Shujing went down the mountain with the group to watch a movie. Zhou Zuer introduced her as "Cheng Shujing" and stayed by her side the whole time. Shujing didn't talk much, and everyone quickly forgot to be distant with her. She was simply there. After the movie, they went to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal to eat. The lights were bright, and people were everywhere. Shujing couldn't help but gently squeeze Zuer's shoulder: how superficial the liveliness was. There were five or six of them, all first or second-year students, exchanging shopping tips. There was a woman who was extremely beautiful. Shujing recognized her. It turned out she worked part-time as a news reporter at a TV station. Her name was Zhao Mei, and she was treating everyone to drinks after getting paid. Zuer had also gotten paid for teaching swimming, and he was treating everyone to drinks. Almost everyone had a part-time job. Students these days are so shrewd; there are no poor scholars anymore. Zhao Mei asked, "Cheng Shujing, what kind of part-time job do you do?" Shujing replied, "I'm a housewife." She couldn't help but ask, "What? Doing housework?" Shujing answered, "No, I don't do housework, just room service." Zuer changed the subject, and Shujing felt him hold her even tighter. Shujing let him do as he pleased; though she was passive, she couldn't deny it. Compared to Fang Guochu, any young man was a temptation.
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5. Huang Biyun – A Romance in a Prosperous Era
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After dinner, they went dancing in Central. Shujing, having drunk some alcohol, felt even more dizzy and disoriented by the noise. The lights, alternating between blue, purple, and white, made her feel like she was in hell. She refused to dance, and Zuer, bored out of his mind, urged her to dance with Zhao Mei. Shujing sat in a corner and suddenly saw her small, purplish-white face reflected in the glass wall. She cupped her face in her hands. In this hellish state, she saw herself: small, purplish-white; a face typical of this era, yet still her own. Amidst the noise, the many people and events outside, the only thing she could control was this tiny bit of herself, this tiny bit of peace. She suddenly felt an intense longing for Fang Guochu, and for the fate that bound her and him. Taking advantage of the crowd disappearing into the dance floor, she quietly slipped away.
The fog was thick at midnight, and from afar, Shujing could see the light on in her house; she quickened her pace. In the bleak night, this was her only hope.
Fang Guochu was watching TV. Hearing her return, he didn't move, continuing to watch. Shujing, still wearing her wet coat, leaned against his shoulder. Neither of them spoke, and the TV's volume rose sharply: "When I was little, I was very naughty..." Shujing stepped forward and turned the TV off, but Fang Guochu, gripping the remote, immediately turned it back on. Due to uneven voltage, the head on the screen appeared convulsed, and Fang Guochu's face also contorted slightly. Only then did Shujing realize that the person on the screen was Xiao Chao. Shujing was about to lean on Fang Guochu's shoulder when she froze, unable to stop herself from asking, "Why didn't you ask me why I came back so late?" Fang Guochu, still staring at the screen, said, "This guy has the weakest theoretical foundation and is timid; he always asks me for advice. Her name is Huang Cuixian; she's a very beautiful girl. Xiao Chao and I were rivals in love, but also comrades-in-arms. In the end… the man she married joined the Legislative Council. She's a visionary girl… I haven't seen her in a long time; I wonder if she's gained weight… She probably has children…" …Xiao Chao is just an actor, and I've been teaching for ten years, day in and day out…” Shu Jing felt, bit by bit, that Fang Guochu had utterly crushed her heart. He wasn't even there; he was a thing of the past. He had even crushed himself. Shu Jing couldn't help but grab his neck and shake him: “Guochu, Guochu!” She squeezed him harder, and he gradually felt difficulty breathing. He reached out to grab her, but Shu Jing was burning with anger: “I, I!” Fang Guochu's eyes were unfocused. He looked at Shu Jing, saw through her, his spirit was distant and unknown. Shu Jing felt dizzy and wanted to strangle him immediately: “I! I'm so young, why did you ruin me? Why did you ruin me?” Fang Guochu was just silent, his neck still, he just wanted Shu Jing to let go, but he didn't pull her anymore. “Fang Weichu, it’s 1986 already, 1986, do you even know that?” Shujing felt like her words had been thrown into a