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墨書 Inktalez
Liu Qingqing could no longer remember how she had walked out of that store. She only recalled her friend calling her in the park, asking where she was, which jolted her back to reality. She found herself standing outside the shop, its lights already extinguished and the door firmly locked, as if the earlier bustle had been nothing but an illusion.
Yet, the trust in her heart remained. She turned back to glance at the shop three times before finally leaving, feeling a sense of loss. The man's words echoed in her mind: "If you have doubts, go verify them. If the other party has truly made a mistake, it’s better to end things early for peace of mind than to deceive yourself and end up losing everything."
At the park entrance, she met her friend. Her friend had gained quite a bit of weight since having a baby, and when she saw Liu Qingqing, her smile instantly faded as she asked with concern why Liu Qingqing looked so unhappy. Recalling the man's words, Liu Qingqing pulled her friend to sit on a bench and poured out her doubts and observations.
It must be said that a woman's intuition combined with an outsider's clarity could quickly reveal new clues about anything amiss. Their little gathering soon turned into a "detective conference," where even during photos, they analyzed whether seemingly trivial details made sense.
Ultimately, Liu Qingqing's heart hung in suspense. From her friend's analysis, it seemed Lin Ran had shown signs of trouble months ago. Despite having been promoted nearly a year ago and working for a company that advocated against overtime, he suddenly started requiring an extra hour at work and often needed to return on weekends for half days. Lin Ran began to care about details he had previously ignored; even his clothing choices became more meticulous.
Then there was the perfume. Lin Ran had once favored woody scents but had switched to fresh oceanic notes at her suggestion. Recently, however, he had started buying citrus and floral fragrances specifically for meetings.
What troubled her even more was the noticeable decrease in their intimacy. Whenever she expressed her needs, Lin Ran would always dismiss them with a playful excuse of being "too tired."
By the time she returned home, it was already late at night. Liu Qingqing sat in the dark living room without turning on the lights, reflecting on the day’s events. Torn between trust and suspicion, she decided to wait for Lin Ran to come home and test him once more to see if he truly was deceiving her.
But what would she do if she discovered something? Would she act like the women in dramas who smash things in rage or hurl insults or even strike him? She covered her face with her hands and caught a faint scent of coffee lingering on her sleeve.
Turning on the light to check, she noticed a small brownish-black stain on the edge of her left sleeve that she hadn’t seen before. A closer sniff confirmed it was from the cup of coffee she had that morning.
She recalled the man's words: "If your partner is cheating, you hold the moral high ground legally or ethically. But merely having that high ground brings only fleeting satisfaction; time lost can never be regained. If you truly find a problem, it’s better to use stronger means to ruin their reputation in this world."
"If he dares to cheat, what do you have to fear in seeking revenge?" The temptation flickered in the man's eyes as he spoke those words, igniting many thoughts within Liu Qingqing.
During these days while Lin Ran was away on business, Liu Qingqing prepared herself with countless "what ifs." She braced herself for every possible worst-case scenario, striving to remain calm when facing the truth. If there were no issues, then all would be well; but if there were indeed something that upset her…
She would definitely take revenge!
Liu Qingqing looked at the photo of herself and Lin Ran in the room, smiling.
Lin Ran's messages had never stopped, but he only called on the third night of his business trip. The man in the video sat on the pristine white bed of the hotel, wearing pajamas, rubbing his eyes, looking drowsy. He spoke in his usual sticky tone about the inconveniences of his trip, even leaning closer to the phone to perform little gestures as if to show how much he missed her.
On the screen, aside from Lin Ran's handsome and desire-filled face, Liu Qingqing caught sight of something she least wanted to see—a belonging that did not belong to Lin Ran. It flashed briefly on the screen, but she precisely captured its existence and, with her sensitivity and experience regarding accessories, determined that it belonged to a woman.
All the beautiful "what ifs" were overturned. The anger and betrayal surged within her like a tidal wave, yet her smile remained unchanged, even more radiant. Lin Ran clearly did not notice her unease and continued to speak sweetly, even trying to coax her into doing things for him as if they were in bed together.
As Liu Qingqing imagined the "what ifs," she had already accounted for these situations. She suppressed her disgust for this suddenly "rotten" man before her and kissed the camera, speaking to him in a way he liked: "I will wait for you at home and we will be happy together."
