Golden Scale [EN]: Chapter 32

The Great War (1)

It was a gloomy Friday morning, and around noon, snowflakes began to fall, lasting for several hours. “Why isn’t he here yet?” Chen Qian checked her watch. It was almost 7:50 PM, and she had arranged for Shi Long to pick her up at the intersection at 7:20 PM, but he hadn’t shown up. She dialed her boyfriend’s number, and it rang for a long time before someone answered. “Hello?” “Long, where are you? I’m waiting for you.” “Ah… Chen Qian… um… huh… I… I have something… I can’t go, hiss… ah… just forget… forget about today.” Shi Long’s voice sounded strange, as if he was in pain.

“Long, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? What’s going on? Going to that party isn’t just about dancing, you know.” “Um… alright, alright, I… I’m busy, you can go by yourself.” “Long, Long… sigh.” He had already hung up the phone. Chen Qian stomped her foot in anger and hailed a taxi…

University weekend dances were very informal. They would just turn on the colored lights on the restaurant ceiling and play some music. The main purpose wasn’t dancing, but to provide students with a social opportunity. Hou Longtao lost interest after two songs, and Chen Xi also found it uninteresting. She realized it was wise of her not to attend before. She had imagined it would be like the dances she saw on TV, where everyone spoke softly and was considerate while dancing. But in reality, over a hundred students were crammed into a small restaurant. As soon as the music started, they all rushed to the center of the room, and when the music stopped, the room was immediately filled with noisy chatter. The air wasn’t great either, and the girl was quickly becoming disappointed.

“Xi, let’s go for a walk. Show me around your campus.” Hou Longtao noticed that the girl was a bit unhappy, and it was a good opportunity to leave this smoky place. “Okay.” Chen Xi agreed, retrieved her coat from the temporary storage, and the two left the restaurant hand in hand.

In the school after dark, only a few people were occasionally walking around. Plus, the air was fresh after the snowfall. Walking on the cleared paths, both young people felt refreshed. “Brother Hou, I’m really sorry. I didn’t know it would be so boring. Are you feeling bored?” Chen Xi swung the man’s arm back and forth.

“Heh heh,” Hou Longtao smiled slightly, “How could I be bored? If I were bored while taking a walk in the snow with a heavenly beauty, then there would be no point in living.” “You really know how to make people happy.” Chen Xi let go of his hand, took his arm, leaned her body close to him, and rested her head on his shoulder.

Hou Longtao turned his head and kissed the jasmine-scented hair of the girl. “I’m not just trying to make you happy, I mean it.” Chen Xi didn’t answer, but just rubbed her cheek against his shoulder a few times. The two walked along in silence, the feeling only understood by those in love.

After a few minutes, Chen Xi suddenly moved away from the man, ran to the side of the road, made a snowball, and with a playful smile, slowly approached Hou Longtao. “Hey, hey, don’t mess around.” Hou Longtao pretended to be scared and took two steps back. “Just one hit, what’s the point of not having a snowball fight when it snows?” “No, no, no, this coat is hard to wash.”

“I don’t care, I don’t care, just one hit.” Chen Xi tilted her head and pouted. “Okay, okay, just one hit.” The man stopped. “Just one hit, agreed?” “Agreed, agreed.” The girl couldn’t wait to throw the snowball. Hou Longtao dodged to the side and avoided it. “Haha, didn’t hit me, you have no chance now.”

“Hey, that’s cheating.” Chen Xi frowned and shook her body in place. “How am I cheating? You didn’t say I couldn’t dodge.” “That doesn’t count, one more hit.” “We agreed on just one hit, you can’t go back on your word.” “You’re the one who’s cheating.” The girl finished speaking and turned to make another snowball.

