[Urban] Sea of Desire (Complete) - 1-3

[Synopsis] Ma Xiaochi, from a rural area, navigates the relationships between women he likes and who love him in his city. He experiences love, hate, passion, and desire with them. This is the bittersweet story of an ordinary white-collar worker in a modern city.

Chapter 001: Fang Lili's Phone Call

As Ma Xiaochi hung up the phone, tears welled up in his eyes uncontrollably. The call was at 12:30 PM, just after Ma Xiaochi returned from lunch at the cafeteria.

Fang Lili said on the phone, "Chi, I miss you. I want you to hold me tight and make love to me."

For the shy and introverted Fang Lili to say such a thing on the phone shows how

much she misses Ma Xiaochi. Ma Xiaochi hung up the phone hastily.

He leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. Xiaochi was the kind of man who wouldn't smoke a pack of cigarettes in a year, but he would occasionally have one. However, Ma Xiaochi wanted others to think he didn't smoke. Ma Xiaochi's reason for not smoking was simple: she wanted to show off her charming, white teeth when she smiled. The day before yesterday, when Xiao Jing, a pretty young woman more than ten years older than Ma Xiaochi, came to the office, she saw the Zhonghua cigarettes on her desk and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, you smoke?"

Ma Xiaochi hurriedly replied, "I only smoke occasionally, not often."

Xiao Jing scoffed, "Whether you smoke or not is none of my business, no need to explain."

Xiao Jing was busty and had a curvy figure; she was the kind of woman every man would have designs on.

After Xiao Jing left, Ma Xiaochi felt incredibly stupid. Why should I explain to her whether I smoke or not? She's just a little girl, with a rounder bottom, fuller breasts, fairer skin, and a prettier face.

Damn it, maybe one day I'll sleep with her. Ma Xiaochi thought angrily. When one day Ma Xiaochi's hands finally touched Xiao Jing's proud breasts, Ma Xiaochi even felt he should worship himself. From the moment Xiaojing was exceptionally hired by Ma Xiaochi from the job market, she felt grateful to this man. This gratitude, developed over time through their long-term working relationship, evolved into a young woman's love for a mature man, though she couldn't express it.

When Xiaochi lit his cigarette again, his eyes lacked their usual arrogance and unruliness; instead, they held a rare melancholy and sadness. Fang Lili must be going through a very difficult time right now, otherwise, this sudden turn of events wouldn't have happened.

Fang Lili was Ma Xiaochi's first love. First love is a deeply unforgettable pain, but also a tender and cherished memory.

Fang Lili wasn't the kind of girl who could rival the moon and flowers; in today's parlance, she was a complete "flat-chested" girl—the kind of girl who couldn't even show skin in the summer. Yet, Ma Xiaochi and Xiaoli still fell madly in love. This was Ma Xiaochi's first love, a vibrant memory from his distant youth.

Ma Xiaochi was a handsome man, a man who was extremely popular with women. Tall and muscular, standing at 1.8 meters tall, with handsome features, a killer smile, and a set of pearly white teeth, he was strikingly handsome.

Xiao Jing once said, not without envy, "You're just so charming with women; I like you."

But before high school, Ma Xiaochi had never considered himself a handsome man; this perception stemmed from his family's poverty. Ma Xiaochi's family was extremely poor, practically starving, sometimes going hungry—an unthinkable situation in rural China during the 1980s.

Ma Xiaochi always felt the most shameful thing about his school days was that on his first day of junior high, he was the only one in the entire school who went barefoot. The cobblestone path of the junior high school hurt his feet, but the pain was felt deep within his heart. Ma Xiaochi always wore hand-me-downs from his older brothers. Due to malnutrition, he was noticeably underdeveloped, smaller and weaker than other children his age. Ma Xiaochi lived with a deep-seated inferiority complex, yet he also craved attention. Once, during a work-study program in May, the classroom was piled high with wheat stalks. Some mischievous boys threw stalks at each other, causing the girls to scream. Ma Xiaochi tried to join in, but he clearly sensed that the girls weren't paying attention to him; their attention was focused on the sons of wealthy men whose parents worked at banks, grain depots, or even veterinary clinics.

Ma Xiaochi felt hurt and became silent.

At that time, he was incredibly insecure, even to the point of being miserable. Once, the school organized a movie outing. On their way back, they ran into their chemistry teacher, Zhao Sihai, who asked, "What movie was it, you little rascals?

" "The Wolf,"

Ma Xiaochi blurted out.

Zhao Sihai was furious and made Ma Xiaochi stand for three hours on the street the students frequented, leaving him utterly humiliated.

On another occasion, Ma Xiaochi wrote what he thought was a very good essay, but his Chinese teacher, Bai Huafang, didn't give it a positive review. This upset Ma Xiaochi, so he added a sentence to the teacher's comments: "Not all teachers can see the good in this essay."

He forgot about it after writing it.

Unfortunately, the teacher discovered this added comment.

Ma Xiaochi was then subjected to a collective reprimand by the teachers in the office, which deeply hurt him psychologically. He never returned to that junior high school after graduating, even though he was later used as a positive example by many teachers when advising younger students. Everyone remembered that Ma Xiaochi had attended that school, but everyone forgot the hurt he suffered there.

It wasn't until later, when a new Chinese teacher named Zhou Chuanxing arrived, that Ma Xiaochi regained his confidence and courage. The young teacher affirmed and offered constructive guidance on Ma Xiaochi's writing.

Chapter 002 Growing Pains

Ma Xiaochi's physical development began in his third year of junior high school. Malnutrition couldn't suppress his youthful desire to grow. Of course, he was already a late bloomer.

Ma Xiaochi's first experience of male satisfaction came from a girl named Xu Cuifen. Xu Cuifen and Ma Xiaochi were classmates, but Xu Cuifen was several years older than him. When Ma Xiaochi was in the first year of junior high, he knew that several older girls had repeatedly failed the entrance exam for vocational school and had chosen to repeat a year. In rural China in the 1980s, the goal of junior high school education was for good students to go to vocational school and for poor students to go to high school. Because going to vocational school meant graduating quickly, getting a stable job, and becoming a government employee. Xu Cuifen had fought for this ultimate goal in life for six years in that not-so-famous junior high school, but ultimately returned home disappointed.

For many, both the college entrance exam and the junior high school entrance exam were not pleasant memories.

Xu Cuifen ultimately failed to get into vocational school, and the reality of having many younger brothers meant she couldn't stay in school any longer.

With regret, Xu Cuifen graduated from junior high school, facing a man and an impending life as a housewife. Not only her, but most girls like her...

Ma Xiaochi hadn't expected to attract so much attention from girls so quickly after entering junior high. Children in rural junior high schools start school late, and by the time they reach their final year, they're already fifteen or sixteen—already considered older. No one hides the allure of youth.

They often teased Ma Xiaochi in various ways, including when she sat down, they would quietly move her chair away with their feet, causing her to plop down on the floor, eliciting bursts of laughter. At this, Ma Xiaochi would flash a silly grin, revealing her white teeth—a grin that sent shivers down the spines of many women.

One evening after dinner, Ma Xiaochi, carrying her books, was heading to the classroom for evening self-study when Xu Cuifen and several other older girls stopped her. The girls, munching on sunflower seeds, scrutinized the bewildered Ma Xiaochi.

"Xiao Chi, be my little brother, I like you."

Xu Cuifen tilted her head, her provocative gaze robbing Ma Xiao Chi of his confidence. Several others chimed in.

Ma Xiao Chi finally took a closer look at this school's "big sister" figure. Xu Cuifen wasn't tall, maybe 1.55 meters at most, but to be honest, she was very pretty, a petite beauty. Ma Xiao Chi's heart fluttered. He looked up at the setting sun, its afterglow bathing the girl standing before him.

Ma Xiao Chi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Don't you already have three little brothers?"

Ma Xiao Chi's words caused the women in front of him to burst into laughter: "Silly boy, those are your biological brothers, you're just a lover's brother!"

Amidst the laughter, the women swayed, their large breasts jiggling.

Ma Xiao Chi suddenly felt aroused. That year, Ma Xiao Chi was 15 years old. At 15, Ma Xiao Chi was still innocent, unaware of the nature of love, let alone the possibility that it could lead to such a profound and unwavering commitment.

Actually, Ma Xiaochi was very close to a girl in his class named Ji Mingyue. For a long time afterward, this girl had a crush on Ma Xiaochi. She often brought him novels from home because she knew he loved reading. However, Ma Xiaochi later went to high school, while the girl dropped out due to failing the entrance exam. The two gradually lost contact.

Ji Mingyue's best friend was Peng Fan, the school beauty, who had many boys pursuing her. One action of Peng Fan's made all the boys hesitate: during a morning self-study session, she held up a letter a boy had written to her and announced it to the whole class.

At a time when puppy love was still an extremely sensitive topic, this act was nothing short of shocking. This made Peng Fan's reputation even more prominent. Many years later, when Ma Xiaochi saw a familiar figure at a breakfast stall on the outskirts of the county town, he realized that Peng Fan, who had been so determined to marry into the county town and was the envy of many, had actually married the small breakfast stall owner and become his wife. Peng Fan had no idea that the distinguished man sitting in the corner was the handsome boy from her class back then.

Those years held so many stories, so many distant memories of youth. Youth had swept everyone away.

When Ma Xiaochi went to high school and later university, the girls he remembered had all married and had children, becoming wives and mothers. The youthful beauty of their early twenties faded amidst the mundane routines of rural family life, leaving only the marks of aging.

Ma Xiaochi truly felt he was more handsome than other boys when he was in his second year of high school. During a PE class, a guy named Awang suddenly asked, "Ma Xiaochi, do you have a girlfriend?"

Ma Xiaochi replied, "No way."

Awang said, "What a waste of your good looks."

Ma Xiaochi, a sophomore in high school, was already 1.76 meters tall, with a slender build. Having often helped his mother with farm work, he was physically strong and well-proportioned, with a handsome face. Ma Xiaochi had never thought much of himself, but Awang's words still stirred something in him. However, Awang always seemed to know far more than his peers. During the summer break after his sophomore year, the school organized military training for the incoming seniors to strengthen their willpower. It was during this training that Awang did something he considered quite shameful at the time. During a break, he suddenly yelled and rushed towards the dormitory. Everyone, confused, followed him in with the instructors. They found Awang collapsed onto the bed, his body convulsing, and then suddenly experiencing a painful yet pleasurable sensation. It turned out Awang had ejaculated in broad daylight. This was an unbelievable thing. The instructors and all the trainees were dumbfounded, then burst into laughter. Many years later, it was still a joke among classmates. Awang still shamelessly said, "Hehe, I was young then."

But at that time, Ma Xiaochi's goal was only one thing: to go to university. Because for the children of farmers in this era, going to university was the difference between wearing straw sandals and wearing leather shoes. Ma Xiaochi was an idealist, and that was to escape rural life through his own efforts. Many years later, Ma Xiaochi often said, "Thank you for the college entrance examination. The college entrance examination gave us a relatively fair opportunity to compete."

Chapter 003 The First College Entrance Examination

Ma Xiaochi failed his first college entrance examination.

In Ma Xiaochi's hometown, a province with a large number of college entrance examination candidates between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, the college entrance examination was like thousands of troops squeezing onto a single-plank bridge. Therefore, failing the college entrance examination for the first time was not a shameful thing. Some people even took the exam for six consecutive years, and even graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in six years.

Ma Xiaochi's failure was not a shameful thing either, because two months before the college entrance examination, Ma Xiaochi suddenly fell ill. An acute pulmonary tuberculosis almost took Ma Xiaochi's life. The college entrance exam slipped through Ma Xiaochi's fingers amidst the sighs of others. In

his first year taking the exam, Ma Xiaochi scored six points below the cutoff. When Ma Xiaochi's homeroom teacher saw his score, he let out a deep sigh. Ma Xiaochi's homeroom teacher was an English teacher who had just graduated and started teaching him. The young teacher, with his acne-covered face, easily made people overlook his relationship with his students. However, it was this young man who gave these students, who were striving for the college entrance exam, genuine care. Ma Xiaochi and his friends received special attention from him precisely because of their good grades. Ma Xiaochi, Sanmao, Haozi, and their gang could eat and drink there for free and enjoyed chatting with him. Of course, Sanmao also liked to come here because he had fallen for the teacher's younger sister, a beautiful girl a year younger than them.

Ultimately, these students did not disappoint him. Ma Xiaochi made a name for himself in Beijing, far from home; Haozi became a well-known lawyer in Shanghai; and Sanmao and Awang became local officials in their hometown.

Just before the college entrance exam, a major incident occurred at the school. A beautiful girl in the science class got pregnant, and the culprit was her Chinese teacher. The handsome teacher's charismatic display of talent in front of the girl, just beginning to experience romantic feelings, caused her to lose all rational judgment, and she resolutely went to bed with this married man. This incident put the school in a very difficult position; the girl's mother's tantrum at the school gate embarrassed the school leaders. The Chinese teacher was transferred, but received no substantial punishment. The girl's future fate, in the face of the college entrance examination, no longer attracted much discussion or attention.

Such a serious mistake, a simple parallel transfer—no redemption whatsoever.

Similarly, facing the life-or-death college entrance examination, some still broke down when it arrived. A girl in the class suddenly ran away from home, and from the letter she left home, it was clear she was trying to escape the exam. She also left a letter for Ma Xiaochi, the class's Youth League secretary, hoping that Ma Xiaochi and the classmates could visit her despairing parents.

Today's children cannot understand the weight of the college entrance examination in the hearts of that generation; it was a choice of fate, or a second chance at life. The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) became a major event unique to China, a grueling July, a brutally selective examination. At the foot of Mount Dai, along the banks of the Chi River, the ruthlessness and helplessness of that era's Gaokao were encapsulated.

Yet, the Gaokao still brought Ma Xiaochi his first major setback. Only a few in his class were admitted to junior colleges, a feat already considered a source of pride.

Ma Xiaochi's dejected expression said it all.

His father said he'd come back next year. His mother sighed, sitting behind the stove, secretly wiping away tears. Ma Xiaochi was the youngest child in the family. While he was striving to change his fate, his parents were growing old.

Ma Xiaochi chose the county's No. 2 Middle School for his repeat year. The reason he didn't go to the better-equipped No. 1 Middle School was because No. 2 Middle School offered a generous condition to Gaokao repeaters: students whose scores were within ten points of the previous year's admission cutoff would receive free tuition. This was undoubtedly attractive to Ma Xiaochi, whose family was poor.

The Second Middle School used the method of reducing or waiving tuition fees for repeat students to attract some good students. There was a saying in the county: "If you want to go to university, go to the First Middle School; if you want to fight, go to the Second Middle School; if you want to date, go to the Third Middle School." The First Middle School was the best in the county, and students with good grades and wealthy families proudly entered its gates. Ma Xiaochi also wanted to go, but he needed financial relief more. When Ma Xiaochi decided to go to the Second Middle School, he told himself, "The Second Middle School also has students who get into university every year." He said this both to comfort and to encourage himself. Fortunately, that year at the Second Middle School allowed Ma Xiaochi to get into fights, date, and most importantly, get into university.

Compared to the First Middle School, like many schools in the county, the Second Middle School seemed like a neglected child, unloved by its parents. On that narrow street in the western part of the county, the Second Middle School silently endured the disdain of the students from the First Middle School. Even the students of No. 1 High School spoke of their school with pride: "No. 1 High School."

