Drifting on a String - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Chen Piaopiao wanted to kiss Tao Jin to death.

The vulnerability hidden in the deep sea was a treasure that never saw the light of day, making one want to gently wipe it clean and carefully tuck it into their arms.

But this was an airport, bustling with people. Chen Piaopiao suddenly realized that feelings were like a spring—the weaker you were, the stronger it became. She used more strength than it took to suppress her sorrow to hold down this spring, and threw herself into Tao Jin's arms.

Buried in the scent of cedar, so fragrant and soft.

"I think of you a hundred times a day," Chen Piaopiao answered.

Tao Jin reached out and stroked the back of her head. "A hundred and one."

"A hundred and two."

"A hundred and three."

...

Two university students from one of the country's top institutions were playing a one-upmanship game that even elementary schoolers would scorn.

"Positive infinity," Chen Piaopiao delivered the final blow.

The two fell silent, then laughed at the same time, their trembling chests pressed together.

"Go on." Tao Jin took a deep breath and hugged her tightly.

Then she watched as Chen Piaopiao went through security, took off the snow boots she had bought for her, picked them up from the conveyor belt, put them back on, then straightened up to wave at her before turning toward the boarding gate.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Chen Piaopiao stopped in her tracks and turned back, looking past the security gate at Tao Jin's departing figure.

Until she was out of sight.

She lowered her head to send Tao Jin a message. Just as she was typing away, the phone screen flickered. Tao Jin's message came through first.

"Positive infinity +1."

It was the exact same sentence in Chen Piaopiao's input box.

Chen Piaopiao pressed send, her eyes moist as she held back a smile.

During the two-hour-plus flight, Chen Piaopiao was filled with melancholy. She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but the airplane seat felt narrower and smaller than on the way there. Her frame was curled up inside it, feeling utterly wronged. She couldn't sleep at all.

She endured it until she reached the airport. Before she even got off the plane, amidst the sounds of other passengers getting up to retrieve their luggage, she sent Tao Jin a WeChat message: "Landed."

"You're early."

Tao Jin added: "I'm home too."

The two exchanged a few sweet nothings that weren't quite fit for public display. Chen Piaopiao put her phone away, left the airport, and took a taxi home.

Grandma's house was in the old part of the city. The further the car drove, the shorter the buildings became, and the sky itself seemed to press down. Now with a significant other, Chen Piaopiao had grown up again. As she looked out the window, it was as if a honeydew melon was resting in her heart—sweet, fragrant, and heavy, a weighty, grounding feeling.

It was still an old apartment building, not even part of a residential complex, just a single building next to some shops. Grandma was waiting downstairs early, her hands behind her back, watching the regulars play mahjong outside the teahouse while glancing toward the street corner.

Grandma's eyesight was poor, but she could pick out Chen Piaopiao from afar just by her silhouette. "Piaopiao'er."

She chuckled, showing off to the mahjong table, "My granddaughter is back! Back from Beicheng."

The aunties at the mahjong table craned their necks to look, endlessly praising how pretty Chen Piaopiao was. Grandma beamed with pride, her smile stretching from ear to ear. She walked over slowly. Chen Piaopiao quickened her pace for a few steps, bent down to drag her suitcase, and put an arm around her grandma to help her upstairs.

"Aiya, have you gotten taller?" Grandma looked her up and down.

"I don't think so. It's only been a few months, how could I have grown taller?" Chen Piaopiao followed behind her grandma, watching her take out her keys and open the door.

The smell of old things hit her nose—solid wood furniture, the kind of dark red that was no longer in fashion. But the layout was spacious. Grandma habitually kept the windows open for ventilation, so it was even colder inside than out.

Chen Piaopiao went into her room. The bed was already made, the electric blanket was plugged in, and a thick blanket—the peony-patterned one she loved as a child—was laid over the quilt. She smiled and opened her suitcase to unpack.