vast ocean, and unconsciously loosened her grip. After a while, Fang Weichu said, “You’ve hurt my throat.” Shujing was utterly despondent, her whole body went limp, and she slumped onto the sofa. Fang Weichu cleared his throat, got up, and said, “You’ve hurt my throat, do you want some hot water?” He then walked step by step to the dining room to pour tea. Shujing was overwhelmed with grief and pain, only able to rub her chest: She was wrong; she had married an old man. Perhaps she had ruined him. She married him to fulfill his responsibilities as a person, and he had nothing to do: she had forced him to become an old man, perhaps it was all her fault. Shujing couldn’t help but shrink back, pulling at her hair. Fang Guochu returned, hugged her, and whispered, "Shujing, come have a cup of hot tea. Come on. Come on." He patted her back, rubbed her, and coaxed her, "Come on, drink the tea. I'm sorry, I'm always like this." Shujing pushed the hot tea away, saying, "It's because you're always like this." The hot tea burned Fang Guochu, and his patience ran out: "You're crazy." He ignored Shujing and continued watching TV, turning the volume up high so Xiao Chao could sing and perform comedy. Shujing huddled on the sofa, her mind racing. He was finished. She wasn't willing to be finished like this: if she went down with him, she would definitely be finished too... reduced to ashes. So she was willing to burn, letting him watch the fire from the other side of the darkness, and then he would sink... one burning, one sinking, husband and wife should share joys and sorrows, how could it come to this?
As fate would have it, in the chill of early spring, Shujing suddenly fell ill, running a slight fever and feeling dizzy. Fang Guochu arranged for her to see a doctor, constantly bringing her tea and water, fulfilling all his responsibilities as a husband. Shujing's previously wavering thoughts began to falter again. Shujing was ill for several days when Zhou Zuer, with her extraordinary connections, called; it was Fang Guochu who answered. Hearing the young man's voice, Fang Guochu couldn't help but ask, "Who's looking for her?" Upon hearing it was Zhou Zuer, he said gruffly, "She's sick, please don't disturb her anymore," and slammed the phone down. Shu Jing, feeling dizzy and disoriented in her room, was only startled awake by the sound of the phone being hung up. Fang Guochu entered, and Shu Jing, her eyes still tightly shut, was still asking, "Who? Who's looking for?" Fang Guochu, seeing this, felt a surge of anger: to this day, she still had an affair with this guy. He leaned against the door and said, "Your little friend Zhou Zuer wants to come and say hello!" Shu Jing slightly opened her eyes, only looking at Fang Guochu. Fang Guochu sneered, "The little friend is taking my 'Modern Theory' course. He could have gotten an E, but now he's qualified for an F!" Shu Jing then wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, trembling all over, unable to speak. Fang Guochu, not to be outdone, tried to pull back Shujing's blanket a little, but Shujing, with a strength she didn't know she possessed, held on tightly. Fang Guochu said forcefully, "He deserves it! These students of his, all they do is chase girls and play tennis. Am I wrong? Huh? When I was in college..." "Ah!" Shujing suddenly screamed, but because of her weakness, it was just a sharp "ah, ah" sound from her throat. Fang Guochu was startled and stopped talking. Shujing then breathed a sigh of relief, her whole body going limp. Fang Guochu unconsciously pulled up Shujing's blanket and found that her body was like a young silkworm; she was much thinner, boneless and fleshless. Fang Guochu couldn't help but sigh and covered Shujing with the blanket. Shujing turned around with difficulty, her back to him. He watched for a while, seeing that she didn't move, and assumed she had fallen asleep, so he tiptoed out. Shu Jing said softly, "Guo Chu, please don't keep bringing up the past. You're not an ignorant person..." She turned around again, shifting slightly, and faced Fang Guo Chu: "We've both been to school... we should understand things... there are many things, we... do you expect me to say 'actually, I love you the most'... there are many things we don't say lightly... you should understand." After saying this, Shu Jing felt half of her heart had died. She simply closed her eyes, and Fang Guo Chu reached out and held Shu Jing's hand: her hand was small, but extremely firm and clean. Fang Guo Chu gently hugged Shu Jing and stroked her hair, but his heart was filled with endless troubles: such a woman, always speaking in riddles, wouldn't that make her nervous?
