This time, I didn't argue. I just thought of the two guys I'd met at the inn, Tie Nan and Coach Ma. One was a playboy, the other颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of being listless, decadent, or颓废), seemingly lacking any positive or uplifting spirit. This made me wonder: had they simply rotted away, or had they transcended the mundane aspects of life and entered a new realm?
Or perhaps the soil and living environment of Dali easily breed people who don't take life seriously.
In my silence, Lao Huang continued, "I won't let you help me for nothing. I've kept the things I mentioned to you before in mind. If you're willing, pack up and come back to Shanghai with me. I'll keep the product manager position for you. As for which path to take, you can weigh it yourself."
This time, I was the one who let out a heavy sigh of relief. After a long silence, I replied, "It's really hard for me to be involved in this kind of deception. You really don't need to talk about anything in return. I also hope to help this young girl. If there's a reward, it becomes really vulgar. I only ask you for one favor: if my dad contacts you again, please cover for me and say... I'm doing fine in Shanghai, and my work is going well!"
...
After ending the call, I returned to the card table, but felt a tightness in my chest, unable to look Yang Sisi, who was still completely unaware, in the eye. What I was going to do tomorrow was to play tricks on her. But, it seemed like for a fleeting moment she had genuinely cared for me; I still had the wooden puppet she had given me that evening to amuse myself, tucked in my pocket.
I didn't sit down again. All eyes were on me. I replied, "It's getting late. Why don't we call it a day?"
Yang Sisi gave me a displeased look and said, "We've only played two rounds of cards, and you're already leaving. Fine, but give me back the money you just won."
"It's not a big game, only a few dozen yuan."
"I'm asking you to give it back to me to remind you to be a person with good sportsmanship when playing mahjong. You know, it's not easy for us all to get together from all over the country to play a game of mahjong, is it? And you're the one who loves to squander our opportunities!"
I looked at her speechlessly, a wave of guilt washing over me, leaving me unsure of what to say to ease the tension. My silence, however, ignited Yang Sisi's anger. Without a second thought, she stuffed all the gambling money I'd left on the table into her handbag, then glared at me menacingly.
I could only respond with an awkward smile. This time, it was Ye Zhi who stepped in to smooth things over. She glanced at the time and said to Yang Sisi and me, "It's getting late. Let's call it a day. We can meet again another time."
Yang Sisi's expression softened. She picked up her handbag and said goodbye to Brother Cheng and Sister Li. Ye Zhi also paid Sister Li for the meal.
...
Leaving the private restaurant, the three of us stood under a dim streetlamp. Ye Zhi took out her car keys; her G-Wagon was parked nearby. She looked at me, seemingly hesitant for a moment, but didn't say anything. In the end, she only said a few words to Yang Sisi before walking towards her car.
It was then that I realized we had spent quite a bit of time together that night, and as a man, I had forgotten to ask for her contact information to show my gentlemanly manners. Just as I was about to do so, she had already driven off along the road by Erhai Lake, heading towards some unknown destination.
After a moment of distraction, I lit a cigarette and calmly said to Yang Sisi, who was texting someone beside me, "Give me back the money I just spent on cards."
"Dream on, if you snatch it, it's mine."
I pretended to look at a stray dog walking past us, and Yang Sisi subconsciously looked in the same direction. In that instant when she was distracted, I swiftly snatched the handbag from her hand and emptied it of all the money inside.
Yang Sisi was furious. She kicked me while yelling, "Have you no shame? Can't you have any shame at all?"
"Absolutely shameless."
As I spoke, I held the stolen money high in the air. Yang Sisi chased after me, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws. In an unintentional touch, cigarette ash scattered everywhere, like a gray snowfall under the streetlights.
Just like my heart right now, it's gray, because while I'm joking around with her, I'm also figuring out how to trick her into going to the restaurant that Lao Huang booked for lunch tomorrow.
After tomorrow, Yang Sisi may never exist in Dali again.
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