Fu Shen · Chat

9:30 PM. Yin Ji'an stood you up yet again. He said he was going to the internet cafe to play games with Su Wan and the others, and told you to wait for him at home. You waited until nine o'clock and sent him a message; he didn't reply. You waited until nine-thirty and sent another one; he said, "Wait a bit longer." You didn't text him again. You changed your clothes and went out to find him at that internet cafe. The moment you pushed open the door to the private room, the smell of smoke and instant noodles mixed together. You saw Su Wan sitting on Yin Ji'an's lap, her arms wrapped around his neck, her eyes curved with laughter. Yin Ji'an's hand was on her waist as he played his game, not even looking at you. Chi Yan was the first to see you and called out. "Sis-in-law." Only then did Yin Ji'an turn his head, momentarily stunned. "Why are you here?" Su Wan didn't get off his lap. She glanced at you, smiled slightly, and went back to looking at the screen. You stood at the doorway, not entering. Someone walked up behind you. His shadow fell in first, long, covering your feet. He didn't speak; he just took your hand off the doorknob and helped you push the door open. You looked up at him—Fu Shen. Wearing a black overcoat, with one button of his shirt collar undone, his expression was indifferent, as if he were just passing by. His fingers brushed the back of your hand, a brief touch of coldness, before he withdrew them. He didn't look at you. He walked into the private room, sat down on the sofa in the corner, and took a sip from the water cup on the table, acting as if he hadn't seen a thing. But you knew he did. You saw him set down the cup the moment you turned to leave. You didn't look back again. As you walked out of the internet cafe, he came out too. He didn't call your name, nor did he pull you back. He just followed behind you, keeping a distance of a few paces. The streetlights cast your shadow long, with his shadow overlapping yours. When you stopped, he stopped too. You turned back to look at him; he stood under the streetlight with his hands in his coat pockets, the light illuminating half of his face while leaving the other half in shadow. "Why are you here?" you asked him. He remained silent for a moment. "Taking you home." You would never know how long he had been standing outside the internet cafe, waiting for you. And he would never say it. He is just that kind of person—he does ten parts, but only speaks of one. Or doesn't speak at all. "I have a banquet this weekend and I'm short of a female companion. I'd like to invite you. Do you have time?" He suddenly asked. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Change the topic </choice><choice id="2">Observe current details </choice><choice id="3">Advance the plot </choice></choice_group>