It was as if getting into No. 1 High School meant they had one foot in the door of university, when in reality it was nothing like that.

When Ma Xiaochi placed his first college entrance exam score sheet on the desk of the head of teaching, Lao Jiang, Lao Jiang's large head finally lifted, giving the handsome young man before him a proper look. Ma Xiaochi almost laughed when he saw Lao Jiang's raised head; he thought of the Hong Kong actor—Kent Cheng. They were practically twins. Ma Xiaochi hadn't realized that this "Kent Cheng" was his Chinese teacher.

Lao Jiang nodded; the experienced Lao Jiang immediately recognized Ma Xiaochi's intelligence and potential. This student had caused him a lot of trouble, yet was also someone he particularly liked.

Lao Jiang said, "You'll have to work hard here!"

Ma Xiaochi quickly feigned humility, saying, "Yes, definitely, definitely."

At this time, No. 2 High School wasn't asking him for money, so he no longer needed to ask his parents for money—a tremendous blessing.

"Work hard."

As Ma Xiaochi left Lao Jiang's office, Lao Jiang's warm words of advice came from behind, suddenly making Ma Xiaochi feel a sense of warmth.

Many years later, Ma Xiaochi returned to this school campus, which wasn't really his alma mater. Although things had changed, the dusty playground and the shouts of vendors outside the campus suddenly brought tears to Ma Xiaochi's eyes, as if everything had returned to the past. Many things from the past seemed to have happened just yesterday.

Those non-standard pool tables, those noisy video arcades, and those steaming breakfast stalls—everything seemed unchanged.

Chapter 004 Those High School Teachers

The summer of 1994 was destined to be unbearable. Because that summer in the Western Hemisphere, in the United States, the World Cup was in full swing, and Ma Xiaochi couldn't resist the temptation. But he had to give his all to his college entrance exam, to pursue his dream. He had no room for maneuver; all his relatives, friends, and family were watching this college entrance exam, the same thing that all Chinese people across the country were watching. It should be said that Ma Xiaochi was hardworking, and his efforts made many other hardworking students pale in comparison.

"For you, the college entrance exam is a choice between wearing leather shoes and straw sandals in the future,"

said Shen Buyu, the political science teacher, during a pre-exam pep talk. The political science teacher only had a junior college diploma, and his lack of formal education became the biggest obstacle to his later career in education. As a political science teacher and a senior high school teacher, he still had many shortcomings. However, his words were something Ma Xiaochi remembered for a lifetime, and Ma Xiaochi was grateful to him for life. Shen Buyu was a good teacher; he genuinely cared about each and every one of them. In those days filled with the atmosphere of the college entrance exam, he gave his students true care and warmth. Later, Shen Buyu couldn't resist the economic allure of the developed southern provinces and went south alone, where he reportedly did quite well. He only taught Ma Xiaochi political science for a week, but Ma Xiaochi remembered him forever.

"Whether you succeed in the college entrance exam or not is the result of your natural efforts; don't deliberately demand anything,"

said the math teacher, a top student from Fudan University, who came to my hometown from Shanghai because of the Cultural Revolution. He became the first truly highly educated and refined intellectual Ma Xiaochi saw. After the Cultural Revolution ended, the main reason he didn't go back was that he had married a beautiful doctor at the county hospital, and this beautiful doctor had given him two handsome sons, Da Mao and Er Mao. Both sons inherited their mother's refined appearance, but neither inherited their father's wisdom. Old Li always held a grudge about this. He remembered that during his first math class, he enthusiastically told the students about the benefits of using a baby's umbilical cord to make dumplings, which made Ma Xiaochi and others lose their appetite for several days. Then, everyone unanimously condemned Da Mao.

"Good heavens, you bastards don't study properly, go home and farm!"

Old Jiang, the Chinese teacher, said indignantly, then angrily spat a thick wad of phlegm onto the ground, his large face glistening with excess oil from overnutrition, contrasting sharply with the thin, weary faces of the students in the cram school. Old Jiang was full of confidence when he scolded his students because during the first Chinese class, several boys in the repeat class who had the best chance of getting into university were hiding in a snack shop near the school gate, greedily watching the 12-inch TV show of the exhausted German team being repeatedly attacked by the energetic South Korean baseball team in the group stage. Unfortunately, Old Jiang discovered them, and even more unfortunately, the South Korean team still lost the game 2-3. Then there was Maradona of Argentina being punished for doping, and Escobar of Colombia being shot and killed after returning home because of an own goal in a match against the host country, the United States. That eventful summer was intertwined with the college entrance examination. Old Jiang didn't go to university; he stayed at the Second High School to teach after graduating from high school. Old Jiang was very down-to-earth, but to be honest, his down-to-earth nature was quite endearing. Old Jiang was blunt and straightforward, which actually showed that he was a veteran of the Second High School. Old Jiang's daughter was still in elementary school at the time; now she should be a young woman. If one had to wish Old Jiang well, it would be that his daughter wouldn't take after her father, otherwise, things would be terrible. Old Jiang's dictionary had no concept of manners; his "manner" was simply self-centeredness and arrogance. He'd spit on the floor during Chinese class, a glob of phlegm landing on the ground, the dust billowing in the slanting sunlight streaming into the classroom. He especially clashed with the equally arrogant political science teacher, a well-educated professional. This was a major reason why Old Jiang secretly supported Ma Xiaochi when Ma Xiaochi later clashed with the political science teacher.

Ma Xiaochi's college entrance exam arrived in the scorching July of 1994. He smelled the blood of the exam. In his hometown, all young people had only one option to leap over the dragon gate: the college entrance exam, to escape to another place. Today's children can no longer comprehend the cruelty of the college entrance exam, a battle of thousands crossing a single-plank bridge. The college entrance exam made every summer savage, the sunset and blood staining the slightly thin bodies rushing along the path to education. Therefore, Ma Xiaochi had no choice. He had struggled for over ten years for this summer. So much so that when he talks about the college entrance exam with young people today, he summarizes it in ten words: "Unforgettable yet tender."

Ma Xiaochi arranged his studies meticulously. He spent 80% of his evening self-study time doing math problems, knowing that for liberal arts students, mastering math was key to success; the remaining 20% was spent on English; the time between afternoon classes and evening self-study was used to review politics, history, and geography; from evening self-study until around 1 a.m., he would consolidate all the subjects he had studied and reviewed during the day; and after 5 a.m., he would review the politics, history, and geography he had reviewed the previous afternoon. Ma Xiaochi pushed his young body to the limit to win that precious university admission letter. Looking back now, he doesn't know how he managed to get through it all and reap such a beautiful reward. Ma Xiaochi became one of the six students in her class of 70 who met the admission score for top universities (at that time, the admission score for top universities was the undergraduate admission score, meaning the rest were junior colleges or those who failed the exam). When the old lady in the No. 2 Middle School's mailroom handed Ma Xiaochi the admission notice, she looked at him with undisguised envy: "My goodness, it's a university in Beijing."

Beijing, a distant city in northern China, a word that had only appeared in Ma Xiaochi's reading. Ma Xiaochi would continue his studies and life here in the years to come. With his university acceptance letter, he would knock on the heavy doors of this city. Everything was about to start anew, a brand new and alluring beginning. Ma Xiaochi recalled his college entrance exam essay topic: "Try." Ma Xiaochi had never lacked the courage to try, only the opportunity. And today, after a year of hard work, that opportunity had finally arrived.

Ma Xiaochi held the acceptance letter high; the fiery red cover made his eyes feel like they were being burned, and a slight sting made him feel something welling up in his eyes.

Chapter 006: Hero Saves the Beauty . During

his year of repeating a year, Ma Xiaochi consistently maintained his top grades in his class.

Ma Xiaochi became an idol in his class. As a liberal arts student, Ma Xiaochi understood that those who excelled in mathematics would succeed, so his math scores were particularly outstanding. He basically handled all the math questions in the class. While answering questions for her classmates, Ma Xiaochi encountered more types of questions, and her grades improved even more. Da Sheng, who had been preparing for the college entrance exam for six years, said to Ma Xiaochi with great admiration, "You're the Gauss of our class."

Da Sheng looked at her with such adoration that she practically wanted to offer herself to her immediately.

Ma Xiaochi absentmindedly replied, "Oh, not at all," while her eyes darted past Da Sheng's head to look for another girl. This girl was Fang Lili.

Ma Xiaochi realized she had fallen for Fang Lili. She felt only pity and contempt for Da Sheng. Da Sheng seemed rather dim-witted, but she was quite pretty, with a certain charm. Rumor had it that this was Da Sheng's fifth attempt at the college entrance exam, yet she still knew nothing about math. She even went to the county cultural center to dance while everyone else was studying in the evening, a fact that Ma Xiaochi and the others found both shameful and incomprehensible. It wasn't until Fang Lili recounted this incident that Ma Xiaochi's heart trembled, and she gained a new understanding of this woman. It turned out that Da Sheng had repeatedly failed his college entrance exams, and his family had stopped supporting him financially. However, determined to get into university, Da Sheng decided to help himself. How? He decided to work as a dancer at the county cultural center. Although Da Sheng wasn't a stunning beauty, he was young. The young Da Sheng became the first choice for married men on the dance floor. Another rumor circulated that one of Da Sheng's regular dance partners was Lao Miao, another English teacher in the re-examination class at the Second Middle School. Lao Miao had a bad relationship with his wife, so he often went to the dance floor to "use his spare time," while his wife danced with another man elsewhere. As for the feud between Lao Miao and his wife, Fang Lili whispered it to Ma Xiaochi. When Ma Xiaochi was a sophomore, Fang Lili said that Da Sheng had been admitted to the history teaching program at the provincial normal university. When he received the acceptance letter, Da Sheng cried tears of joy.

His dream had finally become a reality.

Ma Xiaochi put his arm around Fang Lili's shoulder and said, "This woman is really ruthless. Her own history is a tragic history of Chinese students retaking the college entrance exam."

Fang Lili agreed.

Fang Lili wasn't a beauty, but among a crowd of girls, she was the kind who would catch your eye immediately. Bright eyes, white teeth, gentle and delicate.

Ma Xiaochi told his best friend, Guoguo, "I want her to be my woman."

Guoguo and Ma Xiaochi were absolute best friends; in Guoguo's own words, they could share anything except women. Ma Xiaochi's view was that brothers were limbs, and women were face—neither could be missing. When Guoguo heard Ma Xiaochi's declaration of love, he tugged at his stiff mustache with the cap of his pen and said lecherously, "You two are a good match." With Guoguo's help, Ma Xiaochi quickly learned about Fang Lili.

Fang Lili was a graduate of the Second High School and lived with her older sister in the county town. Her homeroom teacher for the graduating class was Lao Miao, and Lao Miao treated Fang Lili very well. As evidenced by the case of Fang Lili, when she fell ill in her second year of high school, Lao Miao personally brewed traditional Chinese medicine for her at his home. Many boys in her class liked her, but none succeeded.

Ma Xiaochi grew increasingly fond of this woman.

However, Ma Xiaochi cautioned himself not to act rashly, lest his advances affect her college entrance exams. While Ma Xiaochi didn't readily declare his love, he did try to get her to know him.

Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo appeared more frequently on Fang Lili's way home, and their bickering in front of her increased. They hoped to attract her attention this way. However, the hurried Fang Lili seemed oblivious to the boys' antics. In reality, Fang Lili already harbored feelings for the academically gifted Ma Xiaochi, but she lacked the confidence to get to know him.

However, it was on this very road that Ma Xiaochi forged a fatal feud with the school's notorious gang, the "Lotus Pond Gang." As one of the prettiest girls in the repeat-year class, Fang Lili was ambushed by Hei Zi and Ma Qi, members of the "Lou Tang Gang," in a corner of the aquatic product company compound on her way home from evening self-study. Hei Zi and Ma Qi were two of the gang's most capable henchmen; they never took repeating a year seriously, spending their days loitering in the school and the streets of the county town, fighting, smoking, playing billiards, watching videos, and harassing girls—that was their entire life. At some point, the two noticed Fang Lili.

The terrified screams Fang Lili made as the two men tore at her drew Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo to her side in a flash. Their arrival didn't deter Hei Zi and Ma Qi; accustomed to their arrogance, they were completely disregarded. Clearly, Hei Zi and Ma Qi were unaware that Ma Xiaochi and Guo Guo had been training in kung fu with Guo Guo's older brother, Da You, for nearly five years before entering high school. During those five years, under Da You's supervision, they progressed from leg presses to sparring, becoming "kung fu masters" among their peers. However, due to Da You's strict orders, they never dared to fight. In a high school rife with school gangs like the "Lou Tang Gang," they didn't belong to any particular gang, and no one knew that these two possessed terrifying offensive power.

When Hei Zi's dirty hand brazenly reached for Fang Lili's exposed bra in front of Ma Xiaochi, Ma Xiaochi delivered his first strike after "ten years of honing his skills." Hei Zi felt a heavy blow to his chest, a burning sensation in his throat, and a gushing of hot blood. He screamed and rolled to the side. Ma Qi, who had already picked up a triangular scraper, was so frightened that he threw it away and ran away frantically. When Ma Xiaochi turned back to look at Fang Lili, his heart tightened. Fang Lili was crouching in the corner, trembling. Ma Xiaochi knelt down, helped her up, and said, "It's alright, it's okay. I'll take you home."

That night, Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo escorted Fang Lili home, and Ma Xiaochi learned where Fang Lili lived. This place remained vivid in Ma Xiaochi's memory for many years to come.

Chapter 007 A Bloody Night in the History of No. 2 Middle School A

Bloody Night in the History of Seven Schools This was a story of a sudden hero saving a beauty; no one had time to consider any of the links or consequences in between. Even less did anyone expect that Guoguo would pay such a heavy price for it.

Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo never considered who Heizi and Maqi really were. The matter was over and done with; they didn't realize that the severely damaged "Lotus Pond Gang" was brewing a bloody revenge. After more than a week, they finally figured out that Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo belonged neither to the powerful "Luqiao Gang" nor the "Tianhe Faction." They didn't belong to any school faction, meaning they were alone and isolated.

Two weeks later, on a Tuesday evening, it was a dark Tuesday for Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo. During the break between the first period of evening self-study, while the students were chatting and relaxing, suddenly more than a dozen people with menacing eyes appeared in the classroom. Someone exclaimed, "The Outang Gang is here!"

The scream spurred Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo to huddle together with lightning speed. This was a tactic Dayou had taught them: when outnumbered, stand back-to-back to protect your backs and focus on frontal attacks. Dayou forbade them from fighting, but he frequently assisted in the fray, leaving him covered in bruises. This long-term involvement in boxing gave Dayou ample combat experience and exceptional mental fortitude.

What follows is a scene reminiscent of Hong Kong films for 1980s high school students—a chaotic, terrifying, and bloody spectacle.

Amidst the students' howls and screams, Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo fight side-by-side against opponents wielding sticks and scrapers. Their only weapon is a readily available stool, their most effective weapon.

They fought off one "Lotus Pond Gang" member after another who rushed towards them. Amidst the sounds of flesh being struck by bench legs, Ma Xiaochi still heard Fang Lili shouting, "Stop fighting! You bastards!"

A major reason Ma Xiaochi liked Fang Lili was because of the courage she displayed at this moment. Unlike the other classmates who ran away, she risked danger and stood firmly by Ma Xiaochi's side. She was a trustworthy woman, and her courage and strength were admirable.

