Chapter 5
However, all I felt was a dull pain in my heart, thankfully there was always a way to ease it.
I returned to my room and fished out a small pack of special cigarettes from the depths of the liquor cabinet. The brown cigarette paper, slender like the fingers of a glamorous woman. I lit one, took a deep drag, and my mouth, organs, and brain were all soaked in the fragrant smoke, as if the pain had disappeared.
It was as if I was back in the past, an unreachable past, where Mingfang would stroke my hair, her tender lips pressing against my forehead.
Cheng Jiayang
That night, I slept terribly, waking up with a severe headache. The nanny, Aunt Zhang, brought milk and breakfast to my room and mentioned as she left, "Xu Dong called you last night, he asked you to call him back."
Xu Dong was my best friend since childhood. Introducing people like us inevitably involves mentioning our fathers' backgrounds. Xu Dong's father resigned and went into business in the mid-80s, with a vast network and acute business sense, making money seemed effortless. Now, his father is the chairman of a multinational trust company. However, none of his father's brilliance and ability seemed to have been inherited by Xu Dong. He had poor academic performance since he was young, and after high school, his father sent him to study in Canada. However, he returned a few years later without a diploma, which, of course, meant nothing to him. But one unquestionable quality about him was his patriotism. He felt this city was the most comfortable, convenient, and agreeable place in the world, and I agreed. Xu Dong also said that foreign girls felt stiff and were not elastic when hugged.
I called his mobile, and a girl answered with a muffled voice, "Looking for Xu Dong? Oh, hold on a moment."
"Hello, who is this?" Xu Dong's voice sounded groggy, and I must have disturbed his pleasant sleep with the beauty.
"It's Jiayang. Are you busy, Xu Dong? Let's meet up."
The old friend's voice immediately perked up, and we agreed to meet at the International Club. I wasn't feeling well and didn't drive myself, so I took a taxi there.
When I arrived, Xu Dong was already waiting for me. It had been a long time, but he hadn't changed his old habits. He came up to hug me, saying, "Bro, I've missed you!" I kept him at arm's length, "There are foreigners here, can you mind your manners?"
He ignored it, paying close attention to my face, "The water and soil in Paris must be good, look at how refined you've become."
"If you keep this up, I'm leaving."
"Why the temper? Is it the jet lag? I was just kidding, don't take it too hard, Mr. Translator."
We hadn't exchanged pleasantries for long when Xu Dong suddenly grabbed my hand.
I had known him for many years, and there was absolutely no question about his sexual orientation; it was just his annoying touchy-feely habit. I tried hard to shake him off, but he held me tightly, turning my hand over and over, inspecting my fingers, then placing them near his nose and sniffing. He looked up at me, his face unexpectedly serious, "You're not into anything strange, are you?"
"What are you talking about?" I pulled my hand back, "What issue?"
"Don't play dumb, kid. I was into this stuff while you were still munching on mathematics and physics."
I knew he was a connoisseur of living life in the fast lane, but I hadn't realized just how severe, nervously drinking tea and turning my face towards the window.
(End of this chapter)
This book is first published by Xiaoxiang Academy and may not be reproduced!