Chapter 17: Stirred

After Christmas, Nanliu—the southern coastal county—met a new cold wave. Temperature stopped yo-yoing; for days it would hover around ten Celsius. Nanliu’s winter had finally begun.
Christmas fell on a weekend—but the cold front hit then too—Qi Yu had no mood to go out, stayed home, no real sense of the air outside yet.
This morning she threw on a fleece hoodie and left—hit the stairwell and the wind sent her running back inside—dug out down jacket from the bottom of the wardrobe, faint mothball smell—who knew how long it had been stored.
Back and forth—almost missed clock-in at work.
Fortunately the cold wave got more than her—several in the department scraped in on time.
Morning meeting—conference room “dead inside”—like senior high morning reading—sleepy but pretending alert.
Qi Yu too.
Director still at the screen—last campaign debrief, pros and cons—Qi Yu drifted, caught fragments, noted key points.
Director—middle-aged man, not bald but a fine beer belly. Temper okay, talk endless—one point sprawled into details—fifteen minutes became thirty.
Halfway through Qi Yu checked phone under the table.
Last night—read messages she had not replied to.
Li Tong—high school classmate—DM asking if she was going to Saturday’s class reunion—RSVP in the group. A few lines persuading her—long time no see, miss you.
Li Tong—sat together second year of high school—outgoing, “social butterfly” by today’s slang—often started talk, ate together—closest with Li Tong that year.
Senior year she drew close to Jiang Ya. Li Tong often hung with both—but Li Tong collected friends at school-wide speed—over time not as close.
After graduation Li Tong went abroad—less contact. Li Tong came back once, organized a gathering—Qi Yu was restaurant part-time, declined.
Qi Yu did not reply Li Tong first—opened the RSVP group.
Small group—about ten—Li Tong said—all same class back then, people she knew well.
Qi Yu skimmed chat and members—Jiang Ya in the group—but had not RSVP. Only she and Jiang Ya left off the list.
Expected—Jiang Ya disliked gatherings—did not even go to graduation dinner—that night Qi Yu had specially asked her out instead…
Pulled from memory—stared at the RSVP line—added her name.
Just done—lucky—director called her name.
“Qi Yu.” Front of room—all eyes on her. “Last week’s event plan—how far along?”
Many eyes—she flushed a little—voice still steady. “Core flow and budget draft done. Waiting on vendor quotes and venue confirm.”
“When final? Client feedback Wednesday—today Monday—don’t leave till last day.”
“Quotes closed today—final review tomorrow morning.”
“Mm. Write a contingency too. Don’t wait till done—flag blockers. Tomorrow morning full plan and contingency on my desk.”
Director turned to next person—Qi Yu breathed out inside.
False alarm.
.
Meeting “fine” but colleague Xiao Zhao beside her grumbled leaving. “Damn—always rushing—meeting rush—he knows our team’s one person short…”
“Rush my ass. Annoying.”
Xiao Zhao’s desk next door—Qi Yu said. “Don’t stay mad—useless—and bad for you.”
“Yeah I know—but how not mad?” Xiao Zhao turned, indignant. “Why? We’re efficient, good, capable—so this nepotism hire lands on our team?”
“We do his share—he fishes all day. Sick. Dead weight.”
Qi Yu heard—the real target.
The “nepotism” guy walked by with coffee—Xiao Zhao secret eye-roll.
Some exec’s placement—late often—director barely scolded—lip service.
Work worse—fish, barely in plans—sometimes chimed in—never tracked progress.
Because he left early—that day before parent meeting—team forced overtime—Qi Yu late to the meeting.
“Nothing we can do—director won’t touch him—us peasants less.” Qi Yu opened laptop, sighed. “Grind for now—can’t head-on.”
Xiao Zhao wanted to argue—gave in. “Fine. Not worth matching that idiot.”
Qi Yu laughed at her bluntness.
Turned—phone screen lit.
WeChat—Li Tong reply—and group.
Familiar name in RSVP group—heart jumped—opened—
Minutes ago—Jiang Ya’s name right after hers—signed up too.
.
After discussion—Saturday night—KTV in the mall.
Qi Yu rarely went to gatherings—bad at talk, bad at networking—declined when she could.
On the way she imagined—how to greet everyone… Jiang Ya… what to talk… awkward…
All shattered walking into the private room.
Li Tong unchanged—glasses off, makeup—mature beyond her years.
Still fiery—hug at once. Qi Yu stiff a second—then relaxed, smiled hello.
Not silent like she feared—clusters on the curved sofa—topics flying.
