Looking at the despicable face in front of her, Lianqing knew there was no way to recover her losses, and a feeling of being deceived washed over her.
"Of course, I'm also disappointed with this result. However, I can compensate you, as long as you do well." With that, Mr. Li placed his thin hand on Lian Qing's leg in a casual gesture; he had already taken her before. Lian Qing angrily grabbed a water glass from the coffee table and splashed it all over Mr. Li's face, then stormed out, leaving the furious Mr. Li behind.
On the sunny street, Lianqing started crying as she walked. "Damn it, none of them are any good! Nobody will ever fool me again, not a chance! Consider this a lesson learned!" she thought. "Damn it! Bah!" Lianqing shouted fiercely at a young man who was looking at her admiringly from the opposite direction, "What are you looking at, you pervert! You'll get corns!" The young man quickly looked away, lowered his head, and hurried away.
After that, Lianqing was rarely scammed anymore. No matter what she wanted to do, she would get a contract first. Lianqing grew up in this city at an astonishing Shenzhen speed.
The Angel of Matter (Thirteen)
gold
In the building materials market, Hu Ni flipped through several floor tiles, comparing them over and over, but still couldn't decide which one suited her best. She turned to Qiu Ping, who was already losing patience with choosing, and asked, "Tell me, which one do you think is better?"
Qiu Ping looked at it seriously and said, "You decide, I think they're about the same."
"Is this okay?" Hu Ni asked, pointing to the milky-white tiles with some subtle patterns.
"Sure! Whatever you like."
After settling the bill and having the workers return the large bags of bricks, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief; another problem was solved.
Qiu Ping took Hu Ni's hand and they walked slowly, looking at the various goods in the glass doors on both sides. They still had many things to choose from.
In the furniture store, many pieces of furniture were very appealing, but upon closer inspection of the prices, they were shockingly expensive. They carefully compared styles and prices. Actually, it's still too early to buy furniture now, as there's no place to put it anyway, but it's good to pick some out first, so there won't be a shortage of time later.
Qiu Ping looked around at a large bed; it had a simple design and a smooth, flowing backrest. "How about we buy this bed then?" he said, sitting down on the bed and bobbing up on it.
"Okay, but it's a bit expensive."
“The bed is very important. Think about how much time a person spends in bed every day. You have to buy a comfortable bed that looks good too.” Qiu Ping looked at the hesitant Hu Ni and revealed his breathtakingly bright smile. “Besides, the price isn’t that expensive. You’ve seen those beds, they cost tens of thousands of yuan each.”
Hu Ni stopped talking and walked silently with Qiu Ping, her inferiority complex spreading like an incurable tide.
"What's wrong?" Qiu Ping looked at her with a questioning gaze.
Hu Ni smiled.
Are you tired?
Hu Ni smiled again and shook her head. This relationship was too heavy for her. In her eyes, he was exceptional, incomparable. He could have had better women—women with parents, women who grew up healthy in the sunshine, women who hadn't experienced those unbearable hardships, women who graduated from reputable universities and earned more than her, women who could give him a complete family… But she could give him nothing. Yet, she was unwilling to give up the happiness of being with him. Therefore, torment became inevitable, and she would forever bear this burden.
“Let’s go back.” He looked at her tenderly.
"Meng Qiuping!" A sharp shout startled Hu Ni. A young woman with a round face stood in front of them, smiling smugly. "You kept it a secret from us? I caught you today!" Behind her stood an equally young man, smiling at them with the politeness one would show to a stranger.
"This is my boyfriend!" she introduced enthusiastically.
"This is Hu Ni, my girlfriend," Qiu Ping said, embracing Hu Ni.
"Hello! I'm Li Jun, Meng Qiuping's colleague!" The woman warmly extended her hand. Hu Ni shook her hand and said, "Hello!" The woman's face was always beaming with a warm smile, a face without a trace of shadow.
After a few pleasantries, the two groups parted ways. Li Jun's bright, sunny smile remained etched in Hu Ni's mind, fueling her growing inferiority complex. She gripped Qiu Ping's hand tightly, yet felt an emptiness and a complete lack of security. This security wasn't something Qiu Ping could provide; it stemmed from Hu Ni's own shortcomings—both physical and psychological. She found it difficult to break free.
