Chapter 8: A Fierce Battle

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Su Jingqiu strode quickly out of Si Mingming’s bedroom, casting a glance over her as he passed by. He tried hard to conceal it, but it was useless. Whether it was his poor acting or Si Mingming’s keen perception, she immediately saw through him: he had noticed the items in her drawer and knew exactly what they were. He even began to imagine a seductive scene because of it.

Si Mingming had entertained the thought of using that little thing before, but at the time, Nie Rushuang’s image suddenly appeared in her mind, breaking her interest. Now she thought: almost forgot about it—she really should try it later to not waste Manman’s kindness.

She felt no guilt about this. Since he had seen it, it was an established fact. Any explanation she gave would only add drama to the situation, and the person before her wouldn’t believe a word anyway.

She smiled at Su Jingqiu again. Every time she smiled at him, the effect exceeded expectations. This time, Su Jingqiu’s legs went weak. If not for his sense of masculine pride, he would have fled on the spot.

He felt strange.

He could no longer stay in that room. Si Mingming seemed like she wanted to devour him, yet she hadn’t done anything at all! Unable to endure it any longer, Su Jingqiu found a random excuse and left.

It was the first day of their marriage, yet it felt as though they had already reached old age.

When Si Mingming saw Su Jingqiu off, it was the hottest part of the afternoon. An elderly man pulled a shopping cart with his left hand and held his old wife’s hand with his right, walking slowly. Their old age seemed different from others’.

Si Mingming had never been romantic by nature, and Su Jingqiu’s romantic notions were dead. Neither of them felt envy looking at this scene; instead, they thought: I wonder if those palms sweat?

Down with romance!

Suddenly, Si Mingming recalled when she broke up with her first love at twenty. She was the one dumped, yet the boy looked utterly wronged, shouting accusations through the school’s iron fence: “You have no sense of romance! You’re dull and lifeless! You gave the flowers I gave you to someone else! And please, you went to watch the sunset, but you fell asleep during the rare sunset!”

The boy listed her offenses, and Si Mingming felt she didn’t deserve such condemnation. After a whole day’s train ride to the seaside, carrying a heavy backpack, starving and dizzy, the sun before her eyes became double shadows, and she couldn’t help but doze off. When the boy woke her, she asked groggily, “Was that an earthquake?” The boy didn’t wake her again but silently grew angry, marking this memory indelibly on her.

That birthday, the three of them spent time at a street stall. Lu Manman got her drunk for the first time, and she raised her arms and shouted, “Down with romance!”

Romance is the most useless thing in the world! So many mundane things are labeled romantic to deceive young girls; so many cheap things gain value when dressed in romance’s guise. Romance is a concept sold to the public, but true feelings require no such concept.

Su Jingqiu’s ride arrived, and he glanced back at Si Mingming, unsure how to say goodbye to a wife like her. Si Mingming took control of the moment, reached out her hand, and said, “Comrade lover, goodbye.”

Suddenly, Su Jingqiu’s mind was swarmed with countless confused thoughts. He wasn’t sure if she was joking or had lost her mind. How did she put together such an abstract phrase as “comrade lover”?

Yet he still grasped her hand.

In this heat, it was rare to find such icy-cold hands. Long, boneless, cold fingers pressed against his burning palm. She hadn’t wasted sunscreen; her arm’s skin was fair and translucent, blue veins faintly visible. A lizard woman. Su Jingqiu finally knew what Si Mingming resembled—she was like a cold-blooded lizard.

Her temperature stood apart in the summer heat.

Su Jingqiu mimicked Si Mingming’s tone: “Comrade lover, goodbye,” even flicking his wrist. The scene felt solemn. Then he turned and got into the car, sighing deeply.

Si Mingming was polite and stood there watching the car pull away. Su Jingqiu looked back at his “wife,” who appeared somewhat abnormal. The marriage certificate was by his side; he took it out to glance at and thought he should notify Ms. Wang Qingfang. So he took a photo and sent it with the message: “Congratulations, your family has big news.”

Ms. Wang Qingfang was so shocked upon seeing the marriage certificate that her jaw nearly dropped. She held a card in her hand but hesitated to play it. Others urged her, irritating her further, but she persevered to finish that round. Then she went out to call Su Jingqiu.

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Wang Qingfang was no easy-tempered mother. She launched into a scolding tirade, but listening closely, her core complaint was: “I’m your mother! You got married without consulting me first! What about my authority as a mother?” It was all about her worry over her family status.

Su Jingqiu rolled his eyes but patiently listened until she finished.

Once calm, Wang Qingfang asked: “What does she do? How many people are in her family? Where’s she from? How old is she?”

