I spent the whole day in a daze, until the lazy evening sunlight reflected on the transparent glass, I realized it was time to get off work.
Circle at the next table was still busy, while I had some free time, so I went to the bathroom to smoke and waited for the end of work.
When I came back, Yan Yan was sitting on my office chair, it seemed she was waiting for Circle to get off work.
I teased Yan Yan, “Yan Yan, your buttocks have become plump again, my chair can hardly fit you!”
“Stop it, you’re so annoying!” Yan Yan glared at me and said.
I raised my eyebrows and smiled at Yan Yan. Actually, she was a beauty, very sexy, especially her buttocks, round and perky, with long and slender legs, tall and slim figure, all combined together, it was a perfect match. If she walked on the street, looking at her back, her curves, she was definitely the most beautiful.
I went to Circle’s side and patted his shoulder, asking, “Have you finished the overall framework of that planning proposal?”
“I have finished the overall idea and framework, just need to add some explanatory text at the end,” Circle replied.
“Then let me do the rest, you can leave first, don’t let Yan Yan wait for you.”
Yan Yan happily held my face with both hands and said, “Zhao Yang, you’re so considerate. Don’t you know how busy we will be later?”
“Getting married, there will definitely be a lot of things to do,” I said, removing Yan Yan’s hands from my face.
Circle finally stretched his body and stood up, saying to me, “Alright, I have to go to the wedding company with Yan Yan, and also to the bridal shop… If you have any questions, we can communicate through phone anytime.”
“Don’t worry, go and do your work,” I said, sitting on Circle’s office chair.
Circle quickly packed up his things, Yan Yan held his arm, and before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and said to me, “Zhao Yang, our company’s building is about to open for sale. If you want to buy, I can help you get an internal price, which can save you 1500 yuan per square meter!”
Yan Yan was the sales department manager of a local real estate company, and the internal price she could get was definitely attractive. Buying a house could save at least a hundred thousand yuan. But even so, I didn’t have the ability to buy a house.
“We’ll talk about it later,” I replied.
Circle asked Yan Yan, “Which project is opening this time?”
“Zhongyuan Ecological City Phase 2,” Yan Yan replied.
Circle put down his briefcase and said to me seriously, “Zhao Yang, buy it. This project is really good. If you miss this opportunity, who knows how long you’ll have to wait for the next one, and the housing prices will definitely skyrocket in the future!”
“What’s the point of buying? You know my financial situation,” I said.
“Yan Yan and I have tens of thousands of yuan in savings. We can lend it to you first, and you can figure out a way to gather the down payment with Mr. Ban, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“You two still have mortgage and car loans to pay, and you’re getting married soon. You’re spending money everywhere, I don’t need to worry about it,” I said, urging Circle and Yan Yan to leave.
Yan Yan and Circle glanced at each other, sighed softly, and looked at me before leaving.
…
Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, I saw Yan Yan holding Circle’s arm and walking towards the white Mazda 6 they had just bought. I felt a strange feeling in my heart.
Circle, Yan Yan, and I all graduated from Suzhou University. They already had their own house and car in this city, and they were about to enter the hall of marriage. I couldn’t understand why there was such a big gap between us. Was it a joke from heaven, or did I ruin myself?
In my lonely gaze, I couldn’t help but think: if Jian Wei and I hadn’t broken up, should we be getting married too?
…
At 9 o’clock in the evening, I finally finished the planning proposal left by Circle. I stretched my body and carried a cup as I walked towards the employee rest area. I was ready to have the last cup of coffee before leaving work.
I absentmindedly listened to the sound of coffee liquid falling into the cup from the coffee machine, like a gentle call, and even my desires had nowhere to hide.
I took a sip of coffee, looked at the heavy night outside the window, and the struggling neon lights. I really wanted to abandon this tired body!
…
The phone rang, I took it out of my pocket and saw that it was Le Yao again.
I answered the call, and Le Yao’s voice sounded weak, “Zhao Yang, where are you?”
“Working overtime,” I responded with an unclear mood.
“Can you come and help me with the laundry? I can’t touch water with my hands.”
“What the hell, don’t you have a washing machine? I’m annoyed and asked angrily.
Le Yao’s voice sounded tired as she said, “You come and f*ck me.”
I was speechless for a moment and said, “My focus is on the washing machine, not f*cking you!”
“Some clothes can’t be washed with a washing machine.”
“Then take them to the dry cleaner. I’ve been working all day, tired as hell, I don’t have the energy to do it,” I firmly refused.
“Underwear and panties can’t be taken to the dry cleaner, right?”
“Are you crazy? Let me wash your underwear and panties!”
“Zhao Yang, I just had surgery, I really can’t touch water with my hands. Can’t you show some mercy?” Le Yao choked.
“I know you graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Please, can you not act with me anymore?”
Le Yao burst into tears, “I’m pregnant with your child, and you treat me like this? Have you ever thought about my feelings? Do you know how much it hurts me?”
“You’re acting like a character from a Qiong Yao drama, asking questions in parallel!”
