‘Miss Gu,’ the gentle man called. He wiped the steak off his face and he stood to stall Gu Jing. ‘Does my directness bother you?’
‘No,’ Gu Jing said.
Of course Gu Jing wasn’t bothered, because whether he was direct or long winded it was none of her business. She just wanted to go outside for fresh air.
‘I want to continue dating you, but you haven’t answered my question,’ the gentle man said.
‘Answer what? Before you expect something from another person, you need to look at yourself first. Are you a virgin?’ Gu Jing said.
‘How can you compare a man and a woman? In this world who expects a man to be a virgin?’ the gentle man asked.
‘If you’re not a virgin than don’t expect others to be a virgin! You’re the definition of chauvinism,’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing didn’t want to waste her breath and she turned around. She was surprised Zhen Lang was at the front door of the cafe.
Gu Jing walked toward the front door and she was scared Zhen Lang heard her chauvinistic date’s question. She didn’t want Zhen Lang to see her embarrassed.
‘Miss Gu!’ the gentle man called and he grabbed Gu Jing’s arm. ‘Even if you’re not a virgin. I don’t mind as long as you undergo the hymen repair procedure. I’ll pay for the procedure.’
The music in the cafe stopped and the cafe’s customers looked in Gu Jing’s direction.
‘Repair your head!’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing pushed the chauvinistic arm away and she pushed him onto a chair. She picked up a knife and she aimed it between his pants.
Luckily when the gentle man fell on the chair his legs were spread apart. But the knife accurately pierced through his pants and the chair, it was perilously close to his crotch.
Gu Jing looked at the floor manager. ‘Tomorrow send someone to the studio and I’ll compensate for the damaged chair.’
Zhen Lang glanced at the knife, he coughed and he followed Gu Jing outside the cafe.
Gu Jing regretted wearing the dress she had on, because it had no pockets. She kicked one of the wheels of Zhen Lang’s car. She hated handbags and she was used to putting her phone, keys and wallet inside her pants pocket. She wanted to take the taxi home, but she realised she left her phone, keys and wallet at the studio which was closed.
Gu Jing had no money, no phone and she didn’t want to walk home in uncomfortable heels. She thought Zhen Lang was an authentic jinx.
Outside the cafe Zhen Lang thought Gu Jing looked beautiful in her tight dress, but what amused him was that she looked like she regretted she couldn’t kick too high in her tight dress. He watched her kick one of his car wheels and he smiled.
‘What are you doing here?’ Gu Jing asked.
‘After my consultation I came here to drink a cup of coffee before going home. Because I thought if I go home too early and see you for a second it’ll feel like I’ve seen you for a year too long,’ Zhen Lang said. He opened the front passenger door. ‘I didn’t think everywhere I go I would see you.’
Gu Jing sat inside Zhen Lang’s car. ‘I’ll pay for the ride home.’
Zhen Lang closed the door for Gu Jing and he went to sit in the driver’s seat. He turned on the ignition and he drove home.
Gu Jing felt nauseous in the car, it was quiet and only her deep breaths were heard.
‘What’s wrong? Are you too full and it’s hard for you to breathe?’ Zhen Lang asked.
‘Keep your distance from me. It starts tomorrow,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Gu Jing, help me find my work documents. It’s inside the compartment in front of you,’ Zhen Lang said.
Gu Jing opened the compartment and she looked for Zhen Lang’s documents. She didn’t find his documents, but she found a new packet of digestive tablets, a new bottle of water and a sealed bag of sour dried apple slices.
‘It’s not inside the compartment,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Ok,’ Zhen Lang said and he kept his eyes on the road.
Gu Jing glanced at Zhen Lang and she was happy he wasn’t looking at her. She quickly took two digestive tablets, drank a sip of water and she put a dried apple slice into her mouth.
The dried apple slice was delicious. Gu Jing grabbed the bag of dried apple slices and she closed the compartment. ‘Zhen Lang, you don’t eat junk food. I opened it first, it belongs to me now.’
