After paying the bill and leaving the noodle shop, Xiao Wei and I walked toward the building where I lived. Suddenly, the street went completely dark.
"What's going on?" I asked, startled. Worried she might be scared, I quickly grabbed her hand.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Holding her soft, delicate hand, my heart started racing uncontrollably.
"You guys forgot to pay the electric bill, huh?" she quipped, completely unfazed.
"No money to pay it," I replied with a wry smile.
"Heh… heh." Even in the darkness, she kept her calm and joked, "With the lights out, the stars look even brighter."
Our eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. I could vaguely make out her figure now—Xiao Wei was looking up at the sky. The Mid-Autumn Festival had just passed, so the moon was still round and full. With less light pollution, the sky was clear and stunning. Under the moonlight, I held her hand and continued walking forward.
"Still coming to my doghouse?"
"Of course."
She was really persistent. After a brief commotion, the street slowly lit up again—flashlights, candles left from typhoon season, all brought some brightness back. But between Xiao Wei and me, would there be a light shining through?
"We're here," I said as we stepped into the building I lived in—Sunshine Tower.
"Mhm," she answered softly.
"But I have to ask you a favor," I said, looking at the elevator. Though there was backup power, everyone knows you shouldn't take the elevator during a blackout. "Since there's no power, we'll have to take the stairs."
"Sigh!" Xiao Wei let out a breath. "Well, stairs it is."
Was I out of my mind? This would've been the perfect excuse to send her home. If she came into my place, who knows what I might end up doing?
"I should probably take you home. Nothing to see here in the dark anyway."
"You're not scared, are you? What floor do you live on?"
"Tenth. You scared now?"
"Tenth, huh? If only we had an elevator."
"Yeah, but no elevators in a blackout," I said, hoping she'd back off.
"Tenth floor it is. Lead the way."
Wow, she's really not giving up. "Stay close."
"Mhm."
Holding her hand, I walked toward the staircase—which I had never even used myself. She sighed, and so did I. Just thinking about climbing ten flights of stairs made my legs weak. Next time, I'm renting a place on a lower floor.
We climbed in silence, neither of us with energy to talk—just focused on getting it over with.
"We finally made it," I cheered.
"Mhm," Xiao Wei panted, completely out of breath.
I pulled out my key and opened the door to my tiny studio—the smallest unit in the building. As soon as you stepped in, the double bed was in full view. It used to be the love nest I shared with Xiao Li. Although we broke up, I hadn't moved out yet—partly because the lease wasn't up, partly because I still had some lingering feelings. But honestly, since I met Xiao Wei, I'd been thinking about Xiao Li less and less.
As soon as the door opened and shoes were off, Xiao Wei threw herself onto the bed.
"I'm exhausted."
"You sure make yourself at home," I said, leaning against the doorframe, watching her.
"Why wouldn't I? No need to be shy around you," she said, sprawled across my bed. "Eh? How come there's no bedsheet?"
I suddenly remembered—in my panic that morning, I tossed the stained sheet into the bathroom after a little accident and hadn't put on a clean one yet.
"It got dirty. I was gonna wash it," I said casually—which was true.
"Dirty? What, had a wet dream or something?"
"None of your business," I snapped, annoyed at her teasing.
"Aww, getting defensive?"
Was I being too petty?
"So hot in here! Blackouts are the worst—no AC." She grumbled.
It really was stuffy inside, especially after climbing ten floors. If only the power was on, we could've turned on the air conditioner. I opened a window I had never even used, hoping for a breeze to cool things down. But instead of cooling down, my body felt even hotter. In the moonlight, I looked at Xiao Wei lying on the bed, and desire surged through me like a wave.
I didn't even want to imagine what would happen if this kept up. "Okay, you've seen the place and laid down—time to go home," I said coldly—not because I wanted to, but because I had to.
"I just got here and you're kicking me out?"
"I've got nothing here to entertain an esteemed guest like you." I deliberately made my tone as unwelcoming as possible.
