#19: A Word of Disagreement and You Flirt with Me

Once, while on a business trip to Shanghai, I stayed at a hotel. When I went to the restaurant for breakfast, the server informed me that my room did not include breakfast.

I said, “Then I’ll sign for it. How much is it?”

The server said, “108 yuan per person.”

Since I had to meet a business partner after breakfast, I thought, no matter how expensive, I’d eat here to save time.

When I entered the restaurant, I saw it was a buffet breakfast. Although the price was high, the variety of dishes was quite rich, with both Western and Chinese cuisine.

After finishing breakfast and feeling full, I began to ponder life—why does a hotel buffet breakfast cost 108 yuan, while a roadside snack shop breakfast only costs more than ten yuan but can still fill you up?

Aside from the environment, perhaps it’s because buffets offer more choices.

Thus, I associated this with myself. We continuously learn and grow, probably to live and work more freely, like eating a buffet, where there’s a large choice space. Otherwise, we’d be limited to eating from a small shop, which isn’t diverse or varied.

This might be the difference between having breakfast at a hotel for 108 yuan and eating dumplings at a wonton shop for 9 yuan.

Though both are delicious, the former offers a larger choice space.

I shared these new insights with Lin Zhiyi, and he said, “However, why do I prefer your type after growing up?”

“...” The chicken soup for the soul turns into deep affection… But, saying sweet words—I can do that too—

“Because after meeting me, you’ve got an invisible label on you—’Dà Níng exclusive.’”

During this business trip when meeting the business partner, I wore a plaid suit. Originally, I thought suits were old-fashioned and lacked vitality, but after watching a few TV dramas, I found that suits could also be fashionable and enhance one’s presence. So, I bought this year’s popular plaid suit.

Wearing the suit naturally made me feel more capable, and when I posted photos on Weibo to share with my lemon babies, I asked, “Do you like the literary Dà Níng or the capable Dà Níng?”

Most lemon babies said they liked both (high EQ and good speakers), while some said they preferred the literary Dà Níng (honesty, as my long hair suited the literary style better).

Unexpectedly, Lin Zhiyi (@Ai Diaoyu de Da Lin) quietly replied, “I like the way you like me.”

The lemon babies all liked and commented, saying, “You sure know how to flirt.”

And me? I just like the way you say sweet words to me.

During those days on the business trip, because I slept alone at night while usually being used to sleeping hugged by Dà Lin, I always felt a bit lonely before bed.

Lying in bed, I always chatted with Lin Zhiyi on WeChat for a while before reluctantly saying “Good night.”

Sometimes, even after saying “Good night,” we continued chatting for a bit.

Lin Zhiyi said, “Loving someone means wanting to chat even after saying ‘good night.’”

So warm; tonight I can sleep with this heartwarming sentence.

Modern philosophy has three basic questions—Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?

One day, regarding these three philosophical questions, I asked Xinbao.

Xinbao said, “I have at least five answers.”

“Let’s answer together.” I suddenly wanted to play the profound philosophical question as a game.

“I am Lemon Cat, coming from the flower of cat demon creation, going to the Cat Demon Town.” Xinbao said.

(Very creative!)

“I am Ding Níng, coming from my mother’s belly, going to a better future.” I said.

“I am Lín Mùníng, coming from homework, going to a place without homework.” Xinbao said.

(Haha, a child trapped by summer vacation homework!) “I am Dà Níng, coming from love, going into life.” I said.

“I am Xinbao, coming from the weighing scale, going to a body weighing sixty jin.”

Xinbao said.

(Isn’t that true! Right after birth, she was placed on the weighing scale, growing gradually from a six-and-a-half-jin baby.)

“I am who I am, a different kind of fireworks, blooming in the sky and falling to the ground.” I said.

(Xinbao commented: Quite poetic! Me: It’s adapted from song lyrics.) “I am June, coming from my parents’ random naming, going to English class.” Xinbao said.

(Me: A waterfall sweat. Random naming? No such thing! You were born in June, and your English name is June, no problem!) “I am Summer Lotus, coming from the lotus flower, going into Lemon Cat’s body.” Xinbao said.

(Summer Lotus is the incarnation of Lemon Cat, this answer is no problem!) I didn’t continue answering and asked Lin Zhiyi, “Who are you? Where do you come from? Where are you going?”

“I am Dà Lin, coming from Guizhou, going into Dà Níng’s heart.”

“...”

Unexpectedly, a philosophical question turned into sweet talk when it reached him!

Once, I was talking to a male friend, and he said, “If possible, a man should have three women.”

Inwardly, I thought he was fickle-minded, but outwardly, I pretended to listen patiently. “Tell me, why do you need three women?”

He said, “One is gentle and virtuous, responsible for serving tea and cooking at home, specifically taking care of her husband and teaching children; one is as beautiful as a flower, dressing herself beautifully every day so that I never tire of looking at her; another is intelligent and wise, helping me conquer the world, since men still need a career.”

Inwardly, I scoffed: What a beautiful dream!

I then asked him, “You want to have these three women, what do you have?”

He said, “I have dreams!”

“Are those daytime dreams?”

“Dreams are still necessary, what if they come true!” he didn’t take it seriously.

Later, I relayed this friend’s words to Lin Zhiyi and asked him, “Is it true that all men desire to have these three women?”

He said, “What’s so special about that? Wei Xiaobao had seven wives!”

OMG, are three women not enough, does he want seven?

I said, “So your meaning is, if now men were allowed to have multiple wives, you’d want to be like Wei Xiaobao?”

He said, “I don’t want to! Women like to compete for attention, wouldn’t I be exhausted!”

“And if the women get along harmoniously, you’d enjoy it?”

“Not really. I think you alone are worth more than seven women. Gentle and virtuous, beautiful as a flower, intelligent and wise, understanding... The goodness in you is enough for me to study for a lifetime, how would I have time to like others?”

Hmm, regardless of whether this sweet talk is true or false, I give it full marks.