Volume One, Chapter 13: The Barrier That Lies Across the Heart

Lin Xiaobing continued, “I was too rash last time. Do you think we should go over and apologize to him? Otherwise, it would be really disrespectful. I don’t mind, but it’s important for you all, since you were partners before.”

“No need to go apologize in person, right?” Fang Yi said. “You acted on impulse; I believe he can understand…”

Before Fang Yi finished, Lin Xiaobing spoke again, her tone tinged with indignation: “The problem is, he criticized my sister last time. It really annoyed me.”

“What did he say?” Fang Yi asked.

Lin Xiaobing still sounded upset: “He said my sister deliberately fudged the accounts, and when he left, she didn’t give him the money properly… But I didn’t give him any face either!”

Fang Yi looked straight ahead, his voice calm: “No need to give him too much face. He’s narrow-minded and can’t handle it.”

As he spoke, Fang Yi turned the car toward the First People’s Hospital of Guangnan City.

“Fang Yi, maybe I won’t go to the hospital after all?” Lin Xiaobing suddenly said.

“Why not?” Fang Yi asked. “Go take a look. It’ll ease your mind.”

“No need. I’ve been like this lately. Whenever I think of my sister, my chest feels tight…” Lin Xiaobing’s voice began to choke up. “If I go to the hospital, I’d be alone facing the doctors and nurses, staring at the sterile white walls, smelling the disinfectant. It just makes me feel emptier and more miserable.”

“What will you do then?” Fang Yi asked, pulling the car over to a safe spot by the roadside.

“I want to go back,” Lin Xiaobing said. “Or go to my sister’s place. That way, I can feel at ease.”

Fang Yi said nothing. After a moment of silence, he restarted the car and headed toward Dongjiang Garden.

…

When Fang Yi reached the gate of Dongjiang Garden, he didn’t enter but parked by the roadside, lost in thought. After a while, he said, “You go in first.”

Lin Xiaobing sat still. “What about you?”

Fang Yi didn’t answer, furrowing his brow and staring ahead, still deep in thought.

“Aren’t you going back?” Lin Xiaobing asked again.

Fang Yi shook his head. “No, better not. I’d just be reminded of things.”

Lin Xiaobing seemed momentarily at a loss for words, then said, “I had Fang Fang and Yuan come back…”

“Mm,” Fang Yi nodded slightly.

After a moment, Lin Xiaobing added, “And also Kong Huahua.”

Fang Yi nodded again. “Got it.”

After Lin Xiaobing got out of the car, Fang Yi started the engine but didn’t know where to go. He drove around the perimeter of Dongjiang Garden twice in circles.

Realizing the futility, he turned the car and headed in another direction.

He didn’t go far, just to a café called “Fine Time,” the very place where he had his first date with Jiang Shishi.

After sitting down, he called Jiang Shishi to invite her out for a bite.

She agreed almost immediately.

During the half-hour wait, Fang Yi kept making calls, all related to searching for Lin Xiaoyang.

Each time he hung up, his brow furrowed deeper.

When Jiang Shishi arrived, Fang Yi was staring out the window. His once youthful and handsome face was now clouded with worry, making him look years older.

She sat silently opposite him on the sofa, watching him quietly.

After a while, Fang Yi slowly turned to face her and was momentarily stunned to see her.

Then he smiled faintly, “You came and said nothing—are you a cat?”

Jiang Shishi smiled and handed him the menu. “Look, what do you want to eat?”

Fang Yi didn’t take it. “You know what I like best, don’t you?”

Jiang Shishi withdrew the menu and called the waiter to order Marseille fish soup, baked scallops with cheese, French foie gras, crepes…

After she finished ordering, Fang Yi spoke again. “Shishi, I really owe you an apology today.”

“Why say that?” Jiang Shishi smiled, as if she had already forgotten Lin Xiaobing’s earlier outburst in the living room.

Fang Yi was taken aback, then said, “Lin Xiaobing was so upset earlier. I was too busy stopping her to apologize to you…”

Jiang Shishi suddenly remembered. “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten.”

“Good that you don’t mind,” Fang Yi said, seeming somewhat relieved as he poured her coffee. “Lin Xiaobing was too shocked to control herself. What she did wasn’t necessarily aimed at you.”

Jiang Shishi didn’t respond but quickly changed the subject.

They talked about specific topics: movies, poetry, music, business investments…

From the moment they met until now, whenever they talked, there was always a spark of connection.

This time was no different; over an hour passed in conversation.

Fang Yi glanced at his watch, feeling emotional. “Shishi, maybe our souls really do have a special resonance. Talking to you makes me feel much better.”

Though he said this, the clouds of worry on his brow hadn’t truly lifted.

Jiang Shishi paused, set down her coffee, and her expression grew serious. “Fang Yi, there’s something I’ve been thinking about…”

“What is it?” Fang Yi asked.

She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. “I’m wondering if I should step away.”

After saying this, she looked up at Fang Yi briefly, then lowered her head again.

After a long moment, Fang Yi spoke. “Shishi, I know this has caused you a lot of trouble. If you really want to leave, then leave.”

Jiang Shishi slowly lifted her head, a look of surprise in her eyes.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected such a quick acceptance from Fang Yi.

She felt a touch of disappointment, but it wasn’t the main thing.

Then she spoke again, “Fang Yi, the reason I want to leave isn’t because I’m afraid of the trouble. It’s just… I feel a pang of conscience.”

She said those last words softly, but Fang Yi heard them clearly and sensed the deeper meaning.

In her mind, no matter how much she and Fang Yi loved each other, no matter whether their relationship had caused real harm to others, she could never truly overcome the barrier in her heart.

Fang Yi sighed lightly and said again, “I understand how you feel.”

Jiang Shishi’s expression relaxed slightly. “I know you understand…”

Before she finished, Fang Yi spoke again, “But Shishi, have you seriously thought about one thing? The real, substantial connection we had only started after Lin Xiaoyang left…”

Jiang Shishi looked at Fang Yi, her expression somewhat stunned.