Grandma didn't waste a moment, starting to chop vegetables and cook. She told Chen Piaopiao there was yogurt in the box next to the fridge, and red date milk, and that she should help herself.

Chen Piaopiao kept her grandma company while sipping from a milk pouch, messaging Tao Jin on WeChat.

The smell of cooking fumes is a great equalizer. Whether in an old apartment building or a luxury villa, no matter how good the range hood is, the aroma of the wok will always seep through the cracks in the walls. Tao Jin leaned against the doorframe of the Chinese-style kitchen, watching the housekeeper cook, occasionally lowering her head to reply to a WeChat message.

By the time dinner was ready, they had more or less finished their chat. Tao Jin put her phone away and helped set the table. Mother Tao came out of the study and went to wash her hands first.

Her father wasn't home, so the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Mother Tao pumped some hand soap. "Jinjin, did that play of yours win another award?"

Tao Jin pulled out a chair and sat down. "Yeah, how did you know?"

Mother Tao pulled out a disposable face towel to dry her hands and tossed it. "Wouldn't you know it, the curator of that exhibition happens to be a former student of mine. She sent me a WeChat message."

"Oh, and she knows your father, too," she added, sitting down across from Tao Jin and accepting a bowl of soup from the housekeeper. Then she said, "Oh my, these lotus seeds are so white. I'm not eating this."

She glanced at the housekeeper, who was about to take it away. Tao Jin reached out. "I'll have it."

Taking a sip with her spoon, Tao Jin was still thinking about what her mother had just said. The curator was her mother's former student and also knew her father, and had sent her mother a message after the award.

She lowered her eyes, a faint, imperceptible smile touching her lips.

It felt as if a lotus seed was stuck in her heart.

"Oh, right," Mother Tao said, not in a hurry to pick up her chopsticks. "Do you remember that apartment in Jiangcheng? The handover was this month. I figured you wouldn't be living there, so I asked your uncle to rent it out. It's fully furnished, so it was perfect. The rent will be deposited directly into your account."

She held up three fingers. "Thirty-two thousand a month. You can use it as pocket money."

Her voice was hushed, the implication clear: she didn't plan on telling Father Tao.

That apartment had been her mother's 18th birthday present to Tao Jin. The developer was a friend of her uncle's, and it was a high-quality residential complex by the Bund with an excellent layout. At the time, Tao Jin's household registration hadn't been transferred over yet, and there happened to be a purchasing slot available, so they bought it in her name.

The contract stated a two-and-a-half-year handover, but it was completed a little early.

Tao Jin said nothing. With her left hand, she placed her phone face down on her lap, her index finger unconsciously sliding across its surface.

On the screen was her WeChat chat with Chen Piaopiao. She wanted to see if she had replied again.

Chen Piaopiao had no time to reply, because that evening her mother came over, along with her uncle and aunt. They said they hadn't seen Piaopiao in a long time and wanted to have dinner together. But they didn't bring her cousin, so Chen Piaopiao knew this meal wasn't as simple as they claimed.

Her mother was as beautiful as ever. After becoming a "socialite," she looked much younger, as if she'd had some kind of lifting procedure done to her face. In any case, it was taut and firm. She adopted the posture of a guest, sizing up Chen Piaopiao with the look one might give a neighbor's little girl. "You permed your hair?"

"Yeah." Chen Piaopiao was washing fruit.

Her mother sat on the arm of the sofa, her hand resting on her aunt's thigh, and smirked. "Still not much of a talker."

Her aunt handed her a banana. "She'll get better with practice."

"Doesn't even greet your aunt," her mother said, peeling the banana while watching Chen Piaopiao set out the chopsticks. "After all the years I raised you."

Chen Piaopiao silently went into the kitchen to help her grandma.

Her uncle was diligently scaling a fish. To be overly attentive for no reason is to be either a thief or a scoundrel.

Sure enough, after only a few bites of food, her uncle raised his glass at the table. "Let's have a toast. Piaopiao is back, and the old house is finally going to be demolished."