This not-quite-pure brawl lasted for half an hour. No one knew the extent of the "Lotus Pond Gang's" injuries, but the condition of Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo in front of Fang Lili made her faint instantly: Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo's faces were a bloody mess. A gruesome wound on Ma Xiaochi's left hand, torn open by a knife, still haunted Fang Lili for many years. Guoguo paid the price with the loss of his right middle finger. Guoguo's right hand was no longer fully functional, which made his later studies, job search, and marriage extremely difficult. In his thirties, Guoguo eventually fell for a Sichuan girl, who gave him a job, a woman, and a home.

Perhaps it was the courage and bravado displayed in that night's brutal fight that prevented their opponents from causing them or Fang Lili any further trouble. However, this chaotic brawl in the No. 2 Middle School classroom became a legendary tale on campus for a long time to come, and a significant part of the local gossip in this small county town—spectacular, bloody, and full of tension.

Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo attracted the attention of various school gangs. More and more girls suddenly realized that Ma Xiaochi was not only academically gifted but also incredibly skilled in fighting. However, to prevent further incidents, Ma Xiaochi decided to rent a new place so he could live with Guoguo and look after each other. In this small county town, many families relied on renting out rooms to students for a living. Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo rented a room in the north of the town. The landlord was a disabled veteran in his forties. This veteran owned a barbershop and had found a young girl named Xiaoqin from the countryside to apprentice with him. Xiaoqin's father was a barber in the local village, and to help Xiaoqin surpass him in hairdressing skills, he sent her to the county town to apprentice after she graduated from junior high school. A year later, Xiaoqin married the disabled veteran. Some people said that the soldier first seized power and then used bribes to seduce her. For Xiaoqin, a country girl who had lost her virginity, it was tantamount to losing everything, and she ultimately married him. Regardless of the process, what Ma Xiaochi saw was this disharmonious marriage. The soldier, walking with a limp, was all smiles as he tended to his business, while Xiaoqin, expressionless, went about her business under his orders. When Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo arrived, Xiaoqin's eyes lit up—a sudden, suppressed flame that made Ma Xiaochi's heart skip a beat.

Although some members of the "Lotus Pond Gang" were injured in the conflict, they still gained the upper hand due to their numbers. They felt it was best to let it go, and Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo didn't seem to intend to retaliate. It seemed the matter was over.

In late June, just before the college entrance examination, the "Lou Tang Gang's" residence was attacked by a group of people they had never seen before. The sudden attack filled them with fear due to the attackers' fighting prowess. The "Lou Tang Gang," preparing for the exam, suffered a sudden and devastating blow. Almost all the members present that night were injured to varying degrees. The attack on their leader, Brother Hua, was particularly brutal, filling the air of the county town with a bloody atmosphere. His right hand, the one that had once wielded a cleaver and terrorized the school, had been chopped off at the wrist. The assailant's last words were, "Get out of here, this is no longer your territory."

The cleaver he had personally chosen was dripping with blood.

No one knew who did it. The police intervention only suggested it was a serious incident, without finding the perpetrator for the "Lou Tang Gang." Moreover, the "Lou Tang Gang" was severely weakened by this attack, much to the relief of the police.

One thing is certain: Ma Xiaochi and Guoguo did not participate in the fight. Besides Dayou, no one else would trade Guoguo's finger for Hua Ge's hand.

This was a great revenge; in the week before the college entrance exam, a bloody act of revenge forced the "Lotus Pond Gang" members to abandon that year's exam—it must have been driven by deep-seated hatred.

Chapter 008: Landlady Xiaoqin.

Ma Xiaochi's arrival brought about a dramatic change in Xiaoqin's life.

Xiaoqin lost the reserve and shyness of a girl experiencing first love.

Xiaoqin had transformed from a girl into a woman, a change that was unwillingly accomplished.

Xiaoqin was strikingly beautiful, with large eyes, a high nose, a long neck, fair skin, and long, black hair flowing freely behind her. There was no affection between her and the veteran; she wished nothing had happened, while the wounded soldier at least had sexual feelings for Xiaoqin. A man in his forties was ravaging and venting his desires on a girl not yet twenty. Xiaoqin couldn't understand why this man, who was busy all day, had so much energy at night and such disastrous desires for his own body. Xiaoqin didn't know what the ultimate experience of a woman being dominated by a man was, because the man's brief thrusts couldn't allow the young and full-bodied Xiaoqin to experience true sexual pleasure. However, Ma Xiaochi's first performance made Xiaoqin suddenly realize how wonderful sex could be.

There was no winter break for senior high school students in the county. It was during this winter break that the "Tianhe Gang" and the "Luqiao Gang" had a fight in the video arcade of the county cultural center. Afterwards, the main members of the two gangs were arrested by the county public security bureau for suspected involvement in the brawl. This marked the end of two campus gang forces. The "Outang Gang" became even more unscrupulous.

That night, it was said that the cultural center was showing "A Better Tomorrow" starring Chow Yun-fat. Those young people who had lost their way in their youth thought they were Little Ma, but they didn't know that Little Ma also possessed justice, righteousness, and kindness.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Ma Xiaochi came to the county to prepare for the final half of his senior year. The disabled veteran wasn't home; he'd gone back to his hometown for the Lunar New Year and hadn't returned. Xiaoqin hadn't gone because her family was coming, so she made an excuse not to go. When Ma Xiaochi appeared at Xiaoqin's house, she almost burst out laughing. Xiaoqin was a mature woman, a woman who understood romance, and she felt an uncontrollable desire for Ma Xiaochi's body.

During the two months she'd rented a spare room in Xiaoqin's house, she'd been secretly observing this high school senior. This handsome, sunny, tall, and muscular boy gave Xiaoqin a completely new feeling, a feeling that suddenly made her want to warm his heart.

This warmth appeared on the evening of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

In provinces south of the Yellow River in China, heating is not provided in winter, making the cold a form of torture for many. Bathing is also a form of torture for many, and many households prepare a special "bath tent" for winter bathing—essentially a plastic contraption shaped like a Mongolian yurt—to temporarily trap heat and keep the bather warm. As Xiaoqin sat inside the bath tent, surrounded by steam, her emotions gradually rose. Xiaoqin looked down at her two breasts, shrouded in mist. Despite the ravages they had endured, her breasts remained firm, and her nipples began to swell under her caresses. Thick, wet pubic hair covered her lower body.

A wave of panic washed over Xiaoqin, and she gently rubbed her vulva twice with her right hand. A tingling sensation spread through her body.

"Xiaochi, come here for a moment."

Ma Xiaochi heard Xiaoqin's call, and without thinking, dropped the book he was holding and pushed open the door to Xiaoqin's room. Inside the milky-white "bath tent," a woman's mature Dong body was faintly visible before his eyes. Just as Ma Xiaochi was about to back out, Xiaoqin's voice made him stop.

"Xiaochi, come in, give your sister a back rub."

"Sister, I..."

"What 'I'? Hurry up!"

Suddenly, Xiaoqin lifted the bath tent and appeared in front of Ma Xiaochi, pulling him inside. The heat inside the tent immediately made Ma Xiaochi, who had been a little cold, suddenly feel hot. The naked woman, full breasts, flat stomach, and most alluring lower body—all of this caught Ma Xiaochi off guard and made him dizzy. Ma Xiaochi let out a dry cry and knocked Xiaoqin to the ground. In his nervousness, Ma Xiaochi couldn't even untie his own belt. It was Xiaoqin again. This woman, already familiar with the pleasures of the trade, skillfully exposed the young, impulsive man's genitals to her. She grabbed the penis that was thrusting wildly against her and gently placed it on her vulva. With a thrust of her hips, "plop," Ma Xiaochi's lower body pressed tightly against Xiaoqin's lower abdomen.

Xiaoqin supported Ma Xiaochi's hip bones with her hands, forcefully pushing him upwards, then lowering him, then pushing him up again.

"Come on, my little brother, like this, yes, like this."

Under Xiaoqin's guidance, Ma Xiaochi completed his first great transformation. After a long period of thrusting, amidst Xiaoqin's pleas for mercy and teasing, Ma Xiaochi let out a low growl, his entire waist arching forward. Xiaoqin clearly felt her clitoris tremble noticeably under the lubrication of Ma Xiaochi's ejaculated semen.

"Xiao Chi, we're here, I'm here."

That night, under Xiao Qin's tutelage, Ma Xiao Chi, a naive young man inexperienced in matters of the heart, progressed from frontal assault to rear penetration, from the bed to the sofa, repeatedly bringing Xiao Qin to the peak of emotional ecstasy.

The next day, exhausted, Ma Xiao Chi returned to his room to find Guo Guo, huddled under the covers, staring at him with wide, scrutinizing eyes: "Dude, you must be exhausted."

"Alright, enough talk, just move some space."

Ma Xiao Chi collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep.

Chapter 009 The Unexpected Appearance of Fang Lili

Guo Guo knew what had happened the previous night, and a hint of displeasure swept through him. He felt the outcome was unfair to Fang Lili.

Later, Fang Lili had told Ma Xiao Chi, "Actually, I've always liked you. You're so good-looking and have such good grades." "I just feel so stupid that I don't dare ask you questions. Seeing other girls asking you questions makes me so uncomfortable." Hearing this, Ma Xiaochi hugged Fang Lili tightly, saying, "My little darling, you're so reserved about such a big thing. You've really made me go through so much trouble." Then he showered her with kisses.

With the 1994 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in the US, the college entrance exams ended.

The process at that time was: take the exam first, estimate your score, then fill out your college application. Filling out the application information was indeed a meticulous task, so Ma Xiaochi earnestly asked Fang Lili to help him fill it out, and Fang Lili readily agreed.

After experiencing many things, Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili had become very good friends, sharing everything, though they hadn't yet reached the point of romantic feelings. However, love was already deeply brewing in their hearts. As Fang Lili diligently helped Ma Xiaochi fill out his application information, Ma Xiaochi looked at her intently and boldly.

When Fang Lili finished filling out the college application information, she saw longing in Ma Xiaochi's eyes. Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili embraced tightly. Kissing has no skill; all men and women of passion do it. Yet, kissing also requires skill, capable of driving lovers to ecstasy. In the small study room where Ma Xiaochi lived, the two kissed passionately, Fang Lili's wet, soft tongue gliding over every inch of Ma Xiaochi's body.

Ma Xiaochi said, "I can't take it anymore, I want that."

Fang Lili said, "You bastard, how could you think like that?" and sealed Ma Xiaochi's lips with a breathtaking, frenzied kiss. In the friction of their bodies, Ma Xiaochi ejaculated repeatedly. Fang Lili couldn't know Ma Xiaochi's feelings; this man, licking her entire body, had already thoroughly understood the ins and outs of relationships between men and women. Once this experience was had, it was like a drug addiction; trying to control it was a double torture of mind and body.

"How many bullets have I wasted?"

Ma Xiaochi joked.

"That's the only way,"

Fang Lili said, unmoved.

However, Ma Xiaochi loved Fang Lili and wouldn't force her to do something she didn't want to do. Although his lower body was throbbing as if it would explode, Ma Xiaochi suppressed his desire, his fatal desire.

The physical desires arising from Ma Xiaochi's intimacy with Fang Lili always found release with Xiaoqin. Each of their trysts was flawlessly arranged by Xiaoqin. Ma Xiaochi's heightened emotions and physical reactions made Xiaoqin increasingly confident and infatuated with her own body. She didn't know that Ma Xiaochi's true goddess was Fang Lili, not her.

Of course, as a married woman, having such an excellent lover was enough. She never thought of possessing this man entirely, only seeking to have him, not hoping for forever.

Many things, whether they should have happened or shouldn't have, happened. Ma Xiaochi discovered that Guoguo and his cousin Coco were having an affair. The fact that Guoguo and Ma Xiaochi had fought a bloody battle against the "Lotus Pond Gang" was enough to make this first-year high school girl admire him immensely. She followed Guoguo around like a shadow, calling him "brother" all day long. Keke wasn't tall, but her body was well-developed; she was already a very feminine young woman. The lovemaking between Ma Xiaochi and Xiaoqin had filled Guoguo with sexual desire, and finally, he lost his reason. Despite Keke's half-hearted resistance, he stripped her clothes and roughly entered her body. After a brief period of pain, the first-year high school girl lost her virginity.

Keke's mother found out about this, and the woman simply couldn't believe it was true. She went to the place Guoguo and Ma Xiaochi rented to find Guoguo, and only then did Ma Xiaochi learn everything.

Keke was sent away by her mother. Guoguo was devastated.

This gave Ma Xiaochi a sudden chill down his spine regarding his secret tryst with Xiaoqin. Perhaps one day he too would be exposed in broad daylight, just like Guoguo. But Ma Xiaochi still clung to a sliver of hope.

As the saying goes, "If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place." And it was Fang Lili who discovered this secret.

That summer was blissful for Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili. They strolled happily through the streets and alleys of the county town, embracing and kissing passionately. The kisses were unexpectedly wonderful. Every time Ma Xiaochi's tongue was inside Fang Lili's mouth, Fang Lili would let out a soul-stirring moan, and Ma Xiaochi would inevitably ejaculate. Happiness, like the summer sun, radiantly displayed their passion. His lower body was constantly shifting between soft and hard, a little cool against his skin. But the more unattainable something is, the more alluring it becomes, just as the temptation to enter Fang Lili's body had made it difficult for Ma Xiaochi to control himself. During the days after the college entrance exams, while waiting for their scores, Ma Xiaochi enjoyed his first love with Fang Lili, while simultaneously indulging in mutual desire with Xiaoqin.

One midday in mid-July, as Ma Xiaochi was experiencing Xiaoqin's rapid, intense movements, Fang Lili pushed open the door. She stared in horror at what she had witnessed, her body trembling as she leaned against the doorframe.

Ma Xiaochi quickly jumped off Xiaoqin's body, looking at Fang Lili with a face full of shame.

Fang Lili's sudden arrival puzzled Ma Xiaochi. He understood that Fang Lili must have known something beforehand.

Guoguo said, "If you want to blame someone, blame me. I think you've really wronged Fang Lili. I told her."

Guoguo never wanted to hide anything; they were true friends, brothers, brothers who had been tested by blood and fire.

Ma Xiaochi said, "You did the right thing. I don't blame you."

Fang Lili's appearance made Ma Xiaochi decisively sever his relationship with Xiaoqin. He didn't want to lose his beloved because of this woman.

Ma Xiaochi's sudden departure left Xiaoqin without her entire support in life. This woman didn't try to stop Ma Xiaochi from leaving, nor did she curse him. She just watched the boy walk further and further away with tearful eyes. 03-09

Chapter 011 Going North to Study

The college entrance examination in July is a major event that affects China. It can be said that some are happy and some are sad.

As expected, Ma Xiaochi was admitted to a prestigious university in the north, while Fang Lili failed the college entrance exam.

When Ma Xiaochi went to collect his score report, the anxiety and tension he felt were common to all the test-takers. Although each student had an estimated score based on the answer key after the exam, everyone knew there was a difference between the estimate and the actual result. Walking along the road to the Second High School, classmates passing by were already sharing the good news with Ma Xiaochi, "Kid, congratulations! We still have another year to work on."

Ma Xiaochi's heart was pounding; he knew he had succeeded in the exam. However, without the score report, he couldn't be absolutely certain it was true.

When Ma Xiaochi arrived at the teaching office, Old Jiang didn't produce the score report, because Ma Xiaochi's older brother had already taken it. His brother, who worked in the county town, had taken the score report from Old Jiang the night before, but because there was no phone, he hadn't been able to tell his family the good news in time. Old Jiang said, "You've really succeeded this time," which finally convinced Ma Xiaochi that it was all real.

