Mother and daughter neighbors (31-36)

31.
I took Zhao Li back to her place. She didn't say a word, her eyes were glazed over, and she locked herself in her bedroom as soon as she got home.
I had no choice but to call Huang Xiaolei and tell her what had happened that day. Huang Xiaolei cursed after hearing it, "Damn it, Zhao Jin is a real jerk!"
We stayed at Zhao Li's house until dark that day, making her dinner and asking her to come out, but she wouldn't.
Fang Mei called me, asking how my friend was doing and when I was coming home. I said my friend was in great trouble and I couldn't leave. Fang Mei asked what it was. I said I couldn't explain it now and would tell her later.
Huang Xiaolei urged me to go home first, saying she would keep an eye on things. I said no, Zhao Li's situation was more important, and Fang Mei wasn't that petty.
It wasn't until very late that Zhao Li opened her bedroom door, her face pale. Faced with our concern, Huang Xiaolei smiled slightly and said, "Sister, Brother Shaoyan, I'm fine. You should go back."
Huang Xiaolei offered to stay with her, but she laughed and said, "Sister, I'm really fine. I'm your apprentice, Huang Meigui. How could this little thing defeat me?"
We lingered for a while, still feeling uneasy, before leaving. Before leaving, we repeatedly told Zhao Li to think positively and to heat up her food.
When I got home, Fang Mei had already left, leaving me a note saying there was food in the refrigerator and I should heat it up if I hadn't eaten. She also said breakfast was prepared and in the refrigerator. I felt incredibly guilty, but I didn't regret it.
The next day, Zhao Li committed suicide. When Huang Xiaolei called me, she and Zhao Li were in an ambulance.
I rushed to the hospital and met Huang Xiaolei outside the emergency room. At that time, Zhao Li's condition was still unknown. Through Huang Xiaolei's tearful account, I learned that she had gone to Zhao Li's house again that morning, worried about her, and found her unconscious with an empty bottle of sleeping pills on the bedside table.
Huang Xiaolei also showed me a message she found on Zhao Li's phone, sent by Zhao Jin, and it was quite long. The gist was that many people at school now knew he had a sister who worked as a prostitute, which had seriously affected his reputation and even his future. He wanted to completely sever his sibling relationship with Zhao Li and never see her again.
I then understood that what had happened between Zhao Li and her brother these past few days had dealt a fatal blow to Zhao Li. Her brother had always been almost her entire life, and Zhao Jin's farewell message had ultimately sent her to her death.
"You heartless bastard!" I cursed, my face turning ashen. I stood up to leave, intending to confront Zhao Jin.
Huang Xiaolei grabbed me. "What good will it do if you kill Zhao Jin? Zhao Li's still not even alive!"
I kicked the wall hard, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. Huang Xiaolei stared at me blankly.
"No smoking here!" a nurse came over and sternly intervened.
"Get out of here," I said irritably.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? I'm calling security."
Huang Xiaolei quickly took the cigarette from my mouth and extinguished it, apologizing repeatedly to the nurse, who then left.
"What's wrong? Be quiet," Huang Xiaolei asked, gently patting my back. She was puzzled by my overly agitated state.
Thankfully, Zhao Li was saved and transferred to a regular ward. That day, Huang Xiaolei and I stayed by her side, trying our best to comfort her, but she remained silent.
The next day, Huang Xiaolei called Zhao Jin from the corridor and told him about Zhao Li's suicide attempt by overdosing on sleeping pills. Zhao Jin gasped in surprise, but after hearing that Zhao Li had been resuscitated, he coldly uttered a few words—"It has nothing to do with me"—and hung up. Huang Xiaolei tried calling back, but couldn't get through.
When Huang Xiaolei returned to the ward, Zhao Li was in the bathroom. I asked her what Zhao Jin had said. Huang Xiaolei told me the truth, and I angrily cursed, "You beast!" She quickly told me to be quiet and glanced into the bathroom.
We hadn't expected Zhao Li to have overheard our conversation. Just as we were both sighing in disbelief, we heard the sound of breaking glass coming from the bathroom. Huang Xiaolei and I were terrified.
I rushed over and kicked open the bathroom door. The glass mirror was shattered, and Zhao Li was using a piece of glass to cut her wrist. I snatched it away, cutting my own hand in the process.
Huang Xiaolei hugged Zhao Li and cried, "Sister, what do you want your sister to do so I won't kill myself?"
Zhao Li cried out, "Sister, just let me die! My parents don't love me at all, my brother doesn't want me anymore, what's the point of me living?"
"I want you!" I shouted as I wrapped my bleeding hand with toilet paper, "I want you, let me marry you!"
Both women stared at me blankly...
At the corner of the corridor outside the ward, Huang Xiaolei said, "Shaoyan, have you thought it through?"
I nodded and said, "I've thought it through. Ever since I accompanied Zhao Li back to her hometown for her father's birthday celebration, I've thought about it a lot, and only today have I made up my mind."
Huang Xiaolei looked at me for a while and said, "Shaoyan, I hope you won't act impulsively, because it's not fair to you, and it's not fair to Lili either. She doesn't need this kind of pity..."
I interrupted her and said, "I'm not showing pity, but..."
I paused and looked at Huang Xiaolei, "I've fallen in love with her, hopelessly in love with her."
Huang Xiaolei looked at me with surprise and a hint of loss in her eyes. I continued, "She's pitiful, but she's also very resilient, kind, and incredibly gentle. Aren't those enough to make me fall in love with her?"
I was telling the truth. When I accompanied her back to her hometown pretending to be her boyfriend, I gradually fell in love with her. And what she's been through these past few days, while breaking my heart, has made me fall completely in love with her.
If I wasn't sure if I loved Fang Mei before, now I am. My feelings for Fang Mei have always been those of a brother and sister, because I've never felt the same way I do for Zhao Li.
The reason I was with Fang Mei back then was because she was so good to me; her gentleness touched me, making me feel that she was the woman I should spend my life with.
But now, I clearly realize that the one I truly love is Zhao Li.
Fate loves to play tricks. Between Fang Mei, this excellent female detective, and Zhao Li, this woman of the night, no matter who chose, they couldn't possibly choose the latter, yet fate made me give my heart to Zhao Li.