He grimaced as he downed the white liquor in one go. Chen Piaopiao's heart skipped a beat. Demolished? The old house? This was Grandma's only house.

Grandma placed a piece of fish in Chen Piaopiao's bowl. "Eat carefully, there are bones."

"Okay. Grandma, let me debone it for you." Chen Piaopiao lowered her head to pick out the fish bones for her grandma.

"We've already discussed it with my sister. We want the apartment, not the money," her uncle continued on his own. "Getting two small units isn't as good as getting one big one. There are three of us in our family; a small place would be too crowded. We'll buy the square footage from my sister, so she won't take an apartment. Mom, what do you think?"

Chen Piaopiao's chopsticks paused. "Then what about Grandma?"

This house would be demolished in exchange for a large apartment, which her uncle said his family of three would live in. Then what about Grandma?

"Grandma is getting old. She needs someone to take care of her. She can't live alone. From now on, she'll stay with us for a month, then with your mom for a month. We'll take turns."

Her uncle was displeased that Chen Piaopiao had interrupted, but with good news on the horizon, he explained patiently.

"So you're saying," Chen Piaopiao frowned, "Grandma's house gets demolished, you all split the compensation, and you never thought about giving Grandma anything."

No house, and no money.

"What kind of nonsense are you talking?" her uncle said irritably. "When Grandma is old, won't we be the ones looking after her? Doesn't that cost money?"

Grandma started to speak, but Chen Piaopiao squeezed her hand and swallowed hard. "You want to live in the new apartment. What about your current place? Can't you give that to Grandma to live in?"

"That apartment belongs to your aunt's family. It's in an old urban area slated for redevelopment, so it's going to be demolished soon too."

"That's right, it's in my name," her aunt added.

"That one won't get us much square footage in compensation, so we'll just take the money. Your cousin needs money for university and to get married," her aunt explained in a patronizing tone, as if Chen Piaopiao was just a child who didn't understand. She wouldn't hold it against her.

...

Chen Piaopiao cursed inwardly.

Grandma patted her hand gently, telling her to eat first and not to talk about this. She then blinked hard and put a meatball in Chen Piaopiao's bowl.

Judging by Grandma's attitude, her uncle and the others must have been wearing her down for a long time. Chen Piaopiao forced down her anger and ate the meatball.

After seeing the three adults off, Chen Piaopiao went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Grandma sat on the sofa watching TV. When Chen Piaopiao came out, wiping her hands, Grandma was wearing her reading glasses and looking through a photo album. Chen Piaopiao leaned beside her and watched for a while. Grandma pointed out photos to her—this was when she was a few years old, this was taken somewhere else. Finally, she took off her glasses and said that after the new semester started, Piaopiao should take these albums with her. If she was going to be rotating between her children's homes, it would be inconvenient to carry these odds and ends.

"Grandma, don't agree to their terms. This is your house. If you don't sign, they can't force you," Chen Piaopiao said, grabbing her hand in disagreement.

Grandma wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand, her voice trembling. "Grandma is old. I'll need someone to take care of me in the future."

Chen Piaopiao was getting anxious. Her grandma was not a submissive person at all. Just last time, she had said she had her own money and wouldn't give it to her uncle in the future.

"Grandma, I'll take care of you. Don't be afraid," Chen Piaopiao said, hugging her.

"It's because I don't want you to take care of me," Grandma said, pulling out a tissue and dabbing at her eyes. "If Grandma is a burden to you, what will you do?"

Her Piaopiao'er was only eighteen, just a little pea.

Chen Piaopiao's eyes reddened. She took a shaky breath and pulled out her phone, holding it in front of her grandma. "Look, Grandma, I'm an influencer. I can earn money now."

"I don't need Mom's money, and I don't need Uncle's money. I'll have more money than them in the future," she said, her voice trembling at the end.

Grandma's eyes were blurry with tears. She strained to see the screen but couldn't make it out clearly, let alone understand it. She could only tell that the Chen Piaopiao on the phone looked very well-behaved. She asked, "What's an influencer?"

