DM Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Wealth and Honor Forces People[mfn]富贵逼人 (fù guì bī rén) is a Chinese idiom that literally translates to “wealth and nobility force one to come.” It is often used to describe a situation where someone unexpectedly acquires wealth or power, even if they do not desire it. This can lead to a number of challenges, such as unwanted attention, envy from others, and difficulty adjusting to a new lifestyle. (https://www.purpleculture.net/dictionary-details/?word=富贵逼人)[/mfn]

 

It was a drowsy afternoon, a weekday with gloomy weather.

The entire city had been struggling through the cold weather for several times now, but in the end, it still eventually succumbed; and it was now about to slip into the lengthy winter like a dog from a bereaved family[mfn]丧家之犬 (sàng jiā zhī quǎn): refers to someone who is in a miserable situation, akin to a dog from a bereaved family, often implying a sense of helplessness or desolation.[/mfn].

The streets were sparse, with only a few people and cars rushing by in a hurry.

A bright red SUV pulled up at the street corner, and a young woman stepped out. She seemed to be in her mid-twenties, looking around to be twenty-five or twenty-six years old. A beauty—her features alone could be rated as six or seven, but with a skilled touch of makeup, her beauty could easily reach a perfect ten. Her figure was tall and slender. Sporting a trendy new cloak over her shoulders, she paired it with a skimpy skirt despite the wintry December air, before finishing it off with a brand new handbag for her accessory. With her stylish appearance, it seemed like she had just strolled out of a magazine cover. Compared to the crowd of pedestrians that walked down the street, shabbily dressed in their cotton-padded jackets and baggy trousers, it was like she’s a completely different species.

Just after she had taken advantage of the car’s heater for warmth, she locked the door. Braving the cold, she confidently strode forward with her two slender legs, walking towards a coffee shop also located in the street corner.

The café boasted meticulous decor, a visual delight that even caught the eye of a photographer from the bridal studio across the street, who was currently occupied in taking pictures. The newlyweds, who were the subjects of this photoshoot session, were freezing cold, almost resembling a pair of plucked quails[mfn]掉毛鹌鹑: “quails losing feathers.” A metaphorical expression used to describe someone who is shivering uncontrollably due to cold or fear.[/mfn] as they forced themselves to smile in front of the camera. But as soon as the camera was put away, they immediately huddled together, shivering from the cold.

As the beauty in the short skirt passed by, she paid no mind to the camera gear or the groom, as if regarding everyone as mere scenery, sparing only a fleeting glance at the bride. Upon seeing that the bride had a long waist, short legs, and a big face, she felt relieved. Slightly raising her chin by two points with pleasure, she set her gaze straight ahead as she continued to walk by.

She pushed open the door of the café with familiarity without even glancing in any direction, as if implying that she might have been a regular customer. However, as she pushed the door slightly open, she didn’t immediately walk in. Instead, she subtly paused at the entrance for a moment. Calmly extending two fingers to adjust the hair on her forehead before the reflective glass door, she ensured that each strand was tilted just right. Then, she positioned her hands atop her handbag that rested in front of her body while waiting for someone to greet her.

Her eyes were slightly drooping. With the soft allure of peach blossom shape and slightly slanted upward corners, her eyes naturally gave off a gentle appearance. But at this moment, as she silently stood by the door, a subtle air of self-importance seemed to inexplicably emanate from her as if she held no care for the presence around her.

The manager, who had been occupied in making latte art, was notified by a nearby waiter. Turning to see her, her face instantly broke into a welcoming smile. “Xiaoyuan, you’re here already?”

Taking only three quick steps to walk out from behind the counter, the manager personally approached her by the door to extend her a warm greeting. She affectionately took the beautiful woman’s wrist as she didn’t forget to compliment her as a prospective customer, “You look fantastic in your today’s outfit—but don’t you feel cold?  We’re so thin and not great at withstanding the cold… How about sitting in a sunny spot today? It’s warmer there.”

The beauty’s name was Jiang Xiaoyuan, a middle-school classmate and good friend of Feng Ruixue, the coffee shop’s manager. They had been desk mates in their youth, both blessed with good looks but at the same time not particularly adept at academics. Since they both have matching odors[mfn]臭味相投 (chòuwèi xiāngtóu): “matching odours” Chinese idiom that means two people share similar tastes, interests, or personalities, often implying a good compatibility or camaraderie between them.[/mfn], they had fun in each other’s company.

The two “lived and died” together when they simultaneously took the college entrance examination together. They both achieved disastrous scores, but their paths did not “share the same fate” because Jiang Xiaoyuan had a wealthier father.

Jiang Xiaoyuan was sent abroad by her father and attended a third-rate university, majoring in “Ceramic Arts Research”.

On the other hand, Feng Ruixue had to give up on enrolling in third-rate universities and attended a local junior college instead due to her family’s poor financial situation.

In the four years that followed, the two led completely different lives.

Jiang Xiaoyuan went out with a group of friends every day, successfully liberating her soul from the confinement of the exam-oriented education, carrying out her lack of knowledge and skills till the very end—

For her graduation project, she planned to make an art cup. However, during the procedure, her hands were shaky, which led her to use too much material. On the spot, she decided to change it to a European-style vase. However, she didn’t expect the crafting process for the vase to be a huge challenge. After working on it halfway, her buttocks went numb. It caused her to lose patience for the work that required meticulousness. Jiang Xiaoyuan then made a decisive move. With one palm, she flattened the vase, thus eventually giving birth to an irregular and asymmetrical vessel lying flat on the ground.

The instructor took her masterpiece and scrutinized it for five minutes, utterly perplexed and unable to make any sense of it. They had no choice but to ask Jiang Xiaoyuan just what kind of monstrosity this was.

Jiang Xiaoyuan had the intention to brazenly claim her craft to be an ashtray; but since she didn’t smoke, her daily vocabulary didn’t contain the word “ashtray.” She couldn’t recall the foreign variant of the word, she could only improvise and temporarily change the word. “A bowl.”

The instructor and her stared at each other for a while, the former feeling once again that this silly group of rich second-generation could really broaden horizons. However, since they had to adhere to the principle “the one who gives the money is the big boss,” he could only give her an evaluation of high score that was also rich in ironic undertones: “Breaking conventions. Sharp and edgy. Embodies the rebellious spirit of avant-garde art.”

This evaluation was best served with the actual consumption of the item. Anyway, whoever saw it would understand.

Thus, Jiang Xiaoyuan returned to China with her avant-garde ashtray, even experiencing hiccups along the way—as her avant-garde creation was deemed too bizarre by airport security, almost resulting in her detention.

At this point, Feng Ruixue had been struggling in society for a few years. She had honed her skills in Western pastry baking and even obtained certification as a barista. Most importantly, she had learned the art of conversing with people and seeing ghosts. In other words, she had mastered the unique skill of telling lies.

They met again at the class reunion. Although much had changed, Feng Ruixue managed to rekindle her friendship with Jiang Xiaoyuan with her skilled tongue. From her, she was able to gain a startup capital of five hundred thousand and opened this café.

This investment was the most worthwhile money Jiang Xiaoyuan had ever spent in her life because Feng Ruixue was capable, skilled, good at packaging and marketing, and had great management talent. Her shop had also been consistently featured in various promotional articles, such as “Top Ten Coffee and Dessert Shops,” which circulated on various friends’ circles online. And just within two or three years, she had established her brand and even opened a branch.

Jiang Xiaoyuan had received considerable dividends from her.

Considering herself a shareholder, Jiang Xiaoyuan gradually developed a sense of responsibility. She often visited during her free time, always bringing her friends along to encourage them to order expensive items from the menu. She was always thinking about how to increase the store’s revenue.

Feng Ruixue led her to the sunniest spot in the café, personally making her favorite beverages and snacks before joining her at the table after serving them. However, Jiang Xiaoyuan’s gaze didn’t linger on her; instead, it drifted to the table next to them.

Seated there was a young man clad in a sleek black windbreaker and scarf. His meticulously styled black hair was devoid of any hint of streaks. It exposed a small portion of his neck, which was a stark contrast between black and white. He was sitting there, fully focused, as he studied with his tablet computer.

Jiang Xiaoyuan had noticed him as soon as she came in. He was just too “standard.” Every aspect of his eyebrows, facial features, and face shape was just right, like a fake person synthesized by a computer. Because he was too standard-looking, he had an utter lack of distinctiveness, making it impossible for people to remember his face.

If this person didn’t occasionally make some movements, he would simply look like a plastic mannequin.

Feng Ruixue followed her gaze and glanced back, whispering with a wink, “Handsome, isn’t he? He’s been coming here for several days now, staying until closing hours. He doesn’t like to talk to people though, so I don’t know what he’s up to… Anyway, forget about that, why the sudden visit? Fishing while at work[mfn]上班又摸鱼 (shàngbān yòu mō yú) is a Chinese slang phrase that literally translates to “slacking off at work again?” It is commonly used to jokingly express disapproval or surprise when someone is caught taking a break or engaging in non-work-related activities during work hours. The phrase “摸鱼” (mō yú) is derived from the idiom “浑水摸鱼” (hún shuǐ mō yú), which literally means “to fish in troubled waters.” The idiom refers to the practice of taking advantage of chaotic situations to gain personal benefit. In the context of work, “摸鱼” implies that the person is taking advantage of their employer’s distraction or leniency to avoid work.[/mfn]?”

In reality, Jiang Xiaoyuan did hold a job. She served as a white-collar worker in an office building, engaging in a low-skilled mental labor that had no technical complexity, earning a monthly salary of thirty-five hundred yuan per month after tax, which was one-twentieth of her average monthly expenses.