Huang Xiaolei said, "But have you thought about it? After all, she is... Can you guarantee you won't hold a grudge about this in the future?"
"Absolutely not, I promise." I looked away, my tone firm. "A prostitute is also a person, with the right to love and be loved. And for me, loving an ordinary woman and loving a woman who used to be a prostitute are essentially the same."
I smiled at Huang Xiaolei, "The key is, fate has made me fall in love with a prostitute, and even with the criticism of thousands, I will go without hesitation."
As I said this to Huang Xiaolei, a line from Mencius came to mind: "Though there be thousands, I will go!"
Huang Xiaolei wiped away her tears. "Shaoyan, you're a real man! But the road ahead for you two will be very difficult."
I paused for a moment, then smiled slightly. "There is only one kind of heroism in the world, and that is—to love life even when you discover its hardships."
Huang Xiaolei laughed through her tears. "Is that what...Tolstoy said again?"
I laughed. "No, it's Romain Rolland."
She threw herself into my arms, hitting me while sobbing, "Chen Shaoyan, you bastard."
Back in the ward, I dismissed the caregiver who had been temporarily watching over Zhao Li. I sat down by the bed and said to Zhao Li, who was leaning against it, "Lili, what I just said..."
Tears streamed down her face. She immediately turned her face away, saying, "Don't say it again. I don't want to hear it, and I don't want to hear it. Give up on me!"
I took her hand and asked, "Why?"
"Don't you understand?" she cried, turning back to stare at me. "I used to be a prostitute, my body was so dirty, I'm not good enough for you. You're so talented, such a good person, your wife shouldn't be someone like me."
I cupped her face in my hands and said, "Zhao Li, listen to me carefully. The reason I want to be with you, to marry you, isn't out of pity. The only reason is..."
Zhao Li looked at me with teary eyes, and Huang Xiaolei looked at me too. I continued, "I love you!"
Zhao Li looked at me, tears streaming down her face. After a long while, she murmured, "Shaoyan..." and threw herself into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
I held her tightly, noticing Huang Xiaolei was also wiping away tears. I understood; her tears were for me and Zhao Li, and for herself as well.

32.
After leaving the hospital, I called Fang Mei from the car and asked her to come to my house. I had something to say to her.
Fang Mei seemed to have foreseen something; she was silent for a long time on the other end of the line before saying, "Okay."
In my living room, after hearing my words, Fang Mei looked up from her long silence. "Tell me, do you love her?"
I didn't dare look her in the eye, and nodded with difficulty, saying, "Yes, I love her."
Fang Mei's eyes filled with tears. "And what about me? Do you love me?"
I was overwhelmed with shame and buried my head, saying, "I'm sorry, Fang Mei, my feelings for you... have always been those of a brother and sister. I've always considered you a sister."
"But you slept with me. You slept with your sister?" Tears streamed down her face. She wiped them away, looked away, then looked at me again. "Chen Shaoyan, you're shameless."
I was speechless. I had done such a thing; no matter what she said, it wasn't excessive.
We were silent for a long while before Fang Mei asked, "Is she Huang Xiaolei?"
I shook my head. "No."
"Then can you tell me? Who is she? I have the right to know."
I looked up and said, "Her name is Zhao Li. She's from a rural area in Jiangxi and works here."
Of course, I couldn't tell her Zhao Li's true identity. Otherwise, it would hurt her even more if she knew she had lost to a woman of the night. Especially since she was close to my sister. If she told my sister, my family would be devastated.
Fang Mei looked incredulous. "What's wrong with me? You'd rather have a migrant worker than me?"
"Besides, my parents, all my friends, and colleagues know I'm going to marry you... What am I supposed to do?"
She choked up, clutching her clothes tightly, her tearful eyes fixed on me. "Chen Shaoyan, what did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?"
I couldn't look her in the eye. My heart was breaking. I said, "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who's wrong."
Fang Mei stopped talking, stared at me for a while longer, then got up and went into the bedroom. She took out a suitcase, grabbed her clothes from the closet, and haphazardly stuffed them into the suitcase. Then she went into the bathroom and packed all her toiletries, cosmetics, and personal care products into the suitcase.
Since she got together with me, she'd left a lot of her things here. I watched her do all this silently, my heart breaking. I thought, I owe her this life, and I'll only repay her in the next.
After she finished packing, she walked towards the door under my gaze.
"Fang Mei..." I called out to her, bowing my head, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
She stopped, raised her tear-streaked face, and looked at me, saying, "What's the difference between you and Hao Dawei? You're both scumbags. No, you're even worse than him, because the hurt you caused me is far, far greater than his."
She wiped away her tears, opened the door, and said, "Chen Shaoyan, you'll regret treating me like this."
After she finished speaking, she left, leaving me standing there, stunned, for a long time.
Zhao Jin's older sister was a prostitute, and the story of his disowning her, who had raised him with great care, and his subsequent suicide, quickly spread throughout Ocean University and into the wider community, causing a huge uproar. Even television and online reporters came to the university to investigate.
Faced with immense public pressure, the university leadership decided to revoke Zhao Jin's combined master's and doctoral program. The reason given was that someone with such low moral character was unworthy of continuing his studies at Ocean University unless he could gain his sister's forgiveness.
That day, accompanied by his girlfriend Li Zhenzhen, Zhao Jin went to Zhao Li's hospital room to beg for his sister's forgiveness. Huang Xiaolei and I were also there. I really wanted to kick him out, but Huang Xiaolei stopped me.
Having survived a brush with death, Zhao Li was a completely different person, utterly unlike the sister who had previously devoted herself to her brother, working tirelessly and even groveling before him. No matter how much Zhao Jin knelt before her bedside, pleading tearfully, she ignored him, turning her face away, closing her eyes, and remaining silent.
Li Zhenzhen couldn't hold back any longer and said urgently and resentfully, "Sister, are you really willing to see Zhao Jin's future ruined and leave him to die? You're his own sister! How can you be so heartless?"
Huang Xiaolei immediately became angry, "Girl, you're wrong! What do you mean by heartless? How did my sister treat Zhao Jin before, and how did Zhao Jin treat his sister? He knew his sister had committed suicide, but he didn't even come to see her. Whose heart is that?"
