Drifting on a String - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Chen Piaopiao didn't actually like people touching her hair. With anyone else, she would have found it a bit invasive, a lack of boundaries. But that day, she suddenly discovered that Tao Jin had a special talent: making everyone give her the green light.

She could get people who disliked physical contact to accept her linking arms with them, and she could make people who thought their hands were ugly willingly let her hold them to read their palms.

Then she'd tell the Vice President with a straight face that she thought Xiao Lan was better suited to be president because her career line was longer.

Everyone liked her. In her life, there was no "no."

The closer she got, the farther Chen Piaopiao felt from Tao Jin. She seemed not to need love, because the emotional validation she received daily was enough for her to enjoy.

But people are never content. The more splendid the cherry blossoms on the mountain, the more one wants to "privatize Mount Fuji."

That day, Chen Piaopiao lingered until very late, then walked back to the dorms with Tao Jin. The two of them strolled through the campus at night, chatting about which cafeteria had the best food.

Passing a small grove of trees, Chen Piaopiao turned on her phone's flashlight, the beam sweeping across the ground by Tao Jin's feet.

Tao Jin turned her head to look at her.

"I heard you're afraid of the dark," Chen Piaopiao said, tilting her head. "I asked Gaogao about it."

Her face looked especially small framed by her jet-black hair. The ponytail Tao Jin had tied for her had loosened, but she hadn't re-tied it. Tao Jin looked thoughtfully at her loose strands of hair and asked, "You don't know how to do your hair?"

It seemed like it was always down.

Chen Piaopiao shook her head. Her grandma's eyesight wasn't very good, and as for her mother, she couldn't be bothered to teach her anymore before Chen Piaopiao had even learned to do it herself.

Seeing that something was on her mind, Tao Jin didn't press the issue. She just glanced at her, blinked, and after a moment, looked at her again.

Chen Piaopiao instinctively rubbed her chin with the back of her hand, her voice soft. "What is it?"

Tao Jin said softly, "You're very fair-skinned."

"Hm?" And?

Tao Jin smiled. "Brighter than the light."

When she said this, she smiled happily, with a vivacity that was almost swallowed by the night. Chen Piaopiao's heart skipped a beat. Staring at the swaying halo of light, she wondered if there was a hidden meaning in her words.

Tao Jin was afraid of the dark and liked the light. And Chen Piaopiao, who was even brighter than the light—did she like her?

Did she... like her?

But she didn't ask. When they got into the elevator, she naturally pressed the button for the 11th floor for Tao Jin, then the 9th for herself. A student carrying a basket was returning from a shower. Chen Piaopiao held her tongue and said nothing.

Back in her dorm, she quickly showered and did some homework. Then, Chen Piaopiao climbed into bed and, timing it based on when Tao Jin had messaged her before, composed a WeChat message: "I just finished my shower. I suddenly remembered your hair tie is still with me. Should I return it to you?"

Tao Jin replied quickly: "No need, it's just a hair tie hhh."

There were a few letters at the end; Chen Piaopiao figured she must be laughing.

It was her first time properly pursuing someone, and she really had no experience. It was different from her usual little schemes; this dance of advancing and retreating was an art form, full of a hundred twists and turns.

Especially since Tao Jin seemed able to see right through Chen Piaopiao's little ploys.

She didn't dare to make any rash moves.

But others dared to move. The next day, Chen Piaopiao received a confession from a boy in the class next door, who said she was as pure and noble as snow. Chen Piaopiao didn't reply. The second day, and the third, the confession texts kept coming. Chen Piaopiao blocked him.

This action seemed to enrage the suitor, who had some aggressive tendencies. He used four or five different phone numbers to harass her, cursing at her for being stuck-up, a "pheasant trying to pass as a phoenix."

Chen Piaopiao wasn't angry, but looking at the twenty-some missed calls, she bit her lip, took a screenshot, censored it, and posted it on her social media page.

Two words: Self-respect.

After posting it, she started refreshing for comments and likes. Her roommates were the fastest to respond, all cursing the harasser for having no class. Her classmates didn't know the full story but came to offer hugs and comfort. Chen Piaopiao replied to each of them with thanks.

At four in the afternoon, a familiar profile picture appeared. The comment read: "Protect yourself."

Chen Piaopiao let her heart race for a moment, but she didn't reply to her. She deliberately didn't reply.

She carried a basin to do her laundry. Two hours later, her back ached. Wiping her wrinkled hands with a tissue, she opened her phone. There was a WeChat message from Tao Jin: "Are you okay?"