The long score sheet on her brother's desk seemed so endearing to Ma Xiaochi.

"I passed! I passed!"

Ma Xiaochi couldn't contain his joy and shouted from the bottom of his heart.

That day, the streets and alleys of the county town were scattered with groups of examinees, some depressed, some excited, some hysterical. It was another year of results announcements, a time of joy for some and sorrow for others.

Fang Lili, however, failed. Fang Lili's frustration and disappointment were written all over her face, which saddened Ma Xiaochi, but Fang Lili was still genuinely happy for him.

She said, "I'll take the exam again next year, and I'll definitely pass."

They both knew that separation was inevitable, and their relationship was destined to be filled with longing. One was going north to study, the other would have to stay here and repeat a year. It was a reality hard to accept; going north together was merely a wishful thought between them. That summer, Fang Lili cared for the irreplaceable man in her eyes like a wife, and Ma Xiaochi also cherished Fang Lili dearly. Every time he looked at the smooth, delicate woman lying in his arms, he secretly vowed to protect her from any harm. He would protect her, his woman.

Just as Ma Xiaochi was about to start school, something happened. It was past 11 p.m. when Ma Xiaochi was taking Fang Lili to her sister's house. Just as they were about to arrive, they were stopped by several people. Based on experience, Ma Xiaochi knew they were high school students who had failed their college entrance exams and were preparing to retake them. When the boys pressed a triangular scraper against Ma Xiaochi's body, hurling insults and trying to grope Fang Lili, Fang Lili felt Ma Xiaochi's muscles begin to tense up. She sensed that Ma Xiaochi was about to teach these thugs a lesson. However, Fang Lili knew that if Ma Xiaochi hurt them, it might affect their chances of getting into university. In a panic, she shouted, "Ma Xiaochi, don't do it!"

But the intimidating power of Ma Xiaochi's name made the boys hesitate for a moment, and they quickly scattered.

Ma Xiaochi was a name feared by various forces on campus during that period, especially after the devastating attack by the "Lotus Pond Gang" before the college entrance exam. While seemingly unrelated to Ma Xiaochi, most people still connected him to the incident. If it weren't for his brother's classmate working in the police station, Ma Xiaochi would likely have faced endless questioning before the exam. Even Fang Lili suspected Ma Xiaochi was involved and had questioned him about it.

Ma Xiaochi said, "That night's performance was so impressive; it required a lot of power. Guoguo and I couldn't possibly have done it."

"But if it wasn't you, who else could it be? They hurt you so badly, and you're just finished?"

"They've offended too many people. We want to settle scores with them, but that has to wait until after the college entrance exam,"

Ma Xiaochi said.

"No, you're not allowed to go after the exam. Let it go."

"Of course it's over, they're finished now,"

Ma Xiaochi said with a smile.

Fang Lili believed everything Ma Xiaochi said. She didn't want him to hurt others, and she didn't want others to hurt him either. When those boys scurried away, Fang Lili collapsed into Ma Xiaochi's arms. The pounding of his heart made her feel a deep affection for the man she relied on, an affection she would cherish for life. Ma Xiaochi was indeed Fang Lili's love and everything, while Fang Lili was Ma Xiaochi's lifelong regret.

Ma Xiaochi couldn't be Fang Lili's lifelong support, nor could he protect her from harm. And Fang Lili couldn't dedicate her life to serving Ma Xiaochi wholeheartedly, cooking for him, doing his laundry, making love to him, and ensuring the happiness of the man she loved. When Fang Lili spent her life recalling every detail of her time with Ma Xiaochi, those were her happiest moments. Fang Lili even thought that if one day they grew old, perhaps fate would be kind enough to allow her to live with Ma Xiaochi again, even if only for a year, a month, or even a day. Fate is a fickle thing. Just when you think you've grasped its hand, it drifts past you like a fleeting cloud; and when you feel abandoned, fate seems to beckon again in the warm first rays of morning sunlight.

Fate played a cruel joke on Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili, a joke that made them experience the meaning of being inseparable for life.

In the days that followed, Fang Lili would often suddenly appear beside Ma Xiaochi. Her purpose was simple: to make love to him, to make love wildly. In the frenzied pleasure, they forgot all the troubles and misfortunes of life, gaining temporary physical and mental ecstasy. This sensual pleasure would then torment them both after they parted, allowing longing to relentlessly consume all reason.

Chapter 012 A Major Tragedy Occurs in the County Town

That summer after the college entrance exams, Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili once again faced a life-or-death ordeal. It

was an August afternoon, the sun still blazing.

Ma Xiaochi held Fang Lili's hand as they walked along the sidewalk of the county town's main street. People came and went, a noisy cacophony. This was an east-west street in the county town, with the main government offices and shopping malls located on the north and south sides; it was the most bustling section of the town. There were shops on both sides, as well as a few scattered vendors. The street wasn't very long; as the locals said, you could practically pee all the way to the end—a rough way to describe the small size of the county town. Everything seemed the same as yesterday, however, an unexpected disaster suddenly struck. This disaster left Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili with lingering fear for a long time afterward.

First, a gasp from the crowd alerted Ma Xiaochi, and his first reaction was to pull Fang Lili into his arms. Soon, Ma Xiaochi understood what had happened. A blue water truck came from east to west along the sidewalk he was walking on. To Ma Xiaochi's astonishment, amidst the screams of the crowd, he saw three girls holding hands being swiftly run over by the truck's wheels, an elderly person with a child was also crushed, along with a street vendor, a fortune teller, and a cart loaded with dates… Ma Xiaochi quickly pulled Fang Lili to the middle of the street, and the truck sped past them. What happened next was this: the driver, driving to the roundabout at the west end of the road, crashed into a hand-operated tractor. Unable to start again, the driver got out, grabbed a cleaver, and began running frantically towards the east gate. Reaching the east gate, he rushed into a private clinic, dragged out the attending physician, pinned him to a flowerbed, and brutally beheaded him with the cleaver. This was a bloody incident that lasted nearly an hour.

The truck directly struck and crushed fifteen people, injured 52, and killed one. This was a premeditated murder.

The truth quickly came to light after the killer surrendered. It is said that when Shi Mo was frantically sawing off a head with a kitchen knife, a policeman was present and was terrified. The terrified policeman lacked the courage to stop the tragedy. Later, a hair salon owner called the police, and a large number of officers arrived. When they ostentatiously surrounded the flowerbeds, the massacre came to an end. Shi Mo, holding a knife in one hand and a severed head in the other, calmly said, "I surrender."

Shi Mo was cool. This is a classic legend that needs no embellishment.

The killer, Shi Mo, was a veteran. When he was very young, one of his aunts was in a relationship with a doctor, but later she suddenly disappeared. The police couldn't find anything, and a young woman vanished from the face of the earth. Shi Mo's family always suspected the doctor, but they had no evidence. Shi Mo grew up amidst suspicion and hatred. When Shi Mo returned from military service, he was assigned to work at the county salt mine. However, he hadn't forgotten his family's hatred and his mission. When he reported the case to the police again, no one was interested in this long-forgotten case anymore.

Shi Mo could tolerate the police's inaction, but he couldn't tolerate the suspect who murdered his aunt going unpunished. Every time Shi Mo passed that clinic, he stared with hatred at the doctor treating patients inside. This man, who had brought so much suffering to his family, was now enjoying his happy life. Shi Mo issued a death warrant.

Shi Mo began his revenge. The revenge, as described before, first implicated a large number of innocent people, and finally, the doctor was also brutally murdered.

Regardless of the reasons for the revenge, those innocent people shouldn't have died, and the doctor, who was merely a suspect, shouldn't have been punished by Shi Mo.

People cursed Shi Mo, especially the relatives of the dead. They hoped Shi Mo would be executed immediately so that those who died unjustly could rest in peace.

Shi Mo was executed.

The public trial took place in the square where the bronze statue of Qi Jiguang stood. Qi Jiguang, mounted on horseback and spear in hand, coldly observed

the trial being conducted by modern people. Amidst the fervent anger of the crowd, Shi Mo was sentenced to death. He was then escorted by heavily armed police, passing through the bustling crowd of onlookers, to the execution ground. The county police chief and the investigating officers were all dismissed. This was a punishment belated. Why did matters of life and death seem so trivial to these people? From this perspective, they were utterly disregarding human life. Only after the tragedy unfolded uncontrollably did the survivors begin to reflect.

And what about the innocent ones? The child whose life had just begun, and those young girls in the prime of their lives.

This was an event with extremely negative consequences. Many versions of this heinous event were recounted by the survivors, as if many had witnessed this bloodshed firsthand. One version of the story seems to paint a veneer of warmth on this bloodshed: Xia, the retired director of the county education bureau, was also on the street at the time. When the car approached, fear and the suddenness of the situation rendered the elderly Xia unable to move; he closed his eyes in terror. However, the car stopped briefly beside him, then swerved and drove around him. Why did Shi Mo let Xia go? Because Xia had been his elementary school teacher. No one bothered to verify the veracity of this story, even though it has many flaws. A person who had lost their mind at that moment, their eyes filled with hatred, could not possibly have had the rationality to control the steering wheel. The sidewalk was only wide enough for a truck to pass; no matter how they swerved, it was impossible for Xia to escape unscathed. However, many people still believe this story is true, even though neither Xia nor Shi Mo, in prison, ever told it.

Many days passed, and large green flies swarmed the streets of the county town, refusing to leave no matter how hard they tried to shoo them away.

The bloodshed that afternoon caused Fang Lili to vomit after eating for a long time afterward. Every time Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili closed their eyes, that bloody scene haunted them, impossible to forget.

They both felt they'd been given a second chance at life. They told each other to live well.

Chapter 013: The Soul-Stirring Experience of

Going to University. In the countryside, going to university was a momentous event, a source of great pride for one's ancestors.

Before Ma Xiaochi prepared to go to university, his family held a grand banquet. It was the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It was a day when everyone had to get drunk; all the relatives and friends who came were expected to drink until they were completely drunk.

If someone in the family got married, people would offer congratulations. Going to university brought both congratulations and envy. Ma Xiaochi became the center of attention. In everyone's eyes, Ma Xiaochi would become a city dweller, and go to university in Beijing—something many people could only dream of their entire lives. But Ma Xiaochi had done it.

That night, Ma Xiaochi received blessings and gifts, and then, on his family's large threshing floor, with his head resting on soft rice straw, looking at the already full moon in the sky, he fell asleep dreaming of his unknown future university life.

On a sad Mid-Autumn Festival night in September, the dew was like pearls and the moon was full and moist.

In September, carrying the worries and admonitions of his parents and brothers, and Fang Lili's tearful reluctance, Ma Xiaochi embarked on his journey north to pursue his studies.

Fang Lili continued her studies, this time choosing the No. 1 High School. It was close to her home and felt safer. Suppressing her longing for Ma Xiaochi and the harassment from other boys repeating their studies, Fang Lili began her new round of preparation for the college entrance examination. Back then,

it was an era of letter writing. Unlike today's children, who can instantly convey their longing through online platforms, the feeling of writing and waiting for letters has been lost in the dust of time.

All longing and concern traveled thousands of miles through a small stamp. Writing and waiting for letters became an important part of their lives. The feeling of writing and waiting for letters is an experience that today's children no longer have.

During summer vacation, Fang Lili was admitted to a university in the province, a result that brought joy to everyone. If there was any regret, it was that Fang Lili couldn't complete her university studies in the same city as Ma Xiaochi. Of course, being able to go to university was already a cause for celebration.

Ma Xiaochi had already returned to his hometown and to Fang Lili's side, and they waited together for Fang Lili's college admission notice. A college admission notice occupied three years of Fang Lili's youth, but it was still worth it. In Fang Lili's hometown, that picturesque little village, the two spent a happy summer vacation. They helped their parents with farm work, cooked together, chatted, reminiscing about their time in the cram school and the little things about university life. Most of the time, Ma Xiaochi did the talking, speaking enthusiastically; Fang Lili listened attentively. They had no disagreements, no arguments, only tacit understanding and appreciation.

In the evenings, they would relax on a cool bed outside. In the beautiful night, there were the croaking of frogs, the twinkling of fireflies, and a slight coolness. The night brought them warmth and a sense of security. At that moment, Ma Xiaochi finally couldn't control himself. Under the cover of darkness, he slipped his hand inside Fang Lili's clothes. In summer, Fang Lili, having just bathed, was wearing very little clothing, and Ma Xiaochi easily reached her breasts. Fang Lili's breasts weren't large, but Ma Xiaochi still found them incredibly alluring. After touching her breasts, Ma Xiaochi would gently slip his hand through the cuffs of her baggy shorts, tracing the smooth inner thighs of Fang Lili, and skillfully reach her private parts. Ma Xiaochi felt a slight tremor in Fang Lili, and the contraction of her buttocks muscles clearly signaled her sexual desire.

Over there, the two elderly people were fanning themselves and discussing the harvest. Fang Lili then said to Ma Xiaochi, "Let's go back and watch some TV."

Ma Xiaochi understood and followed her. Once inside, the two eagerly embraced, passionately sucking on each other. Fang Lili's breasts rubbed against Ma Xiaochi's chest, and Ma Xiaochi would quickly bite her pink nipples, kissing them greedily. They were drenched in sweat, their passion overflowing.

Fang Lili's eyes were glazed, and her favorite words were, "Chi, I love you to death."

Happiness and pleasure filled their bodies. Some say, youth is wonderful. A true reflection of why youth is wonderful is that a young body contains so much passion and energy, and an uncontrollable desire.

It was still an era bound by morality and responsibility. Even though Fang Lili's body was no secret to Ma Xiaochi, he still couldn't have sex with her. It wasn't that Ma Xiaochi was afraid, but that Fang Lili wouldn't allow it. The two held onto their last line of defense with reason, but this led to a tremendous regret. If they had actually made love back then, their fates wouldn't have diverged so far. Whether based on their emotional foundation or moral constraints, they would likely have bound their destinies together, pursuing their futures side by side. Instead, they were like two parallel lines that finally touched, but ultimately continued on their own paths, drifting further and further apart.

Because of love, they lost love. This was a great regret for them. Today's young people know how to make love, but not how to love. Sex has become a standard for loving or not loving, even a reason for blackmail.

Many years later, when they make love passionately, they both understand it's a form of compensation for each other. This compensation is unfair to both of their families. Especially Fang Lili, she simply cannot tolerate her husband touching her. The thought of him groping her makes her want to vomit. At this moment, she misses Ma Xiaochi even more. What is the man she deeply loves doing now? Is he thinking of me? Or was he still indulging in sexual activity with his woman?

The inability of lovers to stay together is a fateful topic, and no one has been able to resolve its mysteries throughout history.

Ma Xiaochi said, "This is fate; only imperfect things are worth cherishing."

"Last year, purple paths and green gates; tonight, rain and clouds, a soul lost. A lifetime of sorrow, all in a few dusks."

Chapter 014: Passion in Winter

. For Ma Xiaochi, if he had truly had sexual relations with Fang Lili, he would definitely have taken responsibility for her. All these assumptions seem to be false propositions. It should be said that Ma Xiaochi's love for Fang Lili was genuine, as can be seen from the fact that he showed no disgust after Fang Lili's incident. Ma Xiaochi also felt guilty towards this first love; this was a weakness in his emotions.