Her words left the little girl speechless. As the two left dejectedly, Zhao Li suddenly called out to them, "Zhao Jin."
The two stopped and looked at Zhao Li on the hospital bed with hopeful eyes.
Under the gaze of the four of them, Zhao Li's voice was as cold as ice, "From today onwards, to be precise, from the day you sent me the message severing ties, you and I are no longer siblings. From now on, we owe each other nothing and will never have anything to do with each other again."
I understood that the events of the past few days, and her suicide attempt, had made Zhao Li like a phoenix rising from the ashes, reborn. From that moment on, the younger brother she once deeply loved was forever erased from her heart.
I felt sorrow for the ending between the siblings, but also relief for Zhao Li's new beginning.
After Zhao Jin and his girlfriend left, Zhao Li called me to her bedside. "Shaoyan, could you please come with me to school?"
I knew what she meant, so I took her hand and smiled slightly, "Okay."
The school rescinded its punishment of Zhao Jin. Zhao Jin and his girlfriend came to the hospital to visit and thank Zhao Li, but by then Zhao Li had already been discharged and was staying at my house, so Zhao Jin couldn't see his sister.
He called Zhao Li, but she didn't answer. He sent her a long message on WeChat, expressing his remorse. Zhao Li didn't even read it before deleting it.
A few days later, one of Zhao Li's cousins called her, saying that her parents wanted to sever ties with her because they had heard about Zhao Li working as a prostitute and almost causing Zhao Jin to be expelled from school. They told her to go back and apologize to her parents. "
Let them sever ties if they want!" Zhao Li only said this to her cousin before hanging up. After that, she asked me to get her a different SIM card, which meant that she cut off all contact with her family.
One night, after making love with Zhao Li, she hugged me and said, "Shaoyan, I have nothing left now, only you. Please don't leave me later."
I laughed and said, "Silly girl, how could I leave you? I've decided to have you for life, and only you."
She smiled sweetly, "Having you is enough for me in this life, you are my everything."
I said, "Wait, what about our child?"
She laughed again, and we kissed deeply again. After we separated, she murmured, "Darling, I'm so happy, thank you!"
"I'm so happy too, I want to thank you too," I laughed.
I felt that she had completely emerged from the immense pain caused by her brother and her family.
Zhao Li stopped working at the nightclub, and we decided to take a break and have a child.
In the past few years, Zhao Li had bought a house and saved some money. My income from serializing my novel online was quite good, and the script I sold to the production company brought in several hundred thousand yuan, so we weren't short of money for the time being.
After Hao Dawei learned about Zhao Li and my past, he said I was crazy.
That late night, Hao Dawei and I were watching the World Cup final at his house. The match hadn't started yet, and we were drinking and chatting.
After listening to me, he put the back of his hand on my forehead and said, "Are you out of your mind? Don't you know how many men Zhao Li has slept with? You're going to be the sucker for her?"
He then cursed in Shaanxi dialect, "You idiot!"
I said, "If you think it's beneath me to be friends with a woman like Zhao Li, then we can just cut ties."
He immediately got angry and kicked me, "You son of a bitch, dare you say that again?"
I laughed, "Hurry up and write the script tomorrow!"
He asked, puzzled, "Why?"
"I'm getting married soon, you son of a bitch, don't you have to give me a big gift? Where will the money come from if I don't write the script?"
We both laughed. Hao Dawei sighed, "To be honest, I admire you."
In that day's final, France defeated the dark horse Croatia 4-2. When the prodigy Kylian Mbappé scored the decisive fourth goal for France, Hao Dawei nearly smashed the TV with a bottle, yelling as he handed me two hundred yuan.
The two hundred yuan itself wasn't the problem; the real issue was that he'd placed a huge bet online, losing thousands of yuan.
This guy was a die-hard fan of Luka Modric, the midfield maestro of Real Madrid and Croatian superstar, and he foolishly bet on a clearly weaker Croatian team to win—he deserved to lose.
Unexpectedly, Huang Shanshan became a sensation after appearing on "The Voice of China," successfully advancing through the mentor-student selection phase. Although eliminated in the second round, her beautiful appearance and sweet voice attracted attention in the entertainment industry, leading to a flood of commercial performance and endorsement contracts. I
breathed a sigh of relief. I was the one who supported Huang Shanshan on this path, which is why she went ahead without hesitation. If things hadn't gone smoothly from the start, she wouldn't have had a chance to go to university, and I felt bad for the young woman. Now that she's finally making a name for herself, I'm especially happy for her.
Hao Dawei became Huang Shanshan's agent, handling the specific negotiations. Although he was a bit extravagant, he was reliable and had a wide network in the industry, so Huang Xiaolei and I trusted him.
I told Hao Dawei not to mess with Huang Shanshan, and he said, "Don't worry, even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow!"
Later, I realized I couldn't trust his words; he only picked mature grass, not tender grass near his burrow.

33.
In late August, Zhao Li and I went back to Nanjing to introduce her to my family. We planned to register our marriage as soon as we returned to Haikou from Nanjing.
Sitting on the plane, I thought of two months ago when Zhao Li and I flew back to Jiangxi for her father's birthday banquet. Back then, we were just pretending to be a couple, never imagining we would become a real engaged couple. Although it hadn't been long, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
Seeing that Zhao Li seemed a little uneasy, I quietly asked her if she was nervous about meeting her in-laws. She nodded.
I smiled slightly and whispered in her ear, "You're so beautiful and so young. My parents will be beaming with joy when they see you."
She laughed, playfully hitting me, but then frowned. I asked her if she was still hung up on the past. She nodded again. I said, "If you don't tell and I don't tell, who will know?"
"But..." Zhao Li said uneasily, "I feel guilty about deceiving the elders like this."
I held her hand and said, "There's nothing we can do about it. Don't think too much about it."
"Sigh! Maybe God took pity on me?" Zhao Li sighed and whispered in my ear, "Shaoyan, you're God's way of saving me."
"Silly girl!" I laughed and flicked her nose.
Upon arriving at Nanjing Lukou Airport, my sister Chen Meiyan picked us up. Although it was her first time meeting Zhao Li, she warmly embraced her.
