It was Tang Jia. Why was she calling at this hour? Could she be out having fun, but I couldn't? It's like the government is allowed to set fires, but the people can't light lamps.
"What's up? Did your wife check on you? She's always out at night, so why is she keeping you under control?" Liu Li whispered into my ear, her body still twisting and turning. Her slender waist and sexy hips were moving in such a rapturous way that my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
I gave a wry smile and whispered into Liu Li's ear, "Oh, it's hard to put it into words. I'm going to take a call and be right back."
"Go ahead. Don't keep me waiting too long." Liu Li smiled seductively and swayed to the side. Immediately, a man approached her.
I walked out of the slow-rock bar with my phone, pressed the answer button, and asked, "What's up?"
"Honey, why aren't you home? Where were you?" Tang Jia's gentle voice came through the receiver. It wasn't as furious as I'd imagined, but rather gentle, considerate, and understanding. But Tang Jia's current gentleness seemed more like pretense to me. I sneered and said, "Aren't you working overtime at the restaurant? Afterward, you should go relax. Why can't I go out and sit with my colleagues? Staying alone in an empty room all the time will make you stupid. I'm a bit of a wimp, but I don't want to wait for Alzheimer's disease just yet."
Tang Jia was silent on the phone for a long time. She said nothing, only her rapid breathing, clearly trying hard to control her emotions.
"Are you okay? If you're okay, I'll hang up," I said coldly into the phone.
Tang Jia quickly said, "No, don't hang up. Have fun then. Remember to come back early and don't drink too much. I'm home and waiting for you."
Tang Jia was home already? I doubted it. For three months straight, she'd rarely been home before ten o'clock. Every night, I'd wait alone in the empty room for her to come home. That wait was truly unbearable. Even if she left early, let her experience the loneliness of waiting alone in an empty room.
"Okay, then you wait. I'll try to get back as soon as possible." With that, I hung up the phone, feeling a pang of revenge.
Back at the slow-rock bar, Liu Li was still dancing on the dance floor, surrounded by several men, each one more exuberant and cheerful than the last. I no longer had the energy to dance. Morose, I retreated to a booth to drink, beer after beer pouring down my stomach, Tang Jia's voice and smile filling my mind.
At that moment, I realized that I still deeply loved Tang Jia. It was mutual attraction and love that brought us together and ultimately led us to form a family. I had an enviable family, a capable and beautiful wife, a house, and a car. What could I possibly want from such a middle-class life? The only thing they lacked was a bright and clever child. Without this bond, their relationship could easily be jeopardized. If either partner changed their mind, this envied life could be shattered at any moment.
Now, the shock had arrived, as expected. Could it be true, as they say, that marriages get itchy after a while?
Liu Li finally tired of dancing. She returned to her booth, grabbed a glass of wine, and drank it, fanning herself with her hand. A few drops of sweat rose to the tip of her nose, and her entire body seemed steaming with energy, giving off the impression of boundless vitality.
"It's been ages since we've had this much fun! It was truly a feast!" Liu Li exclaimed, grabbing the red wine bottle and filling two more glasses for us. She handed me one and said, "Thank you for staying with me tonight. I haven't been this happy in ages."
I took the wine glass, clinked it with Liu Li's, and then gulped it down. With a wry smile, I said, "Just be happy. Life is all about happiness and peace of mind, isn't it? Mr. Liu..."
Liu Li quickly interrupted me, saying sternly, "When we're out together, we're just friends. There's no need for all the usual slang. Honestly, even though I've achieved some success in my career, I haven't had a single happy day. Money isn't hard to come by, but happiness is."
What did she mean by this? What was she trying to say? I looked at Liu Li, and for a moment, I felt that this woman was incredibly unpredictable and unfathomable.
"Let me ask you, what do you consider a successful life?" Liu Li continued.
I thought about it and said, "A successful career, a happy marriage, and a good reputation—does that count as success?"
"Right, that hits the nail on the head. A successful career alone isn't success at all. What truly brings happiness is a happy family." Liu Li leaned against the sofa, leaning closer to me. "Do you know why I work overtime every day? It's not that I'm truly that ambitious, but I'm afraid of returning to a cold, lonely house. Every time I finish my work, loneliness and solitude take up residence in my heart like a ghost, leaving me scratching my head and feeling uneasy. So I prefer to work overtime at the company so that I can still create some value and feel less empty."
