Love and Hate of He Huan: Excerpt

He Huan blinked at Lu Jin Zhou: “I also didn’t expect to meet doctor Lu here.” 

It was the truth. Lately, He Huan was somewhat busy. She was preoccupied with finding an opening to the industrial base of the farmaceutical factory in western suburbs. Zhao Meng Hai from twenty years ago already had committed all kinds of atrocities. Twenty years later, he turned to be even worse as he learnt the game of deceit and treachery. What’s more, he was extremely wary of others – an old sly man. And Zhou Zheng Guang was, in fact, a follower of wine and woman. Not just in name only but also in reality. As long as a man was horny, he wouldn’t be able to guard a secret. However, she truly didn’t expect to meet Lu Jin Zhou here.

She knew that Lu Jin Zhou was also a member of this equestrian club. However, she thought he was busy these days and didn’t have time to go horse riding here. But it was better this way, saved her trouble from devising their encounters. Like this, meeting once in a while would appear more realistic. However, Shang Zhan was a twist she didn’t expect.

Although on the surface she couldn’t tell whether this man had any doubts, He Huan instinctively felt that the gaze of his that looked at her carried a faint non-negligible examination. Was it because of his sister, Shang Xiao Die? He was indeed a good-hearted brother who was bent on protecting his sister. The resentment he felt toward Zhao Meng Ge didn’t even slightly bit affect his feelings toward Shang Xiao Die.

Lu Jin Zhou couldn’t help but smile. It was as if being together with He Huan, he could always easily relax. Shang Zhan swept a glance at Lu Jin Zhou’s smiling face. A light flashed through his eyes. 

Zhou Zheng Guang laughed and said: “So Doctor Lu also knows miss He! In that case, there’s no need for me to introduce you too again. Since it happens doctor Lu and president Shang are both present, what about having a match?”

Shang Zhan laughed: “Today, I’m just accompanying Jin Zhou. If you want to have horse racing, you need just to go for him.”

Zhou Zheng Guang turned to Lu Jin Zhou. Lu Jin Zhou said: “As long as miss He won’t participate, this humble one will keep you a accompany.”

“Then what about wager a bet?” The people present hearing it, all approved. 

As expected. Gambling was men’s nature. Even Lu Jin Zhou didn’t disagree. Although it was a bet, however, the staked amount couldn’t be considered as a small sum. Hundred thousand. The loser also had to invite them to a meal.

He Huan sat in the resting area. She watched Lu Jin Zhou get on the horse in a confident and free manner. First, it was trotting, then he slowly speeded up. Everything was carried out in perfect order. His horsemanship could be counted as pretty good. In fact, a man like Lu Jin Zhou, even if he wasn’t riding a horse and was only standing there attired in his riding suit, amid that group of wine and women followers¹, he was like a crane in a flock of chicken². Furthermore, his private life was overly pure. She wondered whether it was his doctor’s obsession with cleanliness or his self-discipline was just too good. He was so pure that for a time He Huan believed he wasn’t interested in women.  However, he seemed to have some obvious crush on her. 

“Can I ask how did miss He get acquainted with Jin Zhou?” Shang Zhan has been observing He Huan for a long time. He admits this woman was very beautiful. She had the kind of beauty that though wasn’t dazzling carried a bit of mysterious color. She indeed had the sharpness of a reporter, but her graceful gestures weren’t something a reporter should have. Her bearing and temperament, and even her speech all quite resembled the well-bred ladies from their circle. However, he was very clear she wasn’t from this circle. There wasn’t one well-bred lady from T City he wasn’t familiar with. Yet, he has never seen her. If she was like Zhao Meng Ge in the past and wanted to break into this circle with her shrewdness to find herself a sugar daddy, he can only say she has practiced quite well. At least, he hasn’t seen any flaws. One could thus see this woman’s capabilities.

He Huan cast him a sideways glance. She raised an eyebrow, “President Shang’s tone resembles an interrogation. I can choose not to answer such a rude question. If you’re really curious, you can go and ask doctor Lu in a moment.” He Huan loathed Shang Zhan’s condescend gaze and attitude, as if everyone was inferior in front of him.