I understood Chen Meiyan's feelings. She hadn't really approved of Fang Mei and me to begin with, and now that I'd brought her such a young and beautiful sister-in-law—a virgin who had never been married—she was naturally overjoyed.
Seeing Chen Meiyan's happiness, I couldn't help but wonder what she would think if she knew Zhao Li had once been a prostitute. What Zhao Li and I had to do was forever hide Zhao Li's shameful past from her and our parents.
However, Chen Meiyan told me privately that what I was doing was truly unfair to Fang Mei; I had been too hasty in getting together with her. I said I owed Fang Mei a debt in this life, and I would find a way to repay her in the next.
During my time in Nanjing, I learned that Chen Meiyan had separated from her husband because of his infidelity. After returning to Nanjing from Haikou, Chen Meiyan discovered her husband's affair, and they separated. They have an eleven-year-old son, and after the separation, her husband moved out alone.
Chen Meiyan was incredibly beautiful back then, and her husband went to great lengths to win her over among a multitude of suitors. Even now, she remains a charming and alluring young woman. It seems every goddess has a man who's had enough of her.
My parents were very satisfied with Zhao Li. She was not only young and beautiful, but also had a sweet tongue and was very hardworking, eagerly taking on all the housework, which endeared her to them. Furthermore, since we were planning to have a child, they were overjoyed and liked Zhao Li even more, largely compensating for the sadness and disappointment they felt due to Chen Meiyan and my brother-in-law's separation. During
that time, I drove Chen Meiyan's car, taking Zhao Li to all the fun places in Nanjing and letting them eat all the delicious food.
I also took Zhao Li to Suzhou, Wuxi, and Zhenjiang. On Beigu Mountain in Zhenjiang, when Zhao Li gazed at the scenery described by Liu Bei of the Three Kingdoms as the most beautiful landscape under heaven, she repeatedly exclaimed how beautiful it was.
Looking at her face, made even more beautiful by her intoxication, I was captivated as well, and couldn't help but recite Xin Qiji's line describing a beautiful woman: "I see the landscape as charming, and the landscape sees me the same way.
" Zhao Li asked me what I was saying. I smiled and said, "Don't you think these mountains and rivers are beautiful?"
"Yes, so beautiful!" she nodded and smiled.
I smiled again, "Actually, these mountains and rivers think the same way when they see you."
Her face flushed with excitement and shyness, she playfully hit me, and said in a sweet voice, "What are you saying? That's too much!"
Then she said to me, "Shaoyan, have you ever said these things to other women?"
"Never," I said.
While playing, I also worked, serializing my novel online every day and updating my public WeChat account from time to time. Fortunately, I make a living by writing, so I can do it anywhere.
Zhao Li told me that my family is really good. Whether it's my sister or my parents, they are all very good to her, giving her a family warmth she had never received before. She also said that her most important task now is to give me a son, to give the Chen family a big, healthy grandson.
I said, why does it have to be a son? A daughter is fine too! I love any child that is ours. She smiled and said, "A daughter is certainly good, but I still want to try to have a son.
" One morning, when I woke up, I saw Zhao Li looking at me. She smiled and said, "Honey, you're awake?"
I smiled slightly and kissed her lips. She kissed me back and wrapped her arms around my neck. I kissed Zhao Li while caressing her body.
A passionate, intoxicating kiss left my manhood, which had been pounding inside Zhao Li the night before, as hard and throbbing as ever.
As we parted, she laughed, "Why are you hard again?"
I chuckled, "How could my second brother not be filled with respect when faced with such a beauty as you, completely naked?"
"You're so naughty!" she playfully punched me, then turned to get out of bed.
I asked, "It's not even seven o'clock yet, why are you up so early?"
"It's not early! I just heard Dad go out for his morning exercise, I have to get up and make breakfast."
"Lily..." I said seriously, "Actually, you don't need to get up so early every day to make breakfast for the whole family and rush to do other housework. You're my wife, don't think of yourself as this family's child bride."
Zhao Li leaned down, cupped my head, kissed me on the lips, and smiled, "Darling, I'm not doing these things to please your parents, but because I want to do more for this family, because I love this family. Just let me do it, okay?"
I looked at her and smiled and nodded. She was about to get up when I grabbed her and pressed her down.
"What are you doing?" she said coquettishly.
"Didn't you say you wanted to give me a big, fat son? How can you not hurry up?" I laughed, my erection penetrating her.
Because we had slept naked in each other's arms after making love last night, it was convenient for me to do my thing now.
"You're so annoying!" she giggled. "Hurry up, I still need to make breakfast. Dad should be back from his morning exercise soon."
"I can't rush this. You know your husband usually takes a long time." I said, thrusting deep inside Zhao Li.
She giggled again, then quickly began to moan…
We stayed in Nanjing for a month. Before leaving, Chen Meiyan gave us 100,000 yuan, saying it was a wedding gift for Zhao Li and me. We both thought it was too much, but Chen Meiyan insisted, so we accepted it.
Back in Haikou, we chose an auspicious day to get our marriage certificate at the Civil Affairs Bureau, officially becoming husband and wife. That night, we went to the nightclub where Huang Xiaolei was a madam, and treated Zhao Li's girlfriends to wedding candy and cakes. In
Huang Xiaolei's office, we sat for a while, then Zhao Li went to find her girlfriends.
I understood that the three of us had once been involved in a threesome, and now that Zhao Li and I were husband and wife, it inevitably made her feel awkward and uncomfortable. I felt a little awkward too.
“Shaoyan, I never imagined you would marry a woman of the night…” Huang Xiaolei said, taking a drag of her cigarette.
I said I hadn’t imagined it either. Huang Xiaolei continued, “If I had known then what I know now, I would have…”
She hesitated, then said, “Don’t let Lili’s gentle and charming appearance fool you, she’s the one who dares to dream!”
I understood what Huang Xiaolei meant; she felt that Zhao Li had met me through her, but now that girl had overtaken her and gotten there first.
I felt uneasy, hoping Huang Xiaolei wouldn’t think Zhao Li was a scheming woman. Now that I thought about it, it’s hard to say that Zhao Li didn’t have some ulterior motives when she invited me back to her hometown in Jiangxi, but she didn’t resort to any tricks later, especially since the pain of being heartlessly abandoned by her own brother was real, and her suicide was driven by despair; there was no faking it.