Hou Longtao’s wool coat cost more than thirty-five thousand yuan [approximately $5,000 USD, a significant sum], and he would feel bad if it got hit. Seeing the girl holding three snowballs in her hands, he turned and ran into the woods on the side of the road. When Chen Xi saw him running away, how could she let him go so easily? She followed him in. “Cheater, don’t run.” After only a few steps, Hou Longtao stopped. The snow in the woods hadn’t been cleared, and although it wasn’t deep, it could still go over the top of his shoes, making it difficult to run. Besides, he didn’t really want to escape. He leaned against a poplar tree, waving his hands in front of his chest. “No, no, don’t make trouble, really, really, let me go.”

Chen Xi, who had caught up, also stopped, approaching step by step. “Ah!” She suddenly cried out softly, unable to move. “What’s wrong?” He noticed that the girl’s big eyes were fixed on his back, and her face was a little flushed. Hou Longtao peeked out from behind the tree. Not far away, there was a man and a woman hugging and kissing. They were probably a pair of college lovers on a date, taking advantage of the night.

“Let’s go.” Chen Xi dropped the snowball, brushed the remaining snow off her hands, and turned to leave. It was obvious that she was embarrassed to see someone being intimate here. This was a rare opportunity, how could he miss it? Hou Longtao grabbed the girl’s hand and slowly pulled her into his arms. Chen Xi leaned back, her arm stretched straight as she was pulled, her head lowered, moving slowly, and finally she was embraced by the man. Hou Longtao lifted the girl’s chin with his right index finger and gently touched her lips with his own. “Xi…” The girl raised her lowered eyelids, and the man’s gentle and loving gaze made her less nervous, but even more shy. She dodged the man’s finger and lowered her head again.

Hou Longtao stubbornly cupped Chen Xi’s cheeks with both hands, gazing into her bright eyes. “Xi, you are so beautiful, your eyes are brighter than the stars in the sky…” “Don’t… don’t,” the girl blocked the man’s mouth with her fingers. She knew what was going to happen next, closed her eyes, and her heart was filled with anticipation. “Brother Hou, kiss me.”

First, her upper lip was gently sucked, then her lower lip. Chen Xi’s breathing began to quicken, and she felt the man’s tongue gently tapping on her snow-white teeth. She consciously opened her mouth a little wider, welcoming it in. Every touch of the two tongues made the girl’s heart flutter. “He’s twirling around my tongue, ah…” This wasn’t her first kiss, but it felt completely different than before, because this man was more patient and knew how to make a girl intoxicated.

Hou Longtao’s tongue hooked upwards, pulling the girl’s soft “pistil” [a delicate metaphor for her tongue] into his mouth. It was wet and slippery, as if it would melt at any moment. “Fragrant, sweet, is Qian Qian’s tongue also so delicious?” He couldn’t help but regret not insisting on exploring that tempting mouth seven years ago.

“Mmm…” Chen Xi’s tongue was gently sucked. Although there was a slight pain at the root of her tongue, she didn’t dislike it at all. All the strength in her body disappeared, as if it had been transferred into the other person’s body along with the kiss. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the man’s neck. The man’s hands also left her cheeks, one supporting the back of her head, and the other reaching into her short coat, stroking her waist. The long kiss between the two continued, with no sign of ending. Chen Xi was already experiencing dizziness due to a slight lack of oxygen. “This feeling is so wonderful, I really don’t know what my sister’s is like, why doesn’t she like it?” The girl didn’t understand at all. She was now being intimate with the man she admired, while Chen Qian was being harassed by a boy she didn’t like in fear and trepidation, how could the feelings be the same…

Due to the slippery roads after the snow, Beijing’s already congested traffic was even worse. It took the taxi forty minutes to drive from Gongzhufen [a residential area in Beijing] to Yuehe. Chen Qian arrived at the restaurant and looked around, but didn’t see her sister’s figure. “Sister Qian, you came too.” One of Chen Xi’s classmates recognized her. “Why didn’t Shi Long come with you?”

“He… he has something to do.” Chen Qian knew Shi Long’s personality well, knowing that he was still childish. Today, he was probably delayed because he wanted to play with friends, so she wasn’t really angry with him. “Did you see Xi? She came to the dance.” “Xi and her boyfriend went out.” “She left?” “No, they went to the woods over there.” “How long ago did they go?” “About twenty minutes ago.”

