Heart Flutter

Chapter 13

“Alright, I was about to starve. Lets go have breakfast.”

“You two go ahead. I already ate before coming,” said Zhang Miya.

“Yanyan,” called Ji Yuqing.

“Yes!” Tang Yan followed her to help carry breakfast to the table. They were sandwiches Aunt Ji had prepared herself, each filled with fried egg, tomato, and bacon.

While the two of them ate, Zhang Miya sat holding the baby and asked, “Are there any new movies out lately that we could watch? Ive been cooped up at home looking after the baby, and I am about to go crazy.”

Ji Yuqing instantly asked Tang Yan for her opinion, her voice impossibly gentle. “Is there any movie youve been wanting to see?”

“Anything is fine,” Tang Yan answered with a shy smile.

Only then did Ji Yuqing turn her head to answer Zhang Miya. “I have been busy with work and did not really pay attention to whats showing. Whichever you want to see, we will go with you.”

“Great. We can go check out whats on at the theater in a bit,” said Zhang Miya, taking hold of the babys two small hands. “We are going to the movies. Are you excited?”

Tang Yan lowered her head to focus on her sandwich and milk. Every now and then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the little dolphin necklace around Aunt Jis collarbone and remembered that she, too, was wearing the same necklace. A strange warmth filled her heart whenever she thought about it.

After breakfast, the three of them went out together—actually four, counting little Doudou, who still could not speak. Out of curiosity, Ji Yuqing had once asked why they had picked that nickname for the baby, especially since she was a girl. Zhang Miya had only given a casual shrug and said, “eat, sleep, and beat DouDou,” though she was obviously just joking around.

Since Zhang Miya had come by car service, she did not drive herself. Ji Yuqing went to retrieve her own car from the garage. Holding her baby in her arms, Zhang Miya asked, “This Mercedes has been with you for years now. Dont you plan on switching it up?”

From the rearview mirror, Ji Yuqings smile was visible. “I am not a car enthusiast. As long as it gets me where I need to go, its fine.”

Tang Yan stepped forward to open the front passenger door, intending to offer that seat to Aunt Zhang. But Ji Yuqing quietly reminded her, “You take the front seat. She cannot sit up front while holding a baby.”

“Exactly,” said Zhang Miya, opening the back door. “Driving regulations forbid holding a child in the front seat. Once you learn to drive, you will come across that rule.” After getting settled, she asked, “By the way, Tang Yan, are you planning on getting a drivers license?”

Tang Yan paused, answering blankly, “I am not sure yet…” To be honest, she had never really thought about it. She hardly ever rode in a car, so the idea of driving one someday felt uncertain.

“A girl should learn to drive,” said Zhang Miya earnestly. “That way men will not assume we depend on them for everything.”

Right then, Ji Yuqing interrupted her with a laugh. “Yanyan is still young, you know. Why bring this up?”

“She is not that young anymore—already in college. Tang Yan, are you eighteen yet?” asked Zhang Miya.

“I turned eighteen this summer,” Tang Yan answered truthfully.

“That means you are at the perfect age to start dating. College relationships are pure and sweet. I dated a few people before meeting my husband, and honestly, it does add some color to life,” said Zhang Miya.

Glancing at her through the rearview mirror, Ji Yuqing eyed Tang Yan to see how she would react. Tang Yan said nothing, but she could not help wondering if Aunt Ji had dated in college, and if so, what type of person she had liked.

Expertly controlling the steering wheel, Ji Yuqing made a turn down a lane into an underground parking area without needing any GPS assistance.

They took the elevator to the fifth floor where the cinema was located. Being a weekend, it was crowded; nearly all the seats in the lobby were taken by adults with kids. Where children gathered, there was noise. After buying three tickets, Ji Yuqing suggested they head to the cafe downstairs to wait for the next half hour until the movie started.

“What are we watching?” asked Zhang Miya, holding her baby.

Handing the tickets out one by one, Ji Yuqing said, “I asked the cashier for a recommendation. Its a romantic comedy.”

She passed a ticket to Tang Yan. “Here you go, Yanyan.”

Tang Yan accepted it and was startled to see the price. She had expected something like the five-yuan school tickets she remembered from childhood. She had not realized just one movie ticket could cost about a weeks worth of her usual living expenses.

They entered a cafe, and as soon as they opened the door, Tang Yan caught the strong smell of coffee, heavier than the coffee-flavored candies she had tasted as a child. It was quite intense.

“What do you want to drink?” asked Aunt Ji. Tang Yan stood by the counter, looking over the menu. Every cup of coffee was pricey. Sensing her awkwardness, Ji Yuqing offered, “Just have what I am having,” and smiled warmly.

Tang Yan nodded obediently.

Turning to the barista, Ji Yuqing requested, “Another cup of the same latte.”

They chose a seat by the window. The cafe staff helped secure Doudou in a childs seat. From her diaper bag, Zhang Miya pulled out a baby bottle and asked the server to fill it with some water for the baby. Doudou was perfectly content, playing there without any fuss or tears. Zhang Miya sighed with a mix of amusement and frustration. “Can you believe it? At home shes a little terror, but the moment we go out, she turns into an angel. Look at her now, so calm.”

