《A Lovely Girl Turning into a Rat》


 Chapter 1: Being Taken in

    In Autumn Wind Teahouse, a hubbub filled the hall. Ci in a red thin dress was twanging the Chinese lute with her slender fingers and crooning a song, with a white flower in her loose hair. No one cared what she was singing. After the song, she went into a room and rested for a while, and then came out to sing again. Thest song she sang was sad, but no one understood her feelings.


    ¡°The candle has burned right down.


    The pattern of cannas on the painted screen appears as a blur in the dim light.


    I dream about my hometown Jiangnan. The green plums in the trees have ripened.


    I¡¯m ying the flute on a little boat drifting along with the waves in the rain at night.


    Voicese from the post house near the bridge. Someone is telling his unforgettable story with a local ent.¡±


    T/N note:


    Jiangnan: regions south of the Yangtze River.


    Ci wandered from Jiangnan to Tange Town. At that time, her hometown suffered from a gue of locusts. There was gloom above and darkness below, with no light from the sun. The locusts flitted about in the air and destroyed all the crops and vegetables. Every time Ci raised her head, she felt frightened because she saw lots of winged insects fluttering. A few dayster, she was ravenous and began to eat raw locusts. She chewed the locusts and greenish liquid filled her mouth. She couldn¡¯t help but vomit up the locusts, but for survival, she had to force herself to eat them. Afterward, an outbreak of pestilence followed. Viger began to eat carrion and died one after another. The living people ate the dead bodies and after they died, they were eaten by others. Anyway, each human being has to die.


    The night was very still and the moon cast a faint light over the ground. Ci was digging a pit for her dead family members, her fingers bloody. She needed a deep pit to bury them so that the bodies wouldn¡¯t be dug out and eaten by other hungry vigers. There was nothing left but a Chinese lute in her house. Ci wrapped the lute in a cloth, walked out of the house with it, and then set fire to the house without hesitation.


    It was a hot summer day when Ci arrived at Autumn Wind Teahouse. She looked terrible. Her fingernails were so long that they had even been curved; her hair came to her feet; and there were many lice on her torn quilted jacket.


    Ci begged a waiter, ¡°Please give me some food.¡± With that she scratched the noxious sore on the crown of her head and the wound started discharging pus and blood, which rolled down her ears.


    The waiter kicked Ci down and cursed, ¡°You dirty beggar! Get out of here!¡±


    Ci struggled to her feet and stretched out her hands. ¡°Please give me some food. I beg you.¡±


    The waiter flew into a rage and picked up a broom to drive her away. ¡°Get out of here!¡±


    Li Qiufeng, who was counting the ie with an abacus at the counter, heard the noise outside the gate and became annoyed. He stood up and saw a beggar standing at the gate. Different from other ordinary beggars, she carried a Chinese lute.


    ¡°Raise your head,¡± Li Qiufengmanded while twisting a long hair in the fleshy nevus on his chin.


    Ci raised her head and gazed in fear at the man who looked ugly and ferocious, and then extended her hand to him, ¡°Sir, please give me something to eat. I¡¯m so hungry.¡±


    Li Qiufeng fixed his eyes on the woman. Although her hair was untidy, she had bright eyes and graceful eyebrows with a good figure. It was summer now but she still wore a torn quilted jacket, which made her ridiculous.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Li Qiufeng asked.


    ¡°My name is Dong Ci,¡± she answered in a low voice.


    ¡°San, take her to the backyard and give her two steamed buns to eat. Then, go to tidy up the woodshed. I will go to see herter,¡± Li Qiufeng said to the waiter and swung his sleeves.


    San nced at Ci with contempt and said, ¡°Follow me. My master is kind-hearted. You are lucky to meet him.¡±


    Ci followed him to the backyard. The sun was strong and she felt her ears burning. A fly on the crown of her head was sucking the pus and blood from the noxious sore. ¡®My master is a lecher. This woman is the eighth female beggar he has taken in. When he is tired of her, she will be driven away,¡¯ San thought.


    ¡°Stay here. I will fetch you some steamed buns.¡± With that, San slowly walked into the kitchen.


    Ci felt a bit dizzy. Her lips were chapped and the taste of blood in her throat made her ufortable. She swayed as the houses around seemed to swim before her eyes.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Then she fell down to the ground and everything went ck.


    San looked at Ci who seemed in aa and kicked her in the shins. ¡°Don¡¯t y possum. Get up off the ground.¡±


    Ci picked up the steamed bun on the ground and slowly struggled to her feet. She chomped hungrily through the steamed bun and choked on it, her eyes bulging. ¡°Water¡­¡±


    San replied impatiently, ¡°There are some water in the woodshed. You can go there and have a drink.¡±


    The woodshed was cool and tinged yellow by light filtered through the windows. There was a basin of water on the ground. Ci squatted down and kept drinking from the basin till her belly swelled up. San said mockingly, ¡°It¡¯s the bath water for you. How can you drink so much?¡±


    Ci nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    San snorted, ¡°Idiot! You will have a hard time.¡±


    The door was closed by him and a bit of a wind came in. Ci leaned against a pile of wood and fell asleep. No matter how hard life was, she could sleep soundly. In a dream she was in another world and lived a life of ease.

 Chapter 2: How about Master’s skill?

    Li Qiufeng pushed open the door of the woodshed with a vermilion undergarment, a long white skirt and a pair of bright pink embroidered shoes in his hands. San followed him in with a woodenb and a bronze mirror.


    ¡°Get up! You sleep like a log,¡± San shouted to Dong Ci.


    Ci woke up and licked her dry and cracked lips.


    Li Qiufeng said to San, ¡°Go and fetch water.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± San replied and made for the door. When he walked out of the woodshed, he gave a snort of disdain.


    Before long he came back with a big wooden barrel and began to fill the barrel with water. Through a haze of steaming water, he saw Ci trembling slightly.


    San vered, but soon came to himself and went out. In the yard, he kicked a stone and it bounded forth a long distance.


    Ci took off her clothes and got into the wooden barrel with her eyes closed. A few lice immediately appeared on the surface of water. The lice were good at swimming, so they wouldn¡¯t be drowned for the time being. The noxious sore on the crown of her head tickled because of getting wet. She couldn¡¯t help but scratch it and blood was promptly pouring from the wound. Soon the water turned light red.


    Li Qiufeng said, ¡°Bent down!¡±


    The girl had delicate skin, a slender waist and a jutting corbone. He soaped her back which didn¡¯t feel smooth because it was too dirty.


    He picked up a crude brush which was used for brushing cattle and horses, and began to brush the dirt off her back, ck water streaming down. Ci moaned with tears, ¡°My back is paining¡­¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    ¡®Only in this way can you be washed clean,¡¯ Li Qiufeng thought and kept brushing her back hard.


    After washing her body with the brush three times, Li Qiufeng finally stopped. San had aches in the arms because of carrying water continuously. He couldn¡¯t help butin outside the door, ¡°I¡¯m tired. Have you scrubbed her clean?¡±


    Li Qiufeng smiled, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Ci climbed out of the barrel to get dressed, and then twisted her hair into a bun and pinned it at the back of her head with a silk flower hairpin. The clothes fitted her well and she smelled nice.


    Li Qiufeng looked at her in surprise and said, ¡°You are really beautiful.¡±


    Ci knelt down and begged, ¡°Master, please help me. I want to go on living.¡±


    The flesh on his face slightly trembled. ¡°I¡­ I am getting old,¡± he murmured.


    Ci was kneeling on the floor and stared at him with imploring eyes.


    ¡°You can y the lute in my teahouse. I will provide amodation for you and besides, you can get 50 grams of silver per month.¡± Li Qiufeng raised Ci¡¯s chin with his forefinger and continued, ¡°Move out of the woodshed. From now on, you can sleep in the room for maids.¡±


    Ci made a bow to him and followed San to the maid¡¯s room. San asked curiously, ¡°How about Master¡¯s skill?¡±


    Ci felt puzzled and asked, ¡°What?¡±


    San raised his eyebrows and snorted, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. You know what I¡¯m getting at.¡±


    Ci stopped asking questions and expressed her gratitude to San for his help.


    ¡°Sooner orter you will be driven away.¡± San spat on the ground and walked out of the room.


    San didn¡¯t know that Ci looked like Li Qiufeng¡¯s daughter who had died from tuberculosis. It¡¯s natural for men to have a lust for women. A randy man would be kind-hearted when he was deeply touched. But when a gentleman was driven by lust, he would be a wild animal. The man who looked ugly and ferocious with a fleshy nevus on his chin, was not a bad guy.


    In the evening, Li Qiufeng asked Ci to y the Chinese lute. When she finished ying, he gave her a bottle of ointment and said, ¡°Apply the ointment to your noxious sore. The sore will soon heal up and your hair will grow back.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Ci sensed that there was something strange in his attitude toward her, which mystified her.


    ¡°Before your recovery, stay in the room and practice the lute. Don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡± Li Qiufeng pointed at the kitchen and continued, ¡°Tomorrow you can go to the kitchen and eat with other servants.¡±


    Ci immediately knelt and kowtowed to him. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    Li Qiufeng let out a long sigh and left.

 Chapter 3: Brief Peace

    Autumn Wind Teahouse had never been so busy. The hall was crowded with guests. Ci was beautiful and really great at ying Chinese lute, so the guests liked to listen to her ying a tune while drinking tea. Li Qiufeng earned a lot of money from it, so he treated Ci as the apple of his eye.


    ¡®From this we can see how important it is to have a special skill,¡¯ Ci thought to herself.


    San also had apletely new appraisal of Ci. Although he often deliberately made things difficult for her, she never got angry; instead, she always gave him a faint smile and said, ¡°Thank you for your help these days.¡±


    Besides, the old goat, Li Qiufeng, didn¡¯t make a pass at Ci.


    At the end of the month, Ci got the first monthly pay. She went shopping and bought a pair of cloth shoes for San. San was an orphan and became Li Qiufeng¡¯s servant when he was a child. No one ever showed concern for him. San took one shoe and said with affected disdain, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s cool to have toes exposed in summer? The open shoe is called sandal.¡±


    It seemed incredible that sandal was first invented by San.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Ci thrust the other shoe into San¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Try on the shoes. If they don¡¯t fit you, give them to me and I will go to the shoe shop and exchange them for another pair.¡±


    San held the shoes in his arms and ran back to his bedroom, and then burst into tears.


    The other maids also received some small gifts from Ci. ¡®My sry is higher than theirs. It¡¯s good for me to establish a good rtionship with them by giving them some gifts,¡¯ Ci thought and gave the rest of her copper coins to a beggar on the roadside. The beggar kowtowed to her with gratitude. ¡®s, we both have miserable fates. I¡¯m naturally willing to help you,¡¯ Ci thought.


    At dusk, all the servants were eating in the kitchen. For the first time San put some food into Ci¡¯s bowl with his chopsticks. The new shoes werefortable to wear and San knew that Ci was kind to him.


    When Li Qiufeng came to the kitchen, everyone stood up and greeted him, ¡°Good evening, Master.¡±


    ¡°Ci, do you enjoy the food?¡±


    Ci nodded, ¡°Yes. Thank you very much for your concern, Master.¡±


    ¡°There are many guests outside.¡± Li Qiufeng gave a little cough to attract San¡¯s attention and continued, ¡°Ask the cook to prepare a dish especially for Ci from now on.¡±


    San immediately replied, ¡°Yes, I will.¡±


    Ci put down the bowl and chopsticks and picked up the Chinese lute. ¡°Master, I¡¯m going to the hall to y the lute.¡±


    ¡°Just sit down and eat up your dinner,¡± Li Qiufeng said gently.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. After all, we shouldn¡¯t keep guests waiting.¡± Ci lightly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and went straight to the hall.


    There was a hubbub in the hall. When Ci walked in with the Chinese lute, the guests quieted down but soon the hall was full of noise again. These days Autumn Wind Teahouse got noticed by more people because of the beautiful woman Dong Ci and the tunes she yed on the Chinese lute. Some guests who liked music could listen to Ci ying the lute. As for the guests who knew nothing about music theory, they were attracted by the beautiful woman. Li Qiufeng twisted the long hair in the fleshy nevus on his chin and felt delighted.


    Ci¡¯s lute was handed down from the older generations of her family. It was made of red sandalwood and had a clear and melodious tone. Ci had a sweet and light voice. The first tune she yed was Bidding Farewell to A Departing Friend. There was no need for her to sing because it was an instrumental, so she was twanging the Chinese lute with her fingers while staring nkly ahead.


    ¡°Gosh, there¡¯s a lot of noise. I can¡¯t hear the music,¡± an angry, loud voice came from outside the door.


    Stunned, Ci hit the wrong string of the lute. She raised her head and looked around. However, no one noticed her mistake.


    A group of people who all looked cold and fierce stood outside the door. The speaker was a man standing in the middle of the group. Everyone in the hall quietened down at once and Ci also stopped ying the lute.


    It seemed that the temperatures in the hall dropped suddenly. San, who was pouring tea into a guest¡¯s teacup, froze. Soon the cup on the table was full and the tea was running over and streaming down onto the floor like a small waterfall.


    Li Qiufeng subconsciously twisted the long hair on his chin hard and plucked it by ident. He felt a sharp pain in his chin and almost let out a cry of pain but finally he held it back.

 Chapter 4: New Master – Nima

    ¡°Go on with the lute.¡± The group of people quickly moved and stood in a half circle, revealing the speaker in the middle of them.


    Li Qiufeng walked stiffly and slowly towards the door as if he got cramp in his legs. It took him quite a while to walk up to the man. Then Li Qiufeng got a chair for the man and asked San to serve him tea.


    ¡°Good evening, Master Nima.¡± Li Qiufeng fell to the ground on his knees in front of the man.


    What sort of person Master Nima was? Why was everyone afraid of him? The full name of Master Nima was Nima Ciren. He was a nobleman of the Zang nationality and had free ess to the Imperial Pce. Except for his father and the Emperor, he feared no-one. It was said that he was ruthless and lecherous. He had always lived in the capital but recently he returned to this town and nned to spend the summer at this summer resort.


    Nima ignored Li Qiufeng and walked up to Ci. ¡°y a tune for me.¡±


    Ci raised her head and looked at the man in front of her. He was nearly middle-aged and had sharp, prating eyes. His gaze was like a stab into Ci¡¯s heart and brought her a sense of disgust. Ci frowned and looked away from him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you want to y the lute for me?¡± Nima wasn¡¯t angry; instead, he smiled, ¡°Anyway, I like your stubborn spirit.¡±


    Li Qiufeng looked at Ci with imploring eyes because he couldn¡¯t afford to offend Nima.


    There was dead silence in the teahouse. Ci began to sing, ¡°The tender clover ferns float in the water; the vivid pink apricot flowers are all open; a pair of beautiful mandarin ducks y in the river. A well decorated pleasure-boat cut merrily through the water. Songs hovered in the air. It¡¯s a bright spring day. The river is calm. Boating with a young beauty, my heart is full of tenderness.¡±


    Nima was enthralled by her singing. He stared at Ci who was ying the lute, in a trance. In China, a pair of mandarin ducks were a metaphor for an affectionate couple.


    Li Qiufeng had a foreboding that Ci would be taken away.


    ¡°Give me this girl.¡± Nima hoisted Ci on to his shoulder. Ci bit her lips hard and tasted blood. ¡®I have never been mistress of my own destiny,¡¯ she quietly sighed and rxed her grip on the lute which fell on the ground with a thump and broke in two.


    Li Qiufeng got a silver draft. San clenched his fists in anger.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    But they dared not say anything because Nima was rich, powerful and able to get whatever he wanted.


    Ci felt the man¡¯s long beard prickling her skin. ¡®These are troubled times and wherever I am I will suffer,¡¯ she thought in despair and stopped struggling.


    ¡°Put me down. I can walk myself,¡± she said in a whisper.


    Nima was dazed for a second and then put her down. Ci straightened up and noticed that he was sweating, so she took out her handkerchief and stood on tiptoe to wipe away the beads of sweat on his forehead.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Ci asked.


    Nima answered, ¡°You¡¯re mine. Of course I will take you to my house.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Ci asked, ¡°You want me to be your maid, right?¡±


    Nima nodded and thought, ¡®A dissolute master and a maid of humble birth. It seems interesting.¡¯

 Chapter 5: Nima’s Wives

    The Nima Mansion had an air of opulence and grandeur. The two white marble lions in grotesque shape, guarded the gate and two rednterns were shining in the night. Ci stood at the gate and refused to walk on. Nima asked with a puzzled look, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Do you know which one of these two lions is male and which one is female?¡±


    Nima was stunned by her questions. After thinking for a moment, he answered, ¡°Next to the male lion is the female lion. Next to the female lion is the male lion.¡±


    ¡°The one holding a ball is the male lion and the other one holding a small lion in its arms is the female,¡± Ci smiled.


    Why did Ci smile? Every woman wanted to belong to a strong, handsome man.


    Nima had three wives. His first wife, Ju Juxian, was the elder female cousin of younger female cousin of the Emperor and three years older than Nima. She had a dull and dry character and people around her always felt respect for her. But it was not a good thing because her husband respected her but lost interest in having sex with her. So she had no child up to now. Ju Juxian wanted to get pregnant but she was sterile now.


    Nima¡¯s second wife, Ji Jing was a native of this ce. Her father made a living as a fisherman and was a total poor manpared with Nima. So he spent a lot of money on hiring the most famous woman matchmaker in the town. Finally, he was sessful in marrying his daughter to Nima and got many treasures from his son-inw. ¡°It¡¯s good to have a daughter. I can sell her for money.¡± Ji Jing¡¯s father always took great pride in his wise decision.


    Nima¡¯s third wife, Yang Zhen, had been an actress. When Nima was unable to fall asleep, he would ask her to sing and act, in costume and make-up. She danced around him and lowered her head, revealing her snow-white neck, which was drop-dead sexy. Nima liked women who were good at singing, just like some rich merchants who liked chasing female stars in the 21st century.


    When Ci walked into the drawing room, Ju Juxian and Ji Jing were chatting with each other and Yang Zheng, who had just finished dinner, was drinking sweet-sour plum juice with ice cubes and honey. Yang Zheng lightly stirred the juice with a spoon and drink it down in one draught, feelingpletely refreshed as she narrowed her eyes with satisfaction. Recently, she suffered from constipation. Drinking sweet-sour plum juice could moisten her throat and treat her constipation.


    ¡°She¡¯s my new maid.¡± Nima sat down on a chair and shook his body. ¡°Bring me some food. I¡¯m still hungry.¡±


    Ci stood in the middle of the drawing room and greeted the three women with curtsies.


    Although the summer night was hot, the room was cool.


    Yang Zheng immediately said, ¡°This girl is really beautiful and I like her. Master, can you give her to me?¡±


    Ci looked at Nima quietly.


    ¡°Give her to you? Are you kidding? I just took her back to my house.¡± Nima fanned himself and continued, ¡°If you want her, you can have her after I¡¯m tired of her.¡±


    Before long, the meal was served by servants. Nima liked meat and hated vegetables. So the seven dishes were all made from meats, including mutton, chicken, beef, pork, venison and rabbit meat.


    ¡°Come here and eat with me.¡± Nima waved to Ci.


    Ju Juxian scolded, ¡°It is inappropriate for a maid to eat with her master. You can go to the kitchen for dinner after Master finishes eating.¡±


    Ji Jing agreed with her. ¡°Madame, you are right.¡±


    ¡°Come here!¡± Nimamanded, ¡°You are too thin. Sit down and eat meat with me.¡±


    Ci sat down without saying a word, put a piece of rabbit meat in her mouth and chewed it carefully. The rabbit meat was delicious, so she only ate the dish.


    ¡°You have good taste in food.¡± Nima smiled and gazed at Ci in admiration.


    Second Madam Ji Jing began to vomit because of her pregnancy. After a while, the sickness gradually passed and she patted her breast and nced at Nima with a look of coquetry. ¡°Your son is naughty,¡± she softlyined.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Nima was spitting out bones while saying, ¡°Stop dawdling and deliver the child quickly.¡±


    Ci had an impulse tough but she held it back.


    This man was kind of cute, casual and informal. There was a smear of oil in his beard but he didn¡¯t wipe it. When heughed, his two big front teeth were exposed.


    Nima slept alone in his bedroom. Except for Nima¡¯s three wives, there was more than twenty servants in the Nima Mansion. Some of them were cooks; some waited upon the master madams; some specialized in washing clothes; some were in charge of buying vegetables and meat¡­ And there were two butlers helping Nima do business and collect rents. Many of the retainers came from Tibet. They followed Nima to the central ins, dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis, and often had sex with maids. The maids, who got pregnant, took medicine to abort their pregnancies and gave birth to stillborn babies which looked like balls of blood. Nima once cut open a ball of blood but there was nothing in it. He kicked it and the ball stained with dust rolled away into a distance.


    In Nima Mansion, Nima had absolute power like a king. He could sleep with whoever he liked but he didn¡¯t like to keep women by his side after sex. So the servants often saw naked women with torn clothes in their hands walking up and down in the dead of night. Nima was more blissful than the emperor. China¡¯s emperors had too many women and mostly lived short lives. The emperors of the Song Dynasty didn¡¯t like to take exercise but Nima did. Every morning he got up early and practised martial arts by fighting with retainers. If they were beaten to death by Nima, the butlers would buy some new strong retainers. It was cheap to buy a servant in these troubled times because there were hungry men everywhere and lots of women wanted to be maids of the Nima Mansion.


    Ju Juxian tactfully went back to her bedroom and fell asleep peacefully because of knowing that Nima had no desire to make love with her.


    Ji Jing walked back to her bedroom with the help of her maid, Xiaoyan, and slept peacefully because she was pregnant and didn¡¯t need to pander to Nima on the bed. Before she fell asleep, she patted her bulging belly and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t let me down, my dear son. My fate is bound up with yours.¡±


    Yang Zhen looked at Nima and asked, ¡°Master, do you still want to hear me sing tonight?¡± Her soft voice was like a sweet melody.


    Nima replied, ¡°No. Take this maid to the backyard and arrange a single room for her.¡±


    The girl seemed important to him.


    Yang Zhen cast a nce at Ci and said, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Nima turned to Ci and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Dong Ci.¡± Ci curtsied to Nima and followed Yang Zhen out of the drawing room.


    Yang Zhen brought Ci to a room in which all goods for daily use were avable. There were new clothes in the wardrobe and some cosmetics on the dressing table.


    Yang Zhen removed a gilded phoenix-shaped hairpin from her bun and pinned it to Ci¡¯s hair, and then said, ¡°Take it easy and put your heart to serve Master. You can call me Sister Yang Zhen in private.¡±


    Deeply moved by Yang Zhen¡¯s words, Ci knelt down and expressed her gratitude.


    A person who was simple and kind-hearted, was easily to be got at.


    Yang Zhen helped Ci up. ¡°I will teach you how to sing opera in the future.¡± She paused for a second and continued, ¡°If Master asks you to serve him, remember not to wander around the yard when youe back.¡±


    Ci nodded and watched Yang Zhen walking out of the room. ¡®It seems that good person can be found everywhere. She is such a kind woman,¡¯ Ci thought to herself.


    However, she was an idiot, totally confused by the false kindness of Yang Zhen.

 Chapter 6: I Like You, Master

    The night was dark and a bright moon climbed high in the sky. Nima Mansion was bathed in the silvery light. Ciy on the bed with a piece of chiffon over her chest. A gentle breeze was blowing and the air was full of the sweet aroma of flowers. There were wild cats chasing and ying in the courtyard. A ck and white caty prone on the windowsill. Its eyes were green, mysterious and beautiful, like two will-o¡¯-the-wisps.


    The family retainer, Liao Yong stood outside the room and hammered at the door¨C ¡°Bang, bang, bang!¡±


    Ci got up to open the door.


    Then she saw an expressionless face. Liao Yong was tall and aloof.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± said Liao Yong, enunciating every syble distinctly.


    Ci nced at him and replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Nima¡¯s bedroom was big, so his bed was big too. After taking Ci to the bedroom, Liao Yong wisely left.


    ¡°Come here!¡±


    Nima was naked and his strong thighs were furry. Ci wondered how long it would take to burn up the hair on his legs with a candle. It must take a long while.


    He tore up Ci¡¯s clothes. Ci finally understood why there were so many new clothes in the wardrobe. Nima enjoyed hearing the sound of silk dresses being torn. He also liked the sound of women screaming and crying. Yang Zhen, who knew his personal preference, pretended to be in pain every time she made love with him. ¡°Master, don¡¯t do that! You¡¯re hurting me¡­¡± she begged. But in fact, she felt good about being banged by Nima.


    Nima pressed Ci down to the bed. She obedientlyy down without any resistance.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Why are you so obedient to me?¡± Nima grabbed her long hair and rested his crotch on her lower abdomen as though he was riding a horse and she was his horse.


    ¡®Because I have no other choice,¡¯ Ci thought.


    In order to survive, everyone was doing or saying something against their will.


    Ci closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Nima. ¡°Because I like you, Master,¡± she said softly.


    ¡®She likes me? I snatched her from Li Qiufeng and now she seems to fall in love with me,¡¯ he thought.


    Nima looked at the woman beneath him, her long eyshes slightly trembling like butterflies. ¡°I¡¯m not a nice person. Why do you like me?¡± he asked.


    Ci answered, ¡°When I first saw you, I knew that I belonged to you.¡±


    Nima took Ci¡¯s virginity and transformed her from being a pure maiden into a mature woman. He was in his element, fondling her and arousing her desire. Her young delicate body like a fresh onion, he peeled back theyers with patience and felt more intrigued and curious to get to know the insides. It was the first time Ci had touched a man¡¯s body. She was shy and curious. Finally, she fell asleep in Nima¡¯s arms because of exhaustion.


    Nima always drove his women away after making love with them.  But this time he didn¡¯t wake Ci up. Maybe it was because she looked weak with an air of innocence.


    Liao Yong gently knocked at the door. Ci was sleeping soundly. He softly put her head down on the pillow. The dribble streamed down from the left corner of her mouth and soon was sucked up by the pillow. It was like Nima sucking in her vaginal secretion.


    Nima got out of bed, walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. Liao Yong asked tentatively, ¡°Master, shall I take her¡­¡±


    ¡°Never mind. I want to break the rules for her today.¡± Nima waved his hand and continued, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The stone door that led into the backyard was open. Liao Yong followed Nima in and closed the door by turning a big stone. The backyard was a forbidden area in Nima Mansion. Except for cats, no one dared to enter it. Nima liked cats because he regarded himself as a cat who had nine lives and was the uncle of a dog. Liao Yong was like a dog, loyal, strong, cold and heartless. Nima couldn¡¯t kill him. He had been beaten down by his master many times and fainted many times. But when he recovered consciousness, he was still loyal to Nima.

 Chapter 7: Attitudes of Nima’s Wives

    In China, from the emperor to civilians, all people believed that you would nourish the corresponding body part by what you eat.


    The next morning, Ci walked out of Nima¡¯s bedroom. In a short while, all the people in Nima Mansion knew that Nima allowed Ci to sleep in his bedroom. It was unprecedented.


    If a sleeping woman looked so pure and naive that others couldn¡¯t bear to wake her up, she would be regarded as a lucky woman. For women, having a good posture in sleep was very important because it would bring luck to them.


    After washing her face and rinsing her mouth, Ci went to the main hall. The maid Yan took Ji Jing¡¯s arm and helped her walk into the main hall. Ji Jing was thest to arrive. Juxian didn¡¯t seem to sleep wellst night because she looked wan and tired, her eyelids swollen. Yang Zhen sat in a chair, carefree and rxed.


    Ci quietly stood nearby and dared not take a seat.


    ording to the rules set by Juxian, maids should wait for the master and hostesses to finish eating before they were allowed to eat the leftovers.


    ¡°Ci,e and sit here,¡± Nima ordered.


    Ci obediently sat down. Juxian threw her chopsticks on the table, her face livid with anger, and said, ¡°Master, she¡¯s just a maid. If you allow her to eat with us, how can I manage the servants in the future?¡±


    Ji Jing who was a weathercock, immediately echoed, ¡°What Madam said is quite right. She is just a maid. Master, although you have slept with her, she is still not eligible to eat with us.¡±


    Nima said impatiently, ¡°s, you guys upset me. Er, I will take her as my fourth wife this afternoon. Now she has the right to eat with us.¡±


    Ci knelt down and kowtowed to him. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    Then she nced at Juxian and felt a little scared.


    Yang Zhen said, ¡°Please get up. From now on we are sisters.¡±


    Despite being displeased, Ji Jing kept her temper under control. ¡°Master, you are always tired of the old and fascinated by the new.¡±


    In reality, all men would be fond of the new lovers and tired of the old ones.


    To be more exact, all human beings would abandon the old for the new.


    The premise was that their new lovers were better than the old ones.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    For breakfast they had porridge made with meat paste. It tasted sour and whetted their appetite. Yang Zhen said, ¡°The porridge tastes good. Master, please give the cooks some small ingots of silver as a reward. The dished they have prepared these days are delicious.¡±


    Ju Juxian said, ¡°Humph! They don¡¯t deserve a reward because they are allzy.¡±


    She vented her anger by using the cooks of beingzy.


    Ci filled a bowl with the porridge and handed it to Nima who took it and said, ¡°No need for you to do that. You can ask the maid to serve me.¡±


    The maid, Yan stood by and felt resentment against Ci.


    ¡°Ask the butlers to buy some fine clothes. I want the wedding to take ce this afternoon.¡± Nima put down his chopsticks and stood up.


    Ci watched Nima walk out of the main hall.


    Ju Juxian flung the bowl to the ground with anger and said sarcastically, ¡°How can Master take her as his fourth wife? She¡¯s just a low woman.¡±


    Ji Jing soothed, ¡°Take it easy. Although Master is intrigued by her now, the novelty will wear off quickly. By then she is nothingpared to you.¡±


    Yang Zhen took Ci¡¯s hand and ignored their taunts towards Ci. ¡°Ci, follow me to my bedroom. I have a gift for you.¡±


    The gift was the lute which had been identally broke in two by Ci yesterday but now was skillfully glued together. The join was barely visible.


    ¡°Sister, how did you know¡­¡± Ci was deeply moved, on the verge of tears.


    ¡°It was just a piece of cake for me. I asked someone to get the lute backst night. Take it easy. I did that because I really like you.¡± Yang Zhen put her hand on Ci¡¯s bosom and gently pinched her breast. ¡°Your skin is much too delicate.¡±


    Ci picked up the lute and asked, ¡°The lute is repaired so well. Sister, what kind of glues did you used?¡±


    ¡°The familial glue.¡± Yang Zhen smiled, ¡°I am so d that you like it. Only when Master is in a good mood can we live an easy life.¡±


    The lute made of red sandalwood was a birthday gift from Ci¡¯s father. Ci¡¯s father had carved two lines of verse on the back of the lute¨C


    ¡°Girls of 13 and 14 are slender and graceful, like the budding cardamom flowers in February.¡±

 Chapter 8: Departure

    Nima liked Ci and was fond of her singing. Although he was a tibetan, he liked everything about the central in people. He liked young women in the central ins, especially the women in the regions south of the Yangtze River. The reason Nima doted on Ci was because of her sensitivity and charming vulnerability. When she was singing, her eyebrows knitted together in a little frown and her voice was gentle and mellow.


    The lute had been repaired and Ci was in a good mood. She said to Nima, ¡°Master, thanks to Sister Yang Zhen, I have retrieved my lute.¡±


    Nima held Ci in his arms and fondled her. ¡°Really? I will reward her.¡±


    Ci nodded and blew out themp. ¡°Master, Ji Jing will soon go intobour. You want a son or a daughter?¡±


    ¡°Of course I want a son. If she gives birth to a girl, I will skin her,¡± answered Nima.


    Ci smiled, ¡°Whether she gives birth to a boy or a girl, it¡¯s your own flesh and blood. Don¡¯t value the male child only.¡±


    Suddenly, Ci was speechless because she was dragged into the wave of lust, unable to utter a word.


    Nima looked at Ci underneath him and his heart ached as if numerous thorns were growing in his heart and waves of heartache prated every pore. Gradually, the beast in him came up and led him to enter her sacred grove and fulfill his ravenous desire. He sympathized with Ci but his lust for her prevailed.


    Nima always indulged in everything that could bring him a sense of fun, and so did Ci. All living things were the same as him. When a person saw through the emptiness of the material world, he would free himself from the vexation of worldly affairs. As time went by, he dropped into the silent void and then came to the end of life.


    Yang Zhen had no chance to sing to Nima. So, she satisfied her lust with her fingers every night, just like ying the lute in a crazy, erotic rhythm. The ck and white cat kept scratching at the door with its sharp paws.


    It was said that ghosts hid in cats¡¯ eyes. The lonely ghost had nowhere to go, so they had to hide in cats¡¯ eyes.


    Yang Zhen threw a piece of meat to the ground. The cat ghostly went into her bedroom and jumped onto the bed. Cats liked the fishy smell. Yang Zhen squeezed the cat¡¯s head between her legs. The cat stuck its rough tongue out, licking Yang Zhen¡¯s small and soft vulvar lips. Groans of pain and enjoyment came out of her mouth. She sang the wrong lyrics, her voice drifting out of the window. But it didn¡¯t matter, because there was no one around her house. Only the ck and white tomcat knew how lonely she was.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Ci fell asleep. Nima got up and went to patrol the backyard as usual.


    Cannibalism had be amon practice among high officials who, however, didn¡¯t want others to know that they were cannibals, though it was nothing to be ashamed of in such troubled times. There was no safer ce than Nima Mansion. Nima also ate human flesh. The more he ate, the stronger and younger he looked. Gradually, he was addicted to eating human flesh. He liked the soy-braised human flesh best because of its crunchy skin which led to endless aftertastes.


    If I were the meat stuffing that you liked best, you would never love other women.


    When Nima came back to his bedroom, Ci happened to wake up. ¡°Master,¡± she whispered.


    Nima was startled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Master, there was a thick heavy murderous look in your eyes.¡± Ci lit up the red candle in thentern and continued, ¡°I can see it.¡±


    Nima smiled, ¡°I have done so many things offensive to God and reason. It¡¯s no big deal to do one more terrible thing.¡±


    Ci sat down on the edge of the bed and said, ¡°Master, I believe in good and evil. Evildoers will be punished in their next lives.¡±


    Nima looked at Ci coldly and said, ¡°I never believe in the existence of an afterlife.¡±


    Ci said, ¡°I believe in life after death.¡±


    As autumn approached, Ci gradually got used to living in Nima Mansion. Everything seemed perfectly all right, except for the mysterious atmosphere in Nima Mansion at night. Ci was used to Ju Juxian¡¯s serious face and barbed remarks. Ji Jing was about to give birth and her belly was extraordinarily big. Yang Zhen no longer gave Ci jewels because Ci had everything she had. Ci only chatted to Yang Zhen. Ju Juxian and Ji Jing had themselves disdained to talk to Ci. Ji Jing always wondered why Nima didn¡¯t get tired of Ci yet.


    Ci was like a ray of sunlighting into Nima¡¯s heart. Nima believed that Ci was a simple and kind-hearted woman. She looked innocent and lovely when she was slobbering in her sleep. Nima thought that she must dream about delicious food.


    In fact, Ci dreamed about the locusts. They flitted about in the air. Some of them perched on corpses, unable to fly because their wings were stuck by thick blood. Ci caught them and stuffed them into her mouth, vering from hunger.


    The corpses hung on iron hooks had been sessfully salted and made into cured meat which would be transported to abodes of the high officials in batches.


    Nima had to return to the capital this time because he had some public affairs to attend to. Moreover, he undertook the task of discussing with Emperor about how to keep good health. Before leaving, Nima said to Ju Juxian and Ji Jing, ¡°If Ci is hurt in my absence, I will kill the three of you and make your corpses into cured meat.¡±


    ¡®The three of you?¡¯ Juxian and Ji Jing looked at each other. Obviously, the unborn child in Ji Jing¡¯s belly was added to the list.


    Yang Zhen said, ¡°Master, I think your concern is misced. We don¡¯t have the nerve to bully Sister Ci.¡±


    Nima nodded.


    Liao Yong exceptionally didn¡¯t follow Nima to the capital this time. Nima had Liao Yong stay behind in Nima Mansion to protect Ci and deal with the corpses in the backyard.


    ¡°Come and see me off,¡± Nima said to Ci.


    In the octagonal pavilion, Ci was ying the lute. The autumn wind was rustling. Flowers had withered away. Leaves fell in profusion, floating about on the stillke. Nima was going to leave. Ci knitted her brows with tears in her eyes. She disguised her sorrow beneath a cheerful appearance. But after he left, she would feel lonely day and night.


    Nima asked, ¡°Ci, what do you want? I will give you everything you want.¡±


    Ci stopped ying the lute and replied, ¡°Master, if evil actions will bring retribution, I hope that I will take your ce to be punish.¡±


    Nima was touched by what Ci said. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a month. Stay in Nima Mansion and wait for me.¡±


    Then, he led a big group of people to march towards the capital. Soon, they disappeared in the distance.

 Chapter 9: Conspiracy

    Night fell and a chill shiver rippled over Ci¡¯s skin.


    Liao Yong was dead.


    He died such a terrible death that one could hardly bear the sight of it. Blood oozed from his eyes, nose and mouth. His intestines and stomach putrefied and turned into a pool of yellow water.


    Ci had sent a letter to Nima who was in the capital. However, he didn¡¯t receive it. The messenger was killed on the way to the capital. The cause of his death was the same as Liao Yong¡¯s.


    In a restaurant, Ju Juxian looked coldly at Ci who was eating at the table. Ji Jing taunted and jeered at Ci. But Yang Zhen disregarded their bad attitudes towards Ci and put food in Ci¡¯s bowl.


    When they returned to Nima Mansion, Yang Zhen took Ci¡¯s hand and pulled her into the bedroom. After closing the door, Yang Zhen whispered in Ci¡¯s ear, ¡°You can¡¯t stay in Nima mansion anymore. Last night I overheard them discussing how to kill you. Now pack up your things and go to my personal house. You can hide inside it until Masteres back.¡±


    Ci frowned, seemingly skeptical of Yan Zhen¡¯s words. ¡°I have done nothing harmful to them. Why do them regard me as an enemy and want to kill me?¡±


    Yang Zhen helped Ci pack up her things while answering, ¡°Master is obsessed with you. He doesn¡¯t take them seriously at all¡­¡±


    ¡°Sister, why are you protecting me?¡± Ci asked.


    ¡°Because we are both ill-fated.¡± Yangzhen gave a bitter smile.


    Ci nodded, ¡°I want to change into casual clothes. Sister, can you please go out somewhere for a while?¡±


    Yang Zhen replied, ¡°Okay. I¡¯lle to you at 10 p. m. tonight and bring you to my house.¡±


    After dinner, Ci went out to take tea in Autumn Wind Teahouse. She hadn¡¯t yed the lute for a long time. A lute string had broken and without Nima, no one in Nima Mansion wanted to listen to her y. San served her a cup of scented tea. The tea leaves were newly picked and processed. Ci secretly stuffed some ingots of silver into his hands.


    Li Qiufeng asked, ¡°How are you,dy?¡±


    ¡°Not bad. Thank you for your concern.¡± Ci took a sip of tea and felt refreshed. ¡°I¡¯vee to ask San to do me a favor.¡±


    Li Qiufeng said, ¡°No problem. Lady, he is at your disposal. My business is badtely. He has enough time to run errands for you.¡±


    Ci took out a letter and said to San, ¡°Please go to the capital and give this letter to Master Nima. Er, tell him it¡¯s a letter from home. You should be careful on the way.¡±


    San took the letter and immediately prepared to set off to the capital. Li Qiufeng looked carefully at Ci. There was a hint of faint ck in the top of her nose bridge connecting the eyebrows. He shook his head and said, ¡°Take care of yourself.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Ci smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. It is my destiny.¡±


    There were several lines on the letter:


    ¡°In autumn, I sit at the window with the lute in my arms. The third day after you left, a lute string broke.


    The things are still there, but you are no longer by my side. My sister tells me that you wille back soon.


    To a woman in love, one day apart seems like three years. Nobody knows how much I miss you.


    The moon is rising in the inky sky, emitting cool light through clouds. Is everything all right with you?¡±


    San was soon ready. Ci gave Li Qiufeng some bank notes and said, ¡°This is the money for San¡¯s journey. There must be some surplus. Please ept the remaining money.¡±


    At approximately 10:00 p. m., the wind pped at the door. Ci thought that Yang Zhen was outside the door, but when she opened the door, there was only a white cat lying prone on the ground, mewing sadly.


    ¡°You can rest assured that I will not die,¡± Ci said to the cat. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about me. I promise you that I will not die.¡±


    On hearing this the cat quietly climbed up to the roof like a ghost. Ghosts lived inside cats and cats were ghosts.


    Yang Zhen walked over swaying her hips and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. My house ismodious. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll enjoy living there.¡±


    Ci removed the hairpin from her head and pinned it in Yang Zhen¡¯s hair. ¡°Sister, it¡¯s your hairpin. Please take it back. I don¡¯t need it anymore.¡±


    Yang Zhen was dazed for a second.


    All the servants turned a blind eye when Ci and Yang Zhen walked out of Nima Mansion. Maybe they saw Ci but had no intention of stopping her. Maybe they were afraid of getting into trouble, so they kept quiet. After all, the primary duty of the domestics and guards was to guard Nima Mansion and prevent outsiders from entering the mansion. As for the people living in the mansion, the servants had no right to stop them from leaving.


    Ci had no idea how long she had been walking with Yang Zhen. A stretch of barrennd spread in front of her. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sister, how far is it to your personal house?¡±


    Yang Zhen smiled, ¡°It¡¯s not too far from here. If you are tired, we can stop and have a rest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired. I once travelled enormous distance on foot.¡± Ci gazed up at the moon overhead. A dark cloud drifted by and covered the moon. The fields were shrouded in darkness. A chilly wind blew hard across the open spaces and will-o¡¯-the-wisps blinked in the darkness. Ci was not afraid of ghosts. She thought that humans were more horrible and crueler than ghosts.


    Yang Zhen pushed open the door and led Ci to the bed. The room was borately decorated. Ciy down on the bed and said, ¡°Thank you, Sister Yang Zhen.¡±


    ¡°You can set your mind at rest and have a good sleep tonight. I¡¯ll bring you some daily necessities tomorrow,¡± said Yang Zhen.


    Ci stared at the hairpin in Yang Zhen¡¯s hair and nodded.


    Yangzhen returned to Nima Mansion and went to Ju Juxian¡¯s bedroom. The light was on. Ji Jing was sitting at the table with a big belly.


    ¡°Have you taken her to your house?¡± Ju Juxian, who seldom smiled, now wore a big smile, her face creasing.


    Yang Zhen answered, ¡°Yes. I have done as you wished.¡±


    Ji Jing asked, ¡°What if Masteres back and knows everything we have done and are going to do?¡±


    Yang Zhen touched Ji Jing¡¯s belly and said, ¡°As long as you give birth to a son, everything will be fine.¡±

 Chapter 10: Torment

    When Ci awoke, she saw Ju Juxian, Ji Jing and Yang Zhen standing beside the bed.


    Ci was not surprised. She slowly sat up and dressed herself. It was cold and she put on a cloak.


    ¡°You¡­ Aren¡¯t you afraid right now?¡± Yang Zhen asked.


    ¡°Why should I be afraid?¡± Ci tied back her hair with a ribbon and continued, ¡°Everyone has to die. I know you want to kill me. I have no choice but to resign myself to fate.¡±


    Ji Jing said to Ju Juxian and Yang Zhen, ¡°Cut the crap. Let¡¯s get to work.¡±


    Ci closed her eyes.


    She knew that she was going to suffer, but she didn¡¯t expect that she would be dragged into the endless pain.


    She thought that she was going to die, but she didn¡¯t expect that she would be tortured day after day and suffer a living death.


    She knew that Nima would be back, but she didn¡¯t expect that by then they would be so close but yet so far.


    Ju Juxian, Ji Jing and Yang Zhen tore off Ci¡¯s hair as if they were pulling out the weeds. Her scalp peeled off, as blood oozed from the wounds, streamed down her forehead and dripped into her eyes, blurring her vision. Before long, Ci became an iplete baldheaded woman. Waves of pain prated her every pore. Strangely, a faint smile appeared on her face, weirdly and horribly.


    They took barbed whips from the wardrobe and began to flog Ci. Her clothes were torn to shreds by the whips, the same as her skin was. Ci fainted away. For her, it was better to be unconscious. It was like falling into a deep sleep. She could dream about Nima and forget the pain for the time being.


    They sprinkled salt on Ci¡¯s bloodied body and wrapped the cotton cloth around her. This was Ji Jing¡¯s idea. She had frequently bragged about how wonderful the idea was, but when she did it, she felt a tremor in her hands.


    An hourter, the white cloth waspletely stained red by the blood.


    Yang Zhen asked Ju Juxian, ¡°Why not kill her directly? It will save trouble. Madam, you needn¡¯t have dirtied your hands.¡±


    Ju Juxian said, ¡°If you can¡¯t bring yourself to continue, go outside and bring the cage in to me.¡±


    Yangzhen cast a look at Ci before she went out. The cloth had sunk in her flesh. When Ju Juxian and Ji Jing pulled off the cloth wrapped around her, the skin all over her body was torn off. Ci became a skinless monster. She was bathed in blood. With no skin on her face, her eyes and mouth stood out in particr.


    Ju Juxian cut out Ci¡¯s tongue which was red and long.


    Ji Jing said, ¡°I never thought that her tongue is so long.¡±


    A few minutester, Yang Zhen came in from outside again with a cage in her hands. There were many big moles in the cage. They snapped at the iron bars of the cage with their big front teeth. They had small shifty eyes and ck coats.


    Yang Zhen picked up a sharp knife and killed the moles, and then yed them. The furs with warm rat blood were ced on the floor and soon piled up.


    Ji Jing glued the furs onto Ci¡¯s skinless body with trembling hands.


    Ju Juxian asked Yang Zhen, ¡°Will it work?¡±


    Yang Zhen nodded, ¡°Madam, trust me. I have experimented on others.¡±


    Ju Juxian nodded, went over to cut off Ci¡¯s tendons and pulled them out. Then she wiped the blood off her hands with a silk handkerchief and looked down at Ci on the floor with a satisfied smile. ¡°You two do the rest. I¡¯ll go back first. It¡¯s too cruel. I can¡¯t bear to stay here anymore.¡±


    She walked to the door and turned around to say, ¡°If she dies, throw her body away and ask some monks to chant scriptures and release her soul from purgatory.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Ji Jing covered her stomach with her hands. ¡°Ouch, Yang Zhen, I don¡¯t feel well. I believe you can handle it by yourself. Now I¡¯m going to return to Nima Mansion with Sister Juxian.¡±


    There was only a piece of mole¡¯s fur with long ck hair left on the floor. Yang Zhen gummed the fur and stuck it into Ci¡¯s mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t me me. I have no choice,¡± said Yang Zhen.


    Ci couldn¡¯t hear what Yang Zhen said. She was on the way to death.


    San couldn¡¯t hear what Yang Zhen said. He was on the way to the capital.


    Nima couldn¡¯t hear what Yang Zhen said. He was on the way to the pub. At the thought of the chewy cured meat, he was filled with joy.

 Chapter 11: A Large Rat

    The broad-leaved epiphyllum was quietly flowering in front of the grave of an unknown people. Before dawn, the flowers withered away. Happiness was just as transient as the broad-leaved epiphyllum. After a brief moment of beauty, it was a boundless darkness.


    Ciy huddled up in the bed, with no idea of what would happen next.


    In a trance, she seemed to see Nima. Gradually, she fell asleep and met her beloved man in the dream.


    Ci was still alive. She was wriggling on the bed with difficulty.


    Yang Zhen gave Ci a ss of water and a bowl of uncooked rice every day. Sometimes Ci received a piece of bad meat. ¡°Keep her alive. It¡¯s not fun if she dies.¡± Ji Jing said before going out.


    Her whole body was wrapped in the mole furs which began to contract and squeeze her flesh and bones. Ci felt suffocated as her throat constricted. She gasped for air, opened her mouth and tried to say something, but finally she could only let out a shrill cry. Her eyes became smaller. She tried hard to open her eyes wide and saw the water and food in front of her. Then she struggled to crawl towards the food and ate it. Her body was gradually deformed into an oval shape, just like a dark gray female mole. She had sharp teeth but no tail.


    San stood at the gate of Nima Mansion in the capital, exhausted, gasping for breath. Nima, who was enjoying human meat dipped in soy sauce, said to his men, ¡°Go and bring me a tureen of soup. I want to drink some soup after eating meat.¡±


    Sam took out the letter from an inside pocket and handed it to Nima who took and read it carefully. Then he smiled, ¡°Ci always likes to write some flowery sentences. But I like her style. Hahahaha¡­¡± He swallowed a mouthful of soup and continued, ¡°Now you can go back and tell her that I will return home in a few days.¡±


    San started the journey back towards Tange Town. Everywhere a scene of devastation met the eye along the way. There were so many hungry people and evil people in the world.  Some of the hungry people ate the evil people, and some of the evil people killed the hungry people.


    It waste autumn and many people were lying dead on the road with their eyes open wide, lifeless and soundless. Their desated bodies were covered with dead leaves.


    When San arrived at Autumn Wind Teahouse, he looked pathetic. The earlobe of his left ear had been bitten off and eaten by a refugee. Fortunately, it was nothing serious.


    After an afternoon nap, Ju Juxian satzily in the chair and asked Yang Zhen, ¡°Master will be back soon. What about that woman? Has our experiment seeded?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it is approaching sess.¡± Yang Zhen nodded.


    Ji Jing slowly walked towards them and said in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s certainly a sessful experiment. I think she would rather die than live like this. In the future, regardless of who the so-called ¡®Fourth Madam¡¯ is, we can make her ¡®disappear¡¯ like this.¡±


    Ci sniffed at herself and caught a whiff of moles. She crawled to the door and tried to get out, but it was locked.


    Then she heard footsteps outside.


    Yang Zhen came to Ci¡¯s room with food at this time every day.


    Ten dayster, Ci could smoothly crawl on limbs and relieve herself. She was able to see clearly what was in front of her. Sometimes, she scratched her abdomen with her ws. She could no longer stand like people. She thought of herself as a rat.


    Sometimes Yang Zhen stabbed at Ci¡¯s sole with the hairpin. The pointed end raked Ci¡¯s skin and she squeaked like a rat. Yang Zhen smiled and grabbed at Ci¡¯s ear which was covered with ck fur. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You will soon meet Master again.¡±


    On the way back, Nima heard some townsmen gossiping that Fourth Madam of Nima Mansion had a love affair stealthily with a servant and they eloped a couple of days ago.


    Yang Zhen greeted Nima with tears. ¡°Master, I¡¯m sorry. If you need to vent, you can kill me.¡±


    Ji Jing was kneeling on the floor in the inner room with a surprisingly big belly.


    Ju Juxian looked at Nima expressionlessly and said, ¡°You are back. Since it has happened, you have to face up to it.¡±


    Yang Zhen manufactured a false story to hide the facts. After listening to her, Nima went to Ci¡¯s bedroom. On the table was the lute, and the wardrobe was empty. ¡®The lute is still there, but you are no longer by my side. I finally understand the meaning of your letter,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Where are they now? When did they leave?¡± he asked.


    Yang Zhen cried, ¡°I found out about their adulterous rtionship several days ago. But I didn¡¯t expect them to elope so soon. I have sent people to search for them. But by now, there¡¯s no news about their whereabouts.¡±


    Nima seemed to have aged in the space of one afternoon.


    He dreamed about Ci at night. In his dream, she was running wild with Liao Yong on a hill. Finally, they stopped at an old thatched cottage. The young man ran a hand through her unkempt hair and kissed her¡­


    Ji Jing gave birth to a son. The new born baby was bright-eyed and had good features. A monthter, Nima held a banquet for his son. The news of Ci¡¯s elopement was a severe blow to this middle-aged man¡¯s pride. But gradually, his sadness was watered down by the birth of his son. When he was unable to sleep, he went to Ci¡¯s bedroom andy down on the bed, staring nkly at the lute. ¡®In the eyes of women, I can¡¯t seem topare with those young men.¡±


    Nima was satisfied with Ji Jing¡¯s child-bearing capacity. He named his son Nidazu. At night, he was pleased with Yang Zhen¡¯s performance in bed.


    Ci¡¯s movements were bing nimbler. She had a rapacious appetite. When she was hungry, she bit off arge piece of the wood at the foot of the bed, chewed and swallowed it to fill her empty stomach.


    Yangzhen walked in with a chain in her hands, and then slipped it about Ci¡¯s neck and pulled her out with all her strength.


    It was snowing outside. The woman¡¯s footprints and the big rat¡¯s paw prints presented an interesting scene in the snow. The passersby were all surprised and eximed, ¡°Wow, what a big rat!¡±


    Nima looked at Yang Zhen in surprise and asked, ¡°How did you get such arge rat?¡±


    Yang Zhen gave an obsequious smile and answered, ¡°Today a hunter went into the mountains to hunt and caught this rat. I bought it for 18 ounces of silver.¡± She handed the chain to Nima and continued, ¡°Master, thisrge rat is different from other rats. It¡¯s said to be an excellent tonic. Its flesh can help you prolong your life.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Bring it to the kitchen and cook it.¡± Nima waved his hand and continued, ¡°Remember to invite Juxian and Ji Jing to have dinner with us. Tonight we can taste it together.¡±


    Hearing this, Ci, whoy on her stomach at his feet, began to squeak and roll on the ground.


    Nima kicked Ci aside and said, ¡°All right, now I don¡¯t want to eat it. Just keep it as a pet.¡±


    Yang Zhen was stunned. ¡°Master, why did you suddenly change your mind? Its flesh is very nutritious.¡±


    Nima said, ¡°This rat is a rarity. It¡¯s a pity to eat it.¡±


    Ci looked up at Nima with despair. She could hear him clearly, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t make him understand what she was saying because she hadpletely lost the power of speech.

 Chapter 12: Cat and Rat

    It was winter already. A st of hot air came from the firece and filled the room with warmth.


    Juxian and Ji Jing weren¡¯t offended by the return of Ci; on the contrary, they were cheerful. ¡°Look at the rat. It¡¯s so ugly.¡±


    Yang Zhen prized Ci¡¯s mouth open and smiled, ¡°Different from other rats, this rat had a hairy mouth.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Ji Jing cradled Nimazu in her arms and said, ¡°Master, I want to know if this rat is afraid of the cat in your arms.¡±


    Ciy huddled up on the floor at Nima¡¯s feet, shivering in fear. The big tabby cat in Nima¡¯s arms jumped down and chased Ci in the room. Before long, it caught her and snapped at her leg. Its sharp teeth pierced and sank into her flesh, and blood immediately started to ooze out. The cat promptly let go of her, and ran away with its mouth full of blood.


    Although Ci looked like a rat, her flesh didn¡¯t taste anything like the rat meat. Cats were very smart animals and knew when to give up and run away. So cats had been and were in people¡¯s good graces.


    The wound stopped bleeding, and Ci curled up in a tight ball at Nima¡¯s feet.


    She rarely squeaked because no one could understand her.


    She lingered on with herst breath of life and went on living in pain.


    In the daytime she listened to people around chattering away about everything under the sun. At night she nimbly eluded cats. When Nima was in bad mood, she kept away from him. When Nima was smiling, she crept towards him. ¡®That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m destined to suffer,¡¯ Ci thought.


    For an ill-fated person, she had to bear intense suffering wherever she was.


    Nima grew ustomed to living with the strange ¡°rat¡±. The long hair covered its eyes. Nima cropped its hair and found that it had beautiful eyes. It especially liked Ci¡¯s room and spent several hours there every day.


    ¡®It¡¯s indeed a rarity,¡¯ he thought. Then, he squatted down to stroke its smooth back. It was the first time he touched this ¡°rat¡±.


    Ci rubbed against his hand with her head and rolled on the floor.


    Nima rose to his feet and said, ¡°You are so smart. Can you tell me where she is?¡±


    Ci started shouting but Nima couldn¡¯t understand her. He was not God. So he went out. God was able to understand what she said but could do nothing to help her.


    Nidazu was learning to talk. He babbled happily and crawled on his hands and knees on the floor. Children liked animals by nature. To some extent, children were small animals. He chased Ci and reached out to tweak her ear. Ci didn¡¯t try to dodge; instead, she yed with him.


    Ji Jing¡¯s face changed drastically and she quickly picked up her son. ¡°If you bite him, I¡¯ll throw you out to feed cats. As we all know, cats like to hunt mice.¡± Scared, Ci rushed to the courtyard and got quickly into another room.


    To mice, cats were the most horrible animals in the world.


    As the days went on, Nima still didn¡¯t know that the strangerge rat by his side was the woman he had been looking for. People who knew the truth didn¡¯t want to tell him. Even if they told him the truth, he wouldn¡¯t believe it. Even if he believed it, he wouldn¡¯t have the courage to face up to it.


    Nidazu was ying with snow in the courtyard. Ci was ustomed to being treated as a rat in Nima Mansion. The man she loved was close at hand. Although he cared nothing for her, she would rather stay by his side than be separated from him by death.


    Ji Jing began to feel terrified. She went to consult with Ju Juxian and Yang Zhen. Finally, in order to prevent themselves from further worry, they decided to kill Ci.


    One day, Nima saw that the huge rat was crazily chasing his son and trying to bite him. What he didn¡¯t know was that Nimazu had some delicious jerky in his pocket. It was Yang Zhen¡¯s idea, a wonderful idea.


    Nima stepped on Ci¡¯s stomach with all his strength. A section of her red small intestine was exposed to the air. She took a deep breath and her small intestine automatically retracted into her body.


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m dying.¡± Ci looked up at Nima sadly.


    Only cats could understand what mice said. Nima couldn¡¯t understand her.


    ¡°Oh my God! How dared you to hurt my son!¡± Ji Jing rushed over and picked up Nidazu. ¡°Master, this rat is a threat to Nidazu¡¯s life!¡±


    With that she secretly pinched Nidazu¡¯s hand hard.


    Nidazu burst into tears.


    Nima grasped Ci¡¯s neck, lifted her off the ground, and then threw her aside with all his strength. ¡°Lock it up in the kitchen.¡±

 Chapter 13: Retribution

    ¡°We live fare apart. The grasses are tall and the orioles are flying in the air. I have travelled throughout Jiangnan but never met you again.


    I once escaped into dreams but woke with a sense of deep sorrow and depressing loss. Flocks of honking wild geese flew past and I hope they can bring my love letters to you.


    Life is cruel. Since you left, I have sunk into depression¡­¡±


    In Nima¡¯s dream, Ci was singing the song that she had often sung. Suddenly, Nima woke up and muttered, ¡°Ci¡­¡± The letter slipped out of his grasp, as tears welled up in his eyes and streamed down his face.


    The servants were preparing the table for dinner outside. The maid, Yan, shouted, ¡°Third Madam, the dinner is ready.¡±


    Nima¡¯s thought was suddenly interrupted by her loud voice.


    ¡®Third Madam. Madam Yang Zhen. Third sister¡­¡¯


    Nima had a moment of enlightenment and yelled like crazy, ¡°Yang Zhen,e here at once!¡±


    Yang Zhen was looking at herself in the mirror. She had rosy lips and pretty white teeth. A maid wasbing Yang Zhen¡¯s hair. ¡°Madam, Master wants to see you.¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t live without me. What a sweet burden!¡± Yang Zhen put on a short padded coat and walked out of her bedroom.


    Nima stood in the middle of Ci¡¯s bedroom with a sharp knife in his hand.


    ¡°Master! What do you want to do?¡± Yang Zhen knelt down before him.


    ¡°Where is Ci?¡± Nima held the knife to Yang Zhen¡¯s stomach and continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me the truth, I will kill you.¡±


    ¡°Master, I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t know,¡± she replied in a trembling voice.


    The sharp de nicked Yang Zhen¡¯s clothes and Nima said, ¡°Ci has told me everything in the letter. You¡¯d better tell me the truth.¡±


    There were four lines on Ci¡¯s letter:


    ¡°In autumn, I sit at the window with the lute in my arms. The third day after you left, a lute string broke.


    The things are still there, but you are no longer by my side. My sister tells me that you wille back soon.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    To a woman in love, one day apart seems like three years. Nobody knows how much I miss you.


    The moon is rising in the inky sky, emitting cool light through clouds. Is everything all right with you?¡±


    If you took the second word in the second sentence of each line and strung them together, it was a new sentence¨C ¡°Third sister knows everything¡±. San had given Nima the letter in the capital but at that time Nima hadn¡¯t noticed the hidden message. Ci had had an ominous presentiment of disaster, but what she had done was just a useless effort.


    Yang Zhen burst into tears. ¡°Master, Madam Juxian and Madam Ji Jing did that! I had no choice but to do what I was asked. Master, please forgive me!¡±


    ¡°Where is she?¡± The knife cut into her skin and blood started oozing out of the wound.


    ¡°Madam Ji Jing skinned Ci, cut out her tongue and wrapped her in the mole furs. The huge rat we kept is Ci.¡± Yang Zhen covered the wound in her stomach with her hand, but blood kept pouring through her fingers. ¡°Master, I couldn¡¯t save Sister Ci¡­ I couldn¡¯t save her. I was powerless to stop them. I watched them torture her but could do nothing to save her. If I had disobeyed their orders, I would have been killed¡­¡±


    The news hit Nima like a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky and he felt dizzy.


    The sewer was dark and the bones were white. After a season, Ci¡¯s body, including the mole furs which had been stuck to Ci¡¯s body, and her flesh, putrefied. Nima saw aplete, shrunken skeleton, including the small backbone, the iplete bones of hands and feet and the fractured skull. The sewage flowed through the skeleton, but all the bones were still white.


    In the past, the girl had wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear, ¡°Because I like you, Master.¡± She was such a soft-hearted girl. When she saw beggars in the street, she would give them all her money. When she saw fallen petals floating on the water, she would shed tears. When she yed the lute, she would steal a nce at him and lower her head with a shy smile. Only Ci had advised him to be kind. Only she loved him truly¡­


    ¡°If evil actions will bring retribution, I hope that I will take your ce to be punish.¡± Ci¡¯s firm voice resounded in his ears.


    Nima picked up the skeleton in the sewer and hugged it tight to his chest. He broke down and cried loudly. The skeleton fell apart and the bones were scattered all over the ground. Ci had starved to death. Before death, she had missed Nima terribly and wished that he would appear and hold her in his arms. But atst she had died in loneliness.


    They loved each other but death separated them.


    Ji Jing trembled violently with her head bowed. ¡°Master, please spare Nidazu. He is still a young child.¡±


    Ju Juxian looked at Yang Zhen and said, ¡°It was Yang Zhen¡¯s idea. She bought the moles, yed them and glued their furs onto Ci¡¯s body. She is the brains behind the scheme. Even if I had taken a hand in it, you shouldn¡¯t kill me. Ci is just a lowly woman. No need to care much about her.¡±


    Yangzhen was kneeling on the floor pleading for mercy, ¡°Master, we know we were wrong. We have attended upon you for so many years. For the sake of our marital rtionships, please let us off this time.¡±


    ¡°Let you off?¡± Nima snorted, ¡°Have you given Ci a chance to live? How could you murder her in such a cruel way?¡±


    Ju Juxian sneered, ¡°So, how could you kill those people in the backyard? They are also innocents.¡±


    Nima kicked the table over and roared, ¡°All of you, get out!¡±


    The three women thought that Nima wouldn¡¯t kill them, so they had no intention of leaving Nima Mansion.

 Chapter 14: Fate

    Nima incinerated Ci¡¯s bones and lute, and put the ashes in a box. After her death, she left him nothing but a handful of ashes.


    It was unbearable to meet as well as to depart for all lovers. Ci was just like a passenger in Nima¡¯s life who had brought him temporary happiness and then left him alone in the cold world. In the eyes of sad people, even the splendid spring, the hard-working bees and the beautiful butterflies would remind them of their sad stories.


    ¡®I¡¯m getting old, both physically and psychologically,¡¯ Nima thought.


    He finally knew why Yang Zhen had took such a huge rat back to Nima Mansion. It liked to stay in Ci¡¯s bedroom. When he stroked it, it was so quiet and obedient. It turned out that the rat was Ci. Her experience was like going through purgatory and she had suffered a lot. There were lots of things that she wanted to say, however, the man she loved had stepped on her stomach, flung her to the ground and starved her to death before she was recognized by him.


    ¡®Ci, were you indebted to me in your previous life?¡¯ he thought to himself.


    Nima was drunk. Hey on the bed in Ci¡¯s bedroom,ughing and shouting, ¡°Come here and y a tune for me¡­ Give me this girl¡­ Hahahaha¡­¡±


    It was raining outside and lots of flowers wilted. The dead people were like petals in the mud, waiting for a reincarnation.


    Rat became the most popr animal in Tange Town. Peasants stopped farming and began to catch rats. Why did they suddenly take a fancy to rats? Because the servants of Nima Mansion quietly started buying rats. A small rat could be exchanged for half a kilo of rice. A big rat was worth 1. 8 ounces of fine silver.


    Townsmen went around spreading the news. Soon everyone in Tange town knew it and it became a well-known secret.


    People only cared about rice and silver, and nobody was curious about why the servants of Nima Mansion bought so many rats. Some vigers even thought that Nima was doing good deeds on the pretext of buying rats. In their eyes, Nima wanted to help them but was afraid that they wouldn¡¯t ept charity because of their dignity. So he gave them rice and silver in the name of business.


    The servants of Nima Mansion, with hoes in their hands, were digging a pit in the backyard day and night.


    Ji Jing, Nidazu who had just learned to toddle, Ju Juxian and Yang Zhen were taken to the backyard. When they took off blindfolds, they were frightened and couldn¡¯t help trembling violently.


    It was spring already. The clear, bright moonlight was streaming into the backyard. The air was full of fragrance of flowers. Countless rats were squeaking in the deep pit. Because of hunger, some of the rats began to eat other rats. They disembowelled one another with sharp teeth and paws as if a couple hugged and kissed each other.


    ¡°Have you ever seen a pit of ten thousand rats?¡± Nima asked.


    Ju Juxian, Ji Jing and Yang Zhen knelt down, shivering with fear. Nidazu, who was ignorant of worldly affairs, looked at those rats curiously. The pit was jammed with ten thousand rats. They were different colors and sizes, squeaking with hunger. There were also some golden-haired rats which looked cute. The pit was deep and the pit walls were so smooth that rats couldn¡¯t climb out.


    ¡°Master, don¡¯t!¡± Ju Juxian begged in a trembling voice, as her hand also shook violently.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to break the rules for you.¡± Nima raised his foot and kicked her into the pit. She gave a frightened scream and soon disappeared in the waves of rats. Her clothes and shoes could be seen at first, but after a while, nothing was left but hungry rats.


    ¡°Master, I will jump into the pit myself.¡± Ji Jing whimpered, ¡°I only hope that you can forgive Nidazu. He¡¯s your son. You like him best, don¡¯t you?¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She held Nidazu down and forced him to kowtow to Nima. ¡°Come on, beg your father to pardon you.¡±


    Nima looked at Nidazu. This boy was indeed smart and sensitive.


    Ji Jing jumped into the pit, and the rats quickly got into her mouth. Before long she was suffocated to death. The rats ate her flesh and chewed her bones. Soon shepletely disappeared in the world.


    Nidazu cried and made a scene. He kicked Nima in the shins, his eyes burning with anger and hatred.


    Nima smiled at Yang Zhen, ¡°You don¡¯t have to jump into the pit.¡±


    Yangzhen was on her knees and watched Nima approaching her. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    Nima squatted down and pulled out his knife. ¡°You are such a beautiful woman.¡±


    He cut open her belly and the steaming entrails were scattered all over the ground.


    Nima closed his eyes and said to the servants, ¡°Throw Young Master into the pit after I leave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± he said to himself and walked away.


    Nima returned to Tibet with Ci¡¯s ashes. Before he left, the officials who liked to eat human meat, tried to persuade him to stay but he insisted on leaving. An official asked, ¡°What about us? After you leave, we will lose an excellent supplier of human meat.¡±


    Nima replied, ¡°You can cook human meat yourself. I¡¯ve already told you the methods of cooking and pickling.¡±


    Before leaving, Nima gave each of the officials two books¨C ¡°The Benefits of Eating Human Meat¡± and ¡°How to Make Delicious Human Meat Dishes¡±. Nima told them that he wrote the books, but in fact, these two books were written by the seasoned servants.


    Sandal was first invented by San. Nima was the first person to hire the ghostwriter. Li Qiufeng was the first counterfeiter in the history. Autumn Wind Teahouse opened up a new branch called ¡°Autumn Wind Tea Club¡±. Thanks to Nima, Li Qiufeng did excellent business.


    Unfortunately, the human meat dishes cooked by the high officials couldn¡¯tpare with those cooked by Nima¡¯s servants, in terms of both texture and shelf life. After eating these human meat dishes, many people suffered from diarrhea and died. People used to believe that eating human meat could improve their fitness. But gradually, they gave up the idea.


    In a temple, Nima knelt down and said, ¡°I¡¯m guilty.¡±


    Ama closed his eyes andforted Nima, ¡°Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are merciful. It¡¯s never toote to correct mistakes. As long as you sincerely repent and earnestly reform yourself, you will be saved.¡±


    At the bridge to Hell, Ci picked up a bowl of Lethe water and asked Meng Po, ¡°Will I forget everything after drinking it?


    Meng Po said, ¡°You are in the top ten of the most desperate persons of this year in Hell. I have been waiting for you for a long time. You are here atst.¡±


    Ci drank all the water in the bowl and said, ¡°After being reincarnated in a new body, I will forget Master and everything that happened to me, right?¡±


    Meng Po nodded, ¡°Yes. That¡¯smon sense.¡±


    The King of Hell looked at Ci and asked, ¡°Are you reconciled to your fate?¡±


    Ci nodded.

 Chapter 15: Reincarnation

    ¡°Wake up, baby. It¡¯s time to get up. You have to go to work this morning.¡± Luo Nan gently pinched the sleeping woman¡¯s nose.


    Dong Ci turned over in bed. ¡°Please! I want to sleep for another minute, just one minute,¡± she begged in a soft and adorable tone, as if she were a spoiled child begging for a candy.


    Then she turned her face to the wall. Her silk nightdress was pulled loose, revealing her smooth, delicate back which was dotted with several pimples. The weather was hot and she suffered from excessive internal heat. With those pimples, she was more like an ordinary, charming woman.


    Luo Nan removed Dong Ci¡¯s shoulder-straps and held her from behind with a mischievous smile on his face. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to get up, we can do something to fight down your desire to sleep¡­¡±


    Dong Ci was still sleeping soundly, seemly unaware of his big hands over her bosom, and her breathing was even and calm.


    Luo Nan let go of her and sat down on the sofa. ¡°Okay. You can go on sleeping. s! Those poor guests are still waiting for you.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just as the words fell from his lips, Dong Ci sat up and looked out of the window with a drowsy look. The room was tinged yellow by brilliant sunshine streaming in through the window. She stretched herself and licked her rosy lips, her slender waist swaying alluringly. ¡°It¡¯s really a fine day,¡± she said.


    Luo Nan looked up at her and said teasingly, ¡°Yesterday you told me that you wanted to get up at six o¡¯clock this morning. So I tried to wake you up at six but you slept like the dead and didn¡¯t hear me. At seven o¡¯clock I tried again, but you said that today is Sunday. At eight o¡¯clock, I tried once more but you told me that you wanted to sleep for another minute. And now it¡¯s half past eight¡­¡±


    Dong Ci screamed, ¡°Ah! It¡¯s half past eight?! Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡±


    She began to dress herself frantically. Her forehead was oozing sweat and she felt hot as if she was in a scorching oven. ¡°It¡¯s so hot today,¡± sheined.


    Luo Nan went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.


    Dong Ci sat on the toilet and emptied the bowels while making herself up. When she finished her make-up, Luo Nan got the breakfast ready for her. On the table were milk, salted vegetables, doughnuts, and a water bottle filled with icy water. ¡°Come and have breakfast,¡± he said in a soft voice.


    Dong Ci picked up the water bottle and her handbag, stood in front of the mirror and sprayed her fluffy hair with gel water. Then she applied some gentian violet solution to a bruise on her elbow which was caused by the fierce sexst night. She had a doughnut in her mouth and said in a vague voice, ¡°Honey, I¡¯mte. I¡¯ve got to rush. See you tonight.¡±


    With that she nted a kiss on his cheek. He caught a whiff of bread.


    Luo Nan wanted her to drink some milk, so he picked up a ss of milk and rushed to the door, but Dong Ci had raced away out of sight. She even forgot to take her mobile phone, which was off and lying next to the pillow quietly. Standing on the balcony, Luo Nan slowly drank the milk, looked down at Dong Ci¡¯s receding figure and shook his head, and then sighed with profound resignation, ¡°I must have been indebted to her in the previous life.¡±


    ¡®If Dong Ci hadn¡¯t insisted on working for another half a year, she would have married me. If she was my legal wife, she could be free to wake up whenever she wanted. If she felt bored, she could go shopping or y mahjong withdies living in quadrangle dwellings. She even could keep a puppy as pet and hire a servant to do all the cooking and cleaning. Why did Dong Ci insist on working for another half a year? For money? But she would rather take a taxi than let me drive her to thepany. I have been her boyfriend for half a year, but I still know little about her real self,¡¯ he thought to himself. Then he phoned his driver, ¡°Hello. Pleasee and pick me up.¡±


    Dong Ci liked her job and enjoyed working with people. Her work was to serve different guests every day. Her ultimate aim was to satisfy the guests and milk money from them. Her manager often praised her, ¡°You are really the most outstanding guide in ourpany. You are beautiful and likable. I hope you won¡¯t get married too early.¡±


    Her colleagues liked her too, because Dong Ci was generous. Every time she got a handsome reward, she invited her colleagues to dinner. Gradually, she established good interpersonal rtionships with them and few people in thepany talked behind her back. So, she always took the title of the most outstanding guide.


    When a woman was famous, she became arrogant.


    The moment Dong Ci got into the tourist bus, all the tourists in it exploded with the rage that had simmered for a few hours.


