- 7.
I cooked most of the dishes on the table.
I even made boneless chicken feet and clam
stuffed meat.
When everyone was seated, I put the two
plates of food in front of Chen Mo.
Jenny frowned. “Sarah, Chen Mo doesn’t eat
chicken feet or clams. Move it somewhere
else.”
<
I paused.
Chen Mo apologized. “I’m not a picky eater,
but I don’t eat those.”
I was disappointed and put the dishes in front
of myself.
This meal, supposed to be a celebration of
my escape from hell, was really just a love
fest for them.
Jenny helped Chen Mo to everything,
constantly flirting with him.
Chen Mo didn’t flirt back, but accepted her
attention without batting an eye.
I didn’t look up and quietly ate all the chicken
feet and stuffed clams.
<
After washing the dishes, I ran into Chen Mo
by the stairs.
“The dishes you cooked were great.” He
sounded like he wanted more. “It’s too bad I
don’t eat those. I bet they taste awesome.”
I looked at the light in his dark eyes. “I used
to love someone.‘
His eyes darkened. “I know. It’s your future
brother–in–law, Chad.”
I shook my head. “Before I went to Myanmar,
I thought I loved him, but then I met the real
deal, and I realized that my feelings for Chad.
were like wanting something you can’t have.
I’m guessing that if he had said yes earlier, I would have been over it a long time ago.”
<
He stared at me. “You fell for Ji Fan, then?”
I laughed. “Who knows what his real name is?
All I know is that I fell for the person who
liked my chicken feet and stuffed clams.”
His eyes narrowed. “Too bad, because I don’t
like those…”
Then, just on cue, Lisa and Jenny showed up.
Lisa covered her mouth. “Sis, are you not
going to listen to me? I told you that Jenny
liked Chen Mo. Why are you still flirting with
him?”
I was annoyed. “Where did you see me flirting
with him?”
Lisa was acting like a victim. “With your eyes.
<
Your eyes were totally flirting…”
Chad heard and came over, looking at me
with disgust.
Jenny, with Lisa prompting her, was shaking
with anger.
“Sarah, you’re so shameless.”
I glanced at Lisa. “Lisa, are you happy now?”
I grabbed my bag, turned, and left.
My throat was tight, my eyes stung.
But I wasn’t going to cry.
Because Ji Fan told me that tears were the
most useless thing.
<
Six months ago, after I broke my arm, Ji Fan
killed the guy who ratted me out to Yu Jie.
He did it right in the open.
He told Yu Jie, “I don’t care about that
woman’s arm or leg. But you insulted me by
insulting her, and that’s not okay.”
Yu Jie liked him being so dominant, so she
didn’t say another word.
That day, when I found out, I cried half the
night.
The next morning, my eyes were swollen and I
was making them porridge with one hand.
He walked by and told me not to cry. Tears.
were useless.
<
A little later, Chen Mo, driving Jenny, drove by
me, and Jenny purposely lowered the window
to look at me.
I held my chin high, glaring at her.
I saw Chen Mo, wearing sunglasses, his lips
pressed together, jaw tight.
Soon after, Chad and Lisa came to chase me.
They said they would take me home.
I refused.
“Please, stop coming near me, can’t you just
give me a break?”
Lisa was biting her lip until it was almost
bleeding. “Sis, don’t go after Chen Mo. If you
<
really need a man, I can let you have Chad,
okay?”
“Get out!” I didn’t care anymore, “Lisa, if you
and Chad ever come near me again, I’ll kill
you!”
Lisa started crying.
Chad, to protect her, turned around and drove
off.
I was so tired that I sat down on a bench.
After a while, I flagged down a cab home.
After showering, I just couldn’t fall asleep.
Then, in the middle of the night, I heard
knocking.
く
I thought I was hearing things.
But someone was banging on the door.
I checked the monitor connected to the door
and saw that it was Chen Mo.
I got up and asked through the door, “Why
are you here?”
“Give me your phone number.”
“Why?”
“It’s for your own good.”
“If you’re not Ji Fan, stay away from me.
Staying away from me is the best thing you
can do for me.”
Chen Mo wouldn’t quit. “If you don’t give it to
me, I’m just going to stay here. I’m not
working tomorrow. Guess what will happen
when Jenny finds me here?”
I cursed him out and told him my number.
He turned and walked away, not even putting
it into his phone.
He was just keeping it in his head, so Jenny
wouldn’t find it.
The next day, I went to work.
At lunchtime, I got a call from a random
number.
I answered, but there was no response.
<
A few seconds later, the call ended.
I looked closer, and the number was the one
that Ji Fan had given me.
I tried to call back, but I got a text instead.
It said that I should call out of work and go
home, then pack my bags and go to the next.
city over.
After my experience in Myanmar, there was
no way I was going to trust that.
I called the number back.
“Who is this? Why are you sending me that
message?”
The other side was quiet for a while. “I’m Ji
message?”
The other side was quiet for a while. “I’m Ji
Fan. Just do what the text says. When you
get there, someone will protect you. Just
listen, and go now.
I was shaking so hard I almost dropped my
phone. “Ji Fan, is it really you? Tell me, are
you Chen Mo?”
He didn’t answer, but he said, “Go now. I’ll
come see you in a few days. You can make
me chicken feet and clam stuffed meat.”
Tears I had kept back for a long time fell.
“Okay.”
And then I added, “Be careful.”
