My cousin looked beautiful in her cheongsam, and she sat on the back of my cousin's bicycle with two thick, long braids.
My cousin's family was destroyed and his cousin's sister was married off by her father to a powerful man as a concubine.
"cousin"
Just like last time, she burst into tears as soon as she heard him call her "cousin".
The penniless cousin works as an assistant at his wealthy cousin's husband's house. He sees her every day and thinks about her every night, even though she's now married.
"What's so interesting about it? It's all just something to make people cry."
Anqi spoke these words expressionlessly, his tone quite dismissive.
"It's a really good shot; it deserves an award," I said.
I kept secretly observing An Qi, wondering what he was thinking at that moment.
In the film, the cousin, the younger cousin, and the younger cousin's husband are sitting at a table.
"If she weren't your cousin, would you have married her?"
"No, she's just my cousin."
After a series of hardships, the cousin was finally reunited with his beloved cousin after being released from prison.
Afterwards, Anqi drove me home. This time, he didn't mention coming upstairs to sit for a while. I didn't say anything either.
Grandpa and Dongdong were lying in bed watching TV.
“Your dad called today,” Grandpa said.
I went to the back room, put down my bag, changed into my pajamas, and let my hair down.
"What did he say?"
"I'll ask you to go there once when you have some free time."
"What's wrong?" Dad wouldn't call me for no reason.
"A karmic debt!"
Lying in bed, I recalled what had just happened. It all felt so vague and unreal.
I ran to the balcony; the drawing paper I'd hung out to dry last time still hadn't been brought in.
The drawing paper dried, and it was even dirtier than before.
Will trying to explain only make things worse?
Zhang Qian
Zhang Qian
The brand-new Audi is impressive. Leather seats, GPS, drive-in theater—this is my father's car.
After I got off work, my father was already waiting outside the factory gate. He waved to me from inside the car.
Throughout the journey, my daughter and I were wary of each other like strangers, constantly glancing at each other with our eyes.
The car stopped in the small park, and he took out a very heavy brown paper bag from his briefcase. The bag was very bulging, probably because it was stuffed with a lot of things.
"What is this?" I asked my father curiously. What was so important that he had to bring it to me personally? Without waiting for his answer, I had already untied the string on the paper bag.
Money, a whole bag full of money.
“This is the child support payment for when you were a child,” the father said.
"Does your aunt know?"
"have no idea."
"Give it to Xiaoxi, I don't need it."
"No need, she has it."
Weighing the money in my hand, I'd never seen so much money in my entire life. If only this money had come sooner, if only my father hadn't been so cunning, if only... but if only.
What would I be like if it all came true?
It certainly won't be like this now.
I think I've successfully gotten into a fashion design school, moving between the stage and the world of models, and being admired by everyone.
In this world, there are no "ifs," no assumptions, only facts.
"Thank you, Dad." Holding the money, I kissed my father on the cheek, just like I did when I was a child.
My father looked at me, hesitating to speak. He pointed to the slide ahead, "Remember?"
I remember, how could I not remember?
Looking at his watch, he said, "It's time to go back. Grandpa is cooking today."
"Don't overthink it. Just consider it your dowry, okay?"
After getting home, I went straight to sleep. My father didn't come upstairs.
I rummaged through my change of clothes and went into the bathroom.
Looking in the mirror, I said to myself, "I'm a little rich now, and I'm so happy."
Anqi
Holding a pen, he didn't write a single word.
The dean requested that each comrade who went to the countryside for poverty alleviation submit a more detailed written report.
There was a knock on the office door, which then opened. I looked up and saw who it was.
"Yanping?" I hope this guy isn't feeling unwell again.
"Are you feeling unwell?" I asked.
He smiled but didn't answer, and took a letter out of his bag. I took it and saw that it was a wedding invitation.
The invitation featured photos of the newlyweds; they were a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
"When was it decided?" I waved the "bomb" in my hand.
"last year."
I'm thinking, when will it be my turn to drop a "bomb" on these guys and blow them to pieces so I can finally save face?
"Oh, by the way, please give this to Hu Lu for me." He then took out another invitation.
Isn't he in the urology department?
"I won't bother you anymore. This kid always avoids me." Zhou Yanping tossed me a cigarette, which I accepted without hesitation.
“Your family’s ‘Lily Chou’ made this kid suffer a lot.”
"Serves you right!"
We talked about Hu Lu's romantic escapades. Hu Lu, Zhou Yanping, and I were high school classmates. Only Hu Lu later got into the same university as me, though not in the same class, we were still classmates. He was a born womanizer, always falling for the wrong person. In university, he was deeply involved with the campus beauty, Sun Xiaohong, to the point where he wouldn't marry anyone else. A year later, he disappeared without a trace.
After entering the workforce, he took a liking to "Lily Zhou," a girl working at the same hospital. Upon closer inquiry, he discovered that this girl was actually Zhou Yanping's younger sister. And it was no wonder he was so unlucky; "Lily Zhou" and Sun Xiaohong had been childhood friends.
At noon, Zhou Yanping and I ordered some dishes and drank some wine at a small restaurant outside.
"Are you sure it's okay for you to drink this?" he asked.
"Beer doesn't make you drunk."
"I heard you're about to make a decision too?"
The wind is blowing fast enough.
"I wanted to, but the woman didn't agree." There was nothing to be embarrassed about saying this in front of my old classmate.
"You?" he asked in surprise.
"Yes, it's me."
"That person must have bad eyesight."
"Her eyes are beautiful."
Thinking of her eyes reminds me of her lips. I wonder if the wound on her lips has healed, or if the skin is still peeling. But I wouldn't mind biting it for her again.
"Bring her along on the wedding day, so I can see for myself what kind of enchanting beauty could possibly win your heart."
"no problem."
After finishing my meal, I returned to my office to continue writing my report. Still, I couldn't write a single word. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Zhang Qian. That girl, if you don't take the initiative, she won't either. She's like an abacus, only moving when you pull it. I don't know what she's got up with me. Sometimes I think I'm truly hopeless, utterly useless.
He's a monster, absolutely a monster.
I'm thinking, maybe it's time for a Taoist priest to come out and subdue this monster. Sacrificing myself for the happiness of all humanity. Thinking like that, I feel quite noble.
What are you grinning about?
"Oh, it's Dr. Du!"
Remembering the important matter, Dr. Du must be here to collect the report. It's all that demon's fault that I can't write a single word. Tonight, I have to teach her a lesson and show her the power of the "Demon-Refining Pot."
"What is this?" She picked up the wedding invitation from the table.
My classmate is getting married.
"The bride is so beautiful."
"Dr. Du, this report is for you tomorrow. Look, there isn't a single word on it today." He tidied up the things on the table, clipped the pen to his breast pocket, and prepared to make his rounds.
"That won't do, I can't explain it to the dean." She pulled a piece of paper from the folder and handed it to me. "Please make a copy of this and make sure you hand it in to me today."
"Thank you so much."
I put away the paper and went outside to begin my rounds.
"Hey, wait a minute."
"Is there anything else?" I stopped and looked at the short Dr. Du.