Separation
When they woke up the next day, Aunt Hong had already prepared breakfast and was waiting for the two of them to sit down and eat.
The hibiscus and crabapple blossoms in the living room were in full bloom, their pink and white petals as lovely as shy maidens. An Chi didn't often pay attention to them, let alone Su Yao. On the contrary, Aunt Hong liked to tend to these flowers and plants, making the otherwise lifeless home warm and comfortable.
Since she was already at home and still feeling the effects of the alcohol, Su Yao didn't get up for her morning exercise. She also didn't pay much attention to her clothes, leaving her room in her nightgown.
In early September, although the lingering coolness of late summer still remained, Aunt Hong opened some windows for the sake of the plants. The morning breeze blew in, and Su Yao's face turned pale; she felt a bit cold.
Just as she was about to go back to her room to get some clothes, Aunt Hong came out of the kitchen and greeted her warmly, "Miss, is it the usual sandwich and sweet milk for breakfast?"
"Okay, Aunt Hong..." Su wanted to ask Aunt Hong to get her a coat, but Aunt Hong turned around and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
For a moment, a cool sensation touched the skin, but it quickly warmed up due to the conservation of heat, thus becoming a blanket.
Su Anchi, who was behind him, watched the whole thing. He immediately went back to his room to get a coat, and after thinking for a moment, changed his blanket.
Su turned her head and caught a glimpse of caution mixed with loneliness in An Chi's eyes, then said "Thank you."
"Aunt Hong, I'd like an Americano with sugar, thank you," Su Anchi said to the kitchen.
Su Yao had never seen Su Anchi drink coffee during the previous few times she had breakfast with him.
"Drinking coffee can affect your sleep. You're at an age where you tend to sleep in a lot, so drink less." She took a small sip of milk.
Su Anchi didn't actually like drinking Americano; he just wanted to calm himself down a bit and at least stop thinking about that unrealistic dream.
"I know, but I'll be staying up late to study." He changed his excuse to cover it up, but Su didn't find any fault with him.
To preserve Aunt Hong's autumnal beauty, the window remained open. Su changed her clothes, wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt and light blue wide-leg jeans.
Perhaps to get some sun, Su moved her office to the bar area.
The bright sunlight cast shadows on the computer screen and her profile. Frameless glasses sat on her nose, and her fingers tapped on the keyboard, the crisp sound reminiscent of her typing while driving, yet not quite the same.
A breeze brushed against her face, making a sound, a shout that was not deep but bright, the rustling of papers, her lower body pressed down by Su Yao's arm, her hand holding a bowl of hot water.
Where the wind blows, it carries the faint fragrance of flowers, and the moisture drifts along with it. The mist, under the light and shadow, subtly reveals dust and specks of light.
Su Anchi had just changed his clothes when this scene appeared.
"Want to go out for a walk?"
"Okay." Su closed her laptop. She had only come because she had promised Su Anchi to accompany him, and it was in her nature to keep her promises.
The city center is a bustling area, but it lacks any sense of everyday life; instead, it's filled with business elites and social elites.
The surrounding infrastructure consists mostly of high-rise office buildings and a few amusement facilities, making it a place primarily driven by profit.
“Let’s go to the supermarket,” Su Anchi said, fastening his seatbelt. “We’ll buy some groceries and leave them at home.”
If Su doesn't reply, it means he agrees.
When they arrived at the largest supermarket in the area, Su wanted to park in the underground parking garage.
Pushing a shopping cart, Su wanted to head straight to her destination: the vegetable section.
But Su Anchi stopped her, saying, "Let's go see something else first."
Su, who was there to keep someone company, had no objection.
From the household goods section at the entrance to the toy section, then to the snack section, and finally to the vegetable section.
It seems one shopping cart isn't enough.
Looking at the vegetables that hadn't been loaded yet, Su asked, "Should we get another truckload?"
"No need." Pressing close to the other person's body, An Chi had a plan: they could push the cart together. "We can't buy that many groceries."
It was said that Su Anchi wanted to buy it, but Su Yao was even more excited than him. Not wearing high heels, Su Yao was just a little taller than Anchi's shoulder, and he could see her eyes shining when he turned his head. In this kind of thing, Su Yao was more childish than him.
Whenever Su Yao hesitated, Su Anchi would take her down directly, leaving her no time to choose.
The cart was full. When it came time to pay, Su Yao wanted to pay directly, but Su Anchi took out the groceries and pointed to the other items in the cart, saying, "Pay for these separately."
