In a flash, she remembered her reason for voting for Liao Xin Yan during the class monitor election.
“Oh no.” Yuan Er slapped her forehead.
She couldn’t find Liao Xin Yan from Si Shui – the salon guy told her that little Liao had just gone down to receive customers and should be busy now. Yuan Er could only sheepishly return to her seat.
“What’s wrong?” Jing Xi Chi was puzzled.
“That just now was my middle school classmate, also called Liao Xin Yan.” Yuan Er felt extremely frustrated, “She must think I recognized her but still said she had the wrong person, and what we were saying… ah, I’d be uncomfortable too if I were her.”
The changes were too great – Yuan Er’s impression was still stuck on the twelve or thirteen-year-old wearing baggy uniforms with thick bangs. Today’s Miss Liao was completely different from back then. When “Xin Yan” was called out, she must have been so happy – an old classmate recognizing her at a glance, especially one who had moved away early to live in a big city. Yuan Er could understand her disappointment and resentment when leaving because it seemed like her words and reactions had drawn a clear divide – today our relationship is that of service staff and customer, nothing more.
How aggravating could it be?
“Don’t think about it, go comfort Old Song.” Jing Xi Chi patted her shoulder, “I’m going to the restroom.”
Yuan Er nodded absent-mindedly, dragging her feet to Song Cong’s side.
Jing Xi Chi made a show of heading to the bathroom door, saw Yuan Er chatting with Song Cong from afar, and then turned to go upstairs.
Unlike the open space downstairs, here the corridors on both sides were divided into several independent beauty rooms, each with hanging curtains covering the entrance. The waiting area had only two sofas, with a desk displaying service counter signs opposite, the seat unoccupied.
Just as Jing Xi Chi stood there, little Liao came out of a room marked “Workroom” with a towel over one arm. Seeing him, she paused slightly, then asked very professionally, “Do you have an appointment?”
“I came with Yuan Er.” Jing Xi Chi skipped other self-introductions, “Are you busy?”
Little Liao’s hand was still on the doorknob. She hesitated briefly before closing the door and walking over, “Not really.”
“Yuan Er wanted to come up earlier, but the colleague downstairs said you had customers and she was afraid of disturbing you.” Jing Xi Chi pressed his lips together, “We happened to be talking about another friend called Xin Yan, she didn’t recognize you at the time, absolutely no other meaning.”
A very brief explanation, but little Liao understood.
She lowered her eyes, “It’s normal, we haven’t seen each other for many years, everyone’s changed a lot.”
“Yuan Er often mentions her days in Si Shui, that period was very important to her.” Jing Xi Chi smiled, “She says you must be angry.”
“How could I be,” little Liao blushed, “I’m not angry, just… I thought she didn’t want to acknowledge us old classmates.”
“Xin Yan,” a middle-aged woman in uniform called out as she came down the corridor. Seeing Jing Xi Chi, she smiled politely first, then asked, “A customer?”
“Oh, no…” Little Liao was about to speak but was interrupted by Jing Xi Chi, who pointed at her, “Yes, a friend knows Xin Yan, I came to consult.”
“Your customer then.” The middle-aged woman nodded, taking the towel from her hand, “You receive them, I’ll go over first.”
Once she left, Jing Xi Chi quickly asked, “What services do you offer here? I’m looking at getting something for my mom.”
Little Liao hesitantly took out a service menu from the reception desk drawer, looking at him with partial understanding.
Jing Xi Chi glanced at it then put it down, “Under fifty, something that would make her feel prettier and beneficial for health, what do you think is good?”
The terms on the service menu were all in Chinese characters, but when put together he didn’t recognize half of them.
Little Liao selected a few to explain briefly. When he heard “aunties generally like this one,” Jing Xi Chi’s eyes lit up, “That’s it!”
“This package now has a buy-ten-get-one-free deal, quite suitable.”
“All right.” Jing Xi Chi nodded, then added, “Two aunties, let’s get two cards.”
“One for Yuan Er’s mom?” Little Liao had figured it out long ago – sneaking up here to explain, actively contributing business to her, the relationship wasn’t just “came together.”
“Right,” Jing Xi Chi didn’t deny it, “They can come as companions.”
“You’re Yuan Er’s…” Little Liao smiled, “Boyfriend? Husband?”
Jing Xi Chi was beaming inside but waved it off casually, “Hey, just a matter of time.”
The entrepreneurship competition prize money would be about enough for Song Cong’s perm and beauty treatments for two moms – his first time spending money entirely on what mattered.
Wonderful.
After more than three hours of careful styling by the hairdresser, Song Cong transformed from a proper Republican-era male student to a fashionable young man with a head of chestnut-colored curls.
Jing Xi Chi stroked his new hair like petting a son, sighing like an old father, “Looking good.”
“Don’t touch,” Yuan Er swatted his hand away, “You’re touching money.”
Song Cong found it funny too – treating someone to dinner, drinks, or clubbing to console them after a breakup was one thing, but treating them to a perm must be a world first.
Emotions indeed need an outlet, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be hysterical venting. Having good friends by your side doing whatever somehow makes your heart inexplicably brighter.
As they were leaving, little Liao hurriedly ran out after them, holding up her hands covered in essential oils like a surgeon about to start an operation. She called out to Yuan Er, “What are you doing now?”
“Still studying.” Yuan Er looked at her, her expression carrying some apology, “Xin Yan, just now I…”
After being told three times that little Liao was busy, she decided to keep her apology in her heart.
“That’s good, you were always good at studying.” Little Liao looked at Jing Xi Chi, saw him shake his head slightly, and smiled faintly, “Yuan Er, call me when you get married.”
This surprised Yuan Er – marriage? Is this how people greet each other now?
A voice came from the store, “Xin Yan comes up quick, the customer is waiting!”
“Coming!” Little Liao responded loudly, walking inside while turning back, “Remember to call me!”
The three walked forward shoulder to shoulder for a few steps. The more Yuan Er thought about it, the stranger it seemed, “Did she mistake me for some other Chen Yuan Er who’s getting married? Mission Impossible today?”
“Is that possible? With your name.” Song Cong glanced at Jing Xi Chi, “Though someone might be making secret moves.”
Yuan Er didn’t catch his little gesture, but Song Cong read it all.
No need to guess what happened.
Jing Xi Chi quickly interrupted, “Just call her then, one more person means one more gift money.”
“Huh,” Yuan Er rolled her eyes, “As if the money would end up in your pocket.”
“It will.” Jing Xi Chi turned his head and muttered quietly, unable to hold back his smile.