Chapter 79: A Life Worthy of Envy

Under the dazzling lights, if there truly was to be a judgment on fate, Day and Night, born because of him, would make him the jury. He just didn’t understand whether he should stand on the side of justice or evil.

“Have you seen ‘The Vagina Monologues’?”

“I’ve heard my mother talk about it. She was an actress in that play.”

“Oh my god.” Ou Jinghe squeezed Zheng Zeyan’s arm. “Really?”

“She was quite an avant-garde actress in the drama club when she was young.”

“Now schools don’t even allow performances of such programs. When I was an undergraduate, the drama club put on shows every year, and tickets were hard to come by. The one time I actually had a ticket, it poured rain. I thought it wasn’t worth getting soaked, I could just catch it the next year.”

“And the next year?”

“I had rhinoplasty and hid in the dorm, my face swollen like a pig’s head.”

Zheng Zeyan chuckled. “You really don’t hold anything back when talking to me.”

“We’re in this kind of environment, what do I have to hide? Right now, I feel like I have nothing, but because of you, I’ve actually started to enjoy life a little.”

“You’re really quite different from the pessimistic Ou Jinghe I knew in the past.”

“I’m grateful for this environment. There should always be such places to make people realize that sex and love are beautiful things. Safely hiding yourself and letting yourself wither away, what’s the difference between that and slow suicide?” Ou Jinghe boldly wrapped her arms around Zheng Zeyan. “Thinking about how complicated divorce is, I just wish this stolen happiness could last a little longer.”

“You’re really acting strange.”

“Why?”

“As long as you’re given an environment, you can really indulge in sensual pleasures.”

“Who in this exhibition hall isn’t? You know it’s winter outside, and who is really wearing a down jacket and overcoat?”

Before they could even touch each other, someone squeezed between them—Yu Zhimei seemed to slide in through a gap, hugged her, and then forcefully turned her around to shield her. “Gao Yuan’s here, quickly think of what to do.”

Ou Jinghe was almost shocked—did it have to be this fast? Not having time to think about how Gao Yuan got here, taking advantage of Yu Zhimei’s cover, she said to Zheng Zeyan, “Gao Yuan’s here. I might not be able to stand with you next.”

“Let’s confront him directly, who’s afraid of whom?” Zheng Zeyan stood tall and straight, his muscles faintly visible.

“You’re blinded by love. If I want a divorce, I can’t mention you. If Gao Yuan knows you exist, he won’t agree.”

Zheng Zeyan’s playful expression returned. Ou Jinghe naturally understood the meaning in that smile; he was again looking down on her for being secretive about money.

“You’re crazy. You’re a person with no moral bottom line, I’m a married woman who once secretly met with a strange man, my husband is someone who paints himself as perfect and even acts to maintain his image. What will be the consequences if there’s evidence now?” Seeing Gao Yuan walking towards her, Ou Jinghe desperately squeezed his hand one last time in a panic. “I’m sorry. Anything you want, but on the matter of divorce, I can’t drag you into it.” Ou Jinghe’s eyes were flashed by the lights for a moment but she didn’t close them; her eyes were irritated to tears. “Being with you tonight, I feel like I’m living a life worthy of envy.”

Besides helplessness, there was also fear in Ou Jinghe’s eyes. Yu Zhimei hugged Ou Jinghe and walked towards Gao Yuan. Zheng Zeyan stood there, fixedly watching Gao Yuan approach Ou Jinghe with a blank expression, his gaze colliding head-on with his own. Lights flickered, shadows moved, and Gao Yuan’s smile spread like ripples towards the beach, slowly and sinisterly saying to Ou Jinghe, “We didn’t have an appointment, yet we still meet here. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Yu Zhimei laughed. “I invited Sister He to come.”

“Oh?”

“Jian Zhaowen, who got the funding, is my boyfriend. This is a party organized by their group. What about you? Who invited you?”

“A friend of mine invested in Lei Zheng’s project. Why can’t I come?”

Yu Zhimei smiled. “Then I must go and thank him properly. Rounding up, Lei Zheng and Jian Zhaowen will rely on investors for their future. Where is he?”

These words stunned Gao Yuan. “See that man in white pants with slicked-back hair over there?”