‘Pay me for it,’ Zhen Lang said.
‘I didn’t bring money,’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing put another dried apple slice into her mouth and she conveniently forgot she promised Zhen Lang she would pay him for the ride home.
***
In the morning Gu Jing didn’t sleep in, because she remembered she left her wallet at the studio. She had two choices, she could either borrow money from her mum for a taxi or she could get a free ride to the studio from Zhen Lang. Of course she wisely chose the latter choice.
Gu Jing sneaked to Zhen Lang’s bedroom door, but it was firmly shut.
‘Zhen Lang left already. He had an emergency surgery in the middle of the night. He’s not like you who sleeps like a pig. You didn’t even hear him leave,’ Mrs Gu said.
Gu Jing wanted to ask how she was supposed to hear Zhen Lang leave if she closed her bedroom door at night. But her bigger problem was Zhen Lang wasn’t home. Who was going to drive her to the studio? She didn’t want to beg her mum for ten Yuan for a taxi ride.
‘Mum…’ Gu Jing said. Suddenly she saw her wallet, keys and phone on top of the shoe rack.
‘What?’ Mrs Gu asked.
‘Nothing,’ Gu Jing said and she ran to the shoe rack.
‘Little girl, your older cousin wants me to come home tomorrow to help look after Dou Dou,’ Mrs Gu said.
But no one replied to Mrs Gu, because her daughter ran to the elevator.
Gu Jing took a taxi to the studio and she grilled Peng Cheng Gui.
‘I gave it to Zhen Lang to give it to you, because you were at the cafe,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
Gu Jing cracked her knuckles. ‘Why didn’t you give it to me yourself? You know I don’t like owing others favours.’
‘Would you rather owe Zhen Lang or walk home?’ Peng Cheng Gui asked.
‘Cheng Cheng, you could have given it to me yourself and afterward you could have driven me home,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Drive you home? I worked overtime last night. You ate my dinner and I was hungry the whole night,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
‘Oh? If you worked overtime last night then you could have waited for me to come back. Why did you ask him to give it to me?’ Gu Jing said.
‘I didn’t think of that,’ Peng Cheng Gui said and she ate her breakfast. ‘Tell me about last night.’
‘Nothing good to talk about. I keep bumping into the jinx. Can you help me purify the jinx?’ Gu Jing said.
‘Actually… it’s easy to purify him,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
‘Truly?’ Gu Jing asked.
‘Try it once and see if it works. It’s better than can’t marrying you off,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
Gu Jing hugged Peng Cheng Gui’s neck. ‘What’s your solution? Cheng Cheng, hurry up and tell me.’
‘You know him best,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
Gu Jing did know Zhen Lang best, but she didn’t know if he had a weakness.
‘What do you thinking about me knocking him unconscious and tying him up with a rope? My mum’s leaving tomorrow,’ Gu Jing said.
‘So each time you have a failed date, you want to go home and knock him unconscious?’ Peng Cheng Gui asked.
Gu Jing realised her suggestion wasn’t effective.
Peng Cheng Gui patted Gu Jing’s arms that hugged her neck. ‘It’s easy, deal with him the same way you deal with me.’
‘You… you’re not suggesting I hug Zhen Lang?’ Gu Jing asked.
Peng Cheng Gui stood. ‘Try it once. Sucking up to him is a good solution.’
Gu Jing felt like she was struck by lightning. Suck up to Zhen Lang? But her mum was leaving and she didn’t want to go back to her apartment in a bad neighbourhood either.
Gu Jing couldn’t live with Peng Cheng Gui, because Peng Cheng Gui lived with her parents and grandparents.
Gu Jing returned to Zhen Lang’s home after work. She decided since she lived at Zhen Lang’s home for a while it wouldn’t matter if she stayed at his home for a few more days.
