Mo Liuxi replied—’I’ve thought about it. We’re in the same film crew, after all. I decided to release you from the blacklist at last.’

Yan Su didn’t reply.

What had Mo Liuxi learned in school in the past half a year? How to be an impudent d*ck?

He sent her another message—’I can’t use that thing you left here. If you don’t tell me your room number, I’m gonna ask the others in the group chat about it.’

Yan Su clenched her teeth. She didn’t remember leaving anything in Mo Liuxi’s room. It was just something he made up. He was trying to take advantage of her again. She sent him a bluntly-worded message—’The thing I left in your place is you, the human breast pump, right? I’m sorry, I don’t need you.’

Mo Liuxi replied to her with suspension points, followed by a message—’You have such a dirty mind.’

No good would come of this interaction. Yan Su was at a loss for words.

Mo Liuxi continued with—’Even if you do need me, I’d have to think about it.’

‘Leave me alone’—Yan Su.

‘I’m going to ask the others for your room number,’ threatened Mo Liuxi.

Yan Su was a little nervous. What would they think if he asked them for her room number in the middle of the night? She felt she no choice but to tell him.

For her safety, she put on a jacket and buttoned it up tightly.

Five minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

It was Mo Liuxi. He was lazily leaning against the door frame, both hands behind his body. Seeing her coat, he laughed, “What are you doing? Are you afraid I might do something to you?”

Yan Su glared at him awkwardly. She had to stay alert against him. “Just give that thing to me.”

Mo Liuxi curled his lips in a small smile, then took out a box from behind his body and handed it to her. “No need to thank me. My name’s Lei Feng.” *

After saying that, he turned and left.

Surprised, Yan Su spent a short while staring at his back, then she looked down at the box. The words were in Italian, but she could tell it was a breast pump.

And here she was worried that he would try to take advantage of her again.

To her surprise…Well, how about that!

To see the box warmed her heart. But then mind wandered back to what had happened between Mo Liuxi and An Ning, and to what Mo Liuxi had said to her. It was a jolt of reality. Oh, why were things so complicated?

As she cleaned the breast pump and prepared to use it, she was disappointed to see that it wasn’t battery-operated; it was a manual pump…not very handy. She still used it, though.

…

The next day’s schedule wasn’t too busy. Yan Su got up early and went to the cafeteria together with Jiaojiao for breakfast.

The place was already quite crowded. As they search for seats, Ji Nuanyi and Yang Ziqian, who were sitting in a corner, waved at them to join them.

“You girls are early,” Yan Su smiled at them.

“I’m still jet-lagged,” replied Ji Nuanyi, shrugging.

“Have you and Mr. Xiao made peace?” Yan Su asked.

“I guess that won’t happen until I get home,” said Ji Nuanyi smilingly while scooping up some mousse cake. “Mmm, this is lovely. You should try it.”

Yan Su had seen Xiao Si a few times at Nian Junting’s place. With curiosity, she said, “Mr. Xiao is a little like Mr. Nian, isn’t he?”

They wouldn’t have become good friends if they had nothing in common. Mo Liuxi and Nian Junting were very much alike. They were probably meant to be family.

Ji Nuanyi paused a moment before responding, “No, I don’t think so. He’s not as good at making money as Mr. Nian is, and he’s not as decisive and capable, either. He’s kind of a slacker, actually…likes fishing, playing cards, and taking it easy. He has a bunch of friends I don’t like. Of course, Mr. Nian isn’t one of them.”

Was it appropriate for her to talk about her boyfriend like that? Would Xiao Si explode with anger if he heard that?

“But you still like him,” Yan Su managed to continue the conversation.

“I feel relaxed around him. No one’s perfect. Also, my work has been keeping me busy,” Ji Nuanyi said. “It’s good that he has lots of friends. I don’t like my boyfriend to be too clingy.”

_________

* Léi Fēng (18 December 1940 – 15 August 1962) was a soldier of the Chinese army in Communist legend. After his death, Lei was characterized as a selfless and modest person devoted to the Communist Party, Mao Zedong, and the people of China.