Overdo

He said, "You can't enter the base. It's a military restricted area—no unauthorized personnel allowed."

I took the special pass from my handbag and waved it. "With this, I can even get into the Shuangqiao Official Residence. It can't have higher security clearance than that, can it?"

He stared at me as if I were some kind of freak, and finally said, "You really have nothing better to do!" Then he turned the car around. I cried out anxiously, "What are you doing?"

He said, "Taking you back to Wuchi! I think you're completely out of your mind—you don't even know what you're doing!"

I spoke each word deliberately, "I am not out of my mind, and I know exactly what I'm doing. If you don't want to accompany me, you can go back alone."

He sneered, "What are you going to do alone at a military base? If I don't drag you back immediately, then I'm the one who's lost my mind!"

I said, "If you force me back now, I'll really never speak to you again for the rest of my life!"

He studied me, gauging the determination in my words. I stared back at him defiantly until he finally surrendered, muttering, "Grandfather will skin me alive... and so will Uncle. Good heavens!"

I said, "I'll put in a good word for you."

He shot me a sidelong glance, snorted, and said insincerely, "Well, thank you in advance."

We turned the car around again. Not knowing the way, we asked for directions as we went, and it was almost dark by the time we reached the outskirts of the base. The military port at dusk was truly breathtaking. Through the wire fence, the sky was filled with rose-purple twilight, the color deepening near the horizon—where the sea met the sky, it became a dense black-red, faintly tinged with a layer of purple haze. The sea was so blue it verged on purple, and the arcs of the waves were even and graceful. In the crescent-shaped bay, warships lay quietly moored in neat rows, one after another, like a group of sleeping children.

Mu Shiyang was negotiating with the sentry at the gate. He always had his ways, I knew. He produced both his and my passes, and the sentry finally let us through. As he drove into the base, he turned to me and asked, "Now, will you finally tell me what you want to do?"

I said, "I'm getting out. You go back."

He slammed on the brakes. If not for the seatbelt, my head would have hit the roof. I glared at him, "What's wrong with your driving?" He said, "You must be insane! If I leave you here alone and go back, then I must be insane too."

I curled my lip, "What I'm going to do next, I don't want anyone to know." He said, "If you think you're staying here alone, I swear I'll drag you back right now! Even if you never speak to me for the rest of your life—or the next—I'll get you back to Wuchi!"

I had never seen him so furious. I was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Fine. I'm looking for someone. If you want to follow, then follow." He asked, "Who are you looking for?" I said miserably, "That's the hard part—I don't know."

He looked at me again as if I were some kind of freak, and said slowly, "They say girls change a lot as they grow up, becoming more and more beautiful, but you—you're becoming more and more of a monster!"

I shot him a fierce glare and said, "I don't know that person's name, but I know he's twenty-three years old, a captain, his birthday is July 7th, and he looks..." I swallowed, "He looks very handsome!""Good-looking?" He seemed thoughtful. "Have you met him?"

"No," I admitted. "I've only seen his photo at Father's place."

He fell into deep thought, then suddenly had an epiphany: "Oh! I get it! You fell in love with his photo at first sight, so you came here hoping to see him in person!" He concluded smugly, "Such a childish little girl!" I wanted to roll my eyes at him. I said: "Yes! You're so clever, even figuring that out!" I deliberately mocked him: "But this time you're wrong. That photo was shown to me by Father—he's arranging a matchmaking meeting for me!"

He burst out laughing, "Matchmaking? For you? How old are you this year? Girl, if you're going to lie, at least make it somewhat believable." I argued confidently: "Why isn't it believable? My eldest aunt married at nineteen, my younger aunt at eighteen. My grandmother was even younger when she married my grandfather—only seventeen. The women in our family all marry early. I'm seventeen this year too, so why wouldn't Father arrange a matchmaking meeting for me?"

He was left speechless. After a long pause, he asked: "That lieutenant... is he good-looking?"

I lifted my chin and said: "Of course, better looking than any boy I've ever seen." He said dismissively: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!" I replied: "I suppose you're right." I pushed the car door open and got out, and he quickly followed. The sea wind was strong, tousling my hair. I bit my lip and said: "But how are we supposed to find someone with no name?"

He gave me that sidelong glance again and said: "Beg me. Beg me and I'll find a way to locate your crush."

I said readily: "Fine, I beg you." He hadn't expected that and was taken aback for a moment before saying: "Give me some time to figure it out." I deliberately sneered, "So full of yourself. Hah! Can't do it this time, can you?" He became provoked, "Who says I can't?!"

When he said he had a way, he truly did. He made a few phone calls, then told me: "Let's go! There's only one person in the Second Fleet born on July 7th. His name is Zhuo Zheng, and he lives in Room 207, Building D, Ren District."

I jumped for joy and said: "Mu Shiyang, you're such a great person!" He shrugged, looking around: "Ren District... should be over there..."

We found Ren District, found Building D, and went up to the second floor. We stood at the door of Room 207. My heart was pounding, my breathing rapid. I grabbed Mu Shiyang's hand, feeling a bit timid. He smiled at me, "What are you afraid of? Isn't he supposed to be good-looking?" I glared at him, but my tension eased unconsciously. I said: "Could you knock on the door for me?"

He shrugged again and raised his hand to knock. No one answered. He knocked again, still no response.

I was extremely disappointed and knocked a few times myself. Instead, the door next to us opened, and a young officer peered out, "Are you looking for Zhuo Zheng?" I asked: "Is he not here?" He said: "He just stepped out." I asked disappointedly: "Where did he go?" He looked us over and asked: "You are..."Mu Shiyang took out his work ID and showed it. "Shuangqiao Official Residence Office." The officer asked in surprise, "Has something happened to Zhuo Zheng?" Mu Shiyang said, "No, just some official business to chat with him about." He glanced at me and deliberately added, "But it's good news."