Chen Piaopiao pressed her lips together and sent a sighing emoji.

"You've been sad for this long?" the other side replied.

"No, I was just doing laundry."

"What a diligent little kid," Tao Jin praised her.

Chen Piaopiao bit her lower lip. So this was what it felt like to truly like someone. It was like her mouth was filled with candy from the moment she received the message, so sweet she couldn't even bite down. She held her phone and typed: "You're not that much older."

The sentence was a bit risky, carrying the implication of forcibly closing the distance between them. As long as Tao Jin wasn't put off by it, their relationship could be pulled to the edge of friendship.

"I'm a junior," Tao Jin said.

Chen Piaopiao replied: "A woman three years older is a brick of gold."

"Hhhhhhh."

Tao Jin sometimes liked memes and jokes, and Chen Piaopiao knew this nonsensical one had probably hit the spot.

Putting down her phone, her fingertips tapped out a piano tune on the edge of her desk. Chen Piaopiao was quite happy. She and Tao Jin had made a little bit of progress, thanks to that cannon fodder guy from the text messages.

Three days later, the department had a dinner party. The Vice President chose a Korean BBQ restaurant outside the school. The side street was bustling, with neon lights flashing in a myriad of colors, exuding a strong urban vibe. The group walked out of the school gate and followed an entrance next to a pool hall downstairs. A whole new world opened up underground: slightly dim lighting, neatly arranged black leather sofas, and long walnut tables.

They couldn't really understand the Korean songs, but the melodies were catchy. The smoky smell of barbecue mingled with the fresh scent of fruit beer. In the center, a transparent keg and the glasses on the bar gleamed brightly.

This kind of "secret base" that only the upperclassmen knew about made the freshmen very excited, and they chattered nonstop.

The Vice President led them to a long table in the innermost area. A classmate pulled Chen Piaopiao down to sit on the inner right side, and she watched as the seats next to her were filled one by one.

The late-arriving Tao Jin naturally sat down next to the Vice President. Tucking her hair back, she asked the Vice President if they had ordered yet.

"We've ordered, but we can add more later if it's not enough."

The Vice President poured Tao Jin a glass of pineapple beer. While waiting for the food, she organized everyone for a toast. Chen Piaopiao raised her glass, clinking it with everyone else's one by one. She ended with Tao Jin's, tapping it lightly.

Tao Jin smiled and tilted her glass in return.

That single, crisp clink was their only interaction at the entire table.

Everyone ate, drank, and chatted with those sitting nearby. Seeing that the skewers on the plate were almost gone, Chen Piaopiao sniffled and looked toward Tao Jin.

Tao Jin, who was in the middle of a cheerful conversation, met her gaze, then glanced at the table. Understanding, she picked up the menu and said warmly, her voice slightly raised, "Let's add some more. This isn't enough."

"Okay, okay, okay."

"Yay, yay."

"What do you want to eat?" Tao Jin looked up and asked with a smile. "What do you guys think is good here?"

"It's all pretty good." "Just order whatever you think is good." "This place is really tasty." The members all chimed in at once.

Chen Piaopiao pursed her lips and said to Tao Jin, "The bacon rolls. Can we get ten skewers?"

Tao Jin looked at her, smiled leisurely, and nodded.

After the bacon rolls arrived, Chen Piaopiao noticed Tao Jin glance at her a couple of times. She was probably quite curious if she could really eat them all. Chen Piaopiao ate methodically, taking a sip of her drink from time to time. Twenty-some minutes later, the bacon rolls were all gone.

This time, she didn't look at Tao Jin. She just stared blankly at the empty plate in front of her.

The others were picking out different things to eat, but Chen Piaopiao, sitting motionless, was conspicuously quiet.

A stool to her left creaked slightly. In her peripheral vision, she saw Tao Jin lean over to pick up the menu and ask again, "Want to add a little more?"

Her own peripheral vision caught the dazed Chen Piaopiao staring at her expectantly.

And so, she smiled unconsciously, meeting Chen Piaopiao's gaze. "Bacon rolls?"

"Is that okay?" Chen Piaopiao hesitated.

"Ten skewers?"

Chen Piaopiao thought for a moment. "Five skewers."

"Will that be enough?"

"It's enough."

Amidst the fragmented shadows of the lights and the bobbing heads of the crowd, the two of them conversed across the long table. The others were eating and drinking, having fun, lost in the meat and wine, while Chen Piaopiao was lost in the serious, soft-spoken words she exchanged with Tao Jin amidst the clamor.

This was the small bit of attention she had won with her little scheme.

Even though she was so full she was about to throw up.

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