Chen Qian asked for directions and hurried out. It wasn’t that she assumed something would happen just because her sister was walking with a man, but as an older sibling, she was always a bit overprotective, and she was also curious about the man who had stolen her sister’s heart, eager to see what he had that was so special.

Entering the woods, she saw a figure after only a few steps. A girl was leaning against a poplar tree, her arms stretched back, holding the tree trunk, her head raised high, her scarf untied and draped over her shoulders, revealing her snow-white throat, her eyes closed, her mouth constantly opening and closing, as if she was saying something, but because she was far away, she couldn’t hear anything. That girl was her sister, Chen Xi. A man’s hands were inside Chen Xi’s open short coat, rubbing her waist through her tight sweater. The man was like a vampire, his entire face buried in the girl’s neck, presumably kissing her. Because of this, Chen Qian couldn’t see his face, but she felt that his back looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

“Why do you also have the scent of jasmine on you?” Hou Longtao licked the snow-white skin on the girl’s neck, deeply inhaling her fragrance. “I… um… Brother Hou… ah… I just bought a set of… a set of bath soap and shampoo, do… um… do you like it?” Chen Xi answered vaguely. Every time the man licked her, her body would shiver, but it really felt good.

Hou Longtao hugged the girl tightly, moving the battlefield to her ear, holding her earlobe. “I like it, of course I like it. Xi, don’t call me brother anymore, can you call me something more intimate?” “Ah… ah… um…” The wet feeling coming from her ear made Chen Xi even more intoxicated. “Then… then what should I call you?” “Call me ‘Tao Ge’ [a more affectionate way to say Brother Tao].” “Um… Tao Ge…” The two hugged and kissed again.

Chen Qian really couldn’t watch any longer. If the two continued to be intimate like this, she didn’t know what foolish things her naive sister would do. She was just about to step forward to stop them when the two in the passionate kiss separated. Moonlight shone through the bare branches, illuminating the man’s face. A face with curly hair came into view, but Chen Qian felt as if she had seen a demon and quickly hid behind a tree. Her foot stepped on a broken branch, making a “crack” sound.

“Who’s there? Who’s there?” Hou Longtao turned around vigilantly, but there wasn’t a ghost in sight, but the atmosphere had been ruined. Chen Xi leaned against Hou Longtao’s neck, looked at her watch, and it was almost 9:20. “Tao Ge, take me home, my uncle told me to be home before ten thirty.” “Um,” Hou Longtao kissed the girl again, helped her fasten her coat and scarf, and took her hand. “Don’t worry, there’s still an hour, I definitely won’t let you get scolded.” The two walked past the tree where Chen Qian was hiding.

“Why, why is it him?” Chen Qian’s heart was beating fast. In her heart, Hou Longtao had always been the hooligan who violently touched her sacred lower body, the rogue who almost raped her, the thug who made her cry for days. He was a complete villain. She not only hated him, but she also feared him. Even after receiving his letter from the United States and seeing him as a successful white-collar worker a few months ago, this impression formed over many years had not changed.

She didn’t know how long she stood there, but Chen Qian’s mind was filled with the scene from seven years ago when Hou Longtao pinned her down on the sofa, forcibly kissing and groping her. “How could Xi like someone like him? What should I do?” The girl was about to cry. She was afraid of that man, but her sense of responsibility as a sister gave her unparalleled courage. “I can’t let my sister be bullied or deceived by him. He’s a bad person…”

“Xi.” She called out and rushed out of the woods. There was no sign of her sister, only a student who happened to be passing by was startled by her. Remembering that Chen Xi said she was going home, Chen Qian quickly hailed a taxi at the school gate. “Master [a respectful way to address a taxi driver], Gongzhufen, please drive faster.” She made up her mind. “I definitely can’t let Xi be with him. I’m going to tell Xi everything he’s done. He’s a bad person.” But when she got home, her sister hadn’t returned yet…

Although the two stopped on the way to eat a few skewers of mutton, it was still not ten o’clock when they arrived at the intersection of Chen Xi’s home.