    The driver Xia Yan had been Dong Ci¡¯s partner for a long time and got used to her beingte. But in order to cate the tourists, he had to pretend to be annoyed and scold her, ¡°Why are you sote? The guests have waited for you for two and a half hours.  I called you several times but couldn¡¯t get through.¡±


    A middle-aged woman in a dress lifted her hand and shouted, ¡°Refund my money, or I willin to your superiors.¡±


    Hearing this all the tourists began to censure her, ¡°You are a guide. How could you be sote? Do you really take your job seriously?¡±


    ¡°Your boss must have been crazy to employ you. You will drag down the reputation of your tourist agency.¡±


    ¡°You have wasted our time. We need somepensation.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for so long. What are you going to do with our losses?¡±


    ¡­


    Dong Ci looked up and down the middle-aged woman in a dress, and then came up to her and said, ¡°Do you want a refund?¡±


    The woman nced at Dong Ci and answered, ¡°Yes. You are more than two hourste. So, you have topensate me.¡±


    Dong Ci said, ¡°Here¡¯s 500 yuan. Now you can get off the bus.¡±


    All the people in the tourist bus quietened. The woman with 500 Yuan in her hand was at a loss what to do.


    ¡°Sorry, everybody.¡± Dong Ci rolled up her sleeve, showing the wound on her elbow, and in a choked voice she continued, ¡°I was robbed at my doorstepst night. I lost my wallet, ID card and mobile phone. That¡¯s why the driver couldn¡¯t get through to me this morning.¡±


    The tourists sighed sympathetically and gazed at her injured elbow.


    ¡°Although I was injured, I have no intention of taking the day off. But now I feel guilty and irresponsible because I have kept you waiting. You canin to my superiors. But I hope you all take extra security precautions when you go out in the evening.¡± Her voice trembled, seemingly on the verge of tears.


    The middle-aged woman handed the money to Dong Ci and said, ¡°s! Poor girl! Forget it. It¡¯s nice of you toe. You don¡¯t need topensate me. Come on, let¡¯s start our tour!¡±


    Dong Ci took the money, turned on the loudspeaker and said with a smile, ¡°Hello, everyone! Wee to this sightseeing tour. I¡¯m the guide from Starlight International Travel Agency. My name is Dong Ci. We all know Dong Yong, the husband of Seventh Fairy. My surname is the same as his. In China, ¡®Ci¡¯ means ¡®porcins¡¯.  China is famous for the porcins. Don¡¯t you think my name is full of Chinese characteristics? Now let¡¯s start a strong ethnic style tour!¡±


    All the people in the tour bus apuded. An elderly couple looked at each other and said in chorus, ¡°The girl has a nice voice.¡±


    As Xia Yan drove, he thought to himself, ¡°She managed to cate the angry tourists again. What a capable guide she is!¡±


    Dong Ci¡¯s face lit up with a triumphant smile.

 Chapter 16: Ghosts

    Dong Ci cut her index finger while she was chopping vegetables. The point of a knife sank into her fingertip.


    Luo Nan licked her fingertip and got a metallic taste of blood. ¡°Be careful.¡±


    Finally, they went out and had dinner in a restaurant. Luo Nan said, ¡°Gentlemen should stay away from the kitchen.¡±


    Dong Ci got into the elevator. She was so sleepy that she could hardly keep her eyes open. ¡°I¡¯m so tired. I¡¯m going to go to bed as soon as I get home.¡±


    Luo Nan held Dong Ci¡¯s arm and said, ¡°To hell with the agreement between you and your boss. You are working so hard every day. Why not quit your job and marry me?¡±


    Five months ago, Dong Ci had made an agreement with the boss of Starlight International Travel Agency that she would work for him for another half a year.


    ¡°Be patient. The agreement will expire in a month. I like the way we live now.¡± Dong Ci took out the key and opened the door. ¡°Numerous marriages now end in divorce. As long as we are together and love each other, we don¡¯t have to get married.¡±


    ¡°Bah! Don¡¯t talk nonsense. We won¡¯t divorce,¡± Ronan smiled.


    But he knew what Dong Ci said was the truth.


    Luo Nan pulled the curtains together. The air-conditioner thrummed and cool air whooshed. He picked up Dong Ci, ced her on the bed, and then took off his pants.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked.


    As desire gradually filled Luo Nan¡¯s eyes, he donned a flirtatious smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s really my lucky day. You said that you wanted to go to bed. So, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    With that he pressed her against the bed and climbed on her. The fire of lust burned inside him and his forehead was oozing sweat. Her delicate face was enveloped by the orange light. Under the hot eyes of Luo Nan, she blushed and said, ¡°Turn off the light. By the way, you should wear a condom.¡±


    Before marriage, the condom could save them some trouble.


    ¡°My silly girl, you are so charming in bed. Why don¡¯t we make love with the light on? It must be exciting.¡± Luo Nan stared hungrily at her naked body.


    Dong Ci raised her voice, ¡°Just turn off the lights. We are very familiar with each other, so do our bodies. So, it¡¯s not exciting for me to make love with you under the lights.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡± Luo Nan reached out to turn off the light. ¡°In exchange, you have to do as I wish tonight.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Turn off the light quickly.¡± Dong Ci twisted her head sideways and closed her eyes.


    The apartment was very quiet. Dong Ci could only hear the sound of their bodies pping against each other and the chirping of cicadas outside the window. The crescent moon hung in the sky.


    Dong Ci slowly opened her eyes and looked back at Luo Nan. He was continuously plunging deep into her body and created a wave of pleasure. His whole body was dripping with sweat. ¡®It¡¯s really a hard work but he seemingly indulges in it,¡¯ Dong Ci thought.


    The door was closed. There was an indistinct, strangely amorphous shadow in the corner.


    Dong Ci fixed her eyes on the shadow and found that it was three women. One of them was holding a little boy in her arms. They moved slowly towards Luo Nan and Dong Ci.


    Dong Ci opened her mouth and shouted, ¡°Luo Nan¡­¡±


    But she failed to go on speaking because Luo Nan suddenly thrust into her and began to stir violently. He smiled, ¡°You promised that you would tter me in bed tonight¡­¡±


    Dong Ci let out a groan of pain and enjoyment and shook her head. He grasped both her hands tightly and refused to let her go.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Even in the darkness, Dong Ci could see that the ghosts were in ancient costumes. As they approached, she was startled by their iplete faces. It was a horrible scene. They didn¡¯t have noses and many irregrly shaped pieces of skin were attached by juicy rotten flesh to their faces. The woman with the little boy in her arms had a snowy neck. The boy rested his head against her shoulder, grabbed her hair and shoved it into his mouth. He swallowed her long ck hair and then slowly pulled it out from his stomach. Her hair got wet in his gastric juice and viscous liquid dripped onto the floor.


    They reached the bedside and one of the women reached out a skinny, sallow hand.


    Luo Nan was working hard for his first orgasm. Soon he achieved it. The gruff gasps came out of his mouth and his body was slowly loosening its sp on her. Exhausted, hey down next to her and covered her naked legs with his legs.


    Dong Ci turned on the light and found nobody around her except Luo Nan. The three women and the boy had disappeared. The curtains billowed in the breeze. The room was cold and Dong Ci couldn¡¯t help shivering.


    ¡°There are ghosts in the room.¡± Dong Ci wiped her mouth with a tissue.


    Luo Nan kissed Dong Ci on the lips and said, ¡°Yes, there are ghosts in the room.¡±


    ¡°Did you also see them?¡± She got out of the bed and wanted to go to the bathroom.


    ¡°Yes. I am one of them, the so-called ¡®lecherous ghost¡¯.¡± Luo Nan lit a cigarette.


    Dong Ci stiffened. ¡°I¡¯m scared. Can you apany me to the bathroom?¡±


    ¡°You are really a coward.¡± Luo Nan turned up the temperature, walked over and stood naked at the door of the bathroom. ¡°The remote control shows that it¡¯s 20 degrees Celsius, but I feel it¡¯s 10 degrees Celsius. The GREE air-conditioner is of high quality and has a good cooling effect.¡±


    Dong Ci sat on the toilet and raised her voice, ¡°My period ising. Please give me a sanitary napkin. Hurry up!¡±


    Luo Nan walked into the bathroom and handed some sanitary napkins to her. ¡°Are you okay? Do you feel a pain in your abdomen?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Fortunately, I don¡¯t have to go to work tomorrow.¡±


    Dong Ci turned off the air-conditioner and opened the window. With the light on, shey down on the bed and rested her head against Luo Nan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of ghosts.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m by your side. If the ghostse, I will throttle them. Now close your eyes, and have a good sleep.¡± Luo Nan patted Dong Ci gently on the head.


    Dong Ci dreamed about rats. In her dream, numerous rats dived into her stomach and bit her entrails. She felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen.


    The next morning when she woke up, she found the sheet stained with ck blood.


    Luo Nan was startled. ¡°You¡¯d better go to the hospital for a check-up. Your menstrual blood has an abnormal color.¡±


    ¡°It must be because I have drunk too much Coke in the past few days. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m fine. Go and change your pants. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Dong Ci looked at Luo Nan with a guilty look on her face because his favorite underpants printed with a pattern of ants had been dyed red by her menstrual blood.


    Luo Nan didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry at her words. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard that drinking too much Coke would cause this.¡±


    ¡°Just take a shower with your underpants. In this way you can wash your body and underpants at the same time,¡± Dong Ci said teasingly.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good idea.¡± Luo Nan took off his underpants and walked towards Dong Ci with a mischievous smile on his face. ¡°Youzy little piggy, get up!¡± Then he went into the bathroom to take a shower.


    Dong Ci threw the bloodstained sheet into the washing machine. Soon the sheet was soaked and metallic smell of blood slowly filled the room.


    After breakfast, Luo Nan said, ¡°I¡¯ve got to go to work. What do you going to do today? ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go shopping with my colleague, Chai Wenxiu.¡± Dong Ci wrapped her arms around his neck and continued, ¡°Will you miss me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will. Do you have enough money to buy what you want? If you run out of money, just call me,¡± Luo Nan said before going out.


    Many yearster, Dong Ci still remembered those words and his gentle smile.

 Chapter 17: The Destined Meeting

    The street was bustling with noise and excitement. The city square was bathed in sunlight. The house prices in the city seemed soaring up without limit. There were real-estate advertisements everywhere. Dong Ci wondered if there were so many rich people who would like to buy houses at such a high price in this city.


    A big banner was draped across the gate of a housing estate saying, ¡°Bring your lover home.¡± It was an attractive advertising slogan.


    ¡®Bring your lover home?¡¯ Dong Ci shook her head and didn¡¯t agree with the advertising slogan. She squinted her eyes and stood there staring nkly.


    Chai Xiuwen waved at Dong Ci from a distance and yelled, ¡°Dong Ci, I¡¯m here.¡±


    They went to a coffee shop. Chai Xiuwen asked, ¡°Did you really see the ghosts? Maybe it¡¯s because you are having your period and in poor health so that you were hallucinatingst night.¡±


    ¡°I saw them clearly. They all have horrible faces.¡± Dong Ci took a mouthful of coffee and left a little lipstick on the white coffee cup. ¡°If you had been with mest night, you would have been scared too. Anyway, I am out of luck recently.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. There¡¯s no ghost in the world. Believe me.¡± Chai Xiuwen was a confirmed atheist and her boyfriend was a doctor of philosophy.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go shopping today. Let¡¯s go to the temple and worship Buddha.¡± Dong Ci paid the bill and the two of them left the coffee shop.


    There were so many people in the smoggy temple. Devout men and women prayed for blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The Buddhist abbot sat cross-legged on the cattail hassock, chanted scriptures while beating the wooden fish rhythmically. Buddhists kneeling on the floor murmured, going over multiple thought in their minds. As the time went on, they began to think about what to eat after prayers.


    ¡®Bodhisattva, please bless me with a smooth and happy life. I don¡¯t want to see those ghosts again,¡¯ Dong Ci prayed in her mind.


    In front of her was a statue of the Bodhisattva who was looking coldly at her.


    Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were all busy and sometimes they would forget to grant their believers¡¯ wishes.


    When Dong Ci walked out of the main hall of the temple, the Buddhist abbot cast a nce at her, shook his head and continued beating the wooden fish. The monotone sound of knocking the wooden fish echoed in the main hall. Everyone, including Buddhist monks, lived a dull life.


    ¡°Well, it is thest time I conduct a party of tourists to a scenic spot. Wish me luck.¡± Dong Ci kissed Luo Nan on the lips before she went out. She liked him from the bottom of her heart. In her view, since she didn¡¯t hate being with him, she might have fallen love with him. Luo Nan was her first boyfriend and also her fiance. They were going to get married. In the eyes of others, she was a lucky dog.


    Dong Ci shook her head and quickened her pace. Maybe it was God¡¯s will.


    This time she was notte.


    There were 40 tourists from all over the country in the tour bus. They were going to take a one-day sightseeing tour around the city. It was a cushy job, and the guide didn¡¯t have to spend lots of time on the road and could returned home in the evening. If someone wanted to loaf on the job, they could easily find a way. So, Dong Ci snagged the job of being the guide of this tour group.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Their destination was an amusement park simr to Disney, but it was much smaller.


    Xia Yan drove the bus at a steady speed. The tourists were delighted and excited. They asked Dong Ci to tell them a story.


    Dong Ci slowly said, ¡°Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion¡¯s guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, ¡®Things aren¡¯t always what they seem.¡¯


    The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night¡¯s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole ie,y dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, ¡®How could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.¡¯


    ¡®Things aren¡¯t always what they seem,¡¯ the older angel replied. ¡®When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn¡¯t find it. Thenst night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren¡¯t always what they seem.''¡±


    Almost all the tourists were nearly asleep and it was very quiet in the tour bus.


    Dong Ci added, ¡°Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don¡¯t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every oute is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some timeter.¡±


    Only one tourist called Chen Qi was still in his senses and smiled, ¡°Miss, your story contains a profound lesson.¡±


    Dong Ci secretly rolled her eyes and thought, ¡®To hell with this story. I told this story just because I wanted to make you all sleepy. Otherwise, I would be asked to sing a song or speak the rustic dialect, like a clown pleasing audiences. I can¡¯t bear that.¡¯


    She looked out of the window and quietly yawned. Then she twisted her head and looked at that tourist. ¡®I might have met him before. Er, I have seen so many tourists and maybe one of them looked like him. Anyway, he has a sunny smile,¡¯ she thought to herself.


    Dong Ci nodded, ¡°Thank you for yourpliment.¡±


    Chen Qi looked at Dong Ci and thought, ¡®I seem to have seen her before. Maybe it¡¯s because I have met so many women and one of them looked like her. Anyway, she has a real smile.¡¯


    Sometimes, you fell in love with someone at first sight. Sometimes, even if you had met someone 10, 000 times, you wouldn¡¯t like to spend a winter with him.

 Chapter 18: Farewell

    Dong Ci got off the bus and said, ¡°Hey everyone, we are now at the gate of the Dream Amusement Park. It has the biggest ferris wheel in Asia and the most exciting roller coaster in China. If you have heart trouble or high blood pressure, tell me now, and I will apany you to ride on the merry-go-round.¡± Once at an annual meeting of Starlight International Travel Agency, Dong Ci had shared her experience with others, ¡°As professional guides, we should have a loud voice, a sweet mouth and sharp eyes. Besides, we should be bold but cautious.¡±


    Chen Qi stared fixedly at Dong Ci. His sharp,e-hither gaze snagged her soul.


    ¡®None of my women has such a loud voice. She must be passionate in bed and the thought of her loud groans arouse my lust. People with loud voices are mostly not calcting. And I like simple women without scheming,¡¯ he thought to himself.


    The tourists obediently joined the queue of people waiting to enter the Dream Amusement Park like pupils. China had arge poption and people had to queue wherever they were. When people travelled, they waited in queues at bus stations, railway stations or airports. When people bought things in supermarkets or drew money from the bank, they also needed to wait in lines¡­ When people took showers in the public baths, made donations to the cmity fund, went to hospitals for abortions and cremated their rtives at crematoria, they all had to wait in lines. Even ghosts had to line up for reincarnations. Ci had been waiting in theher world for 798 years before she had been reincarnated in a new body. In early summer, the first year of Kaixi, Ci wrapped in the mole furs had died of starvation in a cage.


    T/N note:


    Kaixi: the title of Emperor Ningzong¡¯s reign of the Song Dynasty.


    Chen Qi stayed in the tour bus and chatted with Xia Yan, ¡°Tell me her number.¡±


    Xia Yan looked at Chen Qi and shook his head. ¡°If I do that, I¡¯m afraid that she¡¯ll kill me.¡±


    Chen Qi took out a £¤100 note and handed to Xia Yan. The bank note was red which was the most beautiful color in people¡¯s eyes.


    It was a day¡¯s wage of Xia Yan. In order to get £¤100, Xia Yan wrote down Dong Xi¡¯s cell phone number on paper and gave it to Chen Qi.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of her killing you?¡± Chen Qi put the paper into his pocket.


    ¡°As a Communist Party member, I¡¯m not afraid of death.¡± Xia Yan smiled and quickly tucked the money in the tape cartridge.


    Dong Ci shaded her eyes from the sun with a small g and counted noses. ¡°¡­ Thirty-eight, thirty-nine. Where is thest tourist? Did I miscount?¡±


    Thest tourist was still in the tour bus. Chen Qi looked at Dong Ci with fixed eyes as she came towards him. Her white blouse was wet through with sweat and her ck bra could be seen clearly.


    ¡°The amusement park is going to open. Sir, please get off,¡± Dong Ci yelled. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off her face. The handkerchief was ck too.


    ¡®ck? She must have a strong personality,¡¯ he thought.


    Chen Qi didn¡¯t know that the real reason Dong Ci liked ck was because ck clothes didn¡¯t show the dirt.


    ¡°Please stand at the very end of the line,¡± Dong Ci said to Chen Qi.


    Then she went to the gate of the Dream Amusement Park and said to the girl who was in charge of checking tickets. ¡°Can you let my tourists go in first? I will buy you an iced Coke.¡± The girl readily agreed.


    In summer, it was hot both in the morning and the afternoon. After breaking up, some people would say ¡°go to hell¡± and some would console their ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends by saying ¡°you are a good guy¡±. But these two sentences were essentially the same. In the hot sun, everyone was like a piece of fresh meat roasting in the oven and oozing oil from the pores.


    The girl began to check tickets. Tourists rushed into the Dream Amusement Park in session. People at the back of the line didn¡¯tin because they had got used to waiting. Travelling was tiring even for a person who had joined a tour group. But the party of tourists guided by Dong Ci was an exception. There were more than 2, 000 individual tourists and dozens of tour groups at the gate of Dream Amusement Park. Dong Ci¡¯s tour group was the first to enter the amusement park because she had bought the ticket checker a cup of iced Coke.


    Almost no guide would buy a cup of Coke for the ticket checker, but Dong Ci did. A cup of iced C cost her 5 yuan, but it brought her tourists a sense of privilege and she would receive a good write-up when the tourists filled in questionnaires. And at the end of the month, she would be rewarded with 500 yuan.


    ¡°We¡¯ll gather at the gate of the restaurant at twelve. Here are through tickets. With the tickets, you can try all the amusement facilities without paying. Now you can go and enjoy yourself,¡± Dong Ci said to the tourists. ¡°By the way, if you have heart trouble or high blood pressure, please stay away from all sorts of adventures.¡±


    Hearing this, the tourists scattered in all directions.


    Dong Ci felt rxed and a bit reluctant to quit her job. You might not like the people whom you lived with, but you would certainly like to live with the people you liked.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the roller coaster or the Ferris Wheel?¡± Dong Ci looked at Chen Qi sitting in the shade and asked, ¡°Are you all right? You look pale.¡±


    ¡°I have a stomachache.¡± Chen Qi looked up at the roller coaster which looked like a lofty?snake,?letting?visitors?slide?on?its?body?and scream. He felt a rush of nausea and dizziness.


    ¡°Stay here and wait a minute.¡± Dong Ci rushed into the tour bus, opened a box and took out some capsules for stomachache and a bottle of mineral water. Then she ran back to him quickly.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Take the medicine.¡± Dong Ci handed Chen Qi the Sidashu capsules which she often ate when she got a stomachache.


    Chen Qi took the mineral water and found that the bottle cap seemed to have been opened. He looked at Dong Ci with inquiring eyes.


    ¡°I almost forget to tell you. I filled this bottle with cold boiled water at home and brought it here. Rest assured, it¡¯s clean and hygienic.¡± Dong Ci moved closer to him and said under her breath, ¡°All the mineral water sold here is tap water. Drinking tap water is bad for your stomach.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Thank you,¡± Chen Qi said with a grateful smile.


    ¡°What¡¯s your job? How did you get your stomach trouble?¡± asked Dong Ci curiously.


    ¡°I am a chef, and I often eat food on the sly. Maybe my stomach trouble was caused by overeating.¡± Chen Qi patted his stomach and smiled.


    After chatting for a while, Dong Chi said, ¡°You are not in pain now, right? Let¡¯s go to the roller coaster. Come on, don¡¯t be a coward.¡±


    ¡°No! I have acrophobia.¡± Chen Qi remained motionless.


    ¡°It is entirely psychosomatic. I¡¯m afraid of rats, but I¡¯ve eaten the rat meat in a restaurant.¡± Dong Ci took Chen Qi¡¯s hand and led him to the roller coaster.


    They had let go of each other¡¯s hand in their previous lives, but now they held each other¡¯s hand again. Although they thought that they had never met before, they had a feeling of familiarity and warmth when they sped hands tightly. The deep sadness in their hearts gradually disappeared.


    ¡°It¡¯s about to move. Are you afraid?¡± Dong Ci looked at Chen Qi beside her and continued, ¡°If you are afraid, close your eyes and yell out.¡±


    Chen Qi regarded her in earnest and said, ¡°You are brave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid of ghosts and mice¨C I mean the real mice, not Mickey Mouse.¡± Dong Ci stuck out her tongue at him and made a face. ¡°In fact, I haven¡¯t ever eaten the rat meat. I lied to you.¡±


    The roller coaster started moving slowly. When it reached the highest point, it would swoop down and then rise again, which was torture for most tourists.


    The wait was agonizing. Chen Qi was scared and at the same time, a little bit relieved. ¡®Fortunately, I went to the bathroom before taking the roller coaster. Though I am scared now, I won¡¯t wet myself,¡± he thought.


    They were slowly moving?upward. Chen Qi opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Dong Ci. The sun shone on her beautiful face and he could see the fine hairs on it. Dazed and confused, he felt as if he had once seen her in a dream.


    After death and reincarnation, they finally met again. Everything changed, but their love wouldst for eternity.


    The roller coaster swooped down at a high speed.


    Dong Ci tried her best to keep her eyes open. At the moment of her falling headlong down from the air, Dong Ci held Chen Qi¡¯s hand and saw a woman with a boy in her arms standing upside down in front of them. The woman had no nose and her lips curved in a smile. The roller coaster roared through their invisible bodies, and a suffocating odor of decay filled the air. Ci screamed, ¡°Ah! Ghost!!¡±


    Nobody heard her because her voice was drowned out by the screams of others.


    The boy imitated the screams of Dong Ci, ¡°Ah! Ghost!!¡±


    Nobody heard him because everyone was busy screaming.


    When they got off the roller coaster, Dong Ci looked pale. Chen Qi gazed at her and asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Dong Ci shook her head. ¡± Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m all right.¡±


    The tourists, who had returned to the tour bus, were already exhausted. ying was sometimes more tiring than working.


    ¡°This is thest time I work as a guide. Thank you very much for your support. I hope you all will be happy in the days toe.¡± Dong Ci¡¯s farewell speech was short and simple.


    Chen Qi stared at her quietly. A ray of sunlight fell on her shoulder and she was like a flower in full bloom.

 Chapter 19: Haunting Souls

    ¡®It may not be a bad idea to quit my job,¡¯ Dong Ci, sitting in front of the TV, thought.


    ¡®Chen Qi¡­ I feel as if I knew him a long time ago. Anyway, he is a chef.¡± Dong Ci suddenly smiled and thought, ¡®His girlfriend can eat delicious food every day.¡¯


    But in reality, a shoemaker might have no shoes and a chef might not do the cooking when he was at home. Sometimes, things were not always as they seemed to be.


    Luo Nan went to work. Dong Ci had to make dinner by herself tonight. ¡®What should I eat for dinner? Maybe I should go to the supermarket and buy some food first,¡¯ she thought to herself. It was raining outside. People were mostly sentimental on a rainy day. Dong Ci felt lost because she seemed to have no cause to worry. Everything was fine. She had a healthy body, a healthy appetite, a good lover and a big house. There was no rubbish in the trash can because Luo Nan took the trash away when he went out. He said that doing housework gave him a sense of achievement.


    Dong Ci decided to change her clothes and then go to the supermarket around the corner to buy some meat and vegetables.


    After opening the wardrobe, she felt someone standing behind her. She risked a quick nce back over her shoulder but found nothing.


