FLASH MARRIAGE-28.3

HERE IS THE REMAINING PORTION OF CHAPTER 28. I REALLY LOVED THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION BETWEEN JIANG LI AND XIAO YAN.

HE, WHO MAY LOOK AND SOUND COLD AND INDIFFERENT, WAS ABLE TO GAUGE HER MENTAL DILEMMA, HER OVERSENSITIVE ATTITUDE SO PERFECTLY. AND WAS SLOWLY & GRADUALLY BUILDING UP HER CONFIDENCE. I COULD ALSO SEE THE GLIMPSE OF HIS FEELINGS FOR HER THOUGH AT THIS POINT OF STORY ITS HARD TO COMMENT ABOUT THE DEPTH OF THOSE FEELINGS.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK, ENJOY THE READ!

chapter 28.3

my happiness has nothing to do with YOU (3)

Me: “What if your former lover was lying naked on your bed, what would you do?”

Jiang Li: “Throw him out.”

Me: “I don’t believe you. How can you let such kind of temptation go in vain?”

Jiang Li: “If not, then I will click some pictures. They may come handy in future.”

Me: “You are really despicable!”

Jiang Li: “Forget about that. I will prosecute him for trespassing and sexual assault.”

Me:……


I mentally kowtowed to his word ‘Sexual assault.’

Jiang Li added: “Xiao Guan Yan the problem is that you are way too dedicated and extremely clingy.”

I scratched my head and innocently said: “Ah, no actually the people are around me are way too flexible.”

Jiang Li: “In your consciousness leaving equals to abandoning and abandoning amounts to betrayal. So, if somebody leaves you it means he betrayed you.”

I blinked: “Is it like not so?”

Jiang Li shook his head: “Who defined this that if someone is with you then he must stay for life and cannot leave you? And even if he leaves you then also he hasn’t done anything wrong, perhaps it’s you who has chosen the wrong guy.”

I was completely speechless for a long time and finally said: “He told me ….that he would stay with me forever…”

Jiang Li looked at me as if he hated the iron for not becoming steel* and shook his head strongly: “How old are you, how can you believe such words? Most of the times such kind of promises are not even worth the price of cow dung.”


*Original text was 恨铁不成钢 Which literally means to hate iron for not becoming steel and figuratively to feel resentful towards the subject for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see any improvement.

I was stunned. Ah, he was right, what was a promise? He Zhi and I always broke our words. It was hard to keep small and trivial promises let alone promise of a lifetime. Such kind of words was nothing but sweet things to hear. Now I found it really funny, how I took Yu Zhi Fei’s promise so seriously in the past.

“Jiang Li, I will not anymore.”

Jiang Li: “What?”

Me: “I will not believe in anyone’s promise.”

Jiang Li: “In fact occasionally you can trust me as I have always been the man of a good character.”

Me: “I can’t find any relation between you and good character. I haven't even seen the dawn
of your so called character.”

Narrowing his eyes, he threatened: “Really?”

I trembled and quickly corrected my words: “No, no. you have a very good character. Actually super good character.”

I did not even have the freedom of speech and there he was, shamelessly boasting about his ‘good character,’ what crap!!!!

Before going to bed at night, I sent a text message to that strange number: ‘Yes, I am really happy and my happiness has nothing to do with YOU.’

FLASH MARRIAGE-28.2

HELLO PEEPS!! I AM HERE. THANKS TO YOUR GOOD WISHES I HAD A WONDERFUL TRIP AND NOW I AM BACK WITH A BIG DETERMINATION AND A BIGGER BELLY POUCH OR WHAT MY MUM CALLS CHUBBY TUMMY....:( GUESS ITS TIME TO HIT GYM.


BEFORE YOU GUYS START DRILLING THE QUESTIONS, YES, I KNOW I AM LATE AND I AM TRULY SORRY FOR THAT. BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE  TAKEN CARE OF URGENTLY. APOLOGIES.

SINCE I AM RESUMING THIS TRANSLATION AFTER A MONTH & A HALF BREAK SO, CURRENTLY  MY SKILLS ARE KINDA RUSTY. HOPEFULLY I WILL BE ABLE TO POLISH THEM BACK AS WE DELVE FURTHER.

Warning: The following post is unedited.

Chapter 28.2

My happiness has nothing to do with YOU (2) 

As I finished speaking I immediately turned to look at Jiang Li, waiting for his critique. I angrily glared at him, mentally screeching what would you say now? Ah, that I was a rotten woman*? So, he was allowed to do whatever he wished with men and I did not ev

en have the right to imagine it, ah?


*Fujoshi

Jiang Li kept on driving leisurely and in a very casual manner asked: “What was your online friend; I don’t remember his name, doing here? He seems to really care about you.”

Me: “Yes, why, are you jealous?”

I had always been skeptical about Jiang Li’s attitude towards Wang Kai, apart from superficial aversion perhaps there was an underlying desire also. Although Wang Kai’s personality was not likable but in terms of appearance he was one of the best looking guys in the country.  

After listening to my words Jiang Li laughed out loud and said: “Yeah, I am jealous. So why don’t you figure out a way to stay away from him?”

Figure out a way to stay away from my boss? How was that possible? Oh God, I got a salary hike today only and I really did not want to quit my job. Was this some kind of joke or something, in order to extinguish Jiang Li’s fire of envy must this old lady let go of her recently doubled wages? Thinking like this, I firmly shook my head: “You want me to resign, not likely."

"Well." Jiang Li gave a monosyllable reply and then nothing happened.

I was a little scared. Jiang Li, this man, could murder a person without spilling a drop of blood, cold, underhanded and subtle that was how he handled things. If he decides to get back at me, what would I do?

Ah, dog’s leg*……So I smiled and said "Well, next time I will trick him to home and then leave him at your disposal."

*The original text was gǒu tuǐ zi which literally means dog's leg and figuratively one who follows a villain / henchman / hired thug

"No need," Jiang Li shook his head, "I am not interested in this kind of stuff.”

Oh, it turned out that Wang Kai was not up to his standard. In my head suddenly an image of Xue Yun flashed, a fine male beauty, so delicious ah.

Jiang Li just drove silently, no longer saying anything to me. By now, we were almost home, when he abruptly asked: "Is your friend Wang related to Wang Cheng Hai in any way?”

My forehead furrowed as I started thinking deeply: “Wang Cheng Hai? This name sounds really familiar.”

Jiang Li explained: "Wang Cheng Hai is a major shareholder of the Southern Star Alliance. Your company is also a subject of this Southern Star Alliance.”

I slapped my forehead and spoke my thoughts out loud: "Yes, Wang Cheng Hai is his father."

Suddenly, the car came to a screeching halt. Since I wasn’t mentally prepared for it so I was completely shocked.

I turned around and was about to question Jiang Li, but discovered that with a somewhat dangerous glint in his eyes he was looking at me. In normal circumstances, this type of look implied Xiao Guan Yan made a mistake and Jiang Li was dissatisfied. I glanced at Jiang Li fearfully then bowed my head down, could not dare to look at him. Although I did not know what my mistake was, but…..I was scared…..

Xiao Guan Yan was indeed good for nothing.

"Xiao Guan Yan" Jiang Li's voice rang out, husky and sultry, my poor little heart fluttered badly in my chest: “You have become so much better at seducing, huh?”

Whoa, apparently he was dead set on seducing me! Whereas I was relentlessly resisting his charms!!




In the evening I was peeling apples for Jiang Li…….well, this was my position in this house. He was the big lord of the house. The capitalist, he wouldn’t stop till he squeezes out all the sweat and blood from my body. If you are wondering how was he able to make me, Xiao Guan Yan work for him so obediently? Then the answer was simple, are you kidding me, you think that if I, Xiao Guan Yan, fight back then I will be able to win against Jiang Li? Forget about one; even ten Xiao Guan Yan will not be able to beat one Jiang Li!