***
End of Chapter Sixteen
‘Miss Gu,’ the gentle man called. He wiped the steak off his face and he stood to stall Gu Jing. ‘Does my directness bother you?’
‘No,’ Gu Jing said.
Of course Gu Jing wasn’t bothered, because whether he was direct or long winded it was none of her business. She just wanted to go outside for fresh air.
‘I want to continue dating you, but you haven’t answered my question,’ the gentle man said.
‘Answer what? Before you expect something from another person, you need to look at yourself first. Are you a virgin?’ Gu Jing said.
‘How can you compare a man and a woman? In this world who expects a man to be a virgin?’ the gentle man asked.
‘If you’re not a virgin than don’t expect others to be a virgin! You’re the definition of chauvinism,’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing didn’t want to waste her breath and she turned around. She was surprised Zhen Lang was at the front door of the cafe.
Gu Jing walked toward the front door and she was scared Zhen Lang heard her chauvinistic date’s question. She didn’t want Zhen Lang to see her embarrassed.
‘Miss Gu!’ the gentle man called and he grabbed Gu Jing’s arm. ‘Even if you’re not a virgin. I don’t mind as long as you undergo the hymen repair procedure. I’ll pay for the procedure.’
The music in the cafe stopped and the cafe’s customers looked in Gu Jing’s direction.
‘Repair your head!’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing pushed the chauvinistic arm away and she pushed him onto a chair. She picked up a knife and she aimed it between his pants.
Luckily when the gentle man fell on the chair his legs were spread apart. But the knife accurately pierced through his pants and the chair, it was perilously close to his crotch.
Gu Jing looked at the floor manager. ‘Tomorrow send someone to the studio and I’ll compensate for the damaged chair.’
Zhen Lang glanced at the knife, he coughed and he followed Gu Jing outside the cafe.
Gu Jing regretted wearing the dress she had on, because it had no pockets. She kicked one of the wheels of Zhen Lang’s car. She hated handbags and she was used to putting her phone, keys and wallet inside her pants pocket. She wanted to take the taxi home, but she realised she left her phone, keys and wallet at the studio which was closed.
Gu Jing had no money, no phone and she didn’t want to walk home in uncomfortable heels. She thought Zhen Lang was an authentic jinx.
Outside the cafe Zhen Lang thought Gu Jing looked beautiful in her tight dress, but what amused him was that she looked like she regretted she couldn’t kick too high in her tight dress. He watched her kick one of his car wheels and he smiled.
‘What are you doing here?’ Gu Jing asked.
‘After my consultation I came here to drink a cup of coffee before going home. Because I thought if I go home too early and see you for a second it’ll feel like I’ve seen you for a year too long,’ Zhen Lang said. He opened the front passenger door. ‘I didn’t think everywhere I go I would see you.’
Gu Jing sat inside Zhen Lang’s car. ‘I’ll pay for the ride home.’
Zhen Lang closed the door for Gu Jing and he went to sit in the driver’s seat. He turned on the ignition and he drove home.
Gu Jing felt nauseous in the car, it was quiet and only her deep breaths were heard.
‘What’s wrong? Are you too full and it’s hard for you to breathe?’ Zhen Lang asked.
‘Keep your distance from me. It starts tomorrow,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Gu Jing, help me find my work documents. It’s inside the compartment in front of you,’ Zhen Lang said.
Gu Jing opened the compartment and she looked for Zhen Lang’s documents. She didn’t find his documents, but she found a new packet of digestive tablets, a new bottle of water and a sealed bag of sour dried apple slices.
‘It’s not inside the compartment,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Ok,’ Zhen Lang said and he kept his eyes on the road.
Gu Jing glanced at Zhen Lang and she was happy he wasn’t looking at her. She quickly took two digestive tablets, drank a sip of water and she put a dried apple slice into her mouth.
The dried apple slice was delicious. Gu Jing grabbed the bag of dried apple slices and she closed the compartment. ‘Zhen Lang, you don’t eat junk food. I opened it first, it belongs to me now.’