6. Huang Biyun – A Romance in a Prosperous Era
University student novels, online
Fang Guochu wished he could abandon Shujing and never look back, but since he had been confused at first, he was still her husband, and how could a man easily divorce his wife? At this moment, Fang Guochu was also somewhat relieved that Shujing didn't have children yet. "I must buy some condoms tomorrow," Fang Guochu said, holding Shujing in his arms, having made this decision in his heart.
The next day, Shujing felt a little better. She was wrapped in a blanket and sat by the window watching the fog, seeing only a hazy mist. Guochu had been keeping Shujing company for over a week. Feeling suffocated, she called an old friend from the living room. As she was talking, the doorbell rang. Shujing heard a commotion outside; Guochu was still talking. She sat there until the fog thinned, revealing azaleas scattered on the ground. Then Guochu came in, carrying a bunch of daffodils, put them down, and left. Shujing asked, "Who came?" Guochu replied, "No one. Just delivering flowers." Shujing said, "You talked to the flower delivery person for so long?" Guochu replied, "I was on the phone." Looking down, she saw a business card attached to the bouquet, clearly reading, "Cheng Shujing, wishing you good health. Zuer." Shujing didn't ask any more questions, bent down to open the large wooden window, and dropped the bouquet. Fang Guochu immediately returned and closed the window for Shujing. Seeing Guo Chu smiling slightly, Shu Jing said, "If I make any decision, I hope it will be based on a more sacred reason." Guo Chu stopped smiling, frowned, and asked, "What decision?" Shu Jing hugged the blanket, closed her eyes step by step, her face calm and serene.
Fang Guochu spent several days in constant fear, tiptoeing into Shujing's room each time, leaving behind pills and warm water before leaving. He didn't know what she would decide: this woman was capable of anything. Perhaps she would strangle him. Or perhaps she would scream herself to death. Fang Guochu's only wish was for her to recover quickly so everyone could go out to work. Therefore, Fang Guochu always kept the television and radio on in the living room. He would grade papers in front of the television, casually assigning students a grade. Sometimes, when he looked up and saw Shujing's room, he would be startled, and the paper in his hand would always be marked with a C.
Shujing recovered from her illness without a word. One day, Fang Guochu woke up to find Shujing had gone out to work, leaving him breakfast. Fang Guochu immediately sensed this was a haunted house. The woman seemed to float around without a trace. He paced back and forth in the house, opening all the doors and windows, but it was a gloomy late spring day, and the house still felt haunted. Fang Guochu had no choice but to go out and make phone calls.
Shujing sat in the library all morning. Having just recovered from a minor illness, she felt disoriented, her mind wandering. Leaning against the wall, she looked at the campus. The azaleas had faded; after her illness, everything seemed distant. Shujing felt like a nearsighted person, everything seemed meaningless, even Fang Guochu seemed far away. She packed up her books, wanting to go home and sleep. Perhaps she could wake up and still enjoy family life, be with her husband. She could only hope that this sleep would change everything. Before she even reached home, Shujing heard a commotion inside, mixed with bursts of laughter. Shujing paused, noticing the yellow jasmine in full bloom by the door, its branches flowing like a madwoman's hair. Suddenly, she felt very weak and gently leaned against the white wooden door. She remembered her childhood… her mother often ran away, but at the end of the year, her mother would always leave her a new set of clothes. She would wear those crisp new clothes, leaning against the door, the sound of firecrackers outside… the person she was waiting for never came. She stood like that her whole life. Shu Jing raised her face and crumpled Huang Suxin's hair into a pulp.
Four men, eight hands, four mouths, and a never-ending stream of chatter filled the living room. Xiao Chao chuckled, saying, "My current motto is 'No writing, no reading,' but I'll always find you a few pretty ladies." Li Da glanced at her with watery eyes, "Xiao Chu, write some reviews for me. This is a high-class adult magazine, you know. Maybe we can even report it to the school for academic publication!" Only after Shu Jing closed the door did they realize her presence and waved. Fang Guochu simply said, "You're back," but his eyes never left the mahjong tiles; Shu Jing had hung a...
