Chapter Eleven: An Unexpected Encounter

"I heard you had a car accident. Was it serious?" Hua Mei sounded quite anxious on the phone, but Xiaoxiao responded indifferently with a couple of murmurs, saying, "It's nothing. I'm at the Xiaotun overpass getting the damage assessed. Worst case, I'll just stop driving it for a while."

Suddenly remembering what had happened with Lin Shuo earlier, she quickly asked, "Was it him who told you?"

Hua Mei admitted it was, and added, "We were all at that club. After Lin Shuo went out and came back, his face looked awful. Ziyu kept asking him about it and finally got it out of him. What kind of tangled fate do you two share?"

"A fated calamity," Xiaoxiao joked, but Hua Mei retorted, "I’d say it’s a predestined entanglement." Before Xiaoxiao could argue, she continued, "You should have seen the face of that little butterfly Lin Shuo brought along—it was so pale, she looked as if she was dying to rush out and have it out with you."

"You’re mistaken. She’s always been that pale, and besides, I have nothing to compare with her," Xiaoxiao replied, finding her mood unexpectedly lightened by these words. Some women are born to be enchantresses; if you’re spared even one or two of their mischiefs, it’s already a blessing. Who would ever imagine that the prize within reach would suddenly slip away? It’s only natural to feel indignant.

Hua Mei seemed to want to say more, but Xiaoxiao was done listening. Claiming she had paperwork to handle, she hung up, unsure herself whether she should feel relieved or troubled.

She thought the business with the car was finally over, but to her surprise, when she went to pick it up, she ran into Xi Mintang. He stood in the Cadillac showroom, distinguished and imposing; at a glance, one might have mistaken him for the manager. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass he spotted Xiaoxiao walking into the car plaza, and greeted her warmly with a smile. As if that weren’t enough, he waved and stepped outside.

Xiaoxiao stopped to wait for him. As soon as he emerged from the hall, he raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun in an exaggerated gesture. Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh. He approached, looking a little embarrassed. “I just arrived in Kunming—still not used to it. I must look rather delicate standing like this.”

Xiaoxiao squinted up at the sun, speaking with feeling. “People from elsewhere are always too sensitive. You’ll get used to it. When winter comes, you might even be grateful for its warmth.”

“Isn’t it said Kunming doesn’t have winter?”

“Just because you’re past adolescence doesn’t mean you can’t get pimples. Youth isn’t about acne—it's about who you compare yourself to. There’s no such thing as absolutes.” Kunming is said to have no winter only in comparison to the north, but compared to the tropics, it’s still cold. Just like her—she found life bearable simply because she never compared herself to anyone.

Xi Mintang was genuinely helpful, and accompanied Xiaoxiao through all the procedures before returning for his own car. She was grateful; if it hadn’t been for his shout last time, she would have ended up in much worse shape. Now, with this incident added on, it seemed she owed him a lot. So Xiaoxiao invited him to dinner to properly play host, and Xi Mintang, not the shy sort, agreed readily. The two cars headed onto the Xiaotun overpass, and she decided to take him to the restaurant where her company often held gatherings—determined to treat him well for once.

But as soon as they arrived at the hotel entrance, a group emerged from the revolving doors, led by none other than Lin Shuo, with the familiar faces of Hua Mei and her circle following behind. Lin Shuo saw her and stopped. Zeng Ziyu, glancing around in confusion, asked, “Why are we changing venues all of a sudden? Wasn’t this place fine?” Hua Mei quickly tugged on his arm, and only then did he notice Xiaoxiao—and the poised, handsome Xi Mintang by her side.

Lonely Moments: Never Speak of Love
Chapter Eleven: A Chance Encounter
End of update.