Chapter 37
Thirty-Seven
Room-mates
The next day, I can’t bring myself to leave my bed, ignoring all callers. But sometime in the afternoon, the insistent knocking is impossible to ignore.
‘Jing, I know you’re in there. I can smell you. Open the door.’ Gigi. Only she would be so imperious.
I ignore her, hoping, like the others, she’ll go away.
‘If you don’t let me in, I will recite Master Kung’s Great Learning followed by every one of Master Zeng’s nine commentary chapters over and over until you do.
Queen Mother of the West herself awarded me the Erudite Scholar Jade Tablet for my mastery of the five Classics.
I can recite them for days.’ She slaps her hand on the door, again and again.
Even with the blankets pulled over my head, my fingers in my ears, I can still hear her. I’ll have no peace unless I give in.
‘Fine,’ I grumble, shuffling to the door.
She marches past me. ‘I’ll take this bed,’ Gigi declares.
I flop back into my bed, face first. ‘Aren’t you staying with Ah Lang?’ I say into the blankets. My voice is muffled but Gigi’s hearing is better than most Celestials.
‘He’s sharing with Mr Lee so I can stay with you,’ Gigi says.
‘I thought Tony was sharing with Max.’
‘We had a quick chat at breakfast, and decided it would be best if Max stayed with Mémère and Marianne. They’re in the next carriage down.’
‘Safer for Tony, I guess.’
Gigi clears her throat. ‘Actually, safer for Max. I don’t know what exactly triggered things, but last night Mr Lee nearly ripped his head off. Apparently our Mr Lee is unusually strong for a vampire.’ She opens the curtains to the cabin windows, though they do little to illuminate the room.
‘Where did we get an extra carriage?’
‘We were very lucky with our timing. Big Wang sent out a request for assistance. The Norse pantheon happened to be on retreat nearby and lent us one of theirs.’ She peers out the window, as if mesmerised by the scenery.
‘Stop pretending, Gigi, there’s nothing out there but a thick blanket of fog.’
She sighs. ‘Are you alright?’
‘Tony came by my room last night.’
The news startles her. ‘What did he want?’
‘I think he was sleepwalking. He was sad, I was sad. Then he left. He was here for, maybe five minutes.’ I shrug. That was the gist of it.
She busies herself straightening the already tidy curtains before turning to me. ‘You should have something to eat, Jing.’
‘Not hungry,’ I mutter, still face down on the bed.
‘You’ll damage your stomach if you don’t eat. I’ll bring you some noodles.’
‘Okay. Thanks, Gigi,’ I murmur.
‘Zijiren. No thanks needed.’
For the first two days, other than bringing me food, Gigi leaves me curled in bed, staring into space. On the third day, Gigi has had enough and rips off my blanket.
‘You’ve barely eaten anything and you haven’t moved from the bed in two days. Big Wang will kick me out of Hell if I bring you back half-starved. You’re going to get up, eat, and save me from Ah Lang.’
‘Ah Lang?’ Gigi certainly knows how to get my attention.
‘Yes. You have to play cards with Ah Lang, please. I’ll go mad if I have to play another round of Da Lao Er.’
That’s not at all what I expected her to say. My heart seizes at the thought of leaving my cabin, of subjecting myself to Tony’s glare, but it’s rare for Gigi to ask for favours, so I nod and force myself to get dressed.
‘Don’t make any wagers with Ah Lang,’ Gigi says. ‘Promise me.’
She must be really worried I’ll fleece her boyfriend. Like I’d stoop that low. ‘Yeah, yeah.’ I try not to sound annoyed.
Much to my relief, Ah Lang joins us in our room, bringing cards, drink, and snacks. He offers me dough knots, but I wave them away, focused on the game.
‘You ready to have your pigu whipped?’ I taunt.
Ah Lang smirks. ‘How about we wager on it?’
Gigi glares at me, reminding me of my promise, so I say, like an obedient friend, ‘Sorry, not allowed.’
Thank Tian I didn’t break my promise because I spend the next three games having my pigu handed to me. It’s absolutely humiliating.
Gigi refuses to join us, choosing to file her nails instead. ‘You should bring out your pipa, darling. I haven’t heard you play in a while.’
