Left ear (25)

  Section 25: Left Ear (25) I asked: "Where did you get this actor-like outfit?"

  "It's a robbery," he said. "A university student."

  "Didn't they tell you?"

  "What's wrong with him? I've already invited him for a drink."

  I threw the photo in my arms in front of him: "Don't you think you're particularly boring?"

  "It's all for your own good."

  I picked up a small bench in front of me and slammed it towards him: "I'm warning you, he's about to take the college entrance exam. If you affect him even a little bit, I won't forgive you!"

  The black man didn't dodge, and the board hit him right on the forehead, leaving a deep mark, with blood flowing down.

  He carelessly wiped away the blood with his sweater sleeve. Sniffling, he said: "Damn it, is it worth it for a scumbag like him?"

  "Want to try cursing again?"

  The black man jumped up: "I scold, I scold, the lower three, the lower three! How about it!" He cursed while stretching out his hand to sweep a pile of photos off an old table behind him, and then ran to the wall to turn on the light: "Open your eyes wide and take a look at your superior student. I'm telling you, he's been saying he wants to conquer, conquer. Take a good look at whether the person who conquered you is sincere or not!"

  The snow is getting heavier, and the cold in the house makes me feel like shrinking into nothingness. The light hurts my eyes, I crouch on the ground, picking up those photos one by one: all of them are Zhang Yang, Zhang Yang and that girl I've seen twice before, they're together, in a warm restaurant, their families having dinner together, in the icy snow, Zhang Yang has his arm around her as they walk, on campus, Zhang Yang is carrying her heavy backpack, waiting at the entrance of the cafeteria...

  These should all be recent photos.

  The black man said, "This woman you may not know, her surname is Jiang, named Jiang Jiao. Her father's name is Jiang Daning. Maybe you haven't heard of it, but I think the famous 'Jianing' group shouldn't be unfamiliar to you. The most beautiful buildings in this city, the most perfect communities, are all related to him."

  I didn't make a sound.

  The black person continued: "Zhang Yang is a piece of trash, he used you to deal with his opponent Xu Yi. Jiang Jiao was Xu Yi's girlfriend in middle school, and he was afraid of losing her. Zhang Yang's family is very poor, they live in the poorest area of the city, if you don't believe me, I can take you there, it's only a 5-minute walk from here. Everything he has, including his new clothes and phone, are provided by this girl's family. He can't leave her, even the cost of him going to university is paid for by her family. They've had plans all along, to go to Shanghai together for university, then go abroad..."

  "Shut up!" I said, "I won't believe your nonsense!"

  "I love you, Barbara. Only I truly love you." The black man stepped forward to hug me and said, "As long as you're good to me, I promise to be devoted to you for the rest of my life!"

  The bloodstain on his forehead had dried, the ugly wound staring at me with an ugliness that made my skin crawl. I pushed him away in disgust, refusing to believe him. I would never forget what Zhang Yang had said - he would take me to Beijing, hold my hand and our son's as we strolled through the streets of Paris. None of this could be a lie, absolutely not!

  "I know you're not giving up." The black guy opened his new Samsung phone and said, "The brothers stole his stuff, let me show you something more interesting."

  He finished speaking and held his phone in front of me.

  The first thing I saw was the picture of me and Zhang Yang kissing, on that small road behind the ramen shop, a blurry image. I went to grab the phone... The End.

  Then Zhang Yang walked alone on the street, suddenly turned his head and made a ghost face, the girl's giggling laughter.

  Zhang Yang hugged her tightly, and the two of them made funny faces together in front of the phone. The girl laughed very sweetly.

  ……

  Finally: Zhang Yang leaned on a soft and big sofa, lazily saying: "Bala, bitch."

  A burst of laughter erupted around. Zhang Yang also smiled, a faint smile, and after he finished smiling, he stood up and stretched out his palm to block the camera lens.

  ……

  He smiled and said: Blah blah, bitch.

  My dear, smiling and scolding me: bitch.

  The black man put down his phone, wrapped his arms around me, and whispered in my ear: "Bala, I love you, you have to believe me, only I truly love you with all my heart, we'll be together forever, okay?"

  I pushed him away with all my might, stumbled out of the door and immersed myself in the swirling snowflakes.

  14

  I have decided to leave.

  Although I really have nowhere to go.

  I just want to say goodbye to one person, but unfortunately I don't have her phone number.

  I packed up my simple luggage and walked to the "Whatever" bar, thinking of borrowing some money from my cousin. He was standing at the entrance of the bar, smoking a big cigar, as if he knew I was coming to find him.

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