Contradicting Hearts - Chapter 6 - You've Been Snapped Again

Hao Yu had been in the hospital for about a week. Perhaps out of boredom, she frequently messaged Hao Sijia, who had been too busy to reply much. Today, after a trip to the factory, Sijia happened to pass by the hospital and bought some beef offal for Hao Yu from a stall downstairs.

As she reached the corner of the corridor, Sijia heard laughter coming from the ward. She stood quietly at the door for two minutes, watching through the glass as Liu Xiafang and Hao Yu shared a heartfelt mother-daughter moment. The room was filled with laughter, creating a harmonious atmosphere. Sijia knew her entrance might disrupt the scene, but the corridor was hot, and the soup in her hand was heavy. So, when the second hand of her watch reached twelve again, she decided to enter, despite the potential awkwardness.

“Good morning,” Sijia greeted, placing the beef offal soup she bought at the hospital entrance on the table. “It smells pretty good, so I got some for you.”

The atmosphere instantly turned a bit awkward, not only because Sijia’s untimely entrance disrupted the warm scene but also due to Liu Xiafang’s harsh words over the phone when Hao Yu got injured last time.

Most of the time, Liu Xiafang spoke to Sijia in a gentle tone, as she benefited from Sijia’s generosity, used her money, and sought her advice when feeling helpless and confused. Sijia was undoubtedly a dutiful daughter, never causing Liu Xiafang any trouble, unlike Hao Yu, who would sweet-talk her into laughter. Although there was no deep-seated hatred between them, somehow, over time, things had become this way.

In truth, Sijia understood the reason for Liu Xiafang’s coldness towards her.

Sijia, accustomed to being smooth, noticed Liu Xiafang’s discomfort and took the initiative to speak first. “Mom, you really didn’t have to come. The hospital has caregivers, and Hao Yu can choose her favorite meals every day, which will be delivered regularly.”

“Oh.” Seeing that Sijia didn’t hold onto the past incident, Liu Xiafang’s expression relaxed considerably. “I just wasn’t sure, and since I had nothing else to do, I thought I’d come by.”

“How are you planning to get back later?”

“Just take two coaches, and I’ll be home.”

From the city to the town, driving takes an hour and a half, and the coach is even slower, taking two hours one way. A round trip would take four hours, showing Liu Xiafang’s genuine concern for Hao Yu.

Sijia nodded, opened the bag, and pushed the soup towards Hao Yu. “Eat it while it’s hot.”

Hao Yu smiled and agreed, but before she could put the spoon in her mouth, Liu Xiafang stopped her. Realizing her reaction was too strong, Liu Xiafang forced a smile and explained, “Things from outside aren’t clean. If it smells this good, they must have added a lot of flavoring. The soup is so white; who knows if they put some chemical powder in it! They say plastic bowls shouldn’t hold such hot things; it’s toxic!”

“Mom made pork ribs soup with your favorite yam and corn. The corn is homegrown and really sweet.” Liu Xiafang pulled out a cloth bag from a plastic bag, opened it, and removed the aluminum foil covering the thermal container. “Drink this.”

After speaking, Liu Xiafang remembered Sijia sitting beside her, holding a spoon, and offered, “I didn’t know you were coming, so I didn’t make much. How about I scoop some into the beef offal soup for you to try?”

Sijia glanced at the plastic bowl with beef offal soup, recalling Liu Xiafang’s earlier words, and smiled. “No need, I don’t like pork ribs. If Hao Yu doesn’t eat the beef offal, I’ll have it.”

Sijia ended up finishing the beef offal, including the soup and the cilantro floating on top.

Before leaving, Liu Xiafang consulted Hao Yu’s attending physician about her condition and gave the doctor a large bag of duck eggs brought from home. After delivering them, she returned to the ward to check on Hao Yu one last time.

“Buckle up, Mom.”