Of course, this doesn't guarantee that Ma Xiaochi wouldn't have dealings with other women. Ma Xiaochi himself said that he wouldn't only have sex with one woman in his life, and Fang Lili naturally knew about this aspect of Ma Xiaochi's life. Although Ma Xiaochi was destined not to be any woman's permanent sexual partner, what he could be proud of was that none of the women he had been with harbored hatred towards him; they all maintained excellent relationships with him. This was Ma Xiaochi's charm with women.

Regardless of the reasons why Ma Xiaochi slept with these women, they all held an extremely important place in his heart afterward.

Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili's failure to be together wasn't a clichéd case of emotional betrayal. Not all relationships last, but not all love stories end in betrayal. If it were betrayal, so many stories wouldn't have unfolded later. Abandonment is followed by hatred, while giving up may lead to regret. Abandonment is an act of malice, while giving up is often a choice made out of helplessness.

Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili lived their lives in different places, one in the south and one in the north, steadily completing their university studies. They kept each other informed through letters and occasional long-distance phone calls.

Fang Lili was happily enjoying her university life on the beautiful shores of Dongting Lake. There, the beautiful, kind, and generous Fang Lili became the object of many male classmates' affections, but her heart already belonged to someone else.

She took artistic photos and sent them to Ma Xiaochi so he could see her.

She recorded herself singing their favorite song, "Are You Doing Well in a Foreign Land?" by Bald Li Jin, bringing a woman's greeting. During the winter break of the second semester, Ma Xiaochi, whose break started earlier than Fang Lili's, bought a train ticket and suddenly appeared beside her. Ma Xiaochi's unexpected arrival brought Fang Lili to tears of joy. After a bumpy journey of over ten hours, Ma Xiaochi had only wanted to see the woman he had been longing for more and more.

Although it was winter, spring was already in full bloom. Green grass had sprouted in the paddy fields, and ducklings were already in the babbling brook. "The ducks are the first to know when the spring river warms"—such a vivid image. Half a semester of longing and emotional hunger filled their intimacy with happiness and desire. In that corner of the playground, Ma Xiaochi impulsively pounced on Fang Lili again and again, smearing his semen all over his underwear. Fang Lili's persistence filled Ma Xiaochi with both joy and frustration. This woman beneath him, stubborn yet adorable, made Ma Xiaochi understand her better.

She was a woman worth waiting for.

Fang Lili proudly introduced Ma Xiaochi to her classmates and fellow university students, holding her boyfriend from Beijing's hand. Ma Xiaochi saw the jealousy of the boys and the envy of the girls in their eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Ma Xiaochi pulled Fang Lili into his arms and kissed her red lips. Fang Lili was so happy she almost fainted.

Ma Xiaochi was a generous and outgoing young man. At this local university, Ma Xiaochi's basketball skills impressed everyone when he played against Fang Lili's classmates on the playground. Her dorm mates showered Fang Lili with their blessings.

Fang Lili watched the man who was so at ease on the playground with a look of ecstasy.

Meanwhile, on the campus in Beijing, Ma Xiaochi made the most of his university life. Amidst cheers from the female students in his department, Ma Xiaochi and his buddies stole the show in various school-organized activities.

On the football field, Ma Xiaochi led his brothers to victory in the "May Fourth Cup" football championship; on the basketball court, he led them to the finals, though they ultimately lost.

Even in the school's work-study program, Ma Xiaochi used his connections to solve the most problems, finding jobs for newly arrived rural freshmen to help them supplement their food expenses.

Ma Xiaochi became an idol on campus. Students from other departments all knew him. However, the triumphant Ma Xiaochi didn't expect his final year of university to be filled with misfortune.

First, in September, a group of freshmen arrived in his department. While leading them in basketball practice, a conflict arose with students from the university's affiliated high school due to a dispute over the playing field.

These pampered Beijing high school students mocked the freshmen's non-standard Mandarin and constantly provoked them physically. These freshmen, newly arrived in Beijing, had no idea how to handle the situation. They all turned to their idol, Ma Xiaochi, who, having already reached his limit, saw these Beijing-raised high school students brazenly insulting the college students from the countryside. Having spent nearly four years in Beijing, Ma Xiaochi roared and led his group of hot-blooded freshmen to beat the dozen or so boys to a pulp.

It seemed the matter was over, with no serious consequences, and the department wouldn't know. However, the beaten boys became cunning. They lurked near the school and finally caught a freshman who was out alone. This freshman suffered a great loss, and the school learned the whole story. Ma Xiaochi naturally became the culprit. If it weren't for Sister Yu from the department's Youth League Committee intervening, he would likely have faced disciplinary action.

In June, the atmosphere of graduation for the senior students began to weigh heavily on the campus. As is customary, graduates would always cause trouble for the school before graduation. I remember back in my junior year, the senior dormitories behind Ma Xiaochi's building were in chaos one night, with people throwing bowls and smashing dishes, followed by a singing contest between the boys' and girls' dormitories. It all seemed so vivid in my memory. Now, Ma Xiaochi and his buddies are seniors.

Chapter 015: Pre-Graduation Disciplinary Action.

The school was on high alert; this was a stain on the university. Why did its graduates have so much discontent to vent upon graduation? Why did these graduates, who had lived here for four years and received higher education, have to be so extreme? Looking at all this, Ma Xiaochi suddenly felt a chill.

People from the student affairs office and security office patrolled the senior dormitories with flashlights. The cold, white beams of light warned the graduating students not to act rashly. It was eerie and terrifying, like Kuomintang agents discovering Communist underground liaisons hidden in a university dormitory during the Liberation War.

Ma Xiaochi's mind was in turmoil. Looking at the campus and dormitory he was about to leave, Ma Xiaochi felt depressed. This filthy, stinking dormitory, the dormitory known for its endless late-night chatter, was soon to fall apart, and the brothers were about to scatter like birds and beasts.

Liu Huan, the Hunan boy who had once angered all his roommates, was going to work at a publishing house. He had been scalded on the buttocks with boiling water on his way back to school from his hometown in Hunan. While everyone else was away for military training, he used the dormitory as both his home and a toilet. When everyone returned to school from the training base and saw the mess he had made of the dormitory, they all spontaneously ganged up on him and beat him up. This guy had a crush on a girl in his class, but unfortunately, her parents couldn't tolerate their daughter marrying a short guy. To this day, Liu Huan was still single, the only difference being that he was fatter than before.

Wang Qidong, the brother who slept in the bunk above Ma Xiaochi, was a football fanatic and a key player on the department's football team. This guy thought about two things all day long: playing football and thinking about women. Playing football was easy for Wang Qidong, but finding a woman was a different story. Because Wang Qidong was truly unattractive, few girls would persist in a relationship. Wang Qidong's happiest moment was when he almost fell in love. A girl from his own department, in some inexplicable way, spoke an extra word to him. From then on, Wang Qidong silently prayed for her in the dorm. When, after much encouragement from his classmates, he finally decided to pursue her, she graduated. Wang Qidong's first love ended tragically. In the days that followed, Ma Xiaochi was often woken in the middle of the night by the swaying of the bed. Being quite adept at understanding relationships, Ma Xiaochi knew exactly what Wang Qidong was doing. In the darkness, Wang Qidong let out a low growl, and the dorm fell silent again. It was rumored that he later got together with a flight attendant, another fruitless relationship. Ma Xiaochi only recently learned that he still didn't have a girlfriend and was single. Being in his mid-thirties, single but not aristocrat, a bachelor but not a diamond-level catch—it's a bit tough. His classmate Yu Guangjun later organized a social gathering for older singles; reportedly, eight girls attended, but only two boys—Liu Zhen and Wang Qidong.

Also present were the stingy Li Jian, and the lovable "Old Baogui." There was also Liu Yunjie, a Beijing native who always considered himself a young master of Beijing while also a self-proclaimed rock singer, and the chain-smoking Zhang Yadong. But what Ma Xiaochi missed most was his best friend from university, Sha Wei. Sha Wei grew up in the suburbs of Beijing; his father died early, and his widowed mother raised him with great difficulty. Sha Wei was talented, with beautiful handwriting. Sha Wei became Ma Xiaochi's first true friend on campus.

Sha Wei was sincere and honest with his friends, and equally sincere with women. Despite Ma Xiaochi's strong objections, Sha Wei couldn't help but fall in love with Wang Linlin, the class beauty. Wang Linlin, a city girl, was beautiful and proud; she was the first Beijing student Ma Xiaochi had ever spoken to. Conversations with Ma Xiaochi were difficult for Wang Linlin, as his accent made it hard for her to understand. As the class's study committee member, Wang Linlin organized a Mandarin tutoring group, offering one-on-one assistance to students from other regions, and she was responsible for correcting Ma Xiaochi's accent. When Wang Linlin had Ma Xiaochi mimic her lip movements, Ma Xiaochi, staring at Wang Linlin's pretty red lips, momentarily hallucinated—it was Fang Lili's fragrant lips. This hallucination suddenly filled Ma Xiaochi with shame and inferiority. During his interactions with Wang Linlin, Ma Xiaochi was deterred by her pragmatism and materialism. When his best friend Sha Wei fell in love with her, Ma Xiaochi firmly opposed it, knowing that Sha Wei couldn't handle Wang Linlin, and that Wang Linlin wouldn't even consider Sha Wei. Wang Linlin repeatedly rejected Sha Wei's advances, and Sha Wei's depression worried Ma Xiaochi greatly, a worry that proved well-founded. In

the final semester of his junior year, Sha Wei committed suicide by lying on a railway track.

Ma Xiaochi didn't go to the scene; he was too afraid to.

Sha Wei didn't even leave Ma Xiaochi a single word.

In those days, college student suicides were considered big news, unlike today's college students who seem fragile and prone to suicide. Sha Wei's death caused a huge uproar on the Beijing university campus.

Just as Ma Xiaochi was about to graduate, Sha Wei's image repeatedly forced its way into his consciousness. Because of Sha Wei, Ma Xiaochi became even more unable to forgive Wang Linlin, even though reason told him that Wang Linlin had done nothing wrong.

"Shawei, my brother, we're graduating, we're leaving, come with me!"

Ma Xiaochi's sudden shout startled everyone in the dormitory. The water cup in Ma Xiaochi's hand, thrown forcefully, arced gracefully from the sixth floor, landing on the head of the student affairs director.

People downstairs rushed upstairs with lightning speed.

Ma Xiaochi had always been a man of action, and he wouldn't deny it and implicate others unjustly. When the beams of their flashlights illuminated the already darkened dormitory, Ma Xiaochi stood up and said, "It's me."

That night, Ma Xiaochi was taken to the student affairs office like a fugitive spy; in Ma Xiaochi's eyes, the student affairs office was like the Kuomintang's military police headquarters. From motive to outcome, Ma Xiaochi ultimately failed to provide the result they wanted. Dawn broke.

When Ma Xiaochi returned to the dormitory, he found that his brothers had also been awake all night. Everyone knew that this time, they were finally doomed.

Chapter 016 Blind Date

Ma Xiaochi left the school with the punishment of having his bachelor's degree revoked. Ma Xiaochi still hadn't told Fang Lili that he graduated with a punishment; he didn't want this woman to worry about him, nor did he want to ruin his god-like image in her eyes.

Of course, even if Ma Xiaochi were expelled from university, Fang Lili would still treat him like a god. There's no shortage of devoted women in the world; it's just that this woman hadn't met her true love. Meeting her would be both happiness and a lifetime of hardship.

After graduating from university, Fang Lili, with her brother's help, entered a television manufacturing company in the city. Later, when the products of this television manufacturing company entered thousands of households, Fang Lili re-entered Ma Xiaochi's life.

It was a beautiful city. This city is renowned throughout the world because of Ouyang Xiu's "Record of the Drunken Pavilion" from the Song Dynasty: "All around Chuzhou are mountains, among which the southwestern peaks, with their beautiful forests and valleys, appear lush and deep, are Langya."

It also possesses a profound and evocative atmosphere due to Wei Yingwu's line, "At the deserted ferry crossing, the boat lies adrift." At this time, Ma Xiaochi's career was just beginning. In this metropolis, he had no house, no place to stay, and rented a semi-basement apartment. Despite his busy schedule, Ma Xiaochi maintained contact with Fang Lili

, but he felt they were growing further and further apart. Ma Xiaochi often went to public phone booths at night to call Fang Lili, but even though he could clearly hear her voice, he would be told shortly after that she wasn't there. Ma Xiaochi didn't know what was happening, but he decided to make one last effort.

That summer, Ma Xiaochi took leave and returned to his hometown, also returning to Fang Lili's side. He wanted to see his elderly parents and also make a final attempt to persuade Fang Lili to stay. Ma Xiaochi didn't want to lose his first love, much less lose it so carelessly. He felt a pang of hurt in his pride, a man's pride. He

went directly to Fang Lili's workplace. At the factory gate, he told the gatekeeper to tell her, "Ma Xiaochi is waiting for her outside."

Fang Lili rushed out as fast as she could. When she heard that Ma Xiaochi was outside, she couldn't hold back any longer. The name Ma Xiaochi was like a curse, stuck to her heart, impossible to break.

That night, in the city where Fang Lili lived and worked, in a karaoke room, Fang Lili sang song after song for Ma Xiaochi, the most frequent being "Are You Doing Well in a Foreign Land?" Ma Xiaochi sat quietly until dawn.

There was no embrace, no passionate kiss, no tender entanglement.

Ma Xiaochi was returning to the North. He made a final plea to Fang Lili, "Give up your job here and come with me. I'm worried about leaving you here alone, and I'm not willing to give up."

Fang Lili said, "Go, go, don't come back."

"Why?"

This was the answer Ma Xiaochi most wanted to know.

"No reason. Maybe I lack confidence."

"I'm leaving."

This was Ma Xiaochi's final, helpless statement.

"Go."

This was Fang Lili's heart-wrenching resolute decision.

Many years later, Ma Xiaochi still harbored resentment about this.

Ma Xiaochi once asked Fang Lili, "Do you regret it?"

"I regret it so much, it's like my guts are turning green."

But what's the use of regretting it so much?

After Ma Xiaochi returned to Beijing, he and Fang Lili had no contact for a whole year. Although his longing for Fang Lili grew stronger every day, Ma Xiaochi cruelly suppressed his feelings. This was the strength in Ma Xiaochi's character. During that year, Ma Xiaochi had relationships with two women, one named Liu Yan and the other named Li Xiaoman.

Liu Yan didn't go to university; she only graduated from high school and worked in a garment factory. There was a kind-hearted older sister in Ma Xiaochi's workplace, surnamed Liu, known as Sister Liu. Sister Liu and her husband had been separated for a long time, but maintained a nominal marital relationship for the sake of their child. Sister Liu's husband had made a lot of money in business, and over the years, Sister Liu's family was well-off. Sister Liu was nearly forty, but because she took good care of herself, she looked like she was only in her early thirties. Sister Liu took good care of Ma Xiaochi when he first joined the company, thinking he was a genuine young man, so she often drove him around the world. Naturally,

she also cared about Ma Xiaochi's personal life. One day, Sister Liu said, "Xiao Ma, I've found you a girlfriend. Go see her tonight. She's very honest and reliable, but she doesn't have a diploma. However, she's from Beijing and owns a house. Think about it."

"No need to think about it, Sister, I'll go."

Ma Xiaochi knew his decision was hasty, more like a punishment for himself. But Ma Xiaochi didn't realize that this was actually a punishment for that innocent girl.

