"I’ll ask them about the time first. I’ll get back to you later,” Jia Ju’s voice came from the other end of the phone.
“I’m making ginger soup today, do you guys want some?” Lè Yáo asked.
“Okay, okay, I want some!” Jia Qiang and Paul’s voices chimed in from the phone, and she could hear them arguing and making a lot of noise. Lè Yáo pulled the phone away, unable to stand the noise. Once the commotion died down, she said, “Alright then, come over after you’re done. No one’s home today, so we have plenty of freedom with time.”
“Noisy! Hmm, we’ll be back around 8:30,” Jia Ju’s voice replied softly after he’d presumably told them off.
After hanging up, Lè Yáo got up, brought the small pot and lemon tea from the dining table to the coffee table in front of the sofa, took out a video tape, and put on the movie “The Seductress” to watch while she ate. After eating, she didn’t focus on the movie anymore; she let it play as background music and went into the kitchen to get three lemons. She scrubbed them clean with salt, sliced them, removed the seeds, and pickled them with salt and sugar. Then, she took out tea bags, put them in a glass pitcher, added hot water to brew a large pot of tea, and waited for the tea to turn a beautiful red color. She added ice cubes to cool it down and put it in the refrigerator to chill. Checking the time, it was almost 8 o’clock. She heated the soup pot. The movie had long finished. Lè Yáo went to the cabinet below the TV in the living room and rummaged through it. She decided to watch the comedy, “The Seductress”.
Before 8:30, the doorbell rang. Lè Yáo got up and opened the wooden door. Jia Ju and the other three were standing outside the security gate, carrying snacks. Jia Qiang spoke first, “Hi~ Qing Mei, we’re here, hurry and open the door.”
Lè Yáo quickly opened the security gate. “Brother Jia Ju, you’re here! Come in, come in!” she invited them inside. Shirong and Jia Qiang placed the snacks on the coffee table and casually sat down to watch the movie. Lè Yáo went into the kitchen, took out five glass cups, placed two pickled lemon slices in each cup, added honey, and then poured the chilled tea from the refrigerator over ice cubes. She brought them out to the coffee table in the living room.
“Why don’t we eat and watch in the living room?” Lè Yáo returned to the kitchen, donned oven mitts, and brought out the soup pot. “Qiangzi, bring me a placemat.” Jia Qiang got up and fetched the placemat from the dining table. Lè Yáo set down the soup pot. Jia Ju followed behind, holding bowls and chopsticks. As Lè Yáo turned, she accidentally bumped into Jia Ju’s chest. She caught a faint scent of cologne mixed with nicotine from him.
“Wow, Qing Mei, you’re throwing yourself at my second brother, I want some too~” Jia Qiang clamored from the side.
“I’ll give you a hug~” Paul opened his jacket, grinned playfully at Jia Qiang, and said, “Come here, Baby~”
“Ew, gross, you’re giving me goosebumps,” Lè Yáo burst out laughing.
“Quick, sit down and try my cooking,” Lè Yáo enthusiastically urged them, a confident smile on her face. She hoped they would savor the delicious food she had meticulously prepared and enjoy this moment of warm companionship.
Jia Qiang and Paul exchanged a smile and then slowly sat down on the three-seater sofa. The sofa was soft and comfortable, providing a sense of relaxation. Shirong chose a different spot—on the floor in front of the coffee table. He found it more casual and conducive to interaction. Finally, Jia Ju sat on the single sofa.
Lè Yáo picked up a ladle and carefully served each person a bowl of pig’s trotters in ginger and black vinegar. The rich aroma instantly filled the air, making mouths water.
However, Lè Yáo herself didn’t feel hungry, so she simply smiled and watched everyone enjoy the food, leisurely sipping a glass of iced lemon tea, feeling the cool sensation spread in her mouth.
“Wow, this is delicious!” Shirong and the others exclaimed as they ate.
“Have you thought about how you want to develop yourselves after this? Will you continue as a part-time band like now, or become full-time musicians? My boss saw your show yesterday and thought your music was very heavy and rock, with good prospects.” Lè Yáo sat on the floor by Jia Ju’s feet, with a sofa cushion beneath her, leaning against the single sofa next to him while drinking her iced lemon tea.
“We’re preparing to record a cassette, to put out our own music. We’ve called it ‘Goodbye Dream’,” Jia Ju’s voice came from above. “We’re free the day after tomorrow. Can you arrange for my boss to meet you? I think it’s an opportunity.”