Chapter 11: The Registry

In the corridor outside the commissar's office, Captain Ji stopped walking and turned to face her.

"No," he said.

"I haven't said anything."

"You were about to. The answer is no."

Wanning folded her arms over the empty sports bag.

"It's the quickest way to end the inquiry."

"The colonel's wife has already told half the base that we're engaged," she went on. "It is only a signature."

"It is a marriage."

"It's a year. After the series airs and my name is on the screen, we separate quietly."

"Nobody has to say anything to anybody," she added.

"It would be a marriage," he said again, "that I made you walk into."

"You didn't make me," Wanning said. "You lied, and it was stupid, and you're an idiot."

She took a breath.

"But you sat up all night so I could sleep, and you bought back my grandmother's cloth. I can do one sensible thing for you."

His eyes moved over her face.

"I will not take it from you," he said.

"Then I'm giving it. That's different."

She put her hand out, palm up.

It was a small, ridiculous gesture. After a long moment he took it, and held it, and let it go.

"One year," he said hoarsely.

"One year."

By two o'clock they were in the green car with Luo driving.

Ji Suwen sat in the back seat with a bag of red dates on her lap.

The captain had told his mother in the corridor, in four short sentences.

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