At the moment she hung up the phone, her nausea peaked. This man, who pretended to be deeply affectionate while doing disgusting things, was the one she had decided to marry, the one she wanted to entrust her life to, and a partner with whom she had already shared intimacy. This was also her shame; it was an insult to her overflowing love and precious youth.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she cried for lost love and wasted youth. She could be certain that her love back then was real, but this love ultimately could not withstand outside temptations. Or rather, the plain rice at home could never compete with the bright moonlight outside.
Thinking about how close she had been with that "rotten cucumber," an enraged Liu Qingqing felt like she could cut out her own womb. She leaned over the toilet and vomited until she felt dizzy; as her heart raced violently, thoughts of that café and that man flooded her mind.
When she returned to the small town again, everything went smoothly. The usually strict minister who monitored attendance like it was life or death approved her leave without asking too many questions. Feeling this was a good omen, she hurried toward the café. The weather was lovely this time; the sun warmed her skin as if assuring her that everything would go smoothly.
The shop door was wide open. As soon as she walked in, the first thing that caught her eye was the man's body. His loose robe could not conceal his chest's springtime glow; his delicate white skin was covered with mottled red marks, with the most severe one being a bite mark on his chest that had formed a scab. His rose-colored hair was casually piled up with a straw; amidst the aroma of coffee in the room lingered another scent.
Seeing her enter, the man wore an expression of "I knew you would come," casually adjusting his robe as he went to make coffee for her. Perhaps out of habit, Liu Qingqing approached the counter again and peeked inside. This time, she saw someone else lying on a lounge chair inside, covered with a thin blanket and sleeping soundly; he had short black hair and appeared to be another man.
The richer coffee aroma made her feel comfortable as she leaned against the counter and asked him why he seemed to know she would come. He smiled proudly while sipping ice water from a bottle still frosted over and said it was his skill—any customer with unresolved issues would definitely return for another cup of coffee.
Seeing him unabashedly displaying the marks on his body, Liu Qingqing curiously asked, "Who is this inside?"
The man didn't turn around, his tone light as he replied, "My wife." Liu Qingqing raised an eyebrow and teased, "I thought you were the one beneath." The man, unfazed by her words, laughed even more joyfully and handed her a coffee candy with his freshly manicured hand, joking, "I love beauty, but I don’t like to be trampled."
"I've imagined countless worst-case scenarios, and it seems they are indeed coming true. Although I haven't checked his phone yet, last night during the video call, I saw an accessory in his frame that didn't belong to him. It was a hairpin, the latest model from a certain brand, priced at nineteen thousand." Liu Qingqing was invited to sit on a chair, and as she left, she noticed him tucking the blanket around the person lying on the recliner.
Lin Ran had treated her the same way back then. The coffee soothed her restless heart momentarily, but an inexplicable anger surged within her, making her want to tear that man apart.
"Oh... sweetheart, you look delicious right now," the man suddenly leaned closer while she was lost in thought. His deep green eyes were filled with desire, bloodshot veins spreading across his eyeballs, making him look somewhat terrifying.
Liu Qingqing was startled by the man’s proximity and instinctively recoiled but bumped into the stool and lost her balance, falling backward. In a dizzying whirl, she found herself pulled into the man's embrace. He looked down at her from above, his crimson lips parting as he spoke in a voice laced with temptation, "I can help you, but in return, you must come back to me after it's all over so that I can devour you."
"Devour me?" A chill ran up her spine from where his hand rested on her waist, pressing against her head. She felt fear—an instinctual fear akin to her dread of the unknown darkness. This man now resembled a fierce beast while she was merely prey. She could even sense that his notion of "devouring" had nothing to do with sex; it was purely about consuming her.
Like a dish.
"Don't be afraid, darling." The man helped her sit up and squatted beside her legs with a gentle smile, winking at her. "I'm a bad guy; I can't help you for just ten bucks. Otherwise, I can't afford to support my beautiful wife and child. They are waiting for me to earn enough for their coming-of-age gifts."
Such a heavy load of information. Liu Qingqing felt as if something had struck her head hard, instantly dispelling that fear and leaving only trust in the man before her. She couldn't comprehend whether this feeling was right or wrong, but her body acted before her mind could catch up.