Oh God, just thinking about this grieves my heart to no extent. Without saying anything and without thinking anything I simply concentrated on peeling the apple. If it’s not cut properly then the Jiang Li wouldn’t be happy and then the consequences would be very serious!

I was half way through in the peeling process when suddenly my mobile phone rang. It was a message. I looked piteously at Jiang Li, could he allow the poor little me to check the message? He swept a glance at me and then waved his hand slightly, a gesture to grant me the permission.

I put down the apple, held my phone up to read the message. It was from a strange number.

The content of the message was very succinct: ‘Yan Yan, are you really happy?’

Jiang Li picked up the half peeled apple and started peeling the rest of it: “Whose message?”

Staring at that strange phone number I said: "Yu Zhi Fei.” In this world there was only one person who addressed me as ‘Yan Yan.’

Jiang Li did not stop his actions and without lifting his head he said: “Then?”

I looked down at the string of those six words: “then, just saying hello.”

“Oh.” Someone continued peeling his apple.

I stared at Yu Zhi Fei’s text for a moment and then suddenly spoke: ‘Jiang Li, I think all this is nonsense.”

“Uh….huh?” Jiang Li looked at me, puzzled.

“I mean all this acting in front of Yu Zhi Fei does not make any sense. You also said that we have been separated for four years and whatever feelings we had have already turned into ashes. So, why am I still engaged in exacting this needless revenge? Even I find it tasteless and silly.”

Jiang Li, who had already peeled the apple completely, started cutting it into slices.

He carefully cut the apple and in a completely indifferent tone said: “Yes, you are very silly.”

Hey!!!!

Me: “Jiang Li, if you encounter your old flame then what would you do?”

Jiang Li: “You should tell where only then I can answer what I will do.” What crap was he spewing now?

Me: “What if your former lover was lying naked on your bed, what would you do?”

Jiang Li: “Throw him out.”

Me: “I don’t believe you. How can you let such kind of temptation go in vain?”

Jiang Li: “If not, then I will click some pictures. They may come handy in future.”

Me: “You are really despicable!”

Jiang Li: “Forget about that. I will prosecute him for trespassing and sexual assault.”

Me:……










 

FLASH MARRIAGE-28.1

HEY EVERYBODY!
EVERYONE MUST HAVE HEARD OF WRITER'S BLOCK BUT THESE DAYS I AM SUFFERING FROM TRANSLATORS BLOCK. WEIRD, TELL ME ABOUT IT.
CURRENTLY MY HEAD IS BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT WHICH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD I AM NOT ABLE TO REIGN IN. BEFORE YOU ASK LET ME TELL YOU I AM SUPERAAAAA EXCITED ABOUT VISITING MY FAMILY AFTER AN YEAR. I WILL BE GONE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND SHALL REPORT BACK IN MAY.
LIKE AN ULTIMATE PROCRASTINATOR, RATHER THAN WORKING ON THIS BLOG, I AM CURRENTLY BUSY IN BUYING GIFTS FOR MY PARENTS, BROTHERS (2 OF THEM, OBNOXIOUSLY BONKERS) COUSINS AND FRIENDS.
TO MAKE MY HEART A LITTLE GUILT-FREE I AM POSTING THIS SHORT SNIPPET. PLEASE BE CONTENT WITH IT.
I WILL TRY MY BEST TO SHELL OUT THE CONCLUDING PART OF THE CURRENT CHAPTER BEFORE I LEAVE BUT HAVING SAID THAT I WOULD REQUEST YOU GUYS TO NOT KEEP YOUR HOPES TOO HIGH.
AS SOON AS I CALM MY NERVES I AM GONNA PUSH MY LIL SELF TO CHURN OUT THE REST OF THE PART.

Chapter 28 (1)

My happiness has nothing to do with YOU!!

Jiang Li holding an umbrella came to the main gate of our company. He looked at me and then glanced at Yu Zhi Fei, who was standing beside me and ultimately his eyes wandered off to Wang Kai who was standing under a gaudy umbrella….that umbrella was really too eye-catching.

Jiang Li suddenly reached over and pulled me into his arms and then using a voice typical of chiung yao’s* male lead said: “Sorry, I am a bit late.”

* chiung yao is the pen name of a popular Chinese romance novelist based in Taiwan. Many of her works have been made and remade into movies and TV series. 

I trembled a little; my heart couldn’t help but sigh at Jiang Li’s extremely polished and impromptu performance.

And yet, he brushed off my hair from my forehead and planted a passionate kiss on it and then said: “Honey, are you cold?”

I was somewhat shivering. Originally it was not that cold but his one “Honey” was more than enough to freeze my heart and my body.

Chuckling softly Jiang Li pinched my cheeks. Then he took off his coat and covered me with it, popped open his umbrella, hugged me and walked us in the rain.

My head was pressed firmly against Jiang Li’s chest and I could not turn it…so I was not able to see Yu Zhi Fei’s reaction about our “affection”, was there any frustration on his face or not?

Jiang Li bowed down his head till his forehead touched mine and in a gravely tone said: “No need to look, you won.”

I raised my hand and very energetically rubbed his forehead, it was your win my advisor!!

Jiang Li looked down at me, smiled wickedly and said: “Aw, you are blushing.”

Nonsense, it was due to my anger, anger!!!

“But the way you blush” He paused, struggling to find the right words “it looks stupid.”

Whoa, what the hell!! Although my patience level was high but this blatant provocation by Jiang Li I was not going to ignore. I would be damned if I don’t retort back. He did not know what this woman was capable of! So, I clenched my jaw in determination and decided to stomp my heel on Jiang Li’s foot.

Jiang Li, as if he already knew my intention, stepped forward to avoid my attack. I, in my attempt of slaughter missed the step and lost my balance……to save myself from falling, impudently embraced Jiang Li, simply clung to his body.

Jiang Li frowned and said: “Just now I was wrong.”

Wow, Did the great Jiang Li realize and admit his mistake? These words really came out of his mouth? Indeed violence is the key to all the problems….

Jiang Li: “You don’t look stupid but you are actually very stupid!”

I, bit my teeth hard, but had no words to refute him.

Jiang Li, completely ignoring my dissatisfaction, directly shoved me into the car and then left.

While lying in my seat I looked at Yu Zhi Fei and Wang Kai through side mirror. At this point both of them were standing together. Apparently I was really keen to look at them. Due to the heavy rain the view was not clear but looking at the silhouette of those two people I suddenly felt emotional and muttered: “Both of them make a very good match.”

As I finished speaking I immediately turned to look at Jiang Li, waiting for his critique. I angrily glared at him, mentally screeching what would you say now? Ah, that I was a rotten woman*?

*Fujoshi

FLASH MARRIAGE-27.2

HERE COMES THE BIRTHDAY TREAT.

ENJOY THE GOODIES!!!!

CHAPTER 27.2

"SHOWING AFFECTION" (2)

I was still in a trance when suddenly someone shook my arm. A very familiar voice resounded: “Xiao Guan Yan, idiot, for how long are you going to stay here?”

Without lifting my eyes up I said: “I beg your pardon but Director Wang we are in the middle of a meeting….”

Suppressing his laugh Wang Kai said: “Idiot, the meeting had ended long ago. Everybody has left.”

I raised my head up and found that his words were indeed true. Now it was only two of us in the meeting room.

Wang Kai inquisitively asked: “Xiao Yan what’s there on your neck? Just now Director Yu was looking at your neck as if he has lost his soul.”

My face instantly burned red. Bowing my head further down I stammered: “Tha that….that I don’t know”

Seeing how embarrassed I was Wang Kai became more curious: “Xiao Guan Yan, you are not aiming for the heart of Gem of marketing team, Yu Zhi Fei, Are you?” As he spoke these words he leaned in closer to check my neck for something.

I subconsciously embraced my neck: “Director Wang, can I go back now?”

Wang Kai simply ignored my words, grabbing both my wrists simultaneously extricated my hands from my neck with an ease and then glanced at my neck.

I was so ashamed that I almost kowtowed. I was waiting for him to laugh at me.

I waited for a few minutes but did not hear any sound. So I looked up at him. Wang Kai was standing very calmly with a blank face even his usual wretched expressions were missing.

I struggled to snatch my wrists back from his grip but that annoying fellow had held them too tightly, damn!

I became a bit impatient: “Director Wang, you aren’t planning to kidnap your own secretary, are you?”

Wang Kai still clutching my wrists chuckled lightly and said: “Xiao Guan Yan, what kind of aphrodisiac did you feed your husband last night?”

Your mother…!!!


I knew it, how could one find ivory in a dog’s mouth!! I was about to contradict his words when suddenly the conference room’s door opened and a man barged in.

I glanced in that direction, huh, Yu Zhi Fei!

Seeing us Yu Zhi Fei was absolutely stunned. I discovered that currently the distance between Wang Kai and me was too narrow. Wang Kai was standing right behind me; his chest was almost glued to my back. And…he was holding my hands.


In short, it was really hard for anyone to not misunderstand this sort of situation.

I used all my power to push off Wang Kai a bit, eyes flickering in panic.

Wang Kai very casually asked: “Director Yu, is there any problem?”

Yu Zhi Fei very calmly replied: “I left something here.” As he spoke these words, he started walking towards the seat beside mine. I gave a fleeting glance to the seat and noticed a stack of documents on the table. It seemed he truly had forgotten something here.

As Yu Zhi Fei grabbed his folder Wang Kai, very untimely, approached my ear, smiled sinisterly and suddenly whispered: “Xiao Guan Yan, did it hurt last night?”

Hearing his words my hair almost stood erect. What the hell was he spewing! Did he really wish for me to die of anger, only then he would feel satisfied!

I was busy shooting glares at Wang Kai while Yu Zhi Fei simply picked up his stuff and without
uttering a word left the room.

“Wang Kai, are you tired of leaving?”

“Of course not, Yan Yan, next time I will definitely be gentler.”

“You are still saying rubbish!”

“ah ah ah ah…..hey are you going to murder your leader?”

“Shut your nonsense, I am going to kill you.”

“ah ah ah ah ah ah ah….ah, I am your boss, don’t you want your job anymore?”

“Today, No one, not even my old mother, can stop me from resigning!”

“ah ah ah…I was going to give you raise and you want to resign…”

“Raise, how much?”


“How about ten percent? Ah ah ah ah ah……twenty, thirty, okay? …ah ah ah ah fifty and final!...ah ah ah double, doubled your current salary! Plus other perks and allowances…” I placed a pen in his hands and made him sign on the paper. Feeling contented I clapped my hands and then, patting Wang Kai’s shoulder, I chuckled wholeheartedly and said: “Double salary, starting tomorrow.”

With his head hung low Wang Kai somberly hummed twice.

Wow, hahaha, No wonder Jiang Li loved to bully people. Bullying others was indeed refreshing!

By the time I finished up my work it was already dark outside and all of a sudden it started drizzling.
I stood in front of the company’s main gate like the Amah rock* and looked at the vehicle, coming and going, on the other side of the gate. I waited for quite a while but there was no sign of Jiang Li….normally he would always come by this time.



* Amah Rock (Chinese: 望夫石,Mong Fu Shek, lit. "the stone gazing out for her husband") is a naturally shaped rock located on a hilltop in southwest Sha Tin, Hong Kong. According to a legend, the faithful wife of a fisherman climbed the hills every day, carrying her son, to watch for the return of her husband, not knowing he had been drowned at sea. In reward for her faithfulness she was turned into a rock by the Goddess of the Sea so that her spirit could unite with that of her husband.


Oh Dear God, finding this rain too troublesome this guy, Jiang Li, must have decided to not come.

After confirming this speculation I started feeling frustrated, at the time of need not even his silhouette was in sight. Although this rain was neither too heavy nor too light but if I got drenched in the current fall weather then the chances of escaping cold were null. Cold always get accompanied by headache, for the treatment I would have to start taking medicines and if the medicines fails then there would be only one option: Injections……..I was getting scared of my own thoughts so I stopped thinking further.

As I was vacillating between the decisions of whether or not should I step out in the rain Yu Zhi Fei suddenly appeared in front of me. Carrying an umbrella in his hands he lowered his head to look at me. He opened his mouth several times and then finally said: “Yan…Secretary Guan, I can drop you.”

I shook my head, I would rather take an injection for cold than get a help from him.

Yu Zhi Fei regained his composure and added: “I am saying this from the standing of your colleague that I can drop you to your place.”

I was yet to give any response when I heard somebody’s voice from behind: “What other standing do you have, Director Yu?”

I turned my head to find Wang Kai with a smile plastered over his face.

Wang Kai holding an eye-catching umbrella in one hand waved a ‘hi’ from the other hand and started walking towards us. Considering how much I had bullied Wang Kai today I timidly started looking into the opposite direction, was really afraid to look at him……Wang Kai was not a fool, if in retaliation he wanted to exact revenge on me then what should I do?

I shot a glance at the outside, not far from the main gate a tall figure was standing with an umbrella in his hand.

I grinned foolishly. Apparently, Jiang Li still had some conscience.
 

FLASH MARRIAGE-27.1

Hello folks!
This chapter is about "Show Off'. This makes me ask you, have you guys ever seen a real life 'Show Off' couple. Well, I know one such couple, one of my distant relatives. I happened to see their life from close When I was visiting Canada for a seminar a few years back. It was a very short trip to Ontario so I decided to stay at their place on their request.
So this couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other in public was just too indifferent, if not exactly cold, at home. I was a little surprised to see such real life actors. What was surprising was not their acting but their desperateness to prove their so called love in front of others without giving a care to the fact that how tiring it was to constantly show something which simply wasn't there and for what. Well that's my perspective and I am sure many of you may disagree.

BEWARE OF HILARITY!!!

Chapter 27  (1)

“Showing Affection”

In the morning I was sitting in front of the mirror, grooming myself when Jiang Li suddenly spoke up: “Pull your hair up.”

Sometimes it’s just impossible to understand his words, “Ah?”

Jiang Li pulled out a small hair clip from the drawer of my dresser and repeated his words: “Pull your hair up.”

Me:  “Why?”

Jiang Li holding that small clip in his hand knocked my head and said: “Because it’s important. Now, hurry up or you will be late.”

Obeying his words I pulled up my hair.

Then Jiang Li went behind me and with the small clip in his hand fiercely pinched my neck.

“Ah, it hurts.” I screamed, covering my neck I turned around and glared at him: “What are you doing?”

Jiang Li with an innocent face said: “Showing affection.”

Me: “Showing affection my foot, you are obviously trying to murder me!”

Jiang Li very gravely said: “After passionate love making session there are always lingering traces on the body. You have to show this off today.”

I froze for a moment then I gradually realized the meaning of his words and my face immediately burned scarlet red…….all of you know what it stands for, right?

Jiang Li glanced at my face and in a cynical tone said: “I never imagined you as a shy person.”

Oh God!!! this *** man. I was also a woman, ah!!! And that too a virgin one……I never had one of those so called passionate love making session with anyone in my life.

At this time Jiang Li, after extricating my hands, was prepared to attack my neck once again. Actively defending my neck, I immediately covered it back and was not ready to let it go. So he threatened me:
“If you don’t co-operate then I will bite your neck!”

Well, as compared to being bitten by Jiang Li I chose the less dreadful option and anyways I was not going to die from a small hair clip.

So then, in a silent room a woman’s scream echoed for a long time……..

Once Jiang Li’s abusive job was done I still had some questions for him: “Jiang Li, why didn’t you pinch my neck from the front?”

Jiang Li: “Because you cannot see your back, idiot.”

Oh the script was like this: the back of my neck had obvious “traces of intimacy” which even I wasn’t aware of. Thus like a naïve fool I had pulled up my hair in a bun today and happily went to the office….but if that was the case wouldn’t it be seen by a lot many people? How shameful it would be?

So I put my queries in front of Jiang Li and he very gently replied: “Yeah, don’t tell me you realized it just now?”


I was distraught.

But I still wasn’t finished: “what if I don’t meet Yu Zhi Fei today?”

Jiang Li frankly said: “If so, then we will do it tomorrow also. Sooner or later you will meet him till then we will continue doing it.”

I should just flip the table, what the Hell!!

That morning thanks to Jiang Li’s masterpiece I was almost late for the work. Although I ‘did not’ know about the ‘marks of intimacy’ on my neck but I really wasn’t as good actor as Jiang Li so I stepped inside the building with a guilt-conscious heart and head bowed deeply.

Later in the evening, after work, Jiang Li told me that a deeply bowed head must have made those marks more discernible by increasing their exposure to the public eyes. Hearing his words at that time I sincerely wished to die!!


Right after reaching the office I went straight to Wang Kai’s office to ask for boss’s latest instructions. Wang Kai, at the moment, was leisurely leaning against the sofa and reading a newspaper while holding a toxic cup of coffee in his hands, pretending to drink it.

As his secretary I responsibly reminded him: “Director Wang, today there are a lot of things that you need to tend to…..”

Wang Kai looked up at me, smiled and said: “not a problem, this young master is highly proficient.”


Speechless, I was just speechless and not due to his narcissism but because he was truly very proficient. Ah, I was so so jealous of him………

A meeting was scheduled in the noon that was to be chaired by Wang Kai. Yu Zhi Fei was also going to attend it. Naturally, as a secretary of a certain someone I was also dragged into the meeting room.

Although Wang Kai was a shameless guy but whenever he was in a meeting, he never spewed any nonsense. Only in these meetings he would display a rare humbleness thus becoming a completely different person from his usual self. If I hadn’t known him for a really long time then I would have thought that either he was possessed by a ghost or he had a split personality.

At the meeting I was sitting in the position of Wang Kai’s secretary and coincidentally my seat was right next to Yu Zhi Fei’s seat…..hence I did not even have the courage to look up.

I couldn’t be any less interested in the contents of the meeting furthermore my heart was in a mess so
I was sitting on the chair, like a cow, blankly staring at the laptop screen. In my mind I was thinking whether or not Yu Zhi Fei would notice these ‘traces of intimacy’? If he saw what would be his reaction? If he had seen it then should I feel good about it or not? If he hadn’t ….no, even if he didn’t see them I would still go back and report to Jiang Li that Yu Zhi Fei had seen them, otherwise I wasn’t sure for how long my poor neck would have to suffer such atrocities by the hands of that butcher, Jiang Li!!! Besides, was it that important for Yu Zhi Fei to notice these marks? Important enough to risk my neck for it?

The answer was NO!!

God!

I was still in a trance when suddenly someone shook my arm. A very familiar voice resounded: “Xiao Guan Yan, idiot, for how long are you going to stay here?”

FLASH MARRIAGE-25.2

IN THIS CHAPTER WE WILL GET TOO SEE EXACTLY HOW SMART-MOUTH OUR SECOND LEAD IS. BUT ONE MUST NEVER FORGET EXCESS OF EVERYTHING IS BAD. WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS TRUE IN WANG KAI'S CASE ONLY FUTURE WILL TELL.

CHAPTER 25.2

SPEECHLESS, JUST SPEECHLESS

At this time, leaning back on his chair Wang Kai was angrily whining: “Dog bites Lu Dongbin*, treating the kind intention of other’s as a donkey’s labor. In this world there are a bunch of people like that, they are selfish, they are unconscionable, they are cruel, their attitude towards their seniors is as frosty as winters…….”

*dog bites Lü Dongbin (狗咬呂洞賓 gŏu yăo Lǚ Dòngbīn), which means an inability to recognize goodness and repay kindness with vice.

I shuddered twice and interrupted him: “Sorry, yesterday…yesterday my mood was really bad. Please forget about it.”

With an apparent reluctance Wang Kai listened to my explanation and then said: “Give me a shoulder massage and I will forgive you.”

I did not buy it: “Director Wang, for the sake of a hard-working and diligent secretary like me can we please get down to the business?  At Ten’ o clock in the morning you have a meeting and then in the afternoon……………………………..”

Wang Kai waved his hand feebly and said: “Can you not talk about business today?”

I saw the ‘about to die’ look on his face, my heart immediately softened. After all dying on the work desk wasn’t really a good thing, so I ask
ed: “Then what should we talk about?”

Wang Kai thought for a moment before saying: “Or…..we can go out to play?”

Ah! I was distracted, ‘Go out to play?’ This guy really had some nerves to devise such a plan! But looking at his eyes filled with expectations, I could not bring myself to become so ruthless. Anyways, considering his current state we were in no position to work so it was better to go out and play. 

Moreover if boss was taking the initiative to become a truant then I did not need to worry about being caught. Thinking all this, I nodded. Escaping the work at boss’s expense, why not!!!

Wang Kai saw my affirmation and suddenly ‘jumped off’ his chair while pumping his fist. His agile action of ‘jumping off’ the chair could put even nimble rabbits to shame. Then he came around his desk, pulling my wrist started dragging me out and asked: “Where should we go out to play? Swimming? Bowling? Do you know how to play golf…”

I was shocked to see his refreshed spirit with no trace of weakness. Was the miserable look that he was donning earlier a sham?

That meant this whole time he was leading me by the nose!!

…………

Wang Kai and I were having a severe dispute over the ‘where to go’ issue. With both parties unrelenting, negotiation was in peril. Due to my indomitable perseverance ultimately Wang Kai decided to compromise and go to amusement park.

Still unconvinced with the outcome of our discussion, he further added: “Xiao Guan Yan, your personality is so unlikable.”

Soon after he smiled and told me: “I have heard that in the TV dramas boyfriend and girlfriend usually go to amusement park on dates.”

Before going to amusement park, Wang Kai and I decided to go to a mall first to buy some casual clothes because going to an amusement park clad in office attire would most probably scare other people. 

Naturally, the money to buy these casual clothes would come out of Wang Kai’s wallet since he was the initiator of this entire ordeal.

Following the principle of seniority I accompanied Wang Kai to buy a set of T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. I completed his look by putting a cap on his head.  Not only did he look handsome but also somewhat….roguish. Perhaps it was because I knew him too well or perhaps it was because he was a mixed blood, in short, I thought he was one wretched soul blessed with an extremely handsome outer appearance.  

 Wang Kai dragged me to one of those exclusive high-end stores, pointed towards the casual clothes on a female mannequin placed right in the center of the store and asked me to try it.  The reason for specifying a ‘female’ mannequin was that there was also a male mannequin standing right next to it displaying corresponding casual clothing for men. This couple outfit had all the things matching including the caps, t-shirts, jeans, shoes and even the socks.

The outfit for women was indeed appealing. While carrying those clothes and walking towards the trial room, I marveled at Wang Kai’s good taste. In fact other than his nature everything about him was outstanding.

After coming out of the dressing room I looked at myself in the mirror. I suddenly felt like a young teenager and it made me really happy. 

I scrutinized my image in the mirror conceitedly for a minute. Then, I turned around to see Wang Kai, only to find that he was missing. Oh God, did this guy purposefully escape from the scene in order to avoid paying for my clothes…….?

I was still lost in my thoughts when he suddenly emerged from the fitting room but donning a different set of clothes. At this time he was wearing what I was wearing…..but a male version.

I glared at him unhappily: “Are you kidding?”

Wang Kai stood in front of the mirror and kept swinging left and right: “I thought these clothes look really good so immediately went ahead and tried them….See, don’t they look better than the previous one?”

Discouraged, I said: “Fine, I will go and find another set.”

Wang Kai smiled and said: “I have already paid the bill for these clothes if you want another set then pay the bill from your own pocket.”

 Me…….

Simple, straight but too cruel!!!!

Heaven, Ah!! I have eventually lost all hopes for this world! All the good men in this world were dead or what……

Considering how stick to trifles I was when money was in the view, I decided to concede this time. They were just similar pair of clothes, who cared!!!

In my eyes Wang Kai was the kind of person who liked to joke around. So for his small trick I neither felt too embarrassed nor too uncomfortable. Nonetheless I did not like it much. Naturally I did not 

think that he had started admiring me or anything. Bluntly speaking, I knew very well how light hearted he was when it came to the department of emotions. Moreover during our encounter at Maldives, his ‘figured out’ theory had completely let my heart at ease.  Of course the most important point was that Wang Kai only played around with women and had never loved anyone. I could bet that even when this world would come to an end then also no woman would be able to tempt him.

Of course if any man would be able to tempt him or not……was beyond my area of research.

At this moment we were in the amusement park and Wang Kai was running towards me with a huge grin plastered over his face. His spirit was so high that it looked like that nothing in this world could dampen his mood. This made me wonder whether the gloomy face that I saw in the morning was my disillusion…

FLASH MARRIAGE-25.1

WARM GREETINGS 2 EVERYONE

Chapter 25.1

Speechless, just speechless (1)

The moment I stepped inside the Building I heard someone calling my name from behind. Looking
back, I saw Li Min. I stood still, waiting for her but behind her, suddenly appeared the figure of a guy that I did not want to see.

Following Jiang Li’s advice, I held my ground. Sweeping an indifferent glance at Yu Zhi Fei, I waved Li Min closer and walked shoulder by shoulder with her towards the elevator.

Li Min neither realized that there was someone behind her nor detected my unusual behavior because all her attention was focused on fishing out the latest pieces of gossips.

After catching up with me, Li Min chuckled darkly: “Secretary Guan, Just now did your boyfriend drop you to the office?”

I smiled and said: “No it was my husband.”

Li Min blinked her big eyes and with an unmasked envy on her face she said: “Your husband’s car is very beautiful.”

I politely smiled: “Probably so.”

Honestly, I had not inspected his car closely, all I knew that it was a white BMW. Since it was quite a snobby car thus I concluded that Jiang Li was also a snob.

Li Min laughed: “Your husband drops you to your office in his car daily. He is really very good to you.”


Was this a joke, good to me?  If she knew what he had done to me, without any delay she would swallow back her words!!

Of course considering the complicity of the situation, a pair of eyes trailing behind us, I did not dare to backbite Jiang Li. Although refuting Li Min’s words could not be called a slander but Jiang Li had a sick personality. If he were to know about me ‘slandering’ him then I couldn’t even imagine how he would bully me.

So I calmly said with a plastic smile: “It’s his duty.” Bragging, in fact, was my forte.

At this point, Li Min looked at me with a little reverence in her eyes…….

The three of us walked in to the same the elevator. In the elevator, holding my head high, I looked straight ahead and did not glance at Yu Zhi Fei, not even once. I calmly listened to Li Min’s chatter and laughter. As per Jiang Li’s words, one must not resign herself but make others resign thus should overwhelm the enemy using the imposing attitude.

I realized that although Jiang Li was a psycho and had an implausible IQ but he still had become guru, my counselor, my adviser.


As we stepped out of the elevator I felt relieved.  After all today I did not lose any face. Since my break up with Yu Zhi Fei four years ago, this had happened for the first time.



……….


Today my boss looked extremely tired and haggard. Perhaps he had a little too many drinks last night!

When Wang Kai saw me, he cheered up a bit, greeted me and then asked: “Are you alright?”

I gave him a puzzled look: “I wasn’t feeling unwell, was I?”

Wang Kai shook his head and with an anguished face spoke: “Xiao Guan Yan, I really appreciate your EQ! Yesterday you were completely lost and unfocused as if the end of the world is imminent. I thought something serious has happened and was not expecting you in the office today. Not only you came today but you are in an incredibly happy mood where as I spent the entire night worrying over you, scarcely sleeping a wink!”

I thought he was lying, so I bravely exposed him: “You must have spent the last night in the company of a great beauty, how could you get any free time to think about me? Are you trying to fool me?”

Wang Kai muttered something under his breath and then in a voice laced with disappointment said: “What I said was truth. Last night I tried calling you too but you hung up the phone.”

Me: “You are getting more and more off the mark. You called me then how come I did not know about it?”

Wang Kai: “How can you, Xiao Guan Yan, be so unconscionable?”

Seeing his annoyed expressions I was feeling confused: “Okay, okay, I want to work. Whatever problem you have with me, we can discuss it later after office hours.”

Apparently, Wang Kai had no intention to disengage from this conflict. He took out his cell phone and forcibly showed me his call logs. I did not want to see but using his superior authority he ordered me to look at it. If not, he threatened to deduct my salary. Oh God, why and how did I manage to get bullied through so many different ways in one lifetime?

I glanced at Wang Kai’s phone records and found out that he had really called me at Nine’ o clock last night. It was really strange. I pulled out my mobile phone to cross check, Oh hell, my call history also had the same record. Wang Kai did call me last night…….how was it possible that I did not remember it?

According to the phone logs the call was made at exact ten past nine, ten past nine…….at that time I was in the shower.

Well since the battery of my phone had not died last night and the phone could not get hanged up on its own then it must be Jiang Li who did it. But why did he suddenly hang up my phone for nothing, what was he scheming?

FLASH MARRIAGE-24.2

:)

Jiang Li at his best....

Chapter 24.2

Friendly Jiang Li (2)

Jiang Li pressed harder and harder: “Xiao Guan Yan, you must admit that you really are good for nothing. After being cheated by the other person, you can only dare to hide yourself. Desperately wanted to forget him and even when you couldn’t forget him you could only pretend that you have. Just seeing the face of the person who hurt you badly you immediately, immediately wanted to run way. Evading him and evading the situation as much as possible. In fact your case is a true example of ‘once bitten, twice shy.’ Now you are even scared of a rope, not to mention the amount of fear a snake can instill in your heart.”

Bleakly, I raised my head: “You are saying all this so confidently as if it’s a fact.”

After stretching his body for a minute, very swiftly he said: “Although your behavior is understandable but it’s still despicable. What I fail to comprehend is why can’t you directly catch the snake first? Why don’t you get rid of it instead of letting it to hunt you? Snakes have vicious nature, the more you try to flee away from them, the more they will try to chase you until you can’t hide further. If so, then why don’t you dispose them off first?”

Listening to this I felt a little discouraged: “I admit that what you are saying is not redundant, but if I could kick him away that easily why would I need to hide from him?”

Stroking his chin Jiang Li thought for a moment then nodded his head, said: “That’s right, that Ex of yours does not look like a simple man. Considering your intelligence, you are indeed no opponent for him.”

Hey!!!!

Abruptly Jiang Li patted my shoulder and said: “Don’t worry. I will help you.”

Unconvinced, I rolled my eyes: “Why are you being this kind?”


“I am certainly not being kind.” Jiang Li shook his head while the corners of his mouth lifted up “As I have some conditions.”

I did not find his words unexpected: “Well, go on.”

Jiang Li: “You will have to help me in washing my clothes.”

I clenched my teeth and nodded.

Jiang Li: “And when I return back from socializing you have to prepare supper and soup for me.”

Re-clenching my teeth I nodded my head in acquiesce.

“And..”

I was not able to restrain my anger this time, I snapped: “Aren’t you done with your conditions yet?”

“Go to bed early. Women who stay up late at night are appalling.”


 ………


Jiang Li: “If you want to hold your head up in front of your ex then as long as you do this one thing it would suffice. You must make him believe that you have forgotten him already and that you are doing really well now.”

Me: “I truly have forgotten him already.”

Jiang Li: “I mean that now in your eyes he should be like any other passerby. When you see him, raise your head high as if you are looking at a stray cat.”

A stray cat……it was somewhat hard to imagine…..

Jiang Li: “look at him as if you are seeing a reprehensible stranger. You can imagine that he has all those traits that you loath like he is a freak, sneaky, hasn’t taken bath for a month, is a molester*……”

*originally the word used by the author was pedo…. But I found it too strong so I took the liberty to change it to molester.


I wiped seat from my forehead: “Is it alright to think like that..?”

Jiang Li: “Do not, at any cost, be polite with him otherwise he would think that you still remember him and haven’t forgotten him completely.  Whether he likes it or not, you just finish it off neatly so that there is no nuisance later.”

I looked at his countenance, full of confidence. I suddenly felt that he truly did not find the words he spoke just now much.

Jiang Li was steering the conversation. Without observing my expressions, he was still being the same. Unhesitatingly he continued: “Beyond that, you have to show him that you have a very good relationship with me. Make him open his eyes and see that there are people who really want and cherish the Xiao Guan Yan whom he had so cruelly rejected.”

Me……

Jiang Li, if once you don’t diss me then you won’t die!!!!!

Jiang Li: “When he will realize that you are happier than he had imagined, even happier than him then he may not like it. And it’s a possibility that he will try to find some opportunities to seduce you. At that time you have to refrain. This guy’s only plus point is his handsome face though I don’t find it too appealing. So if you want to see a good looking face then come and find me. If you want to see someone with a pleasant personality then come and find me……And of course if you want to see someone with money then also come and find me.”

My……sweat was pouring down in torrent.

Perhaps feeling that something was not right Jiang Li added: “Of course I won’t force you to do all this.”

In order to avoid getting a nervous breakdown, I simply shut my eyes close and mounted myself on a seat. Playing deaf and mute.

I noticed that lately Jiang Li was becoming very talkative but I was not sure about what was stimulating it.

At this time I was sitting with Jiang Li in his car. Jiang Li dropping me off to my office in the morning, originally there was no such plan but I presumed that after seeing how dedicatedly I washed and cleaned his clothes, he decided to give me a ride. On the way I thought I really did not care about his reason after all who did not like a free ride? While I was still busy thinking Jiang Li drove me to the main entrance of the building. It was already eight fifty-five, was he not afraid of being tardy?

So I benevolently asked him: “Aren’t you getting late?”

Jiang Li indifferently answered: “When I am not worried then why are you worried about it.”

What nonsense!!!

Just when I thought that Jiang Li was getting a little friendlier, his one sentence thoroughly extinguished my idea.

Friendly, what a joke. He was a freak, sneaky, smelly person…….a molester. @#$%@

FLASH MARRIAGE-24.1

Thank you Everyone for the birthday wishes and your patience......

THE FOLLOWING POST NEEDS A BIT OF TWEAKING, SO PLEASE BE LENIENT.

Chapter 24.1

Friendly Jiang Li (1)

After dinner Jiang Li called me, afraid that I might have cold he started forcing me to drink a cup of some concotation.

I gave the amber liquid in the cup a skeptical look and asked him: “What is this for?”

Jiang Li very bluntly spoke: “You have cold, right. I don’t want you to pass it to me so take this medicine.”

OK, so I did not know what to say now…..

At night before going to sleep, I mustered some courage and then I gathered some more courage and finally went to Jiang Li: “Jiang Li if I ask you a question then can you answer it honestly.”

Jiang Li generously nodded his head: “Since you are going to inconvenience me with your query thus in order to not let you feel burdened about the same, I will also ask you a question and you should also answer it honestly.”

I nodded and asked: “Did you deliberately make the dinner inedible?”

Jiang Li very seriously replied: “Yes, truthfully I can cook really delicious food. If you don’t believe it then tomorrow I will cook again and you can test it yourself.”

I was petrified and hurriedly shook my head like a pellet drum. It was really hard to tell whether Jiang Li’s words were fake or not.

Pretending to regret, Jiang Li spoke: “What a pity….” Then, he changed the subject: “Well, now it’s my turn to ask you a question.”

“Go ahead.” I did not have anything to hide, he could ask anything.

Jiang Li squinted his eyes slightly and asked: “Why did you cry today?”

I did not expect that he would ask that, remembering the gloomy incident of the day I exclaimed: “Why does it matter to you?”

“I don’t want to see that kind of resentful expressions on your face every day and if this continues I don’t know for how long I will have to cook dinner…..it’s hard to beat the eggs.”

I pondered for a moment and then said: “Jiang Li, if one day you find out that your ex-lover has also started working in your company, will you resign or not?”

Jiang Li firmly shook his head: “I will resign...”

I tilted my head in disbelief: “You will resign so easily.”

Jiang Li added: “I will resign myself to make him quit.”

Me……..


I will resign myself to make him quit. ….This was Jiang Li’s reply.

I suddenly felt that there was no point in discussing this problem with Jiang Li, the two of us basically did not belong to the same world.

Jiang Li quickly realized the problem: “encountered your ex-lover?”

I nodded: “He is the new VP of the Marketing Department in our company and I am the secretary of a VP.” Therefore no matter how hard I tried, we were bound to meet frequently. I had only two options either to face the situation or resign from the job.

Holding his chin Jiang Li thought for a while and then suddenly spoke up: “Xiao Guan Yan, I have discovered that your greatest characteristic is not that you’re stupid but that you’re actually good for nothing.”

His words were indeed ‘good for nothing’ but I was already accustomed to his cynicism. It seemed that although he said such provocative things but he really was not in the mood for bickering.

He smiled but perhaps found my reaction a bit too dull. So dissatisfied, he said: “You still don’t believe me. It’s obvious that from the beginning it’s your ex who was in the wrong and yet you are trying to make yourself invisible like you owe him something.”
    
His words hit my heart directly. Did it really look like that……

Seeing how I was not retorting back, Jiang Li proposed another hypothesis: “Or could it be that you are still obsessed with him?”

Uh? I was stunned. Was I? No way…I wasn’t….certainly not….I shouldn’t be.

I shook my head decisively and in a quite serious tone said: “I can assure that I don’t like him anymore.”

Jiang Li asked: “But when you saw him, you reacted just like the girlfriend who recently broke up with her boyfriend. Then are you afraid of him?”

Was I afraid of him? I was wary of what he might do; but it wasn’t like he was a ghost or anything. Thus I moved my head in denial, not afraid of him.

Then Jiang Li said: “You are afraid of him. On our wedding day only I realized this that you are afraid of him.”