Smiling, Shu Jing sat gracefully behind Fang Guochu, noticing he was working on a "Pure One Suit" hand. "It's so boring, let's go!" was Fang Guochu's explanation. Shu Jing leaned against Fang Guochu's shoulder. Those eight hands, once holding high the banner of ideals, were now just fiddling around on the mahjong table. Suddenly, she was no longer angry, only able to gently pat Fang Guochu's shoulder. Fang Guochu was single-mindedly focused on his "Pure One Suit," too lazy to even answer Li Da's words. Suddenly, the muscles in his shoulder tensed: "Ha! Self-drawn three times!" He pushed the tiles aside, counted the money, and then turned to Shu Jing, saying, "Could you please pour us some tea?" Xiao Chao then said, "We're hungry, is there anything to eat?" Shu Jing stood up gracefully, dressed in pure white like a lotus. She said, "Oh, please wait a moment." But she didn't go into the kitchen. She simply walked to the door and slowly unlocked it. The sound of mahjong stopped for a moment, and Shu Jing stood outside the door. Hearing Fang Guochu say, "She often has such a strange temper, just ignore her..." Shu Jing closed the door, and the sound of mahjong tiles rang out again. The yellow jasmine was in full bloom, its hair disheveled like that of a madwoman. Shu Jing casually plucked a yellow jasmine flower and put it in her hair.
7 Huang Biyun -- A Romance in a Prosperous Era
Novel Paradise
Above her was the sky, below her was Victoria Harbour. Shujing walked step by step, knowing there was no way out. She walked diagonally down Third Street, Second Street, First Street… perhaps until midnight, and from then on, everyone would be content with their lot. What did she mean by "no war, no gunfire, just a peaceful world"? People still vanished into thin air. Fang Guochu was finished… Shujing suddenly felt utterly lost and could go no further. She stumbled into a dessert shop by the sea and ordered a bowl of mulberry egg tea. The first sip was incredibly bitter. She kept adding sugar, but even that wouldn't dissolve, gathering at the bottom of the bowl. Shujing knew it was all in vain.
She looked up and realized that this was the dessert shop where her students liked to gather. And so the decision was made.
Shujing knocked on Zuer's door; the doors of the colonial university were all made of wood. Teachers and students alike seemed to be of one mind. She held a large bouquet of daffodils, exactly the same as the one he had given her, returning the flowers to him, returning half a lifetime of affection.
"Who?" Joey's voice was a little unsteady, unlike his usual clear and resonant voice.
"Cheng Shujing".
It was Zhao Mei who opened the door, her hair disheveled, her makeup smudged, and wearing only a thin garment. Shu Jing murmured, "I'm sorry, Bu Chao." She shoved the flowers into Zhao Mei's hands and turned to leave. Zhao Mei called out loudly, "It's alright, don't go..." Shu Jing just hurried along the endless corridor; like Hong Fu Nu fleeing, her entire life hanging by a thread. One thought, another, and everything would fall apart.
Shu Jing, her mouth dry and parched, staggered up the mountain. Victoria Harbour was already a sea of purple. She clutched her head, her mind blank, just an empty shell. When she arrived home, the living room was even cleaner and more spacious than usual, its furnishings neat and tidy. Fang Guochu was sitting upright, reading a magazine. Seeing Shu Jing's pale face, he immediately went to her, earnestly supporting her: "They're all gone. They're all old friends, you've met them... just a casual visit." Shu Jing didn't reply. She went to get some water, but Fang Guochu took the cup and poured it for her, saying, "I've heated up some angelica soup for you, drink it later." Shu Jing slumped away, her heart struck by lightning. It was over; she had made up her mind. His earnestness was useless. Shu Jing then went back to her room. Fang Guochu sat in the living room, lost in thought. The smell of angelica was extremely strong, and he couldn't bear it. Perhaps he hadn't been considerate enough to her, but wasn't she just as willful and domineering? With Cheng Shujing, neither soft nor hard approaches worked. What was the point? Fang Guochu glared fiercely at Shujing's room, then strode to the kitchen and poured out a pot of strongly scented angelica soup. Even after the angelica was gone, the smell lingered. Fang Guochu suddenly felt disgusted. There were so many things in life that came and went beyond human control.
