Chapter Sixty: The Maiden

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The words of Hua Jingjing left me both amused and exasperated. I said, "That's a completely different matter. How can you compare the two? My girlfriend has loved me devotedly for eight years. How can you measure up to her? I've only known you for a few days."

Hua Jingjing replied, "Love isn't measured by time. Just because I've known you for a short while doesn't mean I can't love you as much as your girlfriend does. If you want me to be devoted to you for eight years, I can do that. Would you accept me then?"

I could only smile wryly and respond patiently, "You're not like my girlfriend. You have wealth, a career, ambition, and drive. Even without me, your life would still be fulfilling. My girlfriend doesn't have your money or your ambition. I am her whole world—without me, she'd be utterly miserable and unable to go on. Do you understand?"

Hua Jingjing's eyes grew misty as she gazed at me, her voice soft. "What does money matter? What does ambition matter? Without you, all of it loses meaning. Tang Qian! Don't you understand? You are also my whole world. Losing you would leave me just as desolate, unable to live. You pity your girlfriend—can't you pity me as well?"

I was helpless and moved. I never expected this seemingly bold heiress to have such deep feelings for me. Though I couldn't accept her, I couldn't help but be touched. I said, "Hua Jingjing, what virtue or talent do I possess to merit your affection? I really can't bear your deep feelings. You're so clever, so capable, and so beautiful—you'll surely find a boyfriend a hundred times better than me. Please, don't be stubborn."

Hua Jingjing said, "Is it so hard to find an outstanding man? My previous boyfriend in America, Stephen, was a thousand times better than you, but what use was that? He was scum! An animal—I would rather die than be with someone like him. I don't care about an outstanding man. I only want you. All I ask is for you to treat me as you do your girlfriend—is that too much?"

I was momentarily speechless. That wasn't too much? Treating her like my girlfriend would mean having two girlfriends. How could I live like that?

I shook my head vigorously. "Impossible—one girlfriend is enough for me. How could I have the energy for you as well? Don't even think about it!"

Hua Jingjing laughed. "Don't get worked up. I just want a fair chance to compete with your girlfriend. If I lose, I'll never bother you again and let you two be happy together. But if I make you fall in love with me, then, sorry, your girlfriend will have to step aside forever. How about that?"

My heart stirred. I considered it seriously for a moment—if she really stopped pestering me, it might solve things. But no, this woman is so cunning, who knows what might happen? If Qiu Jieqin finds out I gave another woman a chance, she'd be heartbroken. No, absolutely not. I'd rather die than agree.

I shook my head and refused, firmly unwilling.

Hua Jingjing leaned her face close to mine. "Why can't you agree to such a small request? It's not like I'm asking you to sacrifice anything, or accept me right away. I just want permission to appear around you, that's all. Is that so impossible?" She suddenly smiled mysteriously. "Are you afraid you'll eventually fall in love with me? Do you have no confidence in yourself?"

I could only pull a grim face. "Please, spare me! It's not that I lack confidence in myself, but I don't trust you. Who knows what tricks you might pull? If I fall for your trap, where will I go to cry?"

Hua Jingjing laughed. "Come on, do I look like someone who would force... you? I'm a woman! If you're steadfast and principled, what could I possibly do to you? This only shows you don't love your girlfriend at all, so you have no confidence in yourself. Am I right?"

I was in agony. How did I end up with such a persistent woman? Lighting another cigarette, I smoked anxiously.

Hua Jingjing, convinced I didn't love my girlfriend, happily munched on her McDonald's. I took a few drags, my mind racing for a way to make Hua Jingjing understand that there was no possibility between us, to make her give up.

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After a few bites of her chicken sandwich, Hua Jingjing suddenly asked, "Is your girlfriend pretty?"

I replied, "She's alright."

"Who's prettier, me or her?"

"Uh... about the same."

"About the same? I don't believe it. Is she really that beautiful?"

"Of course. She was the belle of our school back then."

"Come on, as if the school beauty would be interested in you—and love you for eight years? Who are you kidding?"

