Short, Light, Free-Chapter 14: Sometimes II

“Not true. I’m correcting my homework.”

Our conversation ended this way.

And I returned to work.

Nothing had changed except for the additional phone in my bag.

I continued chatting with Jiajia every day after his school.

I gradually realized that I might’ve saved Jiajia after all, albeit in a parallel universe.

And in this universe that I’m living in, he’s not going to come back.

An afternoon three days later.

Ding!

“Mom just received a call. I‘ve been allocated to the fourth college. Are we going to be schoolmates?”

It was then that I remembered that it was the last week of primary six. We were busy preparing for the exam and because I had no phone, we seldom chatted. Because of his death, I had no idea which college he would’ve been allocated to. All I knew was that I’d been allocated to the sixth.

“Pity. I’ll be studying in the sixth.”

“Aye, looks like we have to keep in touch through messaging. No idea why I can’t seem to call you. It doesn’t connect.”

“I bought this phone on the sly so it’s perpetually in silent mode. Sorry about that,” I hurriedly replied, thinking it was actually for the better that we ended up in different schools.

That way I wouldn’t get caught. Not in this universe and his.

“Let’s stay in contact, alright?” Jiajia sent.

“For sure.” I looked at his message, perplexed.

How would things be between us now if he was still alive?

“Hey, Lu Qiao. There’s a new colleague. Show her around,” Daihai, from the human resources department, called out with a smile.

“Why me? I’m already very busy,” I replied.

“Well, don’t say it as if I’m mistreating you. The new staff is a beauty.”

“You don’t get to say that, what if my tastes -” My sentence was cut short as my jaw dropped.

A beautiful woman with silky black hair that draped over her shoulders was stood just behind Daihai. Her fringe parted in the center and ended just above her eyelids.

“Alright, I’ve already given you a chance. Old Liu, come. This…”

Before Dahai could continue, I had already rushed over to him and cut him off. “It’s alright, continue with your work, Old Liu.”

“Stop talking. I’ll show her around,” I whispered in Daihai’s ear.

“Look at you.” He laughed before walking off.

The beauty stopped in front of me and smiled. “You’re Lu Qiao, right?”

“Just call me Xiaoqiao,” I said.

“Okay. Hi, Xiaoqiao. My name’s Lu Qiaoqiao, you can also call me Xiaoqiao,” she told me, that brilliant smile still on her face.

That cheeky runt. He had done this on purpose because of our names.

It was good that I was guiding her because it gave me an excuse to get her number.

I saved her name in my contacts as Xiaoqiao.

I walked home absentmindedly after work.

All I could process in my mind was Xiaoqiao’s figure.

For someone who had been single for over twenty years, Xiaoqiao was practically a goddess.

I wanted so badly to get to know her.

Right. I’ll send her a casual text to get things started.

I wasn’t really paying attention as I rummaged through my bag so I accidentally brought out my psychic phone instead of the new one.

I was about to return it when I thought of something.

I adjusted the time and sent her a text.

“Hi, I’m Lu Qiao.”

“You have two numbers, Brother Qiao?” she queried.

It was then that I remembered that the numbers on both phones were different.

“Yeah. One for work and one personal.”

“How professional. Looks like I’ll have to get another mobile too.”

…

Things went on rather smoothly save for some issues.

“Aye, you like sweetened soy milk? I like the salted one. Looks like you’re a heretic!” she texted.

No, no. I turned back the time to a minute ago.

Indeed, the last two messages had disappeared.

“Drink? Salted soy milk’s the best,” I sent.

“Wow, really? We have the same taste in a drink! You’re not bluffing, are you?”

“Of course not, why would I do that?” I reassured her as I penned down the details.

“I’m going to sleep now. See you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight.”

Immediately, I fast forwarded the time to the next night after work.

“Tired?” I asked her.

Just like that, I spent a whole night finishing a week’s worth of conversation with Xiaoqiao.

I prepared a notebook that was filled with all of her habits and likes.