“Oh.” Liu Xiafang glanced at the seatbelt across Sijia’s chest, pulled the strap on her right side, but couldn’t figure out how to fasten it.

Sijia reached over to the passenger seatbelt, pointed to the red buckle, and helped Liu Xiafang fasten it. “Here.”

“I haven’t really taken it much,” Liu Xiafang said with a shy smile, sitting upright with her feet together and hands resting on her knees, quietly observing the car’s interior. “This car must be expensive.”

“Yeah,” Hao Sijia replied, glancing at Liu Xiafang out of the corner of her eye. “Lean back, it’ll be more comfortable.”

Liu Xiafang waved her hand, saying she was quite comfortable sitting like this.

“My work clothes might dirty your seat.”

Hao Sijia didn’t say anything more. “Is this the bus stop?”

“Yes, yes, just stop here,” Liu Xiafang said, attempting to unbuckle the seatbelt. Hao Sijia helped her, their hands brushing against each other. Hao Sijia glanced at Liu Xiafang’s dry, darkened hands. “The money I give you is meant for you.”

Liu Xiafang paused, finally responding with a quiet acknowledgment.

But Hao Sijia knew she couldn’t persuade her. If Liu Xiafang truly understood, she wouldn’t be trying to save everything for Hao Yu. The money Hao Sijia deposited into Liu Xiafang’s account each month was enough for her to live comfortably. Yet, hands meant for leisure wouldn’t be like this-cracked and rough, with white skin forming patterns, dirt embedded under uneven nails.

The sun was intense at two or three in the afternoon. Liu Xiafang got out of the car, and after just a few steps, her back was soaked with sweat. She held a thermos cup she had brought along and carried the bag of duck eggs the doctor had secretly returned. Her slightly hunched back became more pronounced with the effort.

Liu Xiafang glanced back at the approaching coach and then at Hao Sijia’s car, which hadn’t driven away yet. The sunlight was so harsh that it reflected off the windshield, making it hard for Liu Xiafang to see inside. She wanted to wave at Hao Sijia but couldn’t free her hands, so she just nodded towards the car. Hao Sijia saw Liu Xiafang mouthing something, and as she lowered the car window, Liu Xiafang started running. The coach stopped at the platform and then drove off, leaving behind a red plastic bag fluttering in its wake.

Hao Sijia turned her gaze away, raising the car window again, shutting out the annoying heat and the incessant chirping of crickets from the roadside grass.

If she could make a list, Hao Sijia wished she could pay back everything she owed Liu Xiafang in one go.

Clean and straightforward.

Then, they wouldn’t have to appear in each other’s lives, constantly hurting each other.

Liu Xiafang got off the coach and walked along the highway for about twenty minutes before reaching home. The smell on the coach was unpleasant, a mix of sweat and gasoline, and the highway was busy with cars, their exhaust and dust clogging Liu Xiafang’s throat. Carrying a bag of duck eggs, she held her breath for a long time, only daring to take deep breaths once she turned into the village.

Most of the village houses were self-built, and amidst the villas covered in pink tiles, Liu Xiafang’s home, with its simple black-and-white color scheme, stood out as refreshingly sophisticated. This house was Hao Sijia’s doing-white walls and black tiles. Initially, Liu Xiafang thought it was a bit inauspicious, but after the whole renovation was complete, several people came to her for the contractor’s contact information, saying their villa looked really stylish.

Liu Xiafang opened the iron gate of the outer wall, but instead of entering the villa, she went to the small house next to it. Zhang Hua had come early today and finished work early too. Seeing Liu Xiafang come in covered in sweat, Zhang Hua quickly dampened a towel and handed it to her.

“Call me when you get off the bus, I’ll come pick you up.”

“No need, then we’ll both be suffering in the heat!”

Zhang Hua glanced at the duck eggs Liu Xiafang had brought back. “The doctor didn’t take them?”

Liu Xiafang said the city hospital was strict, and the doctor didn’t dare accept them.

