Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

The rain wasn't pouring down heavily, but it was enough to drench me completely in this late night. By the time I got back into the car, my clothes were soaked through.

In the cold, I gradually calmed down and realized it was time to find a stable place in this city to call my own.

I drove to a five-star hotel and booked a suite, paying with the bank card Jian Wei had given me.

I've never been wealthy, so this was my first time staying in a five-star hotel suite. Lying on the spacious, comfortable bed, I felt a profound sense of loss. I wasn't sure why I was there in this luxurious hotel, apart from the clearer sound of rain hitting the windows, I felt I had gained nothing.

After drinking a can of beer, I picked up my phone from the bedside table, not really expecting a reply from Mi Cai to my message. She had already applied her usual indifference to our ended love affair, so she wouldn't be dragging things out like I was.

I opened WeChat and saw our old chat history from before we were in love, filled with texts and voice messages of our once simple and beautiful times. And now? We had handed each other nothing but a bitter fruit amidst heart-wrenching pain.

I realized that this terrible day was all because of the heart-flutters of yesterday. If my heart hadn't fluttered then, it wouldn't hurt now.

My hand mechanically scrolled through the screen, and I inadvertently found Le Yao's profile at the bottom of my chat list. We hadn't contacted each other for almost a month. I opened her Moments and saw her life seemed so rich, full of photos with top celebrities – dining, singing, horse riding, golfing, attending various events.

At that moment, I realized she had truly integrated into the entertainment circle and was gradually carving out her own position. I could almost see her future self, shining like a star.

I thought about sending her a WeChat message but, listening to the patter of rain outside, I decided against it. I didn't want to reach out to her only when I was helpless and sad. After all, she wasn't my venting machine.

I opened another can of beer and was halfway through when I heard a WeChat notification. I quickly finished the rest of the beer and picked up my phone. It was a message from Le Yao. Could this be telepathy?

"Zhao Yang, how have you been? You haven't liked any of my photos in a while!"

I immediately liked a photo of her playing golf.

Le Yao quickly replied: "Knew you weren't asleep. What are you up to?"

"Staying in a five-star hotel suite, living the life of luxury!"

"Did you pay your tax for bragging?"

I snapped a photo as proof and sent it to her.

"Did you strike it rich and jump straight to the bourgeoisie?"

"Not exactly a windfall."

"How much? How did you earn it?"

"You ask too many questions. I'll only answer one."

"Fine, then tell me how you earned it."

Le Yao was worried I'd made money through dishonest means and was more concerned about how I got it.

"With intelligence…"

"Phew… I'm relieved. I was afraid you'd fallen into disreputable places, selling your dignity and heading down a path of self-degradation!"

I immediately sent a voice message: "Damn… I'm going to strangle you, alright!"

"Come on, I'm right here in Beijing, waiting for you."

"…Let's talk about me coming to Beijing to strangle you another day."

"You're such a rogue, do your family know?"

This conversation with Le Yao finally lifted some of the gloom from this rainy night. I smiled, taking a while to reply: "It's late, no more nonsense. Time to wash up and sleep."

"Mm, contact me when you're free. Good night!"

"Good night!"

***

The next day, I slept in the hotel until almost noon. After checking out and having lunch, I withdrew over 90,000 yuan in cash and, with the bank card still holding a balance of 400,000 yuan, headed to Jian Wei's Simi Advertising.

Upon arrival, the receptionist informed me that Jian Wei was in her office with a client and asked me to wait. I nodded and sat in the waiting area.

After drinking too much water at lunch, I urgently needed the restroom and passed by Jian Wei's office on the way. The office door was ajar, and through the unclosed curtains, I glanced inside. The client was Wang, the director of Jinding Real Estate. I didn't pay much attention and was about to leave when I faintly heard "junior sister" from inside. The voice, naturally, belonged to Director Wang.

I stopped, leaning closer to the door, hoping I had misheard.

"Senior brother, I really appreciate your help this time. This business is very important to our company!"

"You're my junior sister, no need for such formality… Think about it, without our mentor's (Jian Wei's father) nurturing over the years, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'll definitely go all out to help your advertising company when needed!"

Jian Wei smiled gratefully, but I felt a numbness creeping over my scalp. Regaining my senses, I pushed open Jian Wei's office door and entered.

Anger filled me. I clenched my fists until they creaked but couldn't utter a word.

Jian Wei turned pale and stood up, saying, "Zhao Yang… What are you doing here?"

I finally spoke: "You know him, don't you?… Was the Jinding Real Estate deal planned from the start?"

Jian Wei looked at me, bewildered.

Director Wang hurried to smooth things over: "Zhao Yang, calm down…"

"How the hell am I supposed to calm down… Jian Wei, what do you take me for?… Do I need your charity? "

"Zhao Yang, listen to me…" Jian Wei said, stepping towards me.

"Shut up." I pulled off my backpack, took out a thick stack of cash, and pointed at Jian Wei.

"Tell me, is this money? Is it?… It's all dog shit, stinking, revolting dog shit!"

I threw the cash towards the ceiling. It fluttered down, landing on Jian Wei, me, Director Wang, and finally covering the entire office.

Breathing heavily, overwhelmed by humiliation, I thought this money was earned through my efforts, resented Mi Cai for not being happy for me, and confidently told Le Yao last night that it was gained through intelligence.

What was it in the end?

Just a joke, a cruel joke of accepting charity like a clown!

I threw the bank card on Jian Wei's desk and left the office without looking back, each step growing heavier, as if crushing the crystal-clear city with every stride.

Jian Wei called after me, but the city crumbled with her cries… and collapsed.