Jia was out shopping the next morning because a mission demanded so sacrifices to be made. The sacrifice here was her money. She had to buy a dress that would look rich enough for her to not stick out like a sore thumb in the gathering.
But what classifies as a rich enough dress, she wondered.
She sighed and kept browsing through the shop when she bumped into a woman.
"Oh I am so sorry," Jia apologized.
"You young people nowadays...!"
Jia’s eyes widened and she said, "Aunt Lai?"
The middle aged woman frowned and looked up. "How do you know my na?"
"Of course I rember you. We were neighbors back when I was little and then you moved. I am Song Jia, rember?"
Mrs. Lai raised her brow, thinking about that na. "Aaahhh, now I rember! Song Jia. Song Wuyin and Song Lan’s daughter. I didn’t recognize you at all. Oh my you have really grown up."
Jia slightly coughed. "Yes. How are you? It’s been a long ti."
"I am doing fine. I went out to buy a gift for my granddaughter’s birthday."
"Oh that’s nice. How old is she?"
"Eight. By the way..." her eyes narrowed. "I am surprised you can go shopping while being so carefree."
"I don’t understand."
"Oh don’t get wrong dear. I heard from my son-in-law, who is a lawyer actually," she said with so pride, "about your case. You were arrested, right? He did ntion your na but it didn’t strike at the ti that she was you."
"Ah well..." Jia let out an awkward smile, "It is a complicated case."
"But he told that the charges were quite serious. It was about so minor I believe."
"...Yes."
"Yet I wonder how the case was dismissed so easily. Even he was in shock. Matters related to underage kids are taken really very seriously. How did you get released?"
"Well, I an..."
Mrs. Lai shook her head. "Now, now dear, please don’t misunderstand . We were neighbors for a good amount of years so I care for you. But considering that you could have almost gone to jail reminds of your parents."
She froze.
"Their deaths were very mysterious but it was a clear fact that they had sohow betrayed the law. Now, you cannot walk on the sa path as them, okay? They always spoke of justice but what did they do in the end?"
Jia pressed her lips inwardly in silence.
"Aish, it must have been so hard for you. Having parents like them must feel so disgraceful. Are you judged by your fellow officers too? I an of course everybody in your police departnt would know about your parents and the history, right?"
"N-Not really...I have very good colleagues..."
She snorted. "Of course they would be good to you, but only on the outside. Who would actually trust an officer whose parents already betrayed them once? Anyway, I am getting late. Don’t repeat the mistakes that your parents made."
She said nothing.
"Oh one last thing," Mrs. Lai made an expression as if she was troubled. "There are much more reasonable stores down the lane, you know? I...don’t think this store will fit your budget, dear. Don’t get wrong."
"...Thanks, Aunt. I will keep that in mind."
Mrs. Lai whistled rrily and left.
Jia stared at the floor, standing still for a long ti. Eventually, she moved but dragged her feet painstakingly.
Mission, Jia, mission. You have an important mission to focus on for tomorrow, she breathed out.
She thought about her bank balance for a mont and Mrs. Lai’s words ca to her mind. Suddenly, she felt out of place in the luxurious store. She awkwardly kept the shopping basket aside and turned around to exit when a hand furiously waved at from the entrance.
"Spicyyyyyyyyyy!!!"
Jia imdiately turned on her back.
Yup, that is a dream.
She turned again and Mingshen’s face was still there at the sa place, shining brightly as ever. She walked in the opposite direction but a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Where are you going without Spicy!" He bead. "I heard you were out shopping and I thought how could I let you enjoy this trip all alone? You must be floating now that I joined you, right~?"
"How did you know that I was here?"
"Trade secret~"
Mingshen then blinked rapidly and tilted his head. "Did sothing happen?"
"No."
"Sothing has happened. You look off. You are not showering your usual zestiness."
Her brow twitched. "Is that even a word?"
"You don’t look fine to . What happened?"
"Nothing happened," she was dumbfounded. "I am just out shopping."
His eyes narrowed. He knew sothing was definitely wrong.
"Why do you look like you are about to cry?"
She stiffened. "What? Cry? Why would I suddenly cry for no reason? I am fine."
Mingshen didn’t reply to that.
Jia quickly said, "Anyway, I am leaving. See you later."
He looked at her empty hands and said, "I don’t see any bag."
"...I am not buying from here."
Mingshen frowned. "Because you are poor?"
Jia stared at him with her jaw dropped. She parted and closed her lips, not sure on how to respond. Normally, she would have fired back to back bullets at him for comparing oranges to apples. That was how their finances vastly contrasted.
But to Mingshen’s surprise, Jia suddenly laughed out a hearty chuckle. That made him even more confused.
Hm? Hm?
Jia wiped the corner of her eye as her chuckle ended.
"I really don’t give you enough credit, I feel. You are annoying most of the ti but...it’s also quite refreshing. Very real."
Thinking about Mrs. Lan’s snide remark about her finances, it was quite embarrassing for her to face her knowing that the clothes here were out of her affordable range. But Mingshen pointed it out so directly that she found it too jarring but also felt lightened in a way.
"Sothing has definitely happened," Mingshen’s suspicion grew tenfold.
Jia smiled. "It’s nothing, Mingshen. Not everybody might appreciate your frankness but I think it’s much better than so people’s kind words disguised as...so other feelings. So thanks."
She was about to leave when he blocked her way.
"What?"
"Why are you leaving?"
"I will buy a decent enough dress from down the lane."
Mingshen smirked. "Why go anywhere else when such a handso cash cow is right in front you?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers