For this honeymoon, Chen Yi had learned some photography and editing skills himself, capturing countless photos and videos throughout their journey—different landscapes, different faces, different languages. The lens alternated between chaotic turbulence and solitary tranquility, yet every single frame held endless stories and memories.
After returning from their honeymoon, the house suddenly felt more crowded. Miao Jing had bought numerous travel souvenirs, with several dream catchers hanging from the European-style bedposts in their bedroom. The vibrant colors of South America seemed to have subtly influenced her; she began dressing more boldly, wearing brightly colored dresses and eye-catching jewelry. During the early days of their marriage, their affection was inseparable—Miao Jing would cling to Chen Yi proactively, yet she would also pick fights over past grievances, like how he missed her eighteenth birthday or his coldness toward her when she returned to Tengcheng. None of this, however, dampened their passion in the bedroom.
Transitioning into the roles of "husband" and "wife" didn’t seem particularly difficult, and daily life felt largely unchanged from before.
Miao Jing was quite relaxed in her current life, but Chen Yi seemed to be awakening to something. He often sat on the rooftop, cigarette in hand, gazing at the cityscape lost in thought.
Over the past year or so in Bogotá, he hadn’t been engaged in any serious work but had actually dabbled in many areas. He frequented billiards halls and casinos the most, and during his time as a tour guide, he met all sorts of people, gradually grasping the city’s survival rules. He felt it was time to make a move.
Life should have its moments of accumulated strength leading to breakthroughs. Opportunity came swiftly. One day, Chen Yi asked Miao Jing for thirty thousand dollars.
He had learned about it while accompanying a business delegation: a domestic factory had shipped a container of goods, but the local client in Colombia refused to accept it due to funding shortages. The container, worth seventy thousand dollars, was stranded at the port. Exorbitant demurrage fees left the seller no time to find a new buyer. Chen Yi took the risk and acquired the container for thirty thousand dollars.
It was a shipment of industrial plastic components.
Miao Jing went to inspect the goods as well. They weren’t direct-sale items and wouldn’t be easy to liquidate quickly. None of their social circle had connections in this product line, so Chen Yi had to find sales channels himself. Otherwise, the goods would just pile up in a warehouse with no way to utilize them, not to mention the ongoing rental fees.
That was the first time Chen Yi didn’t have time to pick Miao Jing up after work. It was also his first business trip to another city, leaving Miao Jing to spend the night alone.
He was extremely uneasy, suggesting she stay at Si Nan’s apartment overnight or inviting Gino and Lia to keep her company at home. Miao Jing poked his forehead with her finger: "There are three locks on the main door downstairs. We’ve lived here for over a year without any issues. Do you really need to be so on edge?"
"I’m not at ease."
He genuinely wished he could tie her to him and take her along.
"Everything is fine and safe here. You can really go without worrying."
He stared at her gloomily: "Should I get you a gun? Teach you some self-defense moves, show you how to shoot and kill?"
Miao Jing exploded, hitting him with a pot lid: "CHEN YI!!!!"
In the end, she didn’t get a gun, but alarm systems were installed on all doors and windows, and surveillance cameras were placed in the rooms.
The first night Chen Yi wasn’t home, Miao Jing returned from work to an unusually quiet life. She gently touched the ring on her finger—her husband had gone away, leaving her alone at home.With no one pestering her at night, Miao Jing went to bed early but tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When she finally drifted into a hazy slumber, she heard Chen Yi calling her name around midnight. His voice, faint and hoarse, emanated from the surveillance camera, echoing through the bedroom and startling her so much she leaped out of bed.
He had drunk a lot of alcohol and had just returned to the hotel, still in high spirits. He asked Miao Jing to turn on the lights and draw back the bed curtains, wanting to chat while looking at her. He had visited several companies and factories that day—his first exposure to such dealings—and lacked business experience.
Miao Jing somewhat regretted not going with him. If she had been there, she might have been able to help him.
As they chatted, the sound from the surveillance feed paused briefly, and rustling noises of him undressing could be heard. He then rasped a command: "Take your clothes off and sit on a chair in front of the camera."
"?????" Miao Jing frowned and snapped at him, "Get lost!"
"Hmm..." He chuckled lowly, his tone gravelly as he called her name, a vague murmur escaping his throat before he panted out a "goodnight." Then, silence fell on his end.
Hugging her pillow, Miao Jing lay with her eyes wide open, feeling stifled. On such a peculiar night, she just missed him terribly.
Chapter 53: The Latino Mixed Kid (Part 3)
For that container of parts, Chen Yi had been running around for quite some time. The delays were due to either lowball offers or distrust toward Chinese businessmen. The turning point came when Chen Yi spotted a photo of sailing in a client's office. Seizing the opportunity, he struck up a conversation that soon became lively. Unexpectedly, not only did the deal go through, but the client also lent a hand. In the end, Chen Yi earned over sixty thousand US dollars, including both principal and profit.
He didn't hand the money over to Miao Jing, keeping it instead as startup capital for himself.
Having grown accustomed to a life of luxury where everything was handed to her, Miao Jing actually felt a bit regretful that he had to go out and earn money. Still, she supported his decisions, her eyes scanning him repeatedly as she held her coffee cup and asked, "Planning to switch to business?"
With a snap of his fingers, even a lazy dog would perk up and wag its tail when it was time to hunt for food.
Finding a stable job would have been easy, but Chen Yi looked down on a monthly salary of $2,000. There might have been easier ways to make money, but since he was married now, a steadier life felt safer.
Shedding his T-shirt and jeans, he slipped into a shirt and dress pants. The outfit gave him a vibe that was both proper and provocatively improper—a natural clothes hanger who looked good from every angle. The new wristwatch was a gift from Miao Jing, the best she could afford within her means. Their lifestyle now wasn't exactly frugal, leaning more toward hedonism.
He was already in his late twenties, gradually shedding the arrogance of his youth and maturing into steadiness. Yet, when he smoked or squinted with a smile, there was still a hint of that rascal in him.
"Too late for this?" He rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing forearms where veins were prominent.
Miao Jing shrugged and quoted, "An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles."
"Hmm?" He raised an eyebrow sharply, his large hand pinching her waist in displeasure. "An old steed? Are you deliberately asking for trouble?"
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