    She had a lot of clothes, but none of them was suitable to wear to the supermarket.


    Dong Ci sighed, sat cross-legged on the floor and said to the woman curled up in the corner of the wardrobe with a hairpin in her hair, ¡°What do you want from me? Was I indebted to you in the previous life?¡±


    Now that the ghosts had appeared in her life, she could only face them.


    Yang Zhen twisted her lips into a meaningful smile and fixed her eyes on Dong Ci without saying a word.


    Then she slowly disappeared.


    ¡°Marvelous! I can see the ghosts.¡± Dong Ci murmured to herself, ¡°No need to be afraid. It¡¯s just a matter of getting used to the ghosts.¡±


    If you went to the supermarket in your pajamas, people would know that you lived nearby.


    Dong Ci¡¯s phone rang. She reached out a hand to put the key in the door and at the same time, took out her cell phone with the other hand. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s speaking, please?¡±


    ¡°Are you Miss Dong?¡± Chen Qi opened the door with the key in one hand and held his cell phone with the other hand.


    ¡°Yes. You are that tourist with stomach trouble.¡± Dong Ci threw herself on the sofa.


    Chen Qi sat down on the sofa and asked, ¡°How do you know it¡¯s me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve sharp ears,¡± she answered.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask how I got your number?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t ask me for my number before I left that day,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I want to see you. Would you like to go out to dinner with me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to.¡±


    Dong Ci thought, ¡®That¡¯s great! I don¡¯t have to cook the dinner.¡¯


    Chen Qi also thought, ¡®That¡¯s great! I don¡¯t have to cook the dinner.¡¯


    It didn¡¯t matter what you ate, but who you ate with.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting married. You¡¯re toote.¡± Dong Ci licked tomato sauce on her finger.


    The noodles served with bean sauce and tomato sauce tasted good.


    Chen Qi looked at her and said, ¡°You are very confident.¡±


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t like me, you wouldn¡¯t have invited me to dinner with you.¡± Dong Ci looked out of the window.


    ¡°They¡¯re looking at me,¡± she suddenly said.


    ¡°Who are they?¡± Chen Qi looked around and asked, ¡°Your friends?¡±


    Dong Ci smiled, ¡°Yes, they are my friends.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°You can ask them to dinner with us,¡± said Chen Qi.


    ¡°They don¡¯t need to eat.¡± Dong Ci waved to the three figures outside the window and they gradually disappeared in the darkness.


    After dinner, Dong Ci walked out of the restaurant and was about to hail a taxi when Chen Qi said, ¡°How about I take you home?¡±


    Dong Ci got in his car and felt surprisingly secure with him around. She stared at the man beside her, as her heart gradually went wild. ¡®Chef¡­ He¡¯s a chef. I have never made friends with a chef before,¡¯ she thought.


    While driving, Chen Qi held Dong Ci¡¯s hand. For some unknown reason she did not pull her hand back.


    The little boy sat in the backseat crying sadly and quietly. He wanted to be a human being but had no way to be reincarnated in a new body. So, he could only exist in the world as a ghost. He felt aggrieved because he couldn¡¯t be reborn. People cried when they felt aggrieved, so did ghosts. There were so many innocent ghosts in the world. They always drifted from pir to post.


    The car stopped in front of a vi. It was Chen Qi¡¯s house. When a man drove you home, you¡¯d better ask him, ¡°Are you going to drive me to my house or your house?¡±

 Chapter 20: Adultery

    Dong Ci looked around and said in admiration, ¡°What a big house you live in! You must be a brilliant chef. I once thought that my house was very big, but your house is obviously much bigger than mine.¡±


    The vi had three floors. If you stood on the balcony and looked up, you could see the stars in the night sky. Under the balcony, the little boy was hovering in the doorway. He couldn¡¯t enter the vi because peach wood charms against evil hung on the gate. There were no ghosts in Chen Qi¡¯s vi, but there were lots of ghosts lingering outside. A female ghost with wire around her neck asked the little boy, ¡°Are you a neer?¡± The wire had sunk into her neck and caused a deep cut.


    ¡°My mom asked me to follow Ci. But I can¡¯t enter the vi now.¡± The little boy was sobbing. The cries of ghosts turned into the howl of wind at night.


    The female ghost asked, ¡°Why are you following her?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t reincarnate¡­ She¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Ji Jing came over, grabbed the little boy by the neck and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    The female ghost looked round the door curiously and shook her head. Then she drifted to the street andy on the back of a drunk man who was about to drive off.


    ¡°You are the President¡¯s chef, aren¡¯t you?¡± Dong Ci stood on the balcony, took a sip of red wine and raised her head. The red wine had a long and pleasant aftertaste.


    ¡± No, I¡¯m not. ¡®Chef¡¯ is my nickname. Actually, I¡¯m a psycho killer.¡± With that, he came over and licked the wine off Dong Ci¡¯s lips and asked, ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡±


    ¡°You have a promising career.¡± Dong Ciughed and turned her face away to avoid being kissed by him again.


    The master bedroom on the second floor had been beautifully decorated and the bed was big and extremely soft. Dong Ciy down on it and felt like she was lying on a big, fluffy cloud. ¡°Do you have many girlfriends?¡± she asked.


    Chen Qi stretched his arms and embraced her tenderly. A thrill ran through her and she felt her body burning with desire. When the lust prevailed, everyone acted on his or her most primal instinct like an animal. Dong Ci abandoned all sense of reason and passionately reached out her arms around him. ¡®Just this once. It¡¯s just a one-night stand, that¡¯s all,¡¯ sheforted herself in her mind.


    The advantage of having a king-sized bed was that they could rolled about on it and make love in different postures. Groans of pain and enjoyment from the woman clung to the dark night sky. At the same time, his low, hoarse voice echoed in her ears.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Dong Ci thought, ¡®Now I know that the difference between a strong man and an ordinary man is more obvious than that between a woman and a man.¡¯


    ¡®If you want to win a woman¡¯s heart, you should sleep with her first,¡¯ Chen Qi thought to himself. He was experienced in pursuing pretty women.


    ¡®I have conquered her in bed. She is my woman now. It testifies to the extraordinary potency of my masculine charms,¡± Chen Qi thought in smug satisfaction. He looked down at Dong Ci sleeping in his arms. She had long attractive eyshes and slender, arched eyebrows, and now was drooling on his shoulder.


    Her phone suddenly rang. Dong Ci opened her eyes and asked, ¡°Oh gosh, what time is it now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost eleven o¡¯clock. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chen Qi turned down the volume of the TV.


    ¡°Shh, it¡¯s my boyfriend,¡± Dong Ci said to Chen Qi and then answered the phone, ¡°Hello¡­ I¡¯m now at a friend¡¯s house. Okay, I¡¯ll go home as soon as possible.¡±


    She hung up the phone and put on her trousers gracefully. Then she turned around bare-chested and said to Chen Qi, ¡°It¡¯s the end of our story. We¡¯re even.¡±


    Chen Qi looked at her with a meaningful smile on his face and said, ¡°You will miss me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me anymore. I¡¯m getting married soon.¡± Dong Ci put on her ck bra, turned her back to Chen Qi and said, ¡°Please help me button up the bra.¡±


    Dong Ci was the dumbest woman Chen Qi had ever met. She even couldn¡¯t button up her bra.


    ¡°Good things should be in pairs. Let¡¯s have a deeper exchange of body once more.¡± Chen Qi caressed her delicate back and refused to let her go. The beast of desire hidden deep in his body roared and wanted more from this woman.


    ¡­


    ¡°Everything happens three times. Let¡¯s do it again,¡± said Dong Ci. Now that it was alreadyte, it was no matter to stay a little longer.


    ¡­.


    It was getting light. Dong Ci asked Chen Qi to help her button up her bra for thest time. Hey motionless on the bed, exhausted. She smiled, bent down to kiss him on the nose and said, ¡°I am going home.¡± With that she turned around and left.


    At the sight of Dong Ci¡¯s appearance in the doorway, Luo Nan asked, ¡°Where on earth have you been? You didn¡¯te home all night.¡±


    Dong Ci smiled, ¡°We are not married yet, but you begin to restrict my freedom.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. I just hope you won¡¯t stay out all night anymore,¡± Luo Nan said helplessly. He looked up and down Dong Ci who looked tired and lethargic.


    ¡°Okay, I got it. Now I¡¯m going to sleep. I yed mahjong with my friends all night and lost all my money.¡± Dong Ci copsed on the sofa and asked, ¡°Will youe back and have dinner with me tonight?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. I¡¯m engaged this evening. Have a good sleep. Last night I bought you a midnight snack but you didn¡¯te back. So I put it in the fridge. You can eat it when you wake up. Now I have to go to work.¡± Luo Nan took a nket from the bedroom and put it over Dong Ci.


    Hearing the sound of the door being closed, Dong Ci immediately jumped out of the sofa and opened the fridge. Her eyes grew moist at the sight of the pot-stewed duck tongue and honey bun in the fridge. They were her favorite foods.


    Her phone rang and it was Chen Qi.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? I told you not to call me anymore.¡± Dong Ci hung up the phone and started to nibble the duck tongue.


    Before Chen Qi could say a single word, the line cut abruptly. He was stunned as the beeping sound rang in his ears.

 Chapter 21: Chen Qi’s Basement

    Chen Qi¡¯s vi had a basement.


    Many people, including gamblers, prostitutes, public servants, housewives and tramps, were locked in the basement. All of them owed Chen Qi money but couldn¡¯t pay their debts within the time given limit.


    They were confined in cages. Most people couldn¡¯t withstand the lure of money. They thought that with money they could buy everything they wanted. But in fact, there were some things, such as your life and your parents, that money couldn¡¯t buy. They had borrowed a lot of money from Chen Qi and spent itvishly. Finally, they couldn¡¯t afford to pay back. These poor people hade to the end of a blind alley and sooner orter, they would die at the hands of Chen Qi.


    It was summer. The exhaust fan revolved wildly; even so, it failed to suck the bad smell out of the basementpletely. The basement was filled with the foul smell of sweat.


    Chen Qi turned to the men in ck and asked, ¡°The room has awful stink. Why don¡¯t you clean it up?¡±


    ¡°Ask ourpany¡¯s cleaners to clean the room tomorrow,¡± the leader of the men in ck said to his men.


    There were ten men in ck including the leader.


    The naked men and woman were put together in the cages. There were five cages in the basement and five people in each cage which had an opening for the prisoners to stick their heads out in turn to drink water and eat food.


    Chen Qi furrowed his brows and said, ¡°My water dispenser is out of water.¡±


    ¡°Boss, choose one of them.¡± Another man in ck came over and handed Chen Qi a wooden stick with an iron hook strapped to its tip.


    All the people in the cages desperately moved backwards, with fear in their eyes. They couldn¡¯t make any sound because they had been forced to drink the sulphuric acid before being brought to the basement and their throats had beenpletely destroyed. To some extent, they were no longer human beings but animals who were temporarily alive.


    Chen Qi walked over to the second cage and poked the wooden stick through its bars. His eyes fell on a tall, strong, young man. The man was a gigolo. After borrowing £¤300, 000 from Chen Qi, he spent all the money in gambling. In the end, he couldn¡¯t pay back the money within a year. He was now as poor as a church mouse. Since he had no money, he had to pay with his life.


    The hook pierced and sank into his palm. Hey huddled up on the floor groaning in pain. Bright red blood from the cut in his hand dripped down and slowly flowed out of the cage along the crack on the floor.


    Chen Qi nodded to the man in ck, turned around and left.


    As he got out of the basement, he took a breath of fresh air and felt refreshed.


    The gigolo clung to a bar of the cage with both his hands and put up his deathbed struggle. Two men in ck pulled him up from the floor, tied his hands and feet, and strung him up. A wide-bore needle was jabbed into his chest and blood from the main artery flowed along the perfusion tube into the empty water jug. The gigolo opened his mouth wide and gradually stopped breathing. The water jug was filled with blood and one of men in ck put a cork in the opening of the water jug. The corpse¡¯s face was ghostly pale because all of his blood had been drained from his body.


    His spongy penis, which had entered many rich women¡¯s bodies and given them orgasms, now was withered like other parts of his body. The corpse without blood would be thrown away instead of being kept in the cold storage.


    All the others in the cages were numb. No one knew who would be the next to die. They had already left life and death out of consideration because they knew that they were bound to die sooner orter. The only thing they could do was to carefully poke their heads out of the cages and drink the dirty water.


    The leader of the men in ck pointed at the water jug and said to one of his men, ¡°You go and bring it to the boss.¡±


    With a ss in his hand, Chen Qi pressed the refrigeration button of the water dispenser. The hot, fresh blood foamed and bubbled in the water jug. In summer, drinking hot blood could cause excessive internal heat. It was better to chill it before drinking.


    He turned on the water tap of the water dispenser, filled his ss with the blood and swallowed it neat. The blood passed through the esophagus and into his stomach and he feltfortable.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? I told you not to call me anymore.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Dong Ci¡¯s voice rang in his ears again. He was suddenly struck with a sense of grief, of loss. ¡®Forget her. Anyway, there are so many women in the world,¡¯ he thought to himself.


    In the evening, Chen Qi intended to eat hot pot. He went to the basement and picked out a woman. Then he cut several pieces of meat from her bosom and waist, and sliced them. Everything was ready. He dipped the sliced meat with the blood in the boiling broth, turned it around several times until the meat changed color to show that it was cooked, and then ate it with some mustard. It was sour and spicy, barely delicious.


    After a day¡¯s sleep, Dong Ci ate dinner alone at home. She ordered a takeaway because she had no idea of what to eat for dinner without Luo Nan by her side. She held a bowl of minced pork congee with preserved egg and shredded salted vegetables in her hand and ate it with a spoon. Ju Juxian in the mirror looked at Dong Ci with imploring eyes.


    ¡°What are the three ghosts ying at? Theye to my home every day.¡± Dong Ci stared at the mirror and murmured, ¡°And that kid.¡±


    She repented having cuckolded Luo Nanst night, so she silently confessed her sins to Almighty God.


    The more she wanted to forget what had happenedst night, the better she remembered. From the bottom of her heart, she didn¡¯t want to forget Chen Qi.


    All at once there was someone knocking on the door. The ghost in the mirror disappeared instantly.

 Chapter 22: Search

    When Luo Nan came back home in the evening, Dong Ci, who was sitting on the sofa, gave him an ingratiating smile and said, ¡°Honey, go take a bubble bath.¡±


    She had already filled the bathtub with water and put some fresh green tea into it. Now there were lots of light green bubbles swimming on the water.


    Luo Nanughed, ¡°I know there¡¯s no such thing as a free ride in this world.¡±


    She pretended to be annoyed and said, ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to take a bath? All right, I will drain the bathtub.¡±


    ¡°Wait! Well, thank you. I¡¯ll be taking a bath right away.¡± Luo Nan took off his coat and said, ¡°Wait for me in the bed.¡±


    Luo Nan walked barefoot into the bathtub. Next to the bathtub were a magazine rack, a stack of books and a ss of warm milk. The green tea had a refreshing fragrance. He closed his eyes andy in the bathtub. It was one of the nicest moments in his life. When he returned from work, a beautiful and lovely woman handed him a pair of slippers and filled the bathtub with water for him. It was really enjoyable. But it was a pity that she seldom treated him like that. Usually when he returned homete at night, Dong Ci was asleep with her mouth open, snoring and drooling on the pillow. Sometimes when he came home early, she was watching TV while saying, ¡°Honey, you are back. Go and take a bath. Then, run a bath for me. I want to bathe too.¡±


    Luo Nan fell asleep in the bathtub. He dreamed about a strange woman. She went to the bathtub, pulled out a mouse from her furry mouth and threw it to him. The mousey on his wet and slippery belly and soon fell into the bathtub.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    When he woke up, he was sweating all over. He tried to stand up and almost fell because of having soaked in the bath for a long time.


    He wrapped himself in a bath towel and went to the bedroom. On seeing him, Dong Ci said, ¡°You hooligan! How could you appear in front of me without wearing your underpants?¡±


    ¡°You little rascal. Even if I wear my underpants, you will take it off, won¡¯t you?¡± Luo Nan drew back the bath towel andughed, ¡°Look at my elephant. We are both ready for you¡­¡±


    Dong Ci closed her eyes andughed, ¡°You are a real hooligan! Let¡¯s stop talking about that. I¡¯m going to have a cool shower.¡±


    Luo Nan climbed into the bed and held Dong Ci in his arms. ¡°My elephant has stretched out his long trunk. Pleasee back soon.¡± With that he dimmed the lighting, rested his head on his own arm, and then turned on the TV to watch the news.


    The water in the bathtub was still so green. ¡°This guy went too far! He should have drained the bathtub after the bath.¡± She pulled out the plug of the bathtub and the water level slowly dropped apanied by a low rumbling sound.


    ¡°The drain seems to be clogged.¡± Dong Ci reached out a hand and felt the bottom of the bathtub. Then she found a soft thing.


    It was a mouse.


    The mouse with a short tail had drunk too much green tea and been drowned in the bathtub, its gray eye and belly bulging like a frog.


    She fetched a pair of chopsticks from the kitchen, picked up the mouse and threw it out of the window. With a slight bang, the dead mouse hit the ground.


    The smell of disinfectant reced the fragrance of green tea. Dong Ci wore stic gloves and kept scrubbing the bathtub until her arms fell off in utter weakness by her sides. She turned on the shower and stood under it. The hot water flowed through her whole body, washing every inch of her skin. The bathtub was very clean. She felt that the smell of disinfectant was pleasant.


    When she went back to bed, Luo Nan was asleep.


    Shey down and rested her head against his shoulder. Gradually, she slipped into a dreamless and sound sleep.


    For a woman, to love a man was to stay with him. For a man, to love a woman was to make love with her.


    For Dong Ci, Chai Wenxiu was the only real friend among her colleagues. Last time they had gone to the temple together to burn incense and pray. After that, Dong Ci cherished her friendship with Chai Wenxiu a lot more. When Chai Wenxiu saw Luo Nan drive Dong Ci to the entrance of the shopping mall, she felt jealous and said, ¡°You are fortunate to have such a considerate boyfriend. You don¡¯t need to work. When you want to go shopping, he will drive you to the shopping mall. s, my boyfriend Hai Ming can¡¯tpare with Luo Nan.¡±


    Everyone in the world envied others¡¯ happiness but ignored his or her own happiness. We should cherish the people around us, especially those who loved us.


    They did some shopping and then had lunch. After a short rest, they continued shopping.


    At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, Luo Nan gave Chai Wenxiu a free ride. When the car arrived at her house, she said to Luo Nan, ¡°Thank you for your kindness.¡±


    Luo Nan smiled, ¡°My pleasure. Dong Ci has few friends. I appreciate you going shopping with her.¡±


    Chai Wenxiu got off the car. As she entered the door, Hai Ming sitting in front of theputer raised his head and asked, ¡°Did you go shopping?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I bought some new clothes.¡± Chai Wenxiu copsed on the sofa, looked at Hai Ming who was studying at the desk and continued, ¡°You have already read so many books, but you earn very little money. Why did you choose that obscure university and that useless major? It was really an unwise decision.¡±


    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Hai Ming pushed his spectacles back to the bridge of his nose and continued, ¡°There are some leftover dumplings from my lunch in the fridge.¡±


    ¡°Dumplings? We eat dumplings every day. I hate dumplings,¡±ined Chai Wenxiu. She let her eyes settle upon the table on which were various kinds of bills, including the property management fee bills, water bills, electricity bills, telephone bills and debit notes. Besides, they had to pay the mortgage over the next 32 years. It was really a heavy load for them.


    Chai Wenxiu turned on the TV. Unfortunately, the TV show rting to lottery had been shielded and she could only watch the news. So, she went downstairs and asked Ming, the owner of a small convenience store, about the result of the lottery. Her ticket had drawn no prize and she lost 1, 000 yuan. Mingforted, ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged! It¡¯s said that someone knows the inside information of the next lottery. Sister Xiuwen, you will win a lottery as long as you keep at it.¡±


    Chai Wenxiu bought a bag of instant noodles and said, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll take your word for it and try once more.¡±


    She returned home and went to bed without taking a shower. Hai Ming undressed himself, got into bed and whispered in her ear, ¡°You smell nice.¡±


    Chai Wenxiu turned over and said, ¡°Be quiet. Tomorrow is Monday and I have to lead a tour group to some scenic spots. I¡¯m exhausted after a day¡¯s shopping. Let¡¯s hit the sack.¡±


    Hai Ming sighed and turned off the light. He felt a little hungry, but gave up the idea of eating night snacks at the sight of her sleeping quietly. He turned over and slowly fell asleep.


    Chen Qi sitting in his office repeatedly dialed Dong Ci¡¯s number, but he couldn¡¯t get through. All he heard was a recording, ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is non-existent. Please check it and dial itter¡­¡±


    ¡®The number is non-existent? It cannot be,¡¯ he thought to himself.


    Chen Qi went to Starlight International Travel Agency to find Chai Wenxiu who was said by the receptionist to be Dong Ci¡¯s only good friend.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± Chai Wenxiu looked at Chen Qi with a puzzled look on her face.


    ¡°But I want to make friends with you. I know you are Dong Ci¡¯s friend. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner after work,¡± said Chen Qi.


    Chai Wenxiu was full to the brim with joy, but she pretended to be aloof and replied, ¡°Suit yourself.¡±


    Before leaving work, she phoned her boyfriend. ¡°Hai Ming, I¡¯m engaged with a client this evening. Don¡¯t wait dinner for me.¡±


    Chen Qi parked his car in front of Starlight International Travel Agency. Chai Wenxiu thought, ¡®My poor Hai Ming, if I break up with you, will you have the courage to face it and pull yourself together?¡¯


    The atmosphere in the restaurant was harmonious. Chai Wenxiu smiled. ¡°Now I know you.¡±


    ¡°Miss Chai, you have a nice figure.¡± Chen Qi raised his ss and said, ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure to have dinner with you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you are ttering me.¡±


    ¡± I¡¯m saying it from the bottom of my heart.¡±


    ¡®French food looks good but is not tasty. I think dumplings are more delicious,¡¯ Chai Wenxiu thought.


    Chen Qi patiently waited for Chai Wenxiu to finish thest dessert, and then said, ¡°I want Dong Ci¡¯s new number.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you invited me to dinner.¡± Chai Wenxiu was a little disappointed. ¡°She¡¯s engaged. And without her permission, I won¡¯t¡­¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, Chen Qi took out a bank card from his pocket and interrupted, ¡°The password is 000000. You can use it to buy what you want. Sorry, I have other fish to fry. My phone number is written on the back of the card. Call me after the money run out.¡±


    For Chai Wenxiu, it was the luckiest day of this year because she got a sudden windfall, but from another angle, it was also the worst day of this year because she would have to pay for her greed someday.


    A weekter, Chen Qi received a call from Chai Wenxiu. He got Dong Ci¡¯s new number and address. He put his legs on his desk with a self-satisfied smile and thought, ¡®There is no information that cannot be bought with money in the world.¡¯

 Chapter 23: Birthday

    ¡°Happy birthday, my sweetheart,¡± said Luo Nan, with a big bunch of lilies in his hands.


    Dong Ci gave him a smile, although her favorite flower was not the lily.


    Her birthday party was held in the Ocean View Hotel. Many people came to the party and most of them were Luo Nan¡¯s business cronies. Chai Wenxiu was not here yet. Before going out, she said to Hai Ming, ¡°Today is Dong Ci¡¯s birthday. Your examination ising. You¡¯d better stay at home and revise for it. I know you don¡¯t like to attend a party.¡± Hai Ming smiled at her with gratitude and said, ¡°You know me very well.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    In the car Chen Qi said to Chai Wenxiu, ¡°Dong Ci is lucky enough to have a friend like you. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have known her birthday one month in advance.¡±


    Chai Wenxiu said, ¡°This is thest time I will help you.¡±


    When Luo Nan saw Chen Qi, he felt a chill creep over him.


    When Chen Qi saw Luo Nan, he felt that this man was like him.


    Dong¡¯s heart nearly stopped beating at the sight of Chen Qi. ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, your friends are here. Now I¡¯m going to entertain my friends.¡± Luo Nan kissed Dong Ci on the cheek. We can open presents together after we get home tonight.¡±


    He cast a look at Chen Qi and said, ¡°You must be Hai Ming. Chai Wenxiu really has a good taste in men.¡±


    Dong Ci gave Luo Nan a slight push and said, ¡°Go and chat with your friends. I want to talk with my friends alone.¡± Luo Nan obediently went away.


    Chai Wenxiu stuck out her tongue at Dong Ci and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have to answer a call of nature.¡±


    ¡°I told you not to contact me anymore.¡± Dong Ci looked at Chen Qi in consternation, but soon delight overwhelmed the panic.


    ¡°You can¡¯t stop me from loving you,¡± said Chen Qi.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen my future husband. I have a deep affection for him. So, it¡¯s impossible for us to be together.¡± Dong Ci looked around on alert like a Navy Seal.


