"I misspoke, it should be 'a fierce tiger descending the mountain'." Miao Jing's waist went soft under his pinching, and she pleaded pitifully, "I was really wrong."
He pulled her closer for a morning kiss, his lips wandering over her sensitive ears and neck: "Say something nice, you know what I like to hear."
Overwhelmed by his persistence, she called out weakly: "Husband... brother..."
"Biological brother or sworn brother?" He emphasized each word deliberately.
"Both." Miao Jing could now spout nonsense without blushing or her heart racing, smoothing down the collar of his wrinkled shirt. "Gino is still waiting downstairs, you should hurry."
Chen Yi drained the coffee from her hand: "Leaving."
At that time, cross-border e-commerce mainly targeted European and American markets, while the South American market hadn't yet flourished. Initially, Chen Yi worked as a partner for a foreign trade SOHO business, helping develop clients, introducing products and companies to local customers, delivering samples, and splitting half the profits after closing deals.
Later, when Pierre couldn't source replacement parts for his motorcycle, Chen Yi turned his attention to motorcycle accessories. Colombia being a major motorcycle country with considerable import trade volume, and with his own understanding of vehicles, he managed to secure a small deal with an auto repair shop, importing a batch of modification parts from domestic manufacturers - truly earning his first cross-border income.
Working with Gino, the two operated without much planning, essentially pursuing whatever money-making opportunities came their way. Whether due to Chen Yi's closeness with locals or his efficient and straightforward working style, they consistently maintained good customer relations and surprisingly managed to sustain smooth operations.
Six months later, Chen Yi established a small company with just him and Gino as employees. Their office was next to a bar, requiring them to circle halfway around the bar to enter each time. When clients visited, they could have a drink together - quite an unconventional arrangement.
With a proper job, Chen Yi left early and returned late every day, always in a hurry. Despite this, he still made time to take Miao Jing to and from work. They would snatch weekends for beach vacations, and he occasionally took her along on business trips, their footprints covering many cities across Colombia.
Miao Jing sometimes accompanied him to social events and noticed Chen Yi frequented diverse venues - from exclusive private clubs to raucous nightclubs and outdoor extreme sports. Si Nan, observing Miao Jing's composure, secretly asked if she wasn't worried. Miao Jing replied there was nothing to worry about - she had long grown accustomed to it.
His presence in any setting wasn't surprising, as he was far from having a pure and upright personality. But in such environments, it was best to maintain dignity while being appropriately adaptable. Miao Jing felt Chen Yi knew how to seize opportunities but rarely showed obvious utilitarianism. Coming from an engineering background and holding a technical position, she couldn't emulate his naturally commanding presence.
"Of course you need to tailor your approach to different people," he said with a cigarette between his lips. "Adopt different attitudes for different people - Chinese fight fiercely among themselves, Europeans and Americans excel at pretending superiority, South Americans are simple-minded but unreliable. When dealing with different people, it's best to act even more like them than they do."
"Then what approach do you take with me?" Miao Jing asked him. "What act do you put on in front of me?"
"What approach? I'm casting a love spell on you." Chen Yi teased. "Whatever act I put on in front of you gets completely stripped away by you anyway."
Miao Jing couldn't help giving him a look that blended reproach with charm.After nearly two years in Bogotá, both had grown somewhat weary of South American cuisine. Chen Yi’s cooking skills were far inferior to Miao Jing’s, so she rolled up her sleeves and resumed making Chinese dishes. Chen Yi had actually grown accustomed to her cooking—whenever she cooked, he showed his appreciation by eating heartily—though he also made sure to exercise regularly to keep in shape. Did she think he hadn’t noticed? Every time Miao Jing scrolled through her phone, her gaze lingered an extra second on photos of handsome men.
Over these two years, Miao Jing had become noticeably more willful and lazy. Chen Yi’s business dealings inevitably involved social engagements, especially during soccer matches, which often kept him out all night. He would stumble home drunk, leaning on her and spouting all sorts of crude, flirtatious remarks. Miao Jing paid him no mind, leaving him to sleep on the sofa overnight. The next day, she would treat him with plain boiled noodles.
On weekends, they went boating and camping in nearby towns with friends. While Miao Jing played ball on the lawn with others, Chen Yi vanished in the blink of an eye. It turned out he and a few other men had driven to a nearby town to buy a local corn liquor. When they returned, their car carried two stunning, mixed-race women—so captivating it was hard to look away.
Miao Jing couldn’t help feeling angry, though she wasn’t sure whether it was because he had left without a word or because she had seen those beauties striking up a conversation with Chen Yi. One of them reached out, asking for the cigarette from his lips. He frowned slightly in surprise, then smiled and handed her a fresh one from his pack. The two stood together, smoking and chatting amid clouds of smoke.
When Chen Yi finally made his way back and saw Miao Jing’s cold expression, he realized she was upset. He tried to coax her gently, but no matter how tender his words, he couldn’t smooth things over.
Truly, he couldn’t placate her. Her anger had been stoked, and it was unclear what she was being so stubborn about. She started bringing up old grievances, her sharp tongue leaving Chen Yi stunned and convinced of his own wickedness. She recounted how he had bullied her since childhood, made her fall ill with fever, flirted with other women, forgotten her birthday, and even his history with Tu Li—all of which had left deep psychological scars on her.
Their interactions were strained, but in bed, their chemistry was intense. He loved how she bit her lip, on the verge of tears, her disheveled hair clinging to her cheeks, her eyes wide and misty with unshed tears, exuding a hazy allure. She would sink her sharp teeth into him, her slender body writhing like a snake. He would pull out a tie, and by the end, both were drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
“What are you so upset about?” he pinched her fair, damp skin. “All I did was give someone a cigarette. How long are you going to hold this against me? Should I just quit smoking? Huh?”
“Yes!” She swiftly turned to face him, her delicate features set with determination. “You better mean it!”
Chen Yi was taken aback, then collapsed onto the bed helplessly, staring at the ceiling as if his will to live had drained away. “Fine… I’ll quit then…”
Quitting smoking was tough.
He didn’t smoke as heavily as before, but the addiction lingered—a few cigarettes a day were necessary to feel at ease. Miao Jing bought him plenty of candies, and Chen Yi would pop one into his mouth from time to time, crunching loudly. When the craving became unbearable, he would light a cigarette, just watching it burn and inhaling the scent of nicotine.
This addiction, of course, translated into his behavior toward Miao Jing—a trade-off, one vice for another. In his eyes, she was bathed in a soft, glowing filter. He would frequently cling to her, seeking kisses, addicted to her scent and touch—until Miao Jing finally reached her limit and offered him a suggestion.
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