"It's like being a celebrity. A lot of people like me, so I can get paid for advertisements," Chen Piaopiao said through her sobs.

"You mean, like a spokesperson? The kind printed on milk cartons?" Grandma asked.

"Yes, that's right."

Grandma fell silent, taking the phone and wiping the screen over and over. Chen Piaopiao pointed it out to her. "I really have money. Look, this hat is new, and so is this dress. The hotel I'm staying in costs over 3,000 a day. Over 3,000! And those shoes, the ones you said look like a bear's, they're a famous brand. They cost over 1,000."

She was breathing rapidly, desperately trying to make her grandma believe her.

She had lied again. Calming herself, she soothed her grandma, "I didn't dare tell you, I was afraid you'd scold me for spending so much. I'll save up from now on, and we'll buy a house in Beicheng."

"Beicheng has heating in the winter. It's freezing here," she grumbled softly, resting her head on her grandma's shoulder.

Grandma rubbed her hands. They were cold.

"Grandma, I'm buying a house in Beicheng, but I might not have enough money. Can you let me save your money for you? And you should keep the house from the demolition compensation for yourself. We can sell it later, and we'll buy a house in Beicheng together, okay?" Chen Piaopiao used a tissue to wipe her grandma's tears.

The moment Chen Piaopiao said she needed her grandma's help, her grandma was determined to save the money for her Piaopiao'er.

She stroked the back of Chen Piaopiao's hand with her dry one. "If I go to Beicheng, will I be able to get used to it?"

"You'll get used to it. I went there too, right? And you've been there before, didn't you say it was nice? Besides, Tao Jin is there. She even said she wants to eat your cooking more often in the future. You like her a lot, don't you?"

At the mention of Tao Jin, her voice softened, and the longing in her tone became more apparent.

Grandma didn't agree immediately. She just said, "I'll save the money first, in a fixed-term deposit."

So no one could take it.

"Okay," Chen Piaopiao smiled and replied softly, her eyes shimmering with a faint light.

This house was truly too old. Even with all the memories, it couldn't stop the musty, stagnant air inside.

Thank goodness for Tao Jin. Thank goodness for the future. Thank goodness for Beicheng. Thank goodness for hope.

It was a Spring Festival where everyone had their own worries, but neither Tao Jin nor Chen Piaopiao told the other. They video-chatted every night, one in the warm winter of Beicheng, the other in the damp cold of Xindu.

Chen Piaopiao said she was about to get rheumatism from the cold.

Tao Jin said she had ordered an electric heater for her on JD.com, and it would arrive the next morning.

Chen Piaopiao said she saw her high school classmates organizing a reunion, but no one had invited her.

Tao Jin said, "Tasteless bunch."

Chen Piaopiao said, "Don't copy the way I talk, it's weird coming from you."

Tao Jin said, "I don't have a persona to maintain."

Chen Piaopiao said, "A Spring Festival without firecrackers has no soul."

Tao Jin said, "Like an iPhone without Steve Jobs."

What they said most often was, "I miss you so much," and "Me too."

Just as they had promised each other, when they were cold, they told the other. When they were hungry, they told the other. But they both tacitly forgot to mention the parts where they were sad.

They only needed to remember love, remember the fluttering of their hearts, and even remember desire. Chen Piaopiao couldn't help but share some risqué content she accidentally saw. As they talked, they would fall silent, and in the soft sound of their breathing, Tao Jin would ask softly, "What… are you doing?"

Chen Piaopiao didn't answer. Listening to her breathing, Tao Jin buried herself under the covers.

This separation was an ordeal they barely survived. On the last day of the holiday, Chen Piaopiao went to her father's house for dinner.

Her father lived alone. Every time Chen Piaopiao went over, the housekeeper and her young daughter would "happen" to be visiting relatives. It was always a coincidence.

Her father bought some cold dishes, took only two bites, then sat on the sofa to watch TV and smoke, before saying, "If you're short on money, just let me know."