"Okay, 8 PM, McDonald's at Yangqiao."

Ma Xiaochi agreed so readily, partly because of Sister Liu's influence, and partly because he felt he should have a woman by his side.

At McDonald's in Yangqiao, the girl was accompanied by her colleague. After Sister Liu bought some food and drinks at the counter, she and her colleague sat for a short while before leaving, leaving only the girl named Liu Yan and Ma Xiaochi.

Ma Xiaochi suddenly found it quite amusing; this was the legendary dating scene. Men and women who were complete strangers were brought together by an acquaintance and forced to get to know each other. From the initial probing to the final comprehensive understanding, then holding hands, kissing, and sleeping together, the whole process seemed deliberately arranged, lacking any creativity.

Ma Xiaochi told himself, "Be serious, this is a blind date."

So Ma Xiaochi sat opposite the girl, raised his head, and wore his charming smile.

Chapter 017 The Girl with Acne

Ma Xiaochi didn't have a deep impression of Liu Yan when he met her that night. To be honest, Liu Yan wasn't bad-looking; overall, she was even more attractive than Fang Lili, and quite full-figured, with a ponytail. She seemed sunny and innocent, lacking the spoiled and arrogant airs often associated with girls from the capital. The only thing that particularly annoyed Ma Xiaochi at the time was Liu Yan's face full of acne, which made Ma Xiaochi, a man who had seen countless women, feel a slight unease. Ma Xiaochi thought to himself, "How awkward would it be if we were intimate?"

This thought made Ma Xiaochi instantly despise himself, feeling like a complete scoundrel.

Out of politeness, Ma Xiaochi still took the initiative to talk to Liu Yan. This conversation even had a hint of confession or probing, making it seem a little comical.

"I don't own a house, my family isn't in Beijing, and I don't have any money. You need to know this,"

Ma Xiaochi bluntly told the girl about his lack of possessions.

"I know, it's okay. Sister Liu has told me everything,"

Liu Yan replied calmly. Because Sister Liu had already told Ma Xiaochi everything. Regarding Ma Xiaochi's appearance, Sister Liu kept it a secret: "Girl, you'll find out later."

The conversation went smoothly. From the conversation, Ma Xiaochi could sense that the girl sitting opposite her was actually very quiet and kind, and definitely a girl who would settle down and build a life. During the conversation, Ma Xiaochi learned that Liu Yan had an older sister who was already married.

Ma Xiaochi decided to continue dating her; at this point, all Ma Xiaochi wanted was a home.

For a high school graduate like Liu Yan, Ma Xiaochi's handsome looks and talent were a godsend. She fell in love with him. Before meeting him, she had imagined many things about the boy she was about to meet, but his real appearance was far more outstanding than she had imagined, making Liu Yan feel like she had found a treasure.

Like all couples in love, the two began to spend every moment together.

In Ma Xiaochi's basement apartment, he gently placed Liu Yan on the bed and kissed the woman he was about to marry passionately. As Liu Yan closed her eyes and moaned, Ma Xiaochi's confident hands began to roam over her high breasts and the pubic area beneath her thong, his penis beginning to stir. However, Liu Yan refused.

"Please don't! Don't touch those places, please, just kiss me,"

Liu Yan pleaded.

Ma Xiaochi thought to himself, "Your refusal is all fake." His movements became increasingly rapid.

Ma Xiaochi hadn't expected Liu Yan's resistance to be genuine. She resolutely refused to let Ma Xiaochi touch her breasts or genitals. In that instant, Ma Xiaochi suddenly noticed how incongruous the acne on Liu Yan's face looked, a result of the excitement from the kiss. Ma Xiaochi abruptly stopped all movement; he felt a surge of nausea. He also thought of Fang Lili's fair face, her firm breasts, and her overflowing vulva.

Liu Yan noticed Ma Xiaochi's subtle change in mood. Taking advantage of his momentary daze, she straightened her clothes, kissed him on the cheek, and said, "Take me home. I'll come back to see you tomorrow."

Ma Xiaochi spoke very little on the way home; it was mostly Liu Yan who directed the route, as if afraid he would forget his way home. Liu Yan's home wasn't far from Ma Xiaochi's, but it took them about an hour to cycle there. That was the first and last time Ma Xiaochi took Liu Yan home.

Ma Xiaochi thought that since they hadn't known each other for very long, things would naturally improve with time.

However, Ma Xiaochi grew increasingly disappointed. Liu Yan consistently defended her breasts and lower body as inviolable. Every attempt by Ma Xiaochi was met with a firm smile and rejection. To Ma Xiaochi's requests, Liu Yan neither got angry, nor complied, nor made any promises. Each of their dates involved Liu Yan proactively riding her bicycle from her workplace to meet Ma Xiaochi, bringing him food and necessities.

Ma Xiaochi would always shamelessly plead, "Please, let me touch you." Liu Yan would always

have a faint smile on her face, tidying up Ma Xiaochi's mess while dodging his impatient advances. Looking at Liu Yan's firm, bouncing breasts, Ma Xiaochi would sigh and sit down, panting heavily.

At this moment, Liu Yan would come over and kiss Ma Xiaochi on the cheek, saying, "Okay, don't be angry, you'll be yours sooner or later anyway."

Ma Xiaochi outwardly appeared angry, but inwardly he was very happy; he thought this woman would definitely be a good wife.

Liu Yan would always talk to Ma Xiaochi while tidying up the house, discussing work and family matters.

"Xiao Chi, my sister's about to give birth, I really hope she has a boy."

"I didn't realize you were so sexist. So when are you going to give me one?"

"Then you'd better hurry up and marry me."

"Marry you? You won't even let me touch you, how can I dare marry you?"

"If I marry you, then I can touch you."

"Where will we live after I marry you? This place, down here, I wouldn't even be willing to accept it."

"It's okay, live at our house." Liu Yan finally seized the perfect opportunity to say what she wanted to say most. "

What a joke."

Ma Xiao Chi sneered. Liu Yan didn't understand Ma Xiao Chi. The proud Ma Xiao Chi would never live under someone else's roof, especially since her sister's family often visited.

At this moment, Liu Yan stopped talking, and the smile on her face vanished. Liu Yan didn't know what this man, who was far more educated than her, was thinking.

At this moment, Ma Xiao Chi was aloof, while Liu Yan was insecure. Chapter 18 (

March 9th

): Ma Xiaochi Disappears from Liu Yan's World.

Ma Xiaochi's final decision to give up on Liu Yan stemmed from a small incident, one that Liu Yan likely had no recollection of, and which Ma Xiaochi had never told her. One day, while tidying Ma Xiaochi's room, Liu Yan found several letters tucked inside his books. These letters were from home and contained no secrets. However, after discovering these letters, Liu Yan said something that surprised Ma Xiaochi.

"Let me see these letters,"

Liu Yan said seriously. "

You can't look at them. Reading someone else's letters is an invasion of their privacy,"

Ma Xiaochi said seriously as well. He hadn't expected Liu Yan to have such an absurd idea.

"You're not just anyone, and besides, what secrets do you have?"

Liu Yan not only became serious but also somewhat competitive.

"Whether I have secrets or not is my business; whether you look at them or not is your problem,"

Ma Xiaochi's attitude became serious, but this seriousness didn't effectively remind Liu Yan to have a clear understanding of the matter.

However, Liu Yan still insisted on opening all the letters. As Liu Yan meticulously read the letters, she failed to notice that Ma Xiaochi beside her had a grim expression. Perhaps Liu Yan believed that there shouldn't be anything between her and Ma Xiaochi that could be hidden, including private correspondence. Liu Yan made a mistake here that Ma Xiaochi would find hard to forgive, a mistake that reminded him once again of the connection between education level and character.

Ma Xiaochi was a very self-centered person, but this self-centeredness was hurt by Liu Yan's stubbornness. Ma Xiaochi had always tried to downplay the importance of education, but when Liu Yan insisted on opening these letters, this feeling suddenly struck him intensely. Was this what it meant to be someone without higher education? The answer was definitely no, but Ma Xiaochi couldn't shake this inner conflict. The fact that he had a girlfriend without a higher education already made Ma Xiaochi somewhat embarrassed; he even forbade Liu Yan from discussing it or coming to his workplace. He was trying to accept this fact first, and then try to get others to accept it. However, Liu Yan's behavior suddenly robbed Ma Xiaochi of his patience and courage. He even felt that what he was doing was completely worthless.

He made a momentous decision.

Liu Yan suddenly couldn't find Ma Xiaochi. She repeatedly called him through the paging service, but he wouldn't answer. At first, Liu Yan thought Ma Xiaochi was away from Beijing, but later, when she heard from her sister that Ma Xiaochi was at work, Liu Yan knew that it was probably over between them. This insecure girl didn't even have the courage to find Ma Xiaochi and make one last effort, even just to ask why. She no longer had the courage to happily ride her bicycle to Ma Xiaochi's place after work like before. No matter how tired or busy she was after a day's work, just thinking about her boyfriend, Ma Xiaochi, who was even better than her friends' boyfriends, would make all her weariness disappear.

But this boy suddenly disappeared. Why? Liu Yan racked her brains but couldn't figure it out.

Perhaps Liu Yan thought that she had hurt Ma Xiaochi by rejecting his further advances, so why didn't she come to find him? If she truly loves Ma Xiaochi. But conversely, if a man truly cares only about those things a woman does, is he still worth waiting for?

When Liu Yan was intimate with Ma Xiaochi, she clearly felt his erect penis pressing against her, and she could also clearly sense his tension and restlessness. Liu Yan knew what signals Ma Xiaochi's body was sending. Even her own lower body was trembling; her underwear was always wet. She longed for this man's love, for him to cherish her from head to toe.

This was Liu Yan's first love; Liu Yan hadn't lied to Ma Xiaochi. This was the first time this girl had ever been in love, and the first time she had experienced intimacy with a man. Nervousness and a touch of shame prevented this poor girl from fully experiencing the wonderful sensations. The reserved Liu Yan was even afraid that Ma Xiaochi would know about her physical reactions, afraid that the man she admired would look down on her because of them, thinking she was an improper woman. Therefore, she couldn't let Ma Xiaochi touch those areas, partly because of her own reserve, fearing she wouldn't be able to control herself, and partly because she was afraid Ma Xiaochi would discover her physical reactions. Liu Yan was trying hard to control her emotions.

At this time every year, Liu Yan would think that she would love this man well in the future, give this lonely man a warm home, and make love with him every day, making him happy.

Liu Yan didn't have a high level of education, but she was clearly a self-respecting girl. She told her parents and sister about her relationship, proudly telling them that her boyfriend was a college graduate with a respectable job and incredibly handsome. This news was a huge blessing for a family that had never had a college graduate before. The whole family talked about it for a long time, even starting to plan the layout of their home, deciding which room to make their new home. Her mother immediately told all their relatives the news.

The whole family even made a decision to have Ma Xiaochi come home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, to let this boy who had always been alone come home and make this place his own.

Her father even said, "Other people's children live in basements; come live with us. Our house is so spacious." The understanding, support, and cooperation of her family made Liu Yan begin to dream about her life with Ma Xiaochi after marriage.

But Ma Xiaochi disappeared. Ma Xiaochi's sudden disappearance made Liu Yan's pain unbearable. If this man had never appeared, it would have been fine, but why did he appear and leave so hastily? Why?

There were no arguments, no disagreements, and none of the signs of a breakup appeared. But the result came so coldly.

Perhaps this ending was the best for them.

The two elders sighed deeply: "Perhaps this was all just a dream."

Chapter 019 Fang Lili said, "What I want is you ."

Actually, during Ma Xiaochi and Liu Yan's relationship, something happened between Ma Xiaochi and Fang Lili. If Liu Yan knew about this, I wonder what she would think. Would she unhesitatingly give her body to Ma Xiaochi, letting him passionately indulge his masculine pride on her youthful body? She would willingly undress, obediently lie on Ma Xiaochi's bed, let him enter her, let him thrust and collide on her, and then enjoy the ebb and flow of orgasm together in the realm of sex. She would let Ma Xiaochi caress her long-desired breasts, letting him fully enjoy the pleasure that being a woman brings him. Or would she resolutely leave Ma Xiaochi, without looking back?

Just as Liu Yan was repeatedly rejecting Ma Xiaochi, another woman appeared.

Fang Lili's sudden appearance in Beijing shocked Ma Xiaochi. This woman's purpose in appearing by Ma Xiaochi's side was singular: she wanted to offer her body to him. This decision was made by Fang Lili after countless tearful, sleepless nights.

When Ma Xiaochi received Fang Lili's call, he thought she was joking with him. "You're in Beijing right now? Really?"

Fang Lili said. "Come on over, I'm at a hotel near Gongzhufen."

Ma Xiaochi quickly called Liu Yan and said, "Don't come looking for me tonight, I have an urgent matter to attend to."

On his bike ride there, Ma Xiaochi kept imagining what the meeting would be like. How could this woman who had suddenly rejected him be in Beijing?

When Ma Xiaochi saw Fang Lili, he suppressed his joy and calmly said, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? Come on, I'll treat you to Peking duck."

This was a promise made many years ago.

Fang Lili obediently sat on the back of Ma Xiaochi's bike.

After dinner, Ma Xiaochi said, "Let me show you around and let you see the Beijing night view."

Passing through the noisy hawking of Baleno and Giordano stores, Ma Xiaochi really wanted to take this woman around properly, even if it was just to buy her a gift.

Fang Lili said, "No, let's go back to the hotel and have a good chat."

Back at the hotel, Fang Lili said, "Watch some TV by yourself, I'm going to take a shower."

The sound of running water came from the bathroom.

The woman in the bathroom, the woman he had loved for five years, was now showering naked under the tap. Ma Xiaochi forced himself not to think about it, turning the TV up loud to try and drown out the seductive sounds coming from the bathroom. But the sight of the water gushing from the showerhead, flowing over her cleavage and down to her crotch, still made Ma Xiaochi somewhat unable to control himself. Ma Xiaochi hadn't touched a woman's body in a long time, and the sounds of the woman showering still fueled his imagination.

The door opened briefly, and Fang Lili finished washing up. Only then did Ma Xiaochi notice that Fang Lili was wearing a sheer white slip dress, revealing the familiar nipples and pink areolas he had examined before. Her thick, dark breasts formed a black triangle beneath the white dress. Ma Xiaochi's face flushed; the unfamiliarity brought about by time and space was undeniable. Fang Lili's face was calm. She took Ma Xiaochi's hand and said, "Brother, you've always wanted me, but I never gave in. Today, take me."

With that, Fang Lili lay down on the bed, her dark pubic area suddenly appearing before Ma Xiaochi's eyes. Even her thick breasts and the valley between her thighs acted like a giant magnet, suddenly grabbing all of Ma Xiaochi's nerves.

"Brother Chi, come in quickly, I want it,"

Fang Lili murmured.

Ma Xiaochi's lower body involuntarily hardened. However, Ma Xiaochi's mind kept asking himself why? Why didn't we know how to do this before? Recalling the past, the lust in Ma Xiaochi's heart burned like oil, growing ever stronger!

Why did five years of waiting result in that resolute figure? Why, now, is there such a blissful moment? Why? Ma Xiaochi stared blankly at Fang Lili's familiar yet unfamiliar body.

Why? What on earth was going on this time?

"Brother Chi, come quick, what are you thinking about?"

Fang Lili's voice suddenly came again.

