Chapter 20

***

In my previous life, I watched a Japanese drama called Late Night Canteen.

In a small stall open all night, people came to the stall to eat and tell their stories to the chef and the diners, seemingly at ease with this because they knew they won’t see each other again after dawn.

(T/N: This is a real Japanese drama called Midnight Diner, a Korean drama adaptation also happened, if anyone want’s to check it out.)

Buses are the same. Strangers who don’t care about your joys and sorrows all crammed into one vehicle. Even if you show your ugliest face, it’ll only be some stranger’s interesting anecdote to them.

You can lower your guard and cry unabashedly without worrying that it’ll come back to haunt you someday.

“Why are you doing this to me? We’ve been together for 8 years, from 23 to 31 years old, and you’re breaking up with me now?” The woman was crying into her phone behind Yu Dong.

Yu Dong saw the woman’s tearful face from the window’s reflection.

“What do you want me to tell my mother? My mother’s only wish is to see me marry.” The woman cried out, “You want me to try again? Who can I look for? How do you start over in your thirties? How can anyone want a woman my age?”

“I said I wanted to get married 3 years ago and you kept saying you were going to marry me, but the timing wasn’t right. Now you say you don’t want to marry me, I gave you my youth and now you’re going to throw me away?”

“You’re saying we were barely happy together? So why did you force yourself all these years?”

“Even if you don’t like me, I want you to marry me. You’ve made me waste so many years…”

Looking out the window to the familiar radio station, Yu Dong got out of the bus.

As the bus drove away, Yu Dong saw the distressed woman from the window.

“Hello everybody this is FM9666, you’re listening to Midnight Phantom, this is DJ Fish Jelly.” Yu Dong said the familiar words into her headset and said, “Before I officially start tonight’s program, Fish Jelly would like to play a song for a certain person! A sad woman!”

“When I took the bus to get to the station, a lady had just broken up with her boyfriend of 8 years. Her best years of 23 to 31 year’s old were wasted on this man.” Fish Jelly continued with some emotion, “What struck me the most was when she said that she was already in her thirties, how can she start again? Who would want her?”

“I immediately thought of this song.”

Yu Dong picked up the guitar she had borrowed from the next room and sang ‘The 30-Year-Old Woman.’

The song hadn’t been published yet, so Yu Dong could only sing it. She particularly prefers Tan Weiwei’s cover.

Yu Dong gets emotional every time she hears this song because the song depicts the psychological journey of most older women.

At the end of a song Yu Dong put down the guitar said: “Everyone will experience their prosperous twenties, but will also be inevitably pushed towards their thirties. Life is a one-way street, no one can resist time.”

“Some people receive their happiness early and meet the right person at the right age. But there are also a lot of people who’ll be missing out, or will never meet their destined person. If you’re a 30-year-old woman who isn’t married, don’t lose heart. Every woman is a flower, delicate and each with her own charm. There is always someone who can appreciate her.”

“Even if you haven’t met them yet, it doesn’t matter. Just as their woman isn’t the only person in a man’s life, marriage and love shouldn’t be the only thing that matters in a woman’s life. We should always strive to be beautiful for ourselves, society won’t wait for you if you simply stop and cry.”

“If you hear this song and my words, wipe you tears.” Yu Dong had a determined look in her eyes. “Maybe your happiness is just a little late. Don’t let your grief make you miss your chance.”

“Misfortune always inevitably comes, but happiness comes when you smile.”

The terminal is here.

The woman got out of the bus with a wooden expression.

As she passed by the driver’s side, the driver couldn’t help but say: “Girl, life has no limits.”

The woman paused.

“No one in this world can live easily, but we still have to live to the fullest.”

The woman rubbed her cheeks.

“Cry, cry it all out, then go to sleep and tomorrow will be better!” The bus driver sighed.

The woman finally cried her heart out, then eventually stopped. Embarrassed, she looked at the bus driver and asked: “Uncle, I passed my stop, will your bus be driving back?”

“Yes, I’ll be driving until dawn!”

……….

It was already past 1:00 p.m. when Yu Dong made her way to Xiaoyue’s studio.

Ren Xinxin was eating some cake and Yu Dong ran over to steal a few bites.

Xiaoyue was speechless: “Can you not steal food from a pregnant woman?”

“I didn’t have lunch!” Yu Dong said, her hands still moving.

“You didn’t eat breakfast either, did you?” Xinxin guessed.

“Mmph.” Yu Dong nodded.

“You’re job’s pretty unhealthy. Your biological clock is out of whack and you don’t eat breakfast, it’s not good for your body, ah.”

“How much money can a radio DJ even make, just quit!” Xiaoyue said.

“Nope…” Yu Dong swallowed the mouthful of cake and explained, “I think my job is pretty meaningful.”

“What’s the use of that job?” Xiang Xiaoyue said with some disdain, “You only have a few listeners since it’s in the middle of the night. And anyone awake that late is guaranteed to be cold, lonely people.”

“Don’t say that!” Ren Xinxin said, “I listened to Yu Dong’s broadcast last night and thought it was very meaningful. Especially that song, I cried when I heard it.”

“You’re a heavily pregnant woman, what are you doing listening to sad songs in the middle of the night?” Xiang Xiaoyue disagreed even more.