He knew Chen Piaopiao would never ask—she hadn't in all these years—so he had gotten used to saying this one line.

Replacing a Spring Festival red envelope with a few words was an incredibly good deal.

Chen Piaopiao went downstairs, wrapped in her down jacket. Most of the shops were still closed. This scene of desolation made it hard to believe that a new year had just begun.

She received a message from Tao Jin: "After you get back, you don't have any plans, do you?"

"What's up?"

Chen Piaopiao walked home.

"The day after tomorrow is your birthday, and it's also Valentine's Day. Can you give me the entire day?"

Chen Piaopiao heard the sound of the world coming back to life.

A roll-up door opened behind her. She wondered, was it the hair salon? Or the rice noodle shop?

She didn't want to guess what Tao Jin had planned, because no matter what it was, she would be happy.

A girl born on Valentine's Day should have been born amidst flowers and candlelight. Yet her parents had divorced, and their mutual resentment had been passed on to her. She was both the fruit of their union and the evidence of their love's demise.

Every time a classmate exclaimed, "You were born on such a romantic day!" she would just smile and say, "Really?"

She didn't believe it.

From now on, perhaps she could.

Chen Piaopiao jogged back home. Grandma was braising chicken feet for her, saying she could eat them on the plane. She also braised some pig trotters for her to share with her roommates, and specially packed a portion for Tao Jin in a plastic bag, saying she had promised Jinjin last time, but it was a pity there were no spices in that Beicheng apartment.

Chen Piaopiao video-called Tao Jin to show her. Tao Jin was very sweet, saying it looked delicious and thanking Grandma.

Grandma repeatedly said not to thank her. Tao Jin had even sent her a red envelope on WeChat for the New Year; it was only right to send some local specialties back with her.

As Grandma washed the pot, she added, "Jinjin, you still have to help Grandma keep an eye on Piaopiao'er. If she's not behaving, you call Grandma."

"Okay, Grandma," Tao Jin's smiling voice came from the phone. "You can count on me."

Chen Piaopiao was speechless. Copying her again.

Still on the video call, she went back to her room to pack. They would be seeing each other tomorrow. Chen Piaopiao felt a little nervous.

She bounced her knee and said to the bright-eyed, radiant Tao Jin on the screen, "I've gained a little weight."

"Hm? Have you?" Tao Jin looked closely. "I can't tell."

"I have," Chen Piaopiao mumbled. "When you pick me up, if you notice, don't say anything."

"Okay," Tao Jin smiled.

"My flight arrives really late. Will the airport express still be running?"

"It's okay, we'll take a taxi," Tao Jin said gently. "I'm already back at our place. I've cleaned up and made the bed. We can just shower and sleep when we get home."

Chen Piaopiao was beaming. She glanced down at her fuzzy slippers, then back up at Tao Jin.

She pondered for a moment, then asked in a small voice, "If you liked me 100 points when I came back, how many points is it now?"

It was a childish and direct question, but she needed sweet words to ease her anxiety about their reunion. She knew her considerate and clever senior wouldn't be stingy.

Tao Jin gazed tenderly at the Chen Piaopiao on the screen.

Five seconds passed. She said softly, "Positive infinity."

Chen Piaopiao couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "I'm positive infinity plus one."

She thought Tao Jin would continue the one-upmanship like at the airport, but she didn't. She just tilted her head, her eyes curving into a smile as she conceded, "I'll let you win."

As long as Chen Piaopiao liked her just a little bit more, what did it matter if she let her win?

"How could you do that," Chen Piaopiao muttered. Isn't there supposed to be a back-and-forth?

"Go to sleep," Tao Jin said, tapping the camera with her index finger. "Once you wake up, we'll see each other."

She really wanted to hold her. Finally, she was about to.

"Okay, I'll shower and go to bed. You should sleep early too."

"Mm, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Such a long night was more than enough to hold a beautiful dream.

(End of the Campus Arc)

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