Nuptial Chamber Next Door

So here goes.. the first of my debt repaid. To bookworm11 for the wonderful review on NU. This post will be updated with Chapter 28 tomorrow. So please come back

Chapter 27: The sound of the wind rising

Light green curtains, never to be opened.

It made me think of another room, the one that belonged to my next door neighbour.

Ye Zengchen had this bad habit but I did not.

On the contrary, I liked the curtains to be pulled open to allow the morning sunshine to come in and warm the room.

The first thing I did every morning as soon as I woke up was to open my baby pink curtains and let the morning sun in

He complained once and asked me why I needed to open the curtains so early in the morning.

I told him, " I want to see the light."

He didn't say anything else. He simply pulled the quilt over his face . He tossed and turned a while, trying vainly to get to sleep. Then he pulled me mercilessly and kissed me hard..

Looking at the curtains, I shook my head and tried not to think about the two of us together.

…… …

"Come in."

Yu Yin placed a pair of lady's slippers at my feet. She herself was wearing a pair of dark green men's slippers. I put the slippers on and stepped on to the solid dark wood flooring of the room. It seemed that Yu Yin loved dark colors. Even the slippers had dark stripes.

Yu Yin took me for a tour around her house.

On the ground floor, there was a living room and a kitchen. Everything in the kitchen was in pairs. A pair of coffee cups, a pair of bowls, a pair of white chopsticks..

Even the table only had two mahogany chairs

Obviously, this was a world of two people.

I had studied a bit of psychology in college. This showed that the owner had strong feelings and wanted to exclude everyone else from their world of just two people.

Following Yu Yin, I went to the first floor. There were rooms on both sides of the stairs. One Japanese, the other western style.

The Japanese room only had a Tatami sheet covering the floor bamboo curtains hung at the windows. The room was largely empty, showing that it was seldom occupied once the owner had left.

The other room was tastefully furnished. The dresser was filled with branded cosmetics. The double bed looked soft and comfortable and there wasn't a single crease in the light green bedspread.

It all looked clean and well maintained

" Do you like green?" I asked Yu Yin.

She laughed and then said, " No. He likes it."

I looked at the warm and romantic double bed and smiled. " Brother also likes green but I don't. I like pink."

When I bought my sheets, Ye Zhengchen was with me.

I couldn't choose between the two designs that I had shortlisted. One was light green, which I guessed Ye Zhengchen would like, but the other one in pink was really beautiful.

" Which one should I choose?", I asked him

He pointed to the other one, a pink and lavender floral design, a typical feminine print.

"Don't you think it's too girly?"

He touched the bedspread. "A little, but this reminds me of you.. and then I feel the urge to sleep on it.."

Blushing, I smiled and took four sets of the bedspread and dumped it in my shopping cart.

Standing in Yu Yin's bedroom I was secretly glad that Ye Zhengchen no longer liked green. The green was too dazzling and my eyes hurt from looking at it.

I would like to tell Yu Yin , people don't always like the same colour. He will change when he meets the person who can change his tastes.

But I hesitated and chose to keep these words to myself. Everyone was not the same. Ye Zhengchen and Yu Yin's boyfriend were not the same person.

After the bedroom, Yu Yin took me to her study. The study was almost empty. There were only one or two Japanese books on the bookshelf.

One of them was titled 'Clinical Pathology'

"Huh? Even you are studying medicine?" I was a bit curious.

" Yes, I am studying in a college here."

" That's  a coincidence. Brother is also studying clinical.."

As I spoke, I took out the book and opened it. Immediately, I quickly closed the book and put it back in the bookcase.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I said, " I'm sorry. I need to visit the washroom"

"There", she pointed to the end of the corridor. I walked along the direction she pointed.

Once in the bathroom, I leaned against the door as my legs trembled.

In my line of sight, I could see a line of men's toiletries on the right had side. The towel was neatly folded to the side…

This too was a habit that Ye Zhengchen had. He didn't care if my cosmetics were all over the place, but his things were always neatly arranged on the right. The towel was also always neatly arranged to the side. He would never let me move that.

Yes, I could chalk all of this up to coincidence, but the writing on the book could not be a coincidence. I was very familiar with his handwriting.

I washed my face with cold water, forcing myself to calm down.

I took a sheet of tissue and blotted my face. Then I walked out of the door.

Yu Yin stood at the end of the corridor waiting for me. As the sun reflected on her, her appearance reminded me of Taiwanese models. She had long sexy legs, an elegant and refined temperament, a classic voice..

If I were a man, even I would be tempted to conquer her..

But it wasn't easy for a man to hide such a woman in a golden cage, I told myself that man could not be Ye Zhengchen. Ye Zhengchen did not have so much charm.

…… …

I spent the afternoon in Yu Yin's house drinking bitter tea and chatting

I don't really remember what we spoke about. But the tea was very bitter, I suspect she had added penicillin

Once I came back home, I drank a few glasses of water , but strangely, the bitterness in my mouth remained.