“Am I not allowed to get hungry in the middle of the night? I got up to get something to eat.” Ren Xinxin said, “I think I’ll be a 30-year-old unmarried woman in the future.”

“What nonsense are you saying!” Xiaoyue scolded.

“I don’t intend to get married, I’ll just have my baby!” Ren Xinxin said with a smile, “When I broke up with Lu Xuan I wouldn’t have survived if it wasn’t for you girls, but you encouraged me last night with that story of that crying lady!”

“What crying lady?” Xiaoyue asked, surprised.

“Right!” Yu Dong nodded.

“What are you saying?” Xiaoyue felt excluded and was going to continue asking questions, when Yu Dong’s phone suddenly rang.

“Yes?”

“Yu Dong, where are you?” Shao Yifan asked her.

“You need me for something?” Yu Dong asked.

“Yeah, Xia Feng sent you something and asked me to deliver it to you.” Shao Yifan had just picked up the goods from customs and was asking where he could drop them off.

Xia Feng? Yu Dong told him the studio’s address.

In less than half an hour Shao Yifan came through the office door with a large box.

“Here, it’s all here.” Shao Yifan, who was running around all morning, said tiredly.

“Dr. Shao come have some water.” Ren Xinxin poured a glass of water and offered it to him.

“Thanks!” Shao Yifan took it with a smile then suddenly realised something. Ren Xinxin’s belly had grown, how come she grew so much in just half a month? No wait, why does her dress look like maternity clothes?

“You…you’re pregnant?” Shao Yifan couldn’t process.

“Yes!” Xinxin answered with a big smile.

“Oh…congratulations!” Shao Yifan’s heart broke into pieces, all that hard work in vain. The beautiful flower already has an owner.

“Is this something your picked-up husband sent you?” Xiaoyue looked at the box curiously.

Picked-up? Shao Yifan arched an eyebrow.

“What are you saying!” Ren Xinxin admonished her friend, “What picked-up, it was love at first sight!”

Xiang Xiaoyue wanted to refute, but realised there was an outsider and so backtracked: “But this Xia Feng isn’t bad ah, you got drunk last time and forgot to send him a message, but instead of getting angry he was so worried he hurried to call Dr. Shao in the middle of the night. And now he even sent you back things from America.”

While she was speaking Yu Dong had found a knife and opened the box, intent on finding the goodies inside.

“Biscuits, chocolates, socks, cups, pens, masks…” Xiang Xiaoyue had no words, “These things can be bought at imported supermarkets, why send them back from America now?”

“It’s cheaper to buy in America?” Ren Xinxin reasoned.

“But how many measly dollars would you save?” Xiang Xiaoyue disagreed.

Shao Yifan was also very surprised. I spent to much time and effort for some snacks and daily necessities?

“I asked him to buy these!” Yu Dong suddenly interjected.

“You asked him? Why did you ask him to buy these?” Xiang Xiaoyue asked, puzzled.

“I don’t know, I just wanted him to buy it.” Yu Dong said as she opened a small package inside, which turned out to be a familiar black women’s purse.

“Dang! That’s Prada’s new bag this season, ah it isn’t even available in China yet!” Xiang Xiaoyue grabbed the bag and with starry eyes asked, “Did you ask him to get this too?”

“No, I only asked him to buy me a bag, I didn’t specify a brand or anything.”

“Men who willingly spend their money on their women aren’t necessarily good men, but it’s at least a great first step to being a good man!” Xiang Xiaoyue evaluated.

Shao Yifan stood on the side, quietly sipping his water.

“When will Xia Feng be back?” Ren Xinxin suddenly asked.

“I don’t know the exact time, but he said he would be gone for 3 months.” Yu Dong answered.

“That’s at the end of next month, around Christmastime!” Shao Yifan commented.

“Alright, let’s wait for him to come back then introduce him to us. Me and Xinxin will check him.” Xiaoyue said with an arrogant face.

“Why do you need to check, I already married him?” Yu Dong laughed.

“What do you mean?” Xiaoyue asked.

“I won’t let anyone bully my man!”

At these words, Shao Yifan sprayed out a mouthful of water.

All 3 women looked at him in puzzlement and Shao Yifan hurriedly put down his glass to say: “I’ve delivered the things, I still have plenty of work at the hospital so I’ll be leaving first!”

As soon as Shao Yifan got in his car he couldn’t wait to call Xia Feng.

Xia Feng who had been woken up by the phone call, was irritable as he asked: “Shao Yifan, do you know what time it is?”

“2:00 p.m.?” Shao Yifan was confused before realising and he laughed. “Oh, I forgot the time difference.”

“What’s the matter with you?”

“I’ve delivered your package to Yu Dong.”

“Alright, I’ll treat you to dinner when I get back.”

“I’m not calling about dinner!” Shao Yifan smiled like a hooligan and said, “Yu Dong’s friends were there and they said they would wait for you to come back to China then meet with you. They obviously want to test you!”

“Huh?”

“But guess what Yu Dong said?” Shao Yifan waggled his eyebrows, “She said ‘No one’s allowed to bully my man!’ How domineering!”

“Is that all?”

“Yes!”

Xia Feng simply ended the call.

Holding his phone against the headboard of his bed, Xia Feng couldn’t help but laugh loudly.

The best coincidence in the world is that when I want to start liking you, you’re trying to like me too.