107 Tit for Tat

A-Yun was infuriated by Ling Xue’s sophistry. "You sent him to prison, yet I am the ex-girlfriend who actually helped him! What right do you have to fight me for him?" she demanded.

Ling Xue retorted with a sneer, "Is ten thousand really that much? If you’re so heartbroken, I’ll offer double. I’ll give you one hundred million to leave him. Are you willing?"

I stood there dumbfounded. I had always viewed Ling Xue as a cold, high-status goddess of refined character; now, her dialogue sounded like that of a shrew, completely unreasonable. Yet, the way she fed me beef noodles was like a gentle, virtuous wife. I truly couldn't fathom what was going on in her head.

"Don't even think about it!" A-Yun snapped. "Why would I hand over my boyfriend to you? Do you think I'm short on cash?"

Ling Xue laughed. "If you refuse to give him up, I certainly won't give up the person I like. It seems we have no choice but to compete fairly."

A-Yun sneered, "You sent him to prison and now you claim to like him? You lie without even blinking. You're just here to stir up trouble!"

Ling Xue remained defiant. "So what if I sent him to prison? It’s a place that teaches people to do better! It might even be better than university. Many people who come out of prison achieve more than those from prestigious colleges."

"That is complete and utter nonsense!" A-Yun cried out in anger.

Ling Xue countered, "How is it nonsense? There are so many high-achieving graduates from top universities and students returning from abroad—why don't you go after them instead of fighting me over an ex-convict?"

"What!" A-Yun gasped. "Fighting you? It’s clearly you trying to snatch my boyfriend!"

"I knew him before you did," Ling Xue stated. "I’ve liked him for three or four years. You’re the one trying to steal my boyfriend, so how dare you accuse me of the same?"

I felt that Ling Xue was becoming even more unreasonable, and A-Yun, who was usually quite eloquent, was flushed red with frustration.

Having finally encountered such an irrational opponent, A-Yun mocked, "So, the way you show your love is by sending someone to prison! Are you planning to do it again now?"

Ling Xue replied righteously, "Why is that strange? If he betrays me or commits an illegal act, I will send him to prison again. To love deeply is to hate thoroughly."

A-Yun finally reached her breaking point. "Han Ling Xue, what exactly is your game?" she demanded bitterly.

Ling Xue smiled. "If you want to hear it, stay. If not, you can leave. Or are you so insecure that you’re worried you’ll lose him the moment you walk away?"

Stung by this jab, A-Yun retorted with forced pride, "I never imagined that the noble daughter of the Han family would be so eager to look after someone else's boyfriend. Fine, I'll let you have your way."

Ling Xue beamed. "Whose boyfriend he is remains to be seen. Even if he truly becomes someone else's, I’d still like to look after him. So what? If you don't like it, you can leave."

As she spoke, she fed another slice of beef into my mouth. I watched as A-Yun turned and stormed off. I tried to speak, but Ling Xue stuffed my mouth with more beef. By the time I managed to swallow, A-Yun was already gone.

I let out a sigh. "Ling Xue, what is this really about?"

Ling Xue said softly, "Why are you in such a hurry? We have plenty of time. Finish your beef noodles, and I’ll tell you slowly."

I gave a bitter laugh. "Ling Xue, I'm already full. Can you just tell me why you're doing this?"

"If you want to hear it," Ling Xue replied, "then I shall start from a long, long time ago."

"Stop keeping me in suspense," I urged. "Just get on with it."

Ling Xue began, "Do you remember when we were in the eleventh grade and went on a spring excursion to some ancient ruins? We were near a dilapidated old pagoda when you suddenly grabbed me. I thought you were trying to harass me, so I angrily slapped you. You didn't explain yourself, and you ran away hiding your face amidst the ridicule of our classmates."

I thought for a moment and nodded. "Now that you mention it, I have a vague memory of that. Actually, that time, I wasn't..."

Ling Xue stopped me. "You don't need to explain. I realized it very quickly, because I saw a loose roof tile fall and land exactly where I had been standing. If you hadn't pulled me away, I would have been hit. Even if it hadn't been fatal, I would have been severely injured."

I remained silent, listening intently.

"After I slapped you, I regretted it immediately," Ling Xue continued. "I wanted to apologize, but there were so many students around, and I was too embarrassed to approach you in front of everyone. I was looking for the right opportunity to apologize and thank you for saving me. But before I knew it, you had dropped out of school. Seeing your seat empty day after day, my heart truly ached. I felt I had wronged you and forced you to quit your studies."

I said, "Ling Xue, you can't blame yourself for me dropping out. You know my family was very poor; I was adopted by an elderly widow, and once she fell ill, I had no money for school. I had to quit to go to work."

"I knew nothing of your family situation back then," Ling Xue admitted, "and frankly, I didn't care to know. At the start, I hadn't paid any attention to you at all."

She was blunt, but I understood the reality of the situation. Ling Xue was the school beauty, a top student from a wealthy family, surrounded by brilliant, handsome, and rich admirers. A lowly person like me was invisible to her.

Ling Xue continued, "You don't need to feel sad; I’m just being honest. I didn't care about you at first. But after I slapped you, your shadow remained in my heart. I kept thinking that since I hadn't apologized, you would come to explain yourself. I waited, but no explanation came. All I got was that empty desk after you dropped out, and it hurt so much."

She looked at me, her eyes softening. "Looking at that empty desk, I cried in secret several times. I wondered, you must have hated me so much, didn't you?"

I gave a bitter smile. "To be honest, I didn't hate you at all. I had almost forgotten about saving you and the humiliation of that slap."

Ling Xue asked, "I didn't seek you out to apologize, but I thought you would come to explain. Why didn't you? Did you lack the courage to face me?"

I smiled wryly. "In school, many students looked down on me or bullied me. After you slapped me, they mocked me, saying a toad was trying to molest a swan and deserved the beating. I was so filled with self-loathing that I couldn't be bothered to explain. My pain had already gone numb; one more cut or one less made no difference to me."