Wang Wenbin arrived at Liu Jiahao's doorstep with ease, not even bothering to knock before pulling out a key and opening the door. He had lived there before and had a spare key made specifically for him. Later, when he moved out, the key remained in his possession—no reason other than the fact that even after moving away, he would still drop by occasionally for free meals. Keeping the key handy was a convenience, though it earned him plenty of scolding from Nie Ziqi.
When Wang Wenbin entered, he saw the couple busy in the kitchen. Nie Ziqi, wearing an apron, was stirring the pot, while Liu Jiahao stood by attending to her. At home, Liu Jiahao was a true "airpipe" — a term used by Sichuan locals to describe someone who is utterly subservient.
"Hmm, not bad, you didn't cheat me—there really is braised fish." After entering, Wang Wenbin sniffed the air and then muttered as he walked toward the kitchen.
"You must have been a dog in your past life." Nie Ziqi turned her head to glance at Wang Wenbin, then scolded him with a smile.
"Being a dog would be so nice—just wag your tail at people every day, then you don't have to work, with food, drinks, and no worries about clothes or food. I don't know what sin I've committed to end up as a human in this lifetime." Wang Wenbin leaned against the kitchen door, lit a cigarette, and sighed as he smoked.
"Alright, then you'd better accumulate good deeds and karma in this life so you can become a dog in your next life. There's no hope for you this time around." Liu Jiahao said with a laugh beside him.
"Who said there's no hope? Aren't single people just dogs?" Nie Ziqi said while plating the dishes.
"Hey, this is a personal attack! What's wrong with being single? How does being single interfere with your sex life?"?
Oh, do you still know how shy you are about being single? Let me ask you, how many girls have I introduced to you? What do you mean? Don't even talk to me. Just last time, that little Zhu, who looks so good, just graduated from college and came to our company not long ago. Her aunt is very kind, and her family conditions are also good. What a good girl! She only agreed to introduce her boyfriend to me because I am her master, but what about you? Let you treat her to a cup of coffee to exchange ideas. You might as well go up and tell her that you are curvy and like men. You scared her and made her lose her face. Go back and complain. I've been here for several days now, and I wonder if you're sick, or do you really like men? "Nie Ziqi was so angry when she mentioned this matter, Put down the spatula and stick it in your waist, pointing at Wang Wenbin and cursing.
Do I like men? Ask your rat, he knows best, "Wang Wenbin pointed to Liu Jiahao, who had been watching the excitement all along and didn't mind the big deal.
What... what does this have to do with me? I don't know if you like men or women
Nonsense, he slept with me for four years in college. Do I like men or women? Just observe your husband's anus and see if it's damaged, "Wang Wenbin said with a mischievous smile.
I'll harm you, sir. I'll beat you to death, you bastard. You're like a life shot with a handgun
Although all of them graduated from university, it has always been this way of speaking to each other.
Wang Wenbin and Liu Jiahao each blow a bottle of beer. For these two people, Baijiu is not very popular, but beer is a must. This is the case from college. When they were in college, the beer bottles in the dormitory were piled up all over the balcony. No one knows how much. Only when they were in junior year, Nie Ziqi and Liu Jiahao got pregnant accidentally by mistake and didn't have money to do abortion surgery. Finally, they sold all the beer bottles in the dormitory just enough to kill the child. Of course, this matter has always been a joke between them, and its authenticity needs to be verified.
Just as the meal was about to finish and Wang Wenbin and Liu Jiahao had also drunk several bottles of beer, Nie Ziqi hesitated for a long time and said to Wang Wenbin, "Binzi, Xu Min will return to China on Friday morning
Wang Wenbin suddenly stayed there while eating, without saying a word for a long time.
She invited us old classmates to have dinner together on Friday night at the Greenstone International Hotel, "Nie Ziqi continued.
Wang Wenbin's face remained calm and he didn't speak immediately. He just kept drinking for a long time before saying, "Really, that's a good thing. Free meals are so great. You two can go ahead and eat more. They specially earned foreign exchange from capitalism to come back and help you, the poor losers of socialist countries. You must live up to their kindness
Wang Wenbin spoke calmly, then continued eating.
You're not going? "Nie Ziqi asked.
No, I'm a socialist young man with a strong foundation, and I can't get used to the smell of capitalism
Binzi, even if it was Xu Min's fault back then, after so many years, you should let go. Anyway, even if you two are no longer in a romantic relationship, you are still old classmates. She has been in the United States for so many years, and now she has returned to China. You should go and treat her to dinner. If you can't be a lover or a friend, it's better not to become an enemy. She herself regrets that incident back then, so be more tolerant, "Nie Ziqi advised.
"What? Should I go to the airport with a bouquet of flowers to give her a warm welcome? Why didn't she invite me to dinner when she left? Besides, did someone invite me? Now I'm a returnee who has drunk milk and eaten hamburgers, and I look up to my old hat who drinks soybean milk and eats steamed buns? Don't tease me, go ahead. When she asks me about me, you say I am dead, and it would be best if you didn't ask." Wang Wenbin said quietly, then put down his chopsticks and stood up and said, "OK, I have finished eating, and left first."
Binzi, Xu Min called me and told me that she came back this time to reconcile with you and live a good life with you. "Nie Ziqi watched as Wang Wenbin stood up to leave, quickly standing up and saying to Wang Wenbin.
Wang Wenbin stopped at Nie Ziqi's words and stood in the living room.
Over the years, you haven't allowed me to tell you anything about her, not even allowing us to mention her name in front of you. However, in reality, she often calls me and asks the most about you, whether you're doing well or not. She really cares about you and has never forgotten you. She has always loved you in her heart. This time, she could have stayed at the US headquarters and applied for a US green card, which could have had better development prospects there. But in the end, she still applied to be transferred back to the Chinese branch. She came back to see you, just to be able to reconcile with you. She told me herself that she just wanted to stay there. Come back and live a good life with you. She also knows that her decision hurt you a lot back then, and she said she will come back and make up for you Nie Ziqi continued speaking.
According to what she said, I should still thank her and be grateful to her, right? "Wang Wenbin turned his face and sneered.