Su remained silent, assuming the child didn't want to lose face, but she had given him a supplementary card, and the payment for that card was also hers, so she didn't care.
When Su Yao checked her phone back in the car, she couldn't find Su Anchi's payment records.
"You didn't use the card I gave you?"
"No."
"You have money?" He bought quite a lot of things.
Su Anchi: "Yes, when my child turned one year old last year, I found a part-time job to help support the family."
Su asked: "Is it still being done?"
"Hmm." Su Anchi glanced at Su Yao's expression.
She didn't change her expression or say anything, and silently started the car.
"Are you unhappy?" Su Anchi asked when the car was halfway there.
“No,” she paused, “I’m just curious, where do you find the time to work?”
He explained, "It's calculated on a daily basis; you pay for each day you go."
When she doesn't come to see him, he doesn't have to stay at home all the time; he can go to work.
She drove him home without getting out of the car herself, saying, "I'm going straight to the company. I asked Aunt Hong to come down and help you with your things. I won't mind if the work matter doesn't interfere with your studies."
He looked at her and nodded blankly. Although she was sometimes unreliable, she was far superior to him when it came to real matters. Perhaps it was her age or her experience. In her eyes, one could never capture the true essence but always pursue clarity.
As the car drove further and further away, he realized he had been thinking too much today, and he didn't know if she cared. He was just too foolish to act so impulsively.
With autumn approaching, the international school's school hours have been shortened, and Anlan's surgery is now on the agenda.
Recently, Anlan was admitted to the hospital for preoperative observation.
Su had visited him once, and An's mother thanked her repeatedly. She didn't say much, but asked An Lan, "Do you want to see your brother?"
An Lan is young, but her childlike face carries a hint of melancholy. She doesn't directly answer Su Yao's question, "Will we all be alright, Sister Su Yao?"
"Yes, as long as I'm here." Su peeled an apple for her and handed it to her. "On the day of the surgery, I'll bring my brother to see you."
The surgery was scheduled for the end of October, and Su Yao took Su Anchi to the hospital where An Lan was.
An Chi didn't want to upset his sister, so he waited until An Lan went into the operating room before showing up.
Mother An's eyes immediately reddened, "Xiao Chi..."
“Mom.” An Chi’s voice startled Su Yao.
If Su wasn't the type to ruin the atmosphere, she simply turned around and went to where Ge Jin was handling his business.
"President Su." Ge Jin stood up and gestured to her as she entered.
Su waved his hand and said, "Sit down. You've been working hard running around these past few days. Remember to go to the finance department to collect your bonus."
"It's all as it should be." Ge Jin sat down, responded, and then went back to his work.
An Chi entered at that moment. "Why aren't you keeping Madam An company?" Su asked, raising her eyes.
"My mom asked me to come and thank you."
There was an indescribable meaning in Su Yao's eyes. He pointed to the door and said, "Let's talk outside."
Hospitals are oppressive places, filled with the pungent smells of disinfectant and alcohol. A constantly ticking electronic clock hangs above the corridor, each second potentially representing a turning point in life.
As the two reached the intersection of the stairs, the number of people coming and going decreased, and it became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
As Su was walking ahead, she stopped and heard An Chi thank her from behind.
"No need to be so polite, you've helped me too." Su paused for a moment, "It was just mutual benefit."
An Chi's gaze froze on Su Yao, as if trying to see through her to see if there were any lingering emotions after so long, but unfortunately there were none. "When I was very young, I always thought I wasn't her biological child."
His tone was steady and weighty, and his words flowed gently like a long, winding river, trickling past Su Yao's ears.
Su Yao looked at him with curiosity, wondering what he could say.
"Because my name is An Chi, and my sister's name is An Lan."
"When my mother gave birth to me, she happened to feel a stomachache by a pond and was taken to the hospital, so my name is Anchi, which means I have a connection with ponds."
"And Anlan is because of the saying 'May you live a long and peaceful life,' they hope their younger sister will be healthy and safe for the rest of her life."
"Later, I realized that they were just pitying my sister because she was in poor health, and I understood the family's suffering."
“When I was ten years old, my father died in a work accident. It took me a long time to accept it. We have to move on.”
“The compensation was a huge sum for a family like ours. Just when I thought that my family could finally live a better life, my sister was diagnosed with a brain tumor a few years later, and that huge sum of money and our family savings were all wiped out overnight.”
