept spacing out.
He noticed, but didn't seem bothered. When she spaced out, he would quietly sip his wine and eat, and Cheng Jinlan felt a little apologetic. She had decided to come to this meal, so she should at least show him a modicum of respect.
"Sorry, I'm not feeling great today." Cheng Jinlan smiled ruefully.
But He Zhiqian said, "Ms. Cheng, no need to apologize. Eating is supposed to be relaxing. When I'm tired, I also like zoning out."
Cheng Jinlan's thoughts stirred - his response was just right to put her at ease.
She asked, "Why did Mr. He agree to this blind date?"
She knew many ABCs around her who didn't like using blind dates to meet a partner. Moreover, with He Zhiqian's status, even if he wasn't proactive, there should still be no lack of admirers around him.
He Zhiqian answered, "Firstly, if I didn't come, I'd probably get bombarded with overseas calls from my mother every day for the next month, pushing me to get married before 30 - that was her new year's goal she set for herself."
Cheng Jinlan laughed at his frankness.
"Secondly," He Zhiqian raised the wine glass in front of him and gently swirled it, looking at the flickering light reflecting off the glass, his thoughts seeming to drift elsewhere as well, "I don't want to look back on my past."
Cheng Jinlan was taken aback. "Hm?"
"There are some doubts in my heart, but I don't want to be plagued by doubts, so I'm eager to take a step forward." He Zhiqian looked at Cheng Jinlan, his eyes seeming to peer into her soul. "I guess Ms. Cheng's reasons are the same as mine."
He Zhiqian prided himself on being a good judge of character. This second miss of the Cheng family seemed to be cut from the same cloth as him - proud, guarded with her emotions, so she couldn't tolerate any deception or exploitation. Once trust was shattered, it was hard to convince herself to trust again.
Cheng Jinlan's smile faded and disappeared, until she was silent.
The rest of their conversation was superficial. Neither delved deeper into what had just been said.
It was Cheng Jinlan who ended the date early. As the lady, she paid the bill, making her intentions clear.
He Zhiqian apologized for his directness just now. "I hope I didn't offend Ms. Cheng." His mother was right - he had to learn to see but not say, especially in front of ladies.
Cheng Jinlan shook her head. "No offense taken. Mr. He just returned to the country, so I should be the host and treat you to this welcoming dinner."
He Zhiqian said with a smile that he would definitely have to return the favor next time.
Cheng Jinlan replied, "Of course."
But they both knew that unless they met again for business, there likely wouldn't be another dinner.
Cheng Jinlan didn't feel offended at having been seen through. She just didn't want to be used as a stepping stone for others to gauge her inner heart, just as she didn't want to do that to others on her own search for answers.
Cheng Jinlan declined He Zhiqian's offer to have his driver drop her home. She was afraid she'd be drinking tonight and had already asked her family's driver to wait for her.
After parting with He Zhiqian, Cheng Jinlan called Cheng Liqi, but no one picked up - her watch must be out of battery. Then Cheng Jinlan dialed Shao Chengze's number.
He picked up very quickly - it was Cheng Liqi's voice. "Mom! Are you done with your errand?"
"Yes, are you done shopping at the mall?"
"I finished shopping at the mall. Now daddy and I are doing something else."
Cheng Liqi and daddy were making pottery as a birthday present for mommy, but mommy couldn't know yet.
"How much longer until you're done?"
Cheng Liqi asked daddy, "Daddy, how much longer until we finish?"
Shao Chengze replied to Cheng Liqi and Cheng Jinlan, "About half an hour left."
Cheng Jinlan rubbed her temples. She'd had some wine and her head felt a little dizzy now. "Then mommy will head home first. When you're done, have daddy bring you back. Don't be too late, you still have school tomorrow."
"Okay, mommy." Cheng Liqi held the phone and nodded. "I'll come straight home after I finish this. Don't miss me too much, mommy, but I'll miss you!"
Cheng Jinlan's eyes crinkled into a smile. Her daughter's sweet words never failed to melt away some of the troubles in her heart. After hanging up with mommy, Cheng Liqi said to daddy, "Daddy, let's hurry and finish so we can go home and see mommy."
Shao Chengze used his finger to wipe away a speck of clay on her nose. If only he could learn even a tenth of his daughter's sweet words, things between them wouldn't be like this. She also wouldn't ask him such piercing questions.
Cheng Liqi was very excited making the pottery. As soon as she got in the car, her eyelids grew heavy and she fell asleep on the way to the Cheng residence.
When Cheng Jinlan heard the doorbell, she came out to get Cheng Liqi. Shao Chengze carefully undid the seatbelt and lifted his daughter into his arms. Cheng Liqi woke up halfway and saw it was daddy holding her and mommy next to them. Still dazed, she first called "Mommy", then "Daddy", before hugging Shao Chengze's neck and falling back asleep.
