Chapter Four: What a Coincidence

“It’s not my fault—Snow didn’t like me, so what’s the point of taking it out on me?” Chu Dong muttered a few words at his phone, which had already hung up, before opening the car door and getting in.

“Oh, you’re back? Looks like things didn’t go too well.” Rubbing her sleepy eyes, the little girl climbed up from the back seat, clearly awakened by Chu Dong’s phone call.

“Who told you that? You have no idea how well it went.” Chu Dong refused to let the little girl look down on him.

“Hmm, let me guess.”

She crouched forward from the back, crawling over with a motion so exaggerated that her pale thighs flashed right before Chu Dong’s eyes, and her perky hips nearly brushed against his nose. A subtle, intoxicating fragrance drifted over, and Chu Dong almost got a nosebleed.

“Guess what?” Chu Dong turned his head to hide his embarrassment.

“You must have been on a blind date, right?” the little girl guessed confidently.

“Wow, how did you know?” Chu Dong was surprised—he’d seen her sleeping and hadn’t expected her to guess about the date.

“First off, you, a man of your age, suddenly dyeing your hair burgundy like a kid—unless it’s for something special, you’re just a show-off. But seeing you fight with a certain silly bravado, you’re probably not the flashy type. Which means today is a special day for you. You came here all excited to a place that screams ‘date,’ and didn’t bring any files, so it’s not business. Then you looked dejected, clearly things didn’t go well, and just now on the phone you got scolded while reporting in. So…” She counted off the points on her slender fingers, then glanced at Chu Dong and stopped.

“All right, all right, let’s say you guessed right,” Chu Dong surrendered, raising his hand.

“Guessed? I’ll have you know, that was deduction—deduction, do you understand?” The little girl had been quite proud, but at his words she leapt up like a kitten with its tail stepped on.

“Okay, deduction it is. Listen, I’m heading home now—you should go back to wherever you came from.” Chu Dong started the car, waiting for her to get out.

“Hey, don’t be like that, pretending not to know me. After all, I saved you, didn’t I?” The little girl sounded anxious.

“Wasn’t I the one who saved you first? We’re even now. Get out.” Chu Dong was eager to get home. As pretty as she was, she was far too young—he’d feel bad even thinking about it. Better to make a clean break.

“A real man shouldn’t be as petty as me,” she huffed, turning away. But seeing him unmoved, she stretched out a hand. “Give me a dollar for the bus, I don’t have any money on me.”

He glanced at her—she really didn’t have any pockets, nowhere to put money. But Chu Dong only had cards in his wallet; he’d realized at the restaurant earlier that he had no cash. He had to settle for a compromise. “Just tell me where you’re going. I’ll take you.”

“Yay!” She flashed a victory sign and bounced in the seat, pointing forward. “Keep going straight. Brother, be bold—just go straight, keep going…”

Chu Dong shook his head helplessly and backed out, following her directions. But she wouldn’t say where she was headed, just kept telling him to turn left or right. “So where are we going? Can’t you give me a proper address? We’ve circled this area twice.”

“You think I want to? You, acting like a middle-aged uncle but pretending to be a pop idol—don’t flatter yourself. I’m not so lovesick that I can’t bear to leave you.” She rolled her eyes, making her position clear.

“Don’t lump me in with those pretty-boy posers. In fact, what makes me any worse than them? I’ve got style.” Chu Dong checked himself out in the rearview mirror as he spoke.

“Ugh. Gross.” She wasn’t buying it. Then, as they drove on, she suddenly seemed to spot something. “Stop, stop, this is the place.”

“Wait till I park the car—are you crazy?” Seeing her about to jump out, Chu Dong quickly pulled over.

She hopped out, bounced a few steps, then came back to the door, flashed a mischievous smile, and said, “Uncle, my name is Tan Yuer. Let’s keep in touch.” With that, she ran off to a black Mercedes, waving at him as she got in.

Chu Dong watched as the driver nodded in his direction, and a chill swept over him. “This is too much of a coincidence. Isn’t that the Xue family’s butler? Then this little girl must be little Yu’er from back when she was a baby…”

“You’re just a wolf in sheep’s clothing…”

Chu Dong’s phone rang. Seeing it was his best friend, he answered right away. “What’s up? My car’s more comfortable than yours, right? Good, good, keep it for now—don’t rush to bring it back. I’ve gotten attached to driving yours. If you took it without warning, I’d feel emptier than ever. What? Drinks? Forget it, tomorrow maybe. I still have things to do today. Next time, drinks on me.”

After misleading his old friend, Chu Dong looked at the broken glass, sighed, then drove to the nearest dealership.

While he was sipping instant coffee in the customer lounge, his phone rang again. This time it was Tan Xue, her tone brisk and commanding: “Come to my house tonight. Your uncle and aunt want to see you.”

By the time Chu Dong reacted, only the dial tone remained.

“What’s going on? Didn’t we make everything clear? Why does she want me to go to her house? Isn’t this what you do only after a successful match? Or is there another hurdle?” Thinking of Tan Xue’s expression earlier, Chu Dong shook his head. “So she just wants to humiliate me again? Should I go? No, I won’t. Not even if you beat me.” Muttering to himself, he slumped back on the couch.

“You’re just a wolf in sheep’s…”

“I’m not going, I’ve been like this since I was three, haven’t we settled everything already?” Chu Dong shouted as soon as he picked up the phone.

“Not going where? Son, what’s with your attitude?” His mother’s voice came through the line.

“Oh, Mom—what’s up?” Chu Dong quickly forced a smile.

“Your Uncle Tan said he invited you to dinner tonight. That’s not what you were just talking about, was it?” A mother always knows her son.

“I’d rather not go. It’s been years, I wouldn’t know what to say.” Chu Dong scratched his head.

“Don’t you dare! I already accepted for you. You’d better behave tonight, or I’ll have your hide.” She slammed the phone down, then kicked Old Chu, still sleeping beside her in bed. “Your son is just like you.”

“What’s it got to do with me? It’s not like I told him what to do,” Old Chu grumbled, shifting to go back to sleep.

“You want to know what it’s got to do with you? I’ll show you!” The old lady yanked the covers off him.