Chapter Fifty-One: All a Misunderstanding

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I was puzzled—so late at night, who could possibly be calling me? And the number was utterly unfamiliar; I was certain I'd never seen it before.

I pressed the answer button and said, “Hello? Who is this?”

A woman’s voice came through the phone, “Is this Mr. Tang Qian? This is Xu Shu. I’m sorry to bother you so late, but there are a few things on my mind that I’d like you to clarify for me. Are you available now?”

I was silent for a moment, then replied, “I’m sorry, I’m not available right now.”

“Oh? I see, I’m truly sorry. It’s just that after the banquet, I thought things through carefully, and I think I may have misunderstood something between you and Jingjing. Could you spare me two minutes, just to let me clear things up?”

A cold sneer crossed my mind. Why didn’t you think to clear things up at the time? Since you so quickly decided that I was the sort of person who latches onto the rich and powerful, that my relationship with Hua Jingjing was only for her money, why bother pretending now that you might have been mistaken?

Misunderstandings aren’t frightening; as long as they’re explained, they can be resolved. What’s truly abhorrent is her disdain for the poor and the belief that money can buy anything. That, I think, is what I resent most about her. Even if I could explain and Xu Shu understood the truth, it would never change her contempt for those who toil, her conviction that wealth is all that matters.

And to think she’s a beloved superstar! Her fans are, for the most part, ordinary people just like me. She stands on stage declaring her love for them, all the while looking down on them in her heart. How hypocritical! What good would it do to tell her the truth?

Besides, she’s already insulted me; my pride won’t allow me to forgive her. Even if she apologized after learning the truth, it wouldn’t erase the wound she’s inflicted. I have no hope she’ll say “I’m sorry, I was wrong.” That’s not what I want. What I want is respect! Equality!

Ever since she handed me those two checks, telling me to leave Hua Jingjing, her once beautiful image in my mind has been utterly shattered. I look down on her from the bottom of my heart. So what if she’s rich? That’s all she has. So what if she’s famous? Fame is given by others—if everyone turned on her, she’d be nothing! And yes, she’s pretty. But what’s beauty? If her soul is ugly, no matter how lovely her face, she’s no true beauty. True beauty includes beauty of spirit.

So I have no desire to explain anything to Xu Shu. I really don’t care to. Since you’ve already sentenced me in your mind, any effort to prove my innocence would only bring me further humiliation. It would only deepen your contempt.

In a flash, countless thoughts raced through my mind, but one thing was certain: I could not allow myself to be insulted by her any longer.

So I said, “There’s nothing more to say. Ask Hua Jingjing yourself! I have things to do now; I’m hanging up.”

“Wait! Please wait!” Xu Shu called out anxiously.

I hesitated, but didn’t hang up.

Xu Shu said, “Aren’t I still supposed to return your scarf? Tell me when you’d like it back, and I’ll return it to you.”

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I deliberately made things difficult for her, saying, “I want it now! Can you give it back to me?”

Xu Shu thought a moment, then said, “Where are you now? I’ll have someone deliver it within an hour.”

I had just reached the commercial street and saw rows of food stalls along the roadside. So I said, “An hour? All right. I’m having a late snack on Commercial Street. Send someone over as soon as possible—there’s a post office here, I’ll wait at the entrance.”

Xu Shu replied, “Fine. It’s now 11:47. In exactly one hour, I’ll have the scarf delivered to you in person.” I said nothing more, hung up, and walked toward the stalls.

Knowing I had to wait an hour, I didn’t order any fast food like plain noodles or dumplings. Instead, I went into a barbecue tent, ordered grilled corn, roasted bread, several skewers of lamb, and a bowl of thick, sweet corn porridge. I ate and drank slowly—after all, I had plenty of time.

Once I was full and stretching with satisfaction, I checked the time—only forty-five minutes had passed. So I didn’t rush but lit a cigarette and sat to while away the minutes.

A single cigarette later, only five more minutes had passed. I stood, paid the bill, and strolled slowly out of the barbecue tent toward the post office across the street. I thought to myself, “The one returning my scarf in a few minutes must be that strong-armed Wang Bingzhang, right? Hmm, maybe not. Who am I to warrant his personal attention? He’s Xu Shu’s chief bodyguard, once a commander in the army—he wouldn’t deliver a mere scarf himself. Most likely, she’ll just send any bodyguard over, and that’s already a favor.”

I lit another cigarette. It was late, and since Commercial Street is a famous night market, there was little traffic—only people coming for food. Around 12:46, I saw headlights flashing in the distance on Jianguo Road. A car barreled down at a speed that seemed incredible, drove straight into Commercial Street, and screeched to a halt at the post office entrance.

I dropped my cigarette, bent down to see who Xu Shu had sent. But as the car door opened, Xu Shu herself, dressed in a jet-black leather jacket, stuck her head out and called, “Mr. Tang!”

I was startled. This superstar herself, out in the dead of night, had come to return my things?

I said, “Why did you come yourself? Where’s the scarf?”