Liu Li spoke with such sincerity, and I could sense her sincerity. She expressed her deepest loneliness and anguish so openly to someone. She was showing her utmost sincerity. Lonely souls abound in big cities. Surrounded by the vastness of the metropolis, everyone will experience loneliness at some point. Even among the crowd, loneliness and coldness will inevitably find their way to you at some point.
"You're so talented and beautiful, why don't you find a boyfriend? I know you have a lot of admirers. I've seen people waiting for you downstairs in their cars several times. Oh, I remember someone once sent you a huge bouquet of roses. The marketing department was completely envied and jealous," I consoled her.
Liu Li definitely has no shortage of suitors. Although such a beauty is strong, she's also a target for some playboys. The sense of accomplishment in conquering such a powerful woman is immense, so there are always those who try to challenge her, but most of the playboys with ulterior motives have been met with disappointment. From what colleagues have been saying, it seems Liu Li has dated several talented young men, but the relationships all ended in failure, and the reasons are unknown.
Some say Liu Li's standards are too high, scaring away her pursuers. Others say Liu Li's naturally aloof nature discourages those who try to approach her. Still others say Liu Li has long been kept by her boss, and only when he tires of her will she be able to find another man.
Of course, these are just rumors. While they seem plausible, no one can provide solid evidence; they're just speculation based on a few clues.
Liu Li swirled her wine glass, smiled bitterly, and lamented, "There are plenty of people pursuing me, but there's no one I like. They're either filthy men with a few bucks trying to take advantage of me, or pot-bellied small bosses, or scumbags trying to get something out of me. Alas, in this lonely city, finding true love is so hard to come by."
After hearing this, I was speechless and could only remain silent. Love is a rare commodity in this era, something you can only encounter but not seek.
Just then, a well-dressed, middle-aged man with sleek hair walked into our booth, holding a glass of wine. With a smug, enigmatic smile on his face, he approached Liu Li and said, with all the airs of a gentleman: "Beautiful lady, I've had my eye on you for a long time. You're the most beautiful woman in this slow-rock bar. I'd like to offer you a drink, is that okay?"
Liu Li raised her eyelids and glanced at the man. Although he was well-dressed and had a gentle smile, the gaze behind his glasses was lewd, revealing a hint of greed. It's not uncommon to flirt with beautiful women in bars. When men and women go to bars to spend money, there's a subconscious desire for indulgence. Many couples can spark a spark with a glance. After a few drinks, they might become attracted to each other and, perhaps, under the influence of alcohol, head to a hotel. The rest is up to you.
But this guy was a bit too bold and a bit too self-righteous. Liu Li wasn't alone, and yet he dared to approach her and flirt with her. He completely ignored me. Did he immediately see through my nerdy vibe, that I was completely different from the elegant Liu Li, and that's why he was so brazen?
Liu Li raised her goblet, clinked it with the man's, then brought it to her lips and took a sip, just to show his respect.
The man, noticing that Liu Li had finished her drink, downed his own glass, sat down beside her, and handed her a business card, saying with a smile, "Let me meet you. This is my card. Could you please give me your phone number, too, please?"
"We've already had our drinks, why aren't you leaving?" Liu Li squinted at the man, not even glancing at the card he handed her, demonstrating no interest in getting to know him. This embarrassed the man, but he couldn't get angry, so he stood up and left.
After the man left, Liu Li cursed him with disdain, "Pervert! So conceited!"
"This guy looks nice, why don't you want to get to know him? Giving others a chance is also giving yourself a chance," I whispered. Liu Li said angrily, "I don't know how many men like this I've turned down. They think all women will throw themselves at them just because they have a couple of bucks in their pockets. What a bunch of idiots!"
I didn't know what to say, so I just drank glass after glass with Liu Li until we'd finished all the drinks on the table. As we drank, my phone kept buzzing with texts and WeChat messages. I checked them. They were all from Tang Jia, telling me to drink less and go home early. I ignored them all. This time, I was going to be tough.
I called a designated driver, and after leaving the slow-rock bar, he drove us to Liu Li's apartment complex.
After paying the driver, I helped the tipsy Liu Li out of the car. From the downstairs, I glanced up and asked, "Which floor do you live on? Do you want me to take you up?"
Liu Li remained silent at this question, seemingly hesitating, struggling with her thoughts. She might be thinking what would happen if I sent her up, but not letting me send her up was obviously a sign of vigilance and distrust, and she was in a dilemma.