Cheng Shujing acted as if nothing had happened, going out to work every day. Fang Guochu slept in her room at night. He thought to himself, this cold war might last forever; maybe if it was left alone, she'd be fine again. Anyway, this woman couldn't be controlled by anything. However, Fang Guochu noticed that Shujing's books were fewer, and the wardrobe was emptier. He figured it was summer, and fewer things meant less time to save time, so he didn't think much of it. Summer vacation arrived, and Fang Guochu was even more bored, taking naps every day, which made him even fatter. He played mahjong in his spare time, but dared not play at home; it was better to go to Li Da's place. There were adult videos to watch, and they would talk while watching. He made do with the days. At night, Fang Guochu drank Benny Hill Show, feeling a bit bored, so he drank a large beer to help him sleep. Shujing came and went in front of him, counting the days, one by one.
That morning, Fang Guochu found breakfast on the table. A crystal vase was filled with a large bouquet of lilies, and Fang Guochu suddenly felt that the scene was very familiar. Underneath the vase was a small letter addressed to "Mr. Fang Guochu," written in small, neat handwriting on the plain white paper: "Tonight, Qi Shi. Tavnerna. Please do me the honor of joining us." Fang Guochu was filled with doubt, and finally, evening arrived. He did something unlike anything he had ever done in his life: he searched for clothes, rummaging through them for a long time before finally putting on a light gray, loose-fitting suit, a white cotton shirt, no tie, and a white silk handkerchief tucked into his pocket: except for his wedding night, he had never put any thought into his clothes.
He had seen Shujing from afar, though she was sitting in a dimly lit corner. He suddenly thought she was very beautiful: he paused for a moment, then went to greet her.
When Shujing saw him, her lips pursed, a half-smile playing on her lips. Her face, slightly upturned, seemed full of anticipation. She gestured for him to sit down and ordered him food. Then, without speaking, she gently rested her chin on her hand, looking at him. The candlelight flickered, casting an indistinct glow on her face. Fang Guochu, without a reason, pulled out his pocket square and put it in his pocket, then tried to make conversation: "Did you buy a new dress?" Shujing lowered her head slightly and said, "No, it's an old one." Fang Guochu asked, "Why haven't I seen it? You only have white clothes; it seems you don't have any beige ones." Shujing gently covered half her face and said, "It was originally white, but it's gotten old, so it looks a bit beige." The appetizers arrived, and the two ate in silence for a while, focusing intently on their meal. Shujing then said, "Guochu, many things get old without us even realizing it." Fang Guochu felt very unhappy and put down his fork, refusing to eat. Shujing reached out and touched the candle; a drop of candle wax rolled down and clung to her finger. Shujing said, "How about a divorce?" The candle wax was burning hot, but Shujing didn't feel any pain.
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8 Huang Biyun -- A Romance in a Prosperous Era
Novel Heaven!
Fang Guochu rubbed his temples, then rubbed his itchy eyes. The hot candle wax in Shujing's hands grew thicker and thicker. The main course arrived, but Fang Guochu didn't touch his knife and fork, only tucking his pocket square back into his jacket pocket. After a while, he said, "Well, how should I put it? Well... like this... When people reach my age, love and hate aren't as intense... I think that's the generation gap. If we meet again in ten years, I estimate the outcome will be different... well." Shujing pulled her hand away, candle wax still clinging to her fingers, still holding Fang Guochu's little finger. Fang Guochu looked at the flickering candlelight, a strange smile appearing on his face: "But I wouldn't oppose young people pursuing their ideals. Well. I have a few old classmates who can help; we might need some time to handle the legal procedures." Shujing pressed his hand, saying, "We'll split the bill." Fang Guochu held Shujing's hands, saying, "Oh, I earn more than you, so I'll pay for this." At this moment, the two looked at each other, hand in hand, like any ordinary couple in love. Shujing said, "Come keep me company tonight, okay?" Fang Guochu was a little surprised, but he didn't ask and just answered, "Okay." He suddenly realized that he had also picked up Shujing's habits.
Shujing led Fang Guochu to a building in Xihuan. As they went up the stairs, the wood creaked. Shujing reached out and pulled him.
