Chapter 16.1 (1/2)

Deep in the Act

Translator: Kotoni

Editor: Isalee

First Published on Chaleuria

Chapter 16.1

The weekend came around again. They had agreed on a second outing, so Fang Chi showed up again Sat.u.r.day morning outside their estate, puffing on a cigarette as he waited. At nine o'clock sharp, Zuo Linlin appeared. She approached him with a bounce in her step, all dolled up and all alone.

”Where's Gao Zhun?” he asked, glancing behind her.

”He's not feeling well.” She beamed as she walked around him and reached for the car door. ”Let's go.”

”What happened?” Fang Chi stopped her, grabbing her outstretched arm with a strong grip.

”Why do you care?” She was beautiful even in her anger - it was a beauty that simmered with aggression. ”Am I not the one you care about?”

Fang Chi became visibly irritated. ”You're already attached!”

”So? I can break up with him any time.” Her voice took on a flippant note as she continued, ”I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with a nutjob anyway.”

Fang Chi was enraged by her callous choice of words. ”I said it before, he's not sick. He's just…”

”Do you want me or not?” She cut him off and took a step towards him, almost pressing herself into his arms. ”Even if you don't, there's plenty of men out there who do.”

”We have to go back,” Fang Chi sighed, ”we can't leave him at home by himself.”

At this, Zuo Linlin softened her expression and put on a look of vulnerability. ”Charles, you know about my feelings for you.” She rested her forehead on his chest. The light citrus scent in her hair drifted into the air. ”I'm going on a dance tour in Europe. I fly tomorrow, and I won't be back for a month. I just want to spend a day properly with you before I go.”

No man could ever reject such sweet pleas. Fang Chi said nothing. She pressed on with her emotive approach, ”I'm getting older, and my career will soon be coming to an end. I'm just trying to find the right man and settle down.” Snuggling against him, she asked, ”Is it really wrong of me to want that for myself?”

Fang Chi almost hugged her, but he was suddenly a.s.sailed by an image: Gao Zhun, crushed against his chest in a tight hold, murmuring in his ear with despair, ”Save me…”

Resolutely, Fang Chi pushed her away and repeated himself, ”We have to go back.”

Gao Zhun's home was refined and tasteful, just like Gao Zhun himself. The first sight that greeted a visitor upon entering his apartment was a series of portraits hanging on the wall in the living room: The Four Seasons, by Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Pointing carelessly in their direction, Zuo Linlin explained that they were not authentic paintings, but copies painted by Gao Zhun. Frequent exposure to artworks had desensitized her to artistic merit and beauty. However, it was the first time that Fang Chi had come face to face with such talent. It took his breath away. It was almost impossible for him to tear his eyes away from the magnificence and vitality before him.

As Gao Zhun had mentioned before, he and Zuo Linlin now slept in separate rooms. Fang Chi entered and saw him cowering on his small bed, hidden under his thin covers. As if she was unwilling to spare Gao Zhun even the slightest hint of sympathy, Zuo Linlin left immediately after showing Fang Chi into the room. A wooden three-legged chair stood by the window. Fang Chi carried it to Gao Zhun's bedside and sat down.

”Mr. Gao,” he greeted. Noticing the movement under the covers, Fang Chi laid a hand on the figure before him and felt the tremors under his touch. ”Won't you let me take a look at you?”