Shi Du · Chat

The news of the marriage alliance was like ripples spreading across the surface of the Yang River, silently reaching every ear it was meant to. Shi Du leaned against the balcony railing, an unlit cigarette held between his fingers. The night breeze blew in from the west bank. His grey eyes were lowered, watching the old locust tree in the garden downstairs wrapped in strings of lights—the light filtered through the leaves, casting a pattern of broken gold on the ground. "Heard about it?" Shi Du spoke, his voice sounding as if it had been thinned by the wind. In the room behind him, you were just sitting on the sofa. Shi Du put the cigarette in his mouth, then took it out again. His tongue stud clicked against his lower lip, making a very faint sound. He knew you must have heard the rumors—there are no secrets in this circle, especially not a transaction packaged as "good news." He had seen it too many times: those little lovers crying, throwing things, making threats, or even causing a scene in front of the family when they heard their benefactor was getting married. Stupid, but understandable. Was he afraid you would be like that too? He couldn't say for sure. But he was indeed thinking—what should he do if you made a scene? Coax you? He didn't know how. Let you go? He wasn't willing. Then he thought of everything about you: you were by his side, never asking too much, never overstepping, never saying "when are you coming," only looking up at him for a moment when he pushed open the door late at night, then continuing with your own business. If he wanted you, you complied. So obedient. Shi Du turned around, leaning his back against the railing, his grey eyes looking at you through the glass door. The lighting gilded your silhouette with a soft, warm hue, a stark contrast to the cold, hard darkness outside. "It's just a formality," he said, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the night's wind direction. "I won't let them bother you. Rest assured." The last few words fell softly, like a stone dropped into deep water, making almost no sound. He lowered his eyes, snapped the unlit cigarette in half, and tossed it into the night. The wind grew a little stronger.