“Sigh!” Huang Xiaolei sighed, “After all, Lili paid for all of this with her life. I wish you both well.”
I smiled and said, “Can we still be good friends? Can you and Lili… still be sisters?”
“Of course…” Huang Xiaolei said, flicking her cigarette ash.
Despite this, in the days that followed, a certain distance grew between these two sisters of the night, between this once inseparable master and apprentice.

34.
Upon entering the private room, a group of young girls surrounded Zhao Li, chattering incessantly while eating. Several male prostitutes were also among them.
When Zhao Li was the supervisor here, she was a good person, so she was well-liked among these girls and prostitutes; everyone respected her and was happy that she had found a good match.
I sat to the side, smoking and listening to their conversation. One of the girls said, "Sister Li, such a big event as your wedding, is it enough to just treat us to some candy? That won't do." The others
echoed. Considering that this was my second marriage and Zhao Li's past, we decided not to have a wedding banquet.
"I'll definitely treat you to a big meal another day; I'll let everyone know when the date is set," Zhao Li said with a smile, her face overflowing with sweetness and happiness.
Another woman sighed, "Sigh! Sister Li got married, when will it be my turn to find a sucker?"
Someone nearby said, "Go back to your hometown and find one after you've made enough money! Nobody there knows we do this kind of thing. Or go to other cities, you'll always find a silly man to take you on."
Someone realized I was there and that this wasn't appropriate, so they nudged the woman. The woman turned and glanced at me, blushed, and stuck out her tongue.
Zhao Li laughed, "It's okay, it's okay..."
They chatted for a while longer, and someone asked one of the women, "Yanzi, when are you and your Xiaofei going to get married?"
The woman called Yanzi picked up a piece of candy and threw it at the woman who asked the question, "You talk too much."
The woman who had just kissed a male prostitute laughed, "If you don't hurry up and get married, I'll steal him away!"
Yanzi picked up another piece of candy and threw it at her, cursing, "You dare? I'll beat you to death! If you're itching for a fuck, go find another man to fuck you, don't bother my husband."
Everyone laughed. I had heard Zhao Li say that it was common for prostitutes and male prostitutes to find solace in each other, and even develop feelings and become couples, though none of them ended up getting married.
This prostitute named Yanzi and her male prostitute boyfriend were one such couple; they had worked with a married couple before.
Looking at these people living at the very bottom of society, I thought to myself, they also have their own joys and feelings, and they also have the right to pursue love and be loved, just like everyone else in this society.
Just then, one of the prostitutes called out to me, "Hey, brother, why are you sitting so far away? Come sit with Sister Li!"
I smiled and waved. Several other prostitutes also called out to me, and one even came over to pull me away. Zhao Li also smiled and waved to me, so I went over and sat down next to her.
One of the prostitutes said, "Sister Li, since you and your husband aren't planning on having a wedding, how about we throw one for you two tonight?"
The crowd started teasing, and Zhao Li giggled shyly, "Stop it, stop it..."
A young woman, without waiting for a reply, put my and Zhao Li's hands together and said, "I'll be the officiant. After the wedding, I'll make room for you two for your wedding night."
Laughter filled the room. Another woman said, "Sister Li, you're on your period today, how will you sleep with me?"
Yet another woman raised her hand and said, "I'll do it for you!"
She leaned closer to me and smiled, "How about it, brother? Do you like sleeping with me?"
Zhao Li playfully slapped her, laughing and scolding, "You little brat!"
The room erupted in laughter again, quite lively. The woman acting as the "officiant" announced loudly, "Quiet! I'm officiating now."
The room quieted down a bit, with occasional bursts of laughter. The young woman cleared her throat, about to speak, when she suddenly asked me, "Hey, brother, what's your name?"
Zhao Li replied, "Chen Shaoyan, Chen as in 'ear east,' Shao as in 'young man,' and Yan as in 'speech.'"
"Okay..." The young woman cleared her throat again, speaking with an air of seriousness, "Mr. Chen Shaoyan, are you willing to marry this beautiful Miss Zhao Li before you, and to love and care for her through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, and..."
Suddenly, the door to the private room was flung open, and a group of people rushed in. With a shout of "Police inspection!", all the young women and male prostitutes in the previously noisy room fell silent.
A group of plainclothes police officers, both men and women, entered, all wearing police badges, and ordered everyone in the room to show their ID cards.
It was close to National Day, and to strengthen checks on all public and entertainment venues in the city, the police had instructed the public security, criminal investigation, narcotics control, and riot control teams of each district's public security bureau to conduct a joint operation. This is
exactly what happened—I ran into Zhao Li and me. Fang Mei walked out from among the group of police officers; she was clearly their leader. I was taken aback.
She was wearing a tight t-shirt and jeans, her expression stern, completely different from the gentle and charming woman I knew before. Her shapely figure, coupled with her cold and beautiful face and stylish short hair, made her quite dashing.
I noticed a bulging fanny pack around her waist, presumably containing a handgun.
Fang Mei clearly hadn't expected to see me here; her brows furrowed, but she remained composed, her stern gaze sweeping over the others.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Fang Mei walked up to me with her hands behind her back and said coldly, "Stand up."
I stood up. She asked again, "What's your name?"
"Chen Shaoyan."
"Show me your ID."
I pulled my wallet from my back pocket, took out my ID, and handed it to Fang Mei.
"Who is she?" She glanced at the ID, stared at me, and gestured with her chin towards Zhao Li.
I glanced at Zhao Li and said, "My husband."
Zhao Li looked at Fang Mei in surprise, then back at me. Fang Mei then asked Zhao Li to show her ID, which Zhao Li did as she was told, taking her ID from her small bag and giving it to the other woman.
Fang Mei held the two IDs between her fingers and tossed them behind her, saying, "Compare them immediately."
One policeman took the IDs and walked over to another who was comparing everyone's IDs on a laptop.
Fang Mei stared at me coldly for a moment, then turned and walked out, saying as she went, "Question them separately."
One of the women said, "On what grounds?"
"On what grounds?" Fang Mei stared at the woman, making her lower her head, then stared at Fang Mei and me. "I suspect they are engaged in prostitution."
