Back Then, I Adored You

“Something weird happened to him, or maybe not exactly weird but more like unreal. It seemed like something that only happened in the novels I read in high school. Do you know about Liang Doukou? She’s his wife—a superstar. For some reason, she found herself a body double to play her after she married him.”

The knife slid in Qin Zhi’ai’s hand, slicing some skin off her fingertip. The cut bled immediately.

She put down the knife and pressed on the wound. She quietly responded to Xu Wennuan, still cleaning the coriander, with an “oh.”

“I’m not sure what exactly happened. I just heard it from Wu Hao, but he didn’t know any details. Xiao’ai, don’t you think it’s weird that something like that would actually happen in real life?”

( Box novel.c om ) So Liang Doukou had found herself a body double, and the truth came out three months after getting rid of the double.

Deep in thought, Qin Zhi’ai did not hear what Xu Wennuan said next.

“Oh, Xiao’ai, are you available two nights from now?” Xu Wennuan finally finished cleaning the coriander and stood up. She noticed Qin Zhi’ai staring at the vacuum in front of her while pressing on her finger. After waving her hand in front of Qin Zhi’ai’s face and getting no reaction, she leaned toward her ear and said, “Hey,” to get her attention.

Qin Zhi’ai jumped and turned toward Xu Wennuan, who saw the cut on her finger. She dropped the coriander on the floor and grabbed her hand. “Uh, Xiao’ai, how did you cut yourself? I’ll go get a bandage.”

“No, thank you,” Qin Zhi’ai replied. She rinsed her hand under water until her finger stopped bleeding. She picked the knife up and continued slicing the meat, finally asking, “What did you just say?”

“I asked if you are available two nights from now?”

“Why?”

“It’s Wu Hao’s friend’s birthday. He’s going to throw a yacht party, and I can take you.”

Both Gu Yusheng and Lu Bancheng were Wu Hao’s friends, and she knew Gu Yusheng’s birthday was not this month. She wondered if it could be Lu Bancheng’s birthday.

Qin Zhi’ai asked casually, “Who’s the friend?”

“Lu Bancheng. You met him last time we had dinner together.” Xu Wennuan suddenly smiled. “Xiao’ai, are you a fan of anyone famous? Wu Hao’s friend is a film investor, and he has a lot of connections. He recently took me to see some of my favorite celebrities and I got pictures with them.”

Qin Zhi’ai knew it had to have been Lu Bancheng. When she heard what Xu Wennuan said at the end, she turned around to look at her. She signaled her to step back so she could turn on the stove. She heated up the wok until it was dry, poured some oil, and started to cook.

When the food was ready, the two of them sat across from each other at the table. As they ate, Xu Wennuan remembered that Qin Zhi’ai had not answered her question and asked again, “Xiao’ai, you haven’t answered me. Are you available two nights from now?”

( Box novel.c om ) Xu Wennuan paused for a second and continued, “You haven’t started school yet so you should be free. Why don’t you go with me? You’ll be bored at home anyway. Okay?”