    Luo Nan came over and took Dong Ci¡¯s hand. ¡°Come with me. The party is about to start.¡±


    The party started with a dramatic disy of fireworks. The dazzling fireworks exploded in the sky with vivacious colours, one after another, illuminating Dong Ci¡¯s beautiful face. A happy smile yed on her lips.


    Chen Qi quietly slipped away. He didn¡¯t like fireworks because they were short-lived. After a brief, splendid fireworks, there was nothing left in the night sky.


    Dong Ci wore a smile and pretended to be happy. She was a good actress and all people were cheated on by her. When Chen Qi approached the door, he nced back and met Dong Ci¡¯s eyes. Even if they remembered what had happened in the distant past, they couldn¡¯t be together because Luo Nan was like a gap existing between them.


    ¡°Why is she still alive?¡± Nidazu asked Ji Jing, who was standing in the corner.


    ¡°How should I know?¡± Ji jing looked at peopleughing and ying games with cold eyes, ¡°Do you really think she lives a happy life?¡±


    The reason Luo Nan liked Dong Ci was that he was ustomed to being with her. They were very familiar with each other, so there was no need for him to rack his brains to please her.


    The reason Dong Ci liked Luo Nan was that she was ustomed to being with him. He was so kind to her that she had no reason to break up with him.


    Dong Ci¡¯s phone rang. The caller was waiting for her downstairs. Luo Nan had left for work fifteen minutes ago. Chen Qi said, ¡°I will give you five minutes. If you don¡¯t go downstairs five minutester, I will go upstairs to see you.¡±


    ¡®Five minutes? How can I dress myself up in such a short time?¡± Dong Ci hurriedly changed her clothes and thenbed her hair. Now she realized that it was a bad habit to have a lie-in.


    She ran downstairs and saw Chen Qi sitting in the car.


    ¡°You forgot to wash your face,¡± said Chen Qi.


    ¡°Please let me go and stop pestering me¡­¡± pleaded Dong Ci. Some bubbles formed when she had brushed her teeth with toothpaste remained on her lips.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a birthday present for you.¡±


    Two hourster, the car pulled out of the city proper and came to the suburbs, but they still didn¡¯t reach their destination. Dong Ci frowned and asked, ¡°Are you going to rape me or murder me?¡±


    On hearing this, Chen Qi burst intoughter, ¡°Haha.¡±


    ¡°You once said you were a psycho killer.¡± Dong Ci cast a nce at Chen Qi¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°You are not the kind of person who owes me money but can¡¯t pay back. I won¡¯t kill you,¡± he said.


    ¡°What if I borrow money from you and fail to pay back?¡± asked Dong Ci.


    ¡°Silly girl, then you can give yourself to me.¡± Chen Qi kissed Dong Ci on her nose quickly. ¡°Do you know why I like you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°You may not believe my words, but I want to tell you that I had dreamed about you before I first met you. And in my dream, you wore ancient costume.¡± Chen Qi turned round a bend. ¡°We¡¯re reaching the destination.¡±


    Dong Ci curled her upper lip in a show of disdain and said, ¡°It¡¯s really a tacky exnation. Are you a writer? Otherwise, how could you cook up such a theatrical reason? You might as well have said that I look like your first girlfriend.¡±


    The sun was high in the sky. They walked in a green bamboo grove and felt refreshed.


    ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful ce.¡± Dong Ci breathed deeply, drawing in the fresh air.


    ¡°Your birthday present is just ahead,¡± said Chen Qi.


    Dong Ci walked quickly out of the bamboo grove, and then pushed open the garden gate.


    The garden was full of roses and their slender branches flickered in the wind. The air was full of the fragrance of roses. The green leaves glistened with dewdrops. As the afternoon drew on, silvery dewdrops on the petals were gradually evaporated by the sun. The path among the roses was scattered with fallen petals.


    Dong Ci did not reject such a beautiful birthday present. She even allowed Chen Qi to kiss and caress her. In the rose garden, the roses drew nutrients from corpses buried underground. That was why they were much more beautiful than roses anywhere else.


    The pity was that it was in the daytime. If Dong Ci came to the rose garden at night, she would see some naked men and women lying lifelessly among the roses with their bellies cut open. They died with evesting regret.


    The rose garden belonged to Chen Qi, a real psycho killer.

 Chapter 24: A Car Accident

    ¡®Can a woman love two or even three men at the same time? Yes, she can. But the premise is that she must keep it a secret forever,¡¯ Dong Ci thought.


    She became a two-timer and flirted with two men without being found out. She felt guilty at cuckolding Luo Nan, so she became more considerate to him.


    ¡°You¡¯re well-behaved recently,¡± said Luo Nan.


    ¡°I¡¯m always an obedient girlfriend.¡± Dong Ci sat wrapped in a quilt and looked at him. For her, Luo Nan was more like a family member than a lover.


    After sex, Chen Qi said to Dong Ci, ¡°Can you stay tonight? I want you to sleep beside me.¡±


    Dong Ci said, ¡°This is thest time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get married soon, right?¡± Chen Qi held her hand and asked, ¡°You like him very much, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do. So, our rtionship ising to an end.¡±


    It was already autumn. National Day was drawing near and the wedding was also going to take ce. At the thought of that, Dong Ci felt troubled and distressed. Why couldn¡¯t a woman marry two men at the same time?


    Last week, she went to see Mr. Wang, the most famous fortune teller in the city. He was a blind man but good at fortune-telling. Mr. Wang told her that her eight characters didn¡¯t match Luo Nan¡¯s. Dong Ci asked why and Mr. Wang exined that there would be a powerful force to prevent her from being with Luo Nan.


    T/N note:


    Eight Characters: in four pairs, including the year, month, day and hour of a person¡¯s birth, each pair consisting of one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch, formerly used in fortune-telling.


    Dong Ci asked, ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°In the previous life, their fate intertwined with yours.¡± Mr. Wang sighed and continued, ¡°You should really look out for yourself.¡±


    Dong Ci handed some cash to Mr. Wang and said, ¡°Please help me.¡±


    Mr. Wang refused to take the money. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you. It¡¯s God¡¯s will.¡±


    These days the female ghosts appeared much more frequently in front of Dong Ci. For her, it was just a matter of getting used to them. Gradually, she could remain cid in the face of their sudden appearance. They were very quiet. The only trouble was that the house would grow chilly when they came. But it was no big deal because she could put on more clothes to keep warm.


    Chai Wenxiu was busy, although she didn¡¯t know what she was busy with. Many people in this city were busy, but they didn¡¯t know what they were busy with. They were always on the run but achieved nothing.


    Hai Ming was also busy because he intended to study for a second doctoral degree. Chai Wenxiu was going crazy. She had got into the habit of buying lotteries. Gambling and drugs were highly addictive but hard to quit, so was love-making.


    Chai Wenxiu phoned Dong Ci and wanted to borrow money from her. Dong Ci refused Chai Wenxiu. ¡°I¡¯m not married to Luo Nan yet. I don¡¯t have that much money now.¡±


    Chai Wenxiu felt disappointed and thought, ¡®This is the so-called ¡®friend¡¯. Now I see her in her true colors.¡¯


    The usurious loan was not open to everyone, and not everyone could afford to pay back the loan.


    Before Chai Wenxiu would be taken to the basement, she said, ¡°I have an idea! Please let me make a call. My best friend will help me pay back the money.¡±


    The man in ck nodded with a cold expression and handed her a cell phone.


    ¡°Dong Ci, please help me! Borrow some money from Luo Nan for me first, I will pay him back as soon as possible. Please! If you don¡¯t help me, I will be killed by the usurer,¡± Chai Wenxiu said in a trembling voice.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go to hispany and ask him for help.¡± Dong Ci hung up the phone impatiently. ¡®Some money? Humph! It¡¯s three hundred thousand! Luo Nan is not a billionaire. s!¡¯ she thought.


    Dong Ci took a taxi to Luo Nan¡¯spany and asked him for a check. Luo Nan readily gave her without asking why.


    ¡°Hey, where are you? I got the money,¡± she asked on the phone.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    The man in ck took the phone from Chai Wenxiu and answered, ¡°We are in the Windflower Manor.¡±


    ¡®The Windflower Manor? That¡¯s Chen Qi house. Why did Wenxiu go there?¡¯ Dong Ci thought to herself.


    When Dong Ci reached the Windflower Manor, she took out the key of Chen Qi¡¯s vi and opened the door. She intended to drink some water before looking for Chai Wenxiu.


    The sound of her footsteps woke Chen Qi out from his afternoon sleep. He held her close to him and said, ¡°You¡¯re here atst. I miss you very much!¡±


    ¡°Are there some usurers living in this manor?¡± Dong Ci kissed him on the cheek and continued, ¡°Chai Wenxiu borrowed the money from them but can¡¯t afford to pay it back. I¡¯m here to pay ransom for her release.¡±


    ¡± Oh gosh!¡± Chen Qi made a phone call to the leader of the men in ck and ordered, ¡°Bring that woman to me.¡±


    Chai Wenxiu was saved from death. She didn¡¯t have to pay back the money. Furthermore, she was invited to have dinner with Chen Qi and Dong Ci.


    ¡°I wille to see you tomorrow.¡± Dong Ci reluctantly pulled herself out of his arms.


    On the way back, Chai Xiuwen sitting in the back seat of the taxi held Dong Ci and said, ¡°You are really my best friend.¡±


    In the eyes of Chai Wenxiu, the so-called ¡°best friend¡± was just a tool to pay off her debt.


    A leaf fell from the tree.


    Life is so fragile and the Grim Reaper will take your life at any time. Death alwayses to you suddenly without warning.


    Chai Wenxiu died in the taxi. The taxi collided head-on with a van. The taxi driver had just returned from his colleague¡¯s wedding banquet and drunk driving robbed him of his life.


    Dong Ci didn¡¯t wear the seat belt. She fell forward across the front seat and her head hit the windshield. Her skull was fractured in the crash. Now shey in a hospital bed, nearly dead.


    Luo Nan was crying sadly at her bedside. ¡°I love you. Even if you be a vegetable, I will marry you. Dong Ci, you must survive.¡±


    Hai Ming had no chance to wait for his girlfriend to wake up because Chai Wenxiu was dead. Her mutted body was sent to the mortuary, waiting for cremation.


    Dong Ci¡¯s parents didn¡¯t know that she was lying between life and death because no one dared to tell them.


    Chen Qi knew nothing of her condition too. He was eating human meat at home. In front of him was a man who had been tied to a wooden stick and been put over a fire. Chen Qi turned the wooden stick from time to time. This method of roasting permitted heat to prate evenly from both sides. Gradually, the man¡¯s whole body was well-cooked, oil oozing from his pores and dripping down. The fire was burning cheerfully and the air was full of the aroma of human meat. Chen Qi was in a good mood. He called Dong Ci and wanted to invite her to his rose garden, but he failed to get through. ¡®Is she having sex with her future husband?¡¯ At the thought of that, Chen Qi was ovee by a surge of jealousy. He cut a piece of meat from the man¡¯s arm and chewed it. This time he was choking on the meat. He started coughing violently, as tears welled up in his eyes and streamed down his cheeks.

 Chapter 25: Vegetable Dong Ci

    ¡°Why am I here?¡± Dong Ci became a ghost. She looked at her own body lying on the bed with her head swathed in bandages, her eyes bulging and her muscles stiff. Luo Nan, looking drawn and wan, pressed his cheek against the back of her hand. Just then, the door opened and a doctor came in with a bottle of colorless transparent liquid in his hand. He walked to the bedside, handed the bottle to Luo Nan and said, ¡°You are her husband, right? The patient is unable to blink, so her eyes will be dry. Remember to moisten her eyes with the cotton swabs every half an hour. Anyway, you¡¯d better hire a special nurse to take care of her at night.¡±


    Luo Nan, who had stayed awake all night, asked in a low, hoarse voice, ¡°Doctor, is it possible for her to survive?¡±


    ¡°Wait, maybe miracles will happen to her. We will give her infusions to sustain her life in the following days.¡± The doctor tapped Luo Nan on the shoulder andforted, ¡°I wish she will wake up. You can try to speak about her past to arouse her desire to live.¡±


    With that the doctor left. There were only Luo Nan and Dong Ci in the ward. She had been vivacious and lively before, but now shey very quietly in bed looking particrly frail as if she was going to die at any time.


    Luo Nan picked up a cotton swab and immersed it in the liquid in the bottle, and then gently dabbed at Dong Ci¡¯s bulging eyes. The artificial tears immediately filled her eyes and rolled down her face.


    ¡°I should have been the one to die. I should have gone to pick you up, then you wouldn¡¯t have involved in the car ident¡­¡± Luo Nan burst into tears, and bright, shiny droplets rolled down his cheeks like pearls from a broken string. He quietly cried for his lover as his heart ached. But crying was useless. He had no power to bring the dying back to life.


    The rays of the setting sun shone ntwise through the window onto the floor. As darkness fell outside, the yellow leaves on the ground were picked up by the autumn wind and whirling in the air. Dong Ci¡¯s ghost quietly drifted out of the ward and was blown away by the wind like the fallen leaves.


    ¡°I have to go. I know you don¡¯t want to stay alone in the hospital¡­¡± Luo Nan murmured choking on his tears, staring at Dong Ci with loving eyes. ¡°Do you know how important you are to me? Without you by my side, I can¡¯t sleep¡­ Please wake up and go home with me. Honey, do you hear me?¡±


    Dong Ci was still motionless.


    She was now in what was described as a vegetative state, without being able to react to anything at all.


    A nurse walked into the ward and said, ¡°Mr. Luo, you can go home for a rest. I¡¯ll take care of her.¡±


    ¡°All right, thank you. I¡¯lle back tomorrow afternoon.¡±


    Luo Nan reluctantly let go of Dong Ci¡¯s hand, which was warm because he had wrapped her hand in his warm palms for a long time. But soon after he left, her hand became cold again.


    Dong Ci floated towards the temple in which she had burned incense and prayed to Buddhas before. The Buddhist abbot stood at the temple gate and waved at her.


    ¡°Am I dead? Can you see me?¡¯ Dong Ci shouted, ¡°Tell me where I should go.¡±


    The abbot put his palms together and said, ¡°You gave me a pair of shoes in your previous life. In return for your kindness, I will show you the way.¡±


    Dong Ci sobbed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to die.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You are fated not to die.¡± The abbot handed her a small bulging bag and continued, ¡°I wish you all the best. Remember, no pain, no gain. You must give to get. Myst advice: don¡¯t cling to the memories of the previous life. Amitabha!¡±


    The Buddhist abbot walked into the temple and closed the temple gate behind him. Dong Ci couldn¡¯t be allowed in. Two dim figures came towards her from the distance. They both wore tall hats. One of them was dressed in white from head to toe, and the other all in ck.


    ¡°ck Emissary and White Emissary?!¡± Dong Ci yelled and started trembling with fear.


    ¡°You innocent ghost, follow us.¡± White Emissary carried an iron chain in his hand.


    She was followed by three female ghosts and a little boy ghost. Dong Ci asked White Emissary, ¡°Why are they following me?¡±


    ¡°They must have done something bad to you in the previous life and been punished by the King of Hell. So they have been waiting for you to be a ghost. They want you to intercede with the King of Hell for them so that they can be reincarnated at an early date. Otherwise, they have to exist as ghosts for forty-nine centuries before they will be allowed to be reincarnated in new bodies,¡± White Emissary exined. ¡°But I don¡¯t know the details of what happened between you and them. There are so many ghosts in the world. There are so many simr things.¡±


    ¡°There are so many ghosts in the world, but only you twoe to the human¡¯s world to catch them. How can you take on so much work?¡± Dong Ci asked curiously. Now she didn¡¯t care about the four ghosts behind her. When she was alive, she was not afraid of them. Now that she became a ghost, she had no reason to fear them at all.


    White Emissary replied, ¡°We don¡¯t have to be responsible for every ghost. Some ghosts can find the way to the gate of Hell themselves, such as your friend, Chai Wenxiu, and that drunk driver. Some evil persons willpletely disappear after death. Some good persons, who have done many good deeds, will go to heaven directly after death. Furthermore, there are thousands of emissaries in charge of the work of catching ghosts besides us.¡±


    Dong Ci nodded, ¡°Oh, I see. Not every ghost of the dead needs to be taken to theher world. And you two have many helpers.¡±


    ¡°You are so smart. Anyway, we have to go now.¡± White Emissary stretched out his arm in a gesture of moving on.


    In front of them was a cave. The ghosts walked into the entrance one after another. The ground was very muddy. Dong Ci moved forward with difficulty as if in the swamp. The cave was very dark. With no light, she had to follow her nose. ck Emissary and White Emissary were silent.


    The King of Hell was easy to please, but imps were really hard to deal with. No matter in the human¡¯s world or theher world, there were many underlings threatening others on the strength of their masters¡¯ power.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Chen Qi waited for a phone call from Dong Ci all the day, but she didn¡¯t call him. He phoned her but failed to reach her. ¡®She made a date with me. Why did she stand me up?¡¯ he thought to himself, as a wave of pain welled up in his heart.


    Sometimes people would break their promises. If a person died or became a vegetable, she would be unable to keep the appointment. The human vegetables lived a happy life. Most unhappy people had a good memory and always took everything to heart. Chen Qi was unhappy, no matter before or after he got Dong Ci. The root of his unhappiness was that he refused to let her go. So he called Chai Wenxiu, but couldn¡¯t get through too.


    The next day he went to Starlight International Travel Agency and inquired about them. Then he knew that Chai Wenxiu was dead and Dong Ci became a vegetable.


    In the evening, he went to the hospital to visit Dong Ci. He stood quietly beside her bed staring at her with sad eyes. The nurse asked, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Miss Dong? You¡¯vee toote.¡±


    ¡°She is my friend.¡± With that Chen Qi walked out and closed the door behind him.

 Chapter 26: Root of Miseries in This Life

    Meng Po was waiting for Dong Ci at the bridge to Hell.


    Dong Ci walked over and bowed to her. Meng Po said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to drink the Lethe water. The Judge of Hell allows you to keep your memories.¡±


    T/N note:


    The Judge of Hell: the official in charge of the life-and-death register under the King of Hell.


    Dong Ci walked across the bridge and was attracted by the hustle and bustle of the Hell.


    The Judge of Hell said, ¡°You are fated not to die this time. So you can go back to the human world.¡±


    Dong Ci knelt down and said, ¡°Your Majesty, can I ask you a favor? White Emissary told me that these three female ghosts and this little ghost had done something bad to me in the previous life. Although I don¡¯t know what they did, I hope that you will show mercy to them.¡±


    ck Emissary reported, ¡°Your Majesty, now there are so many people waiting in the queue to go to the human world that she has to wait for some time.¡±


    The King of Hell picked up a red rope from the table and gave it to Dong Ci. ¡°Tie it around your wrist. When the red rope turns ck, you should go to the entrance and join the queue to return to the human world. As for the four ghosts, the Judge will deal with them.¡±


    Dong Ci roamed around the Hell and saw a gate and a path shrouded in thick mist. On one side of the gate there was a red que saying ¡°The entrance to your past¡±. A low-ranking ghost official leaned askew against the gate.


    ¡°What is this?¡± asked Dong Ci.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    White Emissary answered, ¡°The road to your previous life.¡±


    Dong Ci walked over to the gate. The ghost official saw them and immediately stood straight and greeted, ¡°Hello, ck Emissary, White Emissary. Your arrival has added glitters to my humble manor.¡±


    As the high-ranking ghost officials, ck Emissary and White Emissary were the objects of ttery among low-ranking ghost officials.


    Dong Ci told the ghost official her name and date of birth. The ghost official led her to a cold room, in the middle of which was a huge red stone.


    Gradually, the stone gave out light and began to show the film about Dong Ci¡¯s previous life: The locusts flitted about in the air and she stood in the ruins with a frightened, broken face. Her fingers were bloody from digging a pit for her dead family members. Autumn Wind Teahouse was bubbling a cacophony of voices. A steamed bun fell to the ground. Nima hoisted her on to his shoulder and walked out of the teahouse with a triumphant smile. She yed the Chines lute which was made of red sandalwood while singing. They embraced each other warmly in bed. Then he set off for the capital. They parted with reluctance and she shed floods of tears. The three women skinned the moles and her, and then wrapped her in rat furs. She failed to hug him again. They lost each other for all the wrong reasons. Many corpses hung on iron hooks in the backyard. Two of the three women were thrown in the pit of of ten thousand rats, and the other woman was disembowelled¡­


    Dong Ci shed tears and whispered, ¡°I did suffer a lot in my previous life. But I didn¡¯t know of that till just now. Nima, where are you? I want to go back! I want toe back to you and tell you what happened to me.¡±


    ck Emissary said, ¡°Okay, I will send you to your past. But when the red rope turns ck, you have toe back to the Hell. Otherwise, you will lose the opportunity to return to the human world.¡±


    Dong Ci nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    White Emissary said, ¡°Go to find the Door 116 of Building 680. Open it, and you can go back to your past. Remember, when everything¡¯s settled, you must go back the same way youe.¡±


    Dong Ci thanked them sincerely.


    There was a sign saying ¡°the departure in the previous life is the root of miseries in the present life¡± at the fork of the road.


    Everyone had trouble without end. Now Dong Ci only wanted to find that door ande back to Nima.


    Luo Nan lingered next to Dong Ci¡¯s bed. He sat staring at her quietly. She was getting thinner day by day. Now she was nothing but skin and bones, and he could even see her rib cage. As her face got thinner, her eyes looked sunken and much bigger.


    ¡°I will not leave you.¡± Luo Nan held Dong Ci¡¯s hand and continued, ¡°You must defeat the death. If you wake up, I will be obedient to you in every matter. Wherever you want to go, I will apany you¡­¡±


    Dong Ci couldn¡¯t hear him.


    Chen Qi always came to see her at midnight. He had looked high and low for her like mad. Now he found her, but shey deathly and soullessly in the bed. He sat in the ward until the small hours. Before he left, he kissed Dong Ci on the lips. They had been warm and soft but now was cold, dry and cracked. Chen Qi had once met Luo Nan at the gate of the hospital. Luo Nan knew that the man was not Hai Ming because he had seen Hai Ming at the funeral of Chai Wenxiu. That silly bookworm felt deeply grieved at the death of his girlfriend and repeatedly reproached himself for not taking good care of her. Then he gave up his studies and started hunting for a job because he had to pay his mortgage. Chai Wenxiu had been responsible for the mortgage, but now she was dead and no one could help him. Hai Ming was very sad.


    Both Chen Qi and Luo Nan hoped that Dong Ci would wake up as soon as possible because she was the most important person in their lives.

 Chapter 27: Return to the Previous Life

    Dong Ci surfaced, gasping for air, and then shouted for help. She was now in the Song dynasty. Many people stood on the edge of the bridge with their arms across and showed no intention of helping her. They had just finished their lunches and in their eyes, watching someone floundering in the river was a good pastime. It seemed to be a tradition to stand by when someone was in danger since ancient times. In Song dynasty, the system of rewarding those who did boldly what was righteous wasn¡¯t established yet. Some people pointed at Dong Ci and said indifferently, ¡°A woman fell into the water.¡±


    It was necessary to learn to swim.


    Fortunately, it was summer. Otherwise, Dong Ci would freeze to death, even if she tried not to drown.


    Fortunately, it was just a small river. If she was in the sea, the seawater would make her dehydrated and kill her.


    She floundered in the water for a long time and then found that the river was shallow and she wouldn¡¯t get drowned as long as she stood up.


    Dong Ciposed herself and climbed up the bank like a drowned rat. Her silk dress waspletely wet and sticking to her, revealing her fine figure. She looked as sexy and charming as a mermaid. Dong Ci felt hot and hungry. She walked over to a pear vendor and asked, ¡°Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Autumn Wind Teahouse?¡±


    The vendor looked at her and replied, ¡°Buy a pear, and then I will tell you.¡±


    ¡°You are really snobbish. Tell me how to get to Autumn Wind Teahouse, and then I¡¯ll buy the pears from you,¡± Dong Ci said.


    ¡°It¡¯s right next to you,¡± the vendor said. ¡°Now please buy some pears.¡±


    ¡°I have no money with me.¡± Dong Ci looked at Autumn Wind Teahouse next to her and continued, ¡°It¡¯s easy to fool you. s, I have poor eyesight.¡±


    In Autumn Wind Teahouse, a hubbub filled the hall. Li Qiufeng saw Dong Ci standing outside. She was wet all over but looked beautiful and elegant in the sunlight. He quickly walked out and asked, ¡°Hello, do you want toe in and have some tea?¡±


    He stared at Dong Ci¡¯s white neck with fixed eyes.


    ¡°What are you looking at? Haven¡¯t you ever seen a pretty woman like me?¡± Dong Ci shook the water off her hair and body like a drenched dog drying itself out.