Another woman scoffed, "They're both dressed, and there are so many people around, how could they be engaging in prostitution?"
Fang Mei stared at her and said, "At least it's paid companionship."
Another woman said, "They're a married couple, they have a marriage certificate, don't wrong an innocent person."
A flash of pain crossed Fang Mei's eyes, and she said coldly, "Is that so? Where's the marriage certificate?"
I said, "We just got it today, it's at home."
"Then I'm sorry." Fang Mei turned and walked out again. "Question them immediately."
Zhao Li and I were taken to two separate private rooms. After a young male police officer finished asking for my name, age, and other basic information, he was about to take a statement when Fang Mei walked in and said to him, "Xiao Zhang, I'll do it."
"Okay, Captain Fang." The police officer stood up and left.
Fang Mei sat down, looking at the interrogation record and muttering to herself, "Chen Shaoyan, male, Han nationality, born on February 3, 1978..."
She looked up at me, "What are you doing here?"
"Accompanying my wife to see some friends," I said.
She stared at me in surprise, "Your wife is friends with a group of nightclub girls?"
I nodded silently. She thought for a moment, then asked incredulously, "Could it be... she's also a nightclub girl?"
"She's not, she just used to be a supervisor here..."
"Supervisor?" Fang Mei sneered, "Isn't a supervisor just the head chosen from among the girls? What's the difference?"
I couldn't refute her. After a long silence, Fang Mei laughed coldly, "Heh, heh heh, Chen Shaoyan, you're just doing this for a prostitute..."
I interrupted her, "Officer, please watch your words."
Although I had wronged her before and still felt guilty towards her, her words and actions tonight still made me dissatisfied.

35.
Fang Mei looked away and nodded a few times. "Okay, okay, I take it back."
Then she looked at me. "A fallen woman... right, a former one. Is that alright now?"
I lowered my head and remained silent. She stared at me and continued, "You're leaving me for a woman like this? Are you crazy?"
I said, "I might be crazy, but I know exactly what I'm doing."
"Know exactly what?" Fang Mei slammed her hand on the coffee table. "Have you thought about your parents? Have you thought about your sister? What will they think if they knew the woman you married used to be a prostitute?"
I said in a deep voice, "This is my family's business, you don't need to worry about it."
She looked away and nodded, pointing at me and saying, "Chen Shaoyan, I don't care who you're with, you can't be with a woman like this. You'll ruin yourself."
"I don't think so..."
Before I could finish, she slammed her hands on the coffee table, stood up, leaned over me, and spat on my face. "You get away from that woman right now, immediately, understand?"
Her posture allowed me to see through the opening of her t-shirt the breasts I had caressed countless times, hidden in her bra. But I had no interest in appreciating the view at that moment.
I felt she was so caught up in the whirlpool of emotions that she had become somewhat deranged. I said coldly, "Officer Fang, you are taking my statement right now. Don't you think it's inappropriate for you to bring up these personal topics with me?"
Fang Mei stared at me as I sat down. She lowered her head and remained silent for a moment before looking at me again. "Okay, then let's go somewhere else to talk. I'll let you know."
She paused, meeting my puzzled gaze, and said, "If you don't do as I say, I'll call your sister right now."
Zhao Li and I walked towards the nightclub's entrance, encountering a commotion in the lobby.
A man in his thirties with a buzz cut, taking advantage of a young policeman's momentary lapse in attention, grabbed his gun and, gripping it tightly, pointed it here and there, shouting maniacally, "Let me go, let me go, or I'll fight you to the death..."
Screams erupted in the lobby; people scattered, some hiding in the shadows, others crouching down to minimize their visibility. Several policemen also drew their guns, pointing them at the buzz-cut man and telling him to calm down.
Under these circumstances, the police dared not fire rashly, to avoid injuring civilians and causing further chaos.
The buzz-cut man saw Zhao Li and me, turning his gun towards us, who were caught off guard. Zhao Li screamed in terror; I quickly grabbed her, turning my body to shield her from the assailant's fire.
“Glasses…” the crew-cut man pointed a gun at me, “Call your woman over here, come to me…”
I knew he wanted to take Zhao Li hostage, how could I do as he said?
“Didn’t you fucking hear me? Call your woman over here, or I’ll shoot you dead.” The crew-cut man yelled at me when I didn’t move.
Zhao Li, trembling in my arms, said, “Listen to him, let me go…”
She tried to break free, but I held her tightly and she couldn’t move.
“Shao Yan, let me go, please let me go…” Zhao Li said, tears streaming down her face.
I ignored her. In this situation, I couldn’t let Zhao Li go to the criminals as a hostage, and I couldn’t run away with Zhao Li either, otherwise the criminals would definitely shoot us. I could only hold Zhao Li tightly and stay where I was.
“You damn Glasses, do you want to die?” The crew-cut man came over and grabbed me, the muzzle of his gun against my head.
Screams rose again around us, and the police told the crew-cut man to calm down.
“Shao Yan, listen to him, please…” Zhao Li cried.
I was still holding her, and I said to the crew-cut man, "Brother, I'll be your hostage. Don't touch my wife, she's pregnant."
Just then, I heard Fang Mei shout, "Friend, please calm down."
The crew-cut man released me, pointing his gun at Fang Mei with both hands. "Don't come any closer, I'll shoot!"
Fang Mei took a few more steps forward before stopping, raising her hands to indicate she was unarmed. She was certain the assailant wouldn't shoot easily, and she wanted to get as close as possible to seize the opportunity. Of course, such actions were extremely risky; only someone with specialized skills and psychological training could do such a thing.
Fang Mei told me all this years later.
The crew-cut man, pointing his gun at Fang Mei, shouted hoarsely, "I fucking told you not to come any closer, I really will shoot..."
He was clearly panicked. Fang Mei was only a few meters away from him, in a very dangerous situation.
I felt a pang of worry for her, and I really wanted to rush in and shield her from the crew-cut man. But I knew I couldn't do that. First, it would interfere with Fang Mei's next move, and second, she was a police officer, a professional. Compared to her, Zhao Li needed my protection more.
"Team Leader Fang, be careful!" a police officer shouted. Everyone at the scene was worried about Fang Mei's situation.
