CH 47

The four letter word.

On the fifth day Zhen Zhen was still giving Yue Gu Zai the silent treatment. She was in a bad mood until Nan Ma invited her to Nan Ma’s annual work party. She accepted Nan Ma’s invitation to cheer herself up.

Zhen Zhen wore a silver cocktail dress and kitty heels to Nan Ma’s work party. Zhen Zhen wasn’t the most beautiful woman at the party, but many men with Lolita fetishes were attracted to Zhen Zhen.

Zhen Zhen didn’t like drawing attention to herself. If Nan Ma didn’t threaten to kill her if she rocked up to the work party in a T-shirt and jeans then she wouldn’t have worn a dress.

‘Nan Ma, big brother Tu Hang,’ Zhen Zhen greeted.

‘Zhen Zhen, you haven’t aged since the last time I saw you,’ Tan Tu Hang said.

‘Zhen Zhen’s an alien,’ Nan Ma said. ‘She’ll still look like this at fifty-seven.’

Tan Tu Hang laughed.

‘I’ll give you two privacy,’ Tan Tu Hang said. ‘I’ll go mingle with the other guests.’

‘Nan Ma, big brother Tu Hang looks like he…’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Don’t worry,’ Nan Ma said. ‘I want him to lose interest in me. He has no chance with me. What about my godson? Where is he? You promised to bring him here.’

‘I’m not bringing the little traitor,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘He’s taken his dad’s side.’

‘Why are you upset with my godson’s dad?’ Nan Ma asked.

‘What else?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘We fought about Zhen Wu going to school.’

‘Zhen Zhen, I know you were forced to skip grades,’ Nan Ma said. ‘It made it hard for you to make friends, and you don’t want the same thing to happen to Zhen Wu. But you should explain it to your husband, and he’ll understand why you feel it’s important for Zhen Wu to go to school.’

‘I want Zhen Wu to have the chance to socialise with children his own age,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘I don’t want him to be an outcast because he’s a genius.’

‘Do you think Zhen Wu feels like an outcast?’ Nan Ma asked. ‘Zhen Zhen, don’t you think you’re projecting your insecurities onto Zhen Wu?’

‘Nan Ma… do you think I overreacted because of him?’ Zhen Zhen asked.

‘Why?’ Nan Ma asked.

‘Do you think… I’m in love with him?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘Impossible. Why would I love a man who values his opinions over others, and someone who threatened to blow up my precious lab?’

‘Zhen Zhen, why else would he affect your moods so much if you don’t love him?’ Nan Ma asked.

Nan Ma spotted Shu Tang Jue at the door.

‘Zhen Zhen, I have somewhere I need to be,’ Nan Ma said.

Nan Ma left Zhen Zhen to reflect on her feelings for Yue Gu Zai on her own.

‘Zhen Zhen,’ Reynold greeted. ‘It’s been a long time.’

‘Hello Reynold,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Will you dance a song with me?’ Reynold asked.

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know how to dance,’ Zhen Zhen declined.

‘I can teach you,’ Reynold said.

Zhen Zhen shook her head, and Reynold walked away.

Tan Tu Hang noticed Zhen Zhen’s discomfort, and he brought a cheese platter to Zhen Zhen.

‘Zhen Zhen, I remembered you liked eating cheese,’ Tan Tu Hang said.

‘Thank you big brother Tu Hang,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Do you know Reynold?’ Tan Tu Hang asked.

‘We’re not close,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Don’t be fooled by his looks and charm,’ Tan Tu Hang said. ‘I can’t put a finger on it, but there is something off about him.’

‘Um,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Where’s Nan Ma?’ Tan Tu Hang asked.

‘She needed to go somewhere,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘She’ll be back later.’

‘OK,’ Tan Tu Hang said. ‘Take care of yourself. I need to go greet some more guests.’

‘Um, I have cheese to keep me company,’ Zhen Zhen said.

After the party ended, Tan Tu Hang offered to drive Zhen Zhen home.

‘It’s OK,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘I can take a taxi home.’

‘Zhen Zhen, what about Nan Ma?’ Tan Tu Hang asked. ‘Did she tell you she’s living with a man?’

‘No, Nan Ma hasn’t said anything to me about living with a man,’ Zhen Zhen lied.

Zhen Zhen didn’t want Tan Tu Hang to be sad.

‘OK,’ Tan Tu Hang said. ‘I’m heading home.’

Zhen Zhen was focused on what comforting words to say to Tan Tu Hang that she didn’t notice the jealous man looking out a car window.

***

End of Chapter Forty-Seven