‘Of course, Petal,’ Ah Lang says, and he throws down a royal flush.
‘Pass,’ I say, having nothing to beat his hand, resigning myself to another loss. ‘I was impressed by your duet with Lord Aengus.’ I suddenly remember something. ‘Oh no!’
‘What’s wrong?’ Gigi immediately puts her file down, all attention on me.
‘I never said goodbye to Lord Aengus. Did he return right away to Inis Fáil?’ I ask.
‘No idea,’ Ah Lang says, eye twitching.
‘Is there something in your eye?’ I ask, though my instincts tell me he’s hiding something.
Gigi tilts her head, fixing him with her gaze. It’s enough to make Ah Lang break out in a sweat. He looks up, then down, blinking rapidly.
‘Qian Lang.’ Gigi breaks out his full name. She’s not messing around.
I offer Ah Lang a sympathetic grimace.
He immediately drops to his knees. ‘Petal, lift high your noble hand. I promised Lord Aengus to keep his secret. I don’t want to break my word to a friend.’
Gigi leans forward and kisses Ah Lang on the nose. ‘If I guess his secret, you won’t be breaking your word, right?’
Ah Lang makes a pained face. ‘But I would still be telling.’
‘Don’t say a word then,’ Gigi says. ‘Just listen.’
Ah Lang looks at her with sad puppy dog eyes, but then he drops his head in defeat. ‘Yes, Petal.’ He returns to his chair.
‘Lord Aengus is not in Paris,’ she begins in a sing-song voice. ‘Lord Aengus was supposed to go home.’ She glances at Ah Lang, whose expression remains placid. Gigi cocks her head, grinning mischievously. ‘But Lord Aengus didn’t go home.’
At this, both Ah Lang’s eyes twitch. Gigi’s smile grows wider, takes on that glint, the one she gets when she smells a win. Tapping her chin, Gigi pretends to be puzzled.
As if she’s only just thought of it, she says, ‘Oh! I noticed you brought extra blankets and pillows to your room.’ She ducks her head, pretending to be shy. ‘Is it because you missed me, and wanted something to cuddle?’
Ah Lang blinks furiously.
‘After breakfast, I also noticed you brought an extra portion of bao buns to your room, the ones that are Lord Aengus’s favourite,’ Gigi coos sweetly.
A bead of sweat rolls down Ah Lang’s temple. Gigi is such a cruel mistress; I decide to put Ah Lang out of his misery.
‘So Lord Aengus is a stowaway rooming with Ah Lang and Tony, eh?’ I stifle a giggle at Ah Lang’s panicked expression.
‘Waaah,’ Gigi says, faux-scandalised. ‘Lord Aengus has run away to the Middle Kingdom and has to hide from the Durands so they don’t tell the Dagda?’
Sweat drips from Ah Lang and his eyes twitch and blink like he’s rubbed them both with bird’s eye chillis.
Gigi tsks. ‘Father will be most unhappy if he finds out Lord Aengus snuck in without permission from the Ministry of Rites.’
Squeezing his eyes shut, Ah Lang blurts, ‘The Minister of Rites knows. I sent him a message before we left.’
‘Relax, darling. I guessed as soon as you suggested we swap rooms.’
Ah Lang stares at her for a moment before his expression turns gooey. ‘Petal, I love that you’re so clever.’
Clearing my throat, I say, ‘Where is he now?’
‘He’s hiding in the closet of our room.’
Gigi isn’t pretending to be scandalised this time. ‘Aiya! Ah Lang, go get him. We still have four more days on the train – he can’t spend the whole time stuck in a cupboard.’
Ah Lang heads off immediately.
‘I can’t believe he ran away,’ I say.
‘When we were waiting for you and Tony that night, Lord Aengus told us a bit about his family. He’s lost three of his brothers to war.
As a result, the Dagda is extremely protective of his remaining children, preferring them to stay close.
Lord Aengus’s love of travel has caused a lot of friction with his father, who doesn’t understand the appeal. ’
Ah Lang returns with Lord Aengus and Tony.
Seeing him sets off a fluttering of nerves in my gut.
Panic. But instead of fleeing, I freeze and my thoughts turn to soup.
I force my gaze to Lord Aengus, catalogue details.