    ¡°You look like my¡­¡± Li Qiufeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°Like your dead daughter?¡± Dong Ci looked at him. ¡°Your chat-up line is really old-fashioned. Can I stay in your teahouse and wait for someone? I will leave when hees.¡±


    Li Qiufeng was surprised and dazed, but soon he came back to himself and gave her a smile. ¡°Pleasee in.¡± Then he shouted to the waiter inside the hall, ¡°San, serve thisdy a pot of tea.¡±


    Dong Ci sat in the hall and waited for Nima. However, he didn¡¯te. Gradually, night fell. Dong Ci became increasingly anxious because she couldn¡¯t afford to pay the bill. So she slipped away when Li Qiufeng wasn¡¯t looking.


    When she got out of Autumn Wind Teahouse, the pear vendor was still at the roadside. The world changed but there were always pear vendors.


    ¡°Do you know how to get to Nima Mansion? I promise to buy the pears as long as you show me the way,¡± Dong Ci said with a sincere look on her face.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    The vendor had no time to answer her question because he saw some vendors running past him in panic. He quickly put all the pears into a big bag, carried it and turned to run.


    Gasping, Dong Ci was running after him and asked, ¡°Why are you running away?¡±


    ¡°The urban management officers ising. No stalls are allowed here. I don¡¯t want to be caught by them.¡± The vendor stopped and said, ¡°Nima Mansion is just ahead. I¡¯m going to sell pears there. You can follow me. By the way, you are really a beautiful girl.¡±


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Dong Ci gave a smile in smug self-satisfaction. From small torge, she was proud of her nice appearance.


    Women would preen themselves on the praise they received and forget their troubles for the time being.


    She followed the vendor. He told her that he came from Shandong Province. Dong Ci ttered him by saying, ¡°What a good ce your hometown is! Shandong is famous for its handsome men.¡±


    The vendor walked along the street while saying, ¡°You have a good taste.¡±


    They reached Nima Mansion which had an air of opulence and grandeur. The two white marble lions in grotesque shape, guarded the gate and many rednterns were hanging high.  Dong Ci murmured to herself, ¡°It reminds me of a film named ¡®Raise the Red Lantern¡¯.¡±


    The handsome vendor from Shandong Province said, ¡°I have to answer a call of nature. Please help me look after my booth.¡±


    Nima took a sip of tea and said to Yang Zhen who was lying on the bed, ¡°Have a good rest. I¡¯m going to a brothel to have some fun.¡±


    Yang Zhenined, ¡°Master, I¡¯m not very well today. Can you stay with me instead of going to a brothel? Please don¡¯t leave me alone. I will feel lonely without you by my side.¡±


    ¡°I have to find a woman to satisfy my sexual needs. Otherwise, I will get sick.¡± Nima pinched her thigh and said, ¡°Since you feel ufortable, you should stay at home and rest.¡±


    Dong Ci finished eating a pear and then looked around. Just then, the gate opened and Nima walked out.


    At the sight of Dong Ci, he felt as if he had met her somewhere before, his heart beating violently. She had watery eyes and looked lovingly pathetic, which hit the softest ce in his heart.


    Dong Ci knelt down and pleaded, ¡°Master, please take me in.¡±


    Dong Ci was brought into Nima Mansion. She changed into a red undergarment and a red silk gown, and then pinned two flowers in her hair, which ttered her fair skin and delicate face. She looked like a goddess from the heaven.

 Chapter 28: Why Did You Call Me Here?

    Dong Ci wrapped her arms around Nima and asked, ¡°Why did you call me here?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very special. Your remarks, your voice and your body¡­ Maybe I have fallen in love with the pleasant smell of your body.¡± Nima undressed himself and pressed Dong Ci down beneath him. He held her close and covered her thin naked legs with his legs to keep them warm. They both feltfortable.


    Then he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately. After the long kiss, Dong Ci said, ¡°Master, I don¡¯t want to be a maid. I want to be your wife.¡±


    ¡°I will give you everything as long as you make me happy.¡± Nima was riding her and repeatedly thrusting like an animal mating.


    Dong Ci shouted, ¡°Oh! Come on! Quick!¡±


    She wasn¡¯t asking for an orgasm. In truth, she was reminding herself that she had to make the best use of her time to change her fate in the previous life before the red rope turned ck.


    The next day Nima took Dong Ci as his fourth wife. The whole Nima Mansion was decorated withnterns and festoons. Ju Juxian, Ji Jing and Yang Zhen were jealous. Nima also held a wedding feast. The dinner was served separately as the guests arrive in session. Every townsfolk coulde to the feast at any time and enjoyed delicious food.


    Dong Ci nced at the red rope around her wrist. It showed no sign of turning ck. Sheughed delightfully with pure satisfaction, shaking in her chair.


    Nima looked at Dong Ci and asked, ¡°What else do you want?¡±


    Dong Ci, with a rosy, cheerful face, pointed at Yang Zhen¡¯s head and replied, ¡°I want her hairpin. It¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    Nima turned to Yang Zhen and said, ¡°Give it to her.¡±


    Yang Zhen was reluctant, but she forced a smile and pretended to be generous. ¡°You like jewelry? Okay, take it. I have a lot of jewelry in my bedroom. You can take them all.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Dong Ci took the hairpin from Yang Zhen and looked carefully at it. ¡®In the previous life, Yang Zhen destroyed my face with this sharp hairpin. But now things change. She will never get a chance to do that again,¡¯ she thought to herself.


    Ji Jing was burnt up with jealousy. Suddenly, she felt the movement of the fetus and the expression on her face changed from anger to delight. She was going to be a mother.


    Ju Juxian was ustomed to being given the cold shoulder by Nima. She was old, experienced and good at hiding her emotions. ¡®She is really a boring stodgy old woman. When a woman doesn¡¯t show any emotion in the face of her husband¡¯s love affair, it means that she¡¯s old, both physically and mentally,¡¯ Dong Ci thought.


    Nima was getting thinner forck of sleep. Every night after having sex with Dong Ci, he had to chat with her. Sometimes he told her about his childhood experiences; sometimes he had to listen to her talking about something that he couldn¡¯t understand at all, for example, something about the future. Her soft, dulcet voice sent him to sleep and his snores echoed in the room. Dong Ci asked, ¡°Master, what was I saying?¡± Nima answered, still half asleep, ¡°You were saying that you were a guide.¡± Dong Ci snuggled deeper into his embrace and said, ¡°Master, it¡¯s time for having a rest. Let¡¯s make love one more time.¡±


    Dong Ci was in Nima¡¯s good graces and his other three wives feltpletely left out in cold. They were jealous and resentful of Dong Ci, who perceived that soon. Shey next to Nima and asked, ¡°Master, what if they are jealous of me?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you do, I will support you.¡± Nima just wanted a good sleep as he was sleepy and tired.


    Ji Jing was a threat to Dong Ci.


    When Dong Ci walked out of the gate of Nima Mansion, the pear vendor was shocked and unconsciously loosened his grip on the basket. His pears were scattered over the ground. She was beautifully groomed with splendid jewels, like a Hollywood¡¯s mour goddess.


    ¡°Take them and buy all the things on this shopping list for me.¡± Dong Ci gave him a bank note and a paper. ¡°As for the rest of the money, you can use it to buy some new clothes for your mother.¡±


    The pear vendor was struck dumb, but soon he came to himself and said, ¡°Okay, I will do as you have said.¡±


    Dong Ci liked durian. In Chinese, ¡°durian¡± sounded the same to the word ¡°linger¡±, which meant that a person was reluctant to part from his or her beloved.


    All the things on the shopping list were prepared for Ji Jing. At noon, Dong Ci walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of the decocted herbal potion in her hands and said to Ji Jing, ¡°Second Madam, drink it. I decocted it for you in person.¡±


    Ji Jing looked at Nima.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. It¡¯s nontoxic.¡± Dong Ci turned her head to Nima and took a mouthful of the decocted herbal potion.


    Ji Jing trembled and drank the potion. Fortunately, it was not a poison and she did not die.


    A dayter, the fetus in Ji Jing¡¯s womb died. It had arms and legs. But gradually, it turned into a pool of blood and flowed along her vagina out of her body. She felt a sharp pain in the lower abdomen. The flow of blood could not be staunched, and metallic smell of blood lingered in the air. The moon hung high in the sky, casting its velvety light on everything. A distant song started soft and mncholy, and was wafted to her ears.


    Dong Ci kept Nima by her side every minute of the day. ¡°You are mine. I won¡¯t allow you to be with other women. You said that you would support me whatever I did. Don¡¯t break your word.¡±


    Nima sighed, ¡°The baby¡­¡±


    ¡°I will bear you a child.¡±


    ¡®All right. It sounds good.¡¯ Nima thought.


    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s work hard to make a baby.¡±


    ¡°You are so eager¡­¡± Dong Ci¡¯s lips were upied by Nima and all the words she was about to say were being sucked into his void. After a while, she said in a vague voice, ¡°You are not in the right ce¡­ A baby can be only created in my womb¡­¡±

 Chapter 29: Have You Finished? I’m Tired

    In the depth of night, Dong Ci was aroused from her sleep by a knocking at the door. She got up and opened the door, and then she saw Ji Jing in red clothes hang herself by the neck with a rope. She was dead with both hands down naturally and her eyes rolled back. Her clothes were redder than her overhanging tongue and her facial expression was horrible.


    Ji Jing¡¯s hair was so long that it reached to her knees. Dong Ci thought that Ji Jing could use her long hair as a tool to hang herself instead of the rope. Although Ji Jing had killed herself, Dong Ci had a lingering fear.


    When a woman liked a man, she would miss him terribly and couldn¡¯t restrain the impulse to see him. When she was dating with him, she couldn¡¯t restrain the impulse to have a deeper exchange of body and soul with him. So, if you followed her out several times, you could easily find out who her lover was. Ji Jing¡¯s lover was a thin and withered man who ran a dyehouse in the town. He had deep-set brown eyes and long eyshes. Ji Jing often took some white cloths to the dyehouse to dye. She liked green and purple. These two colors were not suitable for most people, but Ji Jing looked beautiful in green or purple. If Ji Jing was not in Nima Mansion, she must be in the dyehouse or be on the way to the dyehouse. Her maid, Yan, was well disposed towards Dong Ci, so she told Dong Ci everything about Ji Jing.


    ¡®You can keep nothing a secret from your maid,¡¯ Dong Ci thought.


    Ji Jing and her lover went into a room on the ground floor of an inn. Outside the window the weeds ran riot. Dong Ci squatted in the weeds with two leafy, big branches in her hands and a hat made with twigs on her head. ¡®I look like a tree,¡¯ she thought.


    The sun was high in the sky, zing down on her. Fortunately, the big branches and the hat shaded her from the sun. Dong Ci was holding up the branches with a triumphant smile, like a proud lizard.


    She looked through a leak in the window and saw clearly what happened in the room. ¡®Maybe I can use him to deal with Ji Jing,¡¯ she thought to herself.


    Dong Ci waited a long time outside. In the room, Ji Jing and her lover were making love in different postures. Dong Ci got tired of their uncreative love-making postures. She had got up early this morning in order to follow Ji Jing. At noon, she had gone to Autumn Wind Teahouse and bought some snacks. Dong Ci had a bad habit of sleeping after meals. Looking at the man moving up and down on Ji Jing, Dong Ci felt sleepy, as her eyelids drooped. She leaned against the wall and gradually drifted into a light sleep.


    After a short nap, she felt refreshed. The sound of gasps and moans was wafted to her ears from the room.


    ¡°Have you finished? I¡¯m tired.¡± Ji Jing¡¯s moans died away because she was exhausted.


    The man said, ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? The sun hasn¡¯t set yet.¡±


    Things will develop in the opposite direction when they be extreme, no matter how much pleasure they have brought you. For example, when you were hungry, eating could make you happy; however, you might die from overeating. When you were thirsty, drinking water could refresh you; however, consuming too much water would put you at risk of a potentially life-threatening condition known as water intoxication. When you were sleepy, sleeping was a good way to regain your energy; however, too much sleep would make you feel dizzy and cause a lot of health problems. For another example, when you had sex with your lover, endlessly thrusting would scrape the skin off your private parts.


    That man said, ¡°I will show you how strong I am.¡±


    It was finally over. The man grunted in relief as his body trembled, feeling the convulsions of the orgasm suck him dry. Hey down on the bed, exhausted. Outside the window, Dong Ci also felt tired from crouching in the weeds for such a long time.


    Ji Jing got dressed and left in a hurry. Dong Ci pushed the door open and went in the room. The man looked at Dong Ci and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Dong Ci strewed the bed with banknotes and said, ¡°Come to Nima Mansion this afternoon and tell Nima everything. Only in this way can you live on. If you refuse to do that, I will personally tell Nima what happened between you and Ji Jing. By then you will lose the money and even your life.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± The man sprawled on the bed without trousers.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. I¡¯ll wait for you in Nima Mansion. You¡¯d better think carefully before you make a decision.¡± Dong Ci cast a nce at Ji Jing¡¯s lover¡¯s magnificent, erect penis.


    ¡®Men cannot be judged by their looks,¡¯ she thought.


    At dusk, the man went to Nima Mansion and told Nima the whole story between him and Ji Jing. Nima¡¯s colour came and went as he listened. Finally, he turned livid with rage as he knew that Ji Jing¡¯s stillborn baby was not his. That shameless woman cuckolded him!


    Ji Jing knew that she wouldn¡¯t outlive this night. So she hung herself at the door of Dong Ci¡¯s bedroom.


    Ju Juxian and Yang Zhen heard Dong Ci¡¯s screams. They got dressed quickly and rushed towards Dong Ci¡¯s bedroom. When they saw Ji Jing¡¯s body blowing in the wind, they were taken aback and exchanged frightened nces. Nima strode to Dong Ci, held her in his arms, and then asked the servants to bury Ji Jing. After that, he said to Dong Ci in a concerned voice, ¡°You must be awfully scared tonight. Go to my bedroom and get some sleep.¡±


    Dong Ci nced at Yang Zhen.


    A cold chill went up Yang Zhen¡¯s spine. At this summer night, the dead woman wore red clothes, her face contorted with resentment. Faint moonlight shone on the corpse and fireflies glowed in the darkness. There was an air of gloom and despair hanging over the courtyard.


    Dong Ci didn¡¯t intend to kill Ju Juxian and Yang Zhen. She had forced Ji Jing to death as a warning to the other two women. They two were smart, so they quietly went away from Nima Mansion with arge sum of money that very night.


    ¡°Master, you only belong to me now,¡± Dong Ci whispered in his ears.


    As a woman, she enjoyed being possessed by her man; meanwhile, she wanted an absolute possession of him, from heart to soul.


    Nima spoiled Dong Ci. She was not afraid of those corpses hanging on iron hooks in the backyard; instead, she provided some good ideas about how to deal with the corpses. For example, she advised Nima to stuff ice cubes and just-washed entrails into the corpses¡¯ abdominal cavities to keep them fresh. She also advised that fingers of the corpses should be heavily salted with pure sodium chloride and then be smoked by sulphur so that they could be delicious and tempting. Besides, brushing honey on to the outside of human flesh during the process of making cured meat was a good idea suggested by Dong Ci. She also thought that the oil extracted from the corpses was a good gift for officials¡¯ wives because applying the congealed oil to the face could make the skin smooth¡­


    ¡°You are a gift from God to me.¡± Nima held Dong Ci in her arms and said, ¡°I can¡¯t image what my life would be like without you.¡±


    ¡°After my death, please make my body into cured meat and eat it all.¡± Dong Ci looked at the red rope around her wrist. Its color began to change from red to ck. ¡°Master, will you still remember me after you reincarnate?¡±


    ¡°Silly girl. You won¡¯t die. I don¡¯t allow you to die before me. I want you to live the rest of your life with me. Believe me, we will lead a happy life.¡± Nima undressed Dong Ci and caressed her graceful body along her delicate curves.


    There was a burning sensation in her body, which took over her senses and kept her desire alive.


    ¡®Nima, I love you so much,¡¯ she thought.


    Nima fell into a sound sleep. Dong Ci gently touched his nose with her fingers and said, ¡°Master, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    The next morning, Dong Ci¡¯s body was found to be floating face down on the water. Some water spiders jumped on her back. Nima couldn¡¯t believe that Dong Ci had been drowned in such a shallow river. He made her corpse into cured meat and ate it up. ¡®She must have turned into a fish. She¡¯s still alive,¡¯ he thought to himself.


    Nima took a few new concubines, but none of them could give him a feeling of euphoria as Dong Ci had done.


    He often stood at the gate in a trance, hoping that Dong Ci woulde back to him.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Afterwards, Nima returned to Tibet alone.


    How could Dong Ci die in such a shallow river? It was practically impossible, but in reality, it happened. Nima thought that he would be with Dong Ci until old age, but destiny had different ns. It seemed to be impossible for him to meet her again. Everyone who fell in love had trouble without end.


    ¡°May Buddha let us meet in my most beautiful hours.


    I have prayed for it for five hundred years.


    I hope we can meet?in earthly?life.¡±


    ck Emissary and White Emissary was waiting for Dong Ci at the entrance to Hell. She walked up to them and said, ¡°Take me back to the human world. I¡¯m tired.¡±

 Chapter 30: I Must Be Him!

    ¡°I¡¯m going back to my body.¡± Dong Ci bowed to ck Emissary and White Emissary, and continued, ¡°So sorry for giving you so much trouble.


    ck Emissary began to speak before White Emissary, ¡°We have been fired.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Dong Ci asked.


    White Emissary replied helplessly, ¡°Because you have changed your fate in the previous life. But it doesn¡¯t matter. We have a lot of money, and we will resume our positions soon.¡±


    As a saying went, ¡°Money makes the mare go.¡± In theher world, money was also almighty.


    When Dong Ci woke up, she saw Luo Nan sitting by the bed. She had been in aa for such a long time that she was now nothing but skin and bones. Dong Ci was taken aback by her own skinny body. The spring hade and peach blossoms were all open in the bright sunlight. Bees were humming around from flower to flower. It was really a lovely day. Dong Ci finally recovered from the vegetative state.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally awake!¡± Luo Nan shouted, ¡°Doctor, pleasee here¡­¡±


    A doctor came in and said in a calm voice, ¡°Congrattions on waking up. In the past, many patients in our hospital woke up from the vegetative state like you.¡±


    ¡°I want to go home.¡± Dong Ci struggled to sit up and tried to get out of bed. Since she came back from the jaws of death, she had been only allowed to eat liquid food. Luo Nan grabbed hold of her arm and stopped her, ¡°Take your time. I¡¯m going to buy some milk and bread for you. You will have a check-up soon. I¡¯m afraid that you will get hungry after that.¡±


    With that, Luo Nan went out. Dong Ci turned to the nurse and asked, ¡°Did anyone elsee to visit me when I was in thea?¡±


    The nurse answered, ¡°Yes, it was a man. He always came to see youte at night. But he doesn¡¯t seem to have been here in the past month.¡±


    ¡®Chen Qi! It must be him!¡¯ Dong Ci thought.


    A general physical checkup required patients to strip off all their clothes. Dong Ci hated the general physical checkup. She was particrly disgusted to be touched by middle-aged male doctors because their eyes and fingers were as cold as their stethoscopes.


    After the examination, the doctor said, ¡°You are well enough to leave the hospital. But you still have to recuperate. So you¡¯d better stay at home and take a good rest.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Luo Nan helped Dong Ci out of the hospital, his face shining with tenderness. The special nurse looked at their receding figures and thought, ¡®What a lucky woman!¡¯


    The car cruised down the road with its windows open. Dong Ci stuck her head out of the window and looked at the crowds and high buildings on the roadside. On the surface, everything remained unchanged. But in essence, everything was changing.


    Dong Ci went into the familiar house. The man by her side was her fianc¨¦. They were familiar with the smells of each other¡¯s bodies.


    Luo Nan was so happy that he picked Dong Ci up and spun her around. ¡°Honey, you are home atst. I hope you can eat more so that you can regain your good, full figure. Otherwise, you won¡¯t look good in the wedding dress.¡±


    ¡°Wedding dress?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Have you forgotten that you promised to marry me?¡± Luo Nanid Dong Ci on the sofa in the living room.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Dong Ci nodded, ¡°Now I remember.¡±


    Luo Nan¡¯s phone rang. He went to the balcony to answer the phone. After a long phone conversation, he hung up and hurried back to Dong Ci. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have some important business to deal with. So I have to go now. I wille back to have dinner with you two hourster.¡±


    After Luo Nan left, Dong Ci dialed Chen Qi¡¯s number but all she heard was a recording, ¡°Sorry! The number you dialed is out of service¡­¡±


    ¡®Has his phone run out of credit? Oh well, it doesn¡¯t matter anyway,¡¯ she thought.


    When you really wanted to find a person you cared much about, even if you lost contact with him, you would do everything you could to reestablish contact with him. When you didn¡¯t want to approach someone, even if you had his number, you wouldn¡¯t call him and say a kind word to him.


    Two hourster, Luo Nan came back. They went out to eat Indian food that Dong Ci liked. She looked quietly at Luo Nan who was sitting opposite with a gentle smile and a spot of curry paste on his lips. She could clearly see the warmth and gentleness in his eyes. Obviously, her fianc¨¦, Luo Nan really loved her. He was a dependablepanion.


    Dong Ci felt a sense of satisfaction. The corners of her mouth rose slightly and her eyes glimmered with happiness, on the surface at least.

 Chapter 31: Wedding Day

    Luo Nany himself on Dong Ci¡¯s body. He was very satisfied with the speed of her physical recovery, as her bosom was bing ampler day by day. They were going to get married on May Day. By then she would wear the wedding dress and be the most beautiful bride.


    Dong Ciy beneath him. She was familiar with Luo Nan¡¯s body and ustomed to his love-making rhythm. He knew all her sensitive parts and as long as he wanted, he could easily arouse her desire. At this moment, she was immersed in her thoughts while enjoying the sex-thrill.


    Although they two closely merged into an organic whole, there was still another man existing between them. Although Dong Ci was having sex with Luo Nan, she was thinking about Chen Qi. They were seemingly in harmony but actually at variance; they slept in the same bed but dreamed different dreams.


    Did she want her fiance or lover? Did he want her body or soul? That was a hard question for both of them.


    Luo Nan sensed that Dong Ci¡¯s vagina was very dry, so he stopped and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel well?¡±


    She invented an excuse, ¡°No. It¡¯s just because the drug I have been taken recently has side effects. It affects my sexual appetite.¡±


    Dong Ci stared at the curtain behind which those three female ghosts had often hidden before. To her disappointment, they didn¡¯t appear. She hoped that they could appear so that she could ask them where Chen Qi was. ¡®Should I go to the Windflower Manor tomorrow to see if he is at home? Maybe he has lost his cell phone, or his phone book has got drenched by the rain so that he can¡¯t remember my number. Maybe his cell phone has fallen into the toilet and he hasn¡¯t bought a new one yet. ¡®Do you miss me?¡¯ That must be the first question he asks me when we meet tomorrow,¡¯ she thought.


    Luo Nan said, ¡°Shall I get some olive oil for you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah okay.¡± Dong Ci turned on the light and watched Luo Nan walking naked towards the refrigerator, without shyness. His sturdy hip looked beautiful in themplight. ¡®He¡¯s a very normal man,¡¯ she thought.


    After taking a bottle of olive oil from the refrigerator, Luo Nan turned around and saw Dong Ci staring at him with fixed eyes. He blushed and covered his penis with his hands. ¡°You little rascal! What are you looking at? Haven¡¯t you ever seen a handsome boy show off his elephant?¡± With that he went back to the bed.


    Dong Ci smiled and turned off the light. When two people lived together, their ways of speaking might gradually be the same. In the past, when he had stared at her taking a shower, she had said, ¡°You hooligan! What are you looking at? Haven¡¯t you ever seen a beautiful, nakeddy take a shower?¡±


    Luo Nan dipped his fingers into the olive oil, and then began to lubricate her vagina. He kissed every inch of her body with his passionate tongue. A wave of desire possessed them and pushed them to their orgasms. She felt as if she was floating in the air, riding the crest of the wave and in the heaven of bliss. At this moment, she put aside her emotional problems and devoted herself to sex.


    Since she was released from the hospital, it was the first time she had ascended to the peak of bliss. A loud groan of relief from her mouth pierced the night air and sounded an end to his wild movements.


    We did our best to pursue pleasure. We were in the world of mortals. We couldn¡¯t see through the emptiness of the material world; if someday we could, for sure, we would lose interest in making love.


    It was already spring. Willows had burgeoned forth and bunches of flowers were in full bloom. As Zhu Ziqing said in his article Spring, ¡°Everything seems to be awoken from sleep, opening his eyes drawlingly.¡± All was quiet in the dead of night. Lying in his arms, she felt the warmth of the early spring and heard the chirps of insects outside.