For a long time, I sat on my bed , counting the tally marks on the wall.

Ye Zhengchen called me to say he would have dinner with me. I washed my face and went into the kitchen, He came when I was busy cooking his favourite Sichuan noodles.

At dinner, as I picked up some spicy chicken and passed it on to him, I said, " I went to Yu Yin's house today"

" Oh", Ye Zhengchen paused, then put the chicken in his mouth and slowly chewed.

" Her home is very nice"

He swallowed the food, " As nice as ours?"

I  looked around my flat. It was very simple. Even the walls were very thin

I shook my head, " No. Her home doesn't have you.."

Ye Zhengchen suddenly looked up, a strange emotion reflecting in his eyes. Then he laughed, " Her home doesn't have you as well.."

I smiled at him sweetly.

Ye Zhengchen shouldn't have been a doctor He should have been an actor.

With his handsome face and great acting skills, he would be a star.

Additionally, he had the extraordinary ability to think on his feet.

After dinner, I tidied the room then went to take a bath. I lay in the tub for forty minutes. Then I wrapped myself in a bath towel and came out. Outside, I saw Ye Zhengchen sitting at the table looking at some files. The curtains were drawn close.

There was a light fragrance of lavender incense, mixed with some other fleeting smell. It wasn't the smell of grass outside the window

It was another kind of fragrance, the fragrance of J'adore, the French perfume.

The greatest advantage of French perfume was that , although it was light and not overwhelming, the fragrance lasted for a long time

Maybe because I was a woman who loved perfumes, my nose was extremely sensitive.

I approached him, then wrapped my hands around his waist from behind. He too had had a bath just now and was smelling fresh. I looked at the file. If I wasn't mistaken, the perfume came from the files..

I felt a bit sad. Even though Ye Zhengchen was trying to cover up, his skills were still inferior to a woman and Yu Ying had a unique mind.

I moved my head towards the right of Ye Zhengchen and bit him in the neck. For a moment, he was surprised, and he moved his neck to escape my mouth

I had bit him hard, and there was a purple mark on his neck. He fingered the teeth marks , then turned around and ripped off my bath towel..

*********** ***********

The bedspread was entangled between us. Endless groans and heavy breathing could be heard in the room

For the entire time, I moved over and below his body, kissing and biting him. All over his body, I left clear traces of a woman's love.

He said he had rarely seen me so frenzied. He was flattered, and was exceptionally gentle and emotional today. But what to him was tender and emotional, a passionate joining, was just a humiliating experience for me.

Throughout the whole process, I felt very cold. Everytime his fingers or tongue touched me, I would shiver as a chill swept through me.

When his tongue slipped into my mouth, sucking my tongue, I turned my face to avoid him…

Every time he caressed my body, a wave of excruciating pain swept over me so strongly that I didn’t want to live anymore..

I held back my tears, forcing myself not to think of anything else, but how could I not think?

How could I erase another image from my mind - the image of Yu Yin's glamorous and elegant figure entangling with his…

Fortunately, as he entered my body and moved , my body was stimulated inspite of me. As fireworks discharged in the darkness, I seemed to return to the stormy night, when heaven and earth shook, and the cherry blossoms rustled over my head.

My rational mind was ignited and burnt to ashes

I arched my body towards him as extreme feelings took over, then I fell into the vortex with him…

For a long time, he was reluctant to leave my body. He said my body was too warm and comfortable

I barely managed to squeeze out a smile.

" Don't leave then"

He gently brushed the hair out of my face as I touched his face, tracing an invisible line from his forehead to his lip

I knew this was our last night together. Although it wasn't as beautiful as I expected, it was enough.

This beautiful first love was enough, I didn't ask for anything more than this

After resting for a while, he began to kiss me

My body heated up. I tried to move my body, to resist, but soon I was falling into the vortex again. I closed my eyes. Let him continue, however many times he wanted it. This was after all going to be our last night together.

************ ************

The next morning, I pulled the curtains open. Ye Zhengchen immediately woke up and covered his eyes

"Why are you up so early?"

"I'm going to Kobe today"

" Kobe?" he sat up.

" Didn't  I tell you that I had a classmate in Kobe University and that she wanted me to come and meet her?"

"I'll come with you"

" I'll stay with her for one night and come back tomorrow morning."

I did have a classmate in Kobe University. She had once come down to visit me. Ye Zhengchen had seen her

He thought for a moment, then hesitated. "I have to submit a report tomorrow."

"It isn't appropriate for you to come when two girls are meeting"

Seeing that I didn't want him to come with me, he no longer insisted.

After having my breakfast, I put on casual clothes. With a shoulder bag and a bottle of water, I stepped out.

Before leaving, Ye Zhengchen put a hat on my head and smiled at me ," Come back as soon as you can."

“Ok"

I walked two steps, then ran back and kissed him on his lips.

I was already missing him, missing the taste of him..

*************** ***************

Night fell.

I looked up at the cluster of white magnolias right above my head. It was a really beautiful sight.