Shiny hair. White teeth. Blue eyes. Slowly my mind comes back to me.
He’s filled out, and is wearing the blue robe that matches his eyes.
He notices me staring and flashes me a blinding toothy smile.
‘Beautiful golden treasure, Lady Jing, noble, precious and fragrant Lady Gi, this unworthy one offers my saviours manifold gratitude for their kindness in freeing me from the confines of that awful closet.’ He bows low, then sits with a flourish, eyeing the cards on the table.
‘Is that Da Lao Er? I haven’t played since the last time I saw Brother Zhu. May I join you?’
‘Of course,’ Ah Lang says. ‘Tony? You in?’
‘Sure,’ he says, his gaze landing on me like a challenge.
I forget how to breathe and stand frozen, not knowing what to do.
‘Jing and I are in, too,’ Gigi announces, taking my arm. Once we’re seated, she gives my hand a squeeze under the table.
Ah Lang deals the cards.
‘I guess things didn’t go well with your father,’ Gigi says, as she plays the three of diamonds to start the round.
Lord Aengus lays down a three of hearts.
‘Once he saw me, the game was up. I had to tell him about my illness, which meant he asked when I got it, which made him even angrier. He’s convinced I can’t take care of myself, and getting sick to him is proof I should never travel again. ’ He shakes his head.
‘Won’t running away make it worse when you do see him?’ Gigi says.
Lord Aengus nods. ‘Probably. But as soon as I get home, he’ll ground me and I won’t be able to leave again. Better not to go home at all.’
‘That’s not a solution,’ Tony says, playing a pair of eights. ‘Have you thought of talking to Mémère?’
Surprised that he’d suggest the Durands, I glance up and accidentally catch his eye. His gaze bores into me, hitting me with the force of his anger. My face heats and I drop my head to break the connection, and to hide the tears welling in my eyes.
The conversation moves on to Brother Zhu, a topic Lord Aengus can’t get enough of. Meanwhile, Ah Lang wins every single game. When he casually tosses out a straight flush, we all groan.
‘I’m out,’ I say. ‘Can’t handle the humiliation. Nine straight losses.’
‘Ah Lang always wins at Da Lao Er,’ Gigi says. ‘It’s most peculiar; I’m convinced he cheats.’
‘Petal, you know I would never,’ Ah Lang says, looking wounded.
‘He and Brother Zhu are the best Da Lao Er players I’ve ever met,’ Lord Aengus says, ‘though, I can’t understand how Ah Lang is so good at bluffing yet so bad at keeping secrets.’
Ah Lang rubs his neck sheepishly, but Lord Aengus only chuckles.
‘How about a game of kanhoo?’ Ah Lang suggests.
‘No more cards, Ah Lang,’ Gigi says, giving Ah Lang a little frown. ‘You’ve been playing Da Lao Er every day since we got on the train. You said you’d get out your pipa.’
He pinches her cheek fondly. ‘I did.’ He turns to Lord Aengus. ‘How about a duet? We could all head to the lounge for drinks.’
‘That sounds a lot better than spending another day hiding in your room and jumping in the closet every time the door opens.’ He turns to Tony. ‘Do you really think I can talk to Mémère? Can I trust her?’
Tony claps Lord Aengus on the shoulder. ‘You can trust her. These past few days she’s been helping me get used to .
. .’ He blows out a long breath. ‘Anyways,’ he continues, ‘she gives wise counsel. And since she seems to be fairly well acquainted with the Dagda, she might have some useful insights.’
‘Excellent.’ Lord Aengus stands, straightening his robes. ‘I shall go and find her now. I’ll meet you in the lounge car shortly.’ He’s in much better spirits now he doesn’t have to hide.
‘I’ll come with you,’ Tony says. He nods to Ah Lang and Gigi, pointedly ignoring me, and heads off after Lord Aengus.
Ah Lang’s brows furrow. I can tell he feels awkward and bad for me, so I smile as if I hadn’t noticed Tony’s obvious omission, even though it stings like a bitch.
‘Join us?’ Gigi says.
‘You know what, I think I’m going to read more of my father’s journal,’ I say. ‘I haven’t opened it since . . .’ Words seem inadequate to describe all that’s happened, so I don’t. ‘You guys have fun.’