"Why are you being so rude? Did I do something wrong?"
"No." Her voice sounded a little hurt, and my heart softened again. "It's just… we're not from the same world."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean…" I struggled to explain.
"You got anything to drink?" I changed the subject.
"What do you have?"
"Only beer, sorry. I didn't know I'd be entertaining royalty tonight."
"I don't drink. Just give me cold water."
"Sure. I'll go get some. Don't touch anything—this place is full of guy stuff." I walked to the small kitchenette. Calling it that was generous—it only had a tiny sink, a cramped fridge, and a front-loading washer. The landlord didn't allow cooking.
I grabbed some cold water from the fridge and poured it into a mug.
"I'm not gonna mess with anything, jeez. It's pitch-black in here—what could I even do?" Her soft complaints echoed through the room. Hearing her made me feel guilty for being so harsh.
I brought her the mug. "Thanks," she said, taking it. I also found two candles left over from typhoon season and lit them. In the warm candlelight, she looked so beautiful.
"What, you didn't poison this, did you?" she asked, eyeing the mug.
"What?" I snapped out of it. "Yeah, poisoned. You still gonna drink it?"
"I'll drink it anyway. You poured it. Even if it's poisoned, I'll still drink it," she said defiantly.
"Really? I wouldn't bear to poison you," I said with a smile, sitting down beside her.
She drank like she hadn't had water in days, gulping down the whole mug in one go.
"Hey, slow down! No one's fighting you for it."
"I just climbed ten flights of stairs. Cold water is heaven right now."
I gently wiped a drop of water from the corner of her mouth. Her skin was so soft.
"Taking advantage of me, huh?"
"Please. Just making sure you didn't choke." I pulled my hand away, trying to hide my flustered heart.
She gave me a side-eye. "You're drinking beer, right?"
"You want one?"
"No way. I'm just worried you'll get drunk and do something crazy."
"Scared, huh?"
"Of you not having the guts."
"Don't tempt me. I'll really do something."
"Is that so?"
If she was scared, this was my chance to send her off.
"Well, if you're afraid, you should probably go home."
"Why are you so eager to kick me out? I'm not leaving. I'm staying right here tonight."
As much as I wanted her to stay, could I really let that happen?
"It's late. I'm just worried the general manager will get anxious."
"I'm not worried about him. Why should he be worried about me?"
"Well, I'm worried about my job."
Let her think I'm cowardly if she must. I needed to stop this before it went too far.
"So it's all about that 'general manager's wife' title, huh?"
"Of course."
"You idiot," she suddenly said, poking my forehead.
"What?" I was confused.
"I showed you the photo. And you still don't get it?"
"Huh? That was you, right?"
"You said I looked younger."
"Yeah, and you said you don't photograph well."
"I just said that—you believed it?" She looked at me, amused. "Don't you remember my golden rule?"
Of course I did: "Never trust what a woman says."
Was she trying to hint at something?
"Wait… you're not the general manager's wife?"
"Actually… I'm…" She hesitated.
"You're what?"
"...The general manager's mother-in-law's daughter."
"What?!"
I almost passed out. Her sister-in-law? Why hadn't I thought of that?
"So now, will you stop trying to kick me out?" she said.
I mustered up the courage, cupped her face in my hands, and looked closely.
"Let me see if you're messing with me again."
"Can you tell just by looking?" she teased, blinking at me.
"Kind of looks like it… kind of doesn't." I squinted hard at her.
"Well?"
"Maybe not…"
"Maybe?"
"You're really not the general manager's wife?"
"I'm not!" she said loud and clear.
Joy exploded in my chest. "Then you're my Xiao Wei!" I exclaimed.
"Your Xiao Wei? You were just trying to throw me out."
"You kept messing with me!" I said, though I never really wanted her to leave.
"Hmph! Do you hate me that much?"
"It's not that I hate you. It's because I thought you were… the general manager's wife."