Chapter Fifty-Five: Lost in Spirit

Because Bai Bing had suddenly burst into tears and “run away,” Wang Zheng no longer had the heart to enforce his carefully crafted “bathroom usage rules.”

Wang Zheng’s feelings were complicated. By all rights, Bai Bing was a persuader, a “spy,” someone sent to disrupt his life. Now that she was gone, he should have been happy. At the very least, Su Xue had spent half the night singing “Ode to Joy” in celebration of Bai Bing’s departure—so much so that Wang Zheng, who had gone to bed early, couldn’t sleep at all. Yet every time he closed his eyes, the image of Bai Bing’s tearful, trembling face haunted him.

Was this Bai Bing’s ultimate weapon, or had he truly gone too far?

In the end, Bai Bing wasn’t really his enemy, and Wang Zheng couldn’t bring himself to treat her as one.

“Damn it, I don’t want to think about this anymore. If she doesn’t leave, so be it; if she does, all the better. After all, you were only ever a passerby in my life. Do you think your tears will make you the star of my story? Dream on! Go to sleep!”

“Ode to Joy—radiant goddess, pure and beautiful, your light shines upon the earth. With passion in our hearts, we enter your sanctuary; your power banishes all divisions…”

Is that so?

The next morning, Wang Zheng woke early. The familiar sizzle of frying eggs was gone, as was the fragrant rice porridge and the array of small dishes. All that remained was a dining table so spotless it seemed even cleaner than Wang Zheng’s own face, yet so empty it looked like a desolate plain.

In the living room, the sofa cushions were strewn chaotically across the floor, looking utterly abused. Snacks of all sorts were scattered over the sofa, coffee table, and floor, as if the place had been ransacked by bandits. Apparently, Su Xue and Chu Jun’s celebratory party had been a smashing success—without Wang Zheng and Bai Bing, even Chu Jun had joined in Su Xue’s wild revelry. Neither Su Xue nor Chu Jun was awake yet; the spacious house was eerily silent, every sigh echoing through the emptiness, casting a sense of desolation.

After his morning routine—metabolism, washing up, dressing—Wang Zheng sat blankly at the dining table. Suddenly, he realized that in the days when Bai Bing was around, he’d never had to worry about what to eat.

“Why am I thinking of her now? I should be glad she’s gone. Without that little spy, my life ought to be so much better!”

He laughed at himself, shaking his head, then opened the door and stepped outside.

The summer morning sunlight was soft and gentle, not harsh or scorching, but as warm and tender as a lover’s caress. Wang Zheng wandered aimlessly along the street—after all, it was only half past six, with more than two hours before work. He disliked being late but didn’t care to arrive too early either.

Occasionally, athletic women in tight sportswear jogged past him. Perhaps that was the only thing Wang Zheng could find comforting just now.

—

Watching the roadside vendors, Wang Zheng’s mouth watered at the sight and smell of steaming bean juice, rice porridge, buns, crisp fried dough rings, and golden crullers, all accompanied by an array of pickled vegetables. The delicious aromas filled the air, making him hungry. He could once enjoy these breakfasts at home, but now he had to seek them out on the street.

Bai Bing could be annoying, but she was a diligent woman. At the very least, she always prepared breakfast in the morning, and it was never the same twice, ensuring he began the day with a good appetite and a cheerful mood. Now that Bai Bing was gone, as for Chu Jun—he didn’t know her well enough yet; and as for Su Xue… even if she tried, no one would dare eat what she cooked!

Hire a housekeeper? To find one who was not only pretty and a good cook, but also trustworthy, neat, and pleasant to look at… that seemed nearly impossible. These days, beautiful women don’t enter the kitchen, those who do aren’t much to look at, the attractive ones won’t do chores, the diligent ones have no opinions, those with opinions aren’t trustworthy, and the trustworthy ones are simply unbearable to behold.

Did he really need her to survive? Nonsense! Wang Zheng thumped his chest with his fist and shook his head forcefully. Yet when he looked up with a forced smile, it froze on his face—he had unwittingly wandered to the entrance of Bai Bing’s apartment complex.

When she was there, he found her irritating; now that she was gone, he found himself missing her a little. Was he not the ultimate fool?

—

That morning, Bai Bing woke up early as usual. She opened her eyes to familiar surroundings that now felt strangely foreign. A coldness crept from deep within her, making her shiver.

Has it already been… two days? she wondered, sitting on her bed before suddenly falling back onto it.

Do I still have to go to work today? Probably not…

She wanted to sleep in, but her head throbbed unbearably, keeping her awake. So she got up, tended to her needs, washed, dressed… and then stood blankly in the kitchen. She felt drained of all energy; even the frying pan in her hand seemed impossibly heavy. Shaking her head, she decided she wasn’t in the mood to make breakfast—besides, the kitchen and fridge were bare. She might be a clever cook, but no woman can conjure a meal from thin air.

“I’ll just go out and buy something,” she thought.

She wandered the streets in a daze. Intending to buy a few things nearby, she absentmindedly walked and walked, until she found herself at a familiar breakfast shop near the Huamei Complex—where she’d been buying breakfast these past few days.

Buns, crullers, fried dough rings, bean juice… as for porridge, fried eggs, and side dishes, she always made those herself. That man seemed to love them—he never left a single crumb.

Wait—what am I doing? Bai Bing snapped out of her reverie and shook her head to clear her mind. Why was she thinking of that irritating man? Frivolous, lecherous, lacking all gentlemanly manners, always bullying women…

“Eight buns, four crullers, four fried dough rings, four servings of bean juice, please!”

“No problem! Here you go!”

Perhaps because Bai Bing was a regular, the shop assistant recognized her easily—not to mention, who could forget such a beautiful woman? After packing her order, the assistant handed it over, and Bai Bing took the food and started walking home along the road.

Wait… this is enough for four people, but now… I’m all alone. Bai Bing’s expression turned bleak as she stared blankly at the food in her hands.

What should I do now? Return to headquarters? But she wasn’t in the mood to go back, nor to work. Besides, she’d have to face the ridicule of her colleagues.

Perhaps… perhaps she should just stay home for a few days and collect herself.

With that thought, Bai Bing resumed walking, her steps unchanged, her expression still absent and distracted.

“Bang!” Lost in her thoughts, Bai Bing stumbled and bumped into someone. She staggered back two steps involuntarily.

“Sorry!”

“Sorry!”

Simultaneous apologies rang out. Neither of the two, their heads bowed, looked up to see the other; distracted and lost in thought, they simply apologized and continued on their way.

One, hollow and spiritless; the other, lost and absent-minded. In the vast sea of people, countless passersby brush past, yet only he—or she—manages to make you stumble. Perhaps that, too, is a kind of fate. For all others are merely fleeting shadows in your life, but only he—or she—can make you falter.

Wang Zheng paused, rubbing his arm where he’d been bumped, and then, head lowered, continued on his way.