Passing the nursery furniture, Hu Ni stopped, gently stroking the tiny beds. She longed for a child; at this age, a woman's maternal love had fully matured. She wanted a lovely child of her own, but it would never be possible. Qiu Ping tugged at her, signaling that she should leave.
As she walked out of the furniture store, she felt a pang of sadness and wanted to cry. Qiu Ping's car slowly drove up from the underground parking lot. Hu Ni went to greet her, opened the car door, and smiled back at Qiu Ping's heartbreakingly faint smile. Then, seemingly at ease, she sat in the passenger seat.
The Angel of Matter (XIV)
gold
Carrying bags of groceries, Hu Ni got off the bus. It was her first time visiting Qiu Ping's rented room. Qiu Ping suggested they cook for themselves that day, since Hu Ni didn't have any ingredients at her place, so she came to Qiu Ping's.
Upon reaching the second floor and walking through the dimly lit corridor, Qiu Ping opened his bedroom door. The first thing he saw was a tiny kitchen, barely big enough for two people, but still fully equipped. "I often cook noodles for myself after get off work," Qiu Ping said, putting down the groceries he was carrying. Next to the kitchen was a small bathroom, also too small for two people. Beyond the kitchen was the living room, not small, but not large either, yet fully furnished with all the necessary appliances. Qiu Ping explained that a colleague had sold it to him cheaply when leaving Shenzhen; it was a complete set, and he had taken it all. Beyond the living room was a small bedroom with a computer, a bed, a wardrobe, and no room for anything else. But the room was impeccably clean and tidy. And there wasn't a trace of a woman's presence. Not even a hint of her scent.
Qiu Ping turned on the stereo, and Qi Yu's ethereal, otherworldly voice filled the air: "A faint sorrow drifts down, a thread of longing lingers, like a dream, like an illusion, like reality; the strings are gently plucked, the voice softly murmurs, that's a song, la, la, la... As long as you smile gently, my heart is captivated; as long as your joyful laughter accompanies me on this long journey, I have something to rely on..."
"Whose song is this?" Hu Ni asked, gazing intently.
“Qi Yu, Qi Qin’s sister, this song is the theme song of the movie ‘Joyful Encounter’.” Qiu Ping said, pulling Hu Ni into his arms. Hu Ni avoided his gaze. Under his close stare, Hu Ni felt somewhat lost. The weariness in her eyes, the traces of time on her face… she was no longer very confident in herself.
The ethereal song from the speakers went: "Some say that the lake on the mountain is a tear on the surface of the earth. Then the tears on my pillow are a lake hanging on your heart, a lake..."
Qiu Ping stubbornly cradled Hu Ni's face, oblivious to her weariness and advancing age. In his eyes, Hu Ni was beautiful and elegant, radiating a scholarly air; the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were simply ignored. He gazed at the woman in his arms, the pure and beautiful woman in his heart, the Hu Ni he had longed for since his youth, and she was now in his arms. Moreover, they would enter into marriage, spending their lives together. He was a traditional man, a member of the so-called middle class, building his world step by step with his own abilities, cherishing everything he had already achieved. His future was inextricably linked to Hu Ni's, solid and fulfilling. He believed he could bring her happiness; their future was bright, and his life had truly begun.
Hu Ni looked at him, her lover, her heart filled with both sorrow and sweetness. She couldn't avoid him, because she wanted him.
He lowered his head and kissed her. She was enveloped in his familiar scent, the intoxicating aroma of a man—it was Qiu Ping's. In her heart, she told herself again and again, "It's Qiu Ping." She opened her arms and wrapped them around Qiu Ping's neck, letting herself melt like a piece of candy, float like a feather, and become as dazed as a mentally challenged child. The world ceased to exist; they only had each other. If only the world were this simple.
They moved toward the bed, one leading the other, the other leading the other. She gently stroked Qiu Ping's masculine body beneath his T-shirt, desire like a witch casting her into an abyss from which she could not escape. Qiu Ping, on the other hand, was restrained; she was his sacred lover, so sacred that he dared not rashly take this step. Hu Ni encouraged him, responding passionately to his kiss, her fingers lightly caressing his body, her eyes half-closed in a daze, her long eyelashes trembling nervously, her delicate nostrils opening and closing rapidly. And her body had been completely opened to him.