“See, I made it in time.” Hou Longtao pointed to the watch in the car. “Who knew the road would be so slippery, and you still dared to drive so fast.” Chen Xi stuck her tongue out at him.

“My car is equipped with the best anti-skid tires, and I am the best…” “The best driver on the surface of the earth.” The girl finished the sentence for the man. “Alright, alright, you’ve said this many times, I know your driving skills are superb.” Then the two laughed. “Tao Ge, I… I should go.” Chen Xi looked at her boyfriend with reluctance.

“Then why aren’t you leaving? The car door isn’t locked.” Hou Longtao had a smile on his face. “What are you waiting for?” “Waiting… waiting for you to get out and open the door for me, aren’t you very gentlemanly?” “Hehe, what if I don’t open it for you? Are you going home with me?” “Dream on,” Chen Xi raised her head and reached out to open the door. “Did you think I really couldn’t open it myself?”

Hou Longtao leaned over, put his right arm around the girl’s shoulder, supported her waist with his left hand, and pressed her head against the back of the seat and kissed her. “Um…” Chen Xi gently closed her eyes, withdrew her right hand that had already touched the doorknob, and wrapped it around the man’s neck along with her left hand. She really liked this feeling of her lips and tongue intertwined with her sweetheart.

Unable to endure any longer, Hou Longtao wanted to take it slow, but the demonic hand placed on Chen Xi’s waist refused the master’s control and began to rub and caress the girl’s thigh. “Um… um…” Chen Xi gently twisted her body, but did not resist. She could still accept this level of intimacy. The man couldn’t be so easily satisfied. After touching her through her pants for a while, he reached into the girl’s sweater. Although there was still a cotton underwear, he could clearly feel the outline of the half-cup bra. He could also feel half of her breast exposed outside the cup, and it was so elastic that the fingers that pressed down would immediately bounce back.

“Ah… Tao Ge… um… don’t…” Chen Xi grabbed her sweetheart’s wrist and pulled it outwards. Hou Longtao noticed her weakness and thought it was just the girl’s unique coyness acting up. As long as he persisted, she would obey in a half-hearted manner, so not only did he not stop, but he intensified his efforts to pull her underwear out of her pants. But the reality was not what the man thought. Although Chen Xi was indeed infatuated with Hou Longtao at first sight, she still felt that the progress between the two was too fast. “Tao Ge… don’t… don’t do this… please… please don’t…” The degree of body shaking and the strength in her hands both increased.

Hou Longtao realized that he had miscalculated and quickly withdrew his hand, slightly raising his upper body. “What’s wrong, Xi, don’t you like it?” “No… it’s not that, I… I… shouldn’t we take it so fast?” The girl blushed, held the man’s face with both hands, and lowered her head. “I… I’ve never let another boy touch me like this before.”

Hou Longtao suddenly withdrew his body, opened the car door, and walked out. Although it was a different girl, it was the same expression and the same words. The events of seven years ago came to mind one by one, and his nose felt a little sore. He wanted to rush out of the car to cover up his emotions, but when he opened the other door, he still couldn’t calm down.

History is destined to repeat itself, but that kind of repetition should not happen to one person.

“Tao Ge, what’s wrong?” Seeing the glittering things in the man’s eyes, Chen Xi didn’t know which sentence she had said wrong. Hou Longtao’s emotions were a little agitated, and he hugged the girl tightly, as if she would disappear forever if he let go. “Xi… Xi, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s my fault, I was too anxious, Xi, don’t be angry with me, I won’t do it again, I’m sorry…” These words came from the heart, but they were addressed to both of them at the same time.