‘Pay me for it,’ Zhen Lang said.
‘I didn’t bring money,’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing put another dried apple slice into her mouth and she conveniently forgot she promised Zhen Lang she would pay him for the ride home.
***
In the morning Gu Jing didn’t sleep in, because she remembered she left her wallet at the studio. She had two choices, she could either borrow money from her mum for a taxi or she could get a free ride to the studio from Zhen Lang. Of course she wisely chose the latter choice.
Gu Jing sneaked to Zhen Lang’s bedroom door, but it was firmly shut.
‘Zhen Lang left already. He had an emergency surgery in the middle of the night. He’s not like you who sleeps like a pig. You didn’t even hear him leave,’ Mrs Gu said.
Gu Jing wanted to ask how she was supposed to hear Zhen Lang leave if she closed her bedroom door at night. But her bigger problem was Zhen Lang wasn’t home. Who was going to drive her to the studio? She didn’t want to beg her mum for ten Yuan for a taxi ride.
‘Mum…’ Gu Jing said. Suddenly she saw her wallet, keys and phone on top of the shoe rack.
‘What?’ Mrs Gu asked.
‘Nothing,’ Gu Jing said and she ran to the shoe rack.
‘Little girl, your older cousin wants me to come home tomorrow to help look after Dou Dou,’ Mrs Gu said.
But no one replied to Mrs Gu, because her daughter ran to the elevator.
Gu Jing took a taxi to the studio and she grilled Peng Cheng Gui.
‘I gave it to Zhen Lang to give it to you, because you were at the cafe,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
Gu Jing cracked her knuckles. ‘Why didn’t you give it to me yourself? You know I don’t like owing others favours.’
‘Would you rather owe Zhen Lang or walk home?’ Peng Cheng Gui asked.
‘Cheng Cheng, you could have given it to me yourself and afterward you could have driven me home,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Drive you home? I worked overtime last night. You ate my dinner and I was hungry the whole night,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
‘Oh? If you worked overtime last night then you could have waited for me to come back. Why did you ask him to give it to me?’ Gu Jing said.
‘I didn’t think of that,’ Peng Cheng Gui said and she ate her breakfast. ‘Tell me about last night.’
‘Nothing good to talk about. I keep bumping into the jinx. Can you help me purify the jinx?’ Gu Jing said.
‘Actually… it’s easy to purify him,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
‘Truly?’ Gu Jing asked.
‘Try it once and see if it works. It’s better than can’t marrying you off,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
Gu Jing hugged Peng Cheng Gui’s neck. ‘What’s your solution? Cheng Cheng, hurry up and tell me.’
‘You know him best,’ Peng Cheng Gui said.
Gu Jing did know Zhen Lang best, but she didn’t know if he had a weakness.
‘What do you thinking about me knocking him unconscious and tying him up with a rope? My mum’s leaving tomorrow,’ Gu Jing said.
‘So each time you have a failed date, you want to go home and knock him unconscious?’ Peng Cheng Gui asked.
Gu Jing realised her suggestion wasn’t effective.
Peng Cheng Gui patted Gu Jing’s arms that hugged her neck. ‘It’s easy, deal with him the same way you deal with me.’
‘You… you’re not suggesting I hug Zhen Lang?’ Gu Jing asked.
Peng Cheng Gui stood. ‘Try it once. Sucking up to him is a good solution.’
Gu Jing felt like she was struck by lightning. Suck up to Zhen Lang? But her mum was leaving and she didn’t want to go back to her apartment in a bad neighbourhood either.
Gu Jing couldn’t live with Peng Cheng Gui, because Peng Cheng Gui lived with her parents and grandparents.
Gu Jing returned to Zhen Lang’s home after work. She decided since she lived at Zhen Lang’s home for a while it wouldn’t matter if she stayed at his home for a few more days.
***
End of Chapter Sixteen
