A One-Man Show of Love
In a high-level meeting at the company, Qin Zheng met the new secretary, Du Xiaowei. As she served tea to the leaders present, her posture was reserved, and she occasionally flashed a small smile. This caught the attention of Qin Zheng, who was used to a variety of alluring women. He found her somewhat interesting and checked her profile: 29 years old, a 3-year-old daughter, and a husband who was often away “collecting material” for his photography.
Great! Qin Zheng thought to himself, looking at Du Xiaowei’s photo on her resume: “Darling, within three weeks, I want you to strip down and laugh at me.”
At 45, Qin Zheng owned a significant share of the company, had investments flourishing everywhere, was handsome, and was a divorced bachelor. This made him like a winning general among women, many of whom cried and begged to marry him.
Qin Zheng called Du Xiaowei to his office. She stood at the edge of his desk, her expression obedient yet exuding an air of inviolability. He said, “Xiao Du, you’re steady and reserved. I’ve been looking for someone like you. What do you think?” To his surprise, Du Xiaowei smiled slightly and replied, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can manage that. I have a little one at home who needs me.” With that, she left, looking a bit apologetic.
Qin Zheng felt a mix of embarrassment and excitement. For a man like him, this seemingly weak rejection felt like a kind of provocation.
Part Two: Setting the Stage
Qin Zheng thought about sending Du Xiaowei a message to build some rapport but feared it might bring trouble to her family, making her resent him. He tried inviting her out for tea a few times, but she always replied, “My baby doesn’t sleep without seeing me, so I never go out at night.”
Due to business needs, Qin Zheng had to temporarily relocate to another city, and many subordinates came to say goodbye. He thought this might be an opportunity and prepared a speech for a big breakthrough. However, Du Xiaowei never showed up, and during their next encounter, she didn’t even offer a polite farewell.
Feeling restless, he called Du Xiaowei to his office. After dreaming of this moment day and night, when it finally arrived, he became flustered and stumbled through his words. None of the carefully prepared lines came out right; each time he got excited and started to say something, he saw Du Xiaowei’s impassive expression and couldn’t continue. Finally, he decided to be bold: “Let’s be direct. I like you and want to pursue a deeper relationship.”
To his dismay, Du Xiaowei simply said “Thank you,” and walked out as she had done before.
Once again, Qin Zheng felt a mix of embarrassment and anger. He swore to himself, “Just wait, one day I’ll toss you aside like a used rag.”
Before leaving, Qin Zheng set a trap by promoting Du Xiaowei to deputy general manager, filling the position he had previously held. He hoped she would feel grateful and wary of him, and that she wouldn’t treat him so dismissively.
Half a month later, when Qin Zheng returned and expected to enjoy the fruits of his efforts, he found that Du Xiaowei had vanished. It turned out that on the day her appointment was announced, she had resigned.
What a fool! Qin Zheng pulled out Du Xiaowei’s phone number and called her. She answered, “I appreciate your kindness, but I don’t like accepting such large favors from others.”
Part Three: Imagination
Qin Zheng returned home feeling defeated, like a lion after losing a battle. As he pushed open the door, Jin Yan clung to him like freshly-cooked noodles, warm and pliable. Qin Zheng shoved her away, but she stuck to him again. “Get away!” Qin Zheng snapped, pushing her harder. “The most annoying thing is women like you who just won’t leave!”
Jin Yan stood frozen, staring at Qin Zheng with a look of shock and hurt. She had been with Qin Zheng for five or six years, a versatile woman who could manage both public and private affairs. Most importantly, she was decent and sensible, never demanding the impossible from him, unlike some women who didn’t know their limits.
Seeing the coldness in her eyes suddenly ignited Qin Zheng’s desire. He threw her onto the bed, saying, “Let’s play a game today!” and pounced on her.
The “game” Qin Zheng referred to was this: he would call Jin Yan “Du Xiaowei,” and Jin Yan would respond in a soft, slightly aloof voice, “Yes, Du Xiaowei at your service…”
Jin Yan felt humiliated, but when Qin Zheng passionately called out “Du Xiaowei,” she reluctantly played along and answered with a soft “Yes.” Unexpectedly, Qin Zheng scolded, “Dry and lifeless, like a corpse!”
Jin Yan tried again with a more lively “Yes,” but Qin Zheng cursed even more, “What the hell are you doing? Du Xiaowei wasn’t such a slut, alright!”
Angry, Jin Yan shot back, “Who the hell is this Du Xiaowei that you’d treat me like this?” Qin Zheng, enraged, slapped her hard across the face. Jin Yan stood stunned for a moment, then ran off, covering her face.
