Life in Bogotá began the moment one opened their eyes.
The new life arrived abruptly. Bogotá was a quintessential Latin American city—pleasant climate, passionate vibes, and a complex, chaotic cultural collision shaped by its colonial history and civil war legacy. With low English proficiency and even less familiarity with East Asian culture and faces, it felt like an entirely unfamiliar Third World. Miao Jing, being strong-willed, settled in quickly and threw herself into her new job. On her very first day, she joined colleagues for dinner and overtime work, leaving Chen Yi to fend for himself in the apartment.
Aside from Miao Jing, the company had another Chinese woman working as a translator, along with several other domestic colleagues in sales or after-sales departments. They had known Miao Jing was coming but were surprised to see she’d brought along a tall, striking young man, sparking immediate curiosity.
When introducing Chen Yi, Miao Jing hesitated, unsure how to define their relationship. Chen Yi, however, was effortlessly smooth. He stepped forward, shook hands, and introduced himself as Miao Jing’s boyfriend, explaining he had come abroad with her to seek opportunities and asked everyone to look out for them.
Perhaps because they had already shared the most intimate physical connection, or maybe because they simply didn’t place much emphasis on formal labels—whether family, brother, friend, boyfriend, or even husband—both were quite comfortable with any term.
In social settings, Chen Yi knew how to rein himself in. His tone was humble, his attitude straightforward and easygoing. Combined with his good looks, he left a positive impression. Seeing him smiling with an arm around Miao Jing’s shoulder, and Miao Jing lowering her gaze with a soft smile, their affection appeared natural and harmonious. A delicate, pretty woman and a reassuringly sturdy man—one cool and distant in demeanor, the other carrying a touch of untamed wildness—they walked the vibrant streets of Bogotá, looking surprisingly well-matched.
The apartment’s kitchen and living room were shared spaces. Since it was company housing, it wasn’t convenient for Chen Yi to stay long-term. He planned to rent a place outside. Bogotá’s cost of living was low, with mostly low-rise buildings and few skyscrapers. The northern and western areas were safer—Chen Yi had already gotten a rough sense of the city. Using translation apps on his phone, he accompanied Ramirez in and out, viewing rentals, buying household items, and setting up their life.
They found a place quickly: the top floor of a three-story building just a few dozen meters from the apartment complex. The landlords were a French family. The aged red-brick structure had a lush, well-tended garden downstairs. The top floor was compact but featured a lovely large terrace perfect for enjoying views and having brunch—Chen Yi had picked up the word "brunch" from his phone. It basically meant sleeping in and eating late, but imagining the scene felt rather appealing. After signing the lease, buying furniture, and cleaning up, they settled in smoothly.
Miao Jing was mainly responsible for the technical aspects of projects linked to the domestic team. Due to the time difference between regions, she was swamped with overtime from the start. Chen Yi, meanwhile, adapted to local customs, familiarized himself with the surrounding area, and learned the key landmarks and Miao Jing’s commute route. He spent his days navigating Bogotá’s streets and alleys, listening to incomprehensible Spanish. Even when passing through the less-safe old town, locals—seeing his calm expression, taut muscles, and tall build—didn’t dare underestimate him, Asian though he was.Miao Jing would stop by after work every day to help set up the new home. It was only when she noticed a uniquely styled antique piece of furniture newly placed in the room that she realized he had actually ventured into the flea market.
"You’ve only been here a few days… How did you even know where the flea market is?"
"I’ve been giving Ramirez’s eldest son ten thousand pesos every day to show me around Bogotá—where to find the best restaurants, where to shop for bargains. Oh, and today I spotted a Chinese supermarket. If there’s anything you want, just make me a list."
How could he possibly lack the ability to navigate life? He’d grown up fending for himself since childhood, and later spent over two years in the Golden Triangle. What did it matter if he didn’t speak the language? With his demeanor, sharp observational skills, and a bit of cleverness, he could adapt effortlessly anywhere. There was no need for Miao Jing to guide him through this new life—he was already exploring the new world on his own.
Miao Jing felt completely at ease.
Once the new home was fully settled, Chen Yi casually asked if she wanted to move in. Miao Jing, her back turned as she organized the cabinets, casually hummed in agreement. That same day, she packed her belongings from the company dormitory and moved into the apartment Chen Yi had newly rented.
This hastily assembled home bore no resemblance to their old place in Tengcheng, yet it evoked a similar feeling. There was only one large bedroom, with lush green trees outside the arched floral window obscured by heavy curtains. Beside the old European-style four-poster canopy bed lay a vibrantly colored knitted rug, while the delicate candlestick holders cast a faint, flickering glow, filling the air with the scent of Mexican orange blossoms and figs. Clothes slipped quietly off the foot of the bed, and the swaying sheer curtains hinted at boundless tenderness.
For the first time since arriving abroad, the atmosphere was impossibly perfect. Wherever their skin touched, it felt as though they had melted entirely into a soft, emerald pool—whether rippling with raindrops or surging with towering waves, every sensation was intensely vivid. From the hospital bed back in China to this unfamiliar country half a world away, after many days, everything had finally settled into place.
Amid the storm of passion, he suddenly paused, sweat-drenched, and leaned down to kiss her soft, moist lips, murmuring her name. Through their connected lips, a hoarse, trembling whisper carried a muffled sentence.
Lost in the heat and haze, Miao Jing was completely unaware, responding softly, "Hmm?"
He gazed intently at her, stroking her temples and cheeks, planting scorching kisses one after another. In the dim candlelight, he murmured in a barely audible tone, like a voiceless dream: "Miao Jing."
"I’ve never told anyone… I never cared, and I was never sure…" He stole the sweet breath from her lips, "But I still want to say…"
"Say what?"
Her dazed eyes reflected his handsome face, still deeply mired in the swamp of sensation.
Chen Yi’s gaze burned fiercely, his lips parting: "When I was wild and got beaten as a kid, you hid in the corner watching me. When I lay half-dead on the living room bed, you fed me in the middle of the night. When I ran rampant at school, you covered for me and worried about me. When I stopped you from going to the train station, you stayed and lived with me, washing my clothes and cooking my meals. We grew up together, we’ve done everything…"
His fingers traced her delicate brows: "You are the most special person in my life. I want you to be happy more than anyone else… Miao Jing, if ‘most special,’ ‘most cherished,’ ‘most unforgettable’—if these can be called love… then I love you too."
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