The Fourth Song – 《Insomnia Flight》

I took a shower as soon as I arrived home.

Originally, I would tend to forget to apply my body lotion. But today, I took out the white tea body lotion jar out from beneath the facial scrub and put it in a place where it could be seen at a glance, reminding myself to always remember to use it.

Returning to the bedroom while rubbing my ears with a cotton swab, I picked up the phone from the edge of the bed and found Lu had sent me a message.

It was a photo of the night view, the light spots from the opposite bank were reflected on the water like the Milky Way.

I zoomed in and scrutinized it like a straight guy.¹[1] The connotations here are that a straight guy, one who doesn’t have a single romantic cell in their body, is essentially tactless and blunt and doesn’t catch the implied meanings. After I determined it was taken by the shore of Xilin Lake, I saved it to my Album and typed: Are you off from work?
He said: Yes.
I asked: You didn’t take a taxi back?
Him: I wanted to take a walk.

I said: For digestion?
He said: I’m still hungry.

Me: Did you not eat dinner?
Him: I didn’t have time.

I witnessed myself typing out an impulsive line: I’ll treat you to a late-night snack.
At this moment, I couldn’t figure out whether I was joking or suggesting seriously.

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Tkp alprsdpl oyp okvbkd xu lmrlnvyvksdp: Lso?
R qszzsole okvb: Zsw nyd’v?
Nw alrzkle: Rv’p hlau zyvl.
R vwadle xu blye vs vbl pkel, zssjkdt yv xu xypjle qynl kd vbl qwzz-zldtvb xkaasa yde vbld qkdyzzu altykdle psxl sq xu alypsd: Zsw’al aktbv, R’hl alxshle xu xyjlwr vss.

Tl oyp pvkzz vurkdt: Yyu R kdhkvl usw vs zwdnb vsxsaaso?

Yu blyavclyv prle wr clnywpl sq vbkp wdlmrlnvle kdhkvyvksd. Yu qynl oakdjzle xsxldvyakzu: Tx?
Tl nsrkle xu osaep: Zsw nyd’v?

Rv oyp xu qywzv, R plv y cye lmyxrzl. R pvkzz eked’v jdso bso vs elyz okvb vbkp pkvwyvksd: Rv’p dsv vbyv R nyd’v.
Tl pldple vbyv R bye yd “kppwl”: Jwv?
Yu xypj nsdvkdwle vs pbkqv: R’x dsv nsxrzlvlzu ralryale, rpunbszstknyzzu.

Tl alqlaale vs vbl zkdl R wple vs kdhkvl bkx qsa zyvl-dktbv pdynjp: Fs vbkp kp?
R zyke cynj esod sd vbl cle kd elqlyv, qkzzkdt kd vbl bszl: G vlpv.

Tl alvwadle okvb y pvknjla sq y jkvvu okvb kvp ryop aykple kd y “R pwaaldela, R pwaaldela” rspl, bkp yvvkvwel hlau rzlypydv: Mbld byhl R rypple uswa vlpv?
R akrrle sqq vbl xkppbyrld xypj: Zlp.

Tl vbld pyke: Rv’p sjyu kq usw alflnv.
R pvwccsadzu alqwple: R ynnlrv.

Nw’p “vurkdt” pvyvwp pvsrrle qsa y xsxldv, yp kq bl oyp ektlpvkdt vbl kdnsdpkpvldnu clvolld xu ydpola kd vbl cltkddkdt yde lde, zkjl R bye alflnvle bkx vs vlypl bkx.
Tl nsdvkdwle: R’zz zssj qsa y rzynl.
Tl vbld ypjle: Ebyv es usw zkjl vs lyv?

I became alert and referenced the line he used when inviting me out to eat lunch, pretending to be vigilant: You aren’t testing me with this question, are you?

He objected: No, this is your second test for me.
Him: Thank you for agreeing.

I covered my face with my phone again. I was over the moon.