Qin Zheng soon found out that after Du Xiaowei quit her job, she joined a small company as a copywriter. In addition to writing, she often had to go out for market research, doing exhausting and dirty procurement work, with a meager salary to match.
“My woman, being treated like a workhorse?!” Qin Zheng immediately sought out the owner of the small company, offering a large investment on one condition: within a week, Du Xiaowei had to be promoted to the position of planning director, and within three months, to vice president.
The owner was ecstatic and quickly made the arrangements. Soon enough, Du Xiaowei was promoted to department head for her “outstanding writing,” and just two weeks later, she was elevated to vice president for her “excellent skills.” With her new position and high salary, Du Xiaowei began to exude elegance and beauty.
Qin Zheng smiled with satisfaction: Du Xiaowei possessed a natural dignity, unswayed by wealth or status. To conquer such a woman, what an achievement that would be!
4. Selling a Wife
One day, Qin Zheng got some new information: a scruffy man with shoulder-length hair had come to Du Xiaowei’s office to ask for money, even demanding three months of her salary in advance. After the man left, Du Xiaowei locked herself in her office and emerged later with swollen eyes, clearly having cried. This man had to be Du Xiaowei’s “drifter” husband.
Qin Zheng’s men tracked him down to a KTV bar, where the man was singing, “Why wander, wander far away…” while oily women with feathers draped over their legs lounged around him. Watching the video his men had recorded, Qin Zheng laughed until his stomach hurt. The man, overjoyed by the 300,000 yuan Qin Zheng had given him, swore he would go “on a trip” and disappear for at least three to five years.
Qin Zheng met with Du Xiaowei and got straight to the point: “I like you. Now, I have everything, except for a woman like you…”
Du Xiaowei cut him off: “Don’t say you like me. You’re just upset that a ‘prey’ escaped your grasp. It’s a common problem with rich men. Besides, I have a family.”
Qin Zheng smiled faintly: “If I’m pursuing you this openly, it means I know you well. As for your ‘family,’ it’s hardly worth mentioning.”
Du Xiaowei’s face darkened with anger. “How dare you investigate me? Just because you have money? I’m not your secretary anymore. I’m a ‘big shot’ in my own right now, and I’m not interested in being your woman.”
With that, she grabbed her handbag and, clicking her high heels, walked out with a sway of her hips, leaving Qin Zheng sitting there, stirring his now-cold coffee, feeling utterly lost. After all the effort he had put in, Du Xiaowei hadn’t given him the slightest recognition, which only made him more obsessed with her. And the more obsessed he became, the more powerless he felt in her presence…
Some time passed before a soft hand rested on Qin Zheng’s shoulder—it was Jin Yan. She gently, yet worriedly, asked, “Old Qin, I’ve never seen you like this over a woman. Are you serious this time?”
Qin Zheng said nothing. Jin Yan grew anxious. “I almost wanted to rush out and tell her that the ‘big shot’ she thinks she is owes everything to you. Does she really think she’s…”
Qin Zheng exploded, “You dare?! Women like you always meddle!” Jin Yan began to cry, saying Qin Zheng shouldn’t treat a woman who truly loved him like this. Qin Zheng dismissed her with, “You can choose not to love me. Nobody cares if you do,” and walked out.
5. Buying a Smile
Qin Zheng’s pursuit of Du Xiaowei was indeed a rocky road. Before he could make much progress, the small company she worked for faced bankruptcy due to financial losses.
Qin Zheng wasn’t bothered about the money he had invested; what troubled him was Du Xiaowei’s future after the company closed down. He had the financial means to manipulate her career again, but that would be risky given Du Xiaowei’s personality. So, Qin Zheng, feeling heavy-hearted, drove to her company and saw her leaving with her daughter hand in hand, smiling sweetly. It was the first time he had ever seen her look so relaxed.
Watching from his car window, Qin Zheng called the company’s owner and said, “Continue operating as usual. I’ll cover all the losses until you turn a profit.” His thoughts were clear: worst case, he’d fund the company himself.
When Jin Yan heard about it, she cursed him for being crazy. Qin Zheng responded, “I don’t care about the money; I care about her smile…”
Jin Yan, jealous, said, “You might as well just give her the money directly. At least that way you’d earn some gratitude.” Qin Zheng grew irritated again, “Do you think Du Xiaowei is like you? You clearly don’t understand that money can’t solve everything.”
Jin Yan, furious, shouted back, “So you think I’m with you for your money? You old bastard, that’s so unfair to me!”