He slowly removed her coat and trousers, revealing her fair, delicate skin and a beautifully proportioned body. Only, on her flat stomach, lay a scar. Hu Ni lifted her gaze from the scar, looking at Qiu Ping with her deep, unfathomable eyes. If he disliked the scar, disliked her unsavory past, disliked her imperfection, she wouldn't blame him; she was only afraid he would. Qiu Ping paused, gently stroking the now completely healed scar, then pulled Hu Ni tightly into his arms, whispering in her ear. Hu Ni closed her eyes tightly, a wave of relief and sorrow washing over her, streaming down her face. The ethereal voice of Qi Yu filled the room: "After the stars have made their final gaze, I open the window in the dead of night. Somewhere on the other side of the earth, someone silently opens their window. The face of that person, indescribable in its coldness or warmth, is turned entirely towards me. I secretly bless them..."
The Angel of Matter (15)
gold
The sharp ringing of a cell phone seemed to echo in her dream. Hu Ni struggled to open her eyes and saw the snow-white ceiling above her, unable to even tell whether it was morning or afternoon.
Upon answering the phone, Lianqing's anxious voice came through: "Cousin, come quick, I'm in trouble!"
Hu Ni fully regained consciousness: "What happened? Where are you?"
"I'm at XX Coffee Shop in Shekou. Hurry up and call Qiuping! I'm calling from the restroom now." Then she hung up.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know," Hu Ni said, quickly getting dressed. "We'll find out when we get there."
Upon arriving at the coffee shop Lianqing had mentioned, Hu Ni jumped out of the car before it had even fully parked. Her hurried manner startled the two women who had just come out.
In a seat further inside, Lianqing's face was visibly impatient. She was dressed to the nines today, her short hair styled in a playful upward curl, styled with mousse to keep each strand perfectly defined. Her face was adorned with a subtle, shimmering makeup, and a rose-red halter dress made her look alluring and seductive. Her outfit and styling had the desired effect; the man next to her was relentlessly urging her to visit his home, even pulling her out by the shoulder. This infuriated Lianqing. Today had been unlucky enough; she had enthusiastically arranged to meet a "husband" she'd met online, meticulously dressing up, only to find that her witty and humorous online "husband" was actually quite different—thin and small, with a pointed chin and jaw, barely reaching Lianqing's ears. Not only was he ugly, but he was also incredibly sleazy and slovenly. He wore a cheap, wrinkled gray short-sleeved shirt with small checkered shorts and faux leather sandals. His hair was dirty and greasy. The person who called him "husband" countless times online every day, the person who had sex and fathered children online, actually looked like this. Lian Qing was completely stunned. It was utterly disgusting. She wondered if he ever thought about masturbating while he was "doing" things online. Just thinking about it made Lian Qing want to vomit everything she had eaten in the past few days.
After confirming that Lianqing was his "wife," the man's small eyes gleamed with a strange light. Once their "relationship" was established, he began relentlessly inviting Lianqing to his home. His eagerness was both hateful and disgusting. Lianqing was certain that he hadn't stopped thinking about actually "doing it" with her for a single moment. She felt nauseous and disgusted, as if crawling with maggots, while he, like a snotty snott, had her pinned down, unable to leave or escape. He patiently pestered her, determined to achieve his goal—once was enough. Letting such a prize slip away would be a lifelong regret. In real life, he wouldn't even dare dream of such a beautiful woman. Thanks to the internet, he had already "done it" with her many times, but none of that counted. He was determined to do it for real, otherwise it would be too regrettable and a great pity.
Lianqing's patience had reached its limit. Angrily, she slapped the thin, dark arm off her shoulder. He didn't persist and easily moved away. But less than a second later, he stubbornly clung to her waist again.
"If you keep doing this, I'll call the police!" Lian Qing shouted angrily.
"Is it really necessary? It's just a visit to my place, and besides, we're boyfriend and girlfriend." He let go of her, feigning innocence.