We chatted for a few more messages, then Lu said he had arrived home. I looked at the time. It was already midnight so I told him to take care of his own matters and the rest could be talked about tomorrow. We told each other goodnight. I thought of an important matter and stopped in the chatting interface: How old are you?
He said: 27.
Me: Ok.
He didn’t understand: Why did you suddenly ask for my age?
Me: I’ve decided how to dress up for tomorrow.
He sent the surrendering kitty sticker again.
I realized something then. Every time this guy sent this surrendering kitty sticker, there was a high chance he was laughing, it was like a set tag.

Just before going to bed, I couldn’t calm down no matter what, so I scanned through my entire day’s conversation with Lu. By the time I finished, it was already past one and my cheeks were sore. Then I noticed he had updated his Moments.

It was another song, 《Insomnia Flight》.

I smiled as I looked at the lyrics, playing the song on loop for who knew how many times.

The next day, I pulled out ten sets of clothes from my wardrobe and tried them on one by one. I wasn’t satisfied with a single one of them but I had no other options. I eventually put on the skirt which barely satisfied me. Before I hurried over to the subway, I stopped by the hairdresser located across the neighborhood and had my hair washed. Then I asked the male stylist to give me some loose curls.

After being absent-minded for about an hour as I waited for my hair to be done, I arrived on time for our appointment.

The place we had arranged to meet was at a shopping mall near my workplace, at Gate 1. I walked over. As I had enough time, my steps weren’t quick, but my heart was still racing.

I struggled to breathe evenly.

It was Friday. The skies were clear. Although it was a weekday, this commercial district was never idle. Every exit was crowded with people.

Crossing the sidewalk, I stopped by the curb and lowered my head to send a message to Lu: I’m here.

Ten minutes ago, he had sent a message: I’m leaving now.

Our messages appeared in the chatting window simultaneously——

I asked: What are you wearing?
He said: I’m at the entrance.

Lu replied: A white shirt.

I walked over in that direction, examining each and male dressed in a white shirt who was coming in and out or standing by the gate

SOS, I was so anxious that I turned back into the headless fly of yesterday, which walked out of the subway car, looking for a person.

At this moment, he called my phone.

The sound of the ringtone made my heart leap into my throat. I picked up and just as I was about to speak, he spoke first: “I think I see you.”

“Look toward the front.”

This sound was like the light beam of a lighthouse in the midst of a sea of people. I raised my eyes and looked toward the direction he had suggested. In my view, a tall and lanky male waved his hand at me. I heard a buzz in my ears. Using the word, “surprise” wouldn’t be enough to summarize my feelings in this second. I squinted my eyes almost subconsciously but this was unrelated to the sunlight and the reflection of the light from the glass of the mall’s building. It was entirely to do with his appearance. He quickened his steps, walking in my direction. This scene was exceptionally like something out of a Korean drama, the soft light, everything in slow motion, and me coming into focus.

I was held in place by the roaring heartbeat debuff and unable to move, my breath about to stop.²[2] A debuff is an effect placed on a character that negatively impacts their statistics and characteristics. -Cyber Definitions

He stopped before me and called my name: “Kiki.”
His voice was calm and certain, not like confirming my identity but like we were familiar with each other.

There was a subtle difference from how his voice sounded over the phone. It was realer, clearer, but the melodiousness of it remained the same.

I nodded my head, aware of the lack of need to hide my name, and told him: “Just call me Qi Miao.”

I needed to meet customers in person for work so I didn’t have any fear of meeting eye to eye with people.
Even if I could feel the heat spreading from the base of my ears.

I was being roasted by his gaze, or rather, I should say, just from him looking at me, was already enough to make me heat up.

Lu was definitely not nearsighted because his eyes were very bright.

Then he called me by the name I had given him: “Qi Miao.”
He curled the corners of his lips very minutely: “It is a little surprising.”³[3] Here, he’s making a play on words.
The chinese for surprising is 奇妙. The pinyin for this is qí miào. Compare this to the pinyin of her name: Qí Miào. It looks exactly the same, right?
But here, look again, this is her name in characters, 祁妙. The first character of both is different from each other, whereas the second character is the same.
The “qi” in her surname means large or vast and the “qi” in surprising, means unusually, or surprisingly.