6. Venting
Jin Yan swore never to go back to Qin Zheng, but after thinking it over, she couldn’t let it go. She decided to do something she’d long considered but never had the courage to do—she sought out Du Xiaowei.
Under the pretense of business, Jin Yan visited Du Xiaowei’s office. First, she showered her with praise, intending to flatter her before crushing her spirit. Du Xiaowei, unaware, responded, “Thank you for the compliments. Really, any woman who is self-reliant can succeed.”
Jin Yan smirked, “Well said! But do you think your success is built on self-reliance?”
Caught off guard, Du Xiaowei stared at her with innocent eyes. Jin Yan smiled triumphantly and spilled all of Qin Zheng’s secrets. Before leaving, she pulled out a DVD, saying, “There’s an even bigger secret here. Watch it at home.”
Qin Zheng, who was out of town for a meeting, cursed when he heard the news. He rushed back and was about to call Du Xiaowei when she called him first, saying, “I’m at the Red Mill Café, waiting for you.”
Expecting a storm, Qin Zheng braced himself as he met her. But Du Xiaowei simply said three words, “You’re an idiot.”
Hearing this, Qin Zheng’s heart wavered like a child’s, and all the disappointment, pain, and effort welled up inside him, though he didn’t know what to say. Finally, he asked with a bitter smile, “I’ve done all this because I love you. Can you at least give me some credit?”
Du Xiaowei laughed coldly, then replied seriously, “You don’t love me; you love my constant rejections. I know men like you. You get tired of luxury and want something different.” She sighed. “You’ve put in effort, so I’ll repay you with a story…”
7. The Root
After hearing the story, Qin Zheng was shocked! Du Xiaowei revealed that she had once been a “treat” for a wealthy man too. She had been through enough of that degrading life, losing her dignity, and now only wanted to live like a normal woman—with a family, a husband, and a father for her daughter. “Now, do you still think I’m noble? Do you still love me?” she asked, smiling as she left.
Qin Zheng returned home, only to find Jin Yan still there. She had waited all night, looking ten years older. When she
saw Qin Zheng, she threw herself at him, begging for forgiveness.
Jin Yan said, “I’m sorry, I know I was wrong. I’m willing to apologize to Du Xiaowei and help you fix things…”
Qin Zheng, looking at this pitiful woman, recalled Du Xiaowei’s humiliating story of being “used” and realized he had pursued Jin Yan when she was still in her early 30s, full of charm and innocence. But now, she was merely a shadow of her former self.
Gently pulling Jin Yan into his arms, he said, “It’s me who should apologize. I didn’t respect your feelings. I’m sorry.” He wiped her tears, adding, “From now on, let’s not see each other anymore. Name your conditions, and I’ll agree to them.”
Jin Yan cried harder. “Thank you! After all these years, this is the first time I’ve felt like a person in front of you. I don’t need anything. Goodbye!” she said, laughing through her tears as she left him forever.
Qin Zheng took out his phone and deleted the contacts of all the women he had categorized by type—sexy, fiery, classy, elegant. Exhausted, he slumped onto the couch, feeling empty. As he closed his eyes, Du Xiaowei’s face floated before him, impossible to forget.
All extremes eventually give way to calm. Qin Zheng, having drifted through the world for so long, was already tired. Now, he only wanted to rest in the peace that Du Xiaowei had found after all her hardships.
Qin Zheng sought out Du Xiaowei, finally ready to give her a real home and be a father to her daughter. But before he could speak, Du Xiaowei said, “I knew you’d come. I saw from the DVD that my husband took your 300,000 yuan. Don’t worry, I’ll repay you.”
Her cold tone froze Qin Zheng’s eager words. He lowered his eyes and softly said, “I don’t want the money back…”
Hearing this, Du Xiaowei began to unbutton her dress. “I really can’t repay the 300,000. So just take what you want, isn’t this what you’ve wanted all along?” She turned her face away in disgust as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Qin Zheng’s heart ached sharply. Holding back his anger and humiliation, he said, “Then, take your time repaying me.” With that, he fled.
Back in his car, Qin Zheng tried to light a cigarette, but his hands trembled too much. Frustrated, he tossed it aside and stared into space before suddenly collapsing onto the steering wheel, sobbing.
Life, truly, is a series of consequences, like a never-ending drama. Du Xiaowei had learned to love herself after selling her dignity for years, while Qin Zheng, after playing so many games of love, found himself unable to break free from the rules of those games when real love finally arrived.
This, indeed, was the logical conclusion to his story.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