“Tao Ge, I’m not angry.” Chen Xi felt extremely happy that her boyfriend valued her emotions so much, and gently kissed his face. “Really not angry?” Hou Longtao raised his head. “Really.” The girl offered her fragrant lips. In the icy and snowy weather, a pair of lovers hugged each other tightly, and both of their hearts were warm…

Her parents had just received a call from her fourth uncle and were dragged to her grandfather’s house to play cards. Only Chen Qian was left at home. She paced around the room, glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already 10:25, but her sister hadn’t returned yet. She was really anxious. They had clearly left first, but she had arrived home first. She always had a bad feeling. If she had known this, she should have gotten her sister a cell phone.

Hearing the sound of someone opening the security door outside, Chen Qian quickly went over and opened the door. She saw her sister, with a happy smile on her face, looking for the door key in a string of keys. Chen Xi looked up, “Ah, Sister, you heard my voice?” Chen Qian pulled her into the door. “Where did you go? Why are you back so late?”

“I’m not late,” Chen Xi looked at her watch, not understanding why her sister looked so anxious. “Hehe, it’s only ten twenty-nine, just right.” “Girl, you don’t know how worried I was. Quick, where did you go? Did anything happen to you?” Chen Qian followed her sister into their boudoir [a woman’s private room or bedroom].

“Sister, what are you talking about?” Chen Xi took off her coat and asked strangely. “What are you worried about? What happened? Ah…” Suddenly thinking of something, “Where are uncle and aunt? Did something happen to them?” “They went to grandpa’s house to play cards, don’t talk about them, where did you go?” “Where did I go? I went to the school dance, you know.” “And then where did you go?” “And then I came back, Sister, what’s wrong with you?” Chen Xi was a little confused.

“Did you come back directly?” Chen Qian was asking about after leaving the school, but Chen Xi also regarded the time in the woods as after the dance. Thinking of her feelings when she was intimate with Hou Longtao, she couldn’t help but feel shy. She sat on the bed, hugged the big teddy bear, and kissed its face. “That’s our secret, don’t tell her, right?” (If Hou Longtao knew that a teddy bear had become his substitute, he would probably laugh or cry.)

Seeing the strange expression on her sister’s face, Chen Qian was even more certain that something had happened in the half-hour time difference between her arrival home and her sister’s arrival home. She sat down next to her, took her hand. “Xi, you wouldn’t have already had… had… had a relationship with him, would you?” “Oh my, Sister, what kind of medicine have you been taking these past two days? Why are you always saying such strange things?” Chen Xi frowned.

“Xi, he’s not a good person, don’t associate with him anymore.” “Oh my god,” Chen Xi leaned back, with a crying look on her face. “Sister, what are you talking about, hum hum hum,” she sat up again, hitting her thighs with both hands. “I’m going crazy because of you, you don’t even know who my boyfriend is, where did this start?”

“I know, Hou Longtao, I also went to the dance today, and I saw you in the woods… I’ve known him for a long time.” Chen Qian grabbed her sister’s hand again. “Xi, listen to your sister, your sister won’t hurt you, he’s really not a good person.” “Why did you go to the dance too? Are you spying on me? You’ve known him for a long time? How is he not a good person?” Chen Xi also became serious, staring into her sister’s eyes and asking.

“No, I’m not spying on you, I just wanted to see what your secret boyfriend was like, I didn’t expect it to be him.” Chen Qian shook her head in pain. Her sister’s expression didn’t seem fake, and Chen Xi felt that things must not be simple. “Sister, tell me quickly, how do you know him, why is he not a good person?”

“Do you remember, about seven years ago, there was a period of time when I was in a particularly bad mood.” “I remember, I even asked you why, but you never told me.” “That was because of Hou Longtao, he was a friend of my good friend’s boyfriend, one day…” Chen Qian told her sister what happened. “At that time, I was so scared, I lied to him that I would be his girlfriend, and he let me go. For several weeks, I was afraid that he would come looking for me again. Finally, I mustered up the courage to write him a letter, telling him that I didn’t want a boyfriend.” At this point, her eyes were filled with tears…