“Then save them for Xiao Yu!”

“She doesn’t want them.” Liu Xiafang opened the bag and looked at the duck eggs. “She’s silly, such good duck eggs! She said bringing them to school would be embarrassing!”

Zhang Hua turned on the fan for Liu Xiafang and asked, “Why not give some to Sijia? You said you ran into her at the hospital. Xiao Yu had a fall, and despite her busy schedule, Sijia helped us a lot with the hospital visits.”

Liu Xiafang was taken aback by Zhang Hua’s suggestion. She hadn’t considered giving the eggs to Hao Sijia. “She’s had everything. She wouldn’t want these eggs.”

“You didn’t even ask, did you?” Zhang Hua knew Liu Xiafang’s temperament. He put the duck eggs in the fridge and decided to speak his mind. “No matter how much you resent that person, it’s his fault, not Sijia’s. She’s still your daughter. In the future, when you think of Xiao Yu, don’t forget to include Sijia.”

Hearing Zhang Hua’s words made Liu Xiafang feel oddly uncomfortable. She replied casually, “Got it,” and said, “I’m going to take a shower.”

…

In the afternoon, it was Lin Jize and Wu Xing’s turn to retrieve the cadaver from the formaldehyde pool for their dissection class.

Even with masks on, the smell of formaldehyde was overwhelming. Wu Xing held his breath and grabbed the cadaver’s ankle, exchanging a glance with Lin Jize across from him. They nodded and lifted the cadaver onto the cart.

After the oath-taking ceremony, the systematic dissection class began. The male teacher held up a liver for demonstration. Being so close, the formaldehyde fumes made his eyes and nose run uncontrollably. He wiped his face with his sleeve, but soon his eyes and nose were streaming again. Eventually, he gave up, sniffling and red-eyed, continuing his lecture.

By the end of the class, nearly everyone in the room was “in tears.” Wu Xing splashed cold water on his face and glanced at Lin Jize, who was also blowing his nose. “I hope the cafeteria doesn’t serve braised pork belly or beef jerky for lunch.”

Lin Jize crumpled a tissue and tossed it into the trash. Wu Xing, with wet hands, tried to pat Lin Jize on the shoulder, but Lin Jize frowned and deftly avoided him.

“Alright, alright!” Wu Xing scrubbed his hands with soap several times, rinsed and dried them, then waved them in front of Lin Jize. “Is this okay now?”

If Lin Jize weren’t good-looking, smart, and inexplicably charismatic, Wu Xing wouldn’t bother with him given his prickly personality. Wu Xing used to think people with cleanliness obsessions were just being fussy, but with Lin Jize, it seemed less intolerable.

Just to be clear, Wu Xing was straight.

The cafeteria not only had braised pork belly but every station seemed to offer it. Wu Xing didn’t dare look closely and randomly pointed at a row of vegetables. The cafeteria lady kindly suggested, “Why just vegetables? We have braised pork belly today. Want some, student?”

Wu Xing waved his hands frantically, urging her to serve the vegetables quickly. Despite his efforts to avoid it, he ended up face-to-face with braised pork belly-Lin Jize had gotten some, two servings, in fact.

“Doesn’t it make you sick?”

Lin Jize took a bite of the meat, chewing slowly. “We’ve been in dissection classes for five years. You should be used to it by now.”

Wu Xing pulled his cap down, trying to block his view. He wasn’t the only one struggling; several classmates who passed by also opted for all-green dishes. When they saw the braised pork belly on Lin Jize’s plate, they quickened their pace and sat far away.

Wu Xing lost his appetite, poking at his food before pulling out his phone to browse the campus forum.

“Hey!” Wu Xing enlarged a newly uploaded photo, glancing around. “You’ve been snapped again.”

Lin Jize took Wu Xing’s phone, glanced at the photo for a moment, and liked it. “Not a bad shot.”