Su Jingqiu realized he hadn’t asked any of those questions and replied, “You’re the matchmaker; don’t you know? I married her because I trusted you. I believe my dear mother wouldn’t harm me.”

Wang Qingfang was momentarily speechless. She hadn’t taken it seriously, thinking Su Jingqiu was acting on impulse. Who would have thought it had only been a few days and they already had the marriage certificate? It was so bizarre. She pondered if her son had done something wrong or had fallen for a girl without precautions… That couldn’t be! She had given him his first lesson on protection during puberty.

Her mind a mess, Wang Qingfang didn’t want to argue further, finally issuing an ultimatum: “I don’t care. Tomorrow you bring her home for me to meet! Don’t pull any of that new-fangled, no-family-recognition marriage nonsense!”

Only then did Su Jingqiu remember that marriage involved dealing with both families, and with Wang Qingfang’s attitude, he knew she would not relent until she got her way. He began to regret not being more enthusiastic with Si Mingming earlier. At least when she suggested eating instant noodles, he should have insisted on something more proper.

After hanging up with Wang Qingfang, he opened the chat with Si Mingming, hesitated, and decided to break the ice by sending two simple words: “Hello.”

Su Jingqiu wasn’t good at chatting with girls. Throughout his life, the only girl he had actively pursued was Zheng Liang; the rest always chased him. Being pursued so often made him somewhat proud and aloof—even when pursuing Zheng Liang, he seemed indifferent though his heart was thrilled.

Si Mingming replied: “Hello.”

The two were not familiar, indeed strangers. Su Jingqiu racked his brain for topics and finally asked, “Do you have time tomorrow evening?”

Si Mingming answered, “Hello, tomorrow is the weekend, no plans yet.”

“Could you meet my mother?”

“Hello, yes.”

“Hello, thank you. I will pick you up tomorrow.”

Having seen her only a few times, Su Jingqiu adapted to Si Mingming’s rhythm of speaking. His method was simple: imitate her, even if it made him seem strange.

Yet the strange Su Jingqiu was in a bad mood. The marriage certificate was stuffed in his pocket, and several times he felt it burning his hand, wanting to throw it away. Near evening, he saw Zheng Liang walking by with a female colleague, who greeted him proactively: “Hi, Boss Su.”

“Hi, Zheng Liang.”

“You don’t look happy.”

“I’m fine!” Su Jingqiu reached into his pocket, intending to show Zheng Liang the certificate. But that day, his pocket felt like it had a needle; as his hand slipped in, he felt a prick and quickly withdrew it.

Zheng Liang asked, “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

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“That’s good. I’m going to eat. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Su Jingqiu put his hand back in his pocket and this time took out the marriage certificate—but Zheng Liang had already walked away. Why was it so hard to admit he was married in front of Zheng Liang? After pondering, Su Jingqiu finally understood.

He still couldn’t hold his head high before Zheng Liang because she married the person she loved, while he had married out of spite. From the standpoint of what marriage is made of, his was inferior.

Su Jingqiu felt a little down.

So marriage could be so depressing.

That night at his bar, unusually packed with men and women, he told the singer, “Sing something wild!” The bar filled with clanging sounds, the bass pounding so hard it hurt the chest. Unable to bear it, he told the singer, “Something quiet now! Too wild!”

The singer switched to a soft, mournful song, as if mourning a death. Su Jingqiu almost cried. He hurriedly said, “Stop singing, it sounds like a dirge.”

“Stop?” the singer asked.

Su Jingqiu looked at the lively crowd, their spirits high, emotions full—any more or less would spoil it. He waved his hand, “Sing on! Sing on! Anything goes!”

He then stepped outside and sat on a bench. This was truly boring, he thought.

His phone rang. He opened it to see messages from patrons wanting a table, interspersed with a scolding message from Wang Qingfang. Remembering he hadn’t confirmed the time to meet Si Mingming tomorrow, he called her.

Wonderful. His beloved wife had her phone turned off.

His wife turned off her phone at night!

She actually turned it off!

Yes, Si Mingming turned off her phone. She bathed, changed, lay down on the bed, turned off the light, closed her eyes, and cleared her mind. Then she took up that little thing.

Desire can be restrained or unleashed. When restrained, there are countless ways to suppress it until it slowly fades; when released, it devours like a ferocious beast, instantly consuming the person.

It sucked at her, moist and soft, starting from a point, surging through her nerves and blood, finally reaching her brain. Her mind filled with dazzling colors. She covered her mouth with her palm to stifle the uncontrollable sound.

Lu Manman truly did a good deed, and Si Mingming was sincerely grateful.