"Believe it or not, it's your choice. I'm not asking you to believe." I smoked and answered absentmindedly, still racking my brain for a solution.

Hua Jingjing finished her McDonald's and picked up her cold drink. She seemed to recall something and asked, "So... she loved you for eight years before you accepted her?"

"Yes."

"She really suffered. How could you be so cold-hearted? Are you going to make me love you for eight years before you're moved?"

"Is that possible? Right now you're enthusiastic, but after a few days, the excitement will fade and you'll forget me. Eight years? That's a joke. That takes incredible perseverance. You could never last that long."

Hua Jingjing was a bit indignant. "If your girlfriend could do it, why can't I? What's eight years? Hmph, I don't believe it. During those eight years, your girlfriend just waited for you, never interacted with other men?"

Her question struck a painful chord in me. My face tensed. I didn't answer. I lit another cigarette with the stub and smoked on.

I had never examined Qiu Jieqin's history over those eight years, but deep down I knew she was never short of men. I had even seen one of her boyfriends myself. Judging by her kissing skills and ways of seducing, she was quite casual when it came to sex, and very experienced. Though I pretended not to care, it bothered me deeply at times. This was one reason my feelings for her never rose to true love.

The flash of pain on my face didn't escape Hua Jingjing's sharp eyes. She suddenly understood why I hesitated earlier when she asked if I loved my girlfriend.

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Hua Jingjing was clever. She didn't press the issue or provoke me further, but her confidence grew. She felt she had the advantage and could easily defeat my girlfriend.

She tossed her leftover trash out of the car and said to me, "Earlier I told you my American boyfriend was scum, an animal. Want to know why?"

I replied, "Whatever. It doesn't matter."

Hua Jingjing leaned back in her seat, recalling a moment before speaking. "Stephen was a senior at my university in America, a year ahead of me. He was outstanding—fit, extremely handsome, a classic American heartthrob. He excelled academically, top of the class, and was the quarterback for the school football team—a star in the national college leagues. He was also great at tennis, nearly at professional level. He had many other strengths—good conversationalist, sociable, you name it. Such an exceptional person met me at a school gathering and began pursuing me relentlessly. Americans aren't as reserved as Chinese when chasing girls; their passion is impossible to refuse. At first, I didn't want a foreign boyfriend, but Stephen was so outstanding and persistent. Over time, I, like you, was moved and agreed to be his girlfriend. Americans are very open-minded about relationships. Not long after I agreed, Stephen kept insisting I sleep with him."

Here, Hua Jingjing deliberately emphasized herself. "As a Chinese, I was strictly raised, conservative, and... I'd never had any physical contact with a man. So I was scared and hesitant, and rejected him several times. Stephen got angry, said I didn't love him enough, and ignored me for two days. On the third night, I went to apologize, and guess what I saw in his room?"

I said, "With a woman in bed."

Hua Jingjing smiled, "I knew you'd say that. You're such an honest guy! You'll never imagine what I actually saw."

I was shocked, "Don't tell me—your boyfriend was with two women?"

Hua Jingjing nearly laughed at my surprise. "More than two! The whole room was full of people, men and women, all naked, drinking, doing drugs, group sex, orgies, even same-sex... God, I can't even describe how disgusting it was. I was stunned—how could people behave like animals? I immediately decided to leave Stephen for good. No matter how brilliant he seemed, he was nothing but a beast. If I'd stayed, I'd have been forced into one of those depraved gatherings. Thank heavens I found out in time—otherwise, I'd regret it forever."

I was deeply shocked, unable to imagine such shameless behavior. "That's terrifying. You're lucky you discovered the truth about Stephen early. That was fortunate."

"So," Hua Jingjing suddenly leaned her whole body against my seat, her voice barely audible, seductive, "I'm still a... virgin. Isn't that rare? Aren't you tempted?"

Having said this, even Hua Jingjing, usually so willful and uninhibited, blushed furiously and couldn't lift her head. Her eyes sparkled, shy and flirtatious, and her beautiful face was suddenly radiant and dazzling.

I swallowed hard, thinking, "Even if you're a virgin, there's no need to tell me like this!"