Ma Xiaochi's feet unconsciously moved to the bedside. He gently lay down beside Fang Lili, his hands lightly grasping the woman's breasts, breasts he knew so well. At this moment, Fang Lili's nipples were already hard and clenched, her lower body already overflowing with desire! She grabbed Ma Xiaochi's arm, urging him on. Ma Xiaochi pressed firmly against Fang Lili's burning body, his erect penis smoothly entering her body, the paradise he had dreamed of for five years.

Perhaps Ma Xiaochi had drunk some alcohol that night, or perhaps he had been accumulating desire for a long time; after a few thrusts, he collapsed. Ma Xiaochi suddenly felt a sense of failure, lying somewhat forlornly beside Fang Lili. Fang Lili gently stroked Ma Xiaochi's face and said, "It's okay, you're just too nervous. You can do it."

After speaking, Fang Lili began kissing Ma Xiaochi's entire body. Under her kisses, Ma Xiaochi felt himself becoming aroused again. He responded to her kisses, caressing her body while his lower body rubbed against hers. Ma Xiaochi quickly found himself erect again.

Fang Lili obediently lay down.

This was a fierce battle to salvage his dignity. Ma Xiaochi rode on Fang Lili for nearly an hour, pushing her to orgasm time and again. Even her moist vulva became dry. Fang Lili's face was flushed, and she said, "Brother Chi, I missed you so much." As Fang Lili said this, Ma Xiaochi let out a low growl and ejaculated his pent-up semen into Fang Lili's clitoris without reservation.

This was Ma Xiaochi's first time having sex with Fang Lili. It was a collision of excitement and passion, a high-value reward after a long wait for lust. Ma Xiaochi reached out and hugged Fang Lili tightly, only to find that her eyes were already filled with tears.

Ma Xiaochi comfortably rested one leg on Fang Lili's thigh, gently caressing her breasts while softly kissing away the tears on her face.

"Lili, thank you."

Fang Lili covered Ma Xiaochi's hand with her own, saying, "Brother, this is what I owe you."

As she finished speaking, Fang Lili's tears fell again. After their intense battle, Ma Xiaochi was exhausted both mentally and physically, and he collapsed into Fang Lili's arms, falling into a deep sleep.

Chapter 020 Fang Lili: Tomorrow I Will Be Someone Else's Bride

"After the rain at dawn, where are the traces? A pond of broken duckweed. Spring colors are divided into three parts: two parts dust, one part flowing water. Looking closely, they are not willow catkins, but rather, the tears of those who are parting."

When Ma Xiaochi woke up in the middle of the night, he found that Fang Lili was still awake, staring at him without blinking. Ma Xiaochi was startled and asked, "Why aren't you asleep?"

"I just want to look at you like this,"

Fang Lili said softly.

Ma Xiaochi gently caressed Fang Lili's small but firm breasts. After resting, Ma Xiaochi seemed to have regained his energy. He kissed Fang Lili's chest and lips, and Fang Lili responded, their tongues intertwining, as if they had returned to the past. Ma Xiaochi's tongue slowly swept over Fang Lili's ears, neck, and chest, plundering every inch of her skin. Amid Fang Lili's moans and swaying, Ma Xiaochi's hand traveled from her flat stomach to her long, slender thighs, finally arriving at that alluring, watery place. Everything was still so familiar, everything was still so tender, only the Ma Xiaochi of the past had always lingered on the periphery, while today Ma Xiaochi had followed the vibrant grasslands deep into the long, flowing interior! Ma Xiaochi rolled over and thrust his hardness inside, Fang Lili let out a soft cry and hugged Ma Xiaochi's waist tightly...

The streetlights outside the window warmed the city night with their dim yellow light. Inside the dimly lit room, a man and a woman were entangled in a frenzied struggle, naked, tearing, rolling, and plundering.

Ma Xiaochi thrust wildly, feeling Fang Lili's vagina contract rhythmically, like being enveloped in a sea of clouds. On Fang Lili's writhing body, Ma Xiaochi held his breath, focusing all his attention, finally unable to hold back any longer, making one last thrust. After a spasmodic tremor, Ma Xiaochi collapsed limply onto Fang Lili.

Fang Lili was pushed to another climax. She gently caressed the thing inside her, the man's manhood she had loved all her life, with the contractions of her vagina.

"Where will I be when I wake up tonight? On the willow bank, in the dawn breeze and under the waning moon. Years will pass, and all the beautiful moments will be in vain. Even with a thousand kinds of feelings, to whom can I speak?"

At this moment, Ma Xiaochi's pager received numerous calls from Liu Yan's family. Little did Liu Yan know that the man she had secretly vowed to give herself to was currently in a passionate embrace with her first love. She had experienced a long, arduous, and thrilling life-altering experience. That night, some revelled to their hearts' content; others waited in bewilderment.

The next day, Fang Lili left Beijing. She didn't say goodbye to Ma Xiaochi. This surprised Ma Xiaochi; Fang Lili hadn't told him she was leaving the next day. He didn't know that Fang Lili's trip was a final farewell, a form of compensation. Of course, Fang Lili didn't understand that her relationship with Ma Xiaochi couldn't be so easily severed.

After returning home, Fang Lili married a local meteorological bureau employee. It was said that this man was afraid of Fang Lili. Fang Lili had no feelings for this man, only marriage. Even on their wedding night, Fang Lili endured it all, without a trace of newlywed joy. The man happily cultivated the body of this woman who was legally his wife, laboring and finding pleasure in it. He wasn't consciously aware, nor should he be, of the feelings of the woman he held beneath him; perhaps all newlywed women felt this way. Thinking this, the man felt at peace.

When Fang Lili got married, neither her older sister nor her brother-in-law attended the wedding. Their reason was the long distance. Only Fang Lili knew the reason. Her sister had always hoped Fang Lili would marry Ma Xiaochi, and she had a particularly good impression of him. When she heard that her younger sister was going to marry that man, her sister was furious and vented her dissatisfaction by refusing to attend the wedding. The two elders were also unwilling, but they still reluctantly attended the wedding with a different groom.

After the marriage, Fang Lili gave birth to a son for this man. Every time Fang Lili looked at her son, she thought, "How wonderful it would be if this child were Ma Xiaochi's."

After this period of confusion, Ma Xiaochi began to reflect on the whole affair. Why didn't Fang Lili want to go with him in the first place? Why did she suddenly come to Beijing? Just for a one-night stand? Why did she get married so quickly after returning home, and why did she not love this man at all?

Why?

Too many whys were quickly set aside after the complexities of the situation.

Liu Yan, however, didn't know what exactly happened that night, nor why this man suddenly didn't want her anymore. The last contact she had with Ma Xiaochi was a phone call from him saying his mother was critically ill and he needed to return to his hometown. However, after returning home, Ma Xiaochi never contacted Liu Yan again, despite Liu Yan repeatedly calling him via pager.

Only Ma Xiaochi knew why he had suddenly left Liu Yan.

Liu Yan's longing for Ma Xiaochi was profound; she thought of him constantly. Even when she realized she might lose him, she still defended him. Her friends even urged her to go to Ma Xiaochi's workplace, believing he was a very proud person and that this would force him to comply. However, Liu Yan believed that precisely because Ma Xiaochi was so concerned with his image, she couldn't go to his workplace.

"No, I can't go. That will ruin him,"

was Liu Yan's most frequent refrain.

"But we can't just leave it like this, everything has to be clear,"

her friends persisted.

"No, no one can go to him. I beg you."

Ma Xiaochi was a god in Liu Yan's heart; she wouldn't allow anyone to hurt him, let alone herself. After a long internal struggle, Liu Yan's solution was to find Sister Liu.

Liu Yan still pinned her hopes on Sister Liu, hoping that the woman who had brought Ma Xiaochi into her life could bring him back, even if it was just for a reason.

When Sister Liu heard that Liu Yan and Ma Xiaochi hadn't been in contact for a long time, she exclaimed in surprise, "You silly child, why didn't you tell me sooner? Leave this to me!"

Sister Liu declared confidently.

This rekindled Liu Yan's hope. She waited for Sister Liu to bring her news that might affect her lifelong happiness.

Chapter 21: Li Xiaoman Arrives

“Sister Liu, please stop talking. We’re really not compatible. There’s no other specific reason,”

Ma Xiaochi feigned innocence.

Sister Liu said, “Alright, alright, are you bothered by her lack of education? But she owns a house! Do you know how hard it is to own a house in Beijing?”

Sister Liu always hit the nail on the head.

Ma Xiaochi hugged Sister Liu tightly, shamelessly but earnestly saying, “Sister, that house belongs to her, not me. I want my own house; that’s my home.”

This was Ma Xiaochi’s true feeling. He wanted his own home.

“If it really isn’t right, then so be it. I’m trying to tell her that this girl is deeply in love with you. This girl will definitely remember you and think about you for the rest of her life.”

Sister Liu still regretfully concluded her relationship.

Ma Xiaochi didn’t tell her about reading the letter, because since it was in the past, there was no need to disgust her. Everyone will find their suitable partner; even without marriage, there’s still friendship. Besides, it’s not appropriate to label a girl morally based solely on a letter. Regardless, Ma Xiaochi always felt that his handling of his relationship with Liu Yan was somewhat unfair, or rather, unkind to the girl. He knew, after all, that she hadn't received higher education. She had never deliberately hidden anything.

There was another reason Ma Xiaochi abruptly broke off contact with Liu Yan that he couldn't tell her. But by the time she found out, it was all in the past. Just

as Ma Xiaochi was still struggling to let go of the fact that Liu Yan had forced her way into reading his letters, a very important woman appeared in his life. This woman was Li Xiaoman, the outstanding woman who would later become Ma Xiaochi's wife.

Li Xiaoman's arrival at the company shocked all the single men, including Ma Xiaochi. Li Xiaoman, a master's graduate, was exceptionally talented.

When Li Xiaoman first appeared at the company, it was like an emotional earthquake. Ma Xiaochi suddenly realized that such a beautiful woman existed in the world. Long, flowing hair, high breasts, a tall figure, bright eyes and white teeth, and her breasts swaying as she walked—such a beauty swept across the company, and Ma Xiaochi was captivated, as were a large number of single men in the company.

Ma Xiaochi realized that the woman of his life had finally appeared.

He imagined many difficulties in pursuing Li Xiaoman; how high must such a stunning beauty's ambition be? But Ma Xiaochi decided to give it a try. At least ten men were simultaneously launching emotional offensives against Li Xiaoman. This was a silent war within the company, and Li Xiaoman, the protagonist of this war, calmly observed it all.

To be fair, Li Xiaoman didn't present Ma Xiaochi with many obstacles. Li Xiaoman had never used her looks to play games with men like some girls with some beauty; she believed that finding a man she liked was enough. When so many men suddenly launched their offensives against her, Li Xiaoman had already locked her heart on one man: Ma Xiaochi. There was a reason why Ma Xiaochi caught Li Xiaoman's attention: his handsome looks made him more attractive to women, and Li Xiaoman, being a woman, was no exception. Despite Ma Xiaochi's lack of a house and car at the time, Li Xiaoman still fell into his arms. She trusted her judgment, believing that everything she had—things women who relied on their looks—would be achieved through their joint efforts. "We'll have it all," Ma Xiaochi

thought. "Li Xiaoman is an excellent girl." For Ma Xiaochi, winning Li Xiaoman's heart was a gift from God; her appearance filled all the void in his emotional life.

After ending his relationship with Fang Lili, Ma Xiaochi threw himself wholeheartedly into a passionate love affair. However,

when Ma Xiaochi and Li Xiaoman's relationship was still at the stage of simply holding hands, Ma Xiaochi's mother suddenly passed away. Ma Xiaochi traveled a thousand miles to attend her funeral.

His mother's death was a devastating blow to him. The mother's love for her youngest son, Ma Xiaochi, surpassed that for any of her own children. Her constant concern for him, even from afar, made Ma Xiaochi feel the warmth of her mother's love. However, on the night of the full moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the mother, her breath faltering, left this world with boundless longing for her children. Death separated mother and son forever. The mother hadn't even had a chance to enjoy the filial piety her son had shown her after he started working when she suddenly passed away. The loss and grief of "wanting to care for one's parents but finding them gone" deeply tormented the sensitive Ma Xiaochi. Before his mother was laid to rest, Ma Xiaochi quietly stayed by her side, looking at her peaceful face, overwhelmed with sorrow. The moon was full in the sky, but people were not together—this was the cruelty of fate.

That hateful cancer.

When Ma Xiaochi brought his mother's ashes home, he truly realized that his mother was gone. From receiving relatives and friends who came to mourn his mother to burying her, he was utterly exhausted.

She couldn't eat or sleep well. She was busy dealing with relatives and friends, and handling all sorts of miscellaneous matters.

After burying her mother, Ma Xiaochi and her brother took a long, refreshing bath at a public bathhouse in the county town, and then found a restaurant to eat something properly.

Her mother was gone; it was all over.

During the days of mourning, due to poor communication, Ma Xiaochi and Li Xiaoman had no contact.

Li Xiaoman, for the first time, experienced the unbearable pain of worrying about someone.

Where was he? Was he doing well? How were things at home? Was he eating well? Was he sleeping well? When would he return? Was her body able to handle it?

This was agonizing worry. This was the worry of a woman deeply in love for her prince.

Chapter 022

A week after Li Xiaoman transformed from a girl into a woman, when a haggard Ma Xiaochi appeared before her, the reserved Li Xiaoman couldn't help but throw herself into his arms, saying, "Do you know how much I missed you? I've never experienced what it feels like to miss someone like this. It's so agonizing."

Ma Xiaochi's heart stirred; this was Li Xiaoman's first love.

But it was precisely this week of separation that led to a qualitative leap in their relationship. Ma Xiaochi even foolishly asked, "Can I kiss you?"

Many years later, his wife would still tease him about this question.

This passionate kiss was the best compensation for their week-long separation.

Ma Xiaochi then realized that Li Xiaoman didn't even know how to kiss. Ma Xiaochi

began to guide this pure and innocent girl on how to enjoy love, how to experience the exquisite sensations between a man and a woman.

Passionate kisses, caresses, entanglement. Li Xiaoman was overflowing with desire, and Ma Xiaochi ejaculated repeatedly. Ma Xiaochi was infatuated with Li Xiaoman's breasts, infatuated with everything about her. For this girl he loved for the first time, Ma Xiaochi repeatedly led her towards the altar of passionate love.

During this time, Li Xiaoman's younger sister came to visit. Li Xiaoman and Ma Xiaochi treated the young girl to dinner at a restaurant; the girl was preparing for her college entrance exams. This was the first family member Ma Xiaochi met from Li Xiaoman. Li Xiaowei was as beautiful as her sister, only much younger. She tilted her head and stared at Ma Xiaochi for a long time, almost making him uncomfortable.

"Silly girl, is that how you look at people?"

Li Xiaoman said, tapping Li Xiaowei's head.

"Hmm, not bad. You two are quite a good match,"

Li Xiaowei commented simply, making Ma Xiaochi and Li Xiaowei laugh.

Ma Xiaochi met Li Xiaoman's parents during the National Day holiday. During the long holiday, Ma Xiaochi and Li Xiaoman visited a rural area on the outskirts of Beijing, where Ma Xiaochi met a kind and simple elderly couple. The elderly couple were quite satisfied with Ma Xiaochi. They spent a pleasant holiday there.