I bowed my head a bit and my heart began to tremble in trepidation. Was I scared of Yu Zhi Fei? But why should I fear him?

Jiang Li was an expert in the art of mind reading and very quickly he answered the doubts in my heart: “In fact you are not afraid of him, you dread to face the past where both of you were still together.”

 Uh?

Jiang Li pressed harder and harder: “Xiao Guan Yan, you must admit that you really are good for nothing. After being cheated by the other person, you can only dare to hide yourself. Desperately wanted to forget him and even when you couldn’t forget him you could only pretend that you have. Just seeing the face of the person who hurt you badly you immediately, immediately wanted to run way. Evading him and evading the situation as much as possible. In fact your case is a true example of ‘once bitten, twice shy.’ Now you are even scared of a rope, not to mention the amount of fear a snake can instill in your heart.”

Bleakly, I raised my head: “You are talking so confidently as if all this is a fact.”

FLASH MARRIAGE-23.2

Hello Peeps, Currently I am on an ad-hock small vacation in order to celebrate my upcoming birthday (28th Jan) It was a surprise arranged by my husband thus I did not get time to arrange this post on time. After working on the available rough draft for 3 days I am finally ready to post this one. I will be back by 30th. Apologies for the delay.

On another note a big thank you to all those wonderful  readers who gave me their honest opinion but the truth is by the time your comments rolled in I had already surrendered my weapons. Yes, i ended the cold war on the next morning itself and it was not because i felt i was wrong, in fact i sincerely believed that both me and him (my hubby) were right, but it was because if i had to keep my thoughts in for one more day then my head would have blasted. Fortunately or unfortunately I live for talking.

Well I am off to celebrate my 'Happy 16th Birthday'. (This girl never feels older than that) Ciao.....

CHAPTER 23.2

Jiang Li’s cooking (2)

Jiang Li hurriedly put the lid on the pot without panicking at all. He turned to find me cowering in the corner and proudly said: “I had mastered this move in the kindergarten only.”

Me: ……….

I had nothing to say; obviously he was the person who did not know how to cook so in the end why was he ridiculing me?

Feeling extremely accomplished Jiang Li put all the vegetables that he had just fried into …..a basin. That’s correct, a basin, you read it right, I did not write it wrong because those fried vegetables could not fit in the dish bowl.

After finishing this task, Jiang Li still had more to say: “Do you have anything else to cook?”

“Ummm, then how about steamed egg custard?” I suggested this dish because the rate of error while preparing steamed egg custard is relatively low. Of course, there was another reason- other than eggs, we had no other raw ingredients……

Acquiescing with my opinion, Jiang Li nodded his head. Then steamed egg custard it was.

I kindly probed: “Jiang Li, you don’t know how to cook it, do you?”

“Of course, I know how to cook it.” Jiang Li looked at the eggs in his hands and then quietly murmured to himself “But what do I have to steam first egg or rice?”

“You can steam both of them together.” Steam together, we all understand what that means, right?

Jiang Li gave me a weird look and in a questioning tone asked: "Can we steam them together?”

“Nonsense, of course we can!” so Jiang Li finished washing rice, put them in the rice cooker, pour the water, plugged the cooker in and started cooking.

He cracked opened a few eggs into a bowl. Then he grabbed a spoon to pick up the egg shell pieces that fell into the bowl (sweating), stirred them nicely for a few minutes (which I instructed him), added sesame oil and salt (which again I instructed him) then he took a very valiant action, an action so fierce that for a moment I could not even react.

Holding the freshly beaten eggs bowl in one hand, he removed the rice cooker lid, quickly ‘rattled’ the rice and then very neatly poured the eggs into the still uncooked rice.

Disoriented, I stood in my place. I looked at the boiling water gushing out of the cooker, the uncooked eggs and raw rice rolling together and laughed at the madness of this world.

It was all over, finished……

Jiang Li very proudly grasped a pair of chopsticks to stir the things in the cooker then turned his head to look towards me. He noticed that my reaction was abnormal. Therefore he put forward a question very carefully: “So how’s it? Is there anything wrong?”

Was he joking? Was there anything wrong? Jiang Li pondered for a moment, innocently said: “There is nothing wrong, I did as you said, wash the rice, beat the eggs, and steam them together….”

Steam them together, did he take it literally as in ‘steaming them together’? I stood in the kitchen corner like a statue and for a long time only one sentence reverberated in my mind: not true, it’s not true.

While Jiang Li finished serving the ‘steamed egg custard’ in the dishes and brought it to the dining table I was still standing at my designated spot, the kitchen corner.

“Come and eat, no need to be modest with me or do you want me to feed you with my own hands?”

I desperately resisted: “No, I don’t want to eat.”

Impatiently, Jiang Li pulled me away: “I am treating you so well and you are trying to be picky. Have you ever seen me being picky with the food you serve me?”

Hey, that’s because the food I serve you had always been normal!

Jiang Li dragged me to the dining table, pushed me on the chair and placed a bowl of rice-egg mix in front of me.  I picked up my chopsticks and stabbed it, re-stabbed it but did not eat it.

Jiang Li got irritated; he sat beside me and took the chopsticks from my hand. I thought he was going to throw them away, good, he should just throw them away but I would not eat it.

However, using those chopsticks Jiang Li stirred the rice-egg mix then pressed my neck brought a piece of that rice-egg mix in front of my mouth and in a low-deep voice said: “Come on, eat.”

I always thought men use such low husky voice to seduce women (or men) but I never knew it could also be used to coax people to eat. I hardened my heart and remained firm with my decision ‘not eating’.

Jiang Li did not give up; he bowed down a bit and whispered in my ears: “If you don’t eat then the consequences will be very serious, got it!”

I laughed: “such as?” Paper tiger, I did not believe he could do anything to me.

“For example” Jiang Li suddenly in a very cold tone whispered: “For example, your cherry may pop!”

I shuddered to the bone and almost fell down from the chair.

Jiang Li, this guy was too cruel!!

Jiang Li grabbed my shoulder, chuckled to himself and said: “Come on let’s eat, it’s very delicious.”

I shakily opened my mouth and put in a piece of rice-egg mix.

Surprisingly, this thing was not as terrible as I imagined.  The egg was nicely cooked and of course the rice tasted as usual. In fact this dish was neither good nor hard to swallow.

“Are you enjoying the food?” I was almost in tears, simply nodded my head. I dared not to speak anything

…

Jiang Li also nodded his head with satisfaction, picked up a piece of carrot and put it in my bowl: “Come, eat some vegetables too.”

I looked at the bizarrely cut piece of carrot- grotesquely black in color and silently cried without tears.

Thanks to Jiang Li’s constant coaxing cum perusal, which in reality was a threat in disguise, I managed to eat a bowl of rice-egg mixture with an added seasoning of soya sauce and salty fried vegetables (also called as fried pickles.) Since I coordinated obediently Jiang Li finally let me go.

Looking satisfied with his achievement he asked: “Was it delicious?”

He had already asked the same question at least two hundred times. I bobbed my head aggressively; it was delicious, tasty and extremely scrumptious!

Jiang Li smiled modestly and said: “it’s delicious, eh, then eat some more of it?”

I despondently shook my head, did not want to eat, could not eat…….Uncle Li please spare this little Xiao Yan…..

Jiang Li gently patted my head: “Wife, ah, today I found out that my cooking is really not that bad then should I cook the dinner from now on?”

I was too scared, repeatedly shook my head, Uncle Li you mustn’t take the exertion. You should rest your body well.

Jiang Li cheekily made things more difficult for me: “eh, you don’t want to.”