“My mom would cry silently at night and then comfort my sister and me during the day. I have never felt so helpless. I even hate myself for not being able to work.”
"So I want to do something."
"When I first heard that you were going to adopt a child, I found that it just so happened to match An Lan's conditions. My plan was to run into you at different welfare homes so that you could see An Lan. Although it was a risky move, I... have now accomplished half of it?"
“I am very grateful to you for giving my family this opportunity, even if it is to adopt me instead of Anlan.”
A hand landed on An Chi's shoulder. "What's the point of saying all this now? To make me feel deceived, and then give up on you prematurely?"
“No! I just want you to know that I’m not a good person… You… should have your own choice. When Anlan recovers, you can choose to adopt her instead of me.” An Chi twisted the hem of his clothes.
"Tsk, you've got a good plan, enjoying it yourself and then letting your sister enjoy it?" The condescending tone left An Chi confused about Su Yao's attitude, so he simply explained, "No, I didn't use your card. Some of the clothes you bought me that I haven't worn can be returned. The ones I have worn, I can buy. If I don't have enough money, I'll try my best to work and pay you back over the next few years. I can also transfer schools. If you still think it's not enough..."
"How did you know I was going to adopt a child?" Su Yao didn't answer his question and asked herself.
He slowly raised his head to look at Su Yao, and saw that her expression was calm. "I heard what the orphanage was discussing."
After the words were spoken, there was a moment of silence.
The two remained silent. Su Yao wasn't angry; it was a mutual exploitation after all. She hadn't lost anything and had even gained a good reputation. But she really hadn't expected the child to be so clever. Perhaps she had been too proud and underestimated him.
"What will you do if I don't adopt? I'm not going to cause trouble for myself." Su Yao doesn't like to take risks; she always does things with confidence and assurance.
An Chi said dejectedly, "When people are desperate, they should try even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance."
When he took Anlan to the orphanage again that day, he did not meet Su Yao. He did not know how Su Yao saw him. Even when Ge Jin went in to negotiate with Anlan's mother, he naively thought that he could give Anlan a good life, but he did not expect that it would be him in the end.
“Quite smart,” Sue began, “I like smart people, but I don’t like taking care of people.”
An Chi's eyes widened, his pupils filled with shock no less than when the accident happened on the Ferris wheel that day. He understood Su Yao's meaning, but he still couldn't believe it. He had prepared for the worst. The An family and Su Yao had no dealings with each other, and their relationship was only that of creditor and debtor. At best, Su Yao would be kind-hearted and take An Lan in to live with her, and he would be resented by her ever since.
"You mean..."
"No need to change, just stay put. The family reunion banquet is over. Do you want me to tell everyone that I was deceived by a sixteen-year-old?" Su Yao was still the same as before. She wasn't angry, but she wasn't very happy either. She knew that everyone had their own interests, but Su Yao's people couldn't betray her. Fortunately, this relationship could end in two years.
As Su Yao was about to leave after saying that, An Chi called out to her, "Sister Su Yao, I will never lie to you again."
Kind words are the easiest to say, and Su Yao simply gave a faint "hmm," but inwardly she was secretly mocking herself.
The dim corridor lights were barely illuminating the person, making them dizzy. The person standing there had a look of sadness in their eyes, mixed with a strange sense of smugness, which was contradictory, just like the person themselves. Their profile was reflected in the dappled light and shadow, and their upper eyelids drooped down little by little, like a withered flower falling in a cold room without any light.
An Chi didn't want to talk about it. He could have kept it to himself. An Lan could have lived a good life without him saying anything, because Su had promised. But his inner drive compelled him to speak. He didn't know what that feeling was, whether it was sex, desire, or something else, but he knew he didn't want to lie to her.
An Chi stood still. Su wanted to turn around and leave, but stopped and started outside the ward until An Chi caught up.
Anlan's surgery went smoothly. As long as she takes good care of herself, she will be able to go to school like a normal person a year later.
An's mother kept crying and thanking Su Yao. Su Yao couldn't spend too much energy dealing with these things, but she couldn't refuse An's mother's request, and she also had to take on too many things. Suddenly, she became a little impatient. She was good at pretending, but she would also click her tongue in genuine impatience.
The door was pushed open, and An Chi stepped forward to support his mother, saying, "Mom, Sister Su still has work to do, don't hold her back."
After saying that, An Chi stole a glance at Su Yao, then quickly lowered his eyes, only to hear the sound of a door opening and closing.
She left.
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