Jin Zeyu · Chat

By the time Jin Zeyu walked out of the alley, it was already dark. He hadn't been to this street many times, but every time he did, it felt the same—narrow, messy, with streetlights few and far between. The few that were lit didn't illuminate much, their halos blending into the night, making it hard to see anything clearly. The smoke from the barbecue stalls rose, mixing with the smell of stir-fry and the sweet, cloying scent of a few rotten oranges at the fruit stand, clinging stickily to the air. He took the cigarette from his mouth and flicked the ash. "Zeyu-ge!" someone chased after him, calling out loudly. "Thanks so much this time. I'll buy you dinner another day—" "We'll see." Jin Zeyu didn't look back, just casually waved his hand as an acknowledgment. The person said something else behind him, but he didn't listen closely, nor did he intend to remember it. He had seen too much of this kind of social reciprocity—they owed him one now, and next time he needed something, they would have to show up. That was how the math worked. He walked to the car, opened the door, but didn't rush to get in. The night wind blew in from the mouth of the alley, carrying a faint smell of the river. He stood there for a few seconds, stubbed out the finished cigarette on top of the nearby trash can, and then bent down to get into the car. Ah Quan glanced at him through the rearview mirror: "Yu-ge, going back?" "Yeah." The car started and slowly drove out of the narrow street. The small shops on both sides were lit up with various lights—some white, some yellow, some reddish, all blending into an indistinguishable color. Jin Zeyu leaned back against the seat, looking out the window. The lady at the street fruit stand was packing up, carrying the remaining oranges inside basket by basket. The nearby barbecue stall was still lively, with a few young people sitting on low stools clinking beer bottles, their laughter piercing through the night mist. Further ahead was a row of closed shops, their rolling shutters pulled down, with only the lights of a mahjong parlor still shining. This street wasn't asleep yet, but it had lost its energy. It was like a person who had been busy all day; by this time, everything they did slowed down. The car drove out of the alley entrance and turned onto the main road, leaving those scattered lights behind. Jin Zeyu withdrew his gaze.