Whenever I heard the sound of a car, I would raise myself on tiptoes to peer out from behind the wall to see a small house on the other corner.

Ye Zhengchen did not come

I took out the bottle and drank the remaining water. I chuckled to myself. Maybe I had guessed wrongly, maybe I had let my imagination run wild, maybe everything was not what it seemed..

Maybe.., I optimistically thought about a lot of things that could explain this and my heart felt happier.

I decided to leave and cook a bowl of hot noodles for Ye Zhengchen when I went back.

A slight braking sound interrupted my laugh.

I looked up. Ye Zhengchen's car was parked in the corner.

I looked at Yu Yin's yard. The door opened. A tall silhouette took a key out of his pocket , walked to the front door and inserted the key in the key hole.

The door opened.

Yu Yin smiled as she stood at the door. Ye Zhengchen looked at her, then walked past her to enter the house, as casually as if he was walking into his own home.

I used the pale moonlight to look at my watch - it was ten'o clock

A man enters a woman's house at ten'o clock. I didn't need to stretch my imagination too much to understand what they intended to do

To guess and doubt was one thing, but when the ugly reality was exposed in front of you in all its naked glory, it was another thing entirely

I bit the back of my hand in pain as tears flew down by cheeks

I hated myself. Why did I not go to Kobe? Why did I have to wait here, to see for myself when I was already aware of what was really happening?

What did I achieve from all this except intensifying the pain I already felt?

I stood under the magnolia tree as it gently swayed in the wind.

I remembered a lot of things. I remembered the day I saw Yu Yin at the convenience store for the first time, I remembered her light laughter. I remembered when Ye Zhengchen met Yu Yin and how they politely shook hands..

Now when I thought of that night.. Yu Yin probably saw me , she saw me very clearly and still she continued driving…

I could still remember her cold hands as she held on to me, and the feeling that sometimes she was envious of me.

How silly I was to think that she envied me!

Two months ago, my boyfriend found a new interest. Saying he was too busy to spend time with me , he was actually meeting his new lover in private.

And I had foolishly gone ahead and befriended his lover..

I was even so silly as to help her choose underwear for her lover!

From crying, I started laughing, laughing at my own stupidity!

…… …

The most ridiculous thing was that I actually thought Ye Zhengchen would  marry me. I really believed that when the hairs at our temples turned gray , he would hold my hand and we would travel around the world

But who was he?

He was Ye Zhengchen. Everyone in the world knew that he moved from one woman to another faster than he changed cars…

Even I knew that at some point, his feelings for me would die.

What was I thinking ?

I was simply too stupid for any cure. I actually believed that I would be the only 'girl' in his life.

Fortunately, Yu Yin could not stand to see my stupidity or self deception. She repeatedly placed hints in front of me so I could discover the truth

Step by step, I walked till I was standing in front of their house.

I was standing in the darkness, looking at the play of shadows against the curtains on the lighted windows.

I was hesitant to go in and force myself to face the brutal truth

Suddenly, the door opened from inside and Ye Zhengchen walked out.

I didn't think that he would come so fast. I was caught unawares and froze in place

From behind, Yu Yin rushed forward to catch up with him. She pulled at his hand from behind to make him stop.

" Its too late, don't go back tonight."

Ye Zhengchen answered stiffly, "Yu Yin, please don't try to control me.."

He opened the door of the car and was about to get in when Yu Yin suddenly laughed and taunted him, " Are you scared?"

The moonlight fell on her face. Her smile was scary.

" You are worried that she will find out about our relationship."

“…” Ye Zhengchen did not answer.

Yu Yin's smile widened, "Didn't you say that she loves you? That she will believe you, no matter what happens. That she will even die for you? What are you afraid of then?"

Ye Zhengchen just said one sentence, " I am warning you, don't do anything to hurt her."

I felt as if a chilled wind swept over me

My legs started trembling violently. I felt as if they were hollow and I remembered that I hadn't had anything to eat since the morning.

I tried to stand firm and listen to what their secrets were.

" Are you worried that I will hurt her or that she will leave you?" Yu Yin teased him as she approached him.

" I deliberately befriended her. I wanted to know just what kind of a girl she was. Now I know, she is a really lovely girl, smart, kind, naive… Oh, and most importantly, the characteristics I think are your favourite – she is honest and has self respect…"

Ye Zhengchen coldly interrupted her, " What is it that you want to do?"

" I want to make a bet with you", Yu Yin said plainly, " if she gets to know about our relationship, she will leave you."

I couldn't understand, I really couldn't understand a word of what they were saing.

They weren't quarrelling as much as waging a war of one-upmanship using words.

In the darkness, I couldn't see Ye Zhengchen's expression, but I could feel a terrible angry vibe radiating from his body. "Are you threatening me?"

Yu Yin shook her head, her expression almost as humble as if she was begging.

"I just want you to stay with me.."

Miumiu : This is just the beginning of the angst. Now fasten your seatbelts for the bumpy ride ahead !