"You make it sound so lofty…"
Su Qi was terribly amused by me.
We entered the skating rink, bought tickets, and changed into some old and dirty looking skates. I held onto the wall and walked to the entrance with difficulty. Su Qi was already waiting for me at the entrance.
"Here, little missy. Take my hand and I'll lead you."
He extended his palm towards me.
I raised my hand and was about to place it on his outstretched palm when I suddenly pulled back stubbornly and snorted. "Brother Su Qi, you underestimate me!"
He was stunned.
Brother Su Qi—when I was dating him, most of the time, I liked to call him Brother Su Qi. Occasionally, when I got angry, I would call him Su Qi.
I was also taken aback by how this address came so subconsciously. I lowered my head and supported myself against the railing.
It had been a long time since I had been on skates. It felt so unfamiliar.
I held on to the railing, sliding step by step.
He was patient, though. He stayed by my side, sliding slowly step by step with me.
"In the eight years you were gone, everything here has undergone huge changes. Only this skating rink has stayed the same."
Even Su Qi found it unbelievable. "Young kids these days no longer skate. I'm curious why this place hasn't closed down yet."
I held onto the fence as I went along.
Every step was clumsily difficult. It was like the road I had been on for the past eight years, every step was heavy and I stumbled along.
Mustering his courage, Su Qi probed, "How have you been all these years in America?"
"Okay," I replied. "All good."
Perhaps I looked too calm and nonchalant, to the point that it was unconvincing.
I asked him, "What about you? How have you been?"
He said bluntly, "Not good."
"…"
"Neither Dongyu nor I have had a good time."
"…"
Su Qi said, "Do you know, Xiachun, after you left, it was as though Dongyu had developed some illness. He was like a madman and went on a hunger strike, refusing to eat and drink. He locked himself in his room and smashed everything he could. He did everything he could to protest. He told me that if he had been a step earlier, he would have found you. He wanted to take you away from the city, but alas, he came home and was held back by your father. He broke away and went back to the bus station and saw you getting onto the bus. He couldn't catch up. He looked for you frantically, but could not find you."
I suddenly stopped in my tracks and looked up at him.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Su Qi turned around to face me. "After that, Dongyu became anorexic. Once, I saw auntie kneeling before him and cautiously pushing the bowl towards him. Then, she coaxed him and lied to him, saying, "You have to start eating, stat eating, and I'll return Xiachun to you!' However Dongyu refused to eat."
"What… what happened then?"
Su Qi smiled. "After that, Dongyu received a month of treatment in the hospital before he got better. I don't know what kind of agreement he made with your parents. He got back on track with his studies and got into a key university in the country. Then, he graduated and started a business."
"…"
"What about me?"
Su Qi smiled in self-mockery. "I've been thinking of you every day since you left."
I suddenly didn't dare to look at him anymore. I held onto the railing and looked ahead, clenching my teeth as I walked forward.
He caught up to me easily. "What's the matter? You seem a little off."
I avoided him and continued to move forward.
He suddenly grabbed my hand and drew me into his embrace. He held my waist and looked down at me.