She said, "Okay."
With the man's assurance, Liu Qingqing hurried home before lunch. According to Lin Ran's words, he would return around one in the afternoon.
She firmly remembered the man's instructions—everything should remain normal. She even dismissed the thought of investigating Lin Ran's phone. Unable to resist asking why, the man had smiled slyly and said, "Naturally to avoid raising his suspicions." She was also instructed to bring out her best acting skills so that Lin Ran wouldn’t detect any flaws and would continue to see her as the devoted partner who loved him deeply.
Of course, she was also curious about how the man would help her. He simply waved his hand and replied with two words: "It's a secret."
Sitting on the sofa, Liu Qingqing looked at the bustling traffic below and suddenly felt a wave of confusion: Why? Why did she trust this strange man whom she had only met twice, even agreeing to let him "devour" her after everything was over?
Was it because he liked men? Or was it because he dressed like a woman?
All these doubts left her feeling disoriented. Her mind was trying to reason, but her heart and soul seemed completely indifferent. She only felt that having such a person in her life was a great blessing for someone like her, who harbored intentions of revenge but lacked the means to execute them.
The sound of the door unlocking broke her thoughts. She turned around to see Lin Ran entering. He was carrying a suitcase, and upon seeing her at home, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before quickly transforming into excitement. He rushed towards her without even bothering to close the door. The chill from his coat brushed against her, and a rich scent of perfume wafted over her—citrus notes mingled with a hint of rose and the smell of smoke.
Lin Ran didn’t smoke, and according to him, his boss despised the smell of smoke, insisting that employees must not carry any trace of it while at work. Yet now, she could smell smoke coming from his clothes, not just a faint odor picked up from outside.
There was also a long strand of chestnut-colored hair stuck to the collar of his coat, glaringly obvious. Liu Qingqing remembered the man's request and closed her eyes, pretending not to see the hair as she embraced Lin Ran, as if he had been away for four years.
"Everything is well," Lin Ran summarized briefly what had happened over the past few days.
Lin Ran didn’t have to work in the afternoon but needed to pick something up from the office. Liu Qingqing offered to drive him there. Although he hesitated for a moment, he accepted, saying all she needed to do was wait downstairs for a bit.
This was her first time visiting Lin Ran's company. Usually, for convenience, she waited in the parking lot. Now standing on the first floor of the building, she found it much more luxurious than she had imagined. People were bustling about, some of whom she recognized from Lin Ran's team-building photos, hurriedly talking on their phones.
She stood in a corner, fixated on the direction of the elevator Lin Ran would take. After countless openings and closings of the metal doors, finally, she spotted Lin Ran with a woman dressed in a skirt and sporting long chestnut hair. They were chatting and laughing together, their distance far exceeding what would be considered socially acceptable. The woman had a hairpin stuck in her hair and wore a bracelet that looked exactly like the pendant necklace Lin Ran had given her.
They stopped in front of her; Lin Ran stepped closer first and affectionately linked his arm with hers as he introduced her: "Milly, this is my fiancée, Qingqing. Qingqing, this is my new colleague, Milly."
The woman smiled brightly and appeared very friendly as she greeted Liu Qingqing warmly. It seemed intentional when she casually tossed her hair back with the hand that wore the bracelet; her gaze held an indescribable mix of emotions—appraisal, scrutiny, and a hint of provocation.
Liu Qingqing could confirm that this woman was indeed the third party—and one who knew about her existence. She could even imagine why Lin Ran would cheat—this woman was strikingly beautiful with an alluring figure like that of a model; her long legs were wrapped in the skirt while the buttons on her blouse strained against what lay beneath.
She was confident that she looked good, but compared to the woman before her, there was indeed a noticeable gap. The other woman didn't linger long; after exchanging a few pleasantries, she left in her high heels, leaving Lin Ran standing beside her with a box, asking what she wanted for dinner.
The rose fragrance that lingered on the woman was identical to the one that clung to Lin Ran.
---
When Lin Ran was cornered in the restaurant bathroom by Milly, who forcefully kissed him and confessed her feelings, he felt a struggle within. He was certain he loved his fiancée, the woman he had walked hand in hand with since university. She knew all his habits, remembered every one of his hobbies, and celebrated their shared anniversaries with great importance. She had always supported him unwaveringly through thick and thin.