“I do, I do, I swear” my eyes were full of sincerity, my face endlessly serious. In my heart I was thinking- Joke or not, no one should abuse others like this.

Jiang Li seemed a little embarrassed, finally smiled earnestly. I sighed in relief. Dear God, my body was getting old and it really could not take such torments any more.

Jiang Li picked up a piece of the rice-egg mix and put it in his mouth. He did not even chew it and spit it out immediately.

My heart bled tears.

Since then my mind had a firm belief:

Jiang Li was not a human, he was a scum!!!

 


 

FLASH MARRIAGE-23.1

Hello everyone. Ni Hao Ma... Currently I am annoyed and irritated. Pardon my long prelude but do try to read it and give me your genuine advice. 

2016 has started with a bang for me. Well, because of a hair color gone wrong, incorrigibly wrong I had to get my waist long tresses snipped. The reason behind the hair color gone bad was very simple: My whimsical personality. Otherwise who told me to experiment with a never-seen-before color; some shade of purple. lighter than an eggplant but darker than the purple lilies. anyways long story short even though i was forced to have this new look, asymmetrical bob hair-cut, i was still happy with it.
But the real bomb exploded when I reached home because what I thought would surprise my husband, actually shocked him. His first reaction was the usual, a long silence followed by 'its good' But who am I, a person who loves to put foot in her mouth. I pestered him to give his honest opinion and BOOM. 
I won't quote him word by word but the moral of his 5 minutes lecture (too long for him) was that a) I am reckless b) I am reckless z) I am reckless ..
And all in all I should have consulted him before doing something so outrageous (in his eyes)

SO, my dear readers we are currently going through a cold war. I am not talking since I completely support Women's rights. I mean come on, why does a girl need to seek permission before coloring or cutting her own hair. What does this world has come to. And He is not talking because clearly he knows that I can't sustain a single day without talking, unlike him. hence he is torturing me. Thousands of miles away from family and friends, troublesome time difference, Stuck in a city with language barrier I really have almost no other option than him. Thus he is enjoying this atrocity. 

THE FINAL RESULT AT 1 A.M. I AM SITTING IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP, RAMBLING AND PRATTLING. POURING MY HEART DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU ALL...SHOULD I BREAK THE ICE FIRST? 

:(   

Chapter 23.1

Jiang Li’s Cooking

I was about to open my mouth to say something when unexpectedly the ‘river’ of the tears started flowing out and I could not hold it in.  

Jiang Li squatted down, looked at my face in disbelief: “Are you……crying?”

Oh crap, he did not see that, did he??

  

Jiang Li in a conciliatory tone said: “By the way do you know that you look more attractive while crying than laughing.”

I looked at his face that was in a very close proximity to my face, really wanted to punch his face hard.

Jiang Li got up to sit on the couch, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over to me: “How can a thick-skinned person like you cry, did someone dare to bully you, eh?”

I took his handkerchief and silently wiped my tears. Yes, ah I was crying but who dared to bully me?

Nobody……Also, who said I had thick skin, huh……

Jiang Li leaned against the back of the couch and nonchalantly said: “You just got fired, right? It’s alright; there is no need to worry.  I can still support you.”

I felt as if he was gloating over my misery, so I snapped: “Who needs your support!!!!”

Jiang Li said: “You got bullied outside, ran back home and then got angry at me. You just have all the signs of a person who needs support.”

I moved my worn out body, stood up to prepare dinner in order to divert Jiang Li’s attention.

Jiang Li: “What are you doing?”

Me: “Going to prepare dinner.”

Jiang Li suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to the couch again.

This time I was really very angry: “What the hell are you doing?”

Jiang Li in a neither too fast nor too slow tone replied: “I am afraid with your present mind set you will burn up the whole kitchen.”

“Jiang Li!! Can’t you see I am in a bad mood, so for once can you not bully me and leave me alone?”

“I am not bullying you.” Jiang Li thought for a while, suddenly straightened up 
and said: “Okay, I will cook and you observe.”

I thought I had heard wrong.
…….


Because Jiang Li’s cooking was a rare treat so I also cheered up a bit instantly and went to the kitchen together with him.

Jiang Li pointed to a corner in the kitchen and told me: “you stand here and don’t move an inch. Just silently observe from here.”


I sincerely followed his instructions.

Jiang Li took out all the vegetables from refrigerator, threw away the ones 
which were no longer fresh and put the remaining one in a big bowl filled with 
water. After that he started washing them expertly.

 I was a bit puzzled: “You really look like a professional even though you don’t even know how to cook.”

Bowing his head while washing the vegetables, he said: “I only know how to wash vegetables. Earlier at my home I used to wash vegetables, my mother used to do the cooking and my father used to wash dishes.”

What a happy family, ah. I was feeling a tiny bit jealous of him. Jiang Li seemed to have guessed my thoughts so he suddenly raised his head and glanced at me, said: “But now my father is your father. I don’t consider you as an outsider.”

Although his words were nondescript but still my heart was a little moved by his small gesture. Sometimes this man, Jiang Li, really could tell people what they wanted to hear. 

After washing the vegetables, Jiang Li put the carrots, spinach and other vegetables in a pile. He placed his left hand at his back and then brandishing a knife in his right hand he started to ‘cut’ those vegetables.

I was shocked at his action, after a long time I regained my spirit. Then, trembling I said: “Jiang Li, you are chopping the vegetables with one hand……..”

Jiang Li stopped, embarrassed he said: “I was afraid of cutting my hand…..”

It looked like that Jiang Li was truly a good kid who really cherished his life a lot. Watching Jiang Li cooking the dinner was already a rare sight, so even though he did not know how to cut the vegetables properly it was still acceptable for me. And now I also got to see his embarrassed face. I decided to appreciate this golden opportunity more and thus smirked at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li did not get angry, with a blushed face and short breath he continued to ‘cut’ those poor vegetables. 

Looking at the pitiful condition of the variegated vegetables on the chopping board, two horrible words suddenly pooped up in my mind: mutilated bodies.

After cutting for a while, Jiang Li put away the knife, looked at me with great satisfaction and said: “Not bad, right?”

My heart shuddered but out of whatever conscience I had, replied: “Not bad.”

 “So now what should be the next step?”

Staring at the heap of the wrecked vegetables I thought for a moment and finally resolved to answer: “Why don’t you fry it first!” 

Jiang Li very swiftly turned on the gas stove, picked up a handful of the vegetables that he had just cut and threw them in a pot, then in a very convincing manner he started moving them with a spatula. His motion was very light and casual.

I could hardly contain myself any more, I quickly stepped forward and said: “Not like this, not like this. You have to wash the pot first, pour some oil in the pot and then add vegetables to it.”

Jiang Li turned off the gas stove. Turned towards me and pointed to the corner I was stationed at: “Stand back.”

My enthusiasm level immediately got reduced by half and I meekly went back to that corner. Then I got disenchanted. This house was both his and mine so why should I listen to him?

So I decided to use his own words to rebut him: “Jiang Li, I am afraid that you will burn up the kitchen.”   

Jiang Li simply replied: “Don’t worry about it, we have you for that.” 

What kind of answer was that!!!



“Jiang Li, take another pan and add the oil first.”

“Whoaaa, don’t pour too much oil.”

“You are really silly, eh. Wait for a minute and then add vegetables.”

“Okay, okay. Now add soya sauce and vinegar to it…..”

“Now fire!!!” Hugging my head I promptly squatted down, although I often sautéed vegetables but relatively the number of times it caught fire was countable on fingers, furthermore I was scared of fire.

Jiang Li hurriedly put the lid on the pot without panicking at all. He turned to find me cowering in the corner, proudly said: “I had mastered this move in the kindergarten only.”

Me: ……….