A Peach Wood Comb

In their sophomore year, Xie Jiayi developed an obsession with making money. He was naturally talented, attending only the classes where roll call was taken, spending the rest of his time working part-time while still passing all his courses. His income could support both him and Lai Yun. He met many work friends outside school, often gathering for drinks and chats after work, sometimes bringing Lai Yun along. That day was a family gathering at a stockbroker’s home. Seeing Xie was drunk and the school was far, the host suggested they stay over and leave the next day. Halfway through the night, Xie, somewhat sober, started to get intimate with Lai Yun. Just as things were heating up, Lai pushed him away, whispering, “Jiayi, we’re at someone else’s house!” Xie, indifferent, said, “They’re all adults; even if we did nothing, they’d think we did. What are you worried about?” He rolled back onto her, and Lai pushed him away again, saying, “No, we didn’t buy anything…” Drunk and consumed by desire, Xie didn’t care and started kissing her, mumbling, “Just this once, I don’t believe anything will really happen!” But fate never favors those who tempt it. A month later, Lai missed her period, and after two weeks of worry, she bought a pregnancy test, officially confirming their “win.” Their rented room was filled with gloom; Lai cried her heart out, but nothing could change the fact. They were either to become young parents or murderers of their child. Xie wished he could die by banging his head against the wall, but death wouldn’t solve anything. That night, neither ate dinner; Xie held the distraught Lai until late, then with a look of determination, said, “Baby, we can’t keep this child!” Lai burst into tears again. Xie hurriedly wiped her tears, softly persuading, “Think about our parents and Aunt Yun; they’ve worked hard to put us through college. How will we explain dropping out? Baby, don’t cry… We’re young, we’ll have other children after we graduate, when my job is stable, then we’ll get married, okay?”