Half-believing and half-doubting, Yu Zhimei gave a fake smile and took two steps back. “I’ll be right back.”

Once Yu Zhimei walked away, the people around them seemed to be separated by a barrier. Gao Yuan looked at Ou Jinghe and hypocritically put his arm around her shoulder without saying a word. Ou Jinghe tried to break free from his arm, but his fingers squeezed tighter and tighter. When Ou Jinghe forcefully pulled away, there was already a red mark on her shoulder. Gao Yuan finally smiled. “Looks like you have something you want to say to me.”

“I will still sue for divorce.”

“What nonsense are you spouting again?”

“I’m serious.”

“I will not divorce you.”

“There’s no agreeing or disagreeing. I’m just unilaterally informing you.”

“Oh, is that so?” Gao Yuan found the joke not funny enough. “Divorce is called ‘amicable divorce.’ Even for the breakdown of marital affection, you need to provide evidence of one, two, or three points. What do you mean by just informing me? Moreover, the marriage law only protects those with assets. If you haven’t paid enough taxes and don’t have the money and power to bring tangible benefits to the law, why should it protect you? Blame it on your stupidity for always trying to use my class interests to free yourself.”

“This has nothing to do with class. Don’t twist the concept. Our relationship is unequal and has broken down.”

“Do you know why the Civil Affairs Bureau doesn’t handle divorces every day? Because the cost is too high. Do you know why courts take half a year to hear marriage lawsuits? Because problematic marriages consume too much time. Only you think there’s a problem between us, and I don’t.”

“It’s already beyond saving. I’m informing you now.”

“I won’t cooperate. It’s too much of a waste of time.”

Ou Jinghe gave a wry smile. Gao Yuan’s sneer hadn’t stopped. “You have nothing without me. You’ll just revert to your original form. Do you think your parents will agree to this? We settled your parents’ house and even bought you a villa to open a dessert shop. All of that will be taken back if we divorce. Ask them if they’ll agree to all of that being gone. Whether you believe it or not, no one in this world will ever ‘love’ you as much as I do.”

Gao Yuan walked out of the corridor as if he had won. Ou Jinghe stood there, almost suffocating with anger. Just then, someone stood beside her under the lights. In the dim corner, Zheng Zeyan’s fingers slowly hooked onto hers, then forcefully intertwined with her own.

Someone asked them to make way. Ou Jinghe’s hand was held tightly. She gently pulled it away, her movement lingering as she hooked her little finger around Zheng Zeyan’s. Neither of them said a word. Before Gao Yuan turned his head back, Ou Jinghe had already quickly taken three steps, her slender figure illuminated under the lights, leaving Zheng Zeyan alone in the darkness. Just as Zheng Zeyan was about to step forward, someone grabbed him. Jian Zhaowen was behind him. “Don’t take risks at a time like this. It won’t do you any good.”

“I want to be by her side.”

“You’re so smart, how can you be acting like a madman now?”

“Because I love her.”

Jian Zhaowen really didn’t understand. “Since when did you develop genuine feelings for Sister He?”

“Before we even met, I had been chatting with her anonymously on Day and Night for a long time. You might think I’m a cynical person, but some people become unexpected—I can’t miss her again.”

“So, you really met on Day and Night? The previous report wasn’t just...”

Zheng Zeyan nodded. Jian Zhaowen’s heart pounded with the sudden drumbeat of the music, even feeling a bit flustered. Under the dazzling lights, if there truly was to be a judgment on fate, Day and Night, born because of him, would make him the jury.

He didn’t understand whether he should stand on the side of justice or evil.

There was no DJ booth in the museum area, only lingering rumba and less intense voguing music playing. After briefly announcing the successful funding with a microphone, Lei Zheng didn’t say much else and didn’t drink much either—it seemed that after his last drunken incident with the police, he was more restrained with alcohol in public. People moved through the exhibition hall, light and shadow passing over their heads. What was most clearly seen wasn’t clothing, but skin and eyes. People who originally wanted to celebrate joyfully because of the funding suddenly had their own thoughts. Yu Zhimei, wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, saw Qiu Nuo not far away when she approached Jian Zhaowen. Jian Zhaowen, caught between two gazes, catered to chatting colleagues and saw investors shaking hands enthusiastically with Lei Zheng. Ou Jinghe held her legal husband, Gao Yuan, in her arms, while her gaze reached the silent film-like Zheng Zeyan leaning against the wall. And Shi Rui, unnoticed, pretended to be an invited guest, searching for clues of her husband’s infidelity.