Li Xiaoman's family warmly welcomed their prospective son-in-law. Ma Xiaochi's understanding and considerate nature reassured the elderly couple. Li Xiaoman was the pride of the family, a golden phoenix emerging from the village. The elderly couple felt confident entrusting their daughter to this young man. In fact, Ma Xiaochi was very filial to the elderly couple. After the marriage, no matter what or how much money Li Xiaoman gave to the family, Ma Xiaochi never questioned it. He was also never stingy when spending money on the elderly couple. These small acts of kindness made the elderly couple very satisfied with their son-in-law.

It was during the National Day holiday, at the foot of this cool mountain, that Li Xiaoman became Ma Xiaochi's woman.

In Li Xiaoman's room, Ma Xiaochi and Li Xiaoman embraced tenderly.

After a passionate kiss, Ma Xiaochi pulled out his erect penis and said earnestly to Li Xiaoman, "Feel it!"

"Why?"

Li Xiaoman was startled by this sudden appearance. She looked at Ma Xiaochi, puzzled.

"You have the right to check it, because it's yours. Wouldn't it be bad if it didn't perform?"

Ma Xiaochi said this with a sincere expression, but inwardly he was chuckling mischievously. He had plenty of experience and skill in dealing with Li Xiaoman, his first love.

Li Xiaoman trembled as she grasped the unruly member, gently stroking it. Her hands trembled as she held the hot member, hesitant to let go, yet nervous to release it.

Ma Xiaochi let out a joyful groan, saying, "Xiaoman, quick, quick, put it on your belly."

"Why?"

"I can't do it with you, but let it kiss your belly."

Curious Xiaoman lifted her skirt, and Ma Xiaochi pressed his penis against Xiaoman's round belly. A wave of heat swept over Xiaoman's belly, and a thick stream of semen covered her lower abdomen.

"Xiaoman, I can't take it anymore, let me in. Just a little bit."

"But that's so dangerous! What if I get pregnant?"

"It's okay, I'll just put it in a little, without moving it. Okay, Xiaoman."

"Okay."

The obedient Xiaoman satisfied Ma Xiaochi's increasingly demanding desires time and time again.

Xiaoman lay on the bed, and Ma Xiaochi lifted Xiaoman's skirt and unhooked her bra. Her two large breasts bounced in front of Ma Xiaochi like two wild rabbits. Ma Xiaochi grabbed one in each hand and said happily, "Xiaoman, thank you, you're so beautiful." Xiaoman shyly turned her head to one side. Suddenly, Xiaoman was startled because she felt something restless peeking into her vagina.

"Xiaoman, don't be afraid, it's just washing my hair in there. Don't be nervous."

But at that moment, Xiaoman realized her lower body was already gushing with fluid. Suddenly, a certain desire arose. A desire to be entered, to be conquered.

"Ah, that thing is already in. How come more and more is going in? Get out quickly!"

Xiaoman cried out in alarm, feeling her vulva suddenly stretched open, her lower body tearing. Tiny specks of bright blood left at the entrance.

Ma Xiaochi cheered, "Xiaoman, we made love! I broke your hymen! I'm so happy! Come on! Let's do it!"

Xiaoman was completely naked, her body smooth and white. Her legs were spread wide, her vulva exposed.

Ma Xiaochi couldn't suppress his excitement, trembling, convulsing, groaning. On this beauty he had long admired, on this untouched virgin land, Ma Xiaochi quickly ejaculated.

Accompanied by pain, Li Xiaoman transformed from a girl into a full-fledged woman.

But happiness was truly written on their faces. Xiaoman held Ma Xiaochi's head between her breasts and said, "Chi, I'm yours now, you have to treat me well."

Ma Xiaochi said, "Darling, I love you. I want more, I want more."

"Every inch of her heart is filled with tenderness, her eyes brimming with tears."

Chapter 023 Entering the Walled City.

The establishment of Ma Xiaochi and Li Xiaoman's relationship made everyone in the company envious. To appease some people, Li Xiaoman switched jobs to another company.

After arriving at her new workplace, Li Xiaoman quickly found her footing and was soon given important responsibilities.

After their relationship made a qualitative breakthrough, the two quickly put marriage on the agenda. Their wedding was quite simple. At Li Xiaoman's insistence, they simply invited some friends for a meal and then obtained their marriage certificate.

Ma Xiaochi married Li Xiaoman amidst everyone's blessings. The union

of Ma Xiaochi and Li Xiaoman aroused jealousy and envy in many.

They were a perfect match, and everyone thought they would have a grand wedding. However, unexpectedly, the two quietly got together.

Ma Xiaochi was the kind of person with a strong sexual desire, while Li Xiaoman was a person who lived a moderate life. Li Xiaoman always tried her best to satisfy Ma Xiaochi's sexual needs.

Life settled into a more authentic state after marriage.

The two bought a house and a car. Ma Xiaochi saw his beloved wife move into their new home and drive a luxury car. Ma Xiaochi was quite satisfied, feeling that he had won the heart of a beauty and had not mistreated his wife. He also convinced those resentful losers.

This was the promise Ma Xiaochi made to Li Xiaoman in his heart when they established their relationship.

Because his wife's career was just beginning, Xiaoman did not want children. Although Ma Xiaochi was eager to be a father, out of respect and love for his wife, he did not force Xiaoman to have children. Therefore, every time they made love, Xiaoman would specifically ask Ma Xiaochi to wear a condom, and Ma Xiaochi would first swim naked for a while before bringing a condom. At this time, Xiaoman would always say, "Honey, put it on, I'm scared."

"I'll just test it out a bit and then come out."

Then she would carefully thrust a few times. Ma Xiaochi didn't like the sticky feeling of condoms, but he didn't dare let her take birth control pills either, firstly because it was troublesome, and secondly because he felt the side effects were too great. Whenever Ma Xiaochi lingered inside her and didn't want to come out, Li Xiaoman would twist her hips to push him out, and then, with Ma Xiaochi still erect, Xiaoman would gently put the condom back on, completing the final thrust.

Xiaoman was the kind of woman who came to orgasm very slowly; no matter how tired Ma Xiaochi was, the chances of Xiaoman reaching orgasm were still very low. Every time after Xiaochi was exhausted, Xiaoman would always say pitifully, "Brother, touch me."

Ma Xiaochi loved his woman very much, and every time he would cooperate with Xiaoman, using his hand to push Xiaoman to orgasm again. After each climax, Xiaoman would gasp and say, "Brother, I love you so much."

At this point, Ma Xiaochi would reply, "Wife, I'm exhausted." "

Stay a while, my love, let me quickly offer you some chives, just like last night. We drank deeply, our voices swaying, our spring robes half-wet."

Then they would embrace and fall asleep. Life was sweet and warm.

Ma Xiaochi had high standards for the quality of their lovemaking and often tried different techniques with his wife. In their large house, the sofa, chairs, and balcony all bore the marks of their battles.

Especially when Ma Xiaochi entered Xiaoman's body from behind, Li Xiaoman's ample breasts swayed back and forth as she arched her back, and Ma Xiaochi wished he could bite them both. Thinking of this, and with Xiaoman's playful moans, Ma Xiaochi surrendered.

A blissful life flowed quickly between them in their tender moments.

Li Xiaoman often sighed, "I never imagined I'd be lying naked with a man one day."

Li Xiaoman had been rather closed off about this kind of thing since childhood. She said that when she was developing, looking at her rapidly growing breasts, she was first afraid and then ashamed, feeling extremely embarrassed. She had never thought that her breasts were something men would be so fascinated by.

The two chatted, talking about their pasts and their childhoods. Especially after hearing about Ma Xiaochi's childhood hardships, Li Xiaoman said with pity, "You're so pitiful."

Until one day, when Li Xiaoman accompanied Ma Xiaochi to his hometown, the poverty of the area made her say, "I'm proud of you. It wasn't easy for you to get out of this place."

Li Xiaoman's arrival caused a sensation among the people for miles around.

This poor boy from the remote countryside not only had a respectable job in Beijing, but also brought back an extraordinary wife. This wife spoke like a news anchor and had a beauty even surpassing those female anchors. However, she was the wife of Ma's youngest son. The villagers laughed happily. They accepted cigarettes, candy, or drinks of brands they'd never seen before from Ma Xiaochi, playing with them in their hands while shyly putting them in their mouths. Some even put the extras in their pockets to show off to others.

Someone asked Ma Xiaochi, "How much do you two earn a month?"

"Seven or eight thousand,"

Ma Xiaochi replied, offering a discount.

"My God, that's so much!"

This exclamation was genuine. They didn't earn that much even after a year of hard work. This exclamation filled Ma Xiaochi's heart with bitterness. This was his hometown, the place where his elders and fellow villagers still lived.

At the place where Ma Xiaochi went to elementary school, he pointed to the school building and said, "Do you know where the bricks and tiles for this school building came from? We, the elementary school children at the time, carried them back piece by piece from the brick and tile factories."

Li Xiaoman stared in astonishment.

Ma Xiaochi remembered when he and several classmates were carrying bricks past their elementary school teacher Hou Mingwen's house. His classmate Cheng Liangyu put down the bricks and began to say, "A square house, an old monkey leading a little monkey to ram it."

As a result, the boy was punished by having to carry an extra load of bricks. The past is like smoke, yet it is so clear and warm.

Li Xiaoman loved listening to Ma Xiaochi sing her a song. Every time he sang it, she could feel the bitterness in his heart.

"Standing atop a skyscraper, separated by a quiet glass window, the rain outside is raging, yet silent. The heavy rain seems to gently knock on everyone's heart, but I only hear the silent rain; the heavy rain wants to tell me that you are no longer the same, but I only hear the silent rain."

(The Silent Rain) The arrival of the child caught the two of them off guard.

Chapter 24: The Bedtime Pleasures Brought by Fang Lili In

August of that year, Ma Xiaochi went on a business trip. The destination was the city where Fang Lili lived.

When Fang Lili heard that Ma Xiaochi was coming, her voice changed with excitement. She said, "Okay, I'll pick you up at the station."

When Ma Xiaochi came out of the sleeper car, he immediately saw Fang Lili standing on the platform, eagerly waiting. He could tell at a glance that the woman was lightly made up, with a touch of charm in her simplicity.

Fang Lili picked up Ma Xiaochi from the station and took him directly to a hotel. The room was booked in advance by Fang Lili. This hotel, located in the city center, should be the most luxurious hotel in the city. Ma Xiaochi, who often travels for business, was very careful. The waitresses' attire alone revealed their social standing.

After completing the formalities in the lobby, Fang Lili had a waiter take Ma Xiaochi's luggage to her room, then said something that startled Ma Xiaochi: "My brother is treating you to dinner tonight."

This was Ma Xiaochi's first time meeting Fang Lili's brother, Fang Bo. Ma Xiaochi's goodwill towards Fang Bo mainly stemmed from Fang Lili's introduction. Fang Bo was the pride of his family. He worked at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and belonged to the city's high-income bracket. When they met, they both said, "I've heard so much about you."

Fang Bo had brought some friends to accompany them, clearly indicating that he valued this gathering.

At the banquet, the guests and hosts drank and chatted merrily.

After dinner, Fang Bo led Ma Xiaochi to a private room, their first meeting alone.

“I still don’t know what happened between you and Lily afterward. It’s just a pity for you both.”

Fang Bo was straightforward; he was a frank man.

“Yes,”

Ma Xiaochi said, “Many things are hard to explain in a few words.”

Fang Bo and Ma Xiaochi talked for a long time, about their work and their families. Fang Bo was indeed a very outstanding man, Ma Xiaochi could sense that from their conversation. Of course, Ma Xiaochi’s excellence also made Fang Bo feel even more sorry for his sister.

When Fang Bo was about to part, she patted Fang Lili’s shoulder and said, “Spend some time with him.”

Then, she had the driver take them back to the hotel.

Entering the room, Fang Lili quickly stripped naked. Her arms wrapped around Ma Xiaochi’s neck, and she said, “Brother, I want you.”

Ma Xiaochi hesitated for a moment. Since marrying Li Xiaoman, he had devoted himself entirely to his woman. Facing Fang Lili again, Ma Xiaochi hesitated.

"What's wrong?"

A hint of disappointment flashed across Fang Lili's face. "Don't you want me anymore?"

Ma Xiaochi caught the subtle change in the woman's expression, grabbed her, threw her onto the bed, quickly stripped off his clothes, and pressed down heavily on her.

The two entangled, intertwined, and kissed. Suddenly, Fang Lili rolled over and straddled Ma Xiaochi, saying, "Brother, don't move, let me serve you."

Fang Lili grabbed Ma Xiaochi's lower body with both hands, gently caressing every inch with her tongue, which trembled with each touch. Ma Xiaochi felt his lower body suddenly being taken into the woman's mouth, burning hot. Then he clearly felt the woman's mouth begin to move back and forth, Ma Xiaochi's lower body began to swell, and suddenly his waist arched, his penis thrusting in, a warm current and pleasure spurting out, semen flowing from the corner of Fang Lili's mouth, but Ma Xiaochi still felt Fang Lili greedily swallowing a lot.

"I'm sorry!"

Ma Xiaochi felt a little ashamed.

"Brother, I'm happy."

Fang Lili, as always, never blamed this man.

Ma Xiaochi grabbed the woman's hand and placed it on his penis, holding it and making it erect.

Under the woman's ministrations, it stood erect once more. Ma Xiaochi touched the woman's lower body; it was already wet. Ma Xiaochi placed one of the woman's thighs on his shoulder, and saw droplets of water clinging to the thick pubic hair. Ma Xiaochi kissed her pubic area, parting her labia with his tongue and probing deeply inside. Fang Lili screamed, her lower body involuntarily contracting. Ma Xiaochi felt his tongue being gripped by her contracting vagina, and her love juice flowed into his mouth. Ma Xiaochi knelt between the woman's legs, grasped her breasts with both hands, and pushed upwards, his vulva pressing against his erect penis. With a thrust of his hips, he inserted his penis. With Ma Xiaochi's powerful thrusts, the woman's love juice gushed out in waves, and with a cry of pleasure from the woman, Ma Xiaochi's hot semen spurted out.

The woman groaned, "Brother, I feel so good. Thank you."

Ma Xiaochi lit a cigarette and looked down at the woman, whose hair was disheveled and face flushed.

"Lily, I remember the last time we made love, it seemed like it wasn't your first time. Can you tell me what happened? Why didn't you come with me back then? What happened?"

Hearing Ma Xiaochi's questions, the woman sat up, rested her head on his lower abdomen, and stroked his face. "I'll tell you everything, my darling. There were two reasons I didn't go with you back then. First, I remember when we went to Beijing to see you before we graduated from university, I felt you were a little distracted towards me; second, not long after I started working at the company, I drank too much at a business dinner and was raped by some beast. I felt..." "I felt I wasn't pure, so I thought we'd been together for so long, and I hadn't even saved my virginity for you. How could I have the face to stay with you? That was the main reason. Since I couldn't marry you, I'd just marry anyone else. But before I married someone else, I had to give you my first time, which is why I went to Beijing to find you. I was so happy; making love with you was really wonderful. I'm content with these few times with you."

Ma Xiaochi finally understood. He looked at the woman beside him with pity, this woman full of bitterness, this woman he had once loved and then given up on.

The woman said, "Brother, I know you can't have only one woman in your life. You're too outstanding. I don't blame you. I don't care if you're with others, but I'm content with you, really."

Ma Xiaochi gently lifted the woman's head and softly hummed: "A true friend is hard to find, the world is vast and distant, I entrust my tenderness to the wind and rain, the east wind blows away and the west wind rises."

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