Fang Mei, however, remained calm. She glanced at me and Zhao Li, then said unhurriedly to the crew-cut man, "Friend, do you know how to use a gun?"
The crew-cut man yelled, "I was in the army, of course I know!"
Fang Mei looked at him with a half-smile, "The safety isn't even off, and you dare say you know how to use a gun?"
The crew-cut man paused, released his left hand, and looked down at the gun in his hand.
In that instant, Fang Mei swiftly lunged forward, her right foot flying up, striking the crew-cut man's right wrist with precision and force, sending the pistol flying into the air.
Immediately afterward, Fang Mei spun around, using her right foot as a pivot, and delivered a side kick with her left foot, knocking the crew-cut man to the ground. At the same time, she caught the falling pistol.
In those brief seconds, almost a blink of an eye, Fang Mei's series of actions were swift and decisive, cleanly and efficiently subduing an armed assailant. As a criminal investigator, her professional skills and demeanor were exceptionally high.
Two male officers immediately pounced on the crew-cut man, pinning him to the ground, while a female officer stepped forward, pointing a gun at his head.
Fang Mei switched off the safety on her gun and sneered at the crew-cut man lying on the ground, "Don't you know whether the safety is on or not?"
Applause and cheers erupted in the hall; everyone was impressed by the beautiful policewoman's superb skills and outstanding composure. I also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling my legs go weak with fear.
“Xiao Wang, I can let this go in the report, but there absolutely cannot be a next time, do you hear me?”
Fang Mei returned the pistol to the young male police officer whose gun had been taken by the thug, and sternly warned, “Otherwise, if there are serious consequences, it won’t just be a matter of whether you wear this uniform or not.”
“Yes, yes, yes, Captain Fang, thank you, Captain Fang.” The young male police officer said, accepting his service weapon with trepidation.
After this ordeal, Zhao Li, the thug, and I were taken to the police station to give statements as witnesses. Zhao Li kept complaining to me, asking why I didn’t do as the thug said, how dangerous it was!
I said, how could I hand you over to him? I wouldn’t do it even if it meant death. Zhao Li cried and said, what would I do if anything happened to you? I could only comfort her, saying it was all over now.
It was only then that we learned that the crew-cut man was a wanted criminal who happened to run into the police checkpoint and, in desperation, committed the crazy act he had just made.
In the early morning, Zhao Li and I had just returned home when we received an address from Fang Mei on WeChat. Then she called me again.
"You're here right now," she commanded, leaving no room for argument.
"Okay," I said to Zhao Li after hanging up. "Lili, I have something to do, I'm going out for a bit."
She asked if I was Fang Mei. She had recognized the policewoman who had given us a hard time at the nightclub as Fang Mei, even though she had only met her once.
I said yes, she wanted to talk to me about something. Zhao Li asked what it was about. I said I didn't know, and asked her to trust me. Zhao Li smiled and said, "Honey, come back soon."
Twenty minutes later, I drove to a beach beside the coastal road. Fang Mei's Ford Escape SUV was parked there. She was standing on the hood, arms crossed, looking at the Qiongzhou Strait under the night sky.
It was late at night, quiet, and the tide was rising and falling.
I got out of the car and walked to her side. She didn't look at me or say anything, just kept staring at the night sea. After a long pause, I said, "Fang Mei, thank you for saving us tonight..."
"You don't need to thank me..." Fang Mei said coldly, "I'm a police officer, protecting citizens is my duty. Tonight, whether it was you or anyone else, I would have done the same."
She snorted coldly, "It seems you really love her, willing to risk your life to protect her. You're also quite courageous, not backing down at all in such a critical moment, you're a real man."
She finished speaking and didn't look at me again. I had no choice but to say, "I'm sorry, I apologize for what happened in the past."
She looked at me, and even in the darkness, I could feel her icy gaze, "I loved you so much, loved you for ten years, treated you so well, yet you left me for a woman who used to be a prostitute. How could you do this to me?"
I was speechless. Tears streamed down her face as she grabbed my hands and pleaded, "Shaoyan, leave that woman and be with me, okay? What's wrong with me? I'm beautiful, I'm a police officer, how am I not better than that woman?"
I pulled my hands away from hers and said patiently, "Fang Mei, I hurt you in the past. If possible, I'll make it up to you however you want."
"I've begged you like this, and you still won't agree, is that it?"
Fang Mei stared at me for a while and said, "Fine, you want to make it up to me, right?"
She looked away, wiped her tears, and looked back at me, "I want you to have sex with me, right now, right here?"

36.
I stared at her blankly, "Fang Mei, don't be like this..."
Fang Mei suddenly shouted, "You cheated on me with that woman when you were with me, and now I want you to cheat on me when you're with her. What she gave me, I want to give back to her."
I murmured, "I can't do it, and don't demean yourself."
"If you don't agree..." Fang Mei held up her phone and said, "I'll call Chen Meiyan right now."
I lowered my head helplessly. She started taking off her pants, first her jeans, then her underwear. She pushed herself up onto the hood, spreading her legs wide in front of me. Her alluring private parts and pubic hair were vaguely visible in the darkness.
"Lick it," she commanded.
I had no choice but to squat between her legs and begin licking her. She hadn't washed, and the smell was strong—a mixture of urine, sweat, and vaginal secretions—but it was still tolerable.
Fang Mei exclaimed "Wow!" looking down at me, and said, "Chen Shaoyan, your oral skills are getting better and better. Did that woman teach you?"
I didn't speak, silently continuing my oral work, feeling her secretions.
"I've been busy these past few days and haven't showered. Doesn't it smell good? You bastard."
She spread her legs even wider, placing her feet on the bumper, leaning back slightly, and raising her buttocks a little, commanding, "Down."
She really hadn't showered for days, and I hesitated. She stomped her foot on my shoulder and yelled, "I fucking told you to go down, didn't you hear me? You bastard."
I had no choice but to move my tongue down, enduring the faint stench as I served her anus. She let out an "Oh," and murmured, "Like this, a little longer!"
After a while, she chuckled, "How is it? Chen Shaoyan, how does it feel to lick the asshole of a woman you don't love?"
Seeing that I didn't speak, she laughed again, "Isn't it very smelly? There might still be some poop on it that I didn't wipe clean, hahaha..."