Just young people in a small space, with all their emotions and desires, joys and sorrows laid bare.

Jian Zhaowen came out of the restroom and suddenly found several young girls beside him, wearing sequined tight suspender tops and diamond necklaces, draped in fur, and wearing designer fringed bodycon dresses with brand-name watches. Their necklines were very low, and at first glance, it was hard to tell them apart—all with full foreheads, high nose bridges, mixed-race big eyes with colored contacts, blush, and highlighter. Jian Zhaowen felt a bit dizzy. Each of them posed beside him, and a photographer with a flash was already in front of him. Jian Zhaowen forced a smile for a few seconds and slipped away, ducking into a booth surrounded by inflatable dolls behind him. The real “circle” friends were sitting there. Tanya, the founder of Lala Island he had met at the birthday party before, Wan Chai who ran the gay social circle (his name meaning the same), a top operations person, several young people from the familiar investment circle, a top-tier fashion blogger and a male actor hugging each other, Lei Zheng and Xiaoxi, and Qiu Nuo and her brother. Many clues could be seen in a private party, such as the male actor always maintaining a single persona to the public; and in this booth, many people were in triangular relationships—when they first came to Shanghai to develop their careers, several people lived in a 200-square-meter apartment on Huangxing Road, and at night, behind closed doors in six rooms, they would “shuffle” in pairs. Looking at it this way, Lei Zheng and Xiaoxi sitting in the furthest corner were rare model couples in this booth.

“See? After the funding, small internet celebrities are already asking to take photos with you. They’ll definitely post on Weibo in this kind of situation.”

“How did they get in?”

“There’s always a way, friends brought them. Anyway, buy a few hundred thousand followers and some reposts and comments, and you can scam advertising fees. That’s how internet celebrity agencies operate now, turning you into a product-promoting blogger in minutes.”

The group was unfazed, chatting casually about everything under the sun. They were all early entrants who now understood the industry rules and were making a lot of money. Jian Zhaowen sitting in the middle could only be considered a rising star. Because the sexual orientations of the people sitting around were all different, and the party’s theme was sexual liberation and adult night, Jian Zhaowen was suffocated by dirty jokes less than a minute after sitting down. Fortunately, it wasn’t as awkward as Tanya’s birthday party last time. With 20 million in funding, this was his home turf. He subconsciously wanted to find Yu Zhimei to introduce her to everyone, but Yu Zhimei didn’t seem to be within sight. After sending a message, Tanya patted him. Her luminous tight-fitting suit shimmered. “How did you partner with Lei Zheng? He’s so hard to get a hold of.”

“Charisma, I guess.” Jian Zhaowen sat casually in the booth, leaning his back against an inflatable doll, startled by the soft touch. “Lei Zheng, your products are really something!”

Lei Zheng didn’t speak, only silently drank his coffee—as the host, he needed to stay sober, a rare occurrence.

“What charisma? The charisma of a scumbag?” It was Qiu Nuo’s brother who spoke, his power giving him the most confidence. “Telling everyone that feelings disappear, but now getting involved with a plain neighbor?”

Everyone present suddenly felt a bit awkward. Qiu Nuo tried to stop him first. “Brother, you’ve had too much to drink.”

“I haven’t had too much to drink. He had so many girlfriends in Beijing, yet he dragged things on with you for two or three years without marrying you, wasting all your time. And now that he’s in Shanghai, what? Living a stable life?” The electric corkscrew rose from the bottle, the wine cork popping with a “thwack.” Qiu Nuo’s brother pointed at Jian Zhaowen. “Everyone’s here today, Jian Zhaowen. Drink this bottle of red wine in front of you, don’t leave a single drop. Pay back the favor you owe me from when Day and Night was back online, now.”