Shang Zhan didn’t expect this woman won’t give him any face and will put him to an awkward situation. Her attitude toward Jin Zhou and him was like Heaven and Earth. His expression sank. Subsequently, he broke into laughter. Just, his laughter was quite frivolous. He leaned over a bit to move closer against her ear and said with a voice only she could hear: “Although Jin Zhou is pretty good, unfortunately, this grass³ is already taken. If miss He wants something, I suggest you choose another target. It will be faster.” 

He Huan suddenly laughed. She also leaned her head over: “Choose another target? Who? Let me guess. Maybe, president Shang, you would like to offer your services?” Though her voice was low, it was quite pleasant to ears. So pleasant it carried some taste of seducing. 

Shang Zhan has once again discovered that this woman was really beautiful, exquisitely beautiful. At the moment, the two’s distant was very close, so close they were basically plastered to each other. He could even see clearly the vein pattern on her skin and the curves of her eyelashes, as well as the light scent that emitted from her skin. He was suddenly curious about which brand of perfume she used. What’s more, her lips were almost within reach. That full curve and the light pink color made his adrenalin rose rapidly. All of a sudden, he’s got an impulse to kiss her.

He rather ambiguously laughed: “Believe me. Compared to Jin Zhou, in some aspects, I may satisfy miss He more.” Shang Zhan’s words carried a double meaning. How could He Huan not hear it? In addition, this man has gradually bowed his head, leaning closer to her.

He Huan couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Perhaps, this man has never tasted a reject. As a result, he acted so brazenly. Just when Shang Zhan thought he would, undoubtedly, be able to kiss her, He Huan abruptly stood up: “Sorry. Unfortunately, I’m not interested in president Shan.” She turned around and entered the race course.

Lu Jin Zhou has already got down from the horse. Even though he was riding, he still had noticed the circumstances between He Huan and Shang Zhan just now. Inexplicably, his mood became gloomy. This gloomy feeling dispersed when He Huan came over.

Zhou Zheng Guang laughed: “I lost. You bet you pay. See you at Xiu Jing Pavilion. I treat. Miss He must do me the honor and show up!”

He Huan shook her head: “I’ll pass. I have to go back to the office in a little while.”

Lu Jin Zhou spoke: “Today’s a vacation. You still have to go to work?”

He Huan waved her hand: “Reporter doesn’t have a vacation. I’ll go first.”

When Shang Zhan came, He Huan had already left. Not giving Shang Zhan a glance, Lu Jin Zhou watched her back disappear. Then, he looked at Shang Zhan: “Just now, what happened between you two?” 

Shang Zhan laughed: “If I said she was seducing me, will you believe?”

Lu Jin Zhou subconsciously refuted: “I won’t.”

Shang Zhan smiled: “Forget about it if you don’t believe me. Jin Zhou, you don’t understand women. Women are mostly vain.”

After having lunch with Lao Zhou, the two went to a club to kill time. When Jin Zhou came out of the clubhouse it was already past 11 PM. He had drunk quite a lot of wine, thus he has left the car at the parking lot there and instead took a cab home. After arriving at the gate of the residential complex, he saw He Huan walking along the sidewalk toward his side.

Maybe it was a little cold in the evening as she wore a long trench coat. A night breeze has swept through the hem of her coat. The street lamp made her silhouette appear extremely thin and long. Looking at her from afar, Lu Jin Zhou seemed to have felt a loneliness coming from her which made him want to take her into his arms.

Li Jin Zhou didn’t call her. Instead, he stood at the doorway to the residential complex. He Huan walked to his front, and couldn’t refrain from a smile as she looked up: “What a coincidence.”

“Yes. What a coincidence.” Lu Jin Zhou looked down at watch: “Coming back so late. No wonder I can’t bump into you. Is it necessary to work so hard?”

He Huan sighed: “Cannot be helped. There’s no free lunch in this world. How come you’re also so late? Oh! You stink of wine…”

Lu Jin Zhou stepped backward and said in a low voice: “I’m sorry.”

He Huan shook her head: “I’m joking.”