It turned out to be a small apartment with a living room and a bedroom, with white hemp curtains hanging down and a yellow-green Mongolian rug spread out on the floor. Fang Guochu saw that Shujing had already moved all her books and clothes from home. Fang Guochu couldn't help but shake his head: "I've never seen a woman like you." Shujing turned her face to the side, her lips still pursed in that ambiguous smile: "You're not very knowledgeable." Fang Guochu pulled her: "I admit defeat."
Only then did Shujing realize that Fang Guochu could also be gentle. He touched her neck as if afraid of shattering her. He stroked her brows and eyes, and her eyelashes fell still as if they were dying butterflies. He bit her shoulder, and she felt like a piece of fine porcelain. He kissed her breasts, and she felt as soft as a baby. His body, his breath, his very being… what a peaceful sorrow.
Fang Guochu was tired, so he lay down on Shujing's bed and fell asleep. Shujing bathed and dried her hair in front of him. Once everything was settled, she put away his clothes and woke him up.
Fang Guochu opened his eyes slightly, then felt sleepy again. Shujing helped him put on the sleeves of his shirt, and he woke up, saying, "What?" Shujing smiled and said, "This house is my heart; this heart doesn't keep guests." Fang Guochu didn't reply, silently getting dressed. He kissed her forehead and left. At four in the morning, Shujing turned on all the lights in the house, illuminating the room, and sat alone in the living room.
Two weeks later, Shujing received a call from Fang Guochu, inviting her to a law firm in Central to sign a separation certificate, with the divorce automatically taking effect two years later: he could be diligent, if he wanted to. After hanging up, Shujing stayed up all night.
Divorce is easy, it's only difficult when you make the decision. After the matter was over, the young lawyer shook hands with them, and Fang Guochu naturally shook hands with Shujing. Shujing immediately noticed that he had taken off his ring.
They left the office building around lunchtime. The atmosphere in Central was tense. Shujing stood on the street, her steps hesitant. Fang Guochu spoke: "It's been so hot these past few days, lots of mosquitoes, and the air conditioning doesn't help..." People came and went. The sun was scorching, and Shujing was sweating profusely... "I don't even wear clothes at home, but it's so hot I can't sleep late..." Shujing looked up; the summer sun reflected on the glass curtain wall of the building, its rays flickering and swirling, like countless days... "I also get up very early this morning; I go play tennis by myself..." Shujing gently tugged at Fang Guochu's sleeve and asked, "Mr. Fang, are you happy?" They were standing on the safety island outside the entertainment theater, surrounded on three sides by dust, with fumes billowing out in waves. As soon as the red light turned on, Fang Guochu stopped and turned to look at Shujing: "Why would you ask such a question? You should study literature or philosophy." Shujing let go of him, avoiding his gaze, and smiled slightly, saying, "Didn't you tell me to study home economics?" Fang Guochu touched her forehead and said, "That's just childish. You even remembered my unintentional words." At that moment, the green light came on, and Fang Guochu hurried across the street. In the crowd, he didn't notice Shujing was gone. Shujing stood there, holding onto the traffic light on the safety island, and whispered, "You are the one I love, how could I forget?" But the one she loved was gone. On such a sweltering summer noon, at such a traffic light intersection, amidst thousands upon thousands of people, the one she loved was already gone. Shujing gripped the sign tightly, but it felt slippery. She clenched her fists tightly; all she had was this passion, which often became uncontrollable after the event. Red light, green light—for the first time. Shujing cried.
Shujing took a deep breath, tilted her face up to the sunlight. It should be this way; in times of peace and prosperity, the greatest turmoil one experiences is nothing more than disillusionment. The sun was scorching, Shujing's eyes burning red… Hong Kong still favored this kind of modernist architecture, but it was actually outdated… She lowered her head, gently clenching her hands. The weather was extremely hot; the tears that had been flowing just moments before had dried quickly, and Shujing felt a slight itch on her face. Other than that, it seemed like nothing: the city moved so fast, there wasn't even time for a single tear to remain on her face. The green light came on, and Shujing straightened her shoulders and walked into the crowd, disappearing from sight.
We don't know where Shujing went. Perhaps when she's no longer young... perhaps she'll find someone even worse than Fang Guochu, marry him, and have children. In this day and age, it seems that's all she can do.
In times of peace and prosperity, even the most breathtaking love stories can only unfold like this. Hong Kong in the 1980s.