Sweet Oxygen - Chapter 49

Chapter 49 – In the Car

They’d even met the parents?

——

May was already the end of spring, and the roses in the green belt bloomed luxuriantly in the rain.

The magnolia blossoms stood proudly on the branches, white as snow.

Qin Han never expected that in the last month of spring, Zhang Yuqing would re-enter her life.

She had imagined countless scenarios of their reunion.

She thought about asking Xie Ying to help her choose what to wear.

She even considered meeting him at a parent-teacher conference as Dandan’s teacher, shaking his hand nonchalantly and saying, “Hello, I’m Dandan’s teacher, Qin Han.”

She had imagined so many possibilities!

Qin Han glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, her bangs flattened by the rain.

She sighed silently.

The car’s heater dispelled the chill from the rain. Zhang Yuqing took off his jacket and handed it to Qin Han.

“No need, I’m not cold.”

He didn’t take back his jacket and kept his eyes forward. “Just cover yourself.”

Qin Han suddenly realized what was happening. She looked down at her rain-soaked silk blouse, which revealed the embroidered pattern on her bra.

She took Zhang Yuqing’s jacket. “Thank you.”

At first, neither spoke. An awkward silence filled the car —at least for Qin Han.

Fortunately, she no longer blushed as easily as before and felt slightly more composed than in the past.

To divert her attention, Qin Han pulled out a pack of tissues from her handbag.

Just as Qin Han pulled out a tissue, she sensed movement beside her. Zhang Yuqing, driving with one hand, passed her a pack of tissues with the other.

“No need, I’ve got one,” Qin Han waved the tissue in her hand.

Zhang Yuqing’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly.

Sometimes, having a good memory isn’t a blessing. Right now, he suddenly recalled how the girl had used this same polite yet distant tone when a boy who pursued her called during her high school graduation.

The car fell into an even deeper silence.

Qin Han wiped the rainwater from her forehead, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

There wasn’t much to do in the car. Her handbag did contain a package—a gift from her Korean exchange roommate, a couple who had stayed with her during her exchange program.

She’d already discarded the outer cardboard box, leaving only a layer of white bubble wrap.

Faced with this unexpected reunion, Qin Han didn’t know what to say. She settled for quietly tearing at the packaging.

Her Korean roommate had messaged her earlier, mentioning they’d sent some Christmas photos from last year.

Just as Qin Han finished unwrapping the bubble wrap, Zhang Yuqing called out, “Little girl.”

It had been so long since Qin Han last heard that nickname. Her hand trembled, sending a photo sliding out from the packaging and lodging in the seat crevice.

She didn’t notice, but Zhang Yuqing saw it out of the corner of his eye and said nothing.

Zhang Yuqing parked the car by the roadside and turned to look at her.

The young woman held up the package in her hand, staring blankly at him.

Her light makeup made her eyes appear just as clear as he remembered them from his memories.

Perhaps due to the rain, her eyeliner or mascara had smudged slightly, making her eyes seem even darker, like a cautious cat’s.

He smiled slowly. “There’s something I need to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Do you never wear your seatbelt when you’re in a car?”

“I do wear it.”

Zhang Yuqing suddenly felt like teasing her. “Then why aren’t you wearing it in my car? Do you trust me that much? Or are you waiting for me to buckle you in?”

As soon as he said this, the young woman became flustered.

“No need!”

She hadn’t even looked at the photo in her hand before shoving it into her purse. She quickly turned around, pulled the seatbelt across herself, and fastened it.

Seeing her flustered state, Zhang Yuqing suddenly felt as if Qin Han had never changed.

As if those years they hadn’t been in contact had never existed.

As if none of that winter’s events had ever happened. He’d simply bought the car as planned and was now driving her back to Yaonan Alley.

In truth, Zhang Yuqing had been sitting in the car waiting all day.

The rain kept falling outside the window. He’d been staring in the direction of the school, waiting for Qin Han to finish work.

When Zhang Yuqing saw Qin Han standing at the bus stop, he initially didn’t dare to approach her.

What if the young woman wasn’t waiting for a bus but for her boyfriend?

Later, the young woman received a call and showed some disappointment. She turned and began walking toward the intersection.

She wasn’t dressed lightly; wearing a shirt in the capital during this season wouldn’t be cold. But today it had rained all day, and she hadn’t brought an umbrella, making her appear particularly vulnerable.

Who cares if she has a boyfriend?

If she does, he’s clearly unreliable.

On this kind of wretched day, can’t he at least come pick up his girlfriend?

Zhang Yuqing admitted that driving over to intercept Qin Han was somewhat impulsive; even he hadn’t figured out exactly what he wanted to do.

He knew they would struggle to find common topics to discuss.

If the young woman asked why he had done what he did back then, he would have nothing to say.

Or if she spoke with radiant happiness about her romance, he would also have nothing to say.

Fortunately, neither of these topics was brought up.

Watching Qin Han hurriedly fasten her seatbelt, Zhang Yuqing finally relaxed.

The rain outside grew heavier. He asked, “Is there anything you want to say to me?”

Qin Han pondered for a moment before asking, “How is Grandma Zhang doing?”

Zhang Yuqing was taken aback by the question and paused before responding, “She’s doing quite well.”

“What about Beibei? Has Beibei grown up now?”

Zhang Yuqing pulled up a photo and showed it to Qin Han. “He’s become a big dog now. For some reason, he doesn’t resemble me at all but looks more like Luo Shijin. He’s getting fatter and even has a little belly now.”