Le Yao sobbed, “Zhao Yang… you beast… Do you believe that I’ll die for you?”
I was at a loss for what to do with Le Yao’s behavior. “Miss, I’m afraid of you. Can I leave now?”
Le Yao’s tone suddenly became calm. “Hurry up and come. I’m waiting for you.”
Hearing the sound of the phone hanging up, I suddenly thought: if Le Yao can’t make it to the level of a leading actress, then the entertainment industry is truly blind. Her acting skills are simply incredible!
People who study acting are truly terrifying, especially women who study acting!
…
Leaving the company and standing on the side of the road waiting for a taxi, I suddenly remembered that I promised Mi Cai to help her move after work. It was already almost 9:30!
“I hope she didn’t throw my things out again,” I muttered to myself.
The taxi had already stopped beside me. I thought for a moment: since I’ve already broken my promise, I’ll go wash Le Yao’s clothes first. As for the moving, I’ll deal with it later when I go back.
After about 15 minutes, I arrived at the single apartment where Le Yao lived. I stood at the door and repeatedly pressed the doorbell, venting my frustration at being forced to come.
Le Yao, wearing pajamas and holding a stuffed toy in her arms, opened the door for me with a haggard expression. Her pitiful appearance made me swallow all the harsh words I had prepared, and I only complained, “You’re such a troublemaker!”
“If you didn’t sleep with me, we wouldn’t have these problems,” Le Yao said, moving aside to signal me to come in.
I didn’t have the mood to argue with Le Yao. I walked into the room and asked her, “Where are the clothes?”
“In the dirty laundry basket in the bathroom.”
I went to the bathroom and was shocked. The two extra-large laundry baskets were filled with clothes. I angrily said, “Did you intentionally save up a year’s worth of clothes to torture me?”
Le Yao ignored me, but the sound of the TV in the living room became even louder.
I was so angry that my liver hurt, but I still gritted my teeth and dumped all the clothes from the laundry basket. I piled up the ones that could be washed in the washing machine and the ones that needed to be hand-washed separately. I also separated the underwear and put them in another pile.
I spent the next hour working with the washing machine, finally finishing washing this pile of clothes. I carried the clean clothes to the balcony one by one and hung them up. After finishing everything, I stood on the balcony and lit a cigarette to relieve my fatigue.
Le Yao came to my side with a fruit plate and asked softly, “Do you want to eat?”
“I have no appetite,” I took a deep drag of the cigarette and said.
Le Yao took the cigarette from between my fingers and wiped the sweat off my forehead with a tissue from her pocket. Her tone was gentle as she said, “Zhao Yang, the magazine says that a man who is willing to wash a woman’s underwear is definitely a gentle and reliable good man.”
“Get lost, okay? Do you think I want to help you wash them?”
Although I scolded her, Le Yao still held onto my arm and leaned against my body, asking, “Have you ever washed clothes for other women besides me?”
“No,” I impatiently replied.
“What about Jian Wei?” Le Yao pursued.
“Are you annoying or what? Why are you asking such pointless questions?” I said, pushing Le Yao away.
Le Yao had long been accustomed to my attitude. She didn’t get angry or say anything, she just looked at me.
I put on my coat and said to her, “I’m leaving. Don’t call me anymore.”
Le Yao grabbed onto me. “I won’t let you go.”
“Let go,” I raised my arm and shook off Le Yao’s hand.
Le Yao blocked the doorway and said, “Don’t leave yet, I have something for you.” She took out a bank card from her pajama pocket, which seemed to have been prepared in advance, and handed it to me. “Here, there’s ten thousand yuan in the card. I know you spent a lot of money this time.”
I was stunned and asked, “Where did you get the money?”
“I received an advance from the crew.”
“Have you suddenly grown a conscience?”
Le Yao stared at me with a mournful look for a long time. “The child is yours… I said, I just want to see your responsible attitude. I will naturally repay the money you spent.”
The more serious Le Yao’s expression became, the more I felt that she was acting. In my eyes, she was just a woman who enjoyed indulging in the nightlife. The responsibility she spoke of was completely unreliable, and I was the same. So I understood it too well.
The reason why she insisted that the child was mine might just be a kind of consolation after emptiness, or perhaps she herself didn’t even know whose child it was… It’s hard to explain this strange consolation in words, but those who live in this decadent circle understand… We may seem carefree, but our hearts are empty!
…
In the end, I didn’t take Le Yao’s card, even though I was in need of money. As for why I didn’t take it, I can’t really say. Perhaps deep down, I sympathize with Le Yao. I may scold her, but when she needs help, I will still lend a hand.
No matter how glamorous she appears, I understand the emptiness behind her, because we are the same kind of people. The only difference is that one day she may truly become famous in the entertainment industry, while I am destined to live an ordinary and lonely life!
…Leaving Le Yao’s place, I immediately hailed a taxi to my old residence. I sincerely hoped that Mi Cai hadn’t moved my luggage out because I failed to keep my promise. I didn’t want to work overtime, nor did I want to be bothered by Le Yao to do laundry! But life is full of such unexpected events that leave me helpless.