"Who said we're boyfriend and girlfriend?!" Lianqing shouted angrily.
"Lianqing! What's going on?" Hu Ni appeared as if a divine warrior had descended from the heavens, standing steadily in front of the two people who were still struggling.
When Lianqing saw her cousin arrive, she became even more emboldened: "Cousin, he's a scoundrel!" she said, pointing to the surprised man beside her.
The man said guiltily, "Who's the hooligan?"
"Get out of the way!" Lianqing stood up and kicked the man. The man reluctantly moved his leg, and Lianqing grabbed her bag and squeezed out as if avoiding a plague.
"What happened?" Qiu Ping rushed over.
Lianqing became even more smug, but dared not reveal her true intentions in front of her cousin and Qiuping, so she hurriedly said, "It's nothing, I just ran into a scoundrel." After saying that, she glared at the man hatefully. The man was so guilty that he dared not make any more noise, and just lowered his head to drink the coffee in front of him that had gone cold.
"Is everything alright?" Hu Ni asked, pulling Lian Qing's hand. Lian Qing suddenly sighed inwardly, "Relatives really are different." She nodded firmly and said, "I'm fine!"
"Should we call the police?" Qiu Ping asked Lian Qing, though she was actually asking the man.
"No need, no need, nothing happened anyway!" Lian Qing said repeatedly.
The three of them walked out, and Lianqing held Huni tightly, suddenly feeling a warm and comforting sense of mutual need between them.
Once in the car, Lianqing exaggeratedly patted her chest and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Are you going to meet a client today? Is it him?" Hu Ni asked coldly.
"I ran into this scoundrel before the client even arrived." Lian Qing made up a lie on the spot. It was too easy for her. At home, lying was as easy as breathing.
"You don't know him?"
"Who would know him?" Lianqing said with an embarrassed smile.
"Be more careful when you're out in the future. If something like this happens, it's not enough to just call us. You also need to call for help. Call whoever you see, and call for help even if you don't see anyone. Like today, you could have just called a waiter." After confirming that Lianqing wasn't lying, Hu Ni began to lecture her still very young cousin.
"Okay!" Lianqing replied exaggeratedly. She knew she had passed the test and didn't need any further explanation. However, she needed to be more careful online from now on and not meet people so casually. Her cousin had seen her online and said, "Don't chat with people you don't even know. Who knows what kind of terrible person they might be when you meet them in person? Excellent people don't have that much time to chat online. People who chat online are just bored." It seemed her cousin wasn't entirely wrong; maybe she had encountered something similar herself. Lianqing watched Hu Ni's retreating figure and chuckled to herself as if she had discovered a secret.
However, Fang Hongyu was quite lucky; she met an online friend who was absolutely handsome, but nothing came of it.
Hu Ni felt a pang of hunger, a deep, gnawing hunger. She realized she hadn't eaten lunch yet. The scene from noon flashed through her mind. She clasped her hands together on her lap, her eyes fixed on something, though she wasn't actually looking at anything. Turning her head, she saw Qiu Ping driving with practiced ease, his hands firmly on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed steadily ahead. Looking at him, his face was incredibly captivating. Qiu Ping sensed her presence. He turned and smiled at her, a smile that was calm yet breathtaking. "Want to go eat?" he asked with a smile, his tone carrying a tacit understanding only they both understood. "Okay!" Hu Ni nodded. "Or we could go to your place and cook the groceries we bought."
"Okay, otherwise we can't use it tomorrow either."
"So early?" Lianqing asked, naturally thinking that five o'clock was a bit early for dinner.
Hu Ni looked ahead at the road. Such overwhelming happiness required adjustment. From now on, she would get used to this kind of happiness, no longer feeling uneasy, no longer suffocated by inferiority. From now on, she would calmly experience joy under Qiu Ping's watchful gaze. It would be like that. Hu Ni let out a soft breath and looked ahead peacefully.
In Qiu Ping's living room, Stephen Chow's "A Chinese Odyssey" was playing on the DVD player. Lian Qing and Hu Ni were picking vegetables while watching, while Qiu Ping was cooking dumplings in the kitchen.