It was the first time I realized someone could laugh so dazzlingly without showing their teeth.

Was he really that good-looking? Or was it a beautiful illusion caused by dopamine? Or was the weather too pleasant? He looked impossibly perfect, like a limited-edition summer boyfriend in a love-themed movie, young, bright, eyes which would remain focused on you, and thick eyelashes which would make one want to reach out and touch them.

I couldn’t turn my gaze from him: “You’re not the first one to say this.”

He gave me his full name in exchange: “Lu Chengze.”

I repeated after him: “Lu Chengze.”

He gave an “mhmm.” The nasal sound seemed to emphasize his sincerity. He rubbed his nose, revealing his unease and coughed, as if he helped a friend fake his attendance by yelling ‘here’ while the teacher was taking roll call in a lecture but immediately lost his composure afterwards.
D*mn this male youth feel, freaking appearing on a twenty-seven-year-old man.

It was impossible for it to not create ripples in a person’s mind. The corners of my lips were about to stray out of my control: “What “Cheng” and what “Ze.” I’m going to change the remark after I get back.”⁴[4] His name, Chengze(成則), means winner.
He replied: “The winner will be king and the loser will be a prisoner.”
I said in an old-fashioned manner: Woah, it is quite ambitious

For the first time since we met, an obvious expression appeared on his face. He was still smiling, but it was even more handsome and more infectious than when he had his lips pursed.

“It’s not really like that,” he said: “ at the time, my parents thought there had to be rules to dictate one’s behavior.”
I said: “Then are you a rule-follower?”
He probably didn’t think I’d continue inquiring and froze for a moment: “I should be?”
I continued to look at him: “But you don’t look like you’re a rule-follower.”

He finally——smiled and turned his face to the side, revealing a little shyness, a little reservation, and a little of the contentment and helplessness distinctive to older boys.

Yes, boy. There was a slight difference between Lu in person and Lu online. Online, he seemed to be more forward and able to control the playing field. Through that medium, there were too many “manly” elements but when I faced him, my brain would automatically change the keywords to “boy.”

When he turned his face back around, he became slightly more resolute: “I should say thank you or explain something.”

He clearly knew his own strengths and didn’t shy away from them. But he acted like he was unable to withstand any kind of provocation, giving me the misconception that I had the upper hand and could bully him.

So I deliberately asked him: “Explain what?”
He said: “My lack of good behavior. I don’t want to give you that kind of first impression.”
I explained to him: “Genetic issues are beyond your control.”
He laughed aloud again.

For as long as he was laughing, I laughed for the same amount of time. But I had to keep some of it in so as to not look so foolish on the outside. When engaging in a relationship between a man and woman, could it exercise and slim your face? Were there no scientists who had taken on this subject?

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(Q/N: Where’s the stranger danger in this!?!?!! But, ngl though, he’s smooth all right. Glad the girl got her lunch date. Meanwhile, I’m probably her colleague – still stuck in the office.)

(T/N: Ahhh, squeal! I was just imagining their meeting in the crowd, so beautiful!)

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Index:

[1] The connotations here are that a straight guy, one who doesn’t have a single romantic cell in their body, is essentially tactless and blunt and doesn’t catch the implied meanings.

[2] A debuff is an effect placed on a character that negatively impacts their statistics and characteristics. -Cyber Definitions

[3] Here, he’s making a play on words.

The chinese for surprising is 奇妙. The pinyin for this is qí miào. Compare this to the pinyin of her name: Qí Miào. It looks exactly the same, right? 

But here, look again, this is her name in characters, 祁妙. The first character of both is different from each other, whereas the second character is the same. 

The “qi” in her surname means large or vast and the “qi” in surprising, can mean unusually, or surprisingly.

[4] His name, Chengze(成則), means winner.