Ji Yuqing smiled wordlessly. Taking a sip of her coffee, Zhang Miya rested her chin on her hand and complained, “Why in the world did I get married so early? I never really got to enjoy single life.”

“I remember trying to talk you out of it at the time,” said Ji Yuqing. “But you were dead set on marriage.”

Pulling at her cheeks dramatically, Zhang Miya said, “Look at me now. If we go out together, nobody believes we are the same age.”

“Thats an exaggeration…” replied Ji Yuqing, sounding unconvinced.

Meanwhile, Tang Yan quietly sipped her coffee, listening to them chat without interrupting.

“Im serious,” said Zhang Miya. “Ever since I had this baby, my sleep quality has gone downhill. From pregnancy to now, its been one thing after another. I feel like Ive aged a lot over the last two years.” She looked at Tang Yan. “You do not believe me, do you? Ask her to take a look.”

Caught off guard, Tang Yan quickly straightened up in her seat.

“Yanyan?” said Ji Yuqing, turning to her.

Fixing her gaze on Tang Yan, Zhang Miya urged, “Tell me, do I look way older than your Aunt Ji?”

Tang Yan hesitated, then answered, “Actually… Aunt Zhang, you look really good, but Aunt Ji does look younger.”

“There, see!” wailed Zhang Miya, pouting even more dramatically.

Ji Yuqing laughed until she nearly doubled over, then reached out and gently ruffled Tang Yans hair. “Silly girl, what a straightforward thing to say. Now youve upset your Aunt Zhang.”

“Hmph, I am upset!” declared Zhang Miya, turning away in mock anger.

Tang Yan panicked, stammering apologies, worried she might really have offended her.

“She was kidding you,” said Ji Yuqing with a small laugh.

“Exactly, silly girl. I am not actually upset. I am not that petty,” said Zhang Miya, leaving Tang Yan a bit dazed.

Time flew by as they chatted. When there were only a few minutes until the movie started, they left for the theater. They took the stairs to the next floor, arriving just in time to have their tickets scanned and enter Theater 5.

Tang Yan felt the floor beneath her feet was soft, as though she had never been in such a large cinema before. They joined the crowd, looking for their seats. In the row, Aunt Ji was in the middle, Tang Yan on her left, and the aisle on her right, with Aunt Zhang on the other side of the aisle.

The lights dimmed and the movie began. Everyone fell silent, the only sounds coming from the screen. Tang Yan stole a quick glance at Aunt Ji, who was watching intently. Having her right there gave Tang Yan a sense of warmth and security.

It was the first time she had watched a movie with Aunt Ji.

When it ended, many couples in the audience left arm-in-arm. Meanwhile, tears streamed down Zhang Miyas face as she held her baby. She looked over at Ji Yuqing and Tang Yan, who both seemed unruffled. “You two have hearts of stone, crying did me no good at all!”

Laughing, Ji Yuqing said, “I thought it was pretty funny for a comedy. Didnt you think so, Yanyan?” She turned back to Tang Yan for confirmation.

Tang Yan nodded in agreement and could not suppress a small giggle.

The entire walk out, Zhang Miya cast them odd glances, insisting that they were not normal.

They passed a row of claw machines. A couple was playing one, with the girl desperately wanting a particular teddy bear. The boyfriend kept trying but never caught it. Furious, the girl snapped, “You are useless! You have tried so many times and still did not get it!”

The boyfriend sighed in exasperation, pulling her away while grumbling, “Its the machines fault, not me.”

Spotting this, Zhang Miya brightened and hurried over. “Yuqing, come on—catch a doll for me!”

“You are a mother now,” teased Ji Yuqing, looking reluctant.

“Come on, come on. That teddy bear is really adorable,” insisted Zhang Miya, grabbing Ji Yuqings arm. Tang Yan quickly followed.

Glancing back at Tang Yan, Zhang Miya explained, “Did you know your Aunt Ji was a claw-machine expert in college? There was not a single machine in the mall she could not conquer.”

Tang Yan instantly gazed at Aunt Ji with shining admiration, as if to ask, Is that true? That is amazing, Aunt Ji.

Seeing the eager expression on the young girls face, Ji Yuqing had little choice but to oblige. Without a word, she traded some bills for tokens. “Alright, lets give it a shot.”

The others stood to each side, eyes locked on her every move. Tang Yan watched as Aunt Ji concentrated fully, just like she did when she worked in her study. She guided the claw perfectly onto the teddy bears head, and everyone held their breath, afraid the toy might slip off during the machines slow glide back.

“Yes! We got it!” shouted Zhang Miya, holding Doudou in excitement. Doudou, not really understanding, clapped along happily.

Tang Yan exhaled with a quiet sense of relief, feeling a surge of delight inside.

When the teddy bear dropped into the chute, Ji Yuqing bent down to pick it up. Just as Zhang Miya was about to grab it for herself, certain she was the rightful recipient, Ji Yuqing unexpectedly turned around and presented it to Tang Yan instead.

Startled, Tang Yan stood there clutching the teddy bear against her chest. As for Zhang Miya, her jaw practically hit the floor. It was as if she were silently saying, Am I no longer your favorite? This is so unfair!