*******

The two came out of the elevator. He Huan opened the door. Abruptly, she turned around: “Hey, doctor Lu, are you hungry?”

Lu Jin Zhou subsequently recalled he hasn’t eaten anything tonight. On the contrary, he has drank bellyful of wine. At the moment, he did feel a little bit hungry.

Lu Jin Zhou sat in the couch and watched He Huan who was busy in the kitchen. Suddenly, a sense of warmth and peace arose inside his heart. It was a very comfortable feeling which made one reluctant to part with.

A moment later, He Huan came out with two bowls of steaming hot noodles. Lu Jin Zhou wolfed the food down. When he raised his head, he found He Huan watch him with a smile.

Li Jin Zhou was a little embarrassed: “The noodle you made is very tasty.”

He Huan: “Thanks for doctor Lu’s flatter. Since I made a meal, you will be in charge of washing dishes. Is it alright with you?”

“Naturally.” Lu Jin Zhou tidied up bowls and entered the kitchen. He Huan watched him washing dishes. It was apparent he rarely did household chores. Washing two bowls made him end up with the whole body drenched with water.

He Huan chuckled: “Those who don’t know would think you were taking a shower.” Lu Jin Zhou put the bowls in place and looked down at himself. He also laughed.

He Huan opened the fridge and took out a plate of sliced watermelon, putting them down on the coffee table. She asked him: “Do you want to smoke?

Li Jin Zhou shook his head: “I don’t have a big tobacco addiction. Usually, I don’t smoke.”

Lu Jin Zhou sat for a little while before going back. The next day, as soon as Lu Jin Zhou got up, the doorbell rang. Originally, Lu Jin Zhou thought it was the aunty who came to clean his house. However, when he opened the door, he discovered it was He Huan.

She was attired in a housewear: “Doctor Lu, how about giving me a hand for the sake of yesterday’s midnight snack?”

Lu Jin Zhou laughed: “I can give you a hand, but you need to take charge for the meal.”

Lu Jin Zhou followed He Huan into the living room and saw there a stack of messy wood board that was already dismantled. It looked like a bookcase.

He Huan pointed: “Originally, I thought it would be similar to a jigsaw puzzle. But, the actual work told me otherwise.”

Lu Jin Zhou chuckled: “Where did you buy it? Wasn’t installation included?”

He Huan said: “Online shopping. What I saw was the final product. I didn’t expect that they would send me it just like this.”

Lu Jin Zhou pointed at the room that was opened over there: “Is this bookcase supposed to be placed at that room?” 

He Huan nodded. 

Lu Jin Zhou took the tools and started to study the assemble instruction. A moment later, the furniture was installed. In passing, he helped He Huan to put books from the box inside. Afterward, Lu Jin Zhou began to size up the study. It was more or less similar to his study, only, she has placed quite an ancient table in front of the window. There were many scrolls inside the celadon jar next to it. The pen holder on the table contained countless of pens. In addition, there were also fine writing paper, ink stone, fragrant ink stick. On the wall aside hung calligraphy which wrote: 

Life doesn’t guarantee joy, except through the stroke of one’s brush. (Sheng Yi He Huan, Bi Li Qiu Jing)

Lu Jin Zhou’s grandfather was quite traditional. He has been a little influenced by him, thus, more or less, he knew about the calligraphy. He could see that the person who has written it was rather knowledgeable. He couldn’t refrain himself from asking: “You wrote it?”

He Huan nodded: “I wrote it for fun, thus I have hung them here. Nobody can see it anyways. So I won’t have to worry about being laughed at.”

Lu Jin Zhou said heartily: “It’s very well written.” 

Yet, inside the heart, he contemplated why did she write those four letters⁴. Especially with her name, it sounded sorrowful and full of despair.

[1] Wine and women followers is a Chinese idiom meaning dissolute people 

[2] Like a crane in a flock of chicken is a Chinese idiom describing a person who was way above the common or manifestly superior

[3] This grass is taken refers to a man being in a relationship 

[4] In  this context he meant the four characters: Life doesn’t guarantee joy,  where joy is her name (He Huan)