    They were both tired and fell asleep soon. A big gray moth crawled into the room from the windowsill. It flew about haphazardly and the powder from its wings was scattered all over the floor. There was amp in the bathroom. It gave out a bright light. The moth flew towards it. Unfortunately, it was a luremp and the moth was electrocuted. A smell of burning clung to the room. Dong Ci sniffed unconsciously and woke up. She scratched her head and murmured to herself, ¡°I seem to catch a smell of roasted human meat.¡±


    The next morning, Luo Nan urged Dong Ci to eat breakfast. Then he stroked her hair and said, ¡°If you feel bored, you can go out for shopping. I have put some money in the drawer.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I see.¡± Dong Ci turned the cup upside down and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to yourpany to see you when I have time.¡±


    ¡°Great! My friends are all concerned about you. But they haven¡¯t had a chance to see you since you were released from the hospital.¡± Luo Nan kissed Dong Ci on the forehead before he went out.


    Dong Ci had gone to Luo Nan¡¯spany a few times, and also attended some parties with Luo Nan. She didn¡¯t get along with those madams. Some of them wore an air of superiority and the others always tried to ingratiate themselves with her. Dong Ci thought that Luo Nan¡¯s secretary, Shang Linglong, was more suitable for such an asion because she was a very smooth character and never offended anyone.


    When you were alone at home and looked at yourself in the mirror, you would draw a conclusion: ¡°I¡¯m strikingly good-looking¡± or ¡°I¡¯m so ugly¡±.


    Dong Ci decided to go to Windflower Manor. There was an old saying in China, ¡°A monk may run away, but the temple remains.¡± Perhaps she could find him at his vi.


    ¡°Buds on the trees are a sign of spring. I keep looking for Chen Qi. Is it a sign of my love for him? Do I really love him?¡± Dong Ci asked herself.


    When she arrived at Windflower Manor, she was a bit surprised because there were few people in the manor. It looked deste.


    A mean-looking security guard with his face covered with pimples, stopped Dong Ci and said, ¡°Miss, please register first.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    ¡°Does Chen Qi still live here?¡± asked Dong Ci.


    The security guard looked her up and down and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my friend,¡± Dong Ci answered. She looked at the winter jasmines blooming in the courtyard. The flowers flickered in the breeze like a beautiful woman swaying her hips, charming and vulgar.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that he¡¯s dead? The newspapers have reported the event. At the end ofst year, the crime investigation department seized his usurypany. The government workers searched his vi and found many corpses in his basement. They had died in various ways. He¡¯s a cruel psychopath, a killer! How did you be friends with him?¡± Hearing his words, Dong Ci turned pale.


    She asked, ¡°How did he die?¡±


    ¡°He was executed by shooting. He deserves to die! Because of him, other vis in this manor be unmarketable. Many upants said that this manor was haunted and they were often awakened by the sound of crying in the middle of the night. So they have moved away one after another. Because of him, I¡¯m going to lose my job,¡± the security guard said with emotion, as his saliva sshing on Dong Ci¡¯s face.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Dong Ci wiped her face and left.


    Walking in the street, she quietly shed tears.


    ¡®I once thought we would meet again, but death took you away. I will never see you again. Our story ends in the same way as in the previous life. It was in the Song Dynasty when we first met. However, we forgot each other after reincarnation. We are now separated by death again. Will you forget me again? I once had a feeling we might have met before. But I didn¡¯t recognize you. In the previous life, you didn¡¯t recognize me when I was wrapped in the mole furs. Master, we have made the same mistake.


    My wedding will take ce on May Day. By then there should be a lot of peopleing to my wedding.¡¯


    Lost in deep thought, she found herself at the door of her house.

 Chapter 32: I Owe you too Much

    Spring scenery provoked people¡¯s interest. When beautiful flowers withered away inte spring, people would be nostalgic for the good old days. Peach flowers and pear flowers were going to bear fruit. The eventual aim of a man and a woman falling in love and getting married was to have a baby.


    The wedding day was drawing near. Dong Ci stared nkly at Luo Nan. He wore a happy look but she was overwhelmed with a sense of emptiness. She felt that they were drifting apart; however, she couldn¡¯t make up her mind to leave him. Luo Nan ordered lilies for the bridal bouquet because he always thought that lily was Dong Ci¡¯s favorite flower. He had once sent her roses. At that time, she had told him that roses were cheesy. Since then, he thought that she didn¡¯t like roses.


    However, women¡¯s real ideas were sometimes against their remarks.


    Dong Ci collected some newspapers and read the news reports about Chen Qi. Then she found what the security guard had said was correctly right. Chen Qi was a psychopath, a killer. He ate human meat, practised usury,undered money and bribed high officials¡­ But Dong Ci didn¡¯t hate Chen Qi because she had her own logic¨C


    ¡®He killed many people, but he didn¡¯t kill me.


    Do you hate Osama Bin Laden?


    No.


    Why?


    Because he didn¡¯t kill me.


    That¡¯s the way things are.


    Do you hate the thief who stole your wallet?


    Yes, I hate him very much. How I wish he would die!


    Why?


    Because he stole my wallet.


    That¡¯s the way things are.


    It is as simple and brutal as that.¡¯


    Chen Qi had been executed by shooting a month before Dong Ci was discharged from hospital. At that time, she was immersed in sex with Chen Qi¡¯s former self, Master Nima.


    Dong Ci walked out of the reference room and left the library. She saw arge crowd of people crossing the road. Suddenly, a familiar figure shed in front of her eyes.


    She immediately ran towards the crowd but he had disappeared. It seemed to be a hallucination. Her thoughts of Chen Qi made her hallucinate.


    A man, who had tried to climb over the railing in the middle of the road, was mown down by a car. A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash, and some of them began to vomit. Dong Ci watched them from a distance. She dared not let her eyes settle upon the corpseying in a pool of blood. He had been run over by the car, his face contorted with pain, his entrails lying scattered on the ground and sending forth a stink of urine and excrement. There was no need for White Emissary and ck Emissary toe to catch him because he would find the way to the gate of Hell himself, just like that drunk taxi driver who had died with Chai Wenxiu.


    Police came soon and cleared up the ident scene. A road sprinkler gave the road a good wash. Traffic police dispersed the crowd and traffic was resumed.


    ¡®Tomorrow someone will try to climb over the railing again,¡¯ Dong Ci thought. Some people were afraid of death. Some people were unafraid of death, such as Chen Qi. The bullet passed through his chest and the pain was only momentary.


    ¡°Honey, I will take you to buy the wedding rings at noon tomorrow.¡± Luo Nan, who had just got back from work, said to Dong Ci, ¡°I have booked a banqueting hall in a hotel. As for the style of the wedding invitation, tomorrow we can go to the Wedding Company and choose one.¡±


    ¡°All right. Thank you!¡± Dong Ci rested her head against his shoulder.


    ¡°We will be happy.¡± Luo Nan held Dong Ci in his arms and asked, ¡°You like a wedding with a great deal of fanfare, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Dong Ci fell asleep while watching TV, as if hypnotized by someone. Luo Nan carried her into the room andid her on the bed. She was sleeping soundly. He stared at her rosy face and felt a glow of satisfaction. That was the life he wanted to live. The woman he loved was sleeping beside him, and they would live together till old and grey.


    The next day, they went to a western-style restaurant for lunch. The restaurant was on the ground floor of the building in which Luo Nan¡¯spany was situated. Luo Nan¡¯s secretary, Shang Linglong was having lunch with them. It was said that she worked very hard recently. She was a beautiful woman, but she was not a threat to Dong Ci. Even if she threatened Dong Ci¡¯s status, Dong Ci wouldn¡¯t worry about it because fear would not help change the facts. When Dong Ci had first met Shang Linglong, she had known that this woman liked Luo Nan. Every beautiful, single female secretary would like her elegant, handsome unmarried boss. Despite her affection for him, she might not be his girlfriend. Even if she became his girlfriend, she might not get married with him. Something unexpected might happen any time. Even an affectionate couple might divorce.


    Shang Linglong said to Dong Ci, ¡°I envy you, because you can stay at home and live a life of leisure.¡±


    Dong Ci replied, ¡°You are a smart, capable woman. Thank you for your hard work. You must have helped Luo Nan a lot.¡±


    Luo Nan was being shut out of the dialogue. It was not sensible for a man to interrupt when the women were chatting, so he kept quiet. He cut the steak into small pieces with a knife, and then put them into Dong Ci¡¯s mouth from time to time, as if he was feeding a child.


    Dong Ci asked Luo Nan to choose what kind of wedding invitation they were going to use. He had many rtives and friends, and most of the wedding invitations were sent to them. Dong Ci just wanted to invite her parents and uncles to attend her wedding. She also asked Luo Nan to select their wedding rings because she had no idea of jewelry.


    Luo Nan chose a pair of rings. Dong Ci tried her ring. It was a little tight and she couldn¡¯t get it off her ring finger. She tugged at it and finally took it off.


    ¡°Is it too small?¡± asked Luo Nan.


    ¡°I think it belongs to me. It won¡¯t slip off my finger, and I will never lose it,¡± Dong Ci said. ¡°Anyway, I like its simple and elegant style. Let¡¯s buy it.¡±


    Before they left the jewelry store, the jewelry saleswoman ttered, ¡°You two look perfect for each other.¡±


    Dong Ci smiled at her and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡®We look perfect for each other? Humph! Every couple look perfect for each other in your eyes, as long as they buy jewelry in your store,¡¯ she thought.


    Dong Ci and Luo Nan went out of the shopping mall carrying bags on their hands. Just then, a bus arrived at the bus stop. As soon as the door opened, passengers swarmed onto the bus hoping to get a seat. People in the bus desperately elbowed their ways through the crowd, hoping to get off the bus for some fresh air. ¡®Marriage is like this bus: those who are outside want to get in, and those who are inside want to get out,¡¯ she thought.


    Luo Nan looked at Dong Ci who was obviously in a trance, and asked, ¡°Babe, what are you thinking about?¡±


    ¡°I was just wondering whether I would have to take a bus home after shopping if I wasn¡¯t your girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°You can take a taxi.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be involved in a car ident again,¡± said Dong Ci.


    Luo Nanpsed into silence.


    When they got back home, Luo Nan said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I have to go to thepany now. I still have a lot of things to deal with. You know I need to finish all my work before May Day.¡±


    ¡°Okay. When will youe back?¡± Dong Ci handed him a ss of water.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not back at 7 pm, you can eat dinner first. Don¡¯t wait for me. You have just recovered. Don¡¯t do too much housework. The part-timer wille to clean the house at 6 pm. You can ask her to cook dinner.¡± Luo Nan cupped her face in his hands and continued, ¡°I promise you I will spend more time with you after marriage.¡±


    ¡°I believe you.¡± Dong Ci nodded and asked, ¡°Why are you so kind to me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Luo Nan said, ¡°Maybe I owed you too much in the previous life.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t meet you in my previous life,¡± said Dong Ci.


    ¡°Haha, maybe it¡¯s in the more distant past. God knows.¡± Luo Nan put on his coat and kissed Dong Ci on the nose.


    The rays of the setting sun shone ntwise through the trees onto the path downstairs. Dong Ci changed into the pajamas, opened the window and sat down in a soft reclining chair. Then she began to read a book. Gradually, she fell asleep.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    It was 8 pm when she woke up. The sky was spangled with stars.


    She called Luo Nan and knew that he wouldn¡¯t be back until midnight. Clearly, they couldn¡¯t eat dinner together.


    ¡°The part-timer went to our house and rang the doorbell at 6 pm, but no one opened the door for her. Have you gone out?¡± asked Luo Nan.


    Dong Ci exined, ¡°No. I must have dropped off to sleep at that time.¡±


    Luo Nan said, ¡°Alright. I will call her and ask her to go to our house again. Don¡¯t fall asleep this time. By the way, there are so many bad guys outside. Don¡¯t go out at night.¡±


    Dong Ci replied, ¡°Okay, I get it. Tell her toe quickly. I am so hungry.¡±


    She hung up the phone and put the music on. She nned to take a bath before the part-timer would get here. Just as she walked into the bathtub, the doorbell rang.


    Dong Ci looked through the peephole and saw the part-timer, Aunt Wang. She had cut her hair short.


    Dong Ci opened the door.


    There was a man standing behind Aunt Wang. No, he was a ghost. Many people saw him as a ghost.


    Chen Qi was back.

 Chapter 33: I want to stay with you forever!

    In a cinema, Chen Qi and Dong Ci sat in thest row of a projection hall watching the movie, Helen Of Troy. It was safe here. The sound of shouting and ancient weapons crashing filled the hall and masked the conversation between Chen Qi and Dong Ci. Most people in the projection hall were couples. They were whispering, and none of them cared whether there was an insane murderer sitting here and watching the movie with them. So, they were safe.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your husband?¡± Chen Qi asked,N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°He is working overtime. By the way, he is not my husband. We¡¯re not married yet.¡± Dong Ci corrected him.


    Chen Qi held Dong Ci¡¯s hand tightly, as if he would never let go of her.


    Tears rolled down her cheeks.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry him.¡± Dong Ci put her head on Chen Qi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I want to be with you.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t be together.¡± Chen Qi said, ¡°You will be happy with him.¡±


    Dong Ci raised her voice, ¡°You are not me. How can you be so sure that I will be happy with him? ¡®You will be happy with him¡¯, everyone says so. But none of them have really put themselves in my shoes. Even if you are right, I don¡¯t want to live without you. You loved me so much in the previous life. Why do you want to leave me now? Why? We¡¯ve just found each other. I don¡¯t want to leave you.¡±


    ¡°What about your fianc¨¦?¡±


    ¡°I know I owe him a lot. I will repay him in the next life.¡±


    ¡°I will have to hide myself from ce to ce. If you stay with me, you will live a hard life.¡±


    ¡°I want to stay with you forever!¡± Dong Ci looked steadfastly at Chen Qi. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of death. I¡¯m just afraid of living without you.¡±


    ¡°You are really annoying. I won¡¯te to see you again. Forget me and marry him. He¡¯s a perfect match for you.¡± Chen Qi looked into her eyes and continued, ¡°I really like you. But to be honest, you are not my style.¡±


    ¡°You liar!¡± Dong Ci cried, ¡°You are a selfish liar! You don¡¯t want to take me with you. You don¡¯t want to look after me. You were talking incoherently. You are a lunatic!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am a lunatic. All I want is to sleep with you.¡± Chen Qi detached his arm from Dong Ci¡¯s grip and stopped talking.


    The projection hall suddenly lit up because the projector broke down in the middle of the movie. Some people heckled, shouted abuse and imed a refund. Some people asked for a rey. Some women sat in their seats and looked at their beloved men while crying sadly. Some men stared at their beloved women, sighing and feeling helpless. No matter how they felt and what they wanted, they had to leave the cinema in the end.


    ¡®Life is like a movie. After the show, I have to part with you, though I am reluctant. I don¡¯t know if we will see each other again. But I will miss you very much, Ci,¡¯ he thought to himself.


    Chen Qi kissed Dong Ci under the streetlight and said, ¡°Promise me you will be happy.¡±


    Mosquitoes flew round and round over her head. She looked up at the mosquitoes and said, ¡°Only by your side can I be happy.¡±


    ¡°I am going. I won¡¯t disturb your life anymore.¡± Chen Qi said, ¡°You will forget me by and by. Marry your fiance and be a good wife.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not me. How can you be sure that I will forget you soon?¡±


    ¡°I have to go now. It¡¯s time for our rtionship toe to an end.¡± Chen Qi turned and walked away.


    Lovers didn¡¯t always break up on a rainy day. Autumn was not the only season to say good-bye. It could be on a sunny day, on a lovely starlit night, under the streetlight in summer and even on the phone. You could break up with your beloved whenever and wherever you liked.


    With his back to Dong Ci, tears that Chen Qi had been holding back for a long time began to spill out. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Ci. I can¡¯t be with you,¡¯ he whispered in his heart.


    For Dong Ci, an apology was never enough topensate for the pain of being separated from him.


    Everything seemingly remained unchanged. But in essence, everything was changing quietly. Dong Ci crouched on the ground and gazed at his receding figure, crying in an uncontrolled, hopeless way. The dim street light illuminated her pale face. She murmured in a choked voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t love me, why did you approach me and bring me so much happiness? If you love me, how can you bear to make me sad by leaving me?¡±


    If she had known that things would turn out this way, she would rather she had never met him.


    ¡°The Buddhist abbot!¡± Dong Ci ran madly towards the temple. ¡°He can send me back to the past. He can show me the way¡­¡±


    The temple was dark. Dong Ci knocked at the gate. Before long, a handsome monk came out in a fluster and asked, ¡°Can I help you with something?¡±


    ¡°Where is your abbot? I want to see him.¡± Dong Ci grabbed him by the cor.


    The handsome monk burst into tears and asked, ¡°Are you Miss Dong?¡±


    Dong Ci nodded, ¡°Yes. Take me to your abbot. He remembers my name. He knows me.¡±


    The handsome monk took out a note from an inside pocket and handed it to Dong Ci. ¡°Our abbot has just passed away. Before he died, he asked me to give you this note when you came. Amitabha!¡±


    There were several lines on the note: ¡°You two are doomed to be separated. Stop looking for him, because you will never meet him again. Let go of your past and salvation is at hand. In the end, please cherish the one who is with you now.¡±


    Gathering and separation were always capricious. Since he left, she shed tears every night, but no one would kiss her tears away; she drowned her sorrows, but no one would hold her in his arms and stopped her from heavy drinking. Her beloved was gone.

 Chapter 34: The End

    May Day was a national legal holiday. Many people got married on this day, such as Luo Nan and Dong Ci. Many people came to attend their wedding banquet. The banqueting hall was sumptuously decorated and bustling with noise and excitement. Luo Nan looked at Dong Ci, and Shang Linglong looked at Luo Nan. All of them were lost in their own thoughts.


    ¡®Your marriage won¡¯tst long,¡¯ Shang Ling Long whispered in her heart.


    Luo Nan perceived that Dong Ci was uneasy.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Babe.¡± He looked Dong Ci up and down. She wore a floor length bridal gown, looking beautiful like an angel.


    Dong Ci put on a sweet smile and answered, ¡°I feel very happy. And I feel as if I¡¯m in a beautiful and happy dream.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a dream. It is real. We are married, and we will be together till old and grey.¡±


    Dong Ci fixed her eyes on the entrance of the hotel. ¡®He wille. My beloved wille to take me away. He will hold my hand and we will rove all over the world together,¡¯ she thought.


    She looked forward to hising with eager expectation, but he didn¡¯te.


    ¡®Has he really left this city? Is he really not going to take me away? Are there any other guests? No. All the guests have left, but I haven¡¯t seen him. He will nevere.¡¯


    After the wedding banquet, Dong Ci looked at thest guest¡¯s retreating figure in a trance. There were so many people around her, but she still felt lonely because the man she loved deeply gave her up.


    At the banquet, Dong Ci smiled at her parents, her husband and all the guests. After the banquet, she cried sadly in a corner. ¡®If the road of being mature need the price, I would rather be a child. If I had known that I would lose you, I would rather have never met you,¡¯ she thought.


    On the night of wedding, they made love and fell asleep. Sadly, Luo Nan didn¡¯t know that the woman in his arms loved another man.


    After marriage, Dong Ci was wasting away day by day. Atst, she was nothing but skin and bones, just like a starving refugee.


    Luo Nan took her to a doctor, but the doctor said that she was not ill.


    Gradually, Luo Nan lost interested in Dong Ci¡¯s body. As the leaves of autumn withered and fell, so did Dong Ci¡¯s life be barren. She was like a withered flower, trapped in a loveless marriage. However, neither of them wanted to give up their hard-won marriage. They carefully made this marriage work and continued living together, although they were both unhappy. ¡®Perhaps I should give him a baby. By then we will be reconciled with each other,¡¯ sheforted herself.


    Luo Nan failed to fulfill his promise that he would spend more time with Dong Ci after marriage. He always came homete. Sometimes he even stayed out all night, sleeping with all kinds of random women, including prostitutes, friends and his secretary Shang Linglong.


    They were not like Dong Ci. They were buxom and ovee with passion. Dong Ci had be a dead fish in bed.


    One evening Dong Ci received a call from a stranger. After hanging up, she decided to go for Luo Nan. Anyway, he was her husband.


    The call was arranged by Shang Linglong. She had asked someone to call Dong Ci in order to destroy their marriage.


    Dong Ci arrived at the hotel and pushed open the door of a room in which Luo Nan was. It was purposely unlocked. The moment she walked into the room, she felt a sense of relief that she could finally end her marriage. Luo Nan and Shang Linglongy naked on the bed and both of them wore a look of satisfaction. The floor was scattered with paper towels. The room was filled with the smell of strawberry condom mixed with the vor of liquor. It was the smell of lust. It was like a knife cutting off all her emotional bonds with him.


    Luo Nan was stunned to see Dong Ci. He stared nkly at her, stiff and speechless.


    ¡°I am going to divorce you.¡± Dong Ci let out a sigh and continued, ¡°I will not disturb you, so you can have a good rest.¡±


    Luo Nan returned home as quickly as possible. He had gone to a supermarket and brought some fresh meat and vegetables. Now he was busy cooking Dong Ci¡¯s favorite dishes in the kitchen. He wanted to satisfy her appetite and fix their rtionship.


    He lit some candles and dined with her by candlelight. It seemed to him that he was doing something romantic.


    ¡°I understand why you did that. I¡¯m the one who should be med.¡± Dong Ci took a sip of the soup and stopped eating.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to never get divorced regardless of any kind of quarrel? Have you forgotten that?¡± Luo Nan begged, ¡°Please give me another chance. I do know it was my fault. I drank too much¡­¡±


    ¡°No one has ever given me a chance.¡± Dong Ci went into the bedroom, closed the door behind her, and then began to cry.


    She fell back on the bed and buried her head in the pillow. ¡°I think I¡¯m dying. How did Ie to such a pass?¡±


    Next day they went to the marriage registration office and got a divorce. After that, Luo Nan and Dong Ci embraced each other in the street and cried. A song named I Miss You All Year Round was yed into their ears from a music shop. They cried for a while, and then parted at a fork. Luo Nan went back to his house. Dong Ci returned to her parents¡¯ home.


    Luo Nan didn¡¯t marry Shang Linglong.


    He got married with another woman because she looked like Dong Ci in youth. She was pure and lively. She wore the same perfume as Dong Ci. It smelt fresh and sweet, like the scent of the grass after rain. Luo Nan often buried his head in her shoulder and cherished the illusion that Dong Ci was still by his side.


    Dong Ci went to many cities to look for Chen Qi, and mistook someone else for him several times.


    There was a newly built vi estate next to the rose garden that Chen Qi had given Dong Ci. It was also entitled ¡°Rose Garden¡±. There was a gardener working in it. He had the same surname as Chen Qi. His name was Chen Bo. He was an unattractive middle-aged man with a slight stoop. One day Dong Ci went to the rose garden and saw him pruning roses.


    ¡°Are you Chen Qi?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m Chen Bo.¡± The gardener picked up a pair of scissors and skillfully cut off the unnecessary twigs and branches. ¡°You must be mistaken.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get married.¡± Dong Ci looked at him with loving eyes. ¡°I love you. I¡¯ll never let you go again.¡±


    The marriage of Chen Bo and the beautiful woman Dong Ci, became a fantastic story circting among the people living in Rose Garden. A gardener suddenly became the owner of a vi. After marriage, he didn¡¯t need to do the gardening anymore. All he needed to do was to enjoy flowers and nts.


    The neighbors often gathered together, talking and discussing animatedly.


    ¡°I heard that woman came here for her ex-lover.¡±


    ¡°I heard that the gardener had cosmetic surgery.¡±


    ¡°Impossible! He¡¯s merely a gardener. He¡¯s from the countryside.¡±


    ¡°So, is he the woman¡¯s ex-lover?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Do you know?¡±


    ¡°God knows!¡±


    ¡­


    Dong Ci was cooking in the kitchen. The gardener was watching TV on the sofa. A little girl was ying with her pet rat on the balcony. She was not good-looking. When night fell, the meal was ready. They sat down to eat at the dining-table.


    Dong Ci looked at her husband and daughter gently and thought, ¡®Thank God, our story has a happy end.¡¯This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    ¡®I miss the old times. I¡¯m always full of mncholy. I want to meet you again. Every day I wait for you toe back. I find myself in a blind alley, but I have no way to retreat. I just wait, kneeling before the image of Buddha, praying and meditating. I thought Buddha would grant me my wish, but reality let me down. Is it because I¡¯m not sincere enough or Bodhisattva is not at home?


    Actually, I should have known that your gentleness was a kind of mercy.


    But I can¡¯t learn how to forget you.


    Actually, I should have said goodbye to you.


    I shouldn¡¯t indulge in your tenderness and mercy.


    But I¡¯m still deeply addicted to it.


    I¡¯m on the edge of pleasure and pain.


    I don¡¯t know how to face your tenderness and mercy.


    I can no longer getfort from it.


    I can¡¯t hold back my tears anymore.


    When I think of your tenderness and mercy,


    I don¡¯t regret falling in love with you.


    I will remain loyal to you forever,


    though you have made me heartbroken¡­¡¯


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!