Yet in front of Miao Jing's friends and colleagues, he carried himself with unshakable confidence, never once bothered by his reputation as a "kept man."
This kind of romantic relationship was rather unconventional.
Miao Jing was so beautiful that many people were tempted to steal her away. Everyone would inquire about her through Si Nan—after all, they were all living abroad, and it was natural to look out for one another. But Miao Jing was rarely alone. The security in Bogotá wasn’t that terrible, yet her boyfriend always accompanied her like a bodyguard, leaving no opportunity for idle chatter. In the office, a handsome Spanish man from a well-off family was openly and covertly passionate about her, inviting her out countless times, but she remained cool and indifferent.
However, Si Nan once ran into Miao Jing in the restroom using powder to cover up love bites on her neck—deep marks that seemed like a proud declaration of ownership.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone gathered for a dinner party at the home of a friend of a friend—a gemstone merchant with a spacious, luxurious kitchen perfect for cooking Chinese food. Miao Jing brought Chen Yi along.
The men grilled outdoors, discussing career prospects and market opportunities in South America. Those on overseas assignments earned decent salaries, and everyone was focused on making their first pot of gold. At the time, Chen Yi had found work as a security guard in an upscale neighborhood, earning a monthly wage equivalent to a nice meal out. He didn’t contribute much to the men’s conversation but listened attentively, his expression calm and composed.
Miao Jing brought over a plate of fruit and secretly slipped a grape into Chen Yi’s mouth. He sat casually in his chair, pressing his palm against the small of her back to pull her closer, his fingers giving a light, familiar squeeze. It was a simple gesture, yet it carried an air of casual intimacy, as natural as breathing.
During the meal, even though they ate separately, there was an effortless tenderness and care between them. Miao Jing would subtly speak up for him, while Chen Yi quietly emptied her wine glass when she wasn’t looking.
After dinner, everyone strolled in the garden under the moonlight. Si Nan cut mooncakes and brought them out, then turned to see Miao Jing leaning against the railing in a corner, talking on the phone. Chen Yi held her close, his slender fingers idly brushing her long hair aside as he naturally lowered his head, his nose tracing from her ear down to her neck before pausing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
That small, intimate gesture, hidden from view yet illuminated by the clear moonlight, held an indescribable allure and sensuality.
Noticing the furtive gaze, Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and glanced over, then flashed a faint smile as if to conceal his actions.
Meeting his dark, gleaming eyes, Si Nan felt her cheeks flush with heat for no apparent reason.
After a year in Bogotá, Miao Jing’s Spanish was sufficient for daily life. Colombia was actually an ideal country for learning Spanish—the speech was clear and slow, making it easy for beginners to follow. But Chen Yi’s Spanish had already become fluent enough to rival native speakers. His English, however, hadn’t improved much, with a vocabulary of less than a hundred words. He had also picked up a few phrases in French from Pierre, speaking it better than he did English.
Once the language barrier was overcome, finding a job in Bogotá wasn’t difficult. Si Nan enthusiastically recommended a position—a domestic building materials company expanding into the South American market had set up an office in Bogotá and urgently needed a Spanish-speaking salesperson. The requirements weren’t high, and Chen Yi met all the qualifications.
Clearly, Chen Yi had no interest.Miao Jing declined her kindness: "He doesn't like office work, nor does he enjoy being managed."
It was somewhat hard to understand—this job was surely better than roasting coffee beans. The café's monthly salary only amounted to eight hundred yuan.
But Miao Jing clearly didn't care about these things. She was indifferent to what she did, as long as it suited her whims.
Work was merely a form of play to him. However, he consistently frequented the billiards hall. The two had agreed on three rules: he would manage his own limits, and Miao Jing was not to interfere.
Later, Miao Jing accompanied him to the billiards hall to check it out. It was in a relatively safe neighborhood, with both Colombians and foreigners present. Everyone chatted while holding beer bottles, the atmosphere lively to the point of being noisy. Chen Yi was clearly popular, exchanging fist bumps and greetings as he moved through the crowd.
His posture as he leaned over the pool table was undeniably striking—broad shoulders, a slim waist, and a firm posture that filled out his clothes perfectly. Chewing gum, his bright eyes fixed intently on the table, he shot the balls with swift, aggressive precision, his sharp aura creating a world entirely of his own.
Miao Jing spent the entire afternoon with him at the billiards hall, chatting with others. It was only then that she learned Chen Yi had been practicing consistently and could no longer find a worthy opponent in the area.
A male colleague was returning to his home country for a break and planned to buy an emerald for his girlfriend’s ring. Si Nan, who had experience in such matters, dragged Miao Jing along to help. Chen Yi tagged along for the outing. Before leaving, he tugged at Miao Jing and said, "Buy this."
"Huh?"
"This is beautiful. Make a pair of green gemstone earrings. It’s not expensive." He pointed with his fingertip. "I want this pair."
Two emeralds, their color clear and pure, their facets brilliantly cut, weren’t overly pricey. There were many artisan shops in Bogotá that could handle the design and setting, creating stunning styles.
Miao Jing hesitated and glanced at him.
He tilted his chin up, confidently ordering her, "Buy it. I’m giving it to you."
So she bought it.
After all, the money was all in her hands.
As for larger, more beautiful, and more expensive gemstones, he said he’d give them to her when he had more money.
Miao Jing smiled gracefully and agreed.
Si Nan found the dynamic between these two utterly baffling.
After the café job ended, Chen Yi returned to being unemployed. He began frequenting the billiards arena, where tournaments were held at the end of each month. With over twenty tables set up and crowds swarming, players carried cash to participate in mobile billiards games. The noise and clamor resembled a farmer’s market. On his first day testing the waters, Chen Yi earned over two million pesos.
A month later, he tossed a large, nondescript black nylon bag with a thud in front of Miao Jing. Leaning back lazily in a chair, he leisurely lit a cigarette.
"What’s this?"
"Take a look yourself."
The bag was filled with a chaotic mix of colorful banknotes—pesos, U.S. dollars, and euros—so heavy that Miao Jing couldn’t lift it an inch.
"Where did this come from?" she asked him calmly.
"Earnings from playing billiards lately." His expression was languid, without a trace of pride. "Plus leftover wages and living expenses from before... just bits and pieces saved up."
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