Polite hellos—Li Tong pulled her to sit beside her.
Li Tong saw her looking around—looked too—oh. “Looking for Jiang Ya?”
Name—heart tightened—before Qi Yu spoke Li Tong: “She said something came up—late—play first.”
Something? Saturday—what…
Qi Yu thought.
Last saw Jiang Ya two weeks ago—supermarket—meal at her place—after goodbye no contact.
Lately Jiang Ya liked her Christmas photo—that was it.
“Haven’t seen her in years—wonder how she is… hey you still in touch?”
Li Tong from the side—Qi Yu woke—paused— “Mm, yeah.”
Li Tong: “Me too—never chat. Her Moments—school stuff… she teaching now?”
Qi Yu smiled. “Yeah. My cousin’s homeroom teacher.”
“So lucky! You two are fated!”
Qi Yu dry laugh—no answer.
“Curious—she dating?” Gossip light in Li Tong’s eyes.
“…No. Probably not.”
“Okay—I wanted to ask if she had someone—what type—so many chased her in high school.”
“Remember? Guy from next class—rooftop date—stood up—gave the love letter to their homeroom teacher—guy skipped school days—hahaha…”
Li Tong on Qi Yu’s shoulder—laughing bright.
Qi Yu said nothing—forced smile corner.
Seven o’clock—past seven thirty—Jiang Ya arrived late.
Qi Yu on phone absent-minded—cheers at door—Jiang Ya standing there.
Different today.
Makeup—curled hair—British-style deep brown knee-length coat, plaid scarf, shoulder bag. Cool features, gentle noble air—standing there was enough to command the room.
Not only Qi Yu stunned.
Gasps—Li Tong hugged her too—others crowded—handshakes—adding contacts…
Only Qi Yu—once her only close friend—motionless—eyes straight on her.
Seeing her surrounded—Qi Yu’s eyes dropped.
“Qi Yu.”
Sweet soft voice at her ear—before she looked up—cool perfume washed over.
Back—Jiang Ya beside her—head tilt—bright eyes on her.
“You’re here.” Qi Yu light smile—gaze direct then flickering. “Why late? School on weekend?”
“No. Personal.” Jiang Ya fixed hair—shifted closer.
Lifting hair—arms brushed.
Tingle up bone—Qi Yu tucked arm in. “Not… blind date again?”
“How do you know again?” Jiang Ya lifted eyes—surprised—and pleased? “Detective. Intuition always right.”
“Ended early though—would’ve thought after eight.”
Brows curved—soft smile.
Qi Yu’s gaze from eyes to lips—held her smile—thought something—said nothing—turned away, opened beer.
Li Tong MC—prepared toast—then free song queue.
Li Tong thoughtful—table games for non-singers—drink or soda.
Number bomb—Li Tong sets number—guess—narrow—hit bomb loses—drink or truth dare.
Tense fun—few rounds—even quiet Qi Yu and Jiang Ya cheered.
Last round ending—Qi Yu hit the bomb.
“Woohoo!!! Finally!” Li Tong led cheer. “Drink or truth dare! Pick!”
Qi Yu laughed helpless. “No drink. Truth dare.”
Li Tong more excited—crowd brainstorm—Jiang Ya beside smiling silent.
Several vetoed—last round loser: “Use mine!”
“Call your ex!”
Room ignited again.
Qi Yu froze—felt eyes—landed on Jiang Ya eye to eye.
Li Tong: “Play fair—call ex—say hi and hang if you want.”
Hesitating—Li Tong: “What? No ex’s number?”
Qi Yu awkward smile. “Not that—I never dated…”
“So pure? Never?” Li Tong surprised—look like Qi Yu should have suitors.
Someone: “Then switch! Crush? Someone you liked? Got their number? Call.”
This time Qi Yu froze.
Frozen in cheering—as if only her heartbeat—loud enough to burst ears.
Thawed after seconds—expression late. Wanted to force smile—could not—corner twitching.
Li Tong noticed silence. “What? No contact either?”
“No.” Breath held—dared not look at the deep eyes beside her. “Inconvenient. Another dare?”
“Let me ask one.”
Most unexpected voice.
Everyone looked—Jiang Ya turned—stared straight at Qi Yu—what hid in those shimmering eyes maybe only she would ever know.
Voice light natural—question felt planned long ago.
She said: “If a relationship is broken—family, friendship… or love—do you think it can ever be whole again?”
Qi Yu looked deep into her eyes—something stirred inside.
“You’re asking—would I turn back?”
“Yes.” Jiang Ya did not yield. “If it were you—would you?”