He pushed Milly away and clearly told her that he had a partner and was about to get married. Yet, the woman persisted, ignoring whether anyone was passing by outside. The kiss that landed on his lips was soft and carried a strong scent of roses.
This incident felt like a spark falling onto paper, the hole growing larger. After one lie, Lin Ran wove more lies for himself—not only to deceive Liu Qingqing but also to deceive himself. He believed that his relationship with Milly was merely a fleeting romance; when it came time to return and marry Qingqing, he would tighten his belt and resist any temptation.
However, during this business trip, Milly revealed to him that she was pregnant—just one month along.
Was it a bolt from the blue? Yes. At that moment, Lin Ran truly felt that only death could atone for the consequences of this wrongdoing. But as he looked at Milly's beautiful profile while she slept beside him, another voice in his head whispered: "Is it really impossible to change partners? To someone prettier, more charming, and more fun to be with?"
He still remembered to call Qingqing while Milly was in the shower. It felt like he was comforting himself or giving himself an out. Seeing Liu Qingqing's smiling face seemed to lessen his guilt just enough for him to fool himself.
However, Milly's reaction surprised him. The woman wasn't in a hurry for a title or for him to make a choice; instead, she calmly told him that she didn't care about those intangible things. Having a child meant having one—there was no need to worry; she just needed more of his company moving forward.
As he opened the door to Liu Qingqing's home and saw his girlfriend waiting for him inside, Lin Ran wished at that moment that he had the power to split himself into two—one staying here and one going to be with Milly.
He embraced Liu Qingqing and after pondering for a long time, said, "I want a child."
His girlfriend rested her head on his shoulder and replied calmly, "Wait until we get married. We can't let a child come into this world casually."
Casually? For a moment, Lin Ran felt dazed. He had never thought about having descendants before; seeing how hard his mother worked for his sister and him made him feel that children were quite troublesome. However, as he grew up and saw people around him proudly showing off their children one after another, he began to develop many expectations about this existence.
Now, Milly is eagerly anticipating the arrival of their child, while Liu Qingqing, who has decided to spend her life with him, expresses concerns about the child's identity. Isn't a child just a child? A natural product born from their love and intimacy—why should his existence bring about so much worry?
For the first time, Lin Ran feels uncomfortable with Liu Qingqing, but he quickly reassures himself that this is just a minor conflict between lovers. He tells himself that arguing with his partner is temporary; they are not a shattered vase, and he is not the scoundrel from a television drama.
However, he did not expect Milly to appear boldly before Liu Qingqing. Radiant and captivating, she stands in the hall like a striking landscape. She greets Liu Qingqing warmly, acting as if she doesn't know her at all. In that moment of eye contact between the two women, panic surges within Lin Ran; he fears Milly might suddenly take Liu Qingqing's hand and declare herself the third party in their relationship.
Fortunately, everything remains peaceful. On the way home, Liu Qingqing remarks, "Milly is truly a beautiful woman."
"You've always been beautiful," Lin Ran gazes affectionately at his driving partner. "You are the most beautiful woman in my eyes."
He sees Liu Qingqing smile, her lips curving upward as if in good spirits. While waiting at a red light, she turns to him and playfully scrunches her nose, teasing him for his sweet talk.
While showering, he notices the picture Milly sent of a pregnancy test showing two lines. He doesn’t reply but switches his phone back to normal mode and continues playing music, hoping the warm water will wash away the guilt that clings to him like rust.
Conflict is the main theme swirling in his heart. This distorted relationship is wrong from any angle one might analyze it; yet he finds himself enjoying it—truly relishing the feeling of having both women by his side. Liu Qingqing's steady warmth feels like the sweet soup one can only enjoy at home, comforting and dispelling all life's discontent. Meanwhile, Milly is like exotic cuisine enjoyed outside—stimulating and fresh, leading his mind from resistance to acceptance, ultimately falling into longing.
Is this a good thing? No, it’s very bad. Yet humans are creatures who crave stimulation; the more something is deemed unacceptable, the stronger their rebellious instincts become. Literature criticizes such matters thoroughly, but how many can genuinely remain unmoved by temptation?
"I'm not a saint," Lin Ran thinks to himself.
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