"You two, are you done picking them? You can't do two things at once, hurry up!" Qiu Ping urged them.
Hu Ni took the freshly picked vegetables to the kitchen and squeezed in there to wash them. Qiu Ping ladled the cooked dumplings onto a plate, while Lian Qing's laughter echoed loudly in the living room.
"Are you done yet? You two are so slow!" Lianqing began to protest in dissatisfaction.
None of the three of them knew how to cook, so Qiu Ping volunteered to take on the task. She quickly stir-fried several dishes: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, cucumber salad, stir-fried shredded pork with chives, and stir-fried greens. Because she was worried about undercooking, she overcooked everything, resulting in a noticeably stale color.
The dishes were served with a cheerful air, almost like children playing house. Lianqing was especially enthusiastic, waving her silver-nail-painted hand, grabbing chopsticks and starting to eat. But after just a few bites, her appetite vanished. The dishes' poor presentation wasn't the worst part; the worst part was the terrible taste. Qiuping's dishes were absurdly bad; it was unbelievable what kind of seasonings he used to create such bizarre flavors.
"Is it not tasty?" Qiu Ping asked the two women who were barely touching their chopsticks.
"It's alright." Hu Ni picked up some green vegetables and put them in her mouth.
"It tastes awful! Brother Qiuping, it's so awful!" Lianqing said, exaggeratingly frowning.
"Is it really that bad? Hu Ni said it's alright." Qiu Ping put a piece of shredded meat in her mouth, then frowned and said, "It's a little unpalatable, but it's still edible."
"If you two can't cook in the future, how unpleasant will it be to eat?" Lianqing said, shaking her body with a gloating expression.
Hu Ni, who has never been interested in cooking, has started to want to learn. It stems from a desire to be a good wife—a corny, but very real, desire.
The Angel of Matter (Sixteen)
gold
Life is hectic; there's work, and after get off work, there's studying. In their limited free time, the two try to see each other as much as possible, even if it's just for a short while. Hu Ni herself finds it strange; she's not a greedy person, but Qiu Ping can ignite her desires anytime, anywhere.
If she was free, and he was free too, they would meet in his room. It was always very late; he had finished working overtime, and she had finished her classes. A phone call, either from him or her, would send Hu Ni rushing to Qiu Ping's room. A day or two apart had accumulated a great deal of passion and longing.
Today, Hu Ni felt she had some free time; she had finished class. Qiu Ping hadn't called, so after hesitating for a moment, she couldn't resist dialing his number. He was almost home.
In the corridor outside Qiu Ping's residence, a woman of exceptional grace walked slowly forward. Her long hair flowed freely, her delicate and beautiful face bore a slightly neurotic pallor, and her misty eyes held a hint of vicissitude, with a faint trace of something else. She wore a black blouse, a knee-length white slit skirt, and black high-heeled sandals that clicked rhythmically on the floor. The sound echoed in the corridor, making it seem unusually empty. She stopped at the door she had visited many times before, but before her hand could touch it, the door opened, and she was pulled inside. The two embraced abruptly, without a word. They kissed passionately, feeling the familiar warmth of each other's bodies. Clothes, the mundane things, were stripped away. No words were needed; they communicated earnestly, with feeling, with lips, with bodies. They merged harmoniously, intoxicated by each other's familiar scent. In that moment, they were isolated from the world. They loved each other deeply, in the most worldly way.
Hu Ni ran her hands deep into Qiu Ping's short hair; their sweat mingled together. Looking at the heartbreaking face above her, Hu Ni breathed heavily, then said in a trembling voice, "Don't leave me, never, ever leave me." She was afraid; the more frightened she was in these moments, the more terrified she became. How could a woman who had never dared to hope for much since childhood possibly have enough security?
He held her tighter in his arms, kissing her until she could hardly breathe. "I want to be with you for a lifetime, Hu Ni, forever. I love you," he whispered in her ear. Her heart broke, and tears streamed down her face, unsure whether they were from happiness or sorrow.
For a moment, everything calmed down. In the darkness, Hu Ni stroked Qiu Ping's sweaty face, her heart filled with fragments of happiness and pointless sorrow.