Chapter Nine, deceiving oneself, that was the most foolish lie she ever told.
In the bathroom, she rinsed her face, washing away all her makeup. Her short hair at the forehead became damp. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, finding comfort in her bare face. She only hoped that this banquet would end soon, as she truly could not stay any longer, except for those tempting desserts.
She was being earnestly advised by Duo Duo, yet she remained unmoved, calmly bringing the dessert to her mouth. Her heart had been burdened for two long years, waiting in vain; how many desserts would it take to alleviate even a fraction of that bitterness? No matter how much Duo Duo extolled Tong Shao, likening him to Erlang Shen with extraordinary powers, describing him as possessing the appearance of Ximen Qing and the integrity of Liu Xia Hui, she remained completely indifferent.
She simply lay back on a chair, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, reflecting on the two years she spent in prison for taking the blame for Feng Bowen. She always stared dreamily at the world outside, hoping that upon her release, there would be love and marriage. In the end, the wedding took place, but the one who could be married was not her
She followed the murals along the corridor, observing various artworks from the Renaissance period, including realism and abstract art, as she gazed at each painting. Upon reaching the corner of the corridor, she found a large terrace surrounded by colonnades, furnished with several lounge chairs. In the center, there was a table adorned with some books, desserts, and wine.
Duoduo held her back and, with a meaningful glance, said: "Come, let me introduce you. This is General Qin. General Qin is quite a figure, hailing from Taiwan, and carries the charm of the treasure island with him."
She detests such men, most of whom have virtuous wives at home, yet they indulge in extramarital affairs with mistresses, flaunting their wealth. With their bloated faces, she avoids them at all costs
And she was so cowardly that she didn't even have the courage to give that man a slap or a scolding. She didn't even feel the impulse to curse him as a heartless bastard, but she truly regretted it. Upon arriving here, she slapped her own face hard and said, "Ruan Manjun, you are truly despicable!" How could she be so spineless for a man!
At this moment, a balding middle-aged man approached, with thick black lips and a mole at the corner of his mouth. He had a protruding belly and stood at a height of 1.65 meters, which made his expensive hetushucomcom suit look like a raincoat stretched to its limits
She forced a faint smile, but unexpectedly, Mr. Qin quickly extended his thick hand to shake hers. She directly handed the plate in her hand to Mr. Qin and bluntly said: "I’m sorry, I have a stomachache and need to go to the restroom"
It is merely her self-deception, merely her evasion of reality. Even as she nears her release from prison, she often awakens startled from her dreams. In truth, she has gradually begun to awaken, yet the remnants of hope are always destined to transform into fleeting bubbles that burst.