I felt particularly heartbroken that such a beautiful, reserved young woman, a usually gentle and charming, brave and decisive female detective on duty, would say such things because of a setback in her relationship.
I paused and said, "It's okay, I owe you a debt, and I'm willing to do anything I can."
"You're really willing to go to any lengths for that woman!" she glared at me angrily. "Now, I want you inside me."
So I stood up, unbuckled my belt, pulled down my zipper, and dragged my pants and underwear down a bit. I aimed my already erect penis, which I had while giving her oral sex, at the entrance.
With each thrust, Fang Mei became more and more excited. She took off her t-shirt, then unhooked her bra and threw it aside, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me. I avoided her lips, but she grabbed them and forced a kiss on me. I couldn't help but kiss her back.
She leaned back, holding my head and making me suckle her nipples, which I did. She let me suckle for a while, then hugged me and kissed me again.
While kissing me, she gently stroked my cheek and murmured, "Shaoyan, I love you, I really love you so much, do you love me?"
I remained silent, thrusting even faster, wanting to end it all as soon as possible. She said again, "Leave that woman and be with me, okay?"
Suddenly, she became hysterical again, slapping my face repeatedly, crying and shouting, "Say something! Why won't you say anything?"
Then she hugged me and sobbed, reaching climax amidst her cries.
Even though I hadn't ejaculated yet, I thought it was over, but as soon as I pulled out, Fang Mei pushed me away and leaned onto the hood, raising her plump, white buttocks towards me.
"From behind..." she commanded again.
I was momentarily stunned. She yelled at me, "You bastard, I want you to fuck me from behind, didn't you hear me? Do me the way you did Zhao Li."
I entered her body between her buttocks, slowly thrusting.
"Faster, harder..." she said, leaning on the hood.
I started thrusting rapidly, and she reached another climax, moaning as she turned to me, saying, "I feel so good, baby, are you enjoying it? Tell me, are you enjoying it too?"
I didn't speak, silently fucking her until she climaxed again.
After I ejaculated, she remained slumped on the hood, crying again, sobbing uncontrollably. I tried to comfort her, but she stopped me, yelling, "Don't touch me, get away!"
After a long while, Fang Mei picked up her underwear, put it on, then put on a bra, a t-shirt, and jeans. Once she was dressed, she said fiercely to me, "Don't let me see you again, get lost!"
Then she got into the car, started it, and sped away, leaving me alone on that silent beach.
Back home, Zhao Li greeted me and asked, "She didn't give you any trouble, did she?"
I smiled, took her hand, and held it. "No, she just talked about something."
"That's good." She smiled slightly, didn't ask anything more, and took my hand, placing it on her stomach. "Shaoyan, I might be pregnant."
I was both surprised and delighted. I hadn't expected that what I'd told the thugs tonight would actually come true. "Really?" I asked.
She nodded and smiled, "I haven't been feeling well these past few days, and my period is late. I just took a pregnancy test, and it seems I'm pregnant. We'll go to the hospital tomorrow to confirm."
I then asked, "Didn't one of your girlfriends at the nightclub say you had your period?" She laughed, "Hey! She was just joking. Those silly girls always talk nonsense."
"That's great!" I lifted Zhao Li up in a hug, and we laughed together.
I was immersed in the joy of becoming a father, and I felt that things had finally settled between Fang Mei and me.
Life went on. Huang Xiaolei gradually drifted away from us. Although we were still neighbors, she was always out early and back late, sometimes even staying at the nightclub, so we rarely saw each other.
I knew that Huang Xiaolei was intentionally avoiding us. In her heart, it was because of my marriage to Zhao Li that she harbored resentment towards Zhao Li.
Zhao Li also didn't take the initiative to approach her. I understand Zhao Li's feelings. The three of us have had a threesome more than once. As a woman, Zhao Li is now my wife and will soon be the mother of my child. It's understandable that she feels awkward and uncomfortable when facing Huang Xiaolei.
In the past, neither of them was in a romantic relationship with me. They could share their friendship with each other, and sexually share me, allowing me to enjoy their bodies as well. But things are different now; the three of us can never go back to the way things were.
I feel regretful and helpless about the inevitable estrangement between these two former mentor-student and best friends, "sisters of the night," and can only let nature take its course.
Winter has arrived, but Haikou's temperature remains warm like late spring, very pleasant, which is why I love it here.
My script has started filming, and Huang Shanshan, recommended by Hao Dawei, is playing the third female lead. This role was tailor-made for Huang Shanshan, a perfect fit.
She had previously acted in a TV series and a web series, though in minor roles, but these were crucial for gaining acting experience. In addition, her frequent commercial performances over the past few months have built her some popularity, and she even has an online fan club. So, the director was quite satisfied with her audition and immediately gave her the role.
Hao Dawei also helped me get two more scripts, a movie and a TV series.
Most importantly, Zhao Li is three months pregnant. After confirming it at the hospital, we immediately shared the good news with our relatives in Nanjing; my parents and sister were overjoyed. Chen Meiyan instructed me to take good care of Zhao Li, and she even said she would come to Haikou to take care of us in a while.
Everything seemed to be developing in a better and better direction. But one day, Huang Xiaolei told me a shocking secret.
That afternoon, I had just returned home after accompanying Zhao Li from the hospital for her prenatal checkup when Huang Xiaolei called me to her house.
The three of us hadn't been together for quite some time, so I was both relieved and quite surprised by Huang Xiaolei's sudden approach.
Huang Xiaolei first asked how the prenatal checkup went. Zhao Li gently stroked her growing belly, smiling and saying everything was fine, the baby was healthy. Her face radiated the joy of becoming a mother.
Then Huang Xiaolei solemnly told us to sit down, saying she had something very important to tell us. Zhao Li and I looked at each other, then sat down side by side.
Huang Xiaolei said to me, "Shaoyan, do you know how Fang Min died?"
"Wasn't it a car accident? What happened?" I was bewildered, my heart skipped a beat.
Huang Xiaolei sighed softly, "Actually, Fang Min was already dead before the car accident. The accident was just a cover-up for her true cause of death."
"And the person who arranged the accident..." To my astonishment, she continued, "It was me."
I was speechless...

(To be continued)

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