Jian Zhaowen laughed. “I definitely have to pay that back.” After saying that, he tilted his head back and started drinking. After the whole bottle, a burp was suppressed and escaped through his nose, the alcohol fumes rushing straight to the top of his head. Qiu Nuo’s brother wasn’t someone who would easily let things go. “My sister used to play on the slide when she was little, and if any little brat bullied her, I’d beat them up. Jian Zhaowen, I’ll never be able to stand you in my life. Where’s that plain girl? Call her over, let me see what she looks like.”

Every word was harsh. But compared to speaking in circles, Jian Zhaowen preferred to be direct. “What you think of me is irrelevant, but please respect women. More than half the people in this place are girls, including some sitting here. Hearing you say that probably makes them uncomfortable.”

“Oh, is that so?” Qiu Nuo’s brother laughed heartily, escalating the situation. “Then what position is she in with you? Is she good? How many minutes can you last?”

It was too much. The expressions of the people present were stiff with awkwardness. They wanted to leave but didn’t dare to move. Jian Zhaowen suddenly had a bit of a perverse pleasure. He glanced at Lei Zheng, who would transform after drinking, stood up, and straddled Qiu Nuo’s brother’s lap, his strength pushing aside the people around them. He even grabbed the other man’s neck. “Guess! Is this enough? Is it enough to satisfy you?”

Qiu Nuo’s brother was someone who didn’t hang out much with this group and was also the straightest one there. He wanted to jump up but couldn’t move. Jian Zhaowen pressed him down, the smell of alcohol from his breath spraying onto the other man’s face and ears, finally making him furious. “You fucking let go of me, are you crazy!”

Music started playing in the venue at the right time. A group of people dispersed into the hall, and Qiu Nuo’s brother quickly disappeared. Suddenly, one of the walls flipped over, revealing a screen with subtitles: “Between Day and Night, the first person you think of is the one you love most.” Lei Zheng, someone who loved to play, would never miss any opportunity. Amidst the various fancy sex toys, under the teasingly erotic Tokyo Hot BGM, the camera followed each person in the hall. Whoever the camera focused on, their face appeared on the screen. The first person projected onto the screen was Jian Zhaowen, who was immediately hugged and kissed on the cheek by Qiu Nuo, drawing cheers from the crowd. The camera followed Jian Zhaowen as he walked towards the edge of the hall. Shi Rui was in the crowd and was seen by her young husband, who annoyedly dodged the camera. When passing Gao Yuan, Gao Yuan gestured for the camera to stop and forcefully bit Ou Jinghe’s ear, his eyes fixed on the camera, the light in his pupils showing triumph. All sorts of applications appeared on the screen, some shy, some unrestrained, each drawing cheers. Jian Zhaowen felt nauseous from the alcohol fumes, his brain like a sponge soaked in alcohol. He swam through the crowd like a freestyle swimmer, pushing aside waves of strangers, with various girls chasing after him wanting to get close. The crowd became increasingly sparse, and Jian Zhaowen finally leaped forward the second before being grabbed. Yu Zhimei was completely pinned against the wall, his tongue prying open her lips and teeth. The music suddenly switched to a famous 90s song—Tetsuya Komuro’s “DEPARTURES.”

The screen suddenly went dark, leaving only a line of subtitles: “I never doubt that love is the most beautiful thing in the world.”

This sentence was posted by Ou Jinghe in the early days of Day and Night, pinned to the homepage and even displayed on the splash screen. It was also the moment Zheng Zeyan fell in love with Ou Jinghe. A crisp slap echoed through the venue. As Ou Jinghe broke free from Gao Yuan’s arm, Gao Yuan forcefully grabbed her wrist. The two of them were dragged from the middle of the hall to the side. Furious, Ou Jinghe slapped Gao Yuan with her other hand. Gao Yuan smiled seriously, smoothing the wrinkles on his shirt, still appearing humble and gentlemanly, with a sly smile in his eyes. “Come home with me. Sorry everyone, a family matter.”

“Let go of me!”

The camera captured a snapshot. A figure rushed past the lens, clearly visible on the big screen. What had to come, finally came, Yu Zhimei thought in her heart. People blinded by love were terrifying, completely disregarding the price to be paid after the madness.