This job was forced upon her by her family, who didn’t want her to idle away at such a young age. The boss, a friend of her father’s, was well aware of her capabilities and therefore refrained from entrusting her with any significant responsibilities. Instead, he kept her around the office like a mascot, alongside the devil’s ivy[mfn]绿萝: Epipremnum aureum or devil’s ivy. Epipremnum aureum is known as devil’s ivy because it is almost impossible to kill, and it stays green even when kept in the dark. However, it is not actually an ivy. The heart-shaped leaves are bright green and variegated with white, yellow or light green streaks and blotches.[/mfn] that had grown teeth and claws.

Fortunately, Jiang Xiaoyuan didn’t have much ambition in her work either. She played computer games in the office, and when discontented, she drove out to play.

Tearing her gaze off from the handsome guy’s back, she blew on the foam of the coffee, casually saying, “I didn’t feel like going today.”

It seemed as if she was talking about her salon appointment and not her job.

“Be careful not to get burned.” Feng Ruixue handed her a napkin as usual. “Actually, I think your dad was right to make you work. Everyone has to do something, right?”

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoyuan raised her head, looking at Feng Ruixue with a smirk.

Feng Ruixue was puzzled. “Why are you looking at me like that? What’s wrong?”

Taking the napkin delicately between two fingers, Jiang Xiaoyuan’s crimson nails stood out conspicuously. She then pretentiously dabbed at an imaginary speck of dirt at the corner of her mouth, pausing momentarily, as if deliberating a countermeasure before releasing the pent-up resentment she had harbored towards Feng Ruixue.

“I’m not short on money,” Jiang Xiaoyuan said. “If I’m not short of money, why work? I don’t believe in people who love their career. People are inherently lazy. All those workaholics, aren’t they just poor?”

Feng Ruixue was pretty, eloquent, and likeable. Although her academic qualifications were lacking, her ability to get things done was enough to make up for it. She could be considered a perfect ten except for one aspect—her family background was very average. Her dad had been bedridden for many years while her mom wasn’t able to finish elementary school, so she had to work odd jobs to supplement the family income.

This had long been a source of concern for Feng Ruixue; she had always felt inferior due to her background. Even if she managed to become rich in the future, she could only be considered a nouveau riche[mfn]”Nouveau riche” (土豪): This is a slang term used to describe people who have recently become wealthy but lack the refinement or sophistication traditionally associated with wealth. [/mfn] without class.

After knowing Jiang Xiaoyuan for so many years, she naturally had a good understanding of these matters.

At this point, if Feng Ruixue couldn’t discern that Jiang Xiaoyuan was being deliberate with her insults, she wouldn’t deserve to be part of the service industry.

The manager’s charming smile unavoidably paused for a moment before cautiously asking, “Are you… upset about something?”

Jiang Xiaoyuan smiled softly. “No.”

Feng Ruixue: “That’s fine—look at how nice your new bag is. It’s not cheap, right? As a rich and beautiful woman, you shouldn’t be unhappy every day. It’s unreasonable.”

Jiang Xiaoyuan’s gaze fell on the brand-new handbag, and a barely noticeable disgust flashed in her eyes. She stretched out her hand to grab the bag, pushing it towards Feng Ruixue. “Take it if it looks good. It’s yours.”

Just now, she was only teasing her; but in a blink of an eye, she actually decided to casually give away her things. Feng Ruixue was a little confused. She quickly reacted and joked, “Really? I won’t be polite if it’s under two hundred, but if it’s…”

“Forty-six thousand,” Jiang Xiaoyuan said expressionlessly.

Feng Ruixue: “What?”

Jiang Xiaoyuan: “I bought it while shopping this morning. The receipt and warranty are still inside. You can have it as good as new.”

Feng Ruixue recoiled her hand like she had touched something hot. “What has gotten into you?”

Jiang Xiaoyuan calmly raised her cup and took a sip of coffee. “I’m serious. If you like it, take it. It’s nothing special anyway.”

An ominous sense of foreboding crept over Feng Ruixue as she nervously fidgeted with her hands on the table.

Sometimes, between women, there were unspoken understandings

At this moment, the phone Jiang Xiaoyuan had placed on the table vibrated, and they both lowered their heads to look at the caller ID.

Feng Ruixue’s lips parted slightly, but no words escaped.

Jiang Xiaoyuan declined the call. She intertwined her fingers as she sat in a dignified posture behind the elegant coffee table. The intricately patterned tablecloth glowed in the sunlight, like a softly lit painting.

“I don’t want to deal with that idiot Huo Boyu right now,” Jiang Xiaoyuan said. “I just want to hear it from you, Feng Ruixue. What’s going on between you and Huo Boyu?”

The color drained from the shop manager’s face in an instant.

 

 

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