Xu Shu smiled first, then turned serious. “I’m sorry, I lied. I don’t have it with me right now.”

I was momentarily stunned, and then the anger began to rise. If it weren’t for the fact that Xu Shu had come in person, so late at night, showing her sincerity, I’d have turned on my heel and left—this was too much!

Seeing the change in my expression, Xu Shu quickly explained, “Your scarf is at my parents’ house, which is far from here, and since you wanted it immediately, I had no choice but to say we’d meet in an hour. In fact, I want to take you with me to retrieve it. That way, we can save time and talk on the way. Does that sound all right, Mr. Tang?”

I considered it and said, “Why don’t you have one of your people fetch it for me? Or have them take me instead? For a big star like you to come personally—it’s more than I deserve!”

Xu Shu said, “No one but me can enter my parents’ house, and your scarf is in my own room. I don’t want anyone rummaging through my things, so I have to go myself. And I want to talk to you. Will you get in? The door’s open, it’s cold out.”

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I hesitated, unsure if I should get in the car with her. I wasn’t afraid of retrieving the scarf—I just didn’t want her to question me about Hua Jingjing. Since I hadn’t explained myself at the time, I wasn’t about to do something foolish now and give Xu Shu more reason to look down on me.

Seeing my hesitation, Xu Shu added, “Tomorrow at noon, my agent and I are flying to Hollywood for auditions and costume fittings. I don’t know when I’ll be back. If you’re not in a hurry, you can wait until I return from America, but can you wait that long?”

I sighed inwardly, thinking, “If it comes to it, I’ll just play dumb—say I know nothing. Let’s see if she can force me to talk.” Having made up my mind, I got in the car.

Xu Shu gave a faint smile, looked me up and down, and said, “Where’s that expensive suit of yours? Changed out of it already?”

I smiled coldly and replied, “Just drive. I only want back what’s mine—I’ve never wanted what belongs to others.”

Xu Shu raised her eyebrows, but didn’t press further. “Buckle up. The road’s long, and I’m going to drive fast.” Her car was a sports car I’d never seen before, couldn’t even name. But the interior was finely crafted and the design elegant. With Xu Shu herself—such a superstar—behind the wheel, it was surely worth a fortune. I fastened my seatbelt and ignored her, pretending to rest with my eyes closed.

The car started. It was a truly fine vehicle—when she spun it around and floored it, the ride was so smooth it barely disturbed a drop of water, and the engine purred quietly. It seemed every bit as good as a Ferrari.

A few turns later, we suddenly entered Wuyi Road. With the car’s power, we reached the area near the stadium in just a few minutes.

Xu Shu slowed down and stopped at the intersection of Stadium Road and Wuyi Road. Looking at the familiar place, she said softly, “I’ll never forget that snowy night when you carried me to the hospital. From that moment, I believed you were an upright, kind man. I told you I’d repay you one day.”

I too felt a wave of emotion at the sight. That night was a beautiful page in my memory. Xu Shu, in my mind, was beautiful and lovable. But that page was torn to shreds by her own hand today—no, last night. I couldn’t help but say, “Your idea of repayment was to give me money and tell me to leave Hua Jingjing? Thanks, but I can’t accept that kind of gratitude!”

Xu Shu replied, “I admit giving you money was a mistake. You left such a good impression on me—I always thought you were a man of integrity despite hard times. Don’t you remember? You told me you were about to lose your job, and when I offered to help, you refused. You said, ‘I’m a grown man, I have two hands and two feet—how could I starve?’ I admired that so much. But last night I saw you dressed like a nouveau riche and appearing at my birthday party with my dearest friend. To be honest, my good impression was shattered. I was angry and disappointed. So I started to look down on you, thinking you were after wealth. That’s why I gave you money to leave Jingjing—I didn’t want my best friend to be deceived.”

I remained silent, but I listened intently.

Xu Shu looked at me earnestly, “If you’d really taken those two checks, I’d have despised you forever. I’d have had my bodyguards throw you out, never wanting to see you again. I’d have hated myself for misjudging you. But you didn’t take the money, and what you said made me realize there was something odd. After the party, I thought it over for a long time. I don’t think you’re that kind of person. I was relieved you refused the money. Mr. Tang, are you still the good man I believed you to be? I need an answer! I need you to tell me! That’s why I came looking for you so late—I can’t bear the thought that the good man who carried me through the snow would be misunderstood by me. If it’s true, I’d never forgive myself!”

Looking into her warm and sincere eyes, the hatred in my heart for her began to melt. If what Xu Shu said was true, then we had both misunderstood each other. The misunderstanding was easily resolved—it was only my pride and stubbornness that kept me silent. I remembered how this arrogance had once hurt Qiu Jieqin. Was I wrong? Does pride and stubbornness really make so many things impossible to resolve?

Outside the window came the roar of motorcycles—five or six street bikes surrounded us. Their riders were young men with a wild look. One bald youth whistled and shouted, “Wow! A Lamborghini! Who the hell’s got that kind of money? Let’s take a look!”