I don’t remember the later events clearly, just a few blurry fragments, like Brother Feng passing out on the table. I shook him: “Brother Feng, don’t sleep, let’s keep chatting!” Later, Lin Rui carried him away. Ye Zhengchen wanted to take me away, but I sat at the table stubbornly: “I won’t go! Brother Feng… don’t leave, I haven’t finished talking to you! What happened after your leg injury? Tell me more…”
I remember most clearly lying on Ye Zhengchen’s back, rambling: “You’re a good person, you’re good to everyone… Some understand you, some don’t… It’s okay… I understand… My understanding is enough!” “Senior, why aren’t you driving?” “Oh! Right, can’t drive after drinking!” He didn’t speak the entire way, probably annoyed by me! I kept talking: “Senior, can you lend me a military uniform sometime? I want to unbutton you, button by button, for you…”
“I want to take off your military uniform, remove that sacred and solemn attire…” “Oh, actually, you look sacred in a white coat too…” He finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Shut up!” I buried my head in his shoulder and cried, tears falling into his neck. “Senior, I really like you! One day when we’re apart, I might miss you for a lifetime!” He remained silent, so I continued: “Don’t you miss me! There are prettier girls everywhere…” The last memory is blurry. I vaguely remember him bringing me home, throwing me on the bed, pouring some sour liquid into my mouth. After drinking it, my churning stomach felt better. Then, he frantically tore at my clothes, and I tore at his. He bit my neck, chest, and thighs, and I bit his shoulder, arms, and ribs. He entered my body, and I threw my head back, arching as moans echoed through the night. Alcohol numbed my senses; I was weakly turned over and ravaged, spinning into dizziness. I laughed and cried, saying: “Senior, I love you! I love you, you beast!” I’ve been drunk three times in my life. The first was at the graduation farewell dinner; I got drunk and cried while hugging my roommate. The next day, with a splitting headache, I swore never to drink again. This is the second time, experiencing what it means: not surviving a life of intoxication!
I want to be drunk in his arms every day, never to wake up!
He was even more intense than before, like a beast pressing me down on the bed, tearing me apart, biting me. I felt powerless to resist, just watching him in disbelief.
He forcefully pressed down on my knees, prying open my tightly closed legs. It hurt more than the first time! My world sank into a shaking abyss, losing consciousness and feeling drowned. After that, I completely quit drinking— not a drop!
Author’s note: “Brother, if you have a chance, lend me a military uniform…”
Ye thought, “Don’t worry, when the opportunity arises!”
Xin Xin secretly told the girl: Remember to untie slowly, drive him crazy…
After a night of drunkenness, I woke up predictably with a splitting headache, stomach cramps, and feeling weak. I pressed my temples and opened my eyes; the first thing I saw was the tightly closed light green curtains. Only Ye Zhengchen’s room had those curtains. I remembered when his hand was injured, and I pulled them open, letting the afternoon sun shine in.
He pulled the curtains back, sealing them completely. I asked why.
“I’m used to it,” he said.
“Used to not seeing light?”
He laughed, his seductive smile making my heart race. “Used to doing things that can’t see the light of day.”
If his hand wasn’t injured, I might have been scared enough to flee. At that time, I never thought I would wake up in his room.
I saw Ye Zhengchen sitting in front of the computer, concentrating on Japanese materials. His right hand was on the mouse, tapping his fingers rhythmically. I sat up, trying not to disturb him.
Since April, Professor Tanaka had been putting a lot of pressure on him with clinical internships, reviewing materials, and publishing papers. He never complained, completing every task assigned to him perfectly, but I knew he was exhausted.
I pulled the blanket, and the slight sound startled Ye Zhengchen.
“You’re awake,” he said, bringing half a cup of clear tea from the desk to my bedside and checking my forehead. “Headache? Feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
I pulled the blanket higher. “My whole body hurts.”
“Drink this,” he said, bringing the tea to my mouth. I took a sip; it was bitter and sour.
With my years of medical experience, this wasn’t ordinary tea. “Is this medicine?” “Yes, to relieve hangover and pain. Be good, drink it all.” He coaxed me softly like a child, almost drowning me in gentleness. I gritted my teeth and gulped it down. Being his patient, I’d even drink poison, let alone bitter medicine.
Ye Zhengchen and I officially started dating, and many people, including Qin Xue, didn’t believe it. Ye Zhengchen drove his BMW to the research lab every day, while I rode my nearly new second-hand bicycle to class and work. It wasn’t that Ye Zhengchen was heartless, nor was I being pretentious. I was happy when he offered to take me to school, but coordinating schedules would require mutual compromise. I’ve always been independent, disliking restrictions.
Ye Zhengchen once pointed to a wine-red Mercedes sports car and asked if I liked it. I was honest: “I can’t drive.” “I’ll take you to driving school.” “Please spare me! I have no sense of direction, can’t even distinguish east from west. I get lost riding a bicycle on campus.” Before he could argue, I added: “Bicycles aren’t bad. They’re eco-friendly, no traffic worries, and good exercise.”
Sometimes I could ride back with Brother Feng or Ling Ling, chatting and laughing freely. Bicycles have many advantages, except during rainy days. In Japan, occasional heavy rain is inevitable. A few days later, I encountered a thunderstorm on my way back to the apartment and stopped at a Mercedes dealership to take shelter.
Shivering in a corner, I cursed the weather and hoped the country would soon be submerged by seawater. A staff member came out and politely asked if I wanted to come inside. I glanced at my wet shoes and then at the red carpet in their showroom, bowing quickly. “Thank you, but I’m fine here.”
While watching the staff return inside, I admired the wine-red Mercedes sports car, its luxurious metallic paint and smooth lines. The rain continued pouring for over an hour, getting heavier and accompanied by howling winds. Rainwater flowed horizontally on the empty street, with cars moving slowly.
Looking around, it was a dark, watery world. Had my curse actually worked? Let the storm come even more violently!
After waiting ten minutes, certain the heavy rain wouldn’t stop, I took out my phone to call Ye Zhengchen, wondering if he could rescue me.
I saw over a dozen missed calls from him. I called back, and before I could speak, he asked, “Where are you?”
“In front of the Mercedes-Benz store, sheltering from the rain,” I replied to prevent any misunderstanding about car shopping.
“Wait for me there, I’ll be right there.”
Soon, a BMW stopped at the steps. Ye Zhengchen got out, holding one of my sweaters, his spotless Gucci shoes stepping on the dry cement.
I looked down at my wet Adidas sports shoes, already a sorry sight.
The two pairs met, toe to toe, somewhat comical.
“In such heavy rain, why are you standing here like an idiot? Why aren’t you riding your bike home?” His voice, filled with laughter, surrounded me.
I glanced at my bike, washed clean by the rain, and stuck out my tongue at him. “Sorry, the waterproofing is slightly inadequate.”
“Slightly inadequate? You’re quite modest.” He laughed, his eyes full of mirth. “So, are you going to cry in the BMW or keep laughing while riding your bike?”
I analyzed the situation, weighing the pros and cons.
“Senior, can I sit in your BMW and laugh for a while?”
