Running away from the Love-Brain

Pineapple Cake

For Cui Xijin, writing this greeting card felt like making a certain decision.

It was as if the sword of Damocles hanging over her head had finally been cut free from its noose. In that moment, there was nothing left but a sense of dull relief.

She knew, of course, that black-and-white text could be destroyed. She was aware of her own capriciousness, always making what she believed at the moment to be the most rational decisions, only to overturn them as time passed.

So, before going back,

She handed the card directly to Ran Yan, hoping she wouldn't give her any chances for changes. Ran Yan responded with an "OK," saying she would give it to Chi Buyu at the birthday party tomorrow. Chen Wenran, curious about what was written inside, tried to sneak a peek but was forcefully taken away by Cui Xijin.

Worried about Chen Wenran's curiosity, Cui Xijin instructed Ran Yan not to let anyone see the contents before Chi Buyu did.

She figured that among the three of them, at least Ran Yan could be trusted.

In other words,

There were nearly 19 hours left before the sword of Damocles would truly fall.

If nothing unexpected happened—Cui Xijin carefully added this condition, considering herself the biggest unforeseen circumstance.

She even thought about how nighttime is when humans are most prone to impulsiveness and regret.

To that end, after returning from the hot spring hotel, she dug out that old phone from her suitcase, put it in her pocket, and clutched it tightly in her hand... She bound herself tightly under the sword, forcing herself not to escape.

In fact, she didn't even know why she had brought this dangerous object on the trip. As early as the night before, she had pulled out the old phone, but just stared blankly at its dark screen, unable to turn it on.

Tonight, the water had already reached her throat.

After dinner, Chi Buyu was in the living room, applying a face mask while accompanying Meng Yuhong to continue watching that old Taiwanese drama, with Chen Wenran and Ran Yan joining them. The three kids and one adult chattered noisily in front of the TV, discussing whether friendships that exceed mere friendship should develop into love.

Chen Wenran bit into half a cucumber and said, "In reality, it's impossible to have anything beyond friendship; there are just impatient people who can tell if they're friends or lovers after the first meeting."

Ran Yan opened a bag of chips and replied, "That's not necessarily true, though. You're not them, so how do you know these two don't have real patience?"

Chen Wenran mixed the cucumber and chips, turning it into cucumber-flavored chips, and said, "Then those two are just cowards."

Suddenly, the two of them began to argue over the drama, in unison,

"Shuishui, what do you think?"

Shuishui herself, munching on chips through her mask, took a while, seemed to tear open a new bag, and slowly said, "Because to have is to begin losing~"

She mimicked a line from the previous episode, her voice intentionally low and even with a standard Taiwanese accent.

Chen Wenran and Ran Yan simultaneously made a sound of disapproval. Meng Yuhong, awakened by her own snoring, asked in a startled tone, "What happened? What did we lose?"

Laughter erupted in the living room.

Cui Xijin was hiding in her room, the battery of her old black Samsung charged to 99%.