"There are things I bought in the passenger seat, you grab those and I'll carry her in." Without looking at the person beside him, Shao Chengze said this then carried Cheng Liqi up the stairs, a guilty conscience that only he knew.
Cheng Jinlan shot his retreating back a sideways glance, then turned and opened the car door to grab the pile of stuff from the passenger seat.
Shao Chengze stood holding Cheng Liqi at the door, waiting for Cheng Jinlan to come open it. As she entered the password, he automatically turned his back - the epitome of a gentleman.
Once inside, Cheng Jinlan jerked her chin at the living room sofa. "You can put her down on the sofa."
Shao Chengze replied, "Okay."
As soon as Cheng Liqi's back touched the sofa, her eyes opened again. She mumbled to Shao Chengze, "Daddy, are we home?"
"Yes, we're home. Sleep now." Shao Chengze gently patted her shoulder.
Cheng Liqi blinked blearily at the air. Just woken up, she was still a little dazed. After a few seconds, she let out a small yawn, big eyes brimming with sleepy tears. "I haven't brushed my teeth yet. I can't sleep now."
You have to brush your teeth before sleeping, or else they'll turn black.
Cheng Jinlan gently told Cheng Liqi, "Good girl Liqi. Wake up a bit first, then mommy will take you to wash up." Then she lightly kicked Shao Chengze's foot, signaling him to hurry up and leave. "Daddy has to go now too. Say bye to daddy, Liqi."
Cheng Liqi sat up from the sofa and rubbed her eyes. She asked Shao Chengze, "Is daddy going back for a meeting?"
Shao Chengze smoothed her messy hair. "No meeting."
"Then can daddy help me wash up and tell me a story and tuck me into bed? Mommy's tummy doesn't feel well. She can't get too tired and needs to rest early."
Shao Chengze looked at Cheng Jinlan. "I'll tuck her in then leave."
After a moment of silence, Cheng Jinlan nodded. "Alright."
Since he wanted to be a good dad, then so be it.
It was Shao Chengze's first time helping his daughter wash up. Rather than him helping her, it was more like she was teaching him - where the toothpaste and toothbrush were, which facial wash to use, the water couldn't be too cold or hot, wipe her face gently, and not just her face, her hands and little feet needed scent too, but a different scent.
A simple washing up left Shao Chengze drenched in sweat.
After washing and brushing up, Cheng Liqi changed into pajamas herself and got into bed, hugging her two little bears. "Okay daddy, you can tell me a story now."
Shao Chengze squatted by the bed and cleared his throat. This time he chose a princess story.
Cheng Liqi stroked her bear's arm as she watched her daddy's mouth open and close. She thought to herself - she really hadn't guessed wrong. Storytelling required talent. No matter how hard daddy tried to learn, like grandpa, he just couldn't tell good stories. But daddy sang pretty well. Next time she'd just have daddy sing instead.
Daddy told stories without much flair. To humor daddy, she had to chime in every so often, asking questions and reacting. Her earlier sleepiness had completely disappeared, replaced by growing liveliness.
Cheng Liqi told daddy, "Daddy, I want some water."
"Okay, daddy will go pour some for you." Shao Chengze tucked her blanket around her and got up to leave the room.
The living room was empty. The floor-to-ceiling windows were open, the curtains fluttering in the breeze. He saw the slender silhouette sitting on the balcony.
He walked over. Hearing movement, Cheng Jinlan looked back. Her gaze was somewhat unfocused.
On the round table was a wine bottle and glass with just a sip left at the bottom. He picked up the bottle and set it aside. "You shouldn't be drinking now."
It took Cheng Jinlan some time to react to what he was saying. She said, "It's none of your business."
"You're drunk. Go inside and sleep, okay?" Shao Chengze crouched down to her eye level, coaxing her like he did with Cheng Liqi. She couldn't handle more than one or two glasses of wine. She'd had too much tonight.
Cheng Jinlan looked into his eyes, then suddenly softly called out his name. "Shao Chengze."
"Yes, I'm here."
"I'm not drunk. You're the one who's drunk. I'm sober."
That night, he was drunk and she was sober. She hated her soberness and the softness of her heart at that moment. She hated even more that, when she had found countless excuses for him and was ready to forgive him, he had slapped her heartlessly with those words that morning.
"Whether your words are true or false, I will not forgive you," she murmured, looking into his eyes.
She would not forgive him again.
"Fine, then don't forgive me."
She was satisfied with his response. Her head slowly leaned against his shoulder. After a few seconds, she fell asleep due to the drunkenness.
Shao Chengze brushed aside the hair covering her cheek. Her breath carried a faint scent of red wine, hitting his neck again and again, tugging at his nerves. Looking at the alluring red lips so close to him, Shao Chengze slowly gave in to the urge to shorten the distance between them.
"Dad," Cheng Liqi said softly, standing barefoot not far away with her hands covering her eyes. There was an obvious gap between her middle and index fingers. "You don't have Mom's permission yet. You can't kiss her."
