Fishing for the Moon

After years apart, Jiang Yin had imagined countless times what it would be like to see Kun Da again. In every version, she got to face-slap her ex after making it big, like some tacky rags-to-riches story. Their reunion came out of nowhere. Jiang Yin went out early to buy soy milk and found Kun Da sitting curled up on her doormat, dressed in rags. What goes around comes around. The once-adored rich young lady had become a stray dog on the street. Clinging shamelessly to Jiang Yin’s leg, she begged, “Sis Jiang, spare me a meal, will you?” They’d loved each other with all their hearts when they were young, and they’d hated each other, too. Jiang Yin had cried herself to sleep thinking of her in the dead of night. Now she clenched both fists and forced out one word through gritted teeth: “Get lost.” * At the Hong Kong-style cafe, Jiang Yin ordered a whole table of food based on Kun Da’s old tastes. She folded her arms and leaned back, watching her wolf it down. “Hmph. Eat it with gratitude.” On a shopping spree at the mall, Jiang Yin sat on the leather sofa outside the fitting room, elbows resting on her knees. She glanced casually at the dazzling beauty who had just emerged, looking completely transformed. “Tch. You’re nothing special.” Kun Da shamelessly pressed close, her red lips brushing Jiang Yin’s ear. “Sis Jiang, why don’t you keep me? I’ve learned all sorts of new tricks out there.” * She was still beautiful, but no longer immaculate, like a crystal doll lying in a rubbish heap, covered in sour soup and leftovers. Jiang Yin took her home, washed and mended her, then set her on the bedside table. Only then could the crystal doll belong to her completely. She’ll be grateful to me, she’ll love me, and she’ll never leave. I’m all she has to rely on. The obedience and love she’d shown as a girl had never faded. Hidden beneath her fragile pride, they were offered up humbly from the condescending perspective of her rescuer. The clear light in her heart had always remained pure and flawless. A sharp-tongued, secretly soft-hearted attacker who scrimps and saves to support her wife × the “forever rich young lady” Upcoming story: "Never Again" Blurb: It started with a dream. Xie Shuyu dreamed she and Wen Wan had almost kissed. Even in the dream, she was polite. Just as their lips were about to touch, she turned her face slightly and said, “Wait a moment. I’m going to brush my teeth.” The electric toothbrush ran for two full minutes, and then she woke up. Xie Shuyu tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep again, the image of those pink lips lingering in her mind. Xie Shuyu and Wen Wan had known each other for twenty years. As children, they’d told each other everything and been as close as sisters. But as they grew up, they got busy with their own lives, and barely exchanged calls or messages. By Xie Shuyu’s rough estimate, it had been two years since they’d last met. She traveled to Wen Wan’s city and arranged to meet at an elegant Western restaurant. Xie Shuyu got straight to the point: she needed a favor. The woman’s long, smooth hair fell over her shoulders. She wore no makeup, and her lips were plump and pink. Xie Shuyu couldn’t look directly at her and struggled to get the words out. “I dreamed about you the other day.” Wen Wan nodded. Xie Shuyu continued, “I dreamed we kissed, but we didn’t actually get to.” Wen Wan: “So?” Xie Shuyu: “Could you let me kiss you?” She picked at the tablecloth. “You know I don’t have any other friends. We’ve known each other for twenty years… You wouldn’t refuse to help me, would you?” After that, things got completely out of hand. A spark became a wildfire, burning everything to ashes. In all their twenty-plus years, they’d argued and given each other the silent treatment plenty of times, but neither had expected to be so perfectly compatible in this regard. Clutching the edge of the blanket, Xie Shuyu swore to the heavens, “I promise this will never happen again. We’re still good friends. Let’s pretend it never happened, okay?” Wen Wan got up and put on her clothes, then gave a quiet “Mm” as she lowered her eyes. Half a month later, Xie Shuyu got a drunken call from Wen Wan. “One last time.” Then once became twice, and their friendship’s little boat capsized into bed. Theme: Learn to love yourself first so you can love others well.