Chapter Forty-Seven: Days of Utter Chaos

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The night in Jinghua City was like the soft, rosy cheek of a beautiful woman, tinged with a seductive charm.

As people’s living standards rose, so too did the richness of their nightlife. Especially in the summer evenings, crowds flocked outdoors as if money lay waiting to be picked up in the streets. Whether for a breath of cool air, a stroll, a night out dancing, or any sort of wild behavior, there was no keeping still.

Though the city had gone to sleep, its pulse and breath remained warm.

“Hoo—!” Squatting by the roadside, Wang Zheng deeply inhaled his cigarette, then tilted his head back and exhaled a smoke ring. His slender, adept fingers held the cigarette with practiced grace; the shameless air he exuded as he puffed and released the smoke embodied the very art of smoking.

Not even Rodin at his best could capture the spirit that Wang Zheng brought to smoking! If only the “Thinker” had a cigarette between his fingers, how much more profound his meaning would be. Without one, the “Thinker” seemed so monotonous—his thoughts so easily guessed.

What brand should I smoke next?

“Brother, what are you doing here? Didn’t we agree to buy you some clothes?” Su Xue suddenly appeared, hands full of shopping bags. Chu Jun and Bai Bing followed close behind, their cheeks flushed with excitement as if they had taken some sort of stimulant.

With a light flick of his finger, Wang Zheng sent the half-smoked cigarette flying neatly into a nearby trash bin. Rising to his feet, he looked at the mountain of bags in their hands—none of which contained anything he could wear.

No one had bothered with dinner. Afterward, with nothing to do, Su Xue had insisted they go shopping “to celebrate my brother finding a job by buying him new clothes.” But the moment they reached the commercial district, Su Xue, Chu Jun, and Bai Bing forgot all about Wang Zheng, flitting eagerly from one women’s boutique to another. Depressed, Wang Zheng had wandered off to buy some herbs and now sat alone on the curb, nursing his wounds.

“I was worried about perverts following you, so I stayed behind to protect you!” Wang Zheng said with a smile. “It’s really too much to ask you all to ‘accompany’ me while I shop for clothes. Let me treat you to a late-night snack!”

In truth, he was starving—he hadn’t eaten dinner—but to spare Su Xue’s pride, he couldn’t admit it. Now, at last, he had found a good excuse.

“Great!” Su Xue cheered, her joy undimmed. Clearly, she had thoroughly enjoyed the shopping spree. “I know a nearby twenty-four-hour restaurant with delicious pastries. Let’s go there!” Without waiting for anyone’s response, she led the way.

Wang Zheng followed, moving quietly to Bai Bing’s side. With a disdainful snort, he whispered, “Traitor!” They had been allies over dinner, yet she had betrayed him in the battlefield of shopping—a wound to his pride.

“Huh?” Bai Bing looked at him in confusion, not understanding his accusation. Like any girl, she simply enjoyed shopping and had finally found kindred spirits. Was that so wrong? And how could she be called a traitor for it?

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Wang Zheng shot her a look of exasperation. As time slips by and the world turns, many cannot resist loneliness or temptation; vows sworn as eternal become little more than dust. The scenes of shared glances and perfect understanding at the dinner table were still vivid in memory—such harmonious, beautiful times.

But things change. The only constant in women is their changeable nature. Wang Zheng could not help but sigh to the heavens: Never again will I side with Bai Bing!

Scheming with a fickle woman was nothing but a waste of thought and feeling.

In a haze of frustration, he finished the late-night snack, returned home, and, still brooding, fell into bed. Everything seemed just so disheartening.

Perhaps it was the late-night meal, but Wang Zheng woke unusually early and headed to the bathroom to take care of business—newspaper in hand, naturally, to prove his scholarly character.

While he was reading about some inspiring figure, a commotion began—noisy thumping, like a broody hen preparing to lay an egg.

“Move over, I was here first!” rang out a clear, anxious, and slightly angry voice—Su Xue’s.

“Nonsense! My right foot was in first!” retorted another voice, proud but indignant—Bai Bing’s.

How strange! Wang Zheng was bewildered. The two had been like sisters last night shopping; how could things change so quickly? And what were they fighting over?

“I’ll count to three. If you don’t move, I won’t be so polite!” Su Xue threatened.

“Rock, paper, scissors—it’s fairer that way!” Bai Bing countered.

“All right, rock, paper…”

Bang!

Before the words were finished, there was a loud slam of a door, followed by Su Xue’s shrill scream: “Chuchu, you’re shameless! Sneak attack! Get out of the bathroom—now!”

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Huh? Wang Zheng paused, realizing that Su Xue and Bai Bing were fighting over the bathroom. While distracted in their game of rock, paper, scissors, Chu Jun had taken advantage and slipped in first.

Women really do love a commotion! Four people, two bathrooms—mornings could get a bit crowded.

Just as Wang Zheng was musing on this, hurried footsteps approached, growing louder and more urgent. Not good! Suddenly realizing the danger, he quickly grabbed the door handle, locked it from the inside, and just in time—the door shook violently, followed by loud shouts from outside.

“Whoever’s in there, come out—now!”

Phew! That was close. Wang Zheng let out a long breath, feeling much more at ease.

“Who do you think?” he called out, leisurely reading his newspaper.

“Brother, how much longer are you going to be? I’m going to be late!”

“Wang Zheng, why are you up so early today? Are you trying to make my life difficult?”

“Tch!” Wang Zheng snorted. He’d been plotting his revenge on Bai Bing, and now the perfect opportunity had arrived—divine justice!

“I’ll wear out this toilet seat if I have to! Give it up, you’re not getting in anytime soon!” Peace was a rare commodity in this house—who knew what the future would hold?

To punish Su Xue for her “seize and occupy” ways and Bai Bing for her betrayal, Wang Zheng, after finishing his business, took his time showering in the bathroom. No matter how much Su Xue and Bai Bing knocked, yelled, or pleaded, he refused to come out. In the end, they were forced to return to the other bathroom and try to bargain with Chu Jun.

Chu Jun finally emerged, but for Su Xue and Bai Bing, who were flushed and desperate, rock, paper, scissors no longer sufficed. With a sudden move, Bai Bing shot out her arm to block Su Xue’s advance. But Su Xue was no pushover; with a spirit of mutual destruction, she wrapped her arms tightly around Bai Bing’s waist.

“If I can’t go, neither can you!”