The next day, after work, I held onto it for reference.

Using my new mobile, I sent her a text. “Hi, I’m Lu Qiao.”

“I’ll be bothering you a lot from now on, Brother Qiao.”

The content of her message was different, something within my expectation.

I only had one chance in real life so I had to make good use of it.

This is it. I looked down at the information I’ve compiled.

“I have extra tickets to the latest film ‘Gaze’. Interested?” I asked her.

“Aye, Brother Qiao, how did you know about it? I’ve been waiting for its release for ages! Heh heh, are you trying to date me?”

“No, it just so happened that my friend had to cancel and I don’t want to ask another guy. So, would you be interested in coming with me this weekend?”

“Yes, yes.”

I could feel the smile on her face.

Half a year passed just like that.

I fell into a routine.

Whenever I was bored at work, I would contact Xiaoqiao with the psychic phone.

And the good thing was that I didn’t need to hurry to reply to her.

I would simply wait until I was less busy to turn back the time and respond to her texts.

One day, I received a message from her.

“Brother Qiao, don’t tell me you’re always waiting by your phone? Your replies are almost instant.”

“It’s because I miss you.”

“Don’t do this, Brother Qiao. I’ll be embarrassed if you’re doing this for me.”

Embarrassed? Have I succeeded?

“I like you, Xiaoqiao,” I tested.

Five minutes…

Ten minutes…

Failed?

Dead end?

I rewound the time.

“It’s because I miss you.”

“Don’t do this, Brother Qiao. I’ll be embarrassed if you’re doing this for me.”

“Kidding. It’s just me. I reply fast. Don’t mind it.”

“Oh, so I’m overthinking…”

What’s going on?

Was I too slow? Have I missed my chance?

I had unlimited tries, anyway.

I started experimenting like crazy.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Not at the moment.”

“What was your previous relationship like?”

No reply.

Restart.

“Not at the moment.”

“Then what do you think of me?”

“You’re a good man. You’re not trying to become my boyfriend, are you?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I don’t think we’re suitable now.”

I started thinking and flipping through my notebook.

I was going to make use of this information to plan a surprise.

I asked her out.

After 99 roses, a knee on the ground by the entrance of a bustling park, and her favorite 30-carat diamond ring, I did it.

She agreed in front of everybody.

But there was no joy in her face.

Just like that, she became my girlfriend.

I figured she was just afraid that I’d make a fool out of myself in front of people.

All she talked to me about were recent events.

Every time I asked about her past, she would change the subject.

I started stalking her friends on social media.

Just as expected, details from a year back had all been wiped out.

I had no access to her profile as it was open only to friends.

Until one day, when we were watching a movie together.

It was an impromptu idea and the film was shitty.

Her phone dropped to the floor.

I picked it up and was about to return it to her when I noticed that she was fast asleep.

I unlocked it with the pin I’d memorized a long time ago.

Finally, I obtained some clues from her QQ space.

While her page was gone, there was an unfamiliar name among her contacts.

Qingfeng.

“I’m wrong. Please give me a call at 158****0063.”

Xiaoqiao did not save that number.

I silently memorized the number.

I exited QQ, locked her phone, and slipped it into her shirt pocket.

I had totally lost interest in the film by now.

Using the psychic phone, I saved that number from earlier and sent a text, knowing that it wouldn’t have any effect on real life.

“I’m Lu Qiaoqiao.”

A reply came a few minutes later.

“You changed your number after all.”

“Yeah.”

“After serving the army for two years, I was privately selected to become an undercover agent. Do you believe me?”

“Oh.” Is this her ex-boyfriend? A soldier and undercover agent?

“Guess you still don’t or you wouldn’t have blocked me and deleted everything related to me. Can you take a look at the drug trafficking case in C City? June 29th, last year. Hope you can give me a call after.”

I was flustered.

Is this for real?

I recalled the well-known drug trafficking case from half a year back where half a ton of drugs had been seized.

I sank into deep thought.