“Really? Is Luo Shijin still that fat?”

“You can’t call him fat. He’ll get upset and argue with you. You should say he’s ‘robust’ or ‘full-figured’.”

The atmosphere suddenly lightened. Qin Han couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

She took the phone and saw that Beibei was still wearing the handmade collar she had made years ago. “It’s grown so big. Won’t the collar be too tight around its neck?”

“He loves this collar. I took it to a tailor shop in the back alleys and had them enlarge it for him.”

Zhang Yuqing leaned back in the driver’s seat, tilting his head slightly. “Have you contacted Li Nan?”

Qin Han shook her head.

“He applied for a job at a clothing company recently and got accepted. He’ll start as an intern fashion designer at the end of the month.”

At this point, Zhang Yuqing smiled. “And he applied for the job wearing women’s clothing.”

“The boss could tell he was a man?” Qin Han’s eyes widened slightly, a note of surprise in her voice.

“Of course. The boss accepted his hobby, saying their company only looks at ability and doesn’t interfere with other matters.”

Qin Han laughed heartily. “That’s fantastic!”

Zhang Yuqing glanced at Qin Han. “The other day, when I was in the back alleys, I passed by Grandpa Liu’s place. He asked why you haven’t been book hunting at his shop in so long.”

“I went abroad as an exchange student,” Qin Han said matter-of-factly. “I’m back now, so I’ll visit when I have time.”

Zhang Yuqing smiled and naturally added, “You should also come by my shop when you’re free to see Beibei.” After a pause, he asked, “Would you like to go now?”

“No, let’s do it another day. I promised Mom I’d be home for dinner today.”

Qin Han had never mentioned her parents’ situation to anyone else, but Zhang Yuqing was one of the few who knew the full story from back then. Facing him, she found it easy to share her joy, “Dad’s coming home for dinner today.”

Zhang Yuqing smiled. “That’s a good thing.”

They fell silent. Qin Han glanced at the car that still hadn’t started. “Um, Zhang Yuqing, I really can’t go to your place today.”

“I know.”

She pointed at the road ahead. “The rain isn’t that heavy. C-can we leave?”

Zhang Yuqing suddenly leaned closer. “It’s not that we can’t leave. I think you’re forgetting something you haven’t told me yet.”

The small space in the car made this closeness distracting. “I don’t have anything else to tell you.”

Zhang Yuqing chuckled. “Little girl, if you don’t give me the address, how can I drive there?”

Qin Han’s face flushed instantly.

The road remained congested, cars moving in fits and starts. Qin Han received a call from her mother in the car, asking when she’d arrive home.

Unable to give an estimate, Qin Han instinctively turned to look at Zhang Yuqing.

He never listened to music while focused on driving, so the car’s silence allowed him to hear Mother Qin’s voice clearly.

Zhang Yuqing maintained his usual expression, silently mouthing: Half an hour.

“Mom, I might need another half-hour.”

Qin Han didn’t look away, her attention somewhat wandering.

She was still the same as before, her eyes always carrying a smile when she spoke.

Even after so many years without contact, chatting with her remained comfortable.

She remembered when she was in the States, Qin Han had a classmate of Chinese descent who occasionally read domestic articles and poetry collections.

Because of these poems, Qin Han and her classmate had conversed a few times.

One day, the classmate found a particular line and showed it to Qin Han.

“I’ve always believed that those who’ve walked through misty lakes and weathered mountains,

Those who’ve endured hardships and tasted life’s flavors,

Become more vivid and pure.”

That day, Qin Han stared at these lines multiple times until her classmate asked, “Han, do you think there really are people who’ve experienced so much suffering yet remain uncomplaining and unresentful? Like these lines say, vivid and pure? Can anyone be that composed?”

Qin Han said, “Yes, there are.”

They were sitting under a tree on the school playground when a group of boys skating on their boards passed by.

The classmate asked again, “But after encountering so many hardships, wouldn’t they become like Xianglin’s wife in Lu Xun’s stories? Or Kong Yiji? How could they remain so pure?”

Qin Han smiled, shook her head, and insisted, “Yes, there are.”

That day, she thought of Zhang Yuqing.

She had thought that if she ever met Zhang Yuqing again, he would never mention her mother’s visit to Yaonan Alley. He would take responsibility for everything himself, silently yet resolutely.

But Qin Han always harbored deep guilt toward Zhang Yuqing. Especially after learning that he had rushed to the hospital that day, where Dandan and her grandmother were both present.

“Xiaohan, are you listening?” Mother’s voice came from the phone.

Qin Han snapped out of her thoughts.

Her mother must have been talking nonstop while she was lost in thought. Even Zhang Yuqing, driving the car, turned to glance at her.

Qin Han quickly responded, “I didn’t catch what you said earlier, Mom. What were you saying?”

“I was talking about Gu Xun. His advisor finally gave him time off this week. Want to have dinner with him tomorrow?”

Gu Xun was the boy Mother Qin had introduced to Qin Han. Supposedly a medical graduate student.

Feeling Zhang Yuqing’s gaze on her, Qin Han said awkwardly, “Let’s discuss this at home, Mom.”

Outside the window, the sky had darkened. Streetlights and neon signs filled the view —Imperial City’s true splendor only emerged at night.

They’d come to a traffic-jammed intersection, where brake lights formed a crimson line ahead.

Zhang Yuqing, stuck in the vehicle queue, narrowed his eyes.

So the little girl’s boyfriend was named Gu Xun?

They’d even met the parents?