他和我 ( him and I )

第三集

I made my way out of the apartment early in the morning, texting Li Jian to come that evening after I was done with work. He replied that he would stop by at seven, which was fine by me as it gave me more time to get home and leave his stuff in the hallway. 

Due to my limited knowledge of the morning bus schedule I ended up missing the bus by a hair, and thus found myself sitting down on the bench to wait for the next bus, which was supposed to arrive in twenty minutes time. 

As I waited my mother's best friend came over to the bus stop. Somehow I hoped she hadn't noticed me, even though I was the only other person on the entire block. I mean she's a lovely lady, don't get me wrong, but she's such a gossip! 

"Ah, Li Wei!" she cried, as soon as she noticed me. She ran over to sit beside me. 

"Good morning 阿姨 [auntie]." 

"It's been so long hasn't it?!" she said breathlessly, "天啊！[Oh my!]" she gasped, "You've grown so much." 

I nodded and smiled. 

"What brings you to the bus stop so early?" She asked. 

"I've got some business to attend to at work" I replied, withholding the full truth. 

"Ah, that's great!" she smiled, "Working hard." Then she asked the dreaded question, "So, are you still with that guy...what's his name? Wang Li Jian?" 

"No, I'm not 阿姨." I confessed. 

"Well, that's okay." she said, "I can set you up with one of my nephews" she added enthusiastically. "I know you're getting old, but there are still some eligible bachelors out there." she smiled with pity. 

"No, no, it's okay 阿姨." When will this damn bus arrive I thought, shaking my leg impatiently as I looked over to my left for a bus on the horizon. 

"Oh, I know" she continued, "Liang Hua's son is a cardiologist, just broke up with his girlfriend of two years. I'm sure Liang Hua wouldn't mind setting up her son with a young lady as successful as yourself." 

"It's really okay. I mean it. Actually I've started seeing someone already" I lied. I swear if you don't lie they won't let you go. I hope Buddha will forgive me. 

"Oh really? Are you planning on getting married soon?" She asked anxiously. 

"Well, actually, 阿姨, we've just met, so I don't think it's time to––" 

"Tsk tsk, it's time to think about these kinds of things" she interrupted. "If you don't lock them down right away your time to find an eligible bachelor will dwindle very quickly. You should know this at your age...your options are scarce already." 

Finally the bus arrived and I excused myself before boarding it. I was thankful she wasn't taking the same bus as it meant I had dodged another string of questions and accusations. 

The bus was quite empty at this time of day, so I sat down in a double seat near the window. 

No matter what happens today, I thought, it'll be an interesting day. At least more interesting than my routine for the past three years since Li Jian moved in which was to go to work, come home, cook dinner, eat together, watch TV, and repeat it all over again the next day. Now that I think about it it's time for a change! 

I got to work just fine, and being the first one there I unlocked the doors myself. I work in a massive building, the entirety of which belongs to me. It feels like a big responsibility to own such a big modeling agency at my age. Usually these types of buildings are owned by old men and then inherited by their sons.