Chapter 07
Zhao Gongzi said, “You’re lying to me. You didn’t read it at all.”
I said, “I have read it.”
Failing to catch me in his trap, Zhao Gongzi said resentfully, “Well, thereās also that water cup.”
I said, “You might as well say you gifted me this entire apartment.”
Flying into a rage from his own embarrassment, Zhao Gongzi roared at me, “I never said that!”
Of course he couldn’t say that; I am the one paying the rent for this apartment.
Having failed yet again at throwing an unreasonable tantrum today, Zhao Gongzi sat angrily on the sofa to listen to the radio.
I sat at the dining table writing my user report.
The briefcase hadn’t been given to me for nothing. The department store had imported a batch of new-style briefcases. Because the production cost was high and the style was far too avant-garde, the briefcasesāwhich weren’t fashionable to begin withābecame even more dead stock. The manager then came up with this clever method for a novel advertisement. Sure enough, many people in the city actively participated after reading the newspaper. In the end, nine trial slots were selected, and they had to write a user report within the specified deadline. I had found it amusing at the time, so I joined in.
The manager was a classmate of mine from the Western academy, and we had a rather good relationship.
Zhao Gongzi was probably throwing a jealous fit for this exact reason.
But why did he even bother?
Even without my classmate, I would still find him loathsome.
After listening to the radio for a while, Zhao Gongzi shouted at me, “I’m thirsty, pour me some milk.”
I said, “Now that you mention it, I just realized I am also thirsty. Why don’t you head out to buy some milk?”
Zhao Gongzi roared at me, “What the fuck use are you anyway!”
I said, “Perhaps I am useful for going to pay the utility bills whenever you forget to pay them again.”
Flying into a rage from his own embarrassment once more, Zhao Gongzi sat on the sofa to make a phone call, cursing at his assistant, “Damn it! I told you to pay the utilities and you forgot again!”
Shifting responsibility onto others the moment a problem arisesāI detest this kind of person the most.
Hanging up the phone, Zhao Gongzi scolded me again, “I pay him a salary!”
I said, “I am cohabiting with you, not with him.”
Zhao Gongzi roared at me, “What do you want?!”
I said, “Go buy the milk.”
Zhao Gongzi slammed the door with a resounding bang and went out to buy milk.
I loathe people who slam my door.
After finishing the user report, I headed out to the department store to hand it over to the manager.
Zhao Gongzi was currently by a counter flirting with a young girl. “I haven’t seen you before. What’s your name? What time do you get off work?”
The young girl answered him in trepidation, “Zhao Gongzi, my name is Qiu Yi.”
Zhao Gongzi’s face instantly shifted, and he cursed at her fiercely, “Damn it, another one surnamed Qiu! Where is the milk sold?”
Stricken with fear and awe, the young girl pointed the way for him.
Zhao Gongzi glared at her. “Of all the surnames to have, you just had to be a Qiu!”
The young girl was utterly baffled.
The manager quietly asked me, “Isn’t that…”
I said very calmly, “No, we aren’t close.”
The manager hesitated, opening and closing his mouth before finally saying, “Can you help Qiu Yi out a bit? She only recently came from the countryside. She’s very well-behaved, and she’s quite timid.”
Why do so many people always assume I can help them? Zhao Gongzi scolds me every single day; I can’t even help myself. It’s hard enough for me to get a few moments of peace each day where I don’t have to talk to him, so I really don’t want to actively provoke him.
The young girl led Zhao Gongzi to the counter where milk was sold. Just as she was about to leave, Zhao Gongzi grabbed her by the back of her collar. “Which one is good?”
Sobbing and whimpering, the young girl looked toward the sales clerk at the milk counter.
Zhao Gongzi said, “I want you to tell me.”
The young girl said, “I don’t drink milk.”
Zhao Gongzi criticized fastidiously, “No wonder you’re so short and dark.”
The young girl looked like she was right on the verge of crying.
My heart softened with pity. Just as I was about to step forward to take her place in being scolded by Zhao Gongzi, I spotted an acquaintance.
With Jin Xian’er here, I could rest easy.
Jin Xian’er said to Zhao Gongzi, “There’s no need for Zhao Gongzi to be in such a raging temper. She’s a young girl who doesn’t know anything, she just sells shoes.”
Zhao Gongzi glared at him, then glared at the young girl. “Roll out, roll out, roll out.”
The young girl rolled out immediately, moving even faster than the speed at which I usually roll out.
Zhao Gongzi is just so objectionable.
Jin Xian’er asked with a smile, “How come you came to the department store wearing slippers?”
Zhao Gongzi smiled with ambiguous meaning. “There’s no milk left at home. Yixin is thirsty.”
Jin Xian’er also smiled with ambiguous meaning. “Does Zhao Gongzi not know which brand of milk Qiu Xiansheng usually likes to drink?”
Zhao Gongzi instantly stopped smiling and cursed at him, “None of your fucking business.”
Jin Xian’er always met people with a smile no matter what, and he remained smiling even now. “Why does Zhao Gongzi suddenly have such a raging temper? Let me lead the way. Last time I saw Qiu Xiansheng drinking…”
Zhao Gongzi said angrily, “I told you to stop going to see him.”
Jin Xian’er said with a smile, “Qiu Xiansheng quite likes chatting with me. Besides, I can also be of some help.”
Zhao Gongzi grew even angrier, “Fixing water faucets and tape recorders?”
Jin Xian’er: “I can also help pay the utility bills on my way back.”
In my opinion, Jin Xian’er ought to shut his mouth.
He has definitely been around Zhao Gongzi for too long, which is why he has become loathsome as well.
After Zhao Gongzi returned home, he said to me, “Today, Boss Qian said I have great taste in clothes. He never used to say things like that before.”
That was because Boss Qian was one of the Grand President’s brothers-in-law, and he possessed actual military power; he had no need to flatter Zhao Gongzi.
It was also because what Zhao Gongzi was wearing today was an outfit I had given him.
Zhao Gongzi had always suspected that I was both stingy and malicious, constantly giving him things that I was reluctant to throw away but no longer wanted for myself, especially clothing and accessories. What on earth was he thinking? If even this last remaining bit of convenience were gone, why would